{"name":"Readable English Bible","abbreviation":"READ","id":"readable","language":"en","version":"Draft 0.2","license":"CC BY 4.0","license_url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","attribution":"Scripture from the Readable English Bible (READ), readable.bible, licensed under CC BY 4.0.","website":"https://readable.bible","books":[{"name":"Genesis","slug":"genesis","usfm":"GEN","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"The earth had no shape and was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then God said, \"Let there be light.\" And there was light."},{"verse":4,"text":"God saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness."},{"verse":5,"text":"God called the light \"day.\" He called the darkness \"night.\" There was evening, and there was morning. That was the first day."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then God said, \"Let there be a wide space between the waters. Let it separate the waters from the waters.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So God made the wide space. He separated the waters below it from the waters above it. And that is what happened."},{"verse":8,"text":"God called the wide space \"sky.\" There was evening, and there was morning. That was the second day."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then God said, \"Let the waters under the sky come together into one place, so that dry land will appear.\" And that is what happened."},{"verse":10,"text":"God called the dry land \"earth.\" He called the waters that came together \"seas.\" And God saw that it was good."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then God said, \"Let the earth grow green plants. Let there be plants that make seeds. Let there be trees that grow fruit with seeds in it, each of its own kind.\" And that is what happened."},{"verse":12,"text":"The earth grew green plants. There were plants that made seeds, each of its own kind. There were trees that grew fruit with seeds in it, each of its own kind. And God saw that it was good."},{"verse":13,"text":"There was evening, and there was morning. That was the third day."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then God said, \"Let there be lights in the wide space of the sky. Let them divide the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, the days, and the years."},{"verse":15,"text":"Let them be lights in the sky to shine on the earth.\" And that is what happened."},{"verse":16,"text":"God made two great lights. He made the bigger light to rule the day. He made the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars."},{"verse":17,"text":"God put these lights in the wide space of the sky to shine on the earth."},{"verse":18,"text":"They were to rule over the day and the night. They were to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good."},{"verse":19,"text":"There was evening, and there was morning. That was the fourth day."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then God said, \"Let the waters be full of living creatures. Let birds fly above the earth across the open sky.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So God created the great sea creatures. He made every living thing that moves and fills the waters, each of its own kind. He made every bird with wings, each of its own kind. And God saw that it was good."},{"verse":22,"text":"God blessed them. He said, \"Have many young and grow in number. Fill the waters of the seas. And let the birds grow in number on the earth.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"There was evening, and there was morning. That was the fifth day."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then God said, \"Let the earth bring out living creatures, each of its own kind. Let there be farm animals, creatures that crawl, and wild animals, each of its own kind.\" And that is what happened."},{"verse":25,"text":"God made the wild animals, each of its own kind. He made the farm animals, each of its own kind. He made every creature that crawls on the ground, each of its own kind. And God saw that it was good."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then God said, \"Let us make man in our image, to be like us. Let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky. Let them rule over the farm animals and over all the earth. Let them rule over every creature that crawls on the ground.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him. Male and female he created them."},{"verse":28,"text":"God blessed them. He said to them, \"Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky. Rule over every creature that crawls on the ground.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Then God said, \"Look! I have given you every plant on the whole earth that makes seeds. I have given you every tree that has fruit with seeds in it. They will be your food."},{"verse":30,"text":"And I have given every green plant as food to every wild animal, every bird in the sky, and every creature that crawls on the ground. I have given it to everything that has the breath of life in it.\" And that is what happened."},{"verse":31,"text":"God looked at everything he had made. And it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning. That was the sixth day."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them."},{"verse":2,"text":"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. So on that day he rested from all his work."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. He did this because on that day he rested from all the work he had done in creating."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is the story of the heavens and the earth when they were created. It's about the day the LORD God made them."},{"verse":5,"text":"At that time no bush of the field was on the earth yet. No plant of the field had come up yet. That's because the LORD God had not yet sent rain on the earth. And there was no man to work the ground."},{"verse":6,"text":"But springs came up from the earth. They watered the whole surface of the ground."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nose. And the man became a living being."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the man he had formed there."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD God made every kind of tree grow out of the ground. The trees were nice to look at and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."},{"verse":10,"text":"A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. From there it split into four rivers."},{"verse":11,"text":"The first river is named the Pishon. It winds through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold."},{"verse":12,"text":"The gold of that land is pure. Bdellium and onyx stone are also found there.","note":"Bdellium is a sweet-smelling resin, or possibly a kind of pearl."},{"verse":13,"text":"The second river is named the Gihon. It winds through the whole land of Cush."},{"verse":14,"text":"The third river is named the Tigris. It runs along the east side of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden. The man was to work the garden and take care of it."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD God gave the man a command. He said, \"You may freely eat from any tree in the garden."},{"verse":17,"text":"But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For on the day you eat from it, you will surely die.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the LORD God said, \"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is right for him.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Out of the ground the LORD God formed every wild animal and every bird in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them. Whatever the man called each living creature, that became its name."},{"verse":20,"text":"So the man gave names to all the farm animals, the birds in the sky, and every wild animal. But no helper who was right for Adam was found."},{"verse":21,"text":"So the LORD God made the man fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, God took out one of his ribs. Then he closed up the place with flesh."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man. Then he brought her to the man."},{"verse":23,"text":"The man said,\n\"At last! This is bone from my bones\nand flesh from my flesh.\nShe will be called 'woman,'\nbecause she was taken out of man.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife. And the two become one flesh."},{"verse":25,"text":"The man and his wife were both naked. But they did not feel ashamed."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The serpent was more clever and sly than any wild animal the LORD God had made. The serpent said to the woman, \"Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"The woman answered the serpent, \"We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden."},{"verse":3,"text":"But God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch it, or you will die.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"You will not surely die,\" the serpent told the woman."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened. You will be like God, knowing good and evil.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The woman saw that the tree's fruit was good for food. It was nice to look at. And it seemed good for making a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it too."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the eyes of both of them were opened. They knew they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden. It was the cool, breezy time of the day. They hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden."},{"verse":9,"text":"But the LORD God called to the man, \"Where are you?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The man answered, \"I heard you in the garden. I was afraid because I was naked. So I hid.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD God asked, \"Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The man answered, \"The woman you gave me is the one. She gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD God said to the woman, \"What have you done?\" The woman answered, \"The serpent tricked me, and I ate.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the LORD God said to the serpent,\n\"Because you did this,\nyou are cursed more than all the farm animals\nand all the wild animals!\nYou will crawl on your belly.\nYou will eat dust\nall the days of your life."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will make you and the woman enemies.\nYour seed and her seed will be enemies.\nHe will crush your head,\nand you will strike his heel.\"","note":"Seed means children or descendants."},{"verse":16,"text":"God said to the woman,\n\"I will greatly increase your pain when you have children.\nYou will be in pain when you give birth.\nYour desire will be for your husband,\nand he will rule over you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"And God said to Adam,\n\"Because you listened to your wife\nand ate from the tree\nthat I commanded you not to eat from,\nthe ground is cursed because of you.\nYou will have to work hard to get food from it\nall the days of your life."},{"verse":18,"text":"It will grow thorns and thistles for you.\nAnd you will eat the plants of the field."},{"verse":19,"text":"You will sweat to get your bread\nuntil you go back to the ground,\nbecause you were taken out of it.\nFor you are dust,\nand you will go back to dust.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.","note":"The name Eve sounds like the Hebrew word for living."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for Adam and his wife. Then he dressed them."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the LORD God said, \"Look, the man has become like one of us. He knows good and evil. And now he might reach out his hand and take from the tree of life too. He might eat and live forever...\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So the LORD God sent him out of the Garden of Eden. He was to work the ground he had been taken from."},{"verse":24,"text":"God drove the man out. On the east side of the Garden of Eden he placed cherubim. He also put a flaming sword there that flashed back and forth. They guarded the way to the tree of life."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Adam slept with his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, \"With the LORD's help I have brought a man into the world.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Later she gave birth to Cain's brother Abel. Abel took care of sheep. Cain worked the soil."},{"verse":3,"text":"After some time, Cain brought some of the crops from the soil. He brought them as an offering to the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Abel also brought an offering. He brought the best parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering."},{"verse":5,"text":"But he was not pleased with Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face showed it."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD said to Cain, \"Why are you angry? Why is your face so gloomy?"},{"verse":7,"text":"If you do what is right, won't you be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to have you, but you must rule over it.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Cain said to his brother Abel, \"Let's go out to the field.\" While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said to Cain, \"Where is your brother Abel?\" \"I don't know!\" Cain answered. \"Am I supposed to take care of my brother?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD said, \"What have you done? Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now you are cursed and driven away from the ground. The ground opened its mouth to take in your brother's blood from your hand."},{"verse":12,"text":"When you work the ground, it will not grow crops for you anymore. You will be a runaway and a wanderer on the earth.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Cain said to the LORD, \"My punishment is more than I can bear."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look! Today you are driving me away from the land. I will be hidden from your face. I will be a runaway and a wanderer on the earth. And anyone who finds me will kill me.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"No!\" the LORD answered. \"If anyone kills Cain, Cain will be paid back seven times over.\" Then the LORD put a mark on Cain. That way, no one who found him would kill him."},{"verse":16,"text":"So Cain went away from the LORD's presence. He settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.","note":"Nod means wandering."},{"verse":17,"text":"Cain slept with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain built a city. He named it after his son Enoch."},{"verse":18,"text":"Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methusael. And Methusael was the father of Lamech."},{"verse":19,"text":"Lamech married two women. One was named Adah, and the other was named Zillah."},{"verse":20,"text":"Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and raise animals."},{"verse":21,"text":"His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all who play the harp and flute."},{"verse":22,"text":"Zillah gave birth to Tubal-cain. He made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-cain's sister was Naamah."},{"verse":23,"text":"Lamech said to his wives,\n\"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice.\nWives of Lamech, listen to what I say.\nFor I have killed a man for hurting me.\nI killed a young man for hitting me."},{"verse":24,"text":"If Cain is paid back seven times,\nthen Lamech will be paid back seventy-seven times.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Adam slept with his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said, \"God has given me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.\"","note":"Seth sounds like the Hebrew word for granted. Literally: another seed."},{"verse":26,"text":"Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the written record of Adam's family line. When God created man, he made him to be like God."},{"verse":2,"text":"He created them male and female, and he blessed them. On the day they were created, he called them \"man.\"","note":"Hebrew: adam, which means man or mankind."},{"verse":3,"text":"When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son who was like him and looked like him. He named him Seth."},{"verse":4,"text":"After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":5,"text":"Adam lived 930 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":6,"text":"When Seth was 105 years old, he had a son named Enosh."},{"verse":7,"text":"After Enosh was born, Seth lived 807 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":8,"text":"Seth lived 912 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":9,"text":"When Enosh was 90 years old, he had a son named Kenan."},{"verse":10,"text":"After Kenan was born, Enosh lived 815 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":11,"text":"Enosh lived 905 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":12,"text":"When Kenan was 70 years old, he had a son named Mahalalel."},{"verse":13,"text":"After Mahalalel was born, Kenan lived 840 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":14,"text":"Kenan lived 910 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":15,"text":"When Mahalalel was 65 years old, he had a son named Jared."},{"verse":16,"text":"After Jared was born, Mahalalel lived 830 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":17,"text":"Mahalalel lived 895 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":18,"text":"When Jared was 162 years old, he had a son named Enoch."},{"verse":19,"text":"After Enoch was born, Jared lived 800 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jared lived 962 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":21,"text":"When Enoch was 65 years old, he had a son named Methuselah."},{"verse":22,"text":"After Methuselah was born, Enoch walked with God 300 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":23,"text":"Enoch lived 365 years in all."},{"verse":24,"text":"Enoch walked with God. Then he was gone, because God took him away."},{"verse":25,"text":"When Methuselah was 187 years old, he had a son named Lamech."},{"verse":26,"text":"After Lamech was born, Methuselah lived 782 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":27,"text":"Methuselah lived 969 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":28,"text":"When Lamech was 182 years old, he had a son."},{"verse":29,"text":"He named him Noah. He said, \"May this one bring us comfort from our hard work. We work hard with our hands because of the ground the LORD has cursed.\"","note":"Noah sounds like the Hebrew word for comfort or rest."},{"verse":30,"text":"After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":31,"text":"Lamech lived 777 years in all. Then he died."},{"verse":32,"text":"After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"People began to grow in number on the earth. Daughters were born to them."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. They married any of them they chose."},{"verse":3,"text":"So the LORD said, \"My Spirit will not struggle with man forever, because he is mortal. His days will be 120 years.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also later on. That was when the sons of God slept with the daughters of men, and they had children by them. Their children became the mighty men of long ago, men who were famous.","note":"Nephilim may mean fallen ones or giants."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD saw that people on the earth had become very wicked. Every plan of their hearts was only evil all the time."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth. His heart was filled with grief."},{"verse":7,"text":"So the LORD said, \"I will wipe man, whom I created, off the face of the earth. I will wipe out every person and animal and crawling creature and bird. I will do this because I am grieved that I made them.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is the story of Noah. Noah was a righteous man. No one could find fault with him among the people of his time. Noah walked with God."},{"verse":10,"text":"Noah had three sons. Their names were Shem, Ham, and Japheth."},{"verse":11,"text":"The earth was rotten with sin in God's sight. It was full of violence."},{"verse":12,"text":"God looked at the earth and saw how rotten it was. It was rotten because all the living creatures on the earth had ruined their ways."},{"verse":13,"text":"So God said to Noah, \"I have decided to put an end to all living creatures. The earth is full of violence because of them. Look, I am going to destroy them along with the earth."},{"verse":14,"text":"Make an ark out of gopher wood. Make rooms in it. Cover it with tar inside and out.","note":"Gopher wood may be cypress. An ark is a large boat."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is how you must build it. The ark must be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.","note":"Hebrew: 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high."},{"verse":16,"text":"Make a roof for the ark. Finish the walls 18 inches below the top. Put a door in the side of the ark. Build a lower deck, a middle deck, and an upper deck.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit. The Hebrew of the first part of this verse is unclear."},{"verse":17,"text":"Look! I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth. They will destroy every creature under the sky that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish."},{"verse":18,"text":"But I will make my covenant with you. You will go into the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives."},{"verse":19,"text":"You must bring into the ark two of every living creature, a male and a female. This will keep them alive with you."},{"verse":20,"text":"Two of every kind of bird, every kind of animal, and every kind of crawling creature will come to you. That way they will be kept alive."},{"verse":21,"text":"You must also take every kind of food that is eaten. Store it up as food for you and for the animals.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Noah did everything just as God commanded him."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Noah, \"Go into the ark, you and your whole family. I am doing this because I have seen that you are righteous among the people of this time."},{"verse":2,"text":"Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate. Take one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate.","note":"\"Seven pairs\" may also mean seven of each."},{"verse":3,"text":"Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female. This will keep their kinds alive all over the earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth. It will rain for forty days and forty nights. I will wipe every living thing I have made off the face of the earth.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Noah did everything the LORD commanded him."},{"verse":6,"text":"Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters came on the earth."},{"verse":7,"text":"Noah and his wife went into the ark. His sons and their wives went in too. They went in to escape the waters of the flood."},{"verse":8,"text":"Clean and unclean animals, birds, and everything that crawls on the ground"},{"verse":9,"text":"came to Noah and went into the ark. They came two by two, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah."},{"verse":10,"text":"After seven days the floodwaters came on the earth."},{"verse":11,"text":"It was the 600th year of Noah's life, on the 17th day of the second month. On that day all the springs of the great deep burst open. And the floodgates of the sky were opened."},{"verse":12,"text":"Rain fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights."},{"verse":13,"text":"On that very day Noah went into the ark. His sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth went with him. His wife and his three sons' wives went in too."},{"verse":14,"text":"With them went every kind of wild animal, farm animal, crawling creature, bird, and creature with wings."},{"verse":15,"text":"Two of every creature that had the breath of life came to Noah and went into the ark."},{"verse":16,"text":"A male and a female of every living thing went in, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in."},{"verse":17,"text":"For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth. The waters rose and lifted the ark high above the earth."},{"verse":18,"text":"The waters kept rising higher and higher on the earth. And the ark floated on top of the waters."},{"verse":19,"text":"At last the waters rose so high over the earth that they covered all the high mountains under the whole sky."},{"verse":20,"text":"The waters rose and covered the mountaintops. They were about 22 feet deep over them.","note":"Hebrew: fifteen cubits."},{"verse":21,"text":"Every living thing that moved on the earth perished. Birds, farm animals, wild animals, and all the creatures that swarm on the earth perished. And every human being perished."},{"verse":22,"text":"Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nose died."},{"verse":23,"text":"Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out. People, farm animals, crawling creatures, and birds were all wiped off the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ark were left."},{"verse":24,"text":"The waters covered the earth for 150 days."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But God remembered Noah. He remembered all the wild animals and farm animals with him in the ark. God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to go down."},{"verse":2,"text":"The springs of the deep and the floodgates of the sky were closed. The rain stopped falling from the sky."},{"verse":3,"text":"The waters kept going down from the earth. After 150 days the waters had gone down."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the 17th day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat."},{"verse":5,"text":"The waters kept going down until the tenth month. On the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains could be seen."},{"verse":6,"text":"After forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the ark."},{"verse":7,"text":"He sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Noah sent out a dove. He wanted to see if the waters had gone down from the ground."},{"verse":9,"text":"But the dove found no place to rest her feet. She came back to Noah in the ark, because water still covered the whole earth. So he reached out his hand and took her back inside the ark."},{"verse":10,"text":"Noah waited seven more days. Then he sent the dove out from the ark again."},{"verse":11,"text":"In the evening the dove came back to him. Look! In her beak was an olive leaf she had just picked. Then Noah knew that the waters had gone down from the earth."},{"verse":12,"text":"Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove again. But this time she did not come back to him."},{"verse":13,"text":"By the first day of the first month of Noah's 601st year, the waters had dried up from the earth. Noah took the covering off the ark. He looked out and saw that the ground was dry."},{"verse":14,"text":"By the 27th day of the second month, the earth was completely dry."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then God said to Noah,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Come out of the ark. Bring your wife, your sons, and their wives with you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Bring out every living creature that is with you. Bring out the birds, the farm animals, and everything that crawls on the ground. Then they can spread out over the earth. They can have many young and grow in number on it.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Noah came out. His sons, his wife, and his sons' wives came out with him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Every living creature came out of the ark, one kind after another. Every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth came out."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. He took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird. He offered them as burnt offerings on the altar."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD smelled the pleasing smell. And he said in his heart, \"I will never again curse the ground because of man. I won't do it even though every plan of man's heart is evil from the time he is young. And I will never again destroy all living creatures as I have done."},{"verse":22,"text":"As long as the earth lasts,\nplanting time and harvest,\ncold and heat,\nsummer and winter,\nday and night\nwill never stop.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then God blessed Noah and his sons. He said to them, \"Have many children and grow in number. Fill the earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"Every living creature on the earth will be afraid of you and terrified of you. Every bird in the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish in the sea will fear you. They are put under your power."},{"verse":3,"text":"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything."},{"verse":4,"text":"But you must not eat meat that still has its lifeblood in it."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will surely demand payment for your lifeblood. If any animal or person kills someone, I will demand payment from them. I will hold anyone who takes the life of another person responsible."},{"verse":6,"text":"Whoever sheds a person's blood,\nhis blood will be shed by people.\nThat is because God made mankind\nin his own image."},{"verse":7,"text":"But as for you, have many children and grow in number. Spread out over the earth and fill it.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him. He said,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Now I am making my covenant with you and with your children after you."},{"verse":10,"text":"I am also making it with every living creature that was with you. That means the birds, the farm animals, and every wild animal. It means every living thing that came out of the ark."},{"verse":11,"text":"I am making my covenant with you. Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood. Never again will a flood destroy the earth.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"And God said, \"Here is the sign of the covenant I am making. It is between me and you and every living creature with you. It is a covenant for all the generations to come."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have put my rainbow in the clouds. It will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."},{"verse":14,"text":"Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,"},{"verse":15,"text":"I will remember my covenant between me and you and every kind of living creature. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life."},{"verse":16,"text":"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it. I will remember the covenant that lasts forever. It is between God and every kind of living creature on the earth.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So God said to Noah, \"This is the sign of the covenant I have made. It is between me and every creature on the earth.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Noah's sons who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan."},{"verse":19,"text":"These three were Noah's sons. The people who spread over the whole earth came from them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Noah was a farmer. He planted a vineyard."},{"verse":21,"text":"But he drank some of its wine and got drunk. He lay uncovered inside his tent."},{"verse":22,"text":"Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked. He told his two brothers, who were outside."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Shem and Japheth took a robe and laid it across their shoulders. They walked in backward and covered their naked father. They kept their faces turned away so they would not see their father naked."},{"verse":24,"text":"Noah woke up from his drunken sleep. He found out what his youngest son had done to him."},{"verse":25,"text":"He said,\n\"May Canaan be cursed!\nHe will be the lowest of servants to his brothers.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"He also said,\n\"Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem!\nMay Canaan be Shem's servant."},{"verse":27,"text":"May God make Japheth's land larger.\nMay Japheth live in the tents of Shem.\nAnd may Canaan be his servant.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"After the flood, Noah lived 350 years."},{"verse":29,"text":"Noah lived 950 years in all. Then he died."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the story of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They had sons of their own after the flood."},{"verse":2,"text":"The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras."},{"verse":3,"text":"The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah."},{"verse":4,"text":"The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites."},{"verse":5,"text":"From these came the peoples who lived along the seacoasts. They spread out into their own lands. Each had its own language. They lived by clans within their nations."},{"verse":6,"text":"The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.","note":"Mizraim is the Hebrew name for Egypt."},{"verse":7,"text":"The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan."},{"verse":8,"text":"Cush was the father of Nimrod. Nimrod began to be a mighty man on the earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. That is why people say, \"He is like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"His kingdom began with Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh. These were in the land of Shinar."},{"verse":11,"text":"From that land he went out into Assyria. There he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,"},{"verse":12,"text":"and Resen. Resen is between Nineveh and the great city of Calah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites,"},{"verse":14,"text":"the Pathrusites, the Casluhites, and the Caphtorites. The Philistines came from the Casluhites."},{"verse":15,"text":"Canaan was the father of Sidon, his firstborn son. He was also the father of the Hittites,"},{"verse":16,"text":"the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,"},{"verse":17,"text":"the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,"},{"verse":18,"text":"the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the clans of Canaan spread out."},{"verse":19,"text":"The land of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar, all the way to Gaza. Then it went toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, all the way to Lasha."},{"verse":20,"text":"These are the sons of Ham. They are listed by their clans, languages, lands, and nations."},{"verse":21,"text":"Sons were also born to Shem. Shem was the older brother of Japheth. Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber."},{"verse":22,"text":"The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram."},{"verse":23,"text":"The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash."},{"verse":24,"text":"Arphaxad was the father of Shelah. Shelah was the father of Eber."},{"verse":25,"text":"Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided. His brother was named Joktan.","note":"Peleg means divided."},{"verse":26,"text":"Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,"},{"verse":28,"text":"Obal, Abimael, Sheba,"},{"verse":29,"text":"Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All of these were sons of Joktan."},{"verse":30,"text":"The land where they lived reached from Mesha to Sephar, in the hill country to the east."},{"verse":31,"text":"These are the sons of Shem. They are listed by their clans, languages, lands, and nations."},{"verse":32,"text":"All these are the clans of Noah's sons. They are listed by their family lines and nations. From them the nations spread out over the earth after the flood."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time the whole world had one language. Everyone used the same words."},{"verse":2,"text":"As people moved toward the east, they found a flat plain in the land of Shinar. They settled there."},{"verse":3,"text":"They said to each other, \"Come, let's make bricks and bake them hard.\" So they used bricks instead of stones. They used tar instead of mortar."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then they said, \"Come, let's build a city for ourselves. Let's build a tower that reaches up to the heavens. Then we will make a name for ourselves. We won't be scattered over the face of the whole earth.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD said, \"They are one people, and they all speak the same language. If they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be too hard for them."},{"verse":7,"text":"Come, let us go down and mix up their language. Then they won't understand each other.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth. And they stopped building the city."},{"verse":9,"text":"That is why the city is called Babel. That's where the LORD mixed up the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.","note":"Babel sounds like the Hebrew word for mixed up."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is the story of Shem's family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he had a son named Arphaxad."},{"verse":11,"text":"After Arphaxad was born, Shem lived 500 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":12,"text":"When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he had a son named Shelah."},{"verse":13,"text":"After Shelah was born, Arphaxad lived 403 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":14,"text":"When Shelah was 30 years old, he had a son named Eber."},{"verse":15,"text":"After Eber was born, Shelah lived 403 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":16,"text":"When Eber was 34 years old, he had a son named Peleg."},{"verse":17,"text":"After Peleg was born, Eber lived 430 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":18,"text":"When Peleg was 30 years old, he had a son named Reu."},{"verse":19,"text":"After Reu was born, Peleg lived 209 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":20,"text":"When Reu was 32 years old, he had a son named Serug."},{"verse":21,"text":"After Serug was born, Reu lived 207 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":22,"text":"When Serug was 30 years old, he had a son named Nahor."},{"verse":23,"text":"After Nahor was born, Serug lived 200 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":24,"text":"When Nahor was 29 years old, he had a son named Terah."},{"verse":25,"text":"After Terah was born, Nahor lived 119 years. He had other sons and daughters."},{"verse":26,"text":"When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran."},{"verse":27,"text":"This is the story of Terah's family line. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot."},{"verse":28,"text":"Haran died while his father Terah was still alive. He died in the land where he was born, in Ur of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":29,"text":"Abram and Nahor both got married. Abram's wife was named Sarai. Nahor's wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran. Haran was the father of both Milcah and Iscah."},{"verse":30,"text":"But Sarai was not able to have children. She had no child."},{"verse":31,"text":"Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran. He also took his daughter-in-law Sarai, Abram's wife. Together they left Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there."},{"verse":32,"text":"Terah lived 205 years. Then he died in Haran."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD said to Abram, \"Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's family. Go to the land I will show you."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will bless those who bless you. I will curse those who curse you. And all the families on earth will be blessed through you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Abram left, just as the LORD had told him. And Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran."},{"verse":5,"text":"Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. He took everything they owned and the people they had gotten in Haran. They set out for the land of Canaan. And they arrived there."},{"verse":6,"text":"Abram traveled through the land as far as the place of the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were living in the land."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD appeared to Abram. He said, \"I will give this land to your offspring.\" So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"From there Abram went on to the hills east of Bethel. He set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD. And he called on the name of the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Abram kept traveling toward the Negev.","note":"The Negev is the dry southern land."},{"verse":10,"text":"There was a famine in the land. The famine was very bad. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while."},{"verse":11,"text":"When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, \"Look, I know you are a beautiful woman."},{"verse":12,"text":"When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me, but they will let you live."},{"verse":13,"text":"Please say you are my sister. Then they will treat me well because of you. My life will be spared because of you.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Abram came into Egypt. The Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful."},{"verse":15,"text":"Pharaoh's officials saw her too. They praised her to Pharaoh. So she was taken into Pharaoh's palace."},{"verse":16,"text":"Pharaoh treated Abram well because of her. Abram got sheep, cattle, and male and female donkeys. He got male and female servants and camels."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with terrible plagues. He did this because of Abram's wife Sarai."},{"verse":18,"text":"So Pharaoh sent for Abram. He said, \"What have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? Because of that, I took her to be my wife. Now here is your wife. Take her and go!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about Abram. They sent him away with his wife and everything he owned."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So Abram went up from Egypt into the Negev. He took his wife and everything he owned. And Lot went with him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Abram had become very rich. He had many animals and much silver and gold."},{"verse":3,"text":"From the Negev he traveled from place to place toward Bethel. He came to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been before."},{"verse":4,"text":"That was where he had built the altar. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Lot was traveling with Abram. He also had flocks, herds, and tents."},{"verse":6,"text":"But the land could not support both of them living together. That was because they had so much that they could not stay together."},{"verse":7,"text":"And there was fighting between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land."},{"verse":8,"text":"So Abram said to Lot, \"Please let's not fight with each other. Let's not have our herdsmen fight either. After all, we are family."},{"verse":9,"text":"Isn't the whole land in front of you? Let's go our separate ways. If you go left, I'll go right. If you go right, I'll go left.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Lot looked around. He saw that the whole plain of the Jordan River had plenty of water, all the way to Zoar. It was like the garden of the LORD. It was like the land of Egypt. This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah."},{"verse":11,"text":"So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself. He set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot went their separate ways."},{"verse":12,"text":"Abram lived in the land of Canaan. But Lot settled among the cities of the plain. He set up his tent near Sodom."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now the men of Sodom were wicked. They were sinning greatly against the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"After Lot left, the LORD said to Abram, \"Look up from where you are standing. Look north and south. Look east and west."},{"verse":15,"text":"For I will give you all the land you see. I will give it to you and your offspring forever."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will make your offspring as many as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted."},{"verse":17,"text":"Get up and walk through the land. Walk through its length and width, because I will give it to you.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Abram moved his tent. He went to live near the oak trees of Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time Amraphel was king of Shinar. Arioch was king of Ellasar. Chedorlaomer was king of Elam. And Tidal was king of Goiim."},{"verse":2,"text":"These kings went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. Bela is also called Zoar."},{"verse":3,"text":"These five kings joined together in the Valley of Siddim. That is the Salt Sea.","note":"The Salt Sea is the Dead Sea."},{"verse":4,"text":"For twelve years they had been ruled by Chedorlaomer. But in the thirteenth year they turned against him."},{"verse":5,"text":"In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings with him came out. They defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim. They defeated the Zuzites in Ham and the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim."},{"verse":6,"text":"They also defeated the Horites in the hills of Seir. They went as far as El-paran, near the desert."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then they turned back and attacked En-mishpat, which is Kadesh. They took over all the land of the Amalekites. They also beat the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the king of Sodom marched out. So did the kings of Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela, which is Zoar. They lined up for battle in the Valley of Siddim."},{"verse":9,"text":"They fought against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar. It was four kings against five."},{"verse":10,"text":"The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran away. Some of their men fell into the pits. The rest ran away to the hills."},{"verse":11,"text":"The four kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah. They took all their food too. Then they left."},{"verse":12,"text":"They also took Abram's nephew Lot and everything he owned. Lot was living in Sodom."},{"verse":13,"text":"A man who escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living near the oak trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre was a brother of Eshcol and Aner. They had all made a treaty with Abram."},{"verse":14,"text":"Abram heard that his relative had been captured. So he called out 318 trained men who were born in his household. They chased the enemy as far as Dan."},{"verse":15,"text":"During the night, Abram split up his men to attack. They beat Chedorlaomer's army. They chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus."},{"verse":16,"text":"Abram brought back all the goods. He also brought back his relative Lot and Lot's goods. He brought back the women and the other people too."},{"verse":17,"text":"Abram came back from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings with him. Then the king of Sodom went out to meet him. They met in the Valley of Shaveh, which is the King's Valley."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine, since he was a priest of God Most High."},{"verse":19,"text":"He blessed Abram. He said,\n\"May Abram be blessed by God Most High,\nthe Maker of heaven and earth."},{"verse":20,"text":"And blessed be God Most High,\nwho has handed your enemies over to you.\"\nThen Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything."},{"verse":21,"text":"The king of Sodom said to Abram, \"Give me the people. But keep the goods for yourself.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"But Abram answered the king of Sodom, \"I have raised my hand and made a promise to the LORD God Most High. He is the Maker of heaven and earth."},{"verse":23,"text":"I promised that I will not take anything that belongs to you. I won't even take a thread or a sandal strap. That way you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"I will take nothing except what my men have eaten. But give a share to the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.\""}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After these things, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision. He said, \"Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield. I am your very great reward.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"But Abram answered, \"Lord GOD, what can you give me? I still have no children. The one who will get everything I own is Eliezer of Damascus.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Abram went on, \"Look, you have not given me any children. So a servant in my house will get everything I have.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Abram again. He said, \"This man will not get what is yours. A son from your own body will get it.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD took Abram outside. He said, \"Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.\" Then he told him, \"That is how many your offspring will be.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD also said to him, \"I am the LORD. I brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans. I did it to give you this land to own.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But Abram said, \"Lord GOD, how can I know that I will own it?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD said to him, \"Bring me a young cow, a goat, and a ram. Each must be three years old. Also bring a dove and a young pigeon.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Abram brought all these to the LORD. He cut each animal in half. He laid the halves across from each other. But he did not cut the birds in half."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then birds of prey came down on the dead bodies. But Abram chased them away."},{"verse":12,"text":"As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep. Suddenly a great fear and darkness came over him."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD said to Abram, \"You can be sure of this. Your children's children will be strangers in a land that isn't theirs. They will be made slaves there. They will be treated badly for 400 years."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves. After that they will come out with many riches."},{"verse":15,"text":"But you will join your fathers in peace. You will be buried when you are very old."},{"verse":16,"text":"In the fourth generation, your people will come back here. That's because the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The sun went down, and it was dark. Then suddenly a smoking firepot and a flaming torch appeared. They passed between the halves of the animals."},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram. He said, \"I have given this land to your descendants. It reaches from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River."},{"verse":19,"text":"It is the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,"},{"verse":20,"text":"Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Abram's wife Sarai had not had any children for him. But she had a servant girl from Egypt named Hagar."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Sarai said to Abram, \"Look, the LORD has kept me from having children. Please go and sleep with my servant. Maybe I can have a family through her.\" Abram agreed to what Sarai said."},{"verse":3,"text":"Abram had been living in Canaan for ten years. Then his wife Sarai took her Egyptian servant Hagar. She gave her to Abram to be his wife."},{"verse":4,"text":"Abram slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to look down on Sarai."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Sarai said to Abram, \"This wrong done to me is your fault! I put my servant in your arms. Now that she knows she is pregnant, she looks down on me. May the LORD judge between you and me.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Look,\" Abram said, \"your servant is under your control. Do whatever you want with her.\" Then Sarai treated Hagar so badly that Hagar ran away from her."},{"verse":7,"text":"The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert. It was the spring beside the road to Shur."},{"verse":8,"text":"The angel said, \"Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from? Where are you going?\" \"I'm running away from Sarai, the woman I serve,\" she answered."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD told her, \"Go back to the woman you serve. Obey her.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The angel also said, \"I will give you so many children and grandchildren that no one will be able to count them.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD said,\n\"Look, you are pregnant.\nYou will have a son.\nYou must name him Ishmael,\nbecause the LORD has heard your cry of pain.","note":"Ishmael means God hears."},{"verse":12,"text":"He will be like a wild donkey of a man.\nHe will fight against everyone,\nand everyone will fight against him.\nHe will live at odds with all his brothers.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD had spoken to Hagar. So she gave him this name: \"You are the God who sees me.\" She said, \"Here I have seen the One who sees me!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"That is why the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. It is between Kadesh and Bered.","note":"Beer-lahai-roi means well of the Living One who sees me."},{"verse":15,"text":"So Hagar had a son for Abram. Abram named the son she had borne Ishmael."},{"verse":16,"text":"Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael for him."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him. He said, \"I am God Almighty. Live your life before me, and be without fault."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will make my covenant between me and you. I will give you a very great number of descendants.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Abram bowed down with his face to the ground. And God said to him,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Here is my covenant with you. You will be the father of many nations."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your name will not be Abram anymore. Your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations.","note":"Abram means exalted father. Abraham means father of many."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will give you very, very many children. I will make nations come from you. Kings will come from you."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will make my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you. It will be a covenant that lasts forever. I will be your God. And I will be the God of your descendants after you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You are living as a stranger in this land. I will give all the land of Canaan to you and your descendants. It will belong to you forever. And I will be their God.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"God also said to Abraham, \"You must keep my covenant. You and your descendants must keep it in all the generations to come."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is my covenant with you and your descendants that you must keep. Every male among you must be circumcised."},{"verse":11,"text":"You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin. This will be the sign of the covenant between me and you."},{"verse":12,"text":"In every generation, every male among you must be circumcised when he is eight days old. This includes those born in your household. It also includes those bought from a foreigner, even though they are not your children."},{"verse":13,"text":"Those born in your household and those bought with money must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh will be a covenant that lasts forever."},{"verse":14,"text":"But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then God said to Abraham, \"As for your wife Sarai, don't call her Sarai anymore, because her name will be Sarah.","note":"Sarah means princess."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will bless her. I will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground. Then he laughed. He said to himself, \"Can a man who is 100 years old have a child? Can Sarah have a baby at 90?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"And Abraham said to God, \"Oh, please let Ishmael live under your blessing!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But God answered, \"Your wife Sarah will surely have a son for you. You must name him Isaac. I will make my covenant with him. It will be a covenant that lasts forever for his descendants after him.","note":"Isaac means he laughs."},{"verse":20,"text":"As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will surely bless him too. I will give him many children and greatly increase his descendants. He will be the father of twelve rulers. I will make him into a great nation."},{"verse":21,"text":"But I will make my covenant with Isaac. Sarah will have him for you at this time next year.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"When God finished talking with Abraham, he went up from him."},{"verse":23,"text":"On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael. He took every male in his household, both those born there and those bought with his money. He circumcised them all, just as God had told him."},{"verse":24,"text":"Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised."},{"verse":25,"text":"His son Ishmael was 13."},{"verse":26,"text":"Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day."},{"verse":27,"text":"All the men of Abraham's household were circumcised with him. This included servants born in his household and those bought from foreigners."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD appeared to Abraham near the Oaks of Mamre. It was the hottest part of the day. Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent."},{"verse":2,"text":"Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the door of his tent to meet them. He bowed low to the ground."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"My lord,\" Abraham said, \"if you are pleased with me, please don't pass by your servant."},{"verse":4,"text":"Let me have some water brought so you can wash your feet. Then rest under the tree."},{"verse":5,"text":"I'll bring a little bread so you can get your strength back. That's why you have come by your servant. After that, you can go on your way.\" \"Yes,\" they answered. \"Do as you have said.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, \"Quick! Get three seahs of fine flour. Knead it and bake some bread.\"","note":"Three seahs is about 20 quarts."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Abraham ran to the herd. He picked out a tender, choice calf and gave it to a servant. The servant hurried to cook it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Abraham brought curds and milk and the calf that had been cooked. He set the food before the men. He stood near them under the tree while they ate."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Where is your wife Sarah?\" they asked. \"There, in the tent,\" he answered."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD said, \"I will surely come back to you at this time next year. And your wife Sarah will have a son!\" Sarah was behind him, listening at the door of the tent."},{"verse":11,"text":"Abraham and Sarah were already very old. Sarah was past the age of having children."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Sarah laughed to herself. She thought, \"I am worn out, and my husband is old. Will I have this joy now?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD asked Abraham, \"Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Can I really have a baby now that I am old?'"},{"verse":14,"text":"Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will come back to you at the set time, about a year from now. And Sarah will have a son.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But Sarah was afraid, so she denied it. She said, \"I didn't laugh.\" \"No,\" the LORD said, \"you did laugh.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the men got up to leave. They looked down toward Sodom. Abraham walked along with them to send them on their way."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD said, \"Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?"},{"verse":18,"text":"Abraham will surely become a great and strong nation. Through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed."},{"verse":19,"text":"I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his family after him. They are to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and fair. That way the LORD will do for Abraham what he has promised.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the LORD said, \"There is a loud cry against Sodom and Gomorrah. And because their sin is so terrible,"},{"verse":21,"text":"I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the cry that has come to me. If not, I will know.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the two men turned away and went toward Sodom. But Abraham stayed standing before the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"Abraham came near and said, \"Will you really wipe out the righteous along with the wicked?"},{"verse":24,"text":"What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really wipe it out? Won't you spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people there?"},{"verse":25,"text":"You would never do such a thing! You would never kill the righteous with the wicked. Then the righteous and the wicked would be treated the same. You would never do that! Won't the Judge of all the earth do what is right?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The LORD answered, \"If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Abraham spoke again. \"I have been bold to speak to the Lord, even though I am only dust and ashes."},{"verse":28,"text":"What if there are five less than fifty righteous people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are missing?\" He answered, \"If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Once more Abraham spoke to the LORD. \"What if only forty are found there?\" He answered, \"For the sake of the forty, I will not do it.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Abraham said, \"Please don't let the Lord be angry. But let me speak again. What if only thirty are found there?\" He answered, \"If I find thirty there, I will not do it.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Abraham said, \"I have been bold to speak to the Lord. What if only twenty are found there?\" He answered, \"For the sake of the twenty, I will not destroy it.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"At last Abraham said, \"Please don't let the Lord be angry. Let me speak just one more time. What if only ten are found there?\" He answered, \"For the sake of the ten, I will not destroy it.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"When the LORD finished speaking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham went back home."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The two angels came to Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting in the city gate. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed with his face to the ground."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said, \"My lords, please come to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can get up early and go on your way.\" \"No,\" they answered. \"We'll spend the night in the town square.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Lot kept begging them, so they went with him into his house. He made a big meal for them. He baked bread without yeast, and they ate."},{"verse":4,"text":"Before they had gone to bed, all the men of Sodom came. Young and old, they surrounded the house."},{"verse":5,"text":"They shouted to Lot, \"Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Lot went outside to meet them. He shut the door behind him."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Please, my brothers,\" he begged, \"don't do such an evil thing!"},{"verse":8,"text":"Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you. You can do what you want with them. But don't do anything to these men. They have come under the protection of my roof.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Get out of our way!\" they answered. They said, \"This man came here as a foreigner. Now he wants to act like a judge! We'll treat you worse than them.\" They pushed hard against Lot and moved in to break down the door."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the men inside reached out and pulled Lot into the house. Then they shut the door."},{"verse":11,"text":"They struck the men at the door with blindness, both young and old. So the men wore themselves out trying to find the door."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the two men said to Lot, \"Do you have anyone else here? A son-in-law, or sons or daughters? Anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here,"},{"verse":13,"text":"because we are about to destroy this place. The cry to the LORD against its people is so great. So he has sent us to destroy it.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Lot went out and talked to the men who were going to marry his daughters. \"Get up,\" he said. \"Get out of this place! The LORD is about to destroy the city!\" But they thought he was joking."},{"verse":15,"text":"At dawn the angels urged Lot to hurry. They said, \"Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. If you don't, you'll be swept away when the city is punished.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But Lot was slow to go. So the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters. They led them safely out of the city, because the LORD had mercy on them."},{"verse":17,"text":"As soon as the men had brought them out, one of them said, \"Run for your lives! Don't look back. Don't stop anywhere in the valley! Run to the mountains, or you'll be swept away!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But Lot answered, \"No, my lords, please!"},{"verse":19,"text":"You have been good to your servant. You have shown me great kindness by saving my life. But I can't run to the mountains. The disaster will catch me, and I will die."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look, there's a town nearby that I can run to. It's a small place. Please let me run there. It's only a small place, isn't it? Then my life will be saved.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"All right,\" he answered. \"I will do this for you too. I will not destroy the town you are talking about."},{"verse":22,"text":"Hurry! Run there fast. I can't do anything until you get there.\" That is why the town was named Zoar.","note":"Zoar means small."},{"verse":23,"text":"The sun had risen over the land by the time Lot reached Zoar."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It came from the LORD out of the sky."},{"verse":25,"text":"In this way he destroyed those cities and the whole valley. He destroyed all the people living in the cities and everything that grew on the ground."},{"verse":26,"text":"But Lot's wife looked back, and she turned into a pillar of salt."},{"verse":27,"text":"Early the next morning, Abraham got up. He went back to the place where he had stood before the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley. He saw smoke rising from the land like smoke from a furnace."},{"verse":29,"text":"So when God destroyed the cities of the valley, he remembered Abraham. He brought Lot out of the disaster that destroyed the cities where Lot had lived."},{"verse":30,"text":"Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar. So he and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains. They lived in a cave."},{"verse":31,"text":"One day the older daughter said to the younger one, \"Our father is old. There's no man in the land to sleep with us, as people do all over the earth."},{"verse":32,"text":"Come, let's get our father drunk with wine. Then we can sleep with him and keep his family line going.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So that night they got their father drunk with wine. The older daughter went in and slept with her father. He didn't know when she lay down or when she got up."},{"verse":34,"text":"The next day the older daughter said to the younger one, \"Look, I slept with my father last night. Let's get him drunk with wine again tonight. Then you can go in and sleep with him. That way we can keep our father's family line going.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"So that night they got their father drunk with wine again. The younger daughter went in and slept with him. He didn't know when she lay down or when she got up."},{"verse":36,"text":"So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father."},{"verse":37,"text":"The older daughter had a son. She named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites who live today."},{"verse":38,"text":"The younger daughter also had a son. She named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites who live today."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Abraham traveled from there to the area of the Negev. He settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he was staying in Gerar,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Abraham said about his wife Sarah, \"She is my sister.\" So Abimelech, the king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her."},{"verse":3,"text":"But one night God came to Abimelech in a dream. He told him, \"You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken. She is a married woman.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Abimelech had not gone near her. So he said, \"Lord, would you destroy a nation that is innocent?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Didn't Abraham tell me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this with an honest heart and clean hands.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then God said to him in the dream, \"Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience. So I kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now give the man's wife back. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give her back, know this. You will surely die, you and all who belong to you.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Early the next morning Abimelech got up and called all his servants. He told them everything that had happened. And the men were terrified."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, \"What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you? You have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom! You have done things to me that should never be done.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Abimelech also asked Abraham, \"What made you do this?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Abraham answered, \"I thought to myself, 'Surely no one here fears God. They will kill me to get my wife.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"Besides, she really is my sister. She is my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter. And she became my wife."},{"verse":13,"text":"God had me travel away from my father's house. Then I said to Sarah, 'This is how you can show you are loyal to me. Everywhere we go, say about me, \"He is my brother.\"'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female servants. He gave them to Abraham. And he gave his wife Sarah back to him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Abimelech said, \"Look, my land is open to you. Live wherever you like.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"He said to Sarah, \"Look, I am giving your brother a thousand pieces of silver. This shows everyone with you that you did nothing wrong. You are completely cleared.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Abraham prayed to God. And God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they could have children again."},{"verse":18,"text":"Because of Abraham's wife Sarah, the LORD had kept every woman in Abimelech's household from having children."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD paid attention to Sarah, just as he had said. The LORD did for Sarah what he had promised."},{"verse":2,"text":"Sarah became pregnant. She had a son for Abraham in his old age. It happened at the exact time God had promised."},{"verse":3,"text":"Abraham named the son Sarah had for him Isaac.","note":"Isaac means he laughs."},{"verse":4,"text":"When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. He did what God had commanded him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him."},{"verse":6,"text":"Sarah said, \"God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"She added, \"Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given him a son in his old age.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The child grew and stopped nursing. On the day Isaac stopped nursing, Abraham held a big feast."},{"verse":9,"text":"But Sarah saw Hagar's son making fun of her son. Hagar was from Egypt, and she had had this son with Abraham."},{"verse":10,"text":"So Sarah said to Abraham, \"Send away that slave woman and her son! That slave woman's son will never share what we leave to my son Isaac!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"This upset Abraham very much, because it was about his son Ishmael."},{"verse":12,"text":"But God said to Abraham, \"Don't be upset about the boy and your servant woman. Listen to everything Sarah tells you. That is because your family line will be counted through Isaac."},{"verse":13,"text":"But I will also make a nation from the slave woman's son, because he is your child.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Early in the morning Abraham got up. He took some bread and a skin bag of water. He put them on Hagar's shoulders and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba."},{"verse":15,"text":"When the water in the bag was gone, she put the boy under a bush."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then she went and sat down nearby, about as far as an arrow can fly. She said, \"I can't watch the boy die!\" As she sat there, she cried out loud."},{"verse":17,"text":"God heard the boy crying. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven. \"What's wrong, Hagar? Don't be afraid. God has heard the boy crying where he lies."},{"verse":18,"text":"Get up. Lift the boy up and hold him by the hand. I will do this because I will make him into a great nation.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the bag with water. She gave the boy a drink."},{"verse":20,"text":"God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became a skilled archer."},{"verse":21,"text":"He lived in the Wilderness of Paran. His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt."},{"verse":22,"text":"At that time Abimelech came with Phicol, the commander of his army. They said to Abraham, \"God is with you in everything you do."},{"verse":23,"text":"So make a promise to me here before God. Promise that you won't cheat me or my children or my descendants. Be as kind to me and to this land where you live as I have been to you.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Abraham answered, \"I promise.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"But then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well. Abimelech's servants had taken it by force."},{"verse":26,"text":"Abimelech answered, \"I don't know who did this. You didn't tell me. I didn't hear about it until today.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. And the two men made a covenant."},{"verse":28,"text":"Abraham set apart seven female lambs from the flock."},{"verse":29,"text":"Abimelech asked him, \"Why have you set apart these seven female lambs?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Abraham answered, \"Take these seven lambs from me. They will prove that I dug this well.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"So that place was called Beersheba. That's because the two of them made a promise there.","note":"Beersheba can mean well of the oath or well of seven."},{"verse":32,"text":"They made the covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, got up. They went back to the land of the Philistines."},{"verse":33,"text":"Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. There he called on the name of the LORD, the God who lives forever."},{"verse":34,"text":"And Abraham lived in the land of the Philistines for a long time."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, \"Abraham!\" \"Here I am,\" he answered."},{"verse":2,"text":"God said, \"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love. Go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains. I will show you which one.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Abraham got up early the next morning. He saddled his donkey. He took two of his servants and his son Isaac with him. He cut the wood for a burnt offering. Then he set out for the place God had told him about."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away."},{"verse":5,"text":"Abraham said to his servants, \"Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship. Then we will come back to you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the knife. And the two of them walked on together."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, \"My father!\" \"Here I am, my son,\" he answered. Isaac said, \"Here are the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Abraham answered, \"God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.\" And the two of them walked on together."},{"verse":9,"text":"They came to the place God had told him about. Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac. He laid him on the altar, on top of the wood."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, \"Abraham, Abraham!\" \"Here I am,\" he answered."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Don't lay a hand on the boy,\" the angel said. \"Don't do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not held back your only son from me.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Abraham looked up. Behind him he saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. So he went and took the ram. He offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son."},{"verse":14,"text":"Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day people say, \"On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time."},{"verse":16,"text":"He said, \"I swear by myself, says the LORD, that because you have done this and have not held back your only son,"},{"verse":17,"text":"I will surely bless you. I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take over the gates of their enemies."},{"verse":18,"text":"And through your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed. This is because you have obeyed me.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Abraham went back to his servants. They got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham lived in Beersheba."},{"verse":20,"text":"Some time later, Abraham was told, \"Milcah has also had sons with your brother Nahor."},{"verse":21,"text":"Uz is the firstborn, then his brother Buz, then Kemuel, the father of Aram,"},{"verse":22,"text":"then Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. Milcah had these eight sons with Abraham's brother Nahor."},{"verse":24,"text":"Nahor also had a concubine named Reumah. She had Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Sarah lived to be 127 years old."},{"verse":2,"text":"She died in Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Abraham got up from beside his dead wife. He spoke to the Hittites."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I am a foreigner and a stranger living among you. Give me a burial place here among you. Then I can bury my dead.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The Hittites answered Abraham."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Listen to us, sir. You are God's chosen one among us. Bury your dead in the best of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to bury your dead.\"","note":"Hebrew: a prince of God, or a mighty prince."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Abraham stood up and bowed down before the people of the land, the Hittites."},{"verse":8,"text":"He said to them, \"If you are willing to let me bury my dead, listen to me. Speak to Ephron son of Zohar for me."},{"verse":9,"text":"Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah. It belongs to him, and it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me in front of you for the full price. Then I will have a place to bury the dead.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Ephron was sitting among the Hittites. All the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city were there. In front of them, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field. I also give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in front of my people. Bury your dead.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land."},{"verse":13,"text":"In front of them he said to Ephron, \"Please listen to me. I will pay you the price of the field. Take it from me so I can bury my dead there.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Ephron answered Abraham,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth 400 shekels of silver. But what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.\"","note":"400 shekels is about 10 pounds of silver."},{"verse":16,"text":"Abraham agreed to Ephron's price. He weighed out the amount Ephron had named while the Hittites listened. It was 400 shekels of silver, using the weights the traders used."},{"verse":17,"text":"So Ephron's field at Machpelah near Mamre was handed over. That included the field, the cave in it, and all the trees inside the edges of the field."},{"verse":18,"text":"It became Abraham's property. All the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city saw it happen."},{"verse":19,"text":"After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field at Machpelah. It was near Mamre, which is Hebron, in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":20,"text":"So the Hittites handed over the field and its cave to Abraham as a place to bury the dead."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"By now Abraham was very old. The LORD had blessed him in every way."},{"verse":2,"text":"Abraham spoke to the chief servant of his household, who was in charge of everything he owned. He said, \"Put your hand under my thigh."},{"verse":3,"text":"I want you to make a promise by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth. Promise that you won't get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites. I am living among them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Instead, go to my country and my relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac there.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The servant asked him, \"What if the woman won't come back with me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land you came from?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Abraham answered, \"Make sure you don't take my son back there."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD, the God of heaven, brought me from my father's house and the land of my birth. He spoke to me and made me a promise. He said, 'I will give this land to your offspring.' He will send his angel ahead of you. Then you can get a wife for my son from there."},{"verse":8,"text":"If the woman won't come back with you, then you are free from this promise to me. Just don't take my son back there.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham. He made a promise to him about this."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left. He took all kinds of good things from his master with him. He set out for the town where Nahor lived in Aram-naharaim.","note":"Aram-naharaim means Aram of the two rivers, in northwest Mesopotamia."},{"verse":11,"text":"Evening was coming. He made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town. It was the time when the women went out to get water."},{"verse":12,"text":"He prayed, \"LORD, God of my master Abraham, please give me success today. Show kindness to my master Abraham."},{"verse":13,"text":"Here I am, standing beside the spring. The young women of the town are coming out to get water."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will say to a girl, 'Please lower your jar so I can drink.' If she answers, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too,' let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That's how I will know you have shown kindness to my master.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel. Bethuel was the son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor."},{"verse":16,"text":"The girl was very beautiful. She was a virgin. No man had ever slept with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came back up."},{"verse":17,"text":"The servant ran to meet her. He said, \"Please give me a little water from your jar.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Drink, my lord,\" she said. She quickly lowered her jar to her hands and gave him a drink."},{"verse":19,"text":"After she gave him a drink, she said, \"I'll get water for your camels too, until they have had enough.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"She quickly emptied her jar into the trough. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She kept going until she had gotten water for all his camels."},{"verse":21,"text":"The man watched her closely without a word. He wanted to know if the LORD had made his trip a success or not."},{"verse":22,"text":"When the camels finished drinking, he took out a gold ring. It weighed a beka. He also took out two gold bracelets for her wrists. They weighed ten shekels.","note":"A beka is about a fifth of an ounce. Ten shekels is about 4 ounces."},{"verse":23,"text":"He asked, \"Whose daughter are you? Please tell me. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"She answered, \"I am the daughter of Bethuel. He is the son Milcah had with Nahor.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"She added, \"We have plenty of straw and feed. We also have room for you to spend the night.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"He said, \"Praise the LORD, the God of my master Abraham! He has not held back his kindness and faithfulness from my master. And the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master's relatives.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"The girl ran and told her mother's household about these things."},{"verse":29,"text":"Rebekah had a brother named Laban. He hurried out to the man at the spring."},{"verse":30,"text":"Laban had seen the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists. He had heard Rebekah say, \"This is what the man said to me.\" So he went out and found the man standing by the camels near the spring."},{"verse":31,"text":"Laban said, \"Come, you who are blessed by the LORD. Why are you standing out here? I have gotten the house ready. I have a place for the camels too.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So the man went to the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought for the camels. Water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then food was set in front of him. But he said, \"I won't eat until I have told you why I came.\" So Laban said, \"Please tell us.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"\"I am Abraham's servant,\" he said."},{"verse":35,"text":"\"The LORD has greatly blessed my master. He has become rich. The LORD has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys."},{"verse":36,"text":"My master's wife Sarah had a son for him when she was old. My master has given this son everything he owns."},{"verse":37,"text":"My master made me make a promise. He said, 'Don't get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites. I live in their land."},{"verse":38,"text":"Instead, go to my father's family and my relatives. Get a wife for my son there.'"},{"verse":39,"text":"Then I asked my master, 'What if the woman won't come back with me?'"},{"verse":40,"text":"He told me, 'I have lived my life before the LORD. He will send his angel with you. He will make your trip a success. Then you can get a wife for my son from my relatives and my father's family."},{"verse":41,"text":"You will go to my relatives. If they refuse to give her to you, then you will be free from your promise to me.'"},{"verse":42,"text":"When I came to the spring today, I prayed. I said, 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, please make my trip a success!"},{"verse":43,"text":"Here I am, standing beside this spring. A young woman may come out to get water. I will say to her, \"Please let me drink a little water from your jar.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"She may answer, \"Drink, and I'll get water for your camels too.\" If so, let her be the woman the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'"},{"verse":45,"text":"Before I had finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out. Her jar was on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'"},{"verse":46,"text":"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' So I drank, and she gave the camels water too."},{"verse":47,"text":"Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor. Milcah is his mother.' So I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham. He led me on the right road. He led me to get my master's brother's granddaughter for his son."},{"verse":49,"text":"Now, will you show kindness and faithfulness to my master? If so, tell me. If not, tell me that too. Then I can go somewhere else.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Laban and Bethuel answered, \"This is from the LORD. We have no choice in this."},{"verse":51,"text":"Here is Rebekah. Take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, just as the LORD has said.\""},{"verse":52,"text":"When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD."},{"verse":53,"text":"Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothes. He gave them to Rebekah. He also gave costly gifts to her brother and her mother."},{"verse":54,"text":"Then he and the men with him ate and drank. They spent the night there. When they got up the next morning, he said, \"Send me back to my master.\""},{"verse":55,"text":"But her brother and her mother said, \"Let the girl stay with us ten days or so. Then she can go.\""},{"verse":56,"text":"But he said, \"Don't keep me here. The LORD has made my trip a success. Send me on my way so I can go to my master.\""},{"verse":57,"text":"So they said, \"Let's call the girl and ask her what she wants.\""},{"verse":58,"text":"They called Rebekah and asked her, \"Will you go with this man?\" \"I will go,\" she said."},{"verse":59,"text":"So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way. Her nurse went with her, along with Abraham's servant and his men."},{"verse":60,"text":"They blessed Rebekah and said to her, \"Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands and thousands. May your offspring take over the gates of their enemies.\""},{"verse":61,"text":"Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready. They got on the camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left."},{"verse":62,"text":"Isaac had just come back from Beer-lahai-roi. He was living in the Negev."},{"verse":63,"text":"Early in the evening, Isaac went out to the field to think quietly. He looked up and saw camels coming."},{"verse":64,"text":"Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel."},{"verse":65,"text":"She asked the servant, \"Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?\" \"He is my master,\" the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself."},{"verse":66,"text":"Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done."},{"verse":67,"text":"Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. He took her as his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother died."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Abraham had married another wife. Her name was Keturah."},{"verse":2,"text":"She had these sons with him: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites."},{"verse":4,"text":"The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these came from Keturah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac."},{"verse":6,"text":"But while Abraham was still alive, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east."},{"verse":7,"text":"Abraham lived 175 years in all."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he took his last breath and died at a good old age. He was old and had lived a full life. And he joined his people who had died before him."},{"verse":9,"text":"His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite."},{"verse":10,"text":"Abraham had bought this field from the Hittites. Abraham was buried there with his wife Sarah."},{"verse":11,"text":"After Abraham died, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer-lahai-roi."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is the story of Abraham's son Ishmael. Hagar had him with Abraham. She was from Egypt, and she was Sarah's servant."},{"verse":13,"text":"These are the names of Ishmael's sons, from oldest to youngest. Nebaioth was Ishmael's firstborn. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,"},{"verse":14,"text":"Mishma, Dumah, Massa,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah."},{"verse":16,"text":"These were Ishmael's sons. Their villages and camps were named after them. They were twelve princes of their tribes."},{"verse":17,"text":"Ishmael lived 137 years in all. Then he took his last breath and died. And he joined his people who had died before him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Ishmael's descendants lived in the land from Havilah to Shur. Shur is near the border of Egypt on the way to Asshur. And they lived at odds with all their relatives."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is the story of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham was the father of Isaac."},{"verse":20,"text":"Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram. She was the sister of Laban the Aramean."},{"verse":21,"text":"Isaac's wife could not have children. So Isaac prayed to the LORD for her. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the babies inside her pushed against each other. She said, \"Why is this happening to me?\" So Rebekah went to ask the LORD about it."},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD said to her,\n\"Two nations are inside you.\nTwo peoples from you will be split apart.\nOne people will be stronger than the other.\nThe older will serve the younger.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins inside her."},{"verse":25,"text":"The first one came out red. His whole body was covered with hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau.","note":"Esau may mean hairy."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then his brother came out holding on to Esau's heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when the twins were born.","note":"Jacob means he grabs the heel. It can also mean he cheats."},{"verse":27,"text":"The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter who loved the outdoors. But Jacob was a quiet man who stayed near the tents."},{"verse":28,"text":"Isaac liked to eat wild game, so he loved Esau. But Rebekah loved Jacob."},{"verse":29,"text":"One day Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was starving."},{"verse":30,"text":"He said to Jacob, \"Let me eat some of that red stew. I'm starving!\" That is why he was also called Edom.","note":"Edom means red."},{"verse":31,"text":"Jacob answered, \"First sell me your rights as the firstborn son.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"\"Look,\" Esau said, \"I'm about to die. What good are a firstborn's rights to me?\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Jacob said, \"First make a promise to me.\" So Esau made a promise to Jacob. He sold Jacob his rights as the firstborn."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left. So Esau treated his rights as the firstborn as if they were worth nothing."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now there was another famine in the land. This was not the same as the famine in Abraham's time. Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, in Gerar."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, \"Don't go down to Egypt. Live in the land I tell you about."},{"verse":3,"text":"Stay in this land as a foreigner. I will be with you and bless you. I will give all these lands to you and your offspring. I will keep the promise I made to your father Abraham."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky. I will give them all these lands. And through your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will do this because Abraham obeyed me. He did what I required. He kept my commands, my rules, and my laws.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Isaac stayed in Gerar."},{"verse":7,"text":"The men there asked about his wife. He said, \"She is my sister.\" He was afraid to say, \"She is my wife.\" He thought, \"The men here will kill me to get Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Isaac had been there a long time. One day Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked down from a window. He was surprised to see Isaac hugging and kissing his wife Rebekah."},{"verse":9,"text":"Abimelech sent for Isaac. He said, \"So she really is your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?\" Isaac answered, \"I thought I might be killed because of her.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Abimelech said, \"What have you done to us? One of the men could easily have slept with your wife. Then you would have brought guilt on us.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Abimelech gave a warning to all the people. He said, \"Anyone who harms this man or his wife will surely be put to death.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Isaac planted crops in that land. That same year he harvested 100 times what he planted. The LORD blessed him."},{"verse":13,"text":"He got richer and richer, until he was very rich."},{"verse":14,"text":"He had so many flocks, herds, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him."},{"verse":15,"text":"So the Philistines filled in all the wells with dirt. His father's servants had dug those wells back when his father Abraham was alive."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Abimelech said to Isaac, \"Go away from us. You have become much too powerful for us.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Isaac left that place. He set up camp in the Valley of Gerar and lived there."},{"verse":18,"text":"Isaac opened up the old wells again. They had been dug when his father Abraham was alive. The Philistines had filled them in after Abraham died. Isaac gave the wells the same names his father had given them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Isaac's servants dug in the valley. They found a well of fresh water there."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac's herdsmen. They said, \"The water is ours!\" So Isaac named the well Esek, because they argued with him.","note":"Esek means arguing."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then they dug another well. They argued over that one too. So Isaac named it Sitnah.","note":"Sitnah means fighting against."},{"verse":22,"text":"He moved on from there and dug another well. No one argued over it. He named it Rehoboth. He said, \"At last the LORD has made room for us. We will grow and do well in the land.\"","note":"Rehoboth means open spaces."},{"verse":23,"text":"From there Isaac went up to Beersheba."},{"verse":24,"text":"That night the LORD appeared to him. He said, \"I am the God of your father Abraham. Don't be afraid, because I am with you. I will bless you. I will give you many descendants because of my servant Abraham.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. He set up his tent there. And his servants dug a well there too."},{"verse":26,"text":"Later Abimelech came to Isaac from Gerar. Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army came with him."},{"verse":27,"text":"Isaac asked them, \"Why have you come to me? You hated me and sent me away.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"They answered, \"We can clearly see that the LORD has been with you. So we think there should be a promise between us and you. Let us make a covenant with you."},{"verse":29,"text":"Promise that you won't harm us. We didn't harm you. We only did good to you, and we sent you away in peace. And now the LORD has blessed you.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So Isaac made a big meal for them, and they ate and drank."},{"verse":31,"text":"Early the next morning they got up and made promises to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace."},{"verse":32,"text":"That same day Isaac's servants came to him. They told him about the well they had dug. \"We have found water!\" they said."},{"verse":33,"text":"So he named the well Shibah. That is why the city is named Beersheba to this day.","note":"Shibah sounds like the Hebrew word for oath. Beersheba can mean well of the oath."},{"verse":34,"text":"When Esau was 40 years old, he married two women. One was Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite. The other was Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite."},{"verse":35,"text":"These wives made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Isaac grew old, and his eyes became so weak that he could not see. He called his older son Esau and said to him, \"My son.\" \"Here I am,\" Esau answered."},{"verse":2,"text":"Isaac said, \"Look, I am old now. I don't know when I will die."},{"verse":3,"text":"So take your weapons, your arrows and your bow. Go out into the field and hunt some wild game for me."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then make me the tasty food I love. Bring it to me to eat. Then I will bless you before I die.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Rebekah was listening while Isaac talked to his son Esau. So when Esau went out into the field to hunt game and bring it back,"},{"verse":6,"text":"Rebekah said to her son Jacob, \"Listen. I heard your father talking to your brother Esau. He said,"},{"verse":7,"text":"'Bring me some wild game. Make me some tasty food to eat. Then I will bless you in front of the LORD before I die.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Now, my son, listen to me. Do just what I tell you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Go out to the flock. Bring me two of the best young goats. I'll make them into tasty food for your father, the kind he loves."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then take it to your father to eat. Then he will bless you before he dies.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, \"But my brother Esau is a hairy man. My skin is smooth."},{"verse":12,"text":"What if my father touches me? Then he will see that I am tricking him. I would bring a curse on myself, not a blessing.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"His mother answered, \"Let the curse fall on me, my son. Just do what I say. Go and get the goats for me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Jacob went and got the goats. He brought them to his mother. She made the tasty food his father loved."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which she had in the house. She put them on her younger son Jacob."},{"verse":16,"text":"She also put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then she handed her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jacob went to his father and said, \"My father.\" \"Here I am!\" Isaac answered. \"Which son are you?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Jacob said to his father, \"I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done what you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game. Then you can bless me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But Isaac asked his son, \"How did you find it so fast, my son?\" \"The LORD your God brought it to me,\" Jacob answered."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Isaac said to Jacob, \"Please come close so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So Jacob came close to his father Isaac. Isaac touched him and said, \"The voice is Jacob's voice. But the hands are Esau's hands.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Isaac didn't know it was Jacob, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So Isaac blessed him."},{"verse":24,"text":"Again Isaac asked, \"Are you really my son Esau?\" Jacob answered, \"I am.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Isaac said, \"Bring me some of my son's game to eat. Then I will bless you.\" Jacob brought it to him, and he ate. Then Jacob brought him wine, and he drank."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then his father Isaac said to him, \"Please come here and kiss me, my son.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Jacob came close and kissed him. Isaac smelled his clothes. Then he blessed him and said,\n\"Ah, my son smells like a field\nthat the LORD has blessed."},{"verse":28,"text":"May God give you dew from the sky\nand rich soil on the earth.\nMay he give you plenty of grain and new wine."},{"verse":29,"text":"May peoples serve you.\nMay nations bow down to you.\nMay you be the master over your brothers.\nMay your mother's sons bow down to you.\nMay those who curse you be cursed.\nMay those who bless you be blessed.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Isaac finished blessing Jacob. Jacob had just left his father. Right then his brother Esau came back from hunting."},{"verse":31,"text":"Esau also made some tasty food. He brought it to his father and said, \"My father, sit up and eat some of your son's game. Then you can bless me.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"His father Isaac asked him, \"Who are you?\" \"I am Esau, your firstborn son,\" he answered."},{"verse":33,"text":"Isaac began to shake very hard. He said, \"Then who hunted the game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came in. I blessed him. And he will be blessed, for sure!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"When Esau heard what his father said, he let out a loud and bitter cry. He said to his father, \"Bless me too, my father!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"But Isaac said, \"Your brother came and tricked me. He took your blessing.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Esau said, \"Isn't he rightly named Jacob? He has cheated me two times! He took my rights as the firstborn. And now he has taken my blessing.\" Then he asked, \"Didn't you save a blessing for me?\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Isaac answered Esau, \"Look, I have made him your master. I have made all his relatives his servants. I have given him grain and new wine to live on. So what is left that I can do for you, my son?\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Esau said to his father, \"Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!\" Then Esau cried out loud."},{"verse":39,"text":"His father Isaac answered him,\n\"Look, you will live far from the rich soil of the land.\nYou will live far from the dew of the sky above."},{"verse":40,"text":"You will live by the sword.\nAnd you will serve your brother.\nBut when you fight to be free,\nyou will break his yoke off your neck.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father had given Jacob. Esau said to himself, \"The days of mourning for my father are coming soon. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Someone told Rebekah what her older son Esau had said. So she sent for her younger son Jacob. She told him, \"Listen, your brother Esau is comforting himself by planning to kill you."},{"verse":43,"text":"So now, my son, do what I say. Run away right now to my brother Laban in Haran."},{"verse":44,"text":"Stay with him for a while, until your brother's anger cools down."},{"verse":45,"text":"Stay until your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him. Then I'll send for you and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?\""},{"verse":46,"text":"Then Rebekah said to Isaac, \"I'm sick of living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of these Hittite women, my life won't be worth living!\""}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. He gave him a command. \"Don't marry a woman from Canaan."},{"verse":2,"text":"Go right away to Paddan-aram. Go to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father. Marry one of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother."},{"verse":3,"text":"May God Almighty bless you. May he give you many children and make your family grow. May you become a large group of peoples."},{"verse":4,"text":"May he give the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants. Then you will own the land where you now live as a foreigner. God gave this land to Abraham.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Isaac sent Jacob away to Paddan-aram. Jacob went to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean. Laban was the brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau."},{"verse":6,"text":"Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob. He learned that Isaac had sent him to Paddan-aram to find a wife there. Isaac had given him a command: \"Don't marry a woman from Canaan.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Esau also learned that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother. Jacob had gone to Paddan-aram."},{"verse":8,"text":"Esau saw that his father Isaac did not like the women from Canaan."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Esau went to Ishmael. He married Mahalath, the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael. She was the sister of Nebaioth. She was added to the wives he already had."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran."},{"verse":11,"text":"He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones there and put it under his head. Then he lay down to sleep."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jacob had a dream. He saw a ladder standing on the earth. Its top reached up to heaven. God's angels were going up and down on it."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD was standing at the top. He said, \"I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land you are lying on."},{"verse":14,"text":"Your descendants will be as many as the dust of the earth. You will spread out to the west and the east, to the north and the south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring."},{"verse":15,"text":"Look, I am with you. I will watch over you everywhere you go. I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Jacob woke up. He said, \"Surely the LORD is in this place, and I didn't know it.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"He was afraid and said, \"What an awesome place this is! This is nothing less than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head. He set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it."},{"verse":19,"text":"He named that place Bethel. Before that, the city had been called Luz.","note":"Bethel means house of God."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Jacob made a vow. He said, \"If God will be with me and watch over me on this trip, and if he will give me food to eat and clothes to wear,"},{"verse":21,"text":"so that I come back safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God."},{"verse":22,"text":"This stone I have set up as a pillar will be God's house. And I will surely give you a tenth of everything you give me.\""}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jacob went on with his trip. He came to the land of the people of the east."},{"verse":2,"text":"He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying near it, because the sheep were given water from this well. A large stone covered the opening of the well."},{"verse":3,"text":"When all the flocks had gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well. They would give water to the sheep. Then they would put the stone back over the opening of the well."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jacob asked the shepherds, \"My brothers, where are you from?\" \"We're from Haran,\" they answered."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jacob asked, \"Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?\" \"We know him,\" they answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Is he doing well?\" Jacob asked. \"Yes,\" they said. \"And here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jacob said, \"Look, it's still the middle of the day. It's not time yet to gather the animals. Give the sheep water and take them back to the fields to eat.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But they answered, \"We can't. First all the flocks must be gathered. Then the stone is rolled away from the well. Then we give the sheep water.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father's sheep. She was a shepherd."},{"verse":10,"text":"Rachel was the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother. Jacob saw her with Laban's sheep. Right away he went over and rolled the stone away from the well. Then he gave water to his uncle's sheep."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and he cried out loud."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jacob told Rachel that he was a relative of her father. He told her he was Rebekah's son. So she ran and told her father."},{"verse":13,"text":"Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son. He ran out to meet him. He hugged him and kissed him and brought him to his home. There Jacob told him everything that had happened."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Laban said, \"You really are my own flesh and blood.\" Jacob stayed with him for a month."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Laban said to him, \"You shouldn't work for me for nothing just because you're my relative. Tell me what your pay should be.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Laban had two daughters. The older one was named Leah. The younger one was named Rachel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Leah had weak eyes. But Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.","note":"Or Leah had soft eyes."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jacob loved Rachel. So he said, \"I'll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Laban said, \"It's better for me to give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her so much."},{"verse":21,"text":"At last Jacob said to Laban, \"Give me my wife. My time is up, and I want to sleep with her.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So Laban invited all the men of that place and gave a feast."},{"verse":23,"text":"But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob. And Jacob slept with her."},{"verse":24,"text":"Laban also gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant."},{"verse":25,"text":"When morning came, Jacob saw that it was Leah! He said to Laban, \"What have you done to me? I worked for you to get Rachel, didn't I? Why did you trick me?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Laban answered, \"Here it's not our custom to let the younger daughter marry before the older one."},{"verse":27,"text":"Finish this week of celebrating. Then we will give you the younger one too. But you must work for me another seven years.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"And Jacob did that. He finished the week of celebrating. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife."},{"verse":29,"text":"Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years."},{"verse":31,"text":"The LORD saw that Leah was not loved. So he made her able to have children. But Rachel could not have children."},{"verse":32,"text":"Leah became pregnant and had a son. She named him Reuben. She said, \"The LORD has seen how I am suffering. Surely my husband will love me now.\"","note":"Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my suffering."},{"verse":33,"text":"She became pregnant again and had a son. She said, \"The LORD heard that I am not loved. So he gave me this son too.\" So she named him Simeon.","note":"Simeon sounds like the Hebrew word for heard."},{"verse":34,"text":"Again Leah became pregnant and had a son. She said, \"Now at last my husband will be close to me. I have given him three sons.\" So he was named Levi.","note":"Levi sounds like the Hebrew word for close or joined."},{"verse":35,"text":"Once more she became pregnant and had a son. She said, \"This time I will praise the LORD.\" So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.","note":"Judah sounds like the Hebrew word for praise."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Rachel saw that she was not having any children for Jacob. So she was jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, \"Give me children, or I'll die!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said, \"Am I God? He is the one who has kept you from having children.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then she said, \"Here is my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She can have children for me. Then through her I can have a family too.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife. And Jacob slept with her."},{"verse":5,"text":"Bilhah became pregnant and had a son for Jacob."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Rachel said, \"God has judged in my favor. He has heard my prayer and given me a son.\" So she named him Dan.","note":"Dan means he judged."},{"verse":7,"text":"Rachel's servant Bilhah became pregnant again. She had a second son for Jacob."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Rachel said, \"I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.\" So she named him Naphtali.","note":"Naphtali means my struggle."},{"verse":9,"text":"Leah saw that she had stopped having children. So she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife."},{"verse":10,"text":"Leah's servant Zilpah had a son for Jacob."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Leah said, \"How lucky!\" So she named him Gad.","note":"Gad means good fortune."},{"verse":12,"text":"Leah's servant Zilpah had a second son for Jacob."},{"verse":13,"text":"Leah said, \"How happy I am! The women will call me happy.\" So she named him Asher.","note":"Asher means happy."},{"verse":14,"text":"During the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrake plants in the field. He brought them to his mother. Then Rachel begged Leah, \"Please give me some of your son's mandrakes.\"","note":"People believed mandrakes helped a woman have children."},{"verse":15,"text":"But Leah answered, \"Isn't it enough that you took my husband? Now you want to take my son's mandrakes too?\" Rachel said, \"All right. Jacob can sleep with you tonight. In return, give me your son's mandrakes.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"That evening Jacob came in from the field. Leah went out to meet him. She said, \"You must sleep with me tonight. I have paid for you with my son's mandrakes.\" So he slept with her that night."},{"verse":17,"text":"God listened to Leah. She became pregnant and had a fifth son for Jacob."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Leah said, \"God has paid me back for giving my servant to my husband.\" So she named him Issachar.","note":"Issachar sounds like the Hebrew word for reward."},{"verse":19,"text":"Leah became pregnant again. She had a sixth son for Jacob."},{"verse":20,"text":"She said, \"God has given me a good gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons.\" So she named him Zebulun.","note":"Zebulun sounds like the Hebrew word for honor."},{"verse":21,"text":"Later Leah had a daughter. She named her Dinah."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and made her able to have children."},{"verse":23,"text":"She became pregnant and had a son. She said, \"God has taken away my shame.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"She named him Joseph. She said, \"May the LORD give me another son.\"","note":"Joseph means may he add."},{"verse":25,"text":"After Rachel had Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, \"Let me go. I want to go back to my own country."},{"verse":26,"text":"Give me my wives and children. I have worked for you to get them. Let me go. You know how hard I have worked for you.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But Laban answered, \"If you are pleased with me, please stay. I have learned by reading signs that the LORD has blessed me because of you.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"He added, \"Tell me what pay you want. I'll pay it.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jacob answered, \"You know how I have worked for you. You know how well your animals have done in my care."},{"verse":30,"text":"You had very little before I came. But now you have much, much more. The LORD has blessed you everywhere I have gone. But when can I do something for my own family?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Laban asked, \"What should I give you?\" Jacob answered, \"You don't need to give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will keep taking care of your flocks."},{"verse":32,"text":"Let me go through all your flocks today. I will take out every sheep that has specks or spots and every dark lamb. I will also take out every goat that has spots or specks. They will be my pay."},{"verse":33,"text":"Later on you can come and check my pay. Then my honesty will speak for me. Maybe you'll find a goat with me that has no specks or spots. Or maybe you'll find a lamb that isn't dark. If so, you can count it as stolen.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Laban said, \"I agree. Let it be as you have said.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"But that same day Laban took out all the male goats that had stripes or spots. He took out all the female goats that had specks or spots, every one with any white on it. He took out every dark lamb too. He put them in the care of his sons."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then he put a three-day trip between himself and Jacob. Jacob kept taking care of the rest of Laban's flocks."},{"verse":37,"text":"But Jacob took fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees. He peeled strips of bark off them. This showed the white wood inside the branches."},{"verse":38,"text":"Then he set the peeled branches in the water troughs. They were right in front of the flocks when they came to drink. So when the animals were ready to mate and came to drink,"},{"verse":39,"text":"they mated in front of the branches. And they had young ones with stripes, specks, or spots."},{"verse":40,"text":"Jacob set apart the young animals. But he made the rest of the flock face the striped and dark animals in Laban's flocks. Then he kept his own animals apart. He did not put them with Laban's animals."},{"verse":41,"text":"The stronger females in the flock were ready to mate at times. Then Jacob would put the branches in the troughs where they could see them. That way they would mate in front of the branches."},{"verse":42,"text":"But he didn't put out the branches when the animals were weak. So the weaker animals went to Laban, and the stronger ones went to Jacob."},{"verse":43,"text":"In this way Jacob became very rich. He owned large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Jacob heard what Laban's sons were saying. \"Jacob has taken away all that was our father's,\" they said. \"He got all this wealth by taking it from our father.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"And Jacob could see from Laban's face that he did not feel the same way toward him as before."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the LORD said to Jacob, \"Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah. He called them to the field where his flocks were."},{"verse":5,"text":"He told them, \"I can see from your father's face that he does not feel the same way toward me as before. But the God of my father has been with me."},{"verse":6,"text":"You know that I have worked for your father with all my strength."},{"verse":7,"text":"But he has cheated me. He has changed my pay ten times. Still, God has not let him harm me."},{"verse":8,"text":"If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your pay,' then all the flock had speckled young. If he said, 'The striped ones will be your pay,' then all the flock had striped young."},{"verse":9,"text":"So God has taken away your father's animals and given them to me."},{"verse":10,"text":"At the time when the flocks were breeding, I had a dream. I saw that the male goats mating with the females were striped, spotted, and speckled."},{"verse":11,"text":"In that dream the angel of God said to me, 'Jacob!' And I said, 'Here I am.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"He said, 'Look up and see. All the males mating with the flock are striped, spotted, or speckled. I am doing this because I have seen all that Laban has done to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on the stone pillar. That is where you made a serious promise to me. Now get up and leave this land right away. Go back to the land where you were born.'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Rachel and Leah answered him. \"Is there any share or inheritance left for us in our father's house?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Doesn't he think of us as strangers? He sold us. And he has used up all the money that was paid for us."},{"verse":16,"text":"All the wealth God has taken from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jacob got up. He put his children and his wives on camels."},{"verse":18,"text":"He drove all his animals ahead of him. He took all the things he had gotten in Paddan-aram. He set out to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":19,"text":"Now Laban had gone out to cut the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole her father's household idols."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jacob also tricked Laban the Aramean. He did not tell him that he was running away."},{"verse":21,"text":"So Jacob ran away with all he had. He crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead."},{"verse":22,"text":"On the third day, Laban was told that Jacob had run away."},{"verse":23,"text":"So Laban took his relatives with him. He chased Jacob for seven days. He caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead."},{"verse":24,"text":"But that night God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream. He warned him, \"Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, good or bad.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Jacob had set up his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban caught up with him. And Laban and his relatives camped there too."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Laban said to Jacob, \"What have you done? You tricked me! You carried off my daughters like prisoners of war!"},{"verse":27,"text":"Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn't you even tell me? I would have sent you off with joy and songs, with tambourines and harps."},{"verse":28,"text":"You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing."},{"verse":29,"text":"I have the power to hurt you badly. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, good or bad.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"Now you have left because you missed your father's home so much. But why did you steal my gods?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"\"I was afraid,\" Jacob answered, \"because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force."},{"verse":32,"text":"If you find your gods with anyone here, that person will not live! Our relatives are watching. Look for yourself to see if anything here is yours. If it is, take it back.\" Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols."},{"verse":33,"text":"So Laban went into Jacob's tent. Then he went into Leah's tent and the tents of the two female servants. But he found nothing. Then he left Leah's tent and went into Rachel's tent."},{"verse":34,"text":"Now Rachel had taken Laban's household idols. She had put them in her camel's saddlebag and was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent but found nothing."},{"verse":35,"text":"Rachel said to her father, \"Sir, please don't be angry that I can't stand up for you. I am having my period.\" So Laban searched, but he could not find the household idols."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then Jacob became very angry. He argued with Laban. \"What have I done wrong?\" he said. \"What is my sin? Why have you chased me so hard?"},{"verse":37,"text":"You have searched through all my things! Have you found anything that is yours? Put it here in front of my relatives and yours. Let them decide which of us is right."},{"verse":38,"text":"I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not lost their young. I have not eaten the rams of your flock."},{"verse":39,"text":"When wild animals tore one apart, I did not bring it to you. I paid for the loss myself. And you made me pay for anything stolen, by day or by night."},{"verse":40,"text":"This is how it was for me. The heat wore me out in the day. The cold wore me out at night. I could not sleep."},{"verse":41,"text":"I have worked in your house for twenty years. I worked fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks. And you changed my pay ten times!"},{"verse":42,"text":"The God of my father is the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac. If he had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away with nothing by now. But God has seen my suffering and the hard work of my hands. Last night he gave his judgment.\"","note":"\"The Fear of Isaac\" is a name for God, the one Isaac feared and worshiped."},{"verse":43,"text":"Laban answered Jacob, \"These daughters are my daughters. These sons are my sons. These flocks are my flocks! Everything you see is mine! But what can I do today about these daughters of mine? What can I do about the children they have had?"},{"verse":44,"text":"Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I. Let it be a witness between you and me.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"So Jacob chose a stone and set it up as a pillar."},{"verse":46,"text":"He said to his relatives, \"Gather some stones.\" So they took stones and made a pile. Then they ate there beside the pile."},{"verse":47,"text":"Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha. Jacob called it Galeed.","note":"Both names mean \"pile of witness,\" the first in Aramaic and the second in Hebrew."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then Laban said, \"This pile is a witness between you and me today.\" That is why it was called Galeed."},{"verse":49,"text":"It was also called Mizpah. That is because Laban said, \"May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are apart from each other.","note":"Mizpah means \"watchtower.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"If you treat my daughters badly, or if you marry other wives, remember this. Even though no one else is here with us, God is a witness between you and me.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"Laban also said to Jacob, \"Here is the pile of stones. And here is the pillar I have set up between you and me."},{"verse":52,"text":"This pile is a witness, and this pillar is a witness. I will not go past this pile to harm you. And you will not go past this pile and pillar to harm me."},{"verse":53,"text":"May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor judge between us. He is the God of their father.\" So Jacob made a promise in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac."},{"verse":54,"text":"Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain. He invited his relatives to eat a meal. After they ate, they spent the night on the mountain."},{"verse":55,"text":"Early the next morning, Laban got up. He kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left and went back home."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jacob also went on his way. And the angels of God met him."},{"verse":2,"text":"When Jacob saw them, he said, \"This is God's camp!\" So he named that place Mahanaim.","note":"Mahanaim means \"two camps.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir, the country of Edom."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jacob told them, \"Say this to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban. I have stayed there until now."},{"verse":5,"text":"I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I am sending this message to tell my master, so that you will be kind to me.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The messengers came back to Jacob. They said, \"We went to your brother Esau. Now he is coming to meet you. He has four hundred men with him.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he split his people into two camps. He split the flocks, herds, and camels too."},{"verse":8,"text":"He thought, \"If Esau comes and attacks one camp, then the other camp can get away.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jacob prayed, \"O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac! O LORD, you told me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you do well.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"I am not worthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown me, your servant. I had only my walking stick when I crossed the Jordan. But now I have become two camps."},{"verse":11,"text":"Please save me from the hand of my brother Esau. I am afraid that he will come and attack me, and the mothers and children with me."},{"verse":12,"text":"But you said, 'I will surely make you do well. I will make your children and their children like the sand of the sea. There will be too many to count.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Jacob spent the night there. He chose a gift for his brother Esau from what he had with him."},{"verse":14,"text":"He chose 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 female sheep and 20 rams,"},{"verse":15,"text":"30 camels that gave milk with their young, 40 cows and 10 bulls, and 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys."},{"verse":16,"text":"He put each herd in the care of his servants. He told them, \"Go on ahead of me. Keep some space between the herds.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"He told the servant in front, \"When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, 'Who do you belong to? Where are you going? Whose animals are these in front of you?'"},{"verse":18,"text":"Then you must say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my master Esau. And look, Jacob is coming behind us.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"He gave the same orders to the second servant, the third, and all the others who followed the herds. He said, \"When you meet Esau, say the same thing to him."},{"verse":20,"text":"And also say, 'Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.'\" Jacob said this because he thought, \"I will calm Esau down with the gift I am sending ahead. After that I can see him face to face. Maybe he will welcome me.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him. But he spent the night in the camp."},{"verse":22,"text":"During the night Jacob got up. He took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons. He crossed the river Jabbok at a shallow place."},{"verse":23,"text":"He took them and sent them across the stream. He sent all that he owned across too."},{"verse":24,"text":"So Jacob was left all alone. There a man wrestled with him until the sun came up."},{"verse":25,"text":"The man saw that he could not win against Jacob. So he struck Jacob's hip socket. Jacob's hip was pulled out of joint as they wrestled."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the man said, \"Let me go. The sun is coming up.\" But Jacob said, \"I will not let you go unless you bless me.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"\"What is your name?\" the man asked. \"Jacob,\" he answered."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the man said, \"Your name will not be Jacob anymore. It will be Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have won.\"","note":"Israel probably means \"he struggles with God.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jacob said, \"Please tell me your name.\" But the man said, \"Why do you ask my name?\" Then he blessed Jacob there."},{"verse":30,"text":"So Jacob named the place Peniel. He said, \"I have seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared.\"","note":"Peniel means \"face of God.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The sun rose over him as he passed Penuel. He was limping because of his hip."},{"verse":32,"text":"That is why the Israelites still do not eat the tendon attached to the hip socket today. It is because Jacob's hip socket was struck near that tendon."}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. So he split up the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants."},{"verse":2,"text":"He put the female servants and their children in front. He put Leah and her children next. He put Rachel and Joseph at the back."},{"verse":3,"text":"But Jacob himself went on ahead of them. As he came near his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times."},{"verse":4,"text":"But Esau ran to meet him and hugged him. He threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they both cried."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. \"Who are these people with you?\" he asked. Jacob answered, \"These are the children God has kindly given to me, your servant.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the female servants and their children came near and bowed down."},{"verse":7,"text":"Leah and her children also came and bowed down. Then Joseph and Rachel came and bowed down."},{"verse":8,"text":"Esau asked, \"What did you mean by all these groups I met?\" Jacob answered, \"I wanted you to be kind to me, my master.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"I already have plenty, my brother,\" Esau said. \"Keep what is yours.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But Jacob said, \"No, please! If you are pleased with me, take this gift from my hand. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God, because you have welcomed me so kindly."},{"verse":11,"text":"Please accept the gift I brought you, because God has been kind to me, and I have all I need.\" Jacob kept begging him until Esau took it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Esau said, \"Let's be on our way. I will go ahead of you.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Jacob answered, \"My master knows the children are weak. And I must take care of sheep and cattle that are feeding their young. If they are pushed too hard for even one day, all the animals will die."},{"verse":14,"text":"Please, my master, go on ahead of me, your servant. I will move along slowly. I will go at a pace that is easy for the animals and the children. Then I will come to you, my master, at Seir.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Esau said, \"Then let me leave some of my men with you.\" But Jacob said, \"Why do that? I only want my master to be pleased with me.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So that day Esau started back on his way to Seir."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Jacob went on to Succoth. There he built a house for himself and shelters for his animals. That is why the place was called Succoth.","note":"Succoth means \"shelters.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Jacob had come from Paddan-aram. He arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan. He camped just outside the city."},{"verse":19,"text":"He bought the piece of land where he set up his tent. He bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver."},{"verse":20,"text":"He set up an altar there. He called it El-Elohe-Israel.","note":"El-Elohe-Israel means \"God, the God of Israel.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Dinah was the daughter Leah had with Jacob. One day she went out to visit the young women of that land."},{"verse":2,"text":"Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite was the prince of that area. When he saw Dinah, he took her and forced her to sleep with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then his heart was drawn to Dinah, Jacob's daughter. He loved the young girl and spoke kindly to her."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Shechem said to his father Hamor, \"Get me this girl to be my wife.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jacob heard that Shechem had made his daughter Dinah unclean. But his sons were out in the field with his animals. So Jacob said nothing about it until they came home."},{"verse":6,"text":"Meanwhile, Shechem's father Hamor came out to talk with Jacob."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jacob's sons heard what had happened, and they came back from the field. They were deeply hurt and very angry, because Shechem had done a shameful thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob's daughter. It was something that should never be done."},{"verse":8,"text":"But Hamor said to them, \"My son Shechem really wants your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife."},{"verse":9,"text":"Let our families marry each other. Give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves."},{"verse":10,"text":"You can live among us. The land will be open to you. Live here and travel around freely. Get land of your own.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, \"Please do this kind thing for me. I will give you whatever you ask."},{"verse":12,"text":"Ask for a high bride price and a costly gift. I will give you whatever you ask. Just give me the girl to be my wife!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Shechem had made their sister Dinah unclean. So Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor with a trick."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"We can't do that,\" they said. \"We can't give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would bring shame on us."},{"verse":15,"text":"We will agree to it only if you do one thing. You must become circumcised like us. Every male among you must be circumcised."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then we will give you our daughters. We will take your daughters for ourselves. We will live among you, and we will become one people."},{"verse":17,"text":"But if you won't agree to be circumcised, we will take our sister and leave.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Hamor and his son Shechem liked their offer."},{"verse":19,"text":"The young man was the most respected person in his father's whole family. He did not wait to do what they asked, because he was so happy with Jacob's daughter."},{"verse":20,"text":"So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city. They spoke to the men of the city."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"These men are friendly to us,\" they said. \"Let them live in our land and trade here. The land is big enough for them. Let's marry their daughters and give our daughters to them."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the men will agree to live with us and be one people on only one condition. All our men must be circumcised, just as they are."},{"verse":23,"text":"Won't their herds, their things, and all their animals become ours? Let's just agree with them. Then they will live among us.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male in the city was circumcised."},{"verse":25,"text":"Three days later, the men were still in pain. Then two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, took their swords. They were Dinah's brothers. They went into the city, which did not expect an attack. They killed every male."},{"verse":26,"text":"They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords. They took Dinah out of Shechem's house and left."},{"verse":27,"text":"Jacob's other sons came upon the dead bodies. They robbed the city, because their sister had been made unclean."},{"verse":28,"text":"They took the flocks, herds, and donkeys. They took everything else in the city and in the fields."},{"verse":29,"text":"They carried off all the people's wealth, and their women and children. They took everything in their houses."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, \"You have brought trouble on me! You have made the people of this land hate me, the Canaanites and Perizzites. There are only a few of us. If they join together and attack me, I will be wiped out, and so will my family.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"But they answered, \"Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?\""}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then God said to Jacob, \"Get up and go to Bethel. Live there. Build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you ran away from your brother Esau.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Jacob spoke to his family and all who were with him. \"Get rid of the foreign gods you have,\" he said. \"Make yourselves clean, and put on fresh clothes."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then let's get up and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God. He answered me when I was in trouble. He has been with me everywhere I have gone.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and all their earrings. Jacob buried them under the oak tree near Shechem."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then they set out. A terror from God fell on the cities all around them. So no one chased after Jacob's sons."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jacob and everyone with him came to Luz, also called Bethel, in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jacob built an altar there. He called the place El-bethel, because that was where God had shown himself to Jacob when he was running from his brother.","note":"El-bethel means \"God of Bethel.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died. She was buried under the oak tree below Bethel. So Jacob named it Allon-bacuth.","note":"Allon-bacuth means \"oak of weeping.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jacob had come back from Paddan-aram. Then God appeared to him again and blessed him."},{"verse":10,"text":"God said to him, \"Your name is Jacob. But you will not be called Jacob anymore. Your name will be Israel.\" So God named him Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"And God told him, \"I am God Almighty. Have many children and grow in number. A nation will come from you. Yes, a whole group of nations will come from you. Kings will come from your family line."},{"verse":12,"text":"I gave land to Abraham and Isaac. I will give that land to you. And I will give this land to your children and their children after you.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then God went up from the place where he had talked with him."},{"verse":14,"text":"So Jacob set up a pillar at the place where God had talked with him. It was a stone marker. He poured out a drink offering on it. He also poured oil on it."},{"verse":15,"text":"Jacob named the place where God had talked with him Bethel.","note":"Bethel means \"house of God.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Later they left Bethel. They were still a long way from Ephrath when Rachel began to give birth. Her labor was very hard."},{"verse":17,"text":"While she was in great pain, the woman helping her said, \"Don't be afraid. You are having another son.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Rachel was dying. With her last breath, she named the baby Ben-oni. But his father named him Benjamin.","note":"Ben-oni means \"son of my sorrow.\" Benjamin means \"son of my right hand.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Rachel died. She was buried on the road to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. It still marks Rachel's tomb today."},{"verse":21,"text":"Israel set out again. He set up his tent past the Tower of Eder."},{"verse":22,"text":"While Israel was living in that area, Reuben went and slept with Bilhah. She was his father's concubine. And Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons."},{"verse":23,"text":"The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's oldest son, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun."},{"verse":24,"text":"The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin."},{"verse":25,"text":"The sons of Rachel's servant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali."},{"verse":26,"text":"The sons of Leah's servant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram."},{"verse":27,"text":"Jacob came home to his father Isaac at Mamre. It was near Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron. Abraham and Isaac had lived there."},{"verse":28,"text":"Isaac lived 180 years."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then he breathed his last breath and died. He joined his people who had died before him. He was old and had lived a full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him."}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the story of Esau's family. Esau is also called Edom."},{"verse":2,"text":"Esau married women from Canaan. He married Adah, daughter of Elon the Hittite. He married Oholibamah, daughter of Anah. She was the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite."},{"verse":3,"text":"He also married Basemath, daughter of Ishmael. She was Nebaioth's sister."},{"verse":4,"text":"Adah had a son for Esau named Eliphaz. Basemath had Reuel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Oholibamah had Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau born to him in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":6,"text":"Later Esau moved to a land far from his brother Jacob. He took his wives, his sons and daughters, and all the people in his house. He took his herds and all his other animals. He took all the things he had gotten in Canaan."},{"verse":7,"text":"He did this because the two brothers had too much to live together. The land where they were staying could not support them both, because they had too many animals."},{"verse":8,"text":"So Esau settled in the hills of Mount Seir. Esau is Edom."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is the story of Esau's family. He was the father of the Edomites in the hills of Mount Seir."},{"verse":10,"text":"These are the names of Esau's sons. Eliphaz was the son of Esau's wife Adah. Reuel was the son of Esau's wife Basemath."},{"verse":11,"text":"The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz."},{"verse":12,"text":"Eliphaz, Esau's son, also had a concubine named Timna. She had a son named Amalek. These are the grandsons of Esau's wife Adah."},{"verse":13,"text":"These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. They are the grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath."},{"verse":14,"text":"Esau's wife Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon. These are the sons she had with Esau: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah."},{"verse":15,"text":"These are the chiefs who came from Esau's sons. Eliphaz was Esau's oldest son. His sons were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz,"},{"verse":16,"text":"Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. They were the chiefs from Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Adah."},{"verse":17,"text":"These are the sons of Esau's son Reuel: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. They were the chiefs from Reuel in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath."},{"verse":18,"text":"These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: Chief Jeush, Chief Jalam, and Chief Korah. They were the chiefs from Esau's wife Oholibamah, Anah's daughter."},{"verse":19,"text":"All these were the sons of Esau, who is Edom. And they were their chiefs."},{"verse":20,"text":"These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. They were the chiefs of the Horites. They came from Seir in the land of Edom."},{"verse":22,"text":"The sons of Lotan were Hori and Hemam. Lotan's sister was Timna."},{"verse":23,"text":"These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam."},{"verse":24,"text":"These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness. He found them while he was taking care of his father Zibeon's donkeys."},{"verse":25,"text":"These are the children of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah, Anah's daughter."},{"verse":26,"text":"These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran."},{"verse":27,"text":"These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan."},{"verse":28,"text":"These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran."},{"verse":29,"text":"These are the chiefs of the Horites: Chief Lotan, Chief Shobal, Chief Zibeon, Chief Anah,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Chief Dishon, Chief Ezer, and Chief Dishan. They were the chiefs of the Horites, group by group, in the land of Seir."},{"verse":31,"text":"These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom. They ruled before any king ruled over the Israelites."},{"verse":32,"text":"Bela son of Beor was king in Edom. His city was named Dinhabah."},{"verse":33,"text":"When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah became king in his place. He was from Bozrah."},{"verse":34,"text":"When Jobab died, Husham became king in his place. He was from the land of the Temanites."},{"verse":35,"text":"When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king in his place. He was the one who beat Midian in the land of Moab. His city was named Avith."},{"verse":36,"text":"When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah became king in his place."},{"verse":37,"text":"When Samlah died, Shaul became king in his place. He was from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River."},{"verse":38,"text":"When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor became king in his place."},{"verse":39,"text":"When Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, Hadad became king in his place. His city was named Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel. She was the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Me-zahab."},{"verse":40,"text":"These are the names of Esau's chiefs, by their families, their areas, and their names: Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,"},{"verse":41,"text":"Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon,"},{"verse":42,"text":"Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar,"},{"verse":43,"text":"Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom. They are listed by the places where they lived in the land they owned. Esau was the father of the Edomites."}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jacob lived in the land of Canaan. It was the land where his father had lived."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is the story of Jacob's family. Joseph was seventeen years old. He was taking care of the flock with his brothers. They were the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought their father a bad report about them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons. That was because Joseph was born to him when he was old. So he made Joseph a robe of many colors."},{"verse":4,"text":"Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. So they hated Joseph. They could not say one kind word to him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Joseph had a dream. He told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said to them, \"Listen to this dream I had."},{"verse":7,"text":"We were tying up bundles of grain in the field. All at once my bundle rose up and stood up straight. Then your bundles gathered around mine and bowed down to it.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"His brothers said, \"Do you plan to be king over us? Will you really rule over us?\" So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he said."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Joseph had another dream. He told it to his brothers too. \"Listen,\" he said, \"I had another dream. This time the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"He told his father and his brothers. But his father scolded him. He said, \"What kind of dream is this? Will your mother and your brothers and I really come and bow down to the ground in front of you?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"His brothers were jealous of him. But his father kept thinking about what Joseph had said."},{"verse":12,"text":"Some time later, Joseph's brothers went to feed their father's flocks near Shechem."},{"verse":13,"text":"Israel said to Joseph, \"Your brothers are feeding the flocks at Shechem, aren't they? Get ready. I'm sending you to them.\" \"I'm ready,\" Joseph answered."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Israel told him, \"Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing. Then come back and tell me.\" So he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. Joseph came to Shechem."},{"verse":15,"text":"There a man found him wandering around in the field. The man asked, \"What are you looking for?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"I'm looking for my brothers,\" Joseph answered. \"Can you please tell me where they are feeding their flocks?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"They've moved on from here,\" the man said. \"I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'\" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan."},{"verse":18,"text":"Joseph's brothers saw him far away. Before he reached them, they made a plan to kill him."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Here comes that dreamer!\" they said to each other."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Come on, let's kill him. Let's throw him into one of these pits. We can say a wild animal ate him. Then we'll see what happens to his dreams!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Reuben heard this. He tried to save Joseph from them. \"Let's not kill him,\" he said."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Don't spill his blood. Throw him into this pit here in the wilderness. But don't lay a hand on him.\" Reuben said this so he could save Joseph from them. He wanted to take him back to his father."},{"verse":23,"text":"So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors he was wearing."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then they sat down to eat a meal. They looked up and saw a group of Ishmaelites traveling from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh. They were on their way down to Egypt."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Judah said to his brothers, \"What will we gain if we kill our brother and hide his blood?"},{"verse":27,"text":"Come on, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites. Let's not lay a hand on him. After all, he's our brother, our own flesh and blood.\" And his brothers agreed."},{"verse":28,"text":"So when the Midianite traders came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the pit. They sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And the Ishmaelites took him to Egypt.","note":"Twenty shekels is about 8 ounces of silver."},{"verse":29,"text":"Later Reuben came back to the pit. He saw that Joseph was not there. So he tore his clothes."},{"verse":30,"text":"He went back to his brothers and said, \"The boy is gone! What am I going to do?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Then they took Joseph's robe. They killed a young goat and dipped the robe in its blood."},{"verse":32,"text":"They sent the robe of many colors to their father. They said, \"We found this. Look at it. Is it your son's robe or not?\""},{"verse":33,"text":"His father knew it right away. He said, \"It's my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Jacob tore his clothes. He put sackcloth around his waist. He mourned for his son for many days."},{"verse":35,"text":"All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him. But he would not be comforted. \"No,\" he said. \"I will go down to the grave still mourning for my son.\" So his father cried for him.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":36,"text":"Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar. He was an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard."}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At about that time, Judah left his brothers. He went to stay near a man named Hirah, from the town of Adullam."},{"verse":2,"text":"There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and slept with her."},{"verse":3,"text":"She became pregnant and had a son. Judah named him Er."},{"verse":4,"text":"She became pregnant again and had a son. She named him Onan."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then she had another son and named him Shelah. She gave birth to him at Chezib."},{"verse":6,"text":"Judah got a wife for Er, his oldest son. Her name was Tamar."},{"verse":7,"text":"But Er, Judah's oldest son, was evil in the LORD's eyes. So the LORD put him to death."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Judah said to Onan, \"Sleep with your brother's wife. Do your duty as her brother-in-law. Give your brother children to carry on his name.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But Onan knew the children would not count as his. So whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his seed on the ground. He did this so he would not give his brother children."},{"verse":10,"text":"What he did was evil in the LORD's eyes. So the LORD put Onan to death too."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, \"Live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up.\" Judah said this because he thought, \"Shelah might die too, like his brothers.\" So Tamar went to live in her father's house."},{"verse":12,"text":"After a long time, Judah's wife died. She was Shua's daughter. When Judah's time of mourning was over, he went up to Timnah. His friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him. They went to see the men who were cutting the wool from his sheep."},{"verse":13,"text":"Someone told Tamar, \"Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to cut the wool from his sheep.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So she took off her widow's clothes. She covered her face with a veil so no one would know her. Then she sat by the gate of Enaim, on the road to Timnah. She did this because she saw that Shelah had grown up. But she had not been given to him as his wife."},{"verse":15,"text":"When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face."},{"verse":16,"text":"He did not know she was his daughter-in-law. He went over to her and said, \"Come, let me sleep with you.\" She asked, \"What will you give me to sleep with me?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"I'll send you a young goat from my flock,\" Judah answered. But she said, \"Only if you leave me something to hold until you send it.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"What should I give you to hold?\" he asked. She answered, \"Your seal and its cord, and the walking stick in your hand.\" So he gave them to her and slept with her. And she became pregnant by him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Tamar got up and left. She took off her veil and put on her widow's clothes again."},{"verse":20,"text":"Later Judah sent his friend Hirah the Adullamite with the young goat. He sent him to get back the things he had left with the woman. But Hirah could not find her."},{"verse":21,"text":"He asked the men who lived there, \"Where is the shrine prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?\" \"There has been no shrine prostitute here,\" they said."},{"verse":22,"text":"So Hirah went back to Judah. He said, \"I couldn't find her. And the men who live there said, 'There has been no shrine prostitute here.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Let her keep the things,\" Judah said. \"Or else people will laugh at us. After all, I did send her this young goat. But you couldn't find her.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"About three months later, someone told Judah, \"Your daughter-in-law Tamar has acted like a prostitute. And now she is pregnant.\" Judah said, \"Bring her out! Let her be burned to death!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"As they were bringing her out, Tamar sent a message to her father-in-law. \"I am pregnant by the man who owns these things,\" she said. \"Please look at them. Whose seal and cord and walking stick are these?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Judah knew they were his. He said, \"She is more in the right than I am, because I did not give her to my son Shelah.\" And Judah did not sleep with her again."},{"verse":27,"text":"When it was time for Tamar to give birth, there were twins inside her."},{"verse":28,"text":"While she was giving birth, one baby put out his hand. So the woman helping her took a bright red thread. She tied it around his wrist. \"This one came out first,\" she said."},{"verse":29,"text":"But then he pulled his hand back, and his brother came out. She said, \"So you have broken out first!\" So he was named Perez.","note":"Perez means \"breaking out.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then his brother came out with the red thread around his wrist. He was named Zerah."}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. Potiphar was an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD was with Joseph, and he did well in all he did. He worked in the house of his Egyptian master."},{"verse":3,"text":"His master saw that the LORD was with Joseph. He saw that the LORD made everything Joseph did go well."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Joseph pleased him, and he became Potiphar's own helper. Potiphar put him in charge of his house. He trusted Joseph with everything he owned."},{"verse":5,"text":"From that time on, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph. That started when Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his house and all he owned. The LORD's blessing was on everything he owned, in his house and in his fields."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Potiphar left everything he owned in Joseph's care. He didn't worry about anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was strong and handsome."},{"verse":7,"text":"After a while, his master's wife began to want Joseph. She said, \"Sleep with me.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But he said no. \"Listen,\" he said to his master's wife. \"With me here, my master doesn't worry about anything in his house. He has trusted me with everything he owns."},{"verse":9,"text":"No one in this house is greater than I am. He has kept nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a terrible, evil thing? How could I sin against God?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Potiphar's wife talked to Joseph day after day. But he would not go to bed with her. He would not even be near her."},{"verse":11,"text":"But one day Joseph went into the house to do his work. Not one of the house servants was inside."},{"verse":12,"text":"She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, \"Sleep with me!\" But he left his cloak in her hand and got away. He ran outside."},{"verse":13,"text":"She saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and run out of the house."},{"verse":14,"text":"So she called her house servants. \"Look!\" she said. \"This Hebrew was brought here to make fools of us. He came in to sleep with me, but I screamed as loud as I could."},{"verse":15,"text":"When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me. Then he ran out of the house.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Potiphar's wife kept Joseph's cloak beside her until his master came home."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then she told him the same story. \"That Hebrew slave you brought us came in to make a fool of me."},{"verse":18,"text":"But when I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me. Then he ran out of the house.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"His master heard the story his wife told him. She said, \"This is what your slave did to me.\" Then he burned with anger."},{"verse":20,"text":"So Joseph's master took him and had him thrown into prison. It was the prison where the king's prisoners were kept. And Joseph stayed there in the prison."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the LORD was with him and was kind to him. The LORD made the prison warden like him."},{"verse":22,"text":"So the warden put all the prisoners in Joseph's care. Joseph was in charge of everything done in the prison."},{"verse":23,"text":"The warden didn't worry about anything in Joseph's care. The LORD was with Joseph. He made everything Joseph did go well."}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, the king's cupbearer and his baker did something wrong. They offended their master, the king of Egypt."},{"verse":2,"text":"Pharaoh was angry with these two officers. One was the chief cupbearer, and the other was the chief baker."},{"verse":3,"text":"So he put them in prison in the house of the captain of the guard. It was the same prison where Joseph was kept."},{"verse":4,"text":"The captain of the guard put Joseph in charge of them, and Joseph took care of them. They were in prison for some time."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then both of these men had a dream on the same night. They were the Egyptian king's cupbearer and baker, who were being held in the prison. Each dream had its own meaning."},{"verse":6,"text":"Joseph came to them in the morning. He saw that they were very upset."},{"verse":7,"text":"These officials of Pharaoh were in prison with Joseph in his master's house. So he asked them, \"Why do you look so sad today?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"We both had dreams,\" they answered. \"But there is no one to tell us what they mean.\" Joseph said to them, \"Isn't it God who tells what dreams mean? Tell me your dreams.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. \"In my dream I saw a grapevine in front of me."},{"verse":10,"text":"The vine had three branches. As soon as it budded, its flowers opened. Then its bunches of grapes became ripe."},{"verse":11,"text":"Pharaoh's cup was in my hand. I took the grapes and squeezed them into his cup. Then I put the cup in his hand.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Joseph said, \"This is what it means. The three branches are three days."},{"verse":13,"text":"Within three days, Pharaoh will lift up your head and give you back your job. You will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand again, just as you did when you were his cupbearer."},{"verse":14,"text":"But when things go well for you, please remember me. Please be kind to me and tell Pharaoh about me. Then maybe he will get me out of this prison."},{"verse":15,"text":"For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. And even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in this dungeon.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The chief baker saw that the meaning of the dream was good. So he said to Joseph, \"I had a dream too. There were three baskets of white bread on my head."},{"verse":17,"text":"In the top basket were all kinds of baked foods for Pharaoh. But the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Joseph said, \"This is what it means. The three baskets are three days."},{"verse":19,"text":"Within three days, Pharaoh will lift off your head. He will hang your body on a tree. Then the birds will eat the flesh from your body.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The third day was Pharaoh's birthday. He gave a big feast for all his officials. In front of them all, he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker."},{"verse":21,"text":"Pharaoh gave the chief cupbearer back his job. Once again he put the cup in Pharaoh's hand."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Pharaoh hanged the chief baker. It happened just as Joseph had said when he told them what their dreams meant."},{"verse":23,"text":"But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph. He forgot all about him."}]},{"chapter":41,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Two whole years went by. Then Pharaoh had a dream. He was standing beside the Nile River."},{"verse":2,"text":"Seven cows came up out of the river. They were fat and healthy. They began to eat the grass among the reeds."},{"verse":3,"text":"After them, seven other cows came up out of the Nile. They were sick and thin. They stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the sick, thin cows ate up the seven healthy, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up."},{"verse":5,"text":"But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. Seven heads of grain grew on one stalk. They were full and ripe."},{"verse":6,"text":"After them, seven other heads of grain grew. They were thin and dried up by the east wind."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven full, ripe ones. Then Pharaoh woke up. He knew it had been a dream."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the morning his mind was troubled. So he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams. But no one could tell him what they meant."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, \"Today I remember my mistakes."},{"verse":10,"text":"One time Pharaoh was angry with his servants. He put me and the chief baker in prison. We were kept in the house of the captain of the guard."},{"verse":11,"text":"One night the chief baker and I both had dreams. Each dream had its own meaning."},{"verse":12,"text":"A young Hebrew man was there with us. He was a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams. He told each of us what our dream meant."},{"verse":13,"text":"And it happened just as he said. I got my job back, and the other man was hanged.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Pharaoh sent for Joseph. They quickly brought him out of the dungeon. Joseph shaved and changed his clothes. Then he went in to see Pharaoh."},{"verse":15,"text":"Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"I had a dream, and no one can tell me what it means. But I have heard that you can hear a dream and tell what it means.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"I can't do it myself,\" Joseph answered. \"But God will give Pharaoh a good answer.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile."},{"verse":18,"text":"Seven cows came up out of the river. They were fat and healthy. They began to eat the grass among the reeds."},{"verse":19,"text":"After them, seven other cows came up. They were sick, ugly, and thin. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the thin, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came first."},{"verse":21,"text":"But after they ate them, no one could tell they had eaten them. They looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up."},{"verse":22,"text":"In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain. They were full and ripe. They were growing on one stalk."},{"verse":23,"text":"After them, seven other heads of grain grew. They were dried up and thin. The east wind had burned them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven full ones. I told this to the magicians. But no one could explain it to me.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, \"Pharaoh's two dreams mean the same thing. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do."},{"verse":26,"text":"The seven good cows are seven years. The seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing."},{"verse":27,"text":"The seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years. So are the seven empty heads of grain burned by the east wind. They are seven years of famine."},{"verse":28,"text":"It is just as I told Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do."},{"verse":29,"text":"Look! Seven years of plenty are coming. There will be lots of food in all the land of Egypt."},{"verse":30,"text":"But seven years of famine will come after them. Then all the plenty in Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will ruin the land."},{"verse":31,"text":"No one will remember the good years in the land. The famine that comes after them will be that bad."},{"verse":32,"text":"Pharaoh had the dream two times in two ways. That means God has firmly decided this. And God will make it happen soon."},{"verse":33,"text":"So now Pharaoh should look for a man who is wise and understanding. He should put him in charge of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":34,"text":"Pharaoh should act now. He should choose officials to be over the land. They should take one fifth of Egypt's crops during the seven good years."},{"verse":35,"text":"Let them gather all the extra food from these good years. Pharaoh will give them the power to do it. Let them bring the grain and store it in the cities. There it will be kept safe as food."},{"verse":36,"text":"This food will be saved for the land. It will be for the seven years of famine that will come on Egypt. Then the land will not perish in the famine.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Pharaoh and all his officials liked this plan."},{"verse":38,"text":"So Pharaoh asked them, \"Can we find anyone like this man? The Spirit of God lives in him.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"God has shown all this to you. So there is no one as wise and understanding as you."},{"verse":40,"text":"You will be in charge of my palace. All my people must obey your orders. Only my throne will make me greater than you.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Pharaoh also told Joseph, \"Now I put you in charge of all the land of Egypt.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his finger. He put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in clothes of fine linen. He put a gold chain around his neck."},{"verse":43,"text":"He had Joseph ride in his second chariot. Men went ahead of him shouting, \"Bow down!\" So Pharaoh put him in charge of all the land of Egypt."},{"verse":44,"text":"And Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"I am Pharaoh. But no one in all Egypt will lift a hand or a foot unless you say so.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife named Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt."},{"verse":46,"text":"Joseph was thirty years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph left Pharaoh and traveled all over the land of Egypt."},{"verse":47,"text":"During the seven good years, the land grew huge crops."},{"verse":48,"text":"During those seven years, Joseph gathered all the extra food in Egypt. He stored it in the cities. In each city he stored the food grown in the fields around it."},{"verse":49,"text":"So Joseph stored up so much grain that it was like the sand of the sea. There was so much that he stopped counting it. It was too much to measure."},{"verse":50,"text":"Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons. Their mother was Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On."},{"verse":51,"text":"Joseph named his first son Manasseh. He said, \"God has made me forget all my troubles and all my father's family.\"","note":"Manasseh sounds like the Hebrew word for \"make forget.\""},{"verse":52,"text":"He named his second son Ephraim. He said, \"God has made me fruitful in the land where I suffered.\"","note":"Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew word for \"fruitful.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"Then the seven good years in Egypt came to an end."},{"verse":54,"text":"And the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country. But in all the land of Egypt there was food."},{"verse":55,"text":"Then all the land of Egypt began to go hungry. The people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, \"Go to Joseph. Do whatever he tells you.\""},{"verse":56,"text":"The famine spread over the whole land. So Joseph opened all the storehouses. He sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was very bad in Egypt."},{"verse":57,"text":"People from every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was very bad all over the earth."}]},{"chapter":42,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jacob found out that there was grain in Egypt. He said to his sons, \"Why do you just sit there looking at each other?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Listen,\" he said. \"I've heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us. Then we will live and not die.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain."},{"verse":4,"text":"But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with the others. He said, \"I'm afraid something bad might happen to him.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Israel's sons went with the others to buy grain, because the famine had spread to the land of Canaan too."},{"verse":6,"text":"Joseph was the governor of the land. He was the one who sold grain to all the people. So when his brothers came, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground."},{"verse":7,"text":"Joseph saw his brothers and knew who they were. But he acted like a stranger and spoke roughly to them. \"Where are you from?\" he asked. \"From the land of Canaan,\" they answered. \"We've come to buy food.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Joseph knew who his brothers were. But they did not know who he was."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Joseph remembered his dreams about them. He said to them, \"You are spies! You have come to see where our land is weak.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"No, my master!\" they answered. \"We, your servants, have come to buy food."},{"verse":11,"text":"We are all sons of one man. We, your servants, are honest men. We are not spies.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"No,\" he said to them. \"You have come to see where our land is weak.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But they answered, \"We, your servants, are twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father now. And one brother is gone.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Joseph said, \"It is just as I told you. You are spies!"},{"verse":15,"text":"This is how you will be tested. As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here."},{"verse":16,"text":"Send one of you to get your brother. The rest of you will be kept in prison. That way we will test whether you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Joseph put them all in prison for three days."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the third day Joseph said to them, \"I fear God. So do this, and you will live."},{"verse":19,"text":"If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison. The rest of you may go. Take grain back to your hungry families."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then bring your youngest brother to me. That will prove that what you say is true, and you won't die.\" And they agreed to do this."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then they said to each other, \"We are surely being punished because of our brother. We saw how upset he was when he begged us for help. But we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come on us.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Reuben answered, \"Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must pay for his blood!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"They did not know that Joseph could understand them, because he was speaking to them through an interpreter."},{"verse":24,"text":"Joseph turned away from them and cried. Then he turned back and talked to them again. He took Simeon from them. He had him tied up while they watched."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain. He ordered that each man's silver be put back in his sack. He also ordered that they be given food for the trip. This was done for them."},{"verse":26,"text":"So they loaded the grain on their donkeys and left."},{"verse":27,"text":"At the place where they stopped for the night, one of them opened his sack. He wanted to get food for his donkey. There was his silver in the top of his sack!"},{"verse":28,"text":"\"My silver has been given back!\" he said to his brothers. \"Here it is in my sack!\" Their hearts sank. They turned to each other shaking with fear. They said, \"What is this that God has done to us?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him all that had happened to them."},{"verse":30,"text":"\"The man who rules the land spoke roughly to us,\" they said. \"He said we were spying on his country."},{"verse":31,"text":"But we told him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies."},{"verse":32,"text":"We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One brother is gone. The youngest is with our father now in the land of Canaan.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"Then the man who rules the land said to us, 'This is how I will know if you are honest. Leave one of your brothers here with me. Take food for your hungry families and go."},{"verse":34,"text":"But bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you. And you can trade in the land.'\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then they began to empty their sacks. And there in each man's sack was his bag of silver! When they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were afraid."},{"verse":36,"text":"Their father Jacob said to them, \"You have taken my sons from me! Joseph is gone, and Simeon is gone. Now you want to take Benjamin too. Everything is against me!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Then Reuben said to his father, \"If I don't bring Benjamin back to you, you may kill my two sons. Put him in my care. I will bring him back to you.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"But Jacob said, \"My son will not go down there with you, because his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If anything bad happens to him on your trip, you will send my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.\"","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."}]},{"chapter":43,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the famine was still very bad in the land."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jacob's sons ate up all the grain they had brought from Egypt. So their father said to them, \"Go back and buy us a little more food.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Judah said, \"The man gave us a strong warning. He said, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you."},{"verse":5,"text":"But if you won't send him, we won't go. The man told us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Israel asked, \"Why did you bring this trouble on me? Why did you tell the man you had another brother?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"They answered, \"The man asked us lots of questions about ourselves and our family. He asked, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We just answered his questions. How could we know he would say, 'Bring your brother here'?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Judah said to his father Israel, \"Send the boy with me. We will go right away. Then we will live and not die. That goes for us, for you, and for our children.","note":"Israel is another name for Jacob."},{"verse":9,"text":"I promise to keep him safe. You can hold me to it. If I don't bring him back and stand him in front of you, let the blame be on me for the rest of my life."},{"verse":10,"text":"If we hadn't waited so long, we could have gone there and back twice by now.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then their father Israel said, \"If it has to be this way, then do this. Put some of the best things from our land in your bags. Take them down to the man as a gift. Take a little balm and a little honey. Take spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.","note":"Balm was a healing oil made from tree sap."},{"verse":12,"text":"Take twice as much silver with you. Give back the silver that was put back in the tops of your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake."},{"verse":13,"text":"Take your brother too. Go back to the man right away."},{"verse":14,"text":"May God Almighty make the man kind to you. May he let your other brother go, and Benjamin too. As for me, if I lose my children, then I lose them.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the men took the gifts and twice as much silver. They took Benjamin too. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood in front of Joseph."},{"verse":16,"text":"Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers. He said to the man in charge of his house, \"Take these men to my house. Kill an animal and cook it. They will eat with me at noon.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The man did what Joseph told him. He took the brothers to Joseph's house."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the brothers were scared because they were taken to Joseph's house. They said, \"We were brought here because of the silver. It was put back in our bags the first time. They plan to jump on us and make us slaves. They'll take our donkeys too.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So they went up to the man in charge of Joseph's house. They talked to him at the door of the house."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Please, sir,\" they said, \"we really did come down here the first time to buy food."},{"verse":21,"text":"But we stopped at a place to spend the night. We opened our sacks, and each of us found his silver in the top of his sack! It was all of our silver. We have brought it back with us."},{"verse":22,"text":"We have also brought more silver to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"\"It's all right,\" the man said. \"Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you that treasure in your sacks. I got your silver.\" Then he brought Simeon out to them."},{"verse":24,"text":"The man took them into Joseph's house. He gave them water to wash their feet. He gave food to their donkeys."},{"verse":25,"text":"The brothers had been told they would eat a meal there. So they got their gift ready for when Joseph came at noon."},{"verse":26,"text":"Joseph came home. They gave him the gifts they had brought. Then they bowed down to the ground in front of him."},{"verse":27,"text":"He asked how they were. Then he asked, \"How is your old father you told me about? Is he still alive?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"They answered, \"Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.\" And they bowed low to honor him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin. Benjamin was his own mother's son. Joseph asked, \"Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?\" Then he said, \"May God be kind to you, my son.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Joseph hurried out. He was so moved by seeing his brother that he was about to cry. He went into a room by himself and wept."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then he washed his face and came back out. He got hold of himself and said, \"Serve the meal.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"They served Joseph by himself. They served his brothers by themselves. They served the Egyptians by themselves too. They ate apart because Egyptians would not eat with Hebrews. That was hateful to them."},{"verse":33,"text":"The brothers were seated in front of Joseph in order of age. The oldest sat first and the youngest last. The men looked at each other in amazement."},{"verse":34,"text":"Food was brought to them from Joseph's table. Benjamin got five times more than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph."}]},{"chapter":44,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joseph gave orders to the man in charge of his house. \"Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry. Put each man's silver in the top of his sack."},{"verse":2,"text":"Put my cup, the silver one, in the top of the youngest one's sack. Put it there with the silver for his grain.\" So the man did what Joseph told him."},{"verse":3,"text":"At sunrise the men were sent on their way with their donkeys."},{"verse":4,"text":"They had not gone far from the city when Joseph spoke to the man in charge of his house. \"Go after those men right now. When you catch up with them, ask them, 'Why have you paid back good with evil?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Isn't this the cup my master drinks from? Doesn't he use it for divination? What you have done is evil!'\"","note":"Divination means trying to learn secret things or the future through signs."},{"verse":6,"text":"The man caught up with them. He told them what Joseph had said."},{"verse":7,"text":"They said to him, \"Why does my lord say such things? Your servants would never do anything like that."},{"verse":8,"text":"We found silver in the tops of our sacks. We even brought it back to you from the land of Canaan. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?"},{"verse":9,"text":"If any of your servants has it, he must die. And the rest of us will become my lord's slaves.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"All right, as you say,\" the man answered. \"But only the one who has the cup will be my slave. The rest of you will be free of blame.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So each man quickly put his sack down on the ground and opened it."},{"verse":12,"text":"The man searched. He started with the oldest and ended with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they all tore their clothes. They loaded their donkeys and went back to the city."},{"verse":14,"text":"Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house. Joseph was still there. They threw themselves to the ground in front of him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joseph said, \"What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can surely find out the truth by divination?\"","note":"Divination means trying to learn secret things or the future through signs."},{"verse":16,"text":"Judah answered, \"What can we say to my lord? How can we beg? How can we prove we're innocent? God has shown the sin of your servants. Now we are my lord's slaves. That means all of us, and the one who had the cup too.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But Joseph said, \"I would never do that! Only the man who had the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go back to your father in peace.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Judah came close to Joseph and said, \"Sir, please let your servant say a word to my lord. Please don't be angry with your servant. You are as great as Pharaoh himself."},{"verse":19,"text":"My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father or a brother?'"},{"verse":20,"text":"We answered, 'We have an old father. We have a younger brother too. He was born when our father was old. The boy's brother is dead. He is the only son of his mother who is left. His father loves him.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"Then you told your servants, 'Bring him down to me. I want to see him for myself.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"We said to my lord, 'The boy can't leave his father. If he did, his father would die.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"But you told your servants, 'Your youngest brother must come down with you. If he doesn't, you will not see my face again.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"We went back to your servant, my father. We told him what you said."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then our father said, 'Go back and buy us some food.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"But we said, 'We can't go down there unless our youngest brother goes with us. If he isn't with us, we can't see the man.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"Your servant, my father, said to us, 'You know my wife gave me two sons."},{"verse":28,"text":"One of them went away from me. I said, \"He must have been torn to pieces!\" I have not seen him since then."},{"verse":29,"text":"Now you want to take this one from me too. If something bad happens to him, you will send me, an old gray-haired man, down to the grave in sorrow.'","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":30,"text":"So now, suppose I go back to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us. My father's life is tied up with the boy's life."},{"verse":31,"text":"When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have sent our gray-haired father, your servant, down to the grave in sorrow.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":32,"text":"Your servant promised my father to keep the boy safe. I said, 'If I don't bring him back to you, let the blame be on me all my life, my father.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"So please let your servant stay here as my lord's slave in place of the boy. Let the boy go home with his brothers."},{"verse":34,"text":"How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't stand to see the pain it would bring him.\""}]},{"chapter":45,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joseph could not hold back his feelings in front of all his helpers. He cried out, \"Make everyone leave me!\" So no one else was with Joseph when he told his brothers who he was."},{"verse":2,"text":"But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him. Pharaoh's household soon heard about it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Joseph said to his brothers, \"I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?\" But his brothers couldn't answer him. They were too scared to be in front of him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Joseph said to his brothers, \"Please come close to me.\" So they came close. He said, \"I am Joseph, your brother. I'm the one you sold into Egypt!"},{"verse":5,"text":"But now, don't be upset. Don't be angry with yourselves for selling me here. It was because God sent me ahead of you to save lives."},{"verse":6,"text":"The famine has been in the land for two years now. And there will be five more years with no plowing and no harvest."},{"verse":7,"text":"God sent me ahead of you to keep some of you alive on the earth. He sent me to save your lives in a great rescue."},{"verse":8,"text":"So it was not you who sent me here. It was God. He has made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me lord over all Pharaoh's household. He made me ruler over all the land of Egypt."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now hurry back to my father. Tell him, 'Your son Joseph says this: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don't wait."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will live in the land of Goshen and be near me. You, your children, and your grandchildren can come. Bring your flocks and herds and everything you own."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will take care of you there, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your family and all you own will end up with nothing.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"Look! You can see it, and my brother Benjamin can see it. It is really me, Joseph, talking to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Tell my father about all my honor in Egypt. Tell him everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept. Benjamin wept too as they hugged."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joseph kissed each of his brothers and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him."},{"verse":16,"text":"News reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come. Pharaoh and his servants were pleased."},{"verse":17,"text":"Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Tell your brothers, 'Do this. Load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best land in Egypt. You will eat the best food the land has.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"Also tell them this: 'Take wagons from Egypt for your little children and your wives. Bring your father and come back."},{"verse":20,"text":"Don't worry about your things. The best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So the sons of Israel did what they were told. Joseph gave them wagons, just as Pharaoh had said. He also gave them supplies for the trip."},{"verse":22,"text":"He gave each of them new clothes. But to Benjamin he gave 300 shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.","note":"About 7.5 pounds of silver."},{"verse":23,"text":"He sent these things to his father. He sent ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and food for his father's trip."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way. As they were leaving, he said to them, \"Don't fight with each other on the way!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So the brothers went up out of Egypt. They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":26,"text":"They said, \"Joseph is still alive! He is ruler over all the land of Egypt!\" But Jacob was shocked. He didn't believe them."},{"verse":27,"text":"But then they told him everything Joseph had said to them. And Jacob saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him. Then the spirit of their father Jacob came back to life."},{"verse":28,"text":"Israel said, \"That's enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.\""}]},{"chapter":46,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So Israel set out with all he had. He came to Beersheba. There he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac."},{"verse":2,"text":"That night God spoke to Israel in a vision. He said, \"Jacob, Jacob!\" Jacob answered, \"Here I am.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"God said, \"I am God, the God of your father. Don't be afraid to go down to Egypt. I will make you into a great nation there."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will go down to Egypt with you. And I will surely bring you back again. Joseph's own hands will close your eyes.\"","note":"This means Joseph would be with him when he died."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jacob left Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent for him. They took their children and wives too."},{"verse":6,"text":"They also took their animals and the things they had gotten in the land of Canaan. Jacob and all his family went to Egypt."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jacob took his sons and grandsons with him to Egypt. He took his daughters and granddaughters too. He took all his family."},{"verse":8,"text":"These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt. This means Jacob and his family. Reuben was Jacob's oldest son."},{"verse":9,"text":"The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi."},{"verse":10,"text":"The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, and Zohar. There was also Shaul, whose mother was from Canaan."},{"verse":11,"text":"The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."},{"verse":12,"text":"The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. But Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul."},{"verse":13,"text":"The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron."},{"verse":14,"text":"The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel."},{"verse":15,"text":"These were the sons Leah had with Jacob in Paddan-aram. She also had his daughter Dinah. In all, there were 33 sons and daughters."},{"verse":16,"text":"The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli."},{"verse":17,"text":"The children of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel."},{"verse":18,"text":"These were the sons Zilpah had with Jacob. Laban had given Zilpah to his daughter Leah. There were 16 in all."},{"verse":19,"text":"The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin."},{"verse":20,"text":"Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. Their mother was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On."},{"verse":21,"text":"The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard."},{"verse":22,"text":"These were the sons Rachel had with Jacob. There were 14 in all."},{"verse":23,"text":"The son of Dan was Hushim."},{"verse":24,"text":"The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem."},{"verse":25,"text":"These were the sons Bilhah had with Jacob. Laban had given Bilhah to his daughter Rachel. There were seven in all."},{"verse":26,"text":"All of Jacob's people who came to Egypt were 66 in number. These were his own children and grandchildren. This count does not include the wives of Jacob's sons."},{"verse":27,"text":"Joseph also had two sons born in Egypt. Counting them, Jacob's family that went to Egypt was 70 in all."},{"verse":28,"text":"Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. Then Jacob's family came into the land of Goshen."},{"verse":29,"text":"Joseph got his chariot ready. He went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. When Joseph came to him, he hugged his father and wept for a long time."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Israel said to Joseph, \"Now I can die at last. I have seen your face. I know you are still alive!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Joseph said to his brothers and his father's family, \"I will go up and tell Pharaoh this: 'My brothers and my father's family have come to me from the land of Canaan."},{"verse":32,"text":"The men are shepherds. They raise animals. They have brought their flocks and herds and everything they own.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"When Pharaoh calls for you, he may ask, 'What kind of work do you do?'"},{"verse":34,"text":"Then you should say, 'Your servants have raised animals since we were young. We did, and our fathers did too.' Then he will let you live in the land of Goshen. This is because Egyptians hate all shepherds.\""}]},{"chapter":47,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So Joseph went and told Pharaoh, \"My father and my brothers have come from the land of Canaan. They brought their flocks and herds and all they own. They are now in Goshen.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Joseph picked five of his brothers. He brought them in to meet Pharaoh."},{"verse":3,"text":"Pharaoh asked Joseph's brothers, \"What kind of work do you do?\" They answered, \"Your servants are shepherds. We are, and our fathers were too.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then they said to Pharaoh, \"We have come to stay in this land for a while, because there is no grass for your servants' flocks. The famine in Canaan has been very bad. So please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Your father and brothers have come to you."},{"verse":6,"text":"The land of Egypt is open to you. Let your father and brothers live in the best part of the land. They may live in the land of Goshen. If you know any skilled men among them, put them in charge of my own animals.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob to meet Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh."},{"verse":8,"text":"Pharaoh asked him, \"How old are you?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jacob answered, \"I have been traveling for 130 years. My years have been few and hard. They have not been as many as the years my fathers traveled.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left."},{"verse":11,"text":"So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt. He gave them land in the best part of the country. It was in the area of Rameses, just as Pharaoh had ordered."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joseph also gave food to his father and brothers. He gave food to all his father's household, for all their families."},{"verse":13,"text":"But there was no food anywhere in the area, because the famine was so bad. The lands of Egypt and Canaan were worn out by the famine."},{"verse":14,"text":"People in Egypt and Canaan paid money for grain. Joseph collected all the money in both lands. He brought it into Pharaoh's palace."},{"verse":15,"text":"Soon the money in Egypt and Canaan was all gone. Then all the Egyptians came to Joseph. They said, \"Give us food! Why should we die in front of you? Our money is gone!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Joseph said, \"Then bring me your animals. Your money is gone, so I will trade you food for your animals.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So they brought their animals to Joseph. He gave them food in trade for their horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys. All that year he fed them in trade for all their animals."},{"verse":18,"text":"When that year was over, they came to him the next year. They said, \"We can't hide it from our lord. Our money is gone. All our animals belong to you. We have nothing left to give our lord but our bodies and our land."},{"verse":19,"text":"Why should we die in front of you? Why should our land be ruined too? Buy us and our land for food. Then we and our land will belong to Pharaoh as slaves. Give us seed so we can live and not die. Then the land won't become empty and wasted.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his fields, because the famine was so bad for them. The land became Pharaoh's."},{"verse":21,"text":"And Joseph made the people into servants from one end of Egypt to the other."},{"verse":22,"text":"But he did not buy the priests' part of the land, because Pharaoh had given it to them. They ate the food Pharaoh gave them. So they did not sell their land."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Joseph said to the people, \"Today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is seed for you. Plant it in the land."},{"verse":24,"text":"At harvest time, give one-fifth of the crop to Pharaoh. You may keep the other four-fifths. Use it as seed for the fields. Use it as food for yourselves, your households, and your children.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"They said, \"You have saved our lives! Our lord has shown us favor. We will be Pharaoh's servants.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So Joseph made it a law in the land of Egypt. One-fifth of the crops belongs to Pharaoh. That law is still in place today. Only the priests' land does not belong to Pharaoh."},{"verse":27,"text":"Now the Israelites lived in the land of Egypt, in the area of Goshen. They got land there. They had many children and grew to be very many."},{"verse":28,"text":"Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years. He lived to be 147 years old."},{"verse":29,"text":"The time came near for Israel to die. He called for his son Joseph. He said, \"If you care about me, put your hand under my thigh. Promise to be kind and faithful to me. Do not bury me in Egypt.","note":"Putting a hand under the thigh was a way of making a solemn promise."},{"verse":30,"text":"When I go to rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt. Bury me where they are buried.\" Joseph answered, \"I will do what you ask.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Jacob said, \"Swear to me.\" So Joseph made a promise to him. And Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed."}]},{"chapter":48,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later Joseph was told, \"Your father is sick.\" So Joseph went to see him. He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Someone told Jacob, \"Your son Joseph has come to see you.\" So Israel gathered his strength and sat up in bed."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jacob said to Joseph, \"God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan. He blessed me there."},{"verse":4,"text":"He said to me, 'I will give you many children. I will make your family grow. I will make you into many peoples. I will give this land to your children after you. It will be theirs forever.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"Now your two sons were born to you in Egypt before I came here. They will count as my sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just like Reuben and Simeon are mine."},{"verse":6,"text":"Any children you have after them will be yours. They will be listed under their brothers' names in the land they receive."},{"verse":7,"text":"As for me, I was coming back from Paddan. Then to my great sorrow, Rachel died on the way, in the land of Canaan. We were still some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath.\" (Ephrath is Bethlehem.)"},{"verse":8,"text":"Israel saw Joseph's sons. He asked, \"Who are these boys?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Joseph said to his father, \"They are the sons God has given me here.\" Jacob said, \"Please bring them to me so I can bless them.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Israel's eyes were weak because he was old. He could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons close to him. His father kissed them and hugged them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Israel said to Joseph, \"I never thought I would see your face again. But now God has even let me see your children!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Joseph took his sons off his father's knees. He bowed down with his face to the ground."},{"verse":13,"text":"Joseph took both boys and brought them close to Israel. He held Ephraim with his right hand, toward Israel's left hand. He held Manasseh with his left hand, toward Israel's right hand."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Israel reached out his right hand. He put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger son. He crossed his arms and put his left hand on Manasseh's head. He did this even though Manasseh was the firstborn."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then he blessed Joseph. He said,\n\"My fathers Abraham and Isaac walked before God.\nGod has been my shepherd all my life, to this very day."},{"verse":16,"text":"He is the angel who has redeemed me from all harm.\nMay he bless these boys.\nMay they be called by my name,\nand by the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.\nMay they grow into a huge crowd of people on the earth.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head. This upset him. So he took hold of his father's hand. He tried to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head."},{"verse":18,"text":"Joseph said, \"No, my father! This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But his father would not do it. He said, \"I know, my son, I know! He will also become a people. He will be great too. But his younger brother will be greater than he is. His children will become many nations.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So that day Jacob blessed them. He said,\n\"The people of Israel will use your names to bless others.\nThey will say, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'\"\nSo he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Israel said to Joseph, \"Look, I am about to die. But God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers."},{"verse":22,"text":"You are above your brothers. So I give you the ridge of land I took from the Amorites. I took it with my sword and my bow.\"","note":"The Hebrew word for \"ridge\" is \"Shechem,\" also the name of a town."}]},{"chapter":49,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jacob called for his sons. He said, \"Gather around. I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come."},{"verse":2,"text":"Come together and listen, sons of Jacob.\nListen to your father Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Reuben, you are my firstborn.\nYou are my might, the first sign of my strength.\nYou are first in honor and first in power."},{"verse":4,"text":"You are wild like rushing water.\nYou will not be first anymore,\nbecause you went up onto your father's bed.\nYou got on my couch and made it unclean."},{"verse":5,"text":"Simeon and Levi are brothers.\nTheir swords are weapons of violence."},{"verse":6,"text":"May I never go into their secret meetings.\nMay I never join their group.\nFor in their anger they killed men.\nJust because they felt like it, they crippled oxen."},{"verse":7,"text":"Cursed be their anger, because it is so strong.\nCursed be their rage, because it is so cruel!\nI will split them up in Jacob.\nI will scatter them in Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"Judah, your brothers will praise you.\nYour hand will be on the necks of your enemies.\nYour father's sons will bow down to you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Judah is a young lion.\nMy son, you come back from the kill.\nLike a lion he crouches and lies down.\nLike a lioness, who would dare to wake him?"},{"verse":10,"text":"The scepter will not leave Judah.\nThe ruler's staff will not leave from between his feet.\nIt will stay until Shiloh comes.\nAnd the nations will obey him.","note":"\"Shiloh\" may mean \"the one to whom it belongs.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"He ties his donkey to the vine.\nHe ties his colt to the best branch.\nHe washes his clothes in wine.\nHe washes his robes in the blood of grapes."},{"verse":12,"text":"His eyes are darker than wine.\nHis teeth are whiter than milk."},{"verse":13,"text":"Zebulun will live by the seashore.\nHe will be a harbor for ships.\nHis land will reach to Sidon."},{"verse":14,"text":"Issachar is a strong donkey.\nHe lies down between the sheep pens."},{"verse":15,"text":"He saw that his resting place was good.\nHe saw that his land was pleasant.\nSo he bent his shoulder to carry the load.\nHe gave in to hard work as a servant."},{"verse":16,"text":"Dan will bring justice to his people.\nHe will be one of the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Dan will be a snake by the road.\nHe will be a viper on the path.\nHe bites the horse's heels,\nso that its rider falls backward."},{"verse":18,"text":"I wait for your salvation, LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"Raiders will attack Gad.\nBut he will attack their heels."},{"verse":20,"text":"Asher's food will be rich.\nHe will make treats fit for a king."},{"verse":21,"text":"Naphtali is a deer set free.\nShe has beautiful fawns."},{"verse":22,"text":"Joseph is a vine full of fruit.\nHe is a fruitful vine by a spring.\nIts branches climb over the wall."},{"verse":23,"text":"Archers attacked him with bitter anger.\nThey shot at him with hate."},{"verse":24,"text":"But he held his bow steady.\nHis strong arms were made strong by the Mighty One of Jacob.\nThis was by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel."},{"verse":25,"text":"It was by the God of your father, who helps you.\nIt was by the Almighty, who blesses you.\nHe blesses you with blessings from the sky above.\nHe blesses you with blessings from the deep waters below.\nHe blesses you with blessings of the breasts and womb."},{"verse":26,"text":"The blessings of your father are greater\nthan the blessings of the ancient mountains.\nThey are greater than the riches of the hills that last forever.\nMay they rest on the head of Joseph.\nMay they rest on the brow of the prince among his brothers."},{"verse":27,"text":"Benjamin is a hungry wolf.\nIn the morning he eats up his prey.\nIn the evening he divides what he has taken.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each one the blessing that fit him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Jacob gave them orders. He said, \"I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers. Bury me in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite."},{"verse":30,"text":"The cave is in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought this field from Ephron the Hittite as a place to bury his dead."},{"verse":31,"text":"Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there. And I buried Leah there."},{"verse":32,"text":"The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Jacob finished giving orders to his sons. Then he pulled his feet up into the bed. He breathed his last breath, and he was gathered to his people."}]},{"chapter":50,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joseph threw himself on his father's face. He wept over him and kissed him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Joseph told the doctors who served him to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him.","note":"To embalm means to treat a body with spices so it lasts."},{"verse":3,"text":"It took them 40 days, which is the time needed to embalm a body. The Egyptians mourned for him for 70 days."},{"verse":4,"text":"When the days of mourning were over, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh's officials. He said, \"If you are pleased with me, please tell Pharaoh this:"},{"verse":5,"text":"'My father made me swear a promise. He said, \"I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.\" So please let me go up and bury my father. Then I will come back.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Pharaoh answered, \"Go up and bury your father, just as he made you promise.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Joseph went up to bury his father. All of Pharaoh's servants went with him. The leaders of Pharaoh's household went. All the leaders of the land of Egypt went too."},{"verse":8,"text":"All of Joseph's household went, along with his brothers and his father's household. Only their children and their flocks and herds stayed in Goshen."},{"verse":9,"text":"Chariots and horsemen went up with him too. It was a very large crowd."},{"verse":10,"text":"They came to the threshing floor of Atad, across the Jordan River. There they cried and wailed loudly. Joseph mourned for his father for seven days."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad. They said, \"The Egyptians are having a very sad time of mourning.\" That is why the place across the Jordan is called Abel-mizraim.","note":"Abel-mizraim means \"mourning of Egypt.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So Jacob's sons did what he had told them to do."},{"verse":13,"text":"They carried him to the land of Canaan. They buried him in the cave at Machpelah, in the field near Mamre. Abraham had bought this field from Ephron the Hittite as a place to bury the dead."},{"verse":14,"text":"After Joseph buried his father, he went back to Egypt. His brothers went back with him. So did everyone who had gone with him to bury his father."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead. They said, \"What if Joseph is still angry with us? Then he will surely pay us back for all the evil we did to him.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So they sent a message to Joseph. It said, \"Before your father died, he gave us an order."},{"verse":17,"text":"He said, 'This is what you must say to Joseph: Please, I beg you, forgive your brothers for their wrong and their sin. They did evil to you.' So now, Joseph, please forgive the wrong done by the servants of your father's God.\" When Joseph got their message, he wept."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then his brothers came and bowed down in front of him. They said, \"We are your slaves!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But Joseph said to them, \"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?"},{"verse":20,"text":"You planned evil against me. But God planned it for good. He did it to bring about what is happening today. He did it to save the lives of many people."},{"verse":21,"text":"So don't be afraid. I will take care of you and your little ones.\" So Joseph comforted his brothers and spoke kindly to them."},{"verse":22,"text":"Joseph and his father's family stayed in Egypt. Joseph lived to be 110 years old."},{"verse":23,"text":"He saw three generations of Ephraim's children. The sons of Machir, Manasseh's son, were also raised on Joseph's knees."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Joseph said to his brothers, \"I am about to die. But God will surely come to help you. He will bring you up out of this land. He will take you to the land he promised with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Joseph made the sons of Israel swear a promise. He said, \"God will surely come to help you. When he does, you must carry my bones up from this place.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So Joseph died when he was 110 years old. They embalmed his body and put it in a coffin in Egypt."}]}]},{"name":"Exodus","slug":"exodus","usfm":"EXO","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob. Each one went with his family."},{"verse":2,"text":"They were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,"},{"verse":3,"text":"Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,"},{"verse":4,"text":"Dan and Naphtali, and Gad and Asher."},{"verse":5,"text":"In all, there were 70 people in Jacob's family. This count includes Joseph, who was already in Egypt."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Joseph died. All his brothers and all the people of that time died too."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the Israelites had many children. Their numbers grew fast. They became so many that they filled the land."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then a new king came to power in Egypt. He did not know about Joseph."},{"verse":9,"text":"He said to his people, \"Look! The Israelites are too many for us. They are too strong."},{"verse":10,"text":"Come, we must be clever in how we treat them. If not, they will grow even more. If a war starts, they might join our enemies. They might fight against us and leave the country.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So the Egyptians put slave bosses over the Israelites. The bosses made their lives hard with forced work. The Israelites built Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. These were cities for storing supplies."},{"verse":12,"text":"But the harder the Egyptians treated them, the more the Israelites grew and spread. So the Egyptians began to fear the Israelites."},{"verse":13,"text":"They made the Israelites work without mercy."},{"verse":14,"text":"They made their lives bitter with hard work. They made them work with bricks and clay. They made them do all kinds of work in the fields. All the work they forced on them was cruel."},{"verse":15,"text":"The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives. Their names were Shiphrah and Puah.","note":"A midwife is a woman who helps other women give birth."},{"verse":16,"text":"He said, \"When you help the Hebrew women give birth, watch them on the birthing stools. If the baby is a boy, kill him. But if it is a girl, let her live.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But the midwives feared God. They did not do what the king of Egypt told them. They let the boys live."},{"verse":18,"text":"So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. He asked them, \"Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The midwives answered Pharaoh, \"The Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women. They are strong. They give birth before a midwife gets there.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So God was good to the midwives. And the people grew and became even more."},{"verse":21,"text":"Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Pharaoh gave an order to all his people. \"Every boy born to the Hebrews must be thrown into the Nile River. But you may let every girl live.\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A man from the family of Levi married a woman who was also from Levi's family."},{"verse":2,"text":"She became pregnant and had a son. She saw that he was a beautiful baby. So she hid him for three months."},{"verse":3,"text":"But soon she couldn't hide him any longer. So she got a basket made of papyrus. She covered it with tar and pitch. Then she put the baby in the basket. She set it among the reeds at the edge of the Nile."},{"verse":4,"text":"The baby's sister stood a little way off. She watched to see what would happen to him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Soon Pharaoh's daughter came down to the Nile to bathe. Her servant girls walked along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds. So she sent her servant girl to get it."},{"verse":6,"text":"She opened it and saw the baby. The little boy was crying! She felt sorry for him. She said, \"This is one of the Hebrew babies.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the baby's sister spoke to Pharaoh's daughter. \"Should I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Pharaoh's daughter said, \"Yes, go.\" So the girl went and got the baby's mother."},{"verse":9,"text":"Pharaoh's daughter said to her, \"Take this baby and nurse him for me. I will pay you.\" So the woman took the baby and nursed him."},{"verse":10,"text":"When the child was older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter. He became her son. She named him Moses. She said, \"I pulled him out of the water.\"","note":"The name Moses sounds like the Hebrew word for \"pull out.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Moses grew up. One day he went out to see his own people. He watched them doing their hard work. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people."},{"verse":12,"text":"Moses looked this way and that way. He didn't see anyone. So he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand."},{"verse":13,"text":"The next day Moses went out again. He saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one who was in the wrong, \"Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The man answered, \"Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?\" Then Moses was afraid. He thought, \"People must know what I did.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Pharaoh heard about it, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses ran away from Pharaoh. He went to live in the land of Midian. There he sat down by a well."},{"verse":16,"text":"The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to the well to get water. They filled the troughs to give water to their father's flock."},{"verse":17,"text":"Some shepherds came and chased them away. But Moses got up and helped the girls. He gave water to their flock."},{"verse":18,"text":"The girls went back to their father Reuel. He asked them, \"Why are you home so early today?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"They answered, \"An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds. He even got water for us and gave it to the flock.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Their father asked, \"So where is he? Why did you leave the man there? Invite him to come and eat with us.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Moses agreed to stay with the man. The man gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses to be his wife."},{"verse":22,"text":"She had a son. Moses named him Gershom. He said, \"I have become a stranger in a foreign land.\"","note":"The name Gershom sounds like the Hebrew words for \"a stranger there.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"A long time passed, and the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under the heavy load of slavery. They cried out for help. Their cry to be set free went up to God."},{"verse":24,"text":"God heard their groaning. He remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."},{"verse":25,"text":"God saw the Israelites, and he took notice of them."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Moses was taking care of the flock of his father-in-law Jethro. Jethro was the priest of Midian. Moses led the flock to the far side of the wilderness. He came to Horeb, the mountain of God."},{"verse":2,"text":"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him. He was in a flame of fire inside a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire. But it did not burn up."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Moses thought, \"I must go over and see this amazing sight. Why doesn't the bush burn up?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD saw that Moses had come over to look. So God called to him from inside the bush. \"Moses, Moses!\" Moses answered, \"Here I am.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"God said, \"Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy ground.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he said, \"I am the God of your father. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\" When Moses heard this, he hid his face. He was afraid to look at God."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD said, \"I have surely seen how my people in Egypt are suffering. I have heard them cry out because of their cruel bosses. I know how much they are hurting."},{"verse":8,"text":"I have come down to save them from the power of the Egyptians. I will bring them out of that land. I will bring them to a good land with lots of room. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. It is the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now the cry of the Israelites has come to me. I have seen how badly the Egyptians are treating them."},{"verse":10,"text":"So go now! I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But Moses said to God, \"Who am I to go to Pharaoh? Who am I to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"God said, \"I will surely be with you. Here is the sign that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Moses said to God, \"Suppose I go to the Israelites. I tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Then they ask me, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"God said to Moses, \"I AM WHO I AM. This is what you must say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"God also said to Moses, \"Tell the Israelites, 'The LORD has sent me to you. He is the God of your fathers. He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' This is my name forever. This is the name people will remember me by in every generation.","note":"The Hebrew name shown as \"the LORD\" sounds like the Hebrew for \"I AM.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Go and gather the leaders of Israel. Say to them, 'The LORD has appeared to me. He is the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He said: I have surely come to help you. I have seen what has been done to you in Egypt."},{"verse":17,"text":"I have promised to bring you up out of your suffering in Egypt. I will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. It is a land flowing with milk and honey.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"The leaders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the leaders must go to the king of Egypt. Tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness, so that we may offer sacrifices to the LORD our God.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"But I know the king of Egypt will not let you go. He will only let you go if a mighty hand forces him."},{"verse":20,"text":"So I will reach out my hand. I will strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will do among them. After that, he will let you go."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will make the Egyptians kind to these people. So when you leave, you will not go away with empty hands."},{"verse":22,"text":"Every woman will ask her neighbor for silver and gold jewelry and for clothes. She will also ask any woman living in her house. You will put these things on your sons and daughters. This is how you will take the riches of the Egyptians.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses answered, \"What if they don't believe me? What if they won't listen to me? They might say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'\""},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD asked him, \"What is that in your hand?\" Moses answered, \"A staff.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD said, \"Throw it on the ground.\" So Moses threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake! Moses ran away from it."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Reach out your hand and grab it by the tail.\" So Moses reached out and caught the snake. It turned back into a staff in his hand."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"This is so they will believe that the LORD has appeared to you. He is the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD also said to Moses, \"Put your hand inside your cloak.\" So he did. When he took it out, his hand had leprosy. It was as white as snow.","note":"Leprosy was a word for several kinds of skin disease."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD said, \"Put your hand back inside your cloak.\" So Moses put his hand back inside his cloak. When he took it out, it was healed. It was like the rest of his skin."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said, \"If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second sign."},{"verse":9,"text":"But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to you, then take some water from the Nile. Pour it on the dry ground. The water from the Nile will turn into blood on the ground.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Moses said, \"Please, Lord, I have never been good with words. I wasn't in the past. I'm not even now that you have spoken to your servant. My mouth is slow and my tongue is slow.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD said to him, \"Who gave people their mouths? Who makes them unable to speak or hear? Who makes them able to see or blind? Isn't it I, the LORD?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Now go! I will help you speak. I will teach you what to say.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Moses said, \"Please, Lord, send someone else.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD became very angry with Moses. He said, \"What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you. When he sees you, his heart will be glad."},{"verse":15,"text":"You will speak to him and tell him what to say. I will help both of you speak. I will teach you what to do."},{"verse":16,"text":"He will speak to the people for you. He will be like your mouth. And you will be like God to him."},{"verse":17,"text":"But take this staff in your hand. You will do signs with it.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro. He said, \"Please let me go back to my relatives in Egypt. I want to see if they are still alive.\" Jethro said, \"Go in peace.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD had said to Moses in Midian, \"Go back to Egypt. All the men who wanted to kill you are dead.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Moses took his wife and sons and put them on a donkey. He started back to Egypt. He carried the staff of God in his hand."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD told Moses, \"When you go back to Egypt, do all the wonders I have given you the power to do. Do them in front of Pharaoh. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then tell Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son."},{"verse":23,"text":"I told you to let my son go so he can worship me. But you refused to let him go. So now I will kill your firstborn son!'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"On the way, Moses stopped at a place to spend the night. There the LORD met him and was about to kill him."},{"verse":25,"text":"But Zipporah took a sharp stone knife. She cut off her son's foreskin. She touched Moses' feet with it. She said, \"You are surely a bridegroom of blood to me.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So the LORD left him alone. (When she said \"bridegroom of blood,\" she was talking about the circumcision.)"},{"verse":27,"text":"The LORD had said to Aaron, \"Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.\" So Aaron went. He met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him."},{"verse":28,"text":"Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had sent him to say. He told him about all the signs the LORD had ordered him to do."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the leaders of the Israelites."},{"verse":30,"text":"Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. And Moses did the signs in front of the people."},{"verse":31,"text":"And the people believed. They heard that the LORD had come to help the Israelites. They heard that he had seen their suffering. Then they bowed down and worshiped."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a feast for me in the wilderness.'\""},{"verse":2,"text":"But Pharaoh said, \"Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD. And I will not let Israel go.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"They answered, \"The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But the king of Egypt said to them, \"Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Pharaoh also said, \"Look, there are so many of these people in the land now. And you want them to stop working!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave bosses and the foremen over the people."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Don't give the people straw for making bricks anymore. Let them go and gather their own straw."},{"verse":8,"text":"But make them make the same number of bricks as before. Don't lower it. They are lazy. That is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Make the men work harder. Keep them busy so they won't pay attention to these lies.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So the slave bosses and the foremen went out to the people. They said, \"This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you straw anymore."},{"verse":11,"text":"Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it. But you must still do just as much work.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So the people spread out all over Egypt. They gathered stubble to use for straw.","note":"Stubble is the short stalks left in a field after harvest."},{"verse":13,"text":"The slave bosses kept pushing them. They said, \"Finish your work each day. Make as many bricks as you did when you had straw.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Pharaoh's slave bosses had put Israelite foremen over the people. Now these foremen were beaten. The bosses asked them, \"Why didn't you make all your bricks yesterday or today, like before?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and begged him. \"Why are you treating your servants like this?"},{"verse":16,"text":"Your servants get no straw. But they still tell us, 'Make bricks!' Look, your servants are being beaten. But it's your own people's fault.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Pharaoh said, \"You are lazy! You are lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"Now get to work! You will get no straw. But you must still make the full number of bricks.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"They were told, \"You must still make the same number of bricks each day.\" Then the Israelite foremen knew they were in trouble."},{"verse":20,"text":"They left Pharaoh. Moses and Aaron were standing there, waiting to meet them. The foremen went right up to them."},{"verse":21,"text":"The foremen said, \"May the LORD look at you and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have handed them a sword to kill us!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So Moses went back to the LORD. He said, \"Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me?"},{"verse":23,"text":"I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name. Ever since then, he has brought trouble on these people. And you have not rescued your people at all.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But the LORD said to Moses, \"Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. Because of my mighty hand, he will let the people go. Because of my strong hand, he will drive them out of his land.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"God also said to Moses, \"I am the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty. But I did not make myself known to them by my name, the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"I also made my covenant with them. I promised to give them the land of Canaan. They lived there as foreigners."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites. The Egyptians are keeping them as slaves. And I have remembered my covenant."},{"verse":6,"text":"So tell the Israelites, 'I am the LORD. I will bring you out from under the heavy load the Egyptians put on you. I will set you free from being their slaves. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will take you as my own people. I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God. I am the one who brought you out from under the heavy load of the Egyptians."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you to own. I am the LORD!'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Moses told this to the Israelites. But they did not listen to him, because their spirits were crushed and their slavery was cruel."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Go and tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the Israelites leave his land.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But Moses said to the LORD, \"If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am not good with words?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He gave them orders about the Israelites and about Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He told them to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":14,"text":"These were the heads of their family groups. The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben."},{"verse":15,"text":"The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, and Zohar. There was also Shaul, whose mother was from Canaan. These were the clans of Simeon."},{"verse":16,"text":"These were the names of the sons of Levi, as listed in their records. They were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years."},{"verse":17,"text":"The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, by their clans."},{"verse":18,"text":"The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years."},{"verse":19,"text":"The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, as listed in their records."},{"verse":20,"text":"Amram married Jochebed, his father's sister. She had Aaron and Moses with him. Amram lived 137 years."},{"verse":21,"text":"The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri."},{"verse":22,"text":"The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri."},{"verse":23,"text":"Aaron married Elisheba. She was the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon. She had Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar with him."},{"verse":24,"text":"The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites."},{"verse":25,"text":"Aaron's son Eleazar married one of Putiel's daughters. She had Phinehas with him. These were the heads of the Levite families, by their clans."},{"verse":26,"text":"The LORD spoke to this same Aaron and Moses. He said, \"Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, group by group.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Moses and Aaron were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt. They spoke to him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt."},{"verse":28,"text":"Now the LORD spoke to Moses one day in Egypt."},{"verse":29,"text":"He said to him, \"I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything I tell you.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"But Moses said to the LORD, \"I am not good with words. Why would Pharaoh listen to me?\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD answered Moses, \"Look, I have made you like God to Pharaoh. Your brother Aaron will be your prophet."},{"verse":2,"text":"You must say everything I tell you to say. Then your brother Aaron must tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave his land."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I will harden Pharaoh's heart. I will do many signs and wonders in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":4,"text":"Even so, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt. With mighty acts of judgment, I will bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt, group by group."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will reach out my hand against Egypt. I will bring the Israelites out from among them. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Moses and Aaron did just what the LORD told them to do."},{"verse":7,"text":"Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they spoke to Pharaoh."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Do a miracle,' you must say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh.' It will turn into a snake.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did just what the LORD had told them. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials. It turned into a snake."},{"verse":11,"text":"But Pharaoh called for the wise men, sorcerers, and magicians of Egypt. They did the same thing with their secret magic."},{"verse":12,"text":"Each one threw down his staff, and it turned into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs."},{"verse":13,"text":"Still, Pharaoh's heart was hardened. He would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Pharaoh's heart is stubborn. He refuses to let the people go."},{"verse":15,"text":"In the morning, go to Pharaoh as he walks out to the water. Wait by the bank of the Nile to meet him. Take the staff that turned into a snake. Hold it in your hand."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to tell you this: Let my people go so they can worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is what the LORD says: Here is how you will know that I am the LORD. Look! I will strike the water of the Nile with the staff in my hand. The water will turn into blood."},{"verse":18,"text":"The fish in the Nile will die. The river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Tell Aaron, 'Take your staff. Reach out your hand over the waters of Egypt. Reach over their rivers, canals, ponds, and all their pools of water. They will turn into blood.' There will be blood all over Egypt. It will even be in the wood and stone jars.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Moses and Aaron did just what the LORD told them. Pharaoh and his officials watched. Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. All the water turned into blood."},{"verse":21,"text":"The fish in the Nile died. The river smelled so bad that the Egyptians couldn't drink its water. There was blood all over the land of Egypt."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their secret magic. So Pharaoh's heart was hardened. He would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":23,"text":"Pharaoh just turned around and went into his palace. He didn't give any of this a second thought."},{"verse":24,"text":"All the Egyptians dug along the Nile to find water to drink, because they couldn't drink the water from the river."},{"verse":25,"text":"Seven full days passed after the LORD struck the Nile."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh. Tell him that this is what the LORD says: 'Let my people go, so they can worship me."},{"verse":2,"text":"But if you refuse to let them go, I will strike your whole country with frogs."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Nile will be full of frogs. They will come into your palace. They will go up into your bedroom and onto your bed. They will get into the houses of your officials and your people. They will even get into your ovens and your bowls for making bread."},{"verse":4,"text":"The frogs will jump up on you and your people and all your officials.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses, \"Tell Aaron, 'Hold out your hand with your staff over the rivers, canals, and ponds. Make the frogs come up onto the land of Egypt.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Aaron held out his hand over the waters of Egypt. The frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the magicians did the same thing with their secret magic. They also made frogs come up onto the land of Egypt."},{"verse":8,"text":"Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said, \"Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the LORD.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Moses said to Pharaoh, \"You may choose the time. When should I pray for you and your officials and your people? Then the frogs will be taken away from you and your houses. Only the ones in the Nile will stay.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Tomorrow,\" Pharaoh answered. Moses replied, \"It will be just as you say. Then you will know that there is no one like the LORD our God."},{"verse":11,"text":"The frogs will leave you and your houses and your officials and your people. They will stay only in the Nile.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh. Then Moses cried out to the LORD for help about the frogs he had sent against Pharaoh."},{"verse":13,"text":"And the LORD did what Moses asked. The frogs died in the houses, the yards, and the fields."},{"verse":14,"text":"The people piled them up in more heaps than anyone could count. The whole land smelled terrible."},{"verse":15,"text":"But when Pharaoh saw that the trouble was over, he made his heart hard. He would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Tell Aaron, 'Hold out your staff and strike the dust of the ground. It will turn into swarms of gnats all over the land of Egypt.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So they did this. Aaron held out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the ground. Then gnats came on people and animals. All the dust of the ground turned into gnats all over the land of Egypt."},{"verse":18,"text":"The magicians tried to make gnats with their secret magic, but they could not. And the gnats stayed on people and animals."},{"verse":19,"text":"The magicians said to Pharaoh, \"This is the finger of God.\" But Pharaoh's heart was hardened. He would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Get up early in the morning. When Pharaoh goes out to the water, stand in front of him. Tell him that this is what the LORD says: 'Let my people go, so they can worship me."},{"verse":21,"text":"But if you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials and your people. I will send them into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies. Even the ground they stand on will be covered."},{"verse":22,"text":"But on that day I will treat the land of Goshen in a special way. That is where my people live. No swarms of flies will be found there. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am here in this land."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will make a difference between my people and your people. This sign will happen tomorrow.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"And the LORD did just that. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace and into the houses of his officials. All over Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. He said, \"Go and offer sacrifices to your God here in this land.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"But Moses replied, \"It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be disgusting to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices they hate right in front of them, won't they stone us?"},{"verse":27,"text":"We must travel three days into the wilderness. There we will offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, as he commands us.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Pharaoh answered, \"I will let you go and offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the wilderness. But you must not go very far. Now pray for me.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Moses said, \"As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD. Then tomorrow the swarms of flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. But Pharaoh must not trick us again. He must not refuse to let the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD,"},{"verse":31,"text":"and the LORD did what Moses asked. He took the swarms of flies away from Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Not one fly was left."},{"verse":32,"text":"But this time too Pharaoh made his heart hard. He would not let the people go."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh. Tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'Let my people go, so they can worship me."},{"verse":2,"text":"But if you keep holding them back and refuse to let them go,"},{"verse":3,"text":"then the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible sickness on your animals in the field. It will strike your horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the LORD will make a difference between the animals of Israel and the animals of Egypt. Not one animal that belongs to the Israelites will die.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD set a time. He said, \"Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"And the next day the LORD did just that. All the animals of the Egyptians died. But not one animal that belonged to the Israelites died."},{"verse":7,"text":"Pharaoh sent officials to check. They found that not one of the Israelites' animals had died. But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"Take handfuls of soot from the furnace. Moses must toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches."},{"verse":9,"text":"It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt. Then painful sores full of pus will break out on people and animals all over the land.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So they took soot from the furnace and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air. Then painful sores full of pus broke out on people and animals."},{"verse":11,"text":"The magicians could not stand in front of Moses because of the sores. The sores had broken out on them and on all the Egyptians."},{"verse":12,"text":"But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard. He would not listen to them, just as the LORD had told Moses."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Get up early in the morning and stand in front of Pharaoh. Tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'Let my people go, so they can worship me."},{"verse":14,"text":"If you don't, I will send all my plagues against you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth."},{"verse":15,"text":"For by now I could have reached out my hand and struck you and your people with a deadly sickness. I could have wiped you off the earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"But I have raised you up for this very reason. I did it to show you my power. I did it so my name would be told about in all the earth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Still, you act like a proud ruler over my people. You will not let them go."},{"verse":18,"text":"Listen! About this time tomorrow I will send down the worst hail that has ever fallen on Egypt. Nothing like it has fallen from the day Egypt began until now."},{"verse":19,"text":"So give orders right now to bring your animals and everything you have in the field to a safe place. The hail will come down on every person and animal left out in the field. Anything not brought inside will die.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Some of Pharaoh's officials feared the word of the LORD. They hurried to bring their servants and animals inside to safety."},{"verse":21,"text":"But others paid no attention to the word of the LORD. They left their servants and animals out in the field."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Hold out your hand toward the sky. Then hail will fall on all the land of Egypt. It will fall on people and animals and every plant in the fields all over the land of Egypt.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So Moses held out his staff toward the sky. The LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the ground. So the LORD rained down hail on the land of Egypt."},{"verse":24,"text":"The hail fell, and lightning kept flashing through it. The hail was very heavy. Nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation."},{"verse":25,"text":"All over the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the fields, both people and animals. It beat down every plant in the fields. It stripped every tree bare."},{"verse":26,"text":"The only place where it did not hail was the land of Goshen. That is where the Israelites lived."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron. \"This time I have sinned,\" he said. \"The LORD is righteous. My people and I are wicked."},{"verse":28,"text":"Pray to the LORD. We have had enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go. You don't have to stay here any longer.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Moses said to him, \"When I have left the city, I will lift up my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop, and there will be no more hail. Then you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD our God.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"(The flax and the barley were ruined, because the barley was ripe and the flax was in bloom."},{"verse":32,"text":"But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, because they grow later.)"},{"verse":33,"text":"Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He lifted up his hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land."},{"verse":34,"text":"Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped. Then he sinned again. He and his officials made their hearts hard."},{"verse":35,"text":"So Pharaoh's heart was hardened. He would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh, for I have made his heart hard, and the hearts of his officials too. I did this so I could do these miraculous signs of mine among them,"},{"verse":2,"text":"and so you can tell your children and grandchildren how hard I was on the Egyptians. Tell them about the miraculous signs I did among them. Then all of you will know that I am the LORD.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They told him, \"This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to be humble before me? Let my people go, so they can worship me."},{"verse":4,"text":"But if you refuse to let my people go, I will bring locusts into your land tomorrow."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will cover the ground so that no one can see it. They will eat up whatever the hail left. They will eat every tree growing in your fields."},{"verse":6,"text":"They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and of every Egyptian. Your fathers and grandfathers have never seen anything like this, from the day they came into this land until now.'\" Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh."},{"verse":7,"text":"Pharaoh's officials said to him, \"How long will this man be a trap for us? Let the people go, so they can worship the LORD their God. Don't you see yet that Egypt is ruined?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. \"Go, worship the LORD your God,\" he said. \"But tell me who will be going.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Moses replied, \"We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we must hold a feast to honor the LORD.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Pharaoh said to them, \"The LORD would really have to be with you if I ever let you go with your little ones! It's clear you are planning something evil."},{"verse":11,"text":"No! Only the men may go and worship the LORD. After all, that is what you have been asking for.\" Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Hold out your hand over the land of Egypt. Then the locusts will swarm over it. They will eat every plant in the land, everything the hail has left.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Moses held out his staff over the land of Egypt. All that day and all that night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts."},{"verse":14,"text":"The locusts swarmed over the land. They settled down over every part of Egypt. There had never been so many locusts before, and there never will be again."},{"verse":15,"text":"They covered the whole land until it was black. They ate all the plants on the ground. They ate all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt."},{"verse":16,"text":"Pharaoh quickly called for Moses and Aaron. He said, \"I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now please forgive my sin one more time. Pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind. It picked up the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not one locust was left anywhere in Egypt."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard, and he would not let the Israelites go."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Hold out your hand toward the sky. Then darkness will spread over the land of Egypt. It will be so dark that people can feel it.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So Moses held out his hand toward the sky. Total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days."},{"verse":23,"text":"No one could see anyone else. For three days no one left the place where he was. But all the Israelites had light where they lived."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Pharaoh called for Moses. He said, \"Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you. Only your flocks and herds must stay here.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"But Moses replied, \"You must also give us animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings. We need them to offer to the LORD our God."},{"verse":26,"text":"Our animals must go with us too. Not one hoof will be left behind. We will need some of them to worship the LORD our God. And we won't know what we must use to worship the LORD until we get there.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard, and he would not let them go."},{"verse":28,"text":"Pharaoh said to Moses, \"Get away from me! Make sure you never see my face again. On the day you see my face, you will die.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Moses replied, \"Just as you say. I will never see your face again.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that, he will let you leave this place. And when he lets you go, he will drive you out completely."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now tell the people that every man and woman should ask their neighbors for things made of silver and gold.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"And the LORD made the Egyptians look kindly on the people. Also, Moses himself was highly respected in Egypt. Pharaoh's officials and the people thought of him as a great man."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Moses said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go out through all of Egypt."},{"verse":5,"text":"Every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die. This includes the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne. It includes the firstborn son of the slave girl who grinds grain at the hand mill. And all the firstborn of the cattle will die too."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then a loud cry will go up over all the land of Egypt. No one has ever heard crying like it before, and no one will ever hear it again."},{"verse":7,"text":"But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will growl at a person or an animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a difference between Egypt and Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"All these officials of yours will come to me. They will bow down to me and say, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that, I will leave.\" Then Moses left Pharaoh, burning with anger."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Pharaoh will not listen to you. This is so that I can do even more wonders in the land of Egypt.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Moses and Aaron did all these wonders in front of Pharaoh. But the LORD made Pharaoh's heart hard, so he would not let the Israelites go out of his land."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This month will be the first month for you. It will be the first month of your year."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell the whole community of Israel this. On the tenth day of this month, each man must pick out a lamb for his family. There must be one lamb for each household."},{"verse":4,"text":"If a household is too small to eat a whole lamb, they must share it with their nearest neighbor. They must count how many people there are. Then they must divide the lamb by how much each person will eat."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your lamb must be a male one year old. It must have nothing wrong with it. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats."},{"verse":6,"text":"You must take care of it until the fourteenth day of the month. Then the whole community of Israel will kill the animals at sundown."},{"verse":7,"text":"They must take some of the blood. They must put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of the houses where they eat the lambs."},{"verse":8,"text":"That night they must eat the meat roasted over the fire. They must eat it with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. Eat it only roasted over the fire. Roast the head, the legs, and the inside parts."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not leave any of it until morning. If any is left over, you must burn it up before morning."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is how you must eat it. Be dressed and ready to travel. Have your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. Eat it quickly. It is the LORD's Passover."},{"verse":12,"text":"On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt. I will strike down every firstborn male, both people and animals. And I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will touch you or destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must always remember this day. You must celebrate it as a feast to honor the LORD. This is a law for all time, for all the generations to come."},{"verse":15,"text":"For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day you must remove the yeast from your houses. Anyone who eats something with yeast from the first day to the seventh must be cut off from Israel."},{"verse":16,"text":"On the first day you must hold a holy meeting. You must hold another one on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days. You may only make your meals. That is all you may do."},{"verse":17,"text":"So you must keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because on this very day I brought your army groups out of the land of Egypt. You must keep this day as a law for all time, for all the generations to come.","note":"Unleavened bread is bread made without yeast."},{"verse":18,"text":"In the first month you must eat bread made without yeast. Eat it from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day."},{"verse":19,"text":"For seven days there must be no yeast found in your houses. If anyone eats something made with yeast, that person must be cut off from the community of Israel. This is true for a foreigner and for someone born in the land."},{"verse":20,"text":"You must not eat anything made with yeast. Eat bread made without yeast in all your homes.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel. He told them, \"Go right away and pick out a lamb for each of your families. Kill the Passover lamb."},{"verse":22,"text":"Take a bunch of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood in the bowl. Brush the blood on the top and sides of the door frame. None of you may go out the door of his house until morning."},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD will pass through to strike down the Egyptians. He will see the blood on the top and sides of the door frame. Then he will pass over that doorway. He will not let the destroyer come into your houses and strike you down."},{"verse":24,"text":"You must obey this command. It is a law for all time, for you and your children after you."},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD will give you the land, just as he promised. When you go into it, you must keep this ceremony."},{"verse":26,"text":"Your children will ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?'"},{"verse":27,"text":"Then you must answer, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD. He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. He struck down the Egyptians, but he spared our homes.'\" Then the people bowed down and worshiped."},{"verse":28,"text":"The Israelites went and did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron."},{"verse":29,"text":"At midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt. He struck down the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne. He struck down the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. He also struck down all the firstborn of the animals."},{"verse":30,"text":"Pharaoh got up during the night. So did all his officials and all the Egyptians. There was loud crying in Egypt. There was not one house where someone was not dead."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during the night. He said, \"Get up! Leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you asked."},{"verse":32,"text":"Take your flocks and herds too, just as you said, and go! And bless me too.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The Egyptians pushed the people to hurry. They wanted to send them out of the land quickly. \"If you don't go,\" they said, \"we will all die!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"So the people took their bread dough before the yeast was added. They wrapped their mixing bowls in clothes and carried them on their shoulders."},{"verse":35,"text":"The Israelites also did what Moses had told them. They asked the Egyptians for things made of silver and gold, and for clothing."},{"verse":36,"text":"And the LORD made the Egyptians so kind to the people that they gave them what they asked for. In this way the Israelites stripped the Egyptians of their riches."},{"verse":37,"text":"The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men on foot. Women and children were not counted."},{"verse":38,"text":"A large crowd of other people also went up with them. They took large herds of animals too, both flocks and herds."},{"verse":39,"text":"The dough they had brought out of Egypt had no yeast in it. So they baked it into flat loaves without yeast. They had been driven out of Egypt and could not wait. They had not even made food ready for the trip."},{"verse":40,"text":"The Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years."},{"verse":41,"text":"At the end of the 430 years, on that very day, all the LORD's army groups went out of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":42,"text":"The LORD kept watch that night to bring them out of the land of Egypt. So this same night is to be a night of watching to honor the LORD. All the Israelites must keep it for all the generations to come."},{"verse":43,"text":"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"These are the rules for the Passover. No foreigner may eat it."},{"verse":44,"text":"But any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him."},{"verse":45,"text":"A visitor who is staying only for a while may not eat the Passover. A hired worker may not eat it either."},{"verse":46,"text":"It must be eaten inside one house. You must not take any of the meat outside the house. You must not break any of its bones."},{"verse":47,"text":"The whole community of Israel must celebrate it."},{"verse":48,"text":"If a foreigner lives among you and wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover, all the males in his household must be circumcised. After that he may come and celebrate it. He will be like someone born in the land. But no man who is not circumcised may eat it."},{"verse":49,"text":"The same law is for the one born in the land and for the foreigner who lives among you.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Then all the Israelites did this. They did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron."},{"verse":51,"text":"On that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, group by group, like an army."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Set apart to me every firstborn male. The first male born to every mother among the Israelites belongs to me. This is true for both people and animals.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Moses said to the people, \"Remember this day. It is the day you came out of Egypt, the land where you were slaves. The LORD brought you out of it by the power of his hand. Nothing made with yeast may be eaten."},{"verse":4,"text":"You are leaving today, in the month of Abib."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. He made a promise to your fathers that he would give it to you. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. When he brings you there, you must keep this ceremony in this month."},{"verse":6,"text":"For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the seventh day there will be a feast to honor the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"Eat bread made without yeast for those seven days. Nothing made with yeast may be found among you. No yeast may be found anywhere in your land."},{"verse":8,"text":"On that day you must explain to your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"This will be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead. It will help you keep the Law of the LORD on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand."},{"verse":10,"text":"So you must keep this law at the set time, year after year."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD will bring you into the land of the Canaanites. He will give it to you, as he promised with an oath to you and your fathers."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you must give to the LORD the first male born to every mother. All the firstborn males of your animals belong to the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"You must redeem every firstborn donkey by paying a lamb for it. If you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. And you must redeem every firstborn son of yours."},{"verse":14,"text":"Someday your son will ask you, 'What does this mean?' Then tell him, 'The LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand. He brought us out of the land where we were slaves."},{"verse":15,"text":"Pharaoh was stubborn and refused to let us go. So the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male born to every mother animal. But I redeem all my firstborn sons.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"So it will be a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead. For the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Pharaoh let the people go. The road through the land of the Philistines was shorter. But God did not lead them that way. God said, \"If the people have to fight a war, they might change their minds. They might go back to Egypt.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So God led the people the long way, through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The Israelites left the land of Egypt ready for battle."},{"verse":19,"text":"Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the sons of Israel make a serious promise. He had said, \"God will surely come to help you. Then you must carry my bones with you from this place.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"They left Succoth and camped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD went ahead of them. By day he was in a pillar of cloud to show them the way. By night he was in a pillar of fire to give them light. So they could travel by day or by night."},{"verse":22,"text":"The pillar of cloud by day never left its place in front of the people. Neither did the pillar of fire by night."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth. It is between Migdol and the sea. Camp by the sea, right across from Baal-zephon."},{"verse":3,"text":"For Pharaoh will say about the Israelites, 'They are lost and wandering around the land. The wilderness has closed them in.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"And I will make Pharaoh's heart hard, so he will chase them. But I will win glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.\" So the Israelites did this."},{"verse":5,"text":"The king of Egypt was told that the people had run away. Then Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, \"What have we done? We have let Israel go. Now they won't work for us anymore!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Pharaoh got his chariot ready and took his army with him."},{"verse":7,"text":"He took 600 of his best chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt. There were officers over all of them."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD made the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt hard. So Pharaoh chased the Israelites. They were marching out boldly."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Egyptians chased the Israelites. All Pharaoh's horses and chariots, horsemen, and soldiers went after them. They caught up with them while they were camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon."},{"verse":10,"text":"Pharaoh came closer. The Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"They said to Moses, \"Were there no graves in Egypt? Is that why you brought us out to the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Didn't we tell you this in Egypt? We said, 'Leave us alone! Let us serve the Egyptians.' It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Moses told the people, \"Don't be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the LORD save you. He will do it for you today. You see these Egyptians today, but you will never see them again."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD will fight for you. You only need to be still.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move forward."},{"verse":16,"text":"And you, lift up your staff. Hold out your hand over the sea and split it apart. Then the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will make the hearts of the Egyptians hard, so they will go in after them. Then I will win glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will win glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The angel of God had been going ahead of Israel's camp. Now he moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front of them. It stood behind them,"},{"verse":20,"text":"between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp came near the other."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Moses held out his hand over the sea. All that night the LORD pushed the sea back with a strong east wind. The wind turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were split apart,"},{"verse":22,"text":"and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right and on their left."},{"verse":23,"text":"The Egyptians chased after them. All Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and horsemen followed them into the sea."},{"verse":24,"text":"But in the early morning hours, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud. He threw their camp into confusion."},{"verse":25,"text":"He made their chariot wheels wobble, so they could hardly drive. The Egyptians said, \"Let's run away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Hold out your hand over the sea. Then the waters will flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Moses held out his hand over the sea. At sunrise the sea went back to its normal place. The Egyptians were trying to run away from it, but the LORD swept them into the sea."},{"verse":28,"text":"The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen. They covered Pharaoh's whole army that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them lived."},{"verse":29,"text":"But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right and on their left."},{"verse":30,"text":"That day the LORD saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians. Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore."},{"verse":31,"text":"Israel saw the great power the LORD had used against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD. They believed in him and in his servant Moses."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:\n\"I will sing to the LORD, for he is lifted high above all.\nHe has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD is my strength and my song.\nHe has become the one who saves me.\nHe is my God, and I will praise him.\nHe is my father's God, and I will lift him high."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD is a warrior.\nThe LORD is his name."},{"verse":4,"text":"He has thrown Pharaoh's chariots and army into the sea.\nThe best of his officers have drowned in the Red Sea."},{"verse":5,"text":"The deep waters have covered them.\nThey sank down to the bottom like a stone."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your right hand, LORD, is glorious in power.\nYour right hand, LORD, has smashed the enemy."},{"verse":7,"text":"By your great glory you threw down those who rose against you.\nYou let loose your burning anger.\nIt burned them up like dry straw."},{"verse":8,"text":"At the blast of breath from your nose, the waters piled up.\nThe moving waters stood up like a wall.\nThe deep waters turned thick in the middle of the sea."},{"verse":9,"text":"The enemy said, 'I will chase them. I will catch them.\nI will divide up what I take from them.\nI will stuff myself with it.\nI will pull out my sword.\nMy hand will destroy them.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them.\nThey sank like lead in the mighty waters."},{"verse":11,"text":"Who among the gods is like you, LORD?\nWho is like you?\nYou are glorious in holiness.\nYou are honored with praises.\nYou do amazing wonders."},{"verse":12,"text":"You reached out your right hand,\nand the earth swallowed them up."},{"verse":13,"text":"With faithful love you will lead the people you have redeemed.\nWith your strength you will guide them to your holy home."},{"verse":14,"text":"The nations will hear and shake with fear.\nGreat pain will grab the people who live in Philistia."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified.\nThe leaders of Moab will tremble.\nThe people who live in Canaan will melt away,"},{"verse":16,"text":"and terror and fear will fall on them.\nThe power of your arm will make them as still as a stone,\nuntil your people pass by, LORD,\nuntil the people you have bought pass by."},{"verse":17,"text":"You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain.\nIt is the place, LORD, that you made ready for your home.\nIt is the holy place, Lord, that your hands have built."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD will rule as king forever and ever!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and horsemen went into the sea. Then the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her, playing tambourines and dancing."},{"verse":21,"text":"And Miriam sang back to them:\n\"Sing to the LORD, for he is lifted high above all.\nHe has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea. They went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert and found no water."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then they came to Marah. But they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. (That is why the place was named Marah.)","note":"Marah means bitter."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the people complained against Moses. They said, \"What are we going to drink?\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD gave them a law and a rule to live by. And there he tested them."},{"verse":26,"text":"He said, \"If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his laws, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then they came to Elim. There were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees there. They camped there by the water."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The whole community of Israel left Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin, between Elim and Sinai. It was the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt."},{"verse":2,"text":"There in the desert the whole community of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron."},{"verse":3,"text":"They said, \"We wish the LORD had killed us in the land of Egypt! There we sat by pots of meat. We ate all the bread we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert to make this whole crowd starve to death!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Look, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people must go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them. I will see if they will follow my teaching or not."},{"verse":5,"text":"On the sixth day they will make ready what they bring in. It will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, \"This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":7,"text":"And in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard you complaining against him. Who are we? Why do you complain against us?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Moses also said, \"The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening. He will give you all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard you complaining against him. Who are we? You are not complaining against us. You are complaining against the LORD.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Moses said to Aaron, \"Tell the whole community of Israel, 'Come near to the LORD, because he has heard you complaining.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Aaron was speaking to the whole community of Israel. As he spoke, they looked toward the desert. There the glory of the LORD appeared in a cloud."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"I have heard the Israelites complaining. Tell them, 'At sundown you will eat meat. In the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp."},{"verse":14,"text":"When the dew dried up, thin flakes were left on the desert ground. They were as fine as frost on the ground."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Israelites saw it and asked each other, \"What is it?\" They did not know what it was. So Moses told them, \"It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each of you must gather as much as you need. Take an omer for each person in your tent.'\"","note":"An omer is about 2 quarts."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the Israelites did this. Some gathered more, and some gathered less."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then they measured it by the omer. The one who gathered a lot did not have too much. The one who gathered a little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Moses said to them, \"No one may keep any of it until morning.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But they did not listen to Moses. Some people kept part of it until morning. It became full of maggots and began to stink. So Moses was angry with them."},{"verse":21,"text":"Every morning each person gathered as much as was needed. When the sun got hot, it melted away."},{"verse":22,"text":"On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers for each person. All the leaders of the community came and told Moses about this.","note":"Two omers is about 4 quarts."},{"verse":23,"text":"He said to them, \"This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest. It is a holy Sabbath to honor the LORD. So bake what you want to bake. Boil what you want to boil. Then put aside whatever is left and keep it until morning.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had commanded. It did not stink, and there were no maggots in it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Moses said, \"Eat it today, because today is a Sabbath to the LORD. Today you won't find any in the field."},{"verse":26,"text":"You may gather it for six days. But on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there won't be any.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But on the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it anyway. They did not find any."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"How long will you people refuse to obey my commands and teachings?"},{"verse":29,"text":"See, the LORD has given you the Sabbath. That is why he gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is. No one may leave his place.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So the people rested on the seventh day."},{"verse":31,"text":"The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed. It tasted like thin crackers made with honey."},{"verse":32,"text":"Moses said, \"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come. Then they can see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.'\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So Moses said to Aaron, \"Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then put it in front of the LORD. Keep it safe for the generations to come.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"So Aaron put it in front of the Testimony to be kept safe, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.","note":"The Testimony was the stone tablets of God's covenant law, later kept in the ark."},{"verse":35,"text":"The Israelites ate manna for forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle. They ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan."},{"verse":36,"text":"(An omer is one tenth of an ephah.)","note":"An omer is about 2 quarts; an ephah is about 20 quarts."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The whole community of Israel left the Desert of Sin. They moved from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim. But there was no water there for the people to drink."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the people argued with Moses. They said, \"Give us water to drink.\" Moses replied, \"Why are you arguing with me? Why are you testing the LORD?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained against Moses. They said, \"Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us and our children and our animals die of thirst?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Moses cried out to the LORD, \"What should I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Walk on ahead of the people. Take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take in your hand the staff you used to strike the Nile, and go."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look, I will stand there in front of you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.\" So Moses did this while the elders of Israel watched."},{"verse":7,"text":"He named the place Massah and Meribah. He named it this because the Israelites argued. They also tested the LORD by saying, \"Is the LORD with us or not?\"","note":"Massah means testing; Meribah means arguing."},{"verse":8,"text":"After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Moses said to Joshua, \"Choose some of our men. Go out and fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Joshua did what Moses told him and fought the Amalekites. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill."},{"verse":11,"text":"As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel was winning. But when he lowered them, Amalek was winning."},{"verse":12,"text":"Moses' hands grew tired. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one on each side. So his hands stayed steady until the sun went down."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Joshua beat Amalek and his army with the sword."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Write this on a scroll so it will be remembered. And read it aloud to Joshua, because I will completely wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Moses built an altar. He named it The LORD Is My Banner."},{"verse":16,"text":"He said, \"A hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war with Amalek from generation to generation.\"","note":"The Hebrew of this verse is hard to understand."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Moses' father-in-law Jethro was the priest of Midian. He heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel. He heard how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt."},{"verse":2,"text":"Moses had sent his wife Zipporah back home. His father-in-law Jethro had taken her in,"},{"verse":3,"text":"along with her two sons. One son was named Gershom, because Moses had said, \"I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.\"","note":"Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there."},{"verse":4,"text":"The other son was named Eliezer, because Moses had said, \"The God of my father was my helper. He saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.\"","note":"Eliezer means my God is helper."},{"verse":5,"text":"Moses' father-in-law Jethro came to Moses in the desert. He brought Moses' wife and sons with him. Moses was camped at the mountain of God."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jethro sent a message to Moses. It said, \"I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you. I am bringing your wife and her two sons.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and went into the tent."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Moses told his father-in-law everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians to help Israel. He told about all the troubles they had faced along the way. And he told how the LORD had saved them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jethro was glad about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel. He had rescued them from the power of the Egyptians."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jethro said, \"Praise the LORD! He has saved you from the power of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh. He has saved the people from the power of the Egyptians."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods. He showed it when the Egyptians treated Israel with such pride.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all the elders of Israel. They ate a meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God."},{"verse":13,"text":"The next day Moses sat down to judge the people's cases. The people stood around him from morning until evening."},{"verse":14,"text":"His father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people. He asked, \"What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit as judge all by yourself? Why do all the people stand around you from morning until evening?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Moses replied, \"Because the people come to me to ask God what to do."},{"verse":16,"text":"When they have an argument, they bring it to me. I decide which person is right. And I teach them God's laws and rules.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But Moses' father-in-law said to him, \"What you are doing is not good."},{"verse":18,"text":"You and these people with you will surely wear yourselves out. The job is too heavy for you. You can't do it alone."},{"verse":19,"text":"Now listen to me. I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must speak for the people before God. You must bring their cases to him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Teach them God's laws and rules. Show them the way they should live. Show them the work they must do."},{"verse":21,"text":"Also, choose able men from among the people. They must fear God. They must be men you can trust, who hate to take money in wrong ways. Put them over the people as leaders. Some will lead groups of a thousand, others a hundred, others fifty, and others ten."},{"verse":22,"text":"Let these men judge the people at all times. They can bring every big case to you. But they can judge all the small cases themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you."},{"verse":23,"text":"If you follow this advice and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep going. And all these people can go home in peace.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said."},{"verse":25,"text":"Moses chose able men from all Israel. He made them heads over the people. They were leaders of groups of a thousand, a hundred, fifty, and ten."},{"verse":26,"text":"They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. But they judged every small case themselves."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way. And Jethro went back to his own land."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Israelites came to the Wilderness of Sinai in the third month after they left the land of Egypt. They came on the same day of the month that they had left."},{"verse":2,"text":"They had left Rephidim and come into the Wilderness of Sinai. Israel camped there in front of the mountain."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him from the mountain. He said, \"This is what you must say to the family of Jacob. Explain it to the people of Israel:"},{"verse":4,"text":"'You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself."},{"verse":5,"text":"Now if you will truly obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure out of all the nations. For the whole earth belongs to me."},{"verse":6,"text":"You will be a kingdom of priests for me and a holy nation.' These are the words you must speak to the Israelites.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Moses went back and called the elders of the people together. He told them all these words that the LORD had commanded him to say."},{"verse":8,"text":"All the people answered together, \"We will do everything the LORD has said.\" So Moses took their answer back to the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Look, I will come to you in a thick cloud. Then the people will hear me when I speak with you. And they will always trust you.\" Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to the people. Make them holy today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes"},{"verse":11,"text":"and be ready by the third day. On the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai while all the people watch."},{"verse":12,"text":"Mark off a border around the mountain for the people. Tell them, 'Be careful not to go up the mountain or even touch the bottom of it. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death."},{"verse":13,"text":"No hand may touch that person. He must be stoned or shot with arrows. Person or animal, it must not live.' Only when the ram's horn blows a long blast may they come near the mountain.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Moses came down from the mountain to the people. He made them holy, and they washed their clothes."},{"verse":15,"text":"He said to the people, \"Be ready for the third day. Do not go near a woman.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was on the mountain. A very loud blast of the ram's horn rang out. All the people in the camp shook with fear."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the bottom of the mountain."},{"verse":18,"text":"Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD had come down on it in fire. The smoke rose up like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain shook hard."},{"verse":19,"text":"The sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him in the thunder."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He called Moses to the top. So Moses went up."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD said to him, \"Go down and warn the people. They must not break through to look at the LORD. If they do, many of them will die."},{"verse":22,"text":"Even the priests who come near the LORD must make themselves holy. If they don't, the LORD will break out against them.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Moses said to the LORD, \"The people can't come up Mount Sinai. You gave us a strong warning. You said, 'Put a border around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The LORD answered, \"Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not break through to come up to the LORD. If they do, he will break out against them.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So Moses went down to the people and told them."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"And God spoke all these words:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the land where you were slaves."},{"verse":3,"text":"You shall have no other gods before me."},{"verse":4,"text":"You shall not make for yourself an idol. Do not make one in the shape of anything in the sky above, on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth."},{"verse":5,"text":"You shall not bow down to them or worship them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their fathers. I punish them to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me."},{"verse":6,"text":"But I show faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands."},{"verse":7,"text":"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let anyone go unpunished who misuses his name.","note":"Or: take the name of the LORD your God in vain."},{"verse":8,"text":"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy."},{"verse":9,"text":"Six days you shall work and do all your jobs."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you must not do any work. This is for you and your son and daughter. It is for your male and female servants and your animals. It is also for the foreigner who lives in your towns."},{"verse":11,"text":"For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them. But on the seventh day he rested. So the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy."},{"verse":12,"text":"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you."},{"verse":13,"text":"You shall not murder."},{"verse":14,"text":"You shall not commit adultery."},{"verse":15,"text":"You shall not steal."},{"verse":16,"text":"You shall not tell lies about your neighbor as a witness.","note":"Traditional wording: bear false witness against your neighbor."},{"verse":17,"text":"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, or his ox or donkey. Do not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.\"","note":"To covet is to want something that belongs to someone else."},{"verse":18,"text":"All the people saw the thunder and lightning. They heard the ram's horn blowing. They saw the mountain covered in smoke. They shook with fear and stood far away."},{"verse":19,"text":"They said to Moses, \"You speak to us, and we will listen. But don't let God speak to us, or we will die.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Moses replied, \"Don't be afraid. God has come to test you. He wants you to fear him, so you will not sin.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The people stood far away while Moses went near the thick darkness where God was."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"This is what you must tell the Israelites: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven."},{"verse":23,"text":"Do not make any gods to put next to me. Do not make gods of silver or gold for yourselves."},{"verse":24,"text":"Make an altar of dirt for me. On it offer your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep, goats, and cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you."},{"verse":25,"text":"If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with stones cut with tools. If you use a chisel on it, you will make it unclean."},{"verse":26,"text":"And do not go up to my altar on steps. If you do, your private parts might be seen.'\""}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"These are the laws you must give them:"},{"verse":2,"text":"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he must serve you for six years. But in the seventh year he will go free. He will not have to pay anything."},{"verse":3,"text":"If he came by himself, he must leave by himself. If he had a wife when he came, she must leave with him."},{"verse":4,"text":"If his master gives him a wife and she has sons or daughters, then the woman and her children will belong to her master. Only the man will go free."},{"verse":5,"text":"But if the servant says, 'I love my master and my wife and children. I do not want to go free,'"},{"verse":6,"text":"Then his master must bring him before the judges. He must take him to the door or the doorpost. He must poke a hole through his ear with a sharp tool. Then he will serve his master for life.","note":"Or: before God."},{"verse":7,"text":"If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free the way the male servants do."},{"verse":8,"text":"Her master may have chosen her for himself. If she does not please him, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken his promise to her."},{"verse":9,"text":"If he chooses her for his son, he must treat her like a daughter."},{"verse":10,"text":"If he marries another wife, he must still give the first wife the same food and clothing. He must not hold back her rights as a wife."},{"verse":11,"text":"If he does not give her these three things, she may go free. She does not have to pay any money."},{"verse":12,"text":"Whoever hits a man and kills him must be put to death."},{"verse":13,"text":"But if he did not plan it, and God let it happen, then I will choose a place for you where he can run to for safety."},{"verse":14,"text":"But if a man plans on purpose to kill his neighbor, you must take him away even from my altar and put him to death."},{"verse":15,"text":"Whoever hits his father or mother must be put to death."},{"verse":16,"text":"Whoever kidnaps someone must be put to death. This is true if he has sold the person, or if the person is found with him."},{"verse":17,"text":"Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death."},{"verse":18,"text":"If two men are fighting and one hits the other with a stone or his fist, and the hurt man does not die but has to stay in bed,"},{"verse":19,"text":"then the one who hit him will not be punished, as long as the other man can get up and walk around outside with his walking stick. But he must pay the man for the work time he lost. And he must make sure he is fully healed."},{"verse":20,"text":"If a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, and the servant dies from it, the man must surely be punished."},{"verse":21,"text":"But if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner will not be punished, because the servant is his property."},{"verse":22,"text":"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and her child is born too early, but there is no other injury, the man must pay a fine. The woman's husband will ask for an amount, and the judges will decide."},{"verse":23,"text":"But if someone is badly hurt, you must take a life for a life."},{"verse":24,"text":"It must be eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,"},{"verse":25,"text":"burn for burn, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise."},{"verse":26,"text":"If a man hits his male or female servant in the eye and blinds it, he must let the servant go free to pay for the eye."},{"verse":27,"text":"If he knocks out a tooth of his male or female servant, he must let the servant go free to pay for the tooth."},{"verse":28,"text":"If an ox stabs a man or woman with its horns and kills them, the ox must be stoned. Its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the ox will not be held guilty."},{"verse":29,"text":"But suppose the ox has a habit of goring people, and its owner has been warned but still does not keep it penned up. If it then kills a man or woman, the ox must be stoned. And its owner must also be put to death."},{"verse":30,"text":"If he is told to pay money instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount he is told to pay."},{"verse":31,"text":"The same rule applies if the ox gores a son or a daughter."},{"verse":32,"text":"If the ox gores a male or female servant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the servant's master. And the ox must be stoned.","note":"About 12 ounces of silver."},{"verse":33,"text":"If a man uncovers a pit or digs one and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,"},{"verse":34,"text":"the owner of the pit must pay for the loss. He must pay the animal's owner. Then the dead animal will belong to him."},{"verse":35,"text":"If one man's ox hurts his neighbor's ox and it dies, they must sell the live ox and split the money. They must also split the dead animal."},{"verse":36,"text":"But if people knew that the ox had a habit of goring, and its owner did not keep it penned up, then he must pay in full, an ox for an ox. And the dead animal will belong to him.\""}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he must pay back five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep."},{"verse":2,"text":"If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one is guilty of shedding his blood."},{"verse":3,"text":"But if it happens after the sun comes up, there is guilt for shedding his blood. A thief must pay back everything. If he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for what he stole."},{"verse":4,"text":"If the stolen animal is found alive with him, whether an ox, a donkey, or a sheep, he must pay back twice as much."},{"verse":5,"text":"If a man lets his animals eat in a field or vineyard, and he lets them wander off and eat in someone else's field, he must pay for it with the best from his own field or vineyard."},{"verse":6,"text":"If a fire starts and spreads to thornbushes, and it burns up grain that is stacked or still growing, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must pay for everything."},{"verse":7,"text":"If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief must pay back twice as much if he is caught."},{"verse":8,"text":"If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must go before the judges. They will decide whether he took his neighbor's property.","note":"Or: before God."},{"verse":9,"text":"Two people may argue over who owns something. It may be an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a piece of clothing, or anything lost. Someone says, 'This is mine.' Then both people must bring their case before the judges. The one the judges find guilty must pay back twice as much to his neighbor.","note":"Or: before God."},{"verse":10,"text":"If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or another animal to take care of, but it dies, or is hurt, or is stolen while no one is watching,"},{"verse":11,"text":"the two men must settle it with an oath before the LORD. The neighbor must swear that he did not take the other man's property. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor does not have to pay."},{"verse":12,"text":"But if the animal was really stolen from the neighbor, he must pay the owner for it."},{"verse":13,"text":"If a wild animal tore it to pieces, he must bring what is left as proof. He does not have to pay for the torn animal."},{"verse":14,"text":"If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is hurt or dies while the owner is not there, he must pay for it in full."},{"verse":15,"text":"If the owner was there, he does not have to pay. If the animal was rented, the rent money pays for the loss."},{"verse":16,"text":"If a man talks a virgin into sleeping with him, and she is not promised to anyone in marriage, he must pay the full bride price for her to be his wife."},{"verse":17,"text":"If her father completely refuses to give her to him, the man must still pay the same amount as the bride price for a virgin."},{"verse":18,"text":"You must not let a woman who practices witchcraft live."},{"verse":19,"text":"Whoever has sex with an animal must be put to death."},{"verse":20,"text":"Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be set apart to be destroyed."},{"verse":21,"text":"You must not take advantage of a foreigner who lives among you or be cruel to him, because you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":22,"text":"You must not treat any widow or orphan badly."},{"verse":23,"text":"If you do treat them badly, and they cry out to me in their trouble, I will surely hear their cry."},{"verse":24,"text":"My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will become widows. Your children will have no fathers."},{"verse":25,"text":"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is poor, do not treat him like a money lender would. You must not charge him interest."},{"verse":26,"text":"If you take your neighbor's coat as a promise that he will pay you back, give it back to him before the sun goes down,"},{"verse":27,"text":"because his coat is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? If he cries out to me, I will hear him, for I am full of mercy."},{"verse":28,"text":"You must not speak evil against God. You must not curse the ruler of your people."},{"verse":29,"text":"You must not hold back the offerings from your grain or from your wine and oil. You must give me your firstborn sons.","note":"Hebrew: from your fullness and your juice."},{"verse":30,"text":"Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days. But on the eighth day you must give them to me."},{"verse":31,"text":"You must be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of an animal that wild animals have torn apart in the field. Throw it to the dogs."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"You must not spread a false report. Do not team up with wicked people by being a witness who lies to hurt someone."},{"verse":2,"text":"You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you speak as a witness in a court case, do not twist justice by siding with the crowd."},{"verse":3,"text":"And do not show favor to a poor man in his court case."},{"verse":4,"text":"If you find your enemy's ox or donkey wandering away, you must take it back to him."},{"verse":5,"text":"If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there. You must help him with it."},{"verse":6,"text":"You must not deny justice to poor people in their court cases."},{"verse":7,"text":"Stay far away from a false charge. Do not put to death those who are innocent or who do what is right. For I will not let the guilty go free."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not take a bribe. A bribe blinds people who can see. It twists the words of those who do what is right."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not mistreat a foreigner living among you, since you know how it feels to be a foreigner. For you were foreigners in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":10,"text":"For six years you are to plant your land and gather its crops."},{"verse":11,"text":"But in the seventh year you must let the land rest and leave it unplanted. This is so that the poor among your people may eat from the field, and the wild animals may eat what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove."},{"verse":12,"text":"For six days you are to do your work. But on the seventh day you must stop. This is so that your ox and your donkey may rest. And the son of your female servant may be refreshed, and the foreigner living with you too."},{"verse":13,"text":"Pay close attention to everything I have told you. You must not call on the names of other gods. Their names must not be heard on your lips."},{"verse":14,"text":"Three times a year you are to hold a feast to honor me."},{"verse":15,"text":"You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you. At the set time in the month of Abib, you are to eat bread made without yeast for seven days. Do this because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may come before me with empty hands."},{"verse":16,"text":"You are also to keep the Feast of Harvest. Bring the firstfruits of the crops you plant in the field. And keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your crops from the field."},{"verse":17,"text":"Three times a year all your males are to come before the Lord GOD."},{"verse":18,"text":"You must not offer the blood of my sacrifices with anything that has yeast in it. And the fat from my feast must not be left until morning."},{"verse":19,"text":"Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look, I am sending an angel ahead of you. He will guard you along the way. He will bring you to the place I have prepared."},{"verse":21,"text":"Pay attention to him and listen to his voice. Do not rebel against him. For he will not forgive your rebellion, because my Name is in him."},{"verse":22,"text":"But if you listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies. I will fight against those who fight against you."},{"verse":23,"text":"For my angel will go ahead of you. He will bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites. And I will wipe them out."},{"verse":24,"text":"You must not bow down to their gods or serve them. Do not follow their ways. Instead, you are to tear their gods down. Smash their sacred stones to pieces."},{"verse":25,"text":"So you must serve the LORD your God. He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from among you."},{"verse":26,"text":"No woman in your land will lose her baby before it is born or be unable to have children. I will give you a full number of days."},{"verse":27,"text":"I will send my terror ahead of you. I will throw every nation you meet into confusion. I will make all your enemies turn and run."},{"verse":28,"text":"I will send the hornet ahead of you. It will drive the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites out of your way.","note":"The Hebrew word may also mean 'panic' or 'terror.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"I will not drive them out ahead of you in just one year. If I did, the land would become empty and wild. Wild animals would grow in number and attack you."},{"verse":30,"text":"Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you. I will do this until you grow in number and take over the land."},{"verse":31,"text":"I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines. They will reach from the desert to the Euphrates River. For I will hand the people who live there over to you. And you will drive them out ahead of you."},{"verse":32,"text":"You must make no covenant with them or with their gods."},{"verse":33,"text":"They must not stay in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a trap for you.\""}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Come up to the LORD. Bring Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders. You are to worship from a distance."},{"verse":2,"text":"Only Moses may come near the LORD. The others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Moses came and told the people all the LORD's words and laws. They all answered with one voice. They said, \"We will do everything the LORD has said.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He got up early the next morning. He built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve stone pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then he sent out some young men of Israel. They offered burnt offerings. They also sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls. He splashed the other half on the altar."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They answered, \"We will do everything the LORD has said. We will obey.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people. He said, \"This is the blood of the covenant. The LORD has made this covenant with you based on all these words.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"And they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a floor made of sapphire. It was as clear as the sky itself."},{"verse":11,"text":"But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of Israel. They saw God, and they ate and drank."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the stone tablets. They have the law and commands I have written to teach the people.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Moses set out with Joshua, his helper. He went up on the mountain of God."},{"verse":14,"text":"Moses said to the elders, \"Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are here with you. Anyone who has an argument can go to them.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it."},{"verse":16,"text":"And the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud."},{"verse":17,"text":"To the Israelites, the glory of the LORD looked like a fire burning up the top of the mountain."},{"verse":18,"text":"Moses went into the cloud as he climbed the mountain. He stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to accept my offering from every man whose heart moves him to give."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is the offering you are to accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze;"},{"verse":4,"text":"blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;"},{"verse":5,"text":"ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;"},{"verse":6,"text":"olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense;"},{"verse":7,"text":"and onyx stones and other gems to be set on the ephod and the breastpiece."},{"verse":8,"text":"Have them make a holy place for me, so that I may live among them."},{"verse":9,"text":"You must make the tabernacle and all its furnishings just like the pattern I show you."},{"verse":10,"text":"Have them build an ark out of acacia wood. It is to be 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.","note":"Hebrew: 2 1/2 cubits long, 1 1/2 cubits wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high."},{"verse":11,"text":"Cover it with pure gold, both inside and out. Make a gold trim all around it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Make four gold rings for it by pouring melted gold into molds. Attach them to its four feet. Put two rings on one side and two on the other."},{"verse":13,"text":"Make poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold."},{"verse":14,"text":"Put the poles through the rings on the sides of the ark. They are for carrying it."},{"verse":15,"text":"The poles are to stay in the rings of the ark. They must not be taken out."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then put the Testimony inside the ark. I will give it to you."},{"verse":17,"text":"You are to make a mercy seat of pure gold. It is to be 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.","note":"Hebrew: 2 1/2 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits wide. The mercy seat was the cover of the ark."},{"verse":18,"text":"Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the two ends of the mercy seat."},{"verse":19,"text":"Put one cherub on one end and one on the other end. Make them all from one piece of gold with the mercy seat."},{"verse":20,"text":"The cherubim are to have wings spread upward. Their wings will cover the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other. They will look down toward the mercy seat."},{"verse":21,"text":"Set the mercy seat on top of the ark. Put the Testimony that I will give you inside the ark."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will meet with you there above the mercy seat. I will be between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony. There I will tell you all my commands for the Israelites."},{"verse":23,"text":"You are also to make a table of acacia wood. It is to be 3 feet long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.","note":"Hebrew: 2 cubits long, 1 cubit wide, and 1 1/2 cubits high."},{"verse":24,"text":"Cover it with pure gold and make a gold trim all around it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Make a rim around it about 3 inches wide. Put a gold trim on the rim.","note":"Hebrew: a handbreadth."},{"verse":26,"text":"Make four gold rings for the table. Attach them to the four corners by its four legs."},{"verse":27,"text":"The rings are to be close to the rim. They will hold the poles used to carry the table."},{"verse":28,"text":"Make the poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold, so that the table can be carried with them."},{"verse":29,"text":"You are also to make its plates and dishes. Make its pitchers and bowls for pouring out drink offerings too. Make them out of pure gold."},{"verse":30,"text":"Put the Bread of the Presence on the table in front of me at all times."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then you are to make a lampstand of pure, hammered gold. Make it all in one piece. This includes its base and its main stem, its cups, and its buds and petals."},{"verse":32,"text":"Six branches are to come out from the sides of the lampstand. Three will be on one side and three on the other."},{"verse":33,"text":"Put three cups shaped like almond flowers on the first branch, each with buds and petals. Put three on the next branch. Do the same for all six branches that come out from the lampstand."},{"verse":34,"text":"And on the main stem of the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers, with buds and petals."},{"verse":35,"text":"For the six branches that come out from the lampstand, put a bud under the first pair of branches. Put a bud under the second pair and a bud under the third pair."},{"verse":36,"text":"The buds and branches are to be one piece with the lampstand. They will be hammered out of pure gold."},{"verse":37,"text":"Make seven lamps and set them on the lampstand. They will light up the area in front of it."},{"verse":38,"text":"The wick trimmers and their trays must be made of pure gold."},{"verse":39,"text":"The lampstand and all these tools are to be made from about 75 pounds of pure gold.","note":"Hebrew: a talent."},{"verse":40,"text":"Be sure that you make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"You are to make the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen. Each one is to have blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Have a skilled worker weave cherubim into them."},{"verse":2,"text":"Each curtain is to be 42 feet long and 6 feet wide. All the curtains must be the same size.","note":"Hebrew: 28 cubits long and 4 cubits wide."},{"verse":3,"text":"Join five of the curtains together. Then join the other five together too."},{"verse":4,"text":"Make loops of blue cloth along the edge of the end curtain in the first set. Do the same for the end curtain in the second set."},{"verse":5,"text":"Make fifty loops on one curtain. Make fifty loops on the end curtain of the second set. The loops will line up across from each other."},{"verse":6,"text":"Make fifty gold clasps too. Join the curtains together with the clasps. Then the tabernacle will be one whole piece."},{"verse":7,"text":"You are to make curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle. Make eleven curtains in all."},{"verse":8,"text":"All eleven curtains are to be the same size. Each will be 45 feet long and 6 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: 30 cubits long and 4 cubits wide."},{"verse":9,"text":"Join five of the curtains into one set. Join the other six into another set. Then fold the sixth curtain in half at the front of the tent."},{"verse":10,"text":"Make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set. Make fifty loops along the edge of the matching curtain in the second set."},{"verse":11,"text":"Make fifty bronze clasps. Put them through the loops to join the tent together. Then it will be one whole piece."},{"verse":12,"text":"Part of the tent curtains will be extra. That extra half curtain is to hang down over the back of the tabernacle."},{"verse":13,"text":"The tent curtains will be 18 inches longer on each side. The extra part will hang over the sides of the tabernacle to cover it.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit."},{"verse":14,"text":"Also make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red. Over that, put a covering of fine leather."},{"verse":15,"text":"You are to make standing frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle."},{"verse":16,"text":"Each frame is to be 15 feet tall and 27 inches wide.","note":"Hebrew: 10 cubits long and 1 1/2 cubits wide."},{"verse":17,"text":"Each frame must have two pegs joined to each other. Make all the frames of the tabernacle this way."},{"verse":18,"text":"Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle."},{"verse":19,"text":"Put forty silver bases under the twenty frames. There will be two bases for each frame, one under each peg."},{"verse":20,"text":"For the other side of the tabernacle, the north side, make twenty frames"},{"verse":21,"text":"and forty silver bases. Put two bases under each frame."},{"verse":22,"text":"Make six frames for the back of the tabernacle, the west side."},{"verse":23,"text":"Make two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle."},{"verse":24,"text":"They are to be joined together from bottom to top and fitted into one ring. These two frames will make the two corners."},{"verse":25,"text":"So there will be eight frames and sixteen silver bases, two under each frame."},{"verse":26,"text":"You are also to make crossbars of acacia wood. Make five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,"},{"verse":27,"text":"five for the frames on the other side, and five for the frames on the back of the tabernacle, to the west."},{"verse":28,"text":"The middle crossbar is to run through the center of the frames. It will reach from one end to the other."},{"verse":29,"text":"Cover the frames with gold. Make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Cover the crossbars with gold too."},{"verse":30,"text":"So you are to set up the tabernacle just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain."},{"verse":31,"text":"Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen. Have a skilled worker weave cherubim into it."},{"verse":32,"text":"Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood. Cover the posts with gold. Stand them on four silver bases."},{"verse":33,"text":"Hang the veil from the clasps. Put the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. The veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."},{"verse":34,"text":"Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place."},{"verse":35,"text":"Put the table outside the veil on the north side of the tabernacle. Put the lampstand across from the table, on the south side."},{"verse":36,"text":"For the doorway of the tent, make a curtain. Embroider it with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen."},{"verse":37,"text":"Make five posts of acacia wood for the curtain and cover them with gold. Use gold hooks. Pour melted bronze into molds to make five bronze bases for them."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"You are to build an altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square. It is to be 7 1/2 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high.","note":"Hebrew: 5 cubits long, 5 cubits wide, and 3 cubits high."},{"verse":2,"text":"Make a horn on each of its four corners. The horns are to be one piece with the altar. Cover the altar with bronze."},{"verse":3,"text":"Make all its tools out of bronze. Make its pots for taking away the ashes, its shovels, its sprinkling bowls, its meat forks, and its fire pans."},{"verse":4,"text":"Make a grate of bronze net for it. Make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the net."},{"verse":5,"text":"Put the grate under the ledge of the altar. The net will reach halfway up the altar."},{"verse":6,"text":"Also make poles of acacia wood for the altar. Cover them with bronze."},{"verse":7,"text":"Put the poles through the rings. The poles will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried."},{"verse":8,"text":"Build the altar out of boards so that it is hollow inside. Make it just as you were shown on the mountain."},{"verse":9,"text":"You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard, make curtains of finely spun linen. That side is to be 150 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: 100 cubits."},{"verse":10,"text":"Make twenty posts and twenty bronze bases for it. Put silver hooks and bands on the posts."},{"verse":11,"text":"In the same way, put curtains on the north side, 150 feet long. Make twenty posts and twenty bronze bases for it. Put silver hooks and bands on the posts."},{"verse":12,"text":"The curtains on the west side of the courtyard are to be 75 feet wide. They will have ten posts and ten bases.","note":"Hebrew: 50 cubits."},{"verse":13,"text":"The east side of the courtyard, toward the sunrise, is to be 75 feet wide."},{"verse":14,"text":"Make the curtains on one side 22 1/2 feet long. Give them three posts and three bases.","note":"Hebrew: 15 cubits."},{"verse":15,"text":"Make the curtains on the other side 22 1/2 feet long too. Give them three posts and three bases."},{"verse":16,"text":"The gate of the courtyard is to be 30 feet long. It will have a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely spun linen. It will have four posts and four bases.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits."},{"verse":17,"text":"All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands, silver hooks, and bronze bases."},{"verse":18,"text":"The whole courtyard is to be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It will have curtains of finely spun linen 7 1/2 feet high, with bronze bases.","note":"Hebrew: 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 5 cubits high."},{"verse":19,"text":"All the tools of the tabernacle, for every use, are to be made of bronze. This includes all its tent pegs and the tent pegs of the courtyard."},{"verse":20,"text":"Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from pressed olives for the light. It will keep the lamps burning all the time."},{"verse":21,"text":"Aaron and his sons are to take care of the lamps before the LORD from evening until morning. They will do this in the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil that is in front of the Testimony. This is a law for the Israelites that will last for all the generations to come."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Next, bring your brother Aaron to you from among the Israelites. Bring his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar too. They will serve me as priests."},{"verse":2,"text":"Make holy clothes for your brother Aaron. They will give him glory and beauty."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell all the skilled workers to make clothes for Aaron. I have filled them with a spirit of wisdom. The clothes will set Aaron apart as holy, so that he may serve me as priest."},{"verse":4,"text":"These are the clothes they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they may serve me as priests."},{"verse":5,"text":"They are to use gold, along with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen."},{"verse":6,"text":"They are to make the ephod of finely spun linen. It will be embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn."},{"verse":7,"text":"It is to have two shoulder pieces joined at two of its corners, so it can be fastened."},{"verse":8,"text":"The skillfully woven waistband of the ephod must be one piece with it. It must be made the same way, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen."},{"verse":9,"text":"Take two onyx stones. Carve on them the names of the sons of Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"Put six of their names on one stone and the other six on the other stone. List them in the order they were born."},{"verse":11,"text":"Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones. Do it the way a gem cutter carves a seal. Then set the stones in fancy gold settings."},{"verse":12,"text":"Fasten both stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod. They will be stones to remember the sons of Israel. Aaron is to carry their names on his two shoulders. They will be a reminder before the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"Make fancy gold settings"},{"verse":14,"text":"and two chains of pure gold, braided like a cord. Attach these chains to the settings."},{"verse":15,"text":"You are also to make a breastpiece for making decisions. Make it the same way as the ephod. Make it with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen.","note":"Literally: breastpiece of judgment."},{"verse":16,"text":"When it is folded in half, it must be square. It is to be 9 inches long and 9 inches wide.","note":"Hebrew: a span."},{"verse":17,"text":"Set gems on it in four rows. In the first row put a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald."},{"verse":18,"text":"In the second row put a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond."},{"verse":19,"text":"In the third row put a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst."},{"verse":20,"text":"In the fourth row put a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. Set these stones in fancy gold settings."},{"verse":21,"text":"The twelve stones are to match the names of the sons of Israel. Each one is to be carved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes."},{"verse":22,"text":"For the breastpiece, make braided chains of pure gold, like cords."},{"verse":23,"text":"Also make two gold rings. Fasten them to the two top corners of the breastpiece."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then fasten the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece."},{"verse":25,"text":"Fasten the other ends of the two chains to the two gold settings. Attach them to the front of the shoulder pieces of the ephod."},{"verse":26,"text":"Make two more gold rings. Attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod."},{"verse":27,"text":"Make two more gold rings. Attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod. Put them near the seam, just above its woven waistband."},{"verse":28,"text":"Tie the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn. Then the breastpiece will stay above the waistband of the ephod. It will not swing loose from the ephod."},{"verse":29,"text":"Aaron will go into the Holy Place. Each time he does, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. They will be on the breastpiece for making decisions. It will always be a reminder before the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"Put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece for making decisions. Then they will also be over Aaron's heart whenever he comes before the LORD. So Aaron will always carry over his heart the means of deciding for the sons of Israel before the LORD.","note":"Literally: the judgment of the sons of Israel. The Urim and Thummim were used to learn God's decisions."},{"verse":31,"text":"You are to make the robe of the ephod all out of blue cloth."},{"verse":32,"text":"It is to have an opening for the head in the center at the top. Around the opening will be a woven collar, like the opening of a garment. Then it will not tear.","note":"The Hebrew word may mean a coat of armor."},{"verse":33,"text":"Make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. Put them all the way around the bottom edge of the robe. Put gold bells between them."},{"verse":34,"text":"A gold bell and a pomegranate are to take turns all the way around the bottom edge of the robe."},{"verse":35,"text":"Aaron must wear the robe whenever he serves. The sound of the bells will be heard when he goes in or out of the holy place before the LORD. This is so that he will not die."},{"verse":36,"text":"You are to make a plate of pure gold. Carve on it, the way a seal is carved: HOLY TO THE LORD."},{"verse":37,"text":"Tie a blue cord to it to fasten it to the turban. It is to be on the front of the turban."},{"verse":38,"text":"Aaron will wear it on his forehead. In this way he will carry the guilt connected with the holy things. These are the holy gifts that the sons of Israel set apart for God. It must always be on his forehead, so that they may be accepted before the LORD."},{"verse":39,"text":"Weave the tunic out of fine linen. Make the turban of fine linen. And make an embroidered sash."},{"verse":40,"text":"Make tunics, sashes, and headbands for Aaron's sons. They will give them glory and beauty."},{"verse":41,"text":"Put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons. Then anoint them, ordain them, and set them apart as holy. Then they may serve me as priests."},{"verse":42,"text":"Make linen underclothes to cover their bare bodies. They are to reach from the waist to the thigh."},{"verse":43,"text":"Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they go into the Tent of Meeting. They must wear them when they come near the altar to serve in the Holy Place. This is so that they will not become guilty and die. This is a law that will last forever for Aaron and his descendants."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"This is what you are to do to set Aaron and his sons apart as holy, so they can serve me as priests. Take a young bull and two rams that have no defects."},{"verse":2,"text":"Also take bread made without yeast, cakes without yeast mixed with oil, and thin wafers without yeast brushed with oil. Make them out of fine wheat flour."},{"verse":3,"text":"Put them in a basket. Bring them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. Wash them with water."},{"verse":5,"text":"Take the clothes and dress Aaron in the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself, and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him with its woven waistband."},{"verse":6,"text":"Put the turban on his head. Attach the holy crown to the turban."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then take the anointing oil. Anoint him by pouring it on his head."},{"verse":8,"text":"Bring his sons too, and dress them in tunics."},{"verse":9,"text":"Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons. Tie headbands on them. The priesthood will be theirs by a law that lasts forever. This is how you are to ordain Aaron and his sons."},{"verse":10,"text":"Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then kill the bull before the LORD at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":12,"text":"Take some of the bull's blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger. Then pour out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar."},{"verse":13,"text":"Take all the fat that covers the inner parts. Take the long part of the liver and both kidneys with the fat on them. Burn them on the altar."},{"verse":14,"text":"But burn the bull's meat, its skin, and its dung outside the camp. It is a sin offering."},{"verse":15,"text":"Take one of the rams. Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head."},{"verse":16,"text":"Kill the ram and take its blood. Splash it on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":17,"text":"Cut the ram into pieces. Wash its inner parts and its legs. Put them with its head and the other pieces."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD. It is a smell that pleases him, a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"Take the second ram. Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head."},{"verse":20,"text":"Kill the ram and take some of its blood. Put it on the bottom of the right ears of Aaron and his sons. Put it on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Splash the rest of the blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":21,"text":"Take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil. Sprinkle it on Aaron and his clothes. Sprinkle it on his sons and their clothes too. Then he and his clothes will be holy. His sons and their clothes will be holy too."},{"verse":22,"text":"Take the fat from the ram. Take the fat tail, the fat covering the inner parts, the long part of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them. Also take the right thigh, since this is a ram for ordaining the priests."},{"verse":23,"text":"Take one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer. Take them from the basket of bread without yeast that is before the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons. Wave them before the LORD as a wave offering."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then take them from their hands. Burn them on the altar on top of the burnt offering. It is a smell that pleases the LORD. It is a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":26,"text":"Take the breast of the ram for ordaining Aaron. Wave it before the LORD as a wave offering. It will be your share."},{"verse":27,"text":"Set apart for Aaron and his sons the parts of the ram for ordaining them. Set apart the breast that is waved as a wave offering. Set apart the thigh that is lifted up as a raised offering."},{"verse":28,"text":"This will belong to Aaron and his sons. It will be their regular share from the Israelites. It is the raised offering the Israelites will give to the LORD from their peace offerings."},{"verse":29,"text":"Aaron's holy clothes will belong to his sons after him, so they can be anointed and ordained in them."},{"verse":30,"text":"One of his sons will take his place as priest. He will go into the Tent of Meeting to serve in the Holy Place. He must wear these clothes for seven days."},{"verse":31,"text":"Take the ram for ordaining the priests. Boil its meat in a holy place."},{"verse":32,"text":"Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread in the basket. They will eat it at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":33,"text":"They must eat these things that were used to make atonement for them when they were ordained and set apart. But no outsider may eat them, because these things are holy."},{"verse":34,"text":"If any of the meat or bread for ordaining them is left until morning, burn up what is left. It must not be eaten, because it is holy."},{"verse":35,"text":"Do all this for Aaron and his sons, just as I have commanded you. Take seven days to ordain them."},{"verse":36,"text":"Each day sacrifice a bull as a sin offering to make atonement. Make the altar pure by making atonement for it. Anoint it to make it holy."},{"verse":37,"text":"For seven days you are to make atonement for the altar and make it holy. Then the altar will be most holy. Whatever touches the altar will be holy."},{"verse":38,"text":"This is what you are to offer on the altar every day: two lambs that are one year old."},{"verse":39,"text":"Offer one lamb in the morning and the other in the evening at twilight."},{"verse":40,"text":"With the first lamb, offer about 2 quarts of fine flour. Mix it with about 1 quart of oil from pressed olives. Also offer a drink offering of about 1 quart of wine.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah of flour; a quarter of a hin of oil and of wine."},{"verse":41,"text":"Offer the second lamb at twilight. Offer it with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a smell that pleases the LORD, a food offering to him."},{"verse":42,"text":"For all the generations to come, this burnt offering must be made regularly. It will be made before the LORD at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. There I will meet you and speak with you."},{"verse":43,"text":"I will also meet with the Israelites there. My glory will make that place holy."},{"verse":44,"text":"So I will make the Tent of Meeting and the altar holy. And I will set Aaron and his sons apart as holy to serve me as priests."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then I will live among the Israelites and be their God."},{"verse":46,"text":"They will know that I am the LORD their God. I brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the LORD their God."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is to be square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide. It is to be 3 feet high. Its horns must be one piece with it.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high."},{"verse":3,"text":"Cover its top, all its sides, and its horns with pure gold. Make a gold trim all around it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Make two gold rings below the trim on opposite sides. They will hold the poles used to carry it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Make the poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold."},{"verse":6,"text":"Put the altar in front of the veil that hangs before the ark of the Testimony. It will be in front of the mercy seat that is over the Testimony. That is where I will meet with you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Aaron is to burn sweet-smelling incense on it every morning when he takes care of the lamps."},{"verse":8,"text":"Aaron must also burn incense when he sets up the lamps at twilight. Incense must always burn before the LORD for all the generations to come."},{"verse":9,"text":"On this altar you must not offer any incense I have not approved. Do not offer a burnt offering or a grain offering on it. Do not pour a drink offering on it either."},{"verse":10,"text":"Once a year Aaron is to make atonement on the horns of the altar. Every year, for all your generations, he will make atonement on it. He will use the blood of the sin offering for atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.\"","note":"Atonement means covering or paying for sin so people can be right with God."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"When you take a count of the Israelites, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when they are counted."},{"verse":13,"text":"Everyone who joins those who have been counted must pay a half shekel. Use the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.","note":"A half shekel weighed about 1/5 ounce of silver."},{"verse":14,"text":"Everyone twenty years old or older who joins those counted must give this offering to the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"You will give this offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives. The rich must not give more than a half shekel. And the poor must not give less."},{"verse":16,"text":"Take this atonement money from the Israelites. Use it for the work of the Tent of Meeting. It will be a reminder for the Israelites before the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in it."},{"verse":19,"text":"Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with this water."},{"verse":20,"text":"Whenever they go into the Tent of Meeting, they must wash with water. They must also wash whenever they come near the altar to serve by offering a food offering to the LORD. This is so that they will not die."},{"verse":21,"text":"So they must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is a law that will last forever for Aaron and his descendants, for all the generations to come.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Take the finest spices. Take 12 1/2 pounds of liquid myrrh. Take half that amount, 6 1/4 pounds, of sweet-smelling cinnamon. Take 6 1/4 pounds of sweet-smelling cane.","note":"Hebrew: 500 shekels of myrrh, 250 shekels of cinnamon, and 250 shekels of cane."},{"verse":24,"text":"Take 12 1/2 pounds of cassia. Weigh them all by the sanctuary shekel. Also take about 1 gallon of olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: 500 shekels of cassia and a hin of olive oil."},{"verse":25,"text":"Make a holy anointing oil from these. Blend it to smell sweet, the way a perfume maker would. It will be a holy anointing oil."},{"verse":26,"text":"Use this oil to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony,"},{"verse":27,"text":"the table and all its tools, the lampstand and its tools, the altar of incense,"},{"verse":28,"text":"the altar of burnt offering and all its tools, and the basin with its stand."},{"verse":29,"text":"You are to make them holy so that they will be most holy. Whatever touches them will be holy."},{"verse":30,"text":"Anoint Aaron and his sons. Set them apart as holy to serve me as priests."},{"verse":31,"text":"Tell the Israelites, 'This will be my holy anointing oil for all the generations to come."},{"verse":32,"text":"It must not be used to anoint an ordinary man. You must not make anything like it with the same recipe. It is holy, and you must treat it as holy."},{"verse":33,"text":"Anyone who mixes perfume like it, or who puts it on an outsider, must be cut off from his people.'\""},{"verse":34,"text":"The LORD also said to Moses, \"Take sweet-smelling spices: gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense. Use the same amount of each."},{"verse":35,"text":"Make a sweet-smelling blend of incense, the way a perfume maker would. Add salt to it. It will be pure and holy."},{"verse":36,"text":"Grind some of it into fine powder. Put it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It is to be most holy to you."},{"verse":37,"text":"You must never use this recipe to make incense for yourselves. You must treat it as holy to the LORD."},{"verse":38,"text":"Anyone who makes something like it to enjoy its smell must be cut off from his people.\""}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"See, I have chosen Bezalel by name. He is the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah."},{"verse":3,"text":"I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I have given him skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts."},{"verse":4,"text":"He can design works of art in gold, silver, and bronze."},{"verse":5,"text":"He can cut gems for settings and carve wood. He can be a master of every craft."},{"verse":6,"text":"Also, I have chosen Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. I have given skill to all the craftsmen too. Then they can make everything I have commanded you."},{"verse":7,"text":"They will make the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the mercy seat on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent."},{"verse":8,"text":"They will make the table with its tools, the pure gold lampstand with all its tools, the altar of incense,"},{"verse":9,"text":"the altar of burnt offering with all its tools, and the basin with its stand."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will make the woven clothes. These are the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons to serve as priests."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will also make the anointing oil and the sweet-smelling incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I have commanded you.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites, 'You must surely keep my Sabbaths. For this will be a sign between me and you for all the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy."},{"verse":14,"text":"Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Anyone who treats it as common must surely be put to death. Whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":15,"text":"For six days work may be done. But the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest. It is holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death."},{"verse":16,"text":"The Israelites must keep the Sabbath. They must celebrate it as a covenant that lasts forever, for all the generations to come."},{"verse":17,"text":"It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth. But on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony. They were tablets of stone, written on by the finger of God."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The people saw that Moses was taking a long time to come down from the mountain. So they gathered around Aaron. They said, \"Come, make us gods who will go ahead of us. This Moses brought us up out of the land of Egypt, but we don't know what has happened to him!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Aaron told them, \"Take off the gold earrings that your wives and sons and daughters are wearing. Bring them to me.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron."},{"verse":4,"text":"He took the gold from them. He shaped it with a carving tool and made it into a calf of melted metal. Then the people said, \"Israel, these are your gods who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf. He announced, \"Tomorrow there will be a feast to the LORD.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the next day they got up early. They offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. Then the people sat down to eat and drink. And they got up to party wildly."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go down right now! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have become corrupt."},{"verse":8,"text":"They have so quickly turned away from the way I commanded them! They have made a calf of melted metal for themselves. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it. They have said, 'Israel, these are your gods who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD also said to Moses, \"I have seen these people. They really are a stubborn people.","note":"Literally: stiff-necked."},{"verse":10,"text":"Now leave me alone, so that my anger may burn against them and destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But Moses begged the LORD his God for mercy. He said, \"LORD, why does your anger burn against your people? You brought them out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand."},{"verse":12,"text":"Why should the Egyptians say, 'He brought them out to do them harm. He meant to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger. Change your mind about bringing harm on your people."},{"verse":13,"text":"Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. You made a promise to them, swearing by your own self. You said, 'I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the sky. I will give your descendants all this land I have promised. It will belong to them forever.'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the LORD changed his mind about the disaster he had said he would bring on his people."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Moses turned and went down the mountain. He had the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were written on both sides, front and back."},{"verse":16,"text":"The tablets were the work of God. The writing was God's own writing, carved on the tablets."},{"verse":17,"text":"Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. He said to Moses, \"There's the sound of war in the camp.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But Moses answered, \"It isn't the sound of winning. It isn't the sound of losing. It's the sound of singing that I hear!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Moses came near the camp. He saw the calf and the dancing. Then he burned with anger. He threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them to pieces at the foot of the mountain."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire. He ground it into powder. He scattered the powder on the water. Then he made the Israelites drink it."},{"verse":21,"text":"Moses asked Aaron, \"What did these people do to you? Why did you lead them into such a great sin?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Aaron answered, \"Don't be angry, my lord. You know yourself that these people are set on doing evil."},{"verse":23,"text":"They told me, 'Make us gods who will go ahead of us. This Moses brought us up out of the land of Egypt, but we don't know what has happened to him!'"},{"verse":24,"text":"So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off.' They gave it to me. I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Moses saw that the people were out of control. For Aaron had let them run wild, and they had become a joke to their enemies."},{"verse":26,"text":"So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp. He said, \"Whoever is on the LORD's side, come to me.\" And all the Levites gathered around him."},{"verse":27,"text":"He told them, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Each of you men, strap your sword to your side. Go back and forth through the camp from one gate to the other. Kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"The Levites did what Moses commanded. That day about three thousand of the people were killed."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Moses said, \"Today you have been set apart to serve the LORD, since each of you went against his own son and brother. So today the LORD has given you a blessing.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"The next day Moses said to the people, \"You have done a terrible sin. But now I will go up to the LORD. Maybe I can make atonement for your sin.\"","note":"To make atonement means to cover or pay for sin so people can be right with God."},{"verse":31,"text":"So Moses went back to the LORD. He said, \"Oh, these people have done a terrible sin! They have made gods of gold for themselves."},{"verse":32,"text":"But now, if only you would forgive their sin... But if you won't, then erase my name from the book you have written.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The LORD answered Moses, \"Whoever has sinned against me is the one I will erase from my book."},{"verse":34,"text":"Now go. Lead the people to the place I told you about. Look, my angel will go ahead of you. But when the day comes for me to settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"And the LORD sent a plague on the people. It was because of what they did with the calf that Aaron made."}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Leave this place. Go with the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I said to them, 'I will give it to your descendants.'"},{"verse":2,"text":"I will send an angel ahead of you. I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."},{"verse":3,"text":"Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stubborn people. If I did, I might destroy you on the way.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The people heard this bad news, and they began to mourn. No one put on any jewelry."},{"verse":5,"text":"For the LORD had said to Moses, \"Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stubborn people. If I went with you for even one moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry. Then I will decide what to do with you.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So from Mount Horeb on, the Israelites took off their jewelry and did not wear it."},{"verse":7,"text":"Moses used to take the tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting. Anyone who wanted to ask the LORD something would go out to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand up. They stood at the doorways of their own tents. They watched Moses until he went into the tent."},{"verse":9,"text":"As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down. It would stay at the doorway. And the LORD would speak with Moses."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the doorway of the tent. Then they would stand and worship, each one at the doorway of his own tent."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, the way a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would go back to the camp. But his young helper, Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the tent."},{"verse":12,"text":"Moses said to the LORD, \"Look, you keep telling me, 'Lead these people up.' But you haven't told me who you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name. I am pleased with you.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"If you really are pleased with me, please teach me your ways. Then I may know you and keep pleasing you. And remember that this nation is your people.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD answered, \"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Moses said, \"If your Presence doesn't go with us, don't send us up from here."},{"verse":16,"text":"How else will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people? Only if you go with us! How else will we be set apart from all the other people on the face of the earth?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So the LORD said to Moses, \"I will do the very thing you have asked. For I am pleased with you, and I know you by name.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Moses said, \"Please show me your glory.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD answered, \"I will make all my goodness pass in front of you. I will call out my name, the LORD, in front of you. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. And I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But he added, \"You can't see my face. For no one can see me and live.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD went on, \"There is a place near me where you can stand on a rock."},{"verse":22,"text":"When my glory passes by, I will put you in a crack in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back. But my face must not be seen.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Cut out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke."},{"verse":2,"text":"Be ready in the morning. Then come up on Mount Sinai. Stand before me there on the top of the mountain."},{"verse":3,"text":"No one may come up with you. In fact, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain. Not even the flocks or herds may eat grass in front of the mountain.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Moses cut out two stone tablets like the first ones. He got up early in the morning. He took the two stone tablets in his hands. And he went up Mount Sinai, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with him. He called out his name, the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out,\n\"The LORD, the LORD God,\nis full of mercy and grace.\nHe is slow to get angry.\nHe overflows with faithful love and faithfulness."},{"verse":7,"text":"He keeps his faithful love for a thousand generations.\nHe forgives wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.\nYet he will never let the guilty go unpunished.\nHe brings the sin of the fathers on their children and grandchildren,\nto the third and fourth generations.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped."},{"verse":9,"text":"He said, \"Lord, if you really are pleased with me, my Lord, please go with us. These people are stubborn. But forgive our sin and wrong. Take us as your own special people.\"","note":"Literally: take us as your inheritance."},{"verse":10,"text":"And the LORD said, \"Look, I am making a covenant. In front of all your people I will do wonders. They have never been done in any nation in all the world. All the people you live among will see the LORD's work. For what I am doing with you will be awesome."},{"verse":11,"text":"Obey what I command you today. I will drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites ahead of you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Be careful not to make a treaty with the people who live in the land you are going into. If you do, they will become a trap among you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Instead, you must tear down their altars. Smash their sacred stones. Cut down their Asherah poles."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must not worship any other god. For the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."},{"verse":15,"text":"Do not make a covenant with the people who live in the land. For when they give themselves like prostitutes to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you. And you will eat their sacrifices."},{"verse":16,"text":"And when you take some of their daughters as wives for your sons, their daughters will give themselves like prostitutes to their gods. And they will lead your sons to do the same."},{"verse":17,"text":"You must not make any gods of melted metal for yourselves."},{"verse":18,"text":"You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the set time in the month of Abib. For in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt."},{"verse":19,"text":"Every firstborn belongs to me. This includes all the firstborn males among your animals, both cattle and sheep."},{"verse":20,"text":"You must buy back the firstborn of a donkey by giving a lamb. But if you do not buy it back, you are to break its neck. You must buy back all your firstborn sons. No one may come before me with empty hands."},{"verse":21,"text":"For six days you will work. But on the seventh day you will rest. Even in the time of plowing and harvest, you must rest."},{"verse":22,"text":"You are to celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. Also celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year."},{"verse":23,"text":"Three times a year all your males are to come before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":24,"text":"For I will drive out the nations ahead of you. I will make your borders larger. And when you go up three times a year to come before the LORD your God, no one will want to take your land for himself."},{"verse":25,"text":"Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me with anything that has yeast in it. Do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast be left until morning."},{"verse":26,"text":"Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"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.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He did not eat bread or drink water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. He did not know that his face was shining because he had spoken with the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses. They saw that his face was shining. And they were afraid to come near him."},{"verse":31,"text":"But Moses called out to them. So Aaron and all the leaders of the people came back to him. And Moses spoke to them."},{"verse":32,"text":"After this, all the Israelites came near. Moses commanded them to do everything the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai."},{"verse":33,"text":"When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face."},{"verse":34,"text":"But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take off the veil until he came out. When he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded."},{"verse":35,"text":"The Israelites would see that Moses' face was shining. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD."}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses gathered the whole community of Israel. He said to them, \"These are the things the LORD has commanded you to do."},{"verse":2,"text":"For six days work may be done. But the seventh day is to be your holy day. It is a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Moses also said to the whole community of Israel, \"This is what the LORD has commanded."},{"verse":5,"text":"Take an offering from among you for the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze;"},{"verse":6,"text":"blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair;"},{"verse":7,"text":"ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood;"},{"verse":8,"text":"olive oil for the lamps; spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet-smelling incense;"},{"verse":9,"text":"and onyx stones and other gems to be set on the ephod and the breastpiece."},{"verse":10,"text":"Let every skilled worker among you come. Let them make everything the LORD has commanded."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will make the tabernacle with its tent and covering. They will make its clasps and frames, its crossbars, posts, and bases."},{"verse":12,"text":"They will make the ark with its poles and mercy seat. They will make the veil that hides it."},{"verse":13,"text":"They will make the table with its poles and all its tools, and the Bread of the Presence."},{"verse":14,"text":"They will make the lampstand for light with its tools and lamps, and the oil for the light."},{"verse":15,"text":"They will make the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense. They will make the curtain for the doorway at the entrance of the tabernacle."},{"verse":16,"text":"They will make the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its tools. They will make the basin with its stand."},{"verse":17,"text":"They will make the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases. They will make the curtain for the gate of the courtyard."},{"verse":18,"text":"They will make the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes."},{"verse":19,"text":"And they will make the woven clothes for serving in the holy place. These are the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons to serve as priests.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the whole community of Israel left Moses."},{"verse":21,"text":"Everyone whose heart moved him came. Everyone whose spirit made him willing came too. They brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting. It was for all its services and for the holy clothes."},{"verse":22,"text":"So all who had willing hearts came, both men and women. They brought pins and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. They all brought their gold as a wave offering to the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"Some had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen. Others had goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or things made of fine leather. Everyone who had these things brought them."},{"verse":24,"text":"All who could give silver or bronze brought it as a gift to the LORD. Everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it too."},{"verse":25,"text":"Every skilled woman spun thread with her hands. She brought what she had spun: blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen."},{"verse":26,"text":"And all the skilled women whose hearts were moved spun the goat hair."},{"verse":27,"text":"The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to set on the ephod and the breastpiece."},{"verse":28,"text":"They also brought spices and olive oil. These were for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet-smelling incense."},{"verse":29,"text":"So all the Israelite men and women whose hearts moved them brought a gift to the LORD. They gave it freely. It was for all the work the LORD had commanded them through Moses to do."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Moses said to the Israelites, \"See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel by name. He is the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah."},{"verse":31,"text":"The LORD has filled him with the Spirit of God. He has given him skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts."},{"verse":32,"text":"He can design works of art in gold, silver, and bronze."},{"verse":33,"text":"He can cut gems for settings and carve wood. He can be a master of every kind of artistic craft."},{"verse":34,"text":"The LORD has given both him and Oholiab the ability to teach others. Oholiab is the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan."},{"verse":35,"text":"The LORD has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work. They can carve, design, and embroider with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen. They can weave. They are artists who can design every kind of craft."}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled worker are to do all that the LORD has commanded. The LORD has given them skill and know-how. They know how to do all the work of building the holy place.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Moses called for Bezalel and Oholiab. He called every skilled person the LORD had gifted. He called all whose hearts moved them to come and do the work."},{"verse":3,"text":"They took from Moses all the gifts the Israelites had brought. These gifts were for the work of building the holy place. But the people kept bringing gifts of their own free will, morning after morning."},{"verse":4,"text":"So all the skilled workers doing the work on the holy place stopped what they were doing."},{"verse":5,"text":"They said to Moses, \"The people are bringing more than enough! It's more than we need for the work the LORD told us to do.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Moses gave an order. They sent word all through the camp: \"No man or woman should make anything more as a gift for the holy place.\" So the people were held back from bringing more."},{"verse":7,"text":"That was because what they had was already more than enough to do all the work."},{"verse":8,"text":"All the skilled workers made the ten curtains for the tabernacle. They were made of fine twisted linen and blue, purple, and red yarn. Cherubim were skillfully woven into them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Each curtain was 42 feet long and 6 feet wide. All the curtains were the same size.","note":"Hebrew: 28 cubits long and 4 cubits wide."},{"verse":10,"text":"He joined five of the curtains together. He joined the other five together too."},{"verse":11,"text":"He made loops of blue cloth on the edge of the end curtain in the first set. He did the same on the end curtain in the second set."},{"verse":12,"text":"He made 50 loops on one curtain. He made 50 loops on the end curtain of the second set. The loops lined up across from each other."},{"verse":13,"text":"He also made 50 gold clasps to join the curtains together. So the tabernacle was all one piece."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then he made curtains of goat hair for the tent over the tabernacle. There were eleven curtains in all."},{"verse":15,"text":"All eleven curtains were the same size. Each was 45 feet long and 6 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: 30 cubits long and 4 cubits wide."},{"verse":16,"text":"He joined five of the curtains into one set. He joined the other six into another set."},{"verse":17,"text":"He made 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set. He made 50 loops along the edge of the matching curtain in the second set."},{"verse":18,"text":"He also made 50 bronze clasps to join the tent together. So it was all one piece."},{"verse":19,"text":"He also made a cover for the tent out of ram skins dyed red. Over that he made a cover of fine leather."},{"verse":20,"text":"Next, he made frames of acacia wood to stand up straight for the tabernacle."},{"verse":21,"text":"Each frame was 15 feet long and 27 inches wide.","note":"Hebrew: 10 cubits long and a cubit and a half wide."},{"verse":22,"text":"Each frame had two pegs joined to each other. He made all the frames of the tabernacle this way.","note":"Or \"tenons\": pegs that fit into the bases."},{"verse":23,"text":"He made 20 frames for the south side of the tabernacle."},{"verse":24,"text":"He made 40 silver bases to go under the 20 frames. There were two bases for each frame, one under each peg."},{"verse":25,"text":"For the other side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made 20 frames."},{"verse":26,"text":"He also made 40 silver bases for them, two bases under each frame."},{"verse":27,"text":"He made six frames for the back of the tabernacle, the west side."},{"verse":28,"text":"He made two frames for the two back corners of the tabernacle."},{"verse":29,"text":"They were joined together from bottom to top and fit into one ring. He made both corners this way."},{"verse":30,"text":"So there were eight frames and 16 silver bases, two under each frame."},{"verse":31,"text":"He also made five crossbars of acacia wood for the frames on one side of the tabernacle."},{"verse":32,"text":"He made five for the frames on the other side. He made five for the frames on the back side of the tabernacle, to the west."},{"verse":33,"text":"He made the middle crossbar to run through the center of the frames. It ran from one end to the other."},{"verse":34,"text":"He covered the frames with gold. He made gold rings to hold the crossbars. He also covered the crossbars with gold."},{"verse":35,"text":"Next, he made the veil out of blue, purple, and red yarn and fine twisted linen. Cherubim were skillfully woven into it."},{"verse":36,"text":"He also made four posts of acacia wood for it. He covered them with gold and gave them gold hooks. He cast four silver bases for the posts."},{"verse":37,"text":"For the doorway of the tent, he made a curtain. It was stitched with blue, purple, and red yarn and fine twisted linen."},{"verse":38,"text":"He also made five posts for it, with their hooks. He covered the tops of the posts and their bands with gold. Their five bases were made of bronze."}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Bezalel went on to make the ark out of acacia wood. It was 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 27 inches high.","note":"Hebrew: two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high."},{"verse":2,"text":"He covered it with pure gold, inside and out. He made a gold trim all around it."},{"verse":3,"text":"He cast four gold rings for its four feet. He put two rings on one side and two on the other."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he made poles of acacia wood and covered them with gold."},{"verse":5,"text":"He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark so it could be carried."},{"verse":6,"text":"He made a mercy seat of pure gold. It was 45 inches long and 27 inches wide.","note":"Hebrew: two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. The mercy seat was the cover of the ark."},{"verse":7,"text":"He made two cherubim out of hammered gold. He put them at the ends of the mercy seat."},{"verse":8,"text":"There was one cherub on one end and one on the other end. They were all made from one piece of gold with the mercy seat."},{"verse":9,"text":"The cherubim spread their wings upward. Their wings covered the mercy seat. The cherubim faced each other and looked toward the mercy seat."},{"verse":10,"text":"He also made the table out of acacia wood. It was 3 feet long, 18 inches wide, and 27 inches high.","note":"Hebrew: two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high."},{"verse":11,"text":"He covered it with pure gold and made a gold trim all around it."},{"verse":12,"text":"He made a rim around it about 3 inches wide. He put a gold trim on the rim.","note":"Hebrew: a handbreadth."},{"verse":13,"text":"He cast four gold rings for the table. He fastened them to the four corners where the four legs were."},{"verse":14,"text":"The rings were placed close to the rim. They held the poles used to carry the table."},{"verse":15,"text":"He made the poles for carrying the table out of acacia wood. He covered them with gold."},{"verse":16,"text":"He also made the things for the table out of pure gold. He made its plates and dishes. He made its bowls and pitchers for pouring out drink offerings."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold. It was all one piece. This included its base and its main stem, its cups, and its buds and petals."},{"verse":18,"text":"Six branches came out from the sides. Three were on one side and three on the other."},{"verse":19,"text":"The first branch had three cups shaped like almond flowers. Each cup had buds and petals. The next branch had three cups too. It was the same for all six branches that came out from the lampstand."},{"verse":20,"text":"On the lampstand itself were four cups shaped like almond flowers, with buds and petals."},{"verse":21,"text":"There was a bud under the first pair of branches that came out from the lampstand. There was a bud under the second pair. There was a bud under the third pair."},{"verse":22,"text":"The buds and branches were all one piece with the lampstand. It was all hammered out of pure gold."},{"verse":23,"text":"He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and its trays out of pure gold."},{"verse":24,"text":"He made the lampstand and all its tools from a talent of pure gold.","note":"A talent was about 75 pounds."},{"verse":25,"text":"He made the altar for burning incense out of acacia wood. It was square, 18 inches long and 18 inches wide. It was 3 feet high. Its horns were all one piece with it.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high."},{"verse":26,"text":"He covered the top, all the sides, and the horns with pure gold. Then he made a gold trim all around it."},{"verse":27,"text":"He made two gold rings below the trim on opposite sides. They held the poles used to carry it."},{"verse":28,"text":"He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with gold."},{"verse":29,"text":"He also made the holy oil for anointing. He made the pure, sweet-smelling incense too. It was the work of a perfume maker."}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Bezalel made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood. It was square, 7½ feet long and 7½ feet wide. It was 4½ feet high.","note":"Hebrew: five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high."},{"verse":2,"text":"He made a horn at each of its four corners. The horns and the altar were all one piece. He covered the altar with bronze."},{"verse":3,"text":"He made all the tools for the altar out of bronze. He made its pots, shovels, bowls for sprinkling, meat forks, and fire pans."},{"verse":4,"text":"He made a grate of bronze netting for the altar. It went under the altar's ledge, halfway up from the bottom."},{"verse":5,"text":"He cast four rings at the four corners of the bronze grate. They held the poles."},{"verse":6,"text":"He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with bronze."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar to carry it. He made the altar out of boards, so it was hollow."},{"verse":8,"text":"Next he made the bronze basin and its stand. He made them from the mirrors of the women who served at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he made the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was 150 feet long. It had curtains of fine twisted linen.","note":"Hebrew: 100 cubits."},{"verse":10,"text":"It had 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts had silver hooks and bands."},{"verse":11,"text":"The north side was also 150 feet long. It had 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.","note":"Hebrew: 100 cubits."},{"verse":12,"text":"The west side was 75 feet long and had curtains. It had ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver.","note":"Hebrew: 50 cubits."},{"verse":13,"text":"The east side, toward the sunrise, was also 75 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: 50 cubits."},{"verse":14,"text":"The curtains on one side of the entrance were 22½ feet long. They had three posts and three bases.","note":"Hebrew: 15 cubits."},{"verse":15,"text":"The curtains on the other side were also 22½ feet long. They had three posts and three bases too.","note":"Hebrew: 15 cubits."},{"verse":16,"text":"All the curtains around the courtyard were made of fine twisted linen."},{"verse":17,"text":"The bases for the posts were bronze. The hooks and bands were silver. The tops of the posts were covered with silver. So all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands."},{"verse":18,"text":"The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was stitched with blue, purple, and red yarn and fine twisted linen. It was 30 feet long. Like the curtains of the courtyard, it was 7½ feet high.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits long and 5 cubits high."},{"verse":19,"text":"It had four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver. Their bands and the covering of their tops were silver too."},{"verse":20,"text":"All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard around it were bronze."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is the list of things used for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony. The Levites wrote it down at Moses' command. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest was in charge of them."},{"verse":22,"text":"Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, was from the tribe of Judah. He made everything the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":23,"text":"Oholiab son of Ahisamach worked with him. He was from the tribe of Dan. He was an engraver and a designer. He also stitched with blue, purple, and red yarn and fine linen."},{"verse":24,"text":"All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the holy place came to 29 talents and 730 shekels. This was weighed by the sanctuary shekel.","note":"About 2,200 pounds."},{"verse":25,"text":"The silver from the people who were counted came to 100 talents and 1,775 shekels. This was weighed by the sanctuary shekel.","note":"About 7,550 pounds."},{"verse":26,"text":"It was a beka for each person. That is half a shekel, by the sanctuary shekel. It came from everyone 20 years old or older who had crossed over to be counted. There were 603,550 men in all.","note":"A beka was about 1/5 of an ounce."},{"verse":27,"text":"The 100 talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the holy place and the bases of the veil. There were 100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent for each base."},{"verse":28,"text":"With the 1,775 shekels of silver, he made the hooks for the posts. He covered their tops and made bands for them."},{"verse":29,"text":"The bronze from the wave offering came to 70 talents and 2,400 shekels.","note":"About 5,300 pounds."},{"verse":30,"text":"He used it to make the bases for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. He also made the bronze altar and its bronze grate, and all the tools for the altar."},{"verse":31,"text":"He made the bases for the courtyard around it and the bases for its gate. He made all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard around it."}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From the blue, purple, and red yarn they made woven clothes for serving in the holy place. They also made the holy clothes for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":2,"text":"Bezalel made the ephod out of fine twisted linen. It was stitched with gold and with blue, purple, and red yarn."},{"verse":3,"text":"They hammered gold into thin sheets. They cut threads from the sheets. They wove the threads in with the blue, purple, and red yarn and the fine linen. It was the work of a skilled worker."},{"verse":4,"text":"They made shoulder pieces for the ephod. These were joined at two of its corners so it could be fastened."},{"verse":5,"text":"The skillfully woven belt of the ephod was one piece with the ephod. It was made the same way. It had gold, blue, purple, and red yarn, and fine twisted linen. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":6,"text":"They set the onyx stones in gold settings made of fine wire. The names of the sons of Israel were carved on them, the way a seal is carved."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod. They were stones to remember the sons of Israel. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":8,"text":"He made the chest piece. It was made the same way as the ephod. It had gold, blue, purple, and red yarn, and fine twisted linen."},{"verse":9,"text":"When it was folded in half, it was square. It was 9 inches long and 9 inches wide.","note":"Hebrew: a span long and a span wide."},{"verse":10,"text":"They set four rows of gems on it. The first row had a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald."},{"verse":11,"text":"The second row had a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond."},{"verse":12,"text":"The third row had a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst."},{"verse":13,"text":"The fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. These stones were set in gold settings made of fine wire."},{"verse":14,"text":"There were twelve stones, one for each name of the sons of Israel. Each stone was carved like a seal. Each had the name of one of the twelve tribes."},{"verse":15,"text":"For the chest piece they made chains of pure gold, braided like cords."},{"verse":16,"text":"They also made two gold settings of fine wire and two gold rings. They fastened the two rings to the two corners of the chest piece."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then they fastened the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the chest piece."},{"verse":18,"text":"They fastened the other ends of the two chains to the two settings. They joined these to the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod."},{"verse":19,"text":"They made two more gold rings. They joined them to the other two corners of the chest piece. These went on the inside edge, next to the ephod."},{"verse":20,"text":"They made two more gold rings. They joined them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod. These were near the seam, just above its woven belt."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then they tied the rings of the chest piece to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord. That way the chest piece stayed above the belt of the ephod. It would not swing loose from the ephod. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":22,"text":"They made the robe of the ephod all out of blue cloth. It was the work of a weaver."},{"verse":23,"text":"It had an opening for the head in the center of the robe, like the opening of a garment. There was a collar around the opening so it would not tear."},{"verse":24,"text":"On the bottom hem of the robe they made pomegranates. They made them of blue, purple, and red yarn and fine twisted linen."},{"verse":25,"text":"They also made bells of pure gold. They put them all around the hem between the pomegranates."},{"verse":26,"text":"A bell and a pomegranate took turns all around the bottom hem of the robe. The robe was to be worn while serving. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":27,"text":"For Aaron and his sons they made tunics of fine linen. It was the work of a weaver."},{"verse":28,"text":"They also made the turban of fine linen. They made the fancy head caps and the underclothes out of fine twisted linen."},{"verse":29,"text":"They made the sash of fine twisted linen. It was stitched with blue, purple, and red yarn. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":30,"text":"They also made the plate of the holy crown out of pure gold. They carved words on it, like words carved on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then they tied a blue cord to it to fasten it to the turban. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":32,"text":"So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was done. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses. They brought the tent and all its things. They brought its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, and its posts and bases."},{"verse":34,"text":"They brought the cover of ram skins dyed red and the cover of fine leather. They brought the veil that served as a screen."},{"verse":35,"text":"They brought the ark of the Testimony with its poles and the mercy seat."},{"verse":36,"text":"They brought the table with all its things and the Bread of the Presence."},{"verse":37,"text":"They brought the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and all its tools. They also brought the oil for the light."},{"verse":38,"text":"They brought the gold altar, the anointing oil, and the sweet-smelling incense. They brought the curtain for the doorway of the tent."},{"verse":39,"text":"They brought the bronze altar with its bronze grate, its poles, and all its tools. They brought the basin with its stand."},{"verse":40,"text":"They brought the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases. They brought the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, with its ropes and tent pegs. They brought all the tools for the work of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":41,"text":"They brought the woven clothes for serving in the holy place. These were the holy clothes for Aaron the priest and the clothes for his sons to wear when they served as priests."},{"verse":42,"text":"The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":43,"text":"Moses looked over all the work. He saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them."}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"On the first day of the first month, set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":3,"text":"Put the ark of the Testimony in it. Screen off the ark with the veil."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then bring in the table and set out the things that go on it. Bring in the lampstand too, and set up its lamps."},{"verse":5,"text":"Put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the Testimony. Hang the curtain at the doorway of the tabernacle."},{"verse":6,"text":"Put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the doorway of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":7,"text":"Put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Set up the courtyard all around. Hang the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard."},{"verse":9,"text":"Take the anointing oil. Anoint the tabernacle and everything in it. Set it apart to God, with all its things, and it will be holy."},{"verse":10,"text":"Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its tools. Set the altar apart, and it will be most holy."},{"verse":11,"text":"Anoint the basin and its stand, and set them apart to God."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting. Wash them with water."},{"verse":13,"text":"Dress Aaron in the holy clothes. Anoint him and set him apart, so that he may serve me as a priest."},{"verse":14,"text":"Bring his sons forward and dress them in tunics."},{"verse":15,"text":"Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve me as priests. Their anointing will make them priests forever, for all the generations to come.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year."},{"verse":18,"text":"Moses set up the tabernacle. He laid its bases and put its frames in place. He put in its crossbars and set up its posts."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle. He put the cover over the tent, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Moses took the Testimony and put it in the ark. He put the poles on the ark. He set the mercy seat on top of the ark.","note":"The Testimony was the stone tablets of the law."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle. He hung the veil as a screen and closed off the ark of the Testimony, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":22,"text":"Moses put the table in the Tent of Meeting. It was on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil."},{"verse":23,"text":"He set out the bread on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":24,"text":"He also put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting. It was across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle."},{"verse":25,"text":"He set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":26,"text":"Moses put the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the veil."},{"verse":27,"text":"He burned sweet-smelling incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then he hung the curtain at the doorway of the tabernacle."},{"verse":29,"text":"He put the altar for burnt offerings near the doorway of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. He offered the burnt offering and the grain offering on it, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":30,"text":"He put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. He put water in it for washing."},{"verse":31,"text":"Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet with water from it."},{"verse":32,"text":"They washed each time they went into the Tent of Meeting or came near the altar. It was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":33,"text":"Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar. He hung the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard. So Moses finished the work."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting. The glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."},{"verse":35,"text":"Moses could not go into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled on it. And the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."},{"verse":36,"text":"Each time the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out. They did this at every stage of their journey."},{"verse":37,"text":"But if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out. They waited until the day it lifted."},{"verse":38,"text":"For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night. All the people of Israel could see it through all their journeys."}]}]},{"name":"Leviticus","slug":"leviticus","usfm":"LEV","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD called to Moses. He spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring an animal from the herd or the flock as your offering."},{"verse":3,"text":"If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male with no defects. He must bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, so that it will be accepted before the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so that it will be accepted in his place to make atonement for him.","note":"To make atonement is to cover sin so that a person can be at peace with God."},{"verse":5,"text":"He must kill the young bull before the LORD. Then Aaron's sons the priests are to offer the blood. They are to splash it on all sides of the altar at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":6,"text":"Next, he is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces."},{"verse":7,"text":"The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar. They are to lay wood on the fire."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Aaron's sons the priests are to lay out the pieces on the burning wood on the altar. This includes the head and the fat."},{"verse":9,"text":"The inner parts and the legs must be washed with water. Then the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering. Its smell pleases the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"But if someone's burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or the goats, he is to offer a male with no defects."},{"verse":11,"text":"He must kill it on the north side of the altar before the LORD. Then Aaron's sons the priests are to splash its blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":12,"text":"He is to cut the animal into pieces. The priest is to lay them out on the burning wood on the altar. This includes the head and the fat."},{"verse":13,"text":"The inner parts and the legs must be washed with water. Then the priest is to offer all of it and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering. Its smell pleases the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"But if someone's burnt offering to the LORD is a bird, he is to offer a dove or a young pigeon."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the priest is to bring it to the altar. He is to twist off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar."},{"verse":16,"text":"He is to take out the bird's crop and what is in it. He is to throw it on the east side of the altar, where the ashes are.","note":"The crop is a pouch in a bird's throat where food is stored."},{"verse":17,"text":"He is to tear it open by its wings, but not tear it all the way apart. Then the priest is to burn it on the burning wood on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering. Its smell pleases the LORD."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, it must be made of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then he is to bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest is to take a handful of the flour and oil, with all the frankincense. He is to burn this on the altar as the memorial portion. It is a food offering. Its smell pleases the LORD.","note":"The memorial portion was the small part burned on the altar for the whole offering."},{"verse":3,"text":"The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons. It is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it must be made of fine flour. It may be cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil. Or it may be thin wafers made without yeast and spread with oil."},{"verse":5,"text":"If your grain offering is cooked on a griddle, it must be bread made without yeast. It must be made of fine flour mixed with oil."},{"verse":6,"text":"Break it into pieces and pour oil on it. It is a grain offering."},{"verse":7,"text":"If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it must be made of fine flour with oil."},{"verse":8,"text":"When you bring the LORD a grain offering made in any of these ways, give it to the priest. He is to take it to the altar."},{"verse":9,"text":"The priest is to take the memorial portion from the grain offering. He is to burn it on the altar as a food offering. Its smell pleases the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons. It is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"No grain offering that you bring to the LORD may be made with yeast. That is because you must not burn any yeast or honey as a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of firstfruits. But they must not be burned on the altar as a smell that pleases him."},{"verse":13,"text":"You must season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave out of your grain offering the salt of the covenant of your God. Add salt to all your offerings."},{"verse":14,"text":"If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, offer crushed heads of new grain. They must be roasted in the fire."},{"verse":15,"text":"Put oil and frankincense on it. It is a grain offering."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the priest is to burn the memorial portion. This is some of the crushed grain and the oil, with all its frankincense. It is a food offering to the LORD."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"If someone's offering is a peace offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, it may be a male or a female. But he must offer it before the LORD with no defects."},{"verse":2,"text":"He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering. He is to kill it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons the priests are to splash the blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":3,"text":"From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD. He is to bring the fat that covers the inner parts and all the fat on them."},{"verse":4,"text":"He is to bring both kidneys with the fat on them near the lower back. He is to take out the long part of the liver with the kidneys."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Aaron's sons are to burn it on the altar. They are to put it on top of the burnt offering on the burning wood. It is a food offering. Its smell pleases the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"But if someone's peace offering to the LORD is from the flock, he must offer a male or a female with no defects."},{"verse":7,"text":"If he is offering a lamb, he must offer it before the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering. He is to kill it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons are to splash its blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":9,"text":"From the peace offering he is to bring its fat as a food offering to the LORD. He is to bring the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone. He is to bring the fat that covers the inner parts and all the fat on them."},{"verse":10,"text":"He is to bring both kidneys with the fat on them near the lower back. He is to take out the long part of the liver with the kidneys."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the priest is to burn them on the altar as food. It is a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"If someone's offering is a goat, he is to offer it before the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"He must lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons are to splash its blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":14,"text":"From his offering he is to bring a food offering to the LORD. He is to bring the fat that covers the inner parts and all the fat on them."},{"verse":15,"text":"He is to bring both kidneys with the fat on them near the lower back. He is to take out the long part of the liver with the kidneys."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as a food offering. Its smell is pleasing. All the fat belongs to the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is a law that lasts forever, for all the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites what to do when someone sins without meaning to. He may break any of the LORD's commands and do what they forbid."},{"verse":3,"text":"If the anointed priest sins and brings guilt on the people, he must bring to the LORD a young bull with no defects. It is a sin offering for the sin he has done."},{"verse":4,"text":"He must bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. He must lay his hand on the bull's head and kill it before the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull's blood. He is to bring it into the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":6,"text":"The priest is to dip his finger in the blood. He is to sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the holy place."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the priest must put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet-smelling incense. That altar is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. He is to pour out the rest of the bull's blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings. That altar is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he is to take all the fat from the bull of the sin offering. He is to take the fat that covers the inner parts and all the fat on them."},{"verse":9,"text":"He is to take both kidneys with the fat on them near the lower back. He is to take out the long part of the liver with the kidneys."},{"verse":10,"text":"He is to do this just as the fat is taken from the ox of the peace offering. Then the priest is to burn them on the altar for burnt offerings."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the bull's hide and all its meat, its head and legs, and its inner parts and dung—"},{"verse":12,"text":"all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp. He must take it to a place that is clean by the law, where the ashes are poured out. There he must burn it on a wood fire on the ash pile."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now if the whole community of Israel goes astray without meaning to, and the assembly does not notice it, they will break one of the LORD's commands. They will become guilty by doing what is forbidden."},{"verse":14,"text":"When they find out about the sin they have done, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering. They must offer it in front of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":15,"text":"The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull's head before the LORD. Then the bull is to be killed before the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the anointed priest is to bring some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":17,"text":"He is to dip his finger in the blood. He is to sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil."},{"verse":18,"text":"He is also to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting. He must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings. That altar is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":19,"text":"He is to take all the fat from it and burn it on the altar."},{"verse":20,"text":"He is to offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he is to take the bull outside the camp and burn it, just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the assembly."},{"verse":22,"text":"When a leader sins without meaning to, and does what any command of the LORD his God forbids, he is guilty."},{"verse":23,"text":"When he finds out about the sin he has done, he must bring a male goat with no defects as his offering."},{"verse":24,"text":"He is to lay his hand on the goat's head. He is to kill it where the burnt offering is killed before the LORD. It is a sin offering."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger. He is to put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He is to pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar."},{"verse":26,"text":"He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings. In this way the priest will make atonement for that man's sin, and he will be forgiven."},{"verse":27,"text":"And if one of the common people sins without meaning to, and does what any of the LORD's commands forbid, he is guilty."},{"verse":28,"text":"When he finds out about the sin he has done, he must bring a female goat with no defects. It is his offering for that sin."},{"verse":29,"text":"He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering. He is to kill it at the place of the burnt offering."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger. He is to put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He is to pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then he is to take out all the fat, just as it is taken from the peace offering. The priest is to burn it on the altar as a smell that pleases the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven."},{"verse":32,"text":"But if he brings a lamb as a sin offering, he must bring a female with no defects."},{"verse":33,"text":"He is to lay his hand on the head of the sin offering. He is to kill it as a sin offering where the burnt offering is killed."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger. He is to put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He is to pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar."},{"verse":35,"text":"He is to take out all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is taken from the peace offerings. He is to burn it on the altar with the food offerings to the LORD. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has done, and he will be forgiven."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Someone may hear a public call to give witness about something. He may have seen it or learned about it. If he sins by not speaking up, he will carry his guilt."},{"verse":2,"text":"Or if someone touches anything unclean, he is unclean and guilty, even if he does not know it. It may be the dead body of an unclean wild animal, or of unclean livestock, or of an unclean crawling creature."},{"verse":3,"text":"Or if he touches something unclean from a person, anything that makes a person unclean, he is guilty when he finds out. This is true even if he did not know it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Or if someone makes a careless promise with his lips to do something good or bad, he is guilty in that matter when he finds out. This is true for any matter a person might rashly swear about, even if he did not know it."},{"verse":5,"text":"If someone becomes guilty in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has done."},{"verse":6,"text":"He must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has done. It must be a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him for his sin."},{"verse":7,"text":"But if he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring two doves or two young pigeons to the LORD to pay for his sin. One is for a sin offering, and the other is for a burnt offering."},{"verse":8,"text":"He is to bring them to the priest. The priest is to offer the one for the sin offering first. He is to twist its head at the front of its neck, but not pull it all the way off."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he is to sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar. The rest of the blood is to be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering."},{"verse":10,"text":"The priest must offer the second bird as a burnt offering, following the rules. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has done, and he will be forgiven."},{"verse":11,"text":"But if he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he may bring about two quarts of fine flour as a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":12,"text":"He is to bring it to the priest. The priest is to take a handful from it as the memorial portion. He is to burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings to the LORD. It is a sin offering."},{"verse":13,"text":"In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has done, and he will be forgiven. The rest will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"If someone is unfaithful and sins without meaning to against any of the LORD's holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD. It must be a ram from the flock with no defects. It must be worth the right amount in silver shekels, by the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering."},{"verse":16,"text":"He must pay back for any holy thing he has harmed. He must add a fifth of its value and give it to the priest. The priest will make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he will be forgiven."},{"verse":17,"text":"If someone sins and breaks any of the LORD's commands, he is guilty even though he did not know it. He will carry his punishment."},{"verse":18,"text":"He is to bring to the priest a ram from the flock with no defects. It must be worth the right amount. It is a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he did without knowing it, and he will be forgiven."},{"verse":19,"text":"It is a guilt offering. He was surely guilty before the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"If someone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by tricking his neighbor about something left in his care or given as a pledge, or about something stolen, or if he cheats his neighbor,"},{"verse":3,"text":"or if he finds something lost and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he does any other sin like these that people do-"},{"verse":4,"text":"Once he has sinned and become guilty, he must give back what he stole or took by cheating. He must give back what was left in his care, or the lost thing he found."},{"verse":5,"text":"Or he must give back anything else he swore falsely about. He must pay it all back and add a fifth of its value. He must pay it to the owner on the day he admits his guilt."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he must bring his guilt offering for the LORD to the priest. It must be a ram from the flock with no defects, worth the right amount."},{"verse":7,"text":"In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD. He will be forgiven for anything he may have done to become guilty.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Give Aaron and his sons this command. This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to stay on the fire pit of the altar all night, until morning. The fire must be kept burning on the altar."},{"verse":10,"text":"The priest is to put on his linen robe and linen underclothes. He is to take away the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has burned up on the altar. He is to put them beside the altar."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then he must take off these clothes and put on other clothes. He must carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is clean by the law."},{"verse":12,"text":"The fire on the altar must be kept burning. It must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add wood to the fire. He is to lay the burnt offering on it. He is to burn the fat parts of the peace offerings on it."},{"verse":13,"text":"The fire must be kept burning on the altar all the time. It must not go out."},{"verse":14,"text":"This is the law of the grain offering: Aaron's sons are to offer it before the LORD in front of the altar."},{"verse":15,"text":"The priest is to take a handful of fine flour and olive oil from the grain offering. He is to take all its frankincense too. He is to burn the memorial portion on the altar. Its smell pleases the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"Aaron and his sons are to eat the rest. It must be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They are to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":17,"text":"It must not be baked with yeast. I have given it to them as their share of my food offerings. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering."},{"verse":18,"text":"Any male among Aaron's sons may eat it. It is their share of the food offerings to the LORD forever, for all the generations to come. Anything that touches them will become holy.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":20,"text":"\"This is the offering that Aaron and his sons must bring to the LORD on the day he is anointed. They are to bring about two quarts of fine flour as a regular grain offering. Half is for the morning and half for the evening.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":21,"text":"It is to be made with oil on a griddle. Bring it well mixed. Offer it as a grain offering broken in pieces. Its smell pleases the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"It is to be made by the priest from Aaron's sons who will be anointed to take his place. It is the LORD's share forever. It must be burned up completely."},{"verse":23,"text":"Every grain offering for a priest must be burned up completely. It must not be eaten.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Tell Aaron and his sons that this is the law of the sin offering: The sin offering is to be killed before the LORD in the same place where the burnt offering is killed. It is most holy."},{"verse":26,"text":"The priest who offers it is to eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":27,"text":"Anything that touches its meat will become holy. If any of its blood splashes on a piece of clothing, you must wash it in a holy place."},{"verse":28,"text":"The clay pot the sin offering is boiled in must be broken. If it is boiled in a bronze pot, the pot must be scrubbed and rinsed with water."},{"verse":29,"text":"Any male among the priests may eat it. It is most holy."},{"verse":30,"text":"But some sin offerings must not be eaten. If the blood was brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, it must be burned."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy."},{"verse":2,"text":"The guilt offering must be killed in the place where the burnt offering is killed. The priest is to splash its blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":3,"text":"All its fat is to be offered. This means the fat tail and the fat that covers the inner parts."},{"verse":4,"text":"It also means both kidneys with the fat on them near the lower back. The long part of the liver is to be taken out with the kidneys."},{"verse":5,"text":"The priest is to burn them on the altar as a food offering to the LORD. It is a guilt offering."},{"verse":6,"text":"Any male among the priests may eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy."},{"verse":7,"text":"The guilt offering is like the sin offering. The same law is for both. It belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it."},{"verse":8,"text":"When a priest offers a burnt offering for anyone, the hide of that offering belongs to him."},{"verse":9,"text":"In the same way, every grain offering baked in an oven belongs to the priest who offers it. So does every one cooked in a pan or on a griddle."},{"verse":10,"text":"Every grain offering, dry or mixed with oil, belongs to all of Aaron's sons equally."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is the law of the peace offering that someone may bring to the LORD:"},{"verse":12,"text":"If he offers it to give thanks, then along with the thank offering he is to offer cakes made without yeast and mixed with olive oil. He is to offer thin wafers made without yeast and spread with oil. He is to offer cakes of fine flour, well mixed with oil."},{"verse":13,"text":"Along with his peace offering of thanks, he is to bring an offering of cakes of bread made with yeast."},{"verse":14,"text":"From the cakes he must offer one of each kind as a gift to the LORD. It belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering."},{"verse":15,"text":"The meat of his peace offering of thanks must be eaten on the day he offers it. None of it may be left until morning."},{"verse":16,"text":"But if his offering is for a vow, or is a gift he chooses to give, it is to be eaten on the day he offers it. But what is left may be eaten the next day."},{"verse":17,"text":"But any meat of the offering left until the third day must be burned up."},{"verse":18,"text":"If any meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not count for the one who offered it. It will be disgusting to God. The one who eats it will carry his guilt."},{"verse":19,"text":"Meat that touches anything unclean must not be eaten. It is to be burned up. As for other meat, anyone who is clean by the law may eat it."},{"verse":20,"text":"But if someone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":21,"text":"Someone may touch anything unclean. It may be something unclean from a person, or an unclean animal, or any unclean and hateful thing. If he then eats any meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and say, 'You must not eat any fat of an ox, a sheep, or a goat."},{"verse":24,"text":"An animal may be found dead or be torn up by wild animals. Its fat may be used for anything else, but you must not eat it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Some animals may be given as a food offering to the LORD. If anyone eats the fat of such an animal, the one who eats it must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":26,"text":"Wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal."},{"verse":27,"text":"If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and say, 'Anyone who brings a peace offering to the LORD must bring it as his offering to the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"He is to bring the food offerings to the LORD with his own hands. He is to bring the fat with the breast. He is to wave the breast before the LORD as a wave offering."},{"verse":31,"text":"The priest is to burn the fat on the altar. But the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons."},{"verse":32,"text":"You are to give the right thigh to the priest as a gift from your peace offering."},{"verse":33,"text":"The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the peace offering is to have the right thigh as his share."},{"verse":34,"text":"From the sons of Israel I have taken the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that is given. They come from their peace offerings. I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons. It is their share from the sons of Israel forever.'\""},{"verse":35,"text":"This is the share of the food offerings to the LORD for Aaron and his sons. It is theirs from the day they were brought to serve the LORD as priests."},{"verse":36,"text":"On the day they were anointed, the LORD commanded the sons of Israel to give this to them. It is their share forever, for all the generations to come."},{"verse":37,"text":"This is the law of the burnt offering and the grain offering. It is the law of the sin offering and the guilt offering. It is the law of the offering for making priests, and of the peace offering."},{"verse":38,"text":"The LORD gave it to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was on the day he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Bring Aaron and his sons, and their clothes. Bring the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of bread made without yeast."},{"verse":3,"text":"Gather the whole community at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Moses did what the LORD commanded him. The people gathered at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":5,"text":"Moses said to them, \"This is what the LORD has commanded us to do.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward. He washed them with water."},{"verse":7,"text":"He put the tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around him. He dressed him in the robe and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven belt of the ephod around him and fastened it on him."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he put the chest piece on him. He put the Urim and Thummim in the chest piece.","note":"The Urim and Thummim were objects used to learn God's will."},{"verse":9,"text":"Moses also put the turban on Aaron's head. On the front of the turban he set the gold plate, the holy crown. He did just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Next, Moses took the anointing oil. He anointed the tabernacle and everything in it. In this way he set them apart as holy."},{"verse":11,"text":"He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times. He anointed the altar and all its tools, and the basin with its stand. He did this to set them apart as holy."},{"verse":12,"text":"He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head. He anointed him to set him apart as holy."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Moses brought Aaron's sons forward. He put tunics on them and tied sashes around them. He tied head caps on them, just as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Moses brought the bull for the sin offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head."},{"verse":15,"text":"Moses killed the bull and took some of the blood. With his finger he put it on all four horns of the altar. This made the altar pure. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. He set the altar apart as holy so that atonement could be made on it."},{"verse":16,"text":"Moses also took all the fat on the inner parts, the long part of the liver, and both kidneys and their fat. He burned it all on the altar."},{"verse":17,"text":"But he burned the rest of the bull outside the camp, with its hide, meat, and dung. He did as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Moses brought the ram for the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head."},{"verse":19,"text":"Moses killed the ram. He splashed the blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":20,"text":"He cut the ram into pieces. He burned the head, the pieces, and the fat."},{"verse":21,"text":"He washed the inner parts and the legs with water. He burned the whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering. Its smell was pleasing. It was a food offering to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":22,"text":"After that, Moses brought the other ram. It was the ram for making them priests. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head."},{"verse":23,"text":"Moses killed the ram and took some of its blood. He put it on the bottom of Aaron's right ear, on his right thumb, and on the big toe of his right foot."},{"verse":24,"text":"Moses also brought Aaron's sons forward. He put some of the blood on the bottom of their right ears, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splashed the blood on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":25,"text":"Moses took the fat. He took the fat tail, all the fat on the inner parts, the long part of the liver, and both kidneys with their fat. He also took the right thigh."},{"verse":26,"text":"Before the LORD was the basket of bread made without yeast. From it he took one cake of bread without yeast, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer. He put them on the fat parts and on the right thigh."},{"verse":27,"text":"He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons. He waved them before the LORD as a wave offering."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Moses took these from their hands. He burned them on the altar on top of the burnt offering. This was the offering for making them priests. Its smell was pleasing. It was a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":29,"text":"He also took the breast, which was Moses' share of the ram for making them priests. He waved it before the LORD as a wave offering, as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":30,"text":"Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood on the altar. He sprinkled them on Aaron and his clothes, and on his sons and their clothes. In this way he set apart Aaron and his clothes as holy. He also set apart Aaron's sons and their clothes."},{"verse":31,"text":"Moses said to Aaron and his sons, \"Boil the meat at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Eat it there with the bread in the basket of offerings for making priests. Do as I commanded when I said, 'Aaron and his sons are to eat it.'"},{"verse":32,"text":"Then you must burn up the meat and bread that are left."},{"verse":33,"text":"Do not go out of the entrance of the Tent of Meeting for seven days. Stay until your days of being made priests are over, because it will take seven days to make you priests."},{"verse":34,"text":"The LORD commanded what was done today to make atonement for you."},{"verse":35,"text":"Stay at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days. Do what the LORD requires, so that you will not die. For this is what I have been commanded.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD had commanded through Moses."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said to Aaron, \"Take a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Both must have no defects. Offer them before the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then speak to the Israelites. Say, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering. Take a calf and a lamb for a burnt offering. Both must be a year old and have no defects."},{"verse":4,"text":"Take an ox and a ram for a peace offering to offer before the LORD. Take a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So they brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting. The whole community came near and stood before the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Moses said, \"This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Moses said to Aaron, \"Come near to the altar. Offer your sin offering and your burnt offering to make atonement for yourself and for the people. Then offer the people's offering to make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Aaron came near to the altar. He killed the calf as a sin offering for himself."},{"verse":9,"text":"Aaron's sons brought the blood to him. He dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the altar he burned the fat, the kidneys, and the long part of the liver from the sin offering. He did as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":11,"text":"But he burned up the meat and the hide outside the camp."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Aaron killed the burnt offering. His sons brought him the blood. He splashed it on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":13,"text":"They brought him the burnt offering piece by piece, with the head. He burned them on the altar."},{"verse":14,"text":"He washed the inner parts and the legs. He burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Aaron brought the people's offering. He took the male goat for the people's sin offering. He killed it and offered it for sin, like the first one."},{"verse":16,"text":"He brought the burnt offering and offered it by the rules."},{"verse":17,"text":"Next he brought the grain offering. He took a handful of it and burned it on the altar. This was in addition to the morning burnt offering."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then he killed the ox and the ram as the people's peace offering. His sons brought him the blood. He splashed it on all sides of the altar."},{"verse":19,"text":"They also brought the fat parts from the ox and the ram. They brought the fat tail, the fat covering the inner parts, the kidneys, and the long part of the liver."},{"verse":20,"text":"They put these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat parts on the altar."},{"verse":21,"text":"But he waved the breasts and the right thigh before the LORD as a wave offering. He did as Moses had commanded."},{"verse":22,"text":"Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. He had made the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering. Then he stepped down."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people."},{"verse":24,"text":"Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and burned up the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted for joy. They fell with their faces to the ground."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their fire pans. They put fire in them and added incense. They offered fire before the LORD that he had not allowed. It went against his command.","note":"Fire pans: Hebrew \"censers.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and burned them up. They died before the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Moses said to Aaron, \"This is what the LORD meant when he said,\n'To those who come near me I will show that I am holy.\nBefore all the people I will show my glory.'\"\nBut Aaron said nothing."},{"verse":4,"text":"Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan. They were sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle. Moses said to them, \"Come here. Carry the bodies of your cousins away from the front of the holy place. Take them outside the camp.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So they came and carried them outside the camp, still in their tunics, as Moses had said."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, \"Do not let your hair hang loose, and do not tear your clothes. If you do, you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, the whole house of Israel, may mourn because of the fire the LORD has sent.","note":"Loose hair and torn clothes were signs of mourning."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not go out of the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, because the LORD's anointing oil is on you.\" So they did what Moses said."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said to Aaron,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"You and your sons must not drink wine or beer when you go into the Tent of Meeting. If you do, you will die. This is a law that lasts forever, for all the generations to come."},{"verse":10,"text":"You must know the difference between what is holy and what is common. You must know the difference between what is clean and what is unclean."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do this so that you may teach the Israelites all the laws the LORD has given them through Moses.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Moses said to Aaron and his sons who were left, Eleazar and Ithamar, \"Take the grain offering that is left from the food offerings to the LORD. Eat it without yeast beside the altar, because it is most holy."},{"verse":13,"text":"Eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the food offerings to the LORD. For this is what I have been commanded."},{"verse":14,"text":"You and your sons and daughters may eat the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that is given. Eat them in a place that is clean by the law. That is because these shares have been given to you and your children from the peace offerings of the sons of Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"They are to bring the thigh that is given and the breast of the wave offering, along with the fat parts of the food offerings. They are to wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. They will belong to you and your children forever, as the LORD has commanded.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Later, Moses looked hard for the goat of the sin offering. He found that it had been burned up! He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons who were left. He asked them,"},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Why didn't you eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy. It was given to you to take away the guilt of the community, by making atonement for them before the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"Its blood was not brought inside the holy place. So you should have eaten it in the holy area, as I commanded.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But Aaron answered Moses, \"Look, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD. Since these things have happened to me, if I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have been pleased?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"When Moses heard this, he was satisfied."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron. He said to them,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites this: 'Here are the land animals you may eat."},{"verse":3,"text":"You may eat any animal that chews the cud and has a hoof split all the way into two parts."},{"verse":4,"text":"But some animals only chew the cud, and some only have a split hoof. You must not eat these. The camel chews the cud, but it does not have a split hoof. It is unclean for you."},{"verse":5,"text":"The rock badger chews the cud, but it does not have a split hoof. It is unclean for you."},{"verse":6,"text":"The rabbit chews the cud, but it does not have a split hoof. It is unclean for you."},{"verse":7,"text":"The pig has a hoof split all the way into two parts, but it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You must not eat their meat. You must not touch their dead bodies. They are unclean for you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Here is what you may eat of all the creatures that live in the water. You may eat anything in the seas or the streams that has fins and scales."},{"verse":10,"text":"But there are many living things that swarm in the water. Anything in the seas or streams that does not have fins and scales is disgusting to you."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will be hateful to you. You must not eat their meat. You must hate their dead bodies."},{"verse":12,"text":"Anything in the water that does not have fins and scales will be disgusting to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"You must also hate these birds. They must not be eaten, because they are disgusting. They are the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,"},{"verse":14,"text":"the kite, any kind of falcon,"},{"verse":15,"text":"any kind of raven,"},{"verse":16,"text":"the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,"},{"verse":17,"text":"the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,"},{"verse":18,"text":"the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,"},{"verse":19,"text":"the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat."},{"verse":20,"text":"All insects that fly and walk on four legs are disgusting to you."},{"verse":21,"text":"But you may eat some kinds of flying insects that walk on four legs. You may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet for hopping on the ground."},{"verse":22,"text":"Of these, you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper."},{"verse":23,"text":"All other flying insects that have four legs are disgusting to you."},{"verse":24,"text":"These creatures will make you unclean. Anyone who touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":25,"text":"Anyone who picks up one of their dead bodies must wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":26,"text":"Some animals have hooves that are not split all the way. Some do not chew the cud. Every one of these is unclean for you. Anyone who touches them will be unclean."},{"verse":27,"text":"All four-footed animals that walk on paws are unclean for you. Anyone who touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":28,"text":"Anyone who picks up a dead body of one of them must wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening. These animals are unclean for you."},{"verse":29,"text":"These creatures that move along the ground are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, any kind of great lizard,"},{"verse":30,"text":"the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon."},{"verse":31,"text":"Of all the crawling creatures, these are unclean for you. Anyone who touches them after they die will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":32,"text":"One of them may die and fall on something. Then that thing becomes unclean. It may be made of wood, cloth, leather, or sackcloth. It may be a tool used for work. Whatever it is, it must be rinsed with water. It will stay unclean until evening. Then it will be clean."},{"verse":33,"text":"One of them may fall into a clay pot. Then everything in the pot will be unclean. You must break the pot."},{"verse":34,"text":"Any food that water from that pot touches will be unclean. Any drink in a pot like that will be unclean."},{"verse":35,"text":"Anything that one of their dead bodies falls on will be unclean. If it is an oven or a cooking pot, it must be smashed. It is unclean, and it will stay unclean for you."},{"verse":36,"text":"But a spring or a cistern that holds water will stay clean. Still, anyone who touches a dead body in it will be unclean."},{"verse":37,"text":"A dead body may fall on seed that is ready to be planted. If so, the seed is still clean."},{"verse":38,"text":"But water may have been put on the seed. Then if a dead body falls on it, the seed is unclean for you."},{"verse":39,"text":"If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches its dead body will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":40,"text":"Anyone who eats some of the dead body must wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening. Anyone who picks up the dead body must wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening too."},{"verse":41,"text":"Every creature that moves along the ground is disgusting. It must not be eaten."},{"verse":42,"text":"Do not eat any creature that moves along the ground. It may crawl on its belly. It may walk on four feet or on many feet. Do not eat it, because creatures like this are disgusting."},{"verse":43,"text":"Do not make yourselves impure by any crawling creature. Do not let them make you unclean or impure."},{"verse":44,"text":"For I am the LORD your God. So set yourselves apart for me, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not make yourselves impure by any creature that crawls along the ground."},{"verse":45,"text":"For I am the LORD. I brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God. So be holy, because I am holy."},{"verse":46,"text":"This is the law about animals and birds. It is the law about every living creature that moves in the water. It is the law about every creature that crawls along the ground."},{"verse":47,"text":"You must know the difference between the unclean and the clean. You must know which animals may be eaten and which may not.'\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites this: 'A woman may become pregnant and give birth to a son. Then she will be unclean for seven days. It is the same as during her monthly period."},{"verse":3,"text":"On the eighth day, the boy must be circumcised. The skin of his foreskin is to be cut off."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be made pure from her bleeding. She must not touch anything holy. She must not go into the sanctuary until her days of being made pure are over."},{"verse":5,"text":"But she may give birth to a daughter. Then the woman will be unclean for two weeks, the same as during her period. After that, she must wait sixty-six days to be made pure from her bleeding."},{"verse":6,"text":"Her days of being made pure for a son or a daughter will come to an end. Then she must bring some animals to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. She must bring a lamb a year old for a burnt offering. She must also bring a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering."},{"verse":7,"text":"The priest will offer them to the LORD and make atonement for her. Then she will be made clean from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl."},{"verse":8,"text":"But she may not have enough money for a lamb. Then she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One is for a burnt offering, and the other is for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Someone may have a swelling, a rash, or a bright spot on his skin. It may be a skin disease that spreads. Then he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest."},{"verse":3,"text":"The priest must look closely at the sore on his skin. The hair in the sore may have turned white. The sore may seem deeper than the skin. If so, it is a skin disease. After the priest looks at him, he must say that the person is unclean."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the spot on his skin may be white and not seem deeper than the skin. The hair in it may not have turned white. Then the priest must keep the sick person apart for seven days."},{"verse":5,"text":"On the seventh day the priest must look at him again. He may see that the sore has not changed or spread on the skin. Then the priest must keep him apart for seven more days."},{"verse":6,"text":"On the seventh day the priest will look at him again. The sore may have faded and not spread on the skin. Then the priest must say that the person is clean. It is only a rash. The person must wash his clothes, and he will be clean."},{"verse":7,"text":"But he may have shown himself to the priest to be made clean, and then the rash spreads more on his skin. If so, he must show himself to the priest again."},{"verse":8,"text":"The priest will look at him again. If the rash has spread on the skin, the priest must say that he is unclean. It is a skin disease."},{"verse":9,"text":"When anyone gets a skin disease, he must be brought to the priest."},{"verse":10,"text":"The priest will look at him closely. There may be a white swelling on the skin that has turned the hair white. There may be raw flesh in the swelling."},{"verse":11,"text":"If so, it is a skin disease that has lasted a long time. The priest must say that he is unclean. The priest does not need to keep him apart, because he is already unclean."},{"verse":12,"text":"But the skin disease may break out all over his skin. It may cover all the skin of the sick person from head to foot, everywhere the priest can see."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the priest must look at him. If the disease has covered his whole body, the priest must say that the person is clean. All of it has turned white, so he is clean."},{"verse":14,"text":"But any time raw flesh shows up on someone, he will be unclean."},{"verse":15,"text":"When the priest sees the raw flesh, he must say that the person is unclean. The raw flesh is unclean. It is a skin disease."},{"verse":16,"text":"But the raw flesh may change and turn white. Then the person must go to the priest."},{"verse":17,"text":"The priest will look at him again. If the sore has turned white, the priest must say that the sick person is clean. Then he is clean."},{"verse":18,"text":"Someone may have a boil on his skin, and it heals."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then a white swelling or a reddish-white spot may show up where the boil was. If so, he must show himself to the priest."},{"verse":20,"text":"The priest must look at it. It may seem to be under the skin, and the hair in it may have turned white. Then the priest must say that the person is unclean. It is a disease that has broken out in the boil."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the priest may look at it and find no white hair in it. It may not be under the skin, and it may have faded. Then the priest must keep the person apart for seven days."},{"verse":22,"text":"If it spreads any more on the skin, the priest must say that the person is unclean. It is a disease."},{"verse":23,"text":"But the spot may stay the same and not spread. Then it is only the scar from the boil. The priest must say that the person is clean."},{"verse":24,"text":"Someone may have a burn on his skin. The raw part of the burn may turn reddish-white or white."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then the priest must look at it. The hair in the spot may have turned white. The spot may seem deeper than the skin. If so, it is a disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest must say that the person is unclean. It is a disease."},{"verse":26,"text":"But the priest may look at it and find no white hair in the spot. It may not be under the skin, and it may have faded. Then the priest must keep the person apart for seven days."},{"verse":27,"text":"On the seventh day the priest must look at him again. If it has spread more on the skin, the priest must say that he is unclean. It is a disease."},{"verse":28,"text":"But the spot may stay the same and not spread on the skin, and it may have faded. Then it is a swelling from the burn. The priest must say that the person is clean. It is only the scar from the burn."},{"verse":29,"text":"A man or a woman may have a sore on the head or the chin."},{"verse":30,"text":"The priest must look at the sore. It may seem deeper than the skin. The hair in it may be yellow and thin. If so, the priest must say that the person is unclean. It is a scaly sore. It is a disease of the head or chin that spreads."},{"verse":31,"text":"But the priest may look at the scaly sore and find that it does not seem deeper than the skin. There may be no black hair in it. Then the priest must keep the sick person apart for seven days."},{"verse":32,"text":"On the seventh day the priest must look at the sore again. The scaly sore may not have spread. There may be no yellow hair in it. It may not seem deeper than the skin."},{"verse":33,"text":"If so, the person must shave himself, but not the scaly part. Then the priest must keep him apart for seven more days."},{"verse":34,"text":"On the seventh day the priest must look at the scaly sore. It may not have spread on the skin. It may not seem deeper than the skin. Then the priest must say that the person is clean. He must wash his clothes, and he will be clean."},{"verse":35,"text":"But the scaly sore may spread more on the skin after he has been made clean."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the priest must look at him. If the scaly sore has spread on the skin, the priest does not need to look for yellow hair. The person is unclean."},{"verse":37,"text":"But the priest may see that the scaly sore has not changed, and black hair has grown in it. Then it has healed. The person is clean, and the priest must say that he is clean."},{"verse":38,"text":"A man or a woman may have white spots on the skin."},{"verse":39,"text":"The priest must look at them. If the spots are a dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin. The person is clean."},{"verse":40,"text":"A man may lose his hair and be bald. He is still clean."},{"verse":41,"text":"Or his hair may go back from the front, so that he is bald on his forehead. He is still clean."},{"verse":42,"text":"But there may be a reddish-white sore on the bald head or forehead. Then it is a disease that spreads, breaking out there."},{"verse":43,"text":"The priest must look at him. He must see if the swelling of the sore on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,"},{"verse":44,"text":"If so, the man has a disease. He is unclean. The priest must say that he is unclean because of the sore on his head."},{"verse":45,"text":"A person with this disease must wear torn clothes. He must let his hair hang loose. He must cover his mouth and call out, 'Unclean, unclean!'"},{"verse":46,"text":"As long as he has the sore, he stays unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp."},{"verse":47,"text":"Mildew may get into some cloth. It may be any piece of clothing made of wool or linen."},{"verse":48,"text":"It may be any woven or knitted cloth of linen or wool. It may be anything made of leather."},{"verse":49,"text":"The mark in the cloth, the leather, the woven or knitted cloth, or the leather item may be green or red. Then it has mildew in it. It must be shown to the priest."},{"verse":50,"text":"The priest must look at the mildew. He must keep the item with mildew apart for seven days."},{"verse":51,"text":"On the seventh day the priest must look at it again. The mildew may have spread in the cloth, the woven or knitted cloth, or the leather. If so, it is a harmful mildew, no matter what the item is used for. The item is unclean."},{"verse":52,"text":"He must burn the cloth, whether it is woven or knitted. He must burn it whether the item with mildew is wool, linen, or leather. The mildew is harmful, so the item must be burned up."},{"verse":53,"text":"But the priest may look at it again and see that the mildew has not spread. It has not spread in the cloth, the woven or knitted cloth, or the leather item."},{"verse":54,"text":"Then the priest must order that the item with mildew be washed. It must be kept apart for seven more days."},{"verse":55,"text":"After it has been washed, the priest must look at it again. The item with mildew may not look any different. Then it is unclean, even though the mildew has not spread. You must burn it. Burn it whether the rot is on the front or the back."},{"verse":56,"text":"But the priest may look at it and see that the mildew has faded after it was washed. Then he must cut that part out of the cloth, the leather, or the woven or knitted cloth."},{"verse":57,"text":"But the mildew may come back in the cloth, the woven or knitted cloth, or any leather item. If so, it is spreading. You must burn the item that has mildew."},{"verse":58,"text":"The mildew may go away from the cloth, the woven or knitted cloth, or any leather item after it is washed. Then it must be washed again, and it will be clean."},{"verse":59,"text":"This is the law about mildew in cloth made of wool or linen. It covers woven or knitted cloth and anything made of leather. It tells how to say whether these things are clean or unclean.\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is the law for a person with a skin disease. It is for the day he is made clean, when he is brought to the priest."},{"verse":3,"text":"The priest must go outside the camp to look at him. The skin disease of the sick person may have healed."},{"verse":4,"text":"If so, the priest must order some things to be brought for the person who is being made clean. They are two live clean birds, some cedar wood, some scarlet yarn, and some hyssop."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the priest must order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot."},{"verse":6,"text":"He must take the live bird, the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn, and the hyssop. He must dip them into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water."},{"verse":7,"text":"He must sprinkle the person seven times. This is the person being made clean from the skin disease. Then the priest must say that he is clean. He must let the live bird go free in the open field."},{"verse":8,"text":"The person being made clean must wash his clothes and shave off all his hair. He must bathe in water. Then he will be clean for worship. After that he may come into the camp. But he must stay outside his tent for seven days."},{"verse":9,"text":"On the seventh day he must shave off all his hair. He must shave his head, his beard, his eyebrows, and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes and bathe in water. Then he will be clean."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the eighth day he must bring two male lambs and a female lamb a year old. None of them may have any flaw. He must also bring a grain offering of about 6 quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil. And he must bring about a third of a quart of olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah of flour and one log of oil."},{"verse":11,"text":"The priest who makes him clean must bring the person and these offerings before the LORD. He must do this at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the priest must take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering. He must offer it along with the olive oil. He must wave them before the LORD as a wave offering."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he must kill the lamb in the holy area. That is where the sin offering and the burnt offering are killed. The guilt offering belongs to the priest, just like the sin offering. It is most holy."},{"verse":14,"text":"The priest must take some of the blood from the guilt offering. He must put it on the bottom of the right ear of the person being made clean. He must also put it on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the priest must take some of the olive oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand."},{"verse":16,"text":"He must dip his right pointer finger into the oil in his left palm. Then he must sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"The priest must take some of the oil left in his palm. He must put it on the bottom of the right ear of the person being made clean. He must put it on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. He must put it on top of the blood of the guilt offering."},{"verse":18,"text":"The priest must put the rest of the oil in his palm on the head of the person being made clean. This makes atonement for him before the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the priest must offer the sin offering. He must make atonement for the person being made clean from his uncleanness. After that, the priest must kill the burnt offering."},{"verse":20,"text":"He must offer it on the altar along with the grain offering. This makes atonement for the person, and he will be clean."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the person may be poor and not have enough money for these offerings. Then he must bring one male lamb as a guilt offering. It will be waved to make atonement for him. He must also bring about 2 quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering. And he must bring about a third of a quart of olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah of flour and a log of oil."},{"verse":22,"text":"He must also bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford. One will be a sin offering, and the other will be a burnt offering."},{"verse":23,"text":"On the eighth day he must bring them to the priest to be made clean. He must bring them to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, before the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"The priest must take the lamb for the guilt offering and the olive oil. He must wave them before the LORD as a wave offering."},{"verse":25,"text":"The priest must kill the lamb for the guilt offering. Then he must take some of its blood. He must put it on the bottom of the right ear of the person being made clean. He must also put it on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the priest must pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand."},{"verse":27,"text":"With his right pointer finger, he must sprinkle some of the oil in his left palm seven times before the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"The priest must also put some of the oil in his palm on the person being made clean. He must put it on the bottom of his right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. These are the same places where he put the blood of the guilt offering."},{"verse":29,"text":"The priest must put the rest of the oil in his palm on the head of the person being made clean. This makes atonement for him before the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then he must offer the turtledoves or young pigeons, whichever the person can afford."},{"verse":31,"text":"One is a sin offering, and the other is a burnt offering. He must offer them with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the LORD for the person being made clean."},{"verse":32,"text":"This is the law for someone who has a skin disease and does not have enough money to pay for his cleansing.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":34,"text":"\"You will go into the land of Canaan. I am giving it to you to own. I may put mildew into a house in that land."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then the owner of the house must come and tell the priest, 'Something like mildew has shown up in my house.'"},{"verse":36,"text":"The priest must order that everything be taken out of the house before he goes in to look at the mildew. Then nothing in the house will become unclean. After this, the priest must go in to look at the house."},{"verse":37,"text":"He must look at the house closely. The mildew on the walls may be green or red hollow spots. They may seem to be deeper than the surface of the wall."},{"verse":38,"text":"If so, the priest must go out the door of the house. He must close the house up for seven days."},{"verse":39,"text":"On the seventh day the priest must come back and look at the house. The mildew may have spread on the walls."},{"verse":40,"text":"If so, he must order that the stones with mildew be pulled out. They must be thrown into an unclean place outside the city."},{"verse":41,"text":"He must have the inside walls of the house scraped all over. The plaster that is scraped off must be dumped in an unclean place outside the city."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then other stones must be gotten to take the place of the stones with mildew. More mortar must be gotten to plaster the house again."},{"verse":43,"text":"The stones may have been torn out, and the house scraped and plastered again. But the mildew may come back in the house."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then the priest must come and look at it. If the mildew has spread in the house, it is a mildew that ruins things. The house is unclean."},{"verse":45,"text":"It must be torn down, with its stones, its wood beams, and all its plaster. All of it must be taken outside the city to an unclean place."},{"verse":46,"text":"Anyone who goes into the house while it is closed up will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":47,"text":"Anyone who sleeps in the house or eats in it must wash his clothes."},{"verse":48,"text":"But the priest may come and look at it, and the mildew has not spread after the house was plastered again. Then he must say that the house is clean, because the mildew is gone."},{"verse":49,"text":"To make the house pure, he must take two birds, some cedar wood, some scarlet yarn, and some hyssop."},{"verse":50,"text":"He must kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay pot."},{"verse":51,"text":"Then he must take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn, and the live bird. He must dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed and in the fresh water. Then he must sprinkle the house seven times."},{"verse":52,"text":"He must make the house clean with the bird's blood and the fresh water. He must use the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet yarn."},{"verse":53,"text":"Last of all, he must let the live bird go free in the open fields outside the city. In this way he will make atonement for the house, and it will be clean."},{"verse":54,"text":"This is the law for any skin disease that spreads and for a scaly sore."},{"verse":55,"text":"It is the law for mildew in clothing or in a house."},{"verse":56,"text":"It is the law for a swelling, a rash, or a spot."},{"verse":57,"text":"It shows when something is clean or unclean. This is the law about skin diseases and mildew.\""}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites this: 'A man may have a fluid flowing from his body. That flow is unclean."},{"verse":3,"text":"His uncleanness comes from this flow. It does not matter if his body lets it flow out or holds it in. Either way, his flow makes him unclean."},{"verse":4,"text":"Any bed that the man with the flow lies on will be unclean. Anything he sits on will be unclean."},{"verse":5,"text":"Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":6,"text":"Someone may sit on something that the man with the flow sat on. He must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":7,"text":"Anyone who touches the body of the man with the flow must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":8,"text":"The man with the flow may spit on someone who is clean. That person must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":9,"text":"Any saddle that the man with the flow rides on will be unclean."},{"verse":10,"text":"Anyone who touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening. Anyone who carries those things must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":11,"text":"The man with the flow may touch someone without first rinsing his hands in water. Then the person he touched must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":12,"text":"Any clay pot that the man with the flow touches must be broken. Any wooden dish or tool must be rinsed with water."},{"verse":13,"text":"The man may become clean from his flow. Then he must count off seven days for his cleansing. He must wash his clothes and bathe in fresh water. Then he will be clean."},{"verse":14,"text":"On the eighth day he must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons. He must come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and give them to the priest."},{"verse":15,"text":"The priest must offer them. One is a sin offering, and the other is a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man before the LORD because of his flow."},{"verse":16,"text":"A man may have semen come out of his body. Then he must bathe his whole body in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":17,"text":"Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water. It will stay unclean until evening."},{"verse":18,"text":"A man may lie with a woman, and semen comes out. Then both of them must bathe in water. They will stay unclean until evening."},{"verse":19,"text":"A woman may have a flow of blood from her body during her monthly period. She will be unclean for seven days. Anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":20,"text":"Anything she lies on or sits on during her period will be unclean."},{"verse":21,"text":"Anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":22,"text":"Anyone who touches anything she sat on must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":23,"text":"It may be a bed, or it may be something she was sitting on. Anyone who touches it will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":24,"text":"If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days. Any bed he lies on will become unclean."},{"verse":25,"text":"A woman may have a flow of blood for many days when it is not her monthly period. Or it may keep going after her period ends. She will be unclean for all the days of her unclean flow. It is the same as during the days of her period."},{"verse":26,"text":"During the days of her flow, any bed she lies on will be unclean. Anything she sits on will be unclean. It is the same as her bed during her monthly period."},{"verse":27,"text":"Anyone who touches these things will be unclean. He must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":28,"text":"The woman may become clean from her flow. Then she must count off seven days. After that she will be clean for worship."},{"verse":29,"text":"On the eighth day she must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons. She must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":30,"text":"The priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her before the LORD because of her unclean flow."},{"verse":31,"text":"You must keep the people of Israel separate from what makes them unclean. Then they will not die for making my tabernacle impure. My tabernacle is among them."},{"verse":32,"text":"This is the law for a man who has a flow. It is the law for a man who becomes unclean because semen comes out of him."},{"verse":33,"text":"It is the law for a woman during her monthly period. It is the law for any man or woman who has a flow. It is the law for a man who lies with a woman who is unclean.'\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Two of Aaron's sons had died when they came near to the LORD. After this, the LORD spoke to Moses."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Tell your brother Aaron that he must not come into the Most Holy Place whenever he wants. It is behind the veil, in front of the mercy seat on the ark. If he does, he will die. For I show myself in the cloud above the mercy seat."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is how Aaron must come into the Holy Place. He must bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering."},{"verse":4,"text":"He must wear the holy linen tunic, with linen underclothes. He must tie a linen sash around himself and put on the linen turban. These are holy clothes. He must bathe in water before he puts them on."},{"verse":5,"text":"He must take two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. He must take them from the people of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"Aaron must offer the bull for his own sin offering. He must make atonement for himself and his family."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he must take the two goats. He must bring them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":8,"text":"Aaron must cast lots for the two goats. One lot is for the LORD, and the other is for the scapegoat."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he must bring the goat whose lot fell to the LORD. He must offer it as a sin offering."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat must be brought alive before the LORD. It will be used to make atonement. It will be sent out into the wilderness as the scapegoat."},{"verse":11,"text":"Aaron will offer the bull for his own sin offering. He will make atonement for himself and his family. He must kill the bull for his own sin offering."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then he must take a fire pan full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD. He must take two handfuls of sweet incense, ground fine. He must bring them inside the veil."},{"verse":13,"text":"He must put the incense on the fire before the LORD. Then the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony. Then he will not die."},{"verse":14,"text":"He must take some of the bull's blood. With his finger he must sprinkle it on the east side of the mercy seat. Then with his finger he must sprinkle some of it seven times in front of the mercy seat."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Aaron must kill the goat for the sin offering for the people. He must bring its blood behind the veil. He must do with its blood what he did with the bull's blood. He must sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of it."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is how he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place. He does this because the Israelites are unclean and have rebelled in all their sins. He must do the same for the Tent of Meeting. It stays among them, even though they are unclean."},{"verse":17,"text":"Aaron will go in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place. No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time he goes in until he comes out. He will have made atonement for himself, his family, and all the people of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then he must go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He must take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood. He must put it on all the horns of the altar."},{"verse":19,"text":"With his finger he must sprinkle some of the blood on the altar seven times. This will make it clean and holy again from the uncleanness of the Israelites."},{"verse":20,"text":"Aaron will finish making the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar pure. Then he must bring the live goat forward."},{"verse":21,"text":"He must lay both hands on the head of the live goat. Over it, he must confess all the sins and wrongs of the Israelites, all the ways they rebelled. He must put them on the goat's head. Then a man chosen for the job will lead the goat away into the wilderness."},{"verse":22,"text":"The goat will carry all their sins on itself into a place where no one lives. The man will let it go in the wilderness."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Aaron must go into the Tent of Meeting. He must take off the linen clothes he put on before he went into the Most Holy Place. He must leave them there."},{"verse":24,"text":"He must bathe in water in a holy place and put on his own clothes. Then he must go out and offer his burnt offering and the people's burnt offering. This will make atonement for himself and for the people."},{"verse":25,"text":"He must also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar."},{"verse":26,"text":"The man who let the scapegoat go must wash his clothes and bathe in water. After that he may come back into the camp."},{"verse":27,"text":"The bull and the goat for the sin offerings must be taken outside the camp. Their blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement. Their skins, their meat, and their dung must be burned up."},{"verse":28,"text":"The person who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe in water. After that he may come back into the camp."},{"verse":29,"text":"This is a law for you that will last forever. On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble yourselves. You must not do any work. This is for those born in Israel and for the foreigners who live among you."},{"verse":30,"text":"For on this day atonement will be made for you to make you clean. Then you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, so that you may humble yourselves. It is a law that will last forever."},{"verse":32,"text":"The priest who is anointed and appointed to take his father's place as high priest must make atonement. He will put on the holy linen clothes."},{"verse":33,"text":"He will make atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar. He will make atonement for the priests and for all the people who gather there."},{"verse":34,"text":"This is a law for you that will last forever. Once a year atonement must be made for the Israelites because of all their sins.\" And all this was done just as the LORD had commanded Moses."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites. Tell them this is what the LORD has commanded:"},{"verse":3,"text":"'Suppose someone from the people of Israel kills an ox, a lamb, or a goat in the camp or outside it,"},{"verse":4,"text":"and he does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to offer it to the LORD in front of his tabernacle. Then that man will be guilty of shedding blood. He has shed blood, and he must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the Israelites will bring to the LORD the sacrifices they have been offering out in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They must offer them to the LORD as peace offerings."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the priest will splash the blood on the LORD's altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He will burn the fat as a smell that pleases the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons. They have chased after them like a prostitute. This will be a law for them that lasts for all the generations to come.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Tell them that if someone from the people of Israel, or a foreigner living among them, offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice"},{"verse":9,"text":"but does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to offer it to the LORD, that man must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":10,"text":"If anyone from the people of Israel, or a foreigner living among them, eats any blood, I will turn my face against that person. I will cut him off from his people."},{"verse":11,"text":"For the life of a body is in the blood. I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls on the altar. For it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."},{"verse":12,"text":"That is why I say to the Israelites, 'None of you may eat blood. No foreigner living among you may eat blood either.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"An Israelite, or a foreigner living among them, may hunt a wild animal or a bird that may be eaten. He must drain out its blood and cover it with dirt."},{"verse":14,"text":"For the life of every creature is its blood. So I have told the Israelites, 'You must not eat the blood of any living thing. For the life of every creature is its blood. Anyone who eats it must be cut off.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"A person may eat an animal that was found dead or was torn apart by wild animals. Whether he was born in Israel or is a foreigner, he must wash his clothes and bathe in water. He will be unclean until evening. Then he will be clean."},{"verse":16,"text":"But he may fail to wash his clothes and bathe himself. Then he will carry the guilt for his sin.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":3,"text":"You used to live in the land of Egypt. You must not do the things they do there. I am bringing you into the land of Canaan. You must not do the things they do there. You must not live by their customs."},{"verse":4,"text":"You must obey my rulings. You must keep my laws and live by them. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Keep my laws and my rules, for the person who does them will live by them. I am the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"None of you may go near any close relative to have sex. I am the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"You must not shame your father by having sex with your mother. She is your mother. You must not have sex with her."},{"verse":8,"text":"You must not have sex with your father's wife. That would bring shame on your father."},{"verse":9,"text":"You must not have sex with your sister. This means your father's daughter or your mother's daughter. It does not matter if she was born in the same home or somewhere else."},{"verse":10,"text":"You must not have sex with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter. That would bring shame on your own family."},{"verse":11,"text":"You must not have sex with the daughter of your father's wife, born to your father. She is your sister."},{"verse":12,"text":"You must not have sex with your father's sister. She is your father's close relative."},{"verse":13,"text":"You must not have sex with your mother's sister. She is your mother's close relative."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must not shame your father's brother by going near his wife to have sex with her. She is your aunt."},{"verse":15,"text":"You must not have sex with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife. You must not have sex with her."},{"verse":16,"text":"You must not have sex with your brother's wife. That would bring shame on your brother."},{"verse":17,"text":"You must not have sex with both a woman and her daughter. You must not marry her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter and have sex with her. They are close relatives. It is wicked."},{"verse":18,"text":"You must not marry your wife's sister as a rival wife. You must not have sex with her while your wife is still alive."},{"verse":19,"text":"You must not go near a woman to have sex with her during her monthly period."},{"verse":20,"text":"You must not have sex with your neighbor's wife. That would make you impure with her."},{"verse":21,"text":"You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not dishonor the name of your God. I am the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"You must not have sex with a man as you would with a woman. That is a hateful sin."},{"verse":23,"text":"You must not have sex with any animal. That would make you impure. A woman must not stand before an animal to mate with it. That is a twisted, perverse act."},{"verse":24,"text":"Do not make yourselves impure by any of these things. For the nations I am driving out ahead of you made themselves impure by doing all these things."},{"verse":25,"text":"Even the land has become impure. So I am punishing it for its sin. The land will throw up the people who live there."},{"verse":26,"text":"But you must keep my laws and rules. You must not do any of these hateful things. This is true for those born in Israel and for foreigners who live among you."},{"verse":27,"text":"For the people who lived in the land before you did all these hateful things. And the land has become impure."},{"verse":28,"text":"So if you make the land impure, it will throw you up. It will do this just as it threw up the nations before you."},{"verse":29,"text":"So anyone who does any of these hateful things must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":30,"text":"You must do what I command you. You must not follow any of the hateful customs that were done before you came. Then you will not make yourselves impure by them. I am the LORD your God."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to all the people of Israel and tell them this: Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy."},{"verse":3,"text":"Each of you must respect his mother and father. You must keep my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not turn to idols. Do not make gods out of melted metal for yourselves. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":5,"text":"When you offer a peace offering to the LORD, offer it in the right way so that you will be accepted."},{"verse":6,"text":"It must be eaten on the day you offer it or on the next day. Anything left over on the third day must be burned up."},{"verse":7,"text":"If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is spoiled. It will not be accepted."},{"verse":8,"text":"Anyone who eats it will carry the guilt for his sin. For he has treated as common what is holy to the LORD. That person must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":9,"text":"When you gather the harvest of your land, do not harvest all the way to the edges of your field. Do not pick up the grain that is left behind."},{"verse":10,"text":"You must not strip your vineyard bare. Do not pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":11,"text":"You must not steal. You must not lie or trick one another."},{"verse":12,"text":"You must not make a false promise in my name. That would dishonor the name of your God. I am the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"You must not cheat your neighbor or rob him. You must not keep back a hired worker's pay overnight until morning."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must not curse a deaf person. You must not put something in front of a blind person to make him trip. Instead, you must fear your God. I am the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"You must not twist justice. You must not take the side of the poor just because they are poor. You must not favor the rich. You must judge your neighbor fairly."},{"verse":16,"text":"You must not go around spreading lies about others among your people. You must not put your neighbor's life in danger. I am the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"You must not hate your brother in your heart. Correct your neighbor openly. Then you will not share in his guilt."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do not try to get even with anyone among your people. Do not hold a grudge against them. But love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"You must keep my laws. You must not breed two different kinds of animals together. You must not plant your fields with two kinds of seed. You must not wear clothing made of two kinds of material."},{"verse":20,"text":"If a man has sex with a slave woman who is promised to another man, but she has not been bought back or set free, they must be punished. But they must not be put to death, because she had not been set free."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the man must bring a ram to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. It is his guilt offering to the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"The priest must make atonement for him before the LORD with the ram of the guilt offering. This is for the sin he has done. Then he will be forgiven for the sin he did."},{"verse":23,"text":"You will go into the land and plant all kinds of fruit trees. You must treat their fruit as forbidden. For three years it will be forbidden to you. It must not be eaten."},{"verse":24,"text":"In the fourth year all its fruit must be set apart as holy. It is a praise offering to the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will grow larger. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":26,"text":"You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not try to tell the future or use magic."},{"verse":27,"text":"You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head. You must not trim the edges of your beard."},{"verse":28,"text":"You must not cut your bodies for the dead. You must not put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."},{"verse":29,"text":"You must not dishonor your daughter by making her a prostitute. If you do, the land will turn to prostitution. It will be filled with wickedness."},{"verse":30,"text":"You must keep my Sabbaths. You must show deep respect for my sanctuary. I am the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"You must not turn to people who call up the dead or to people who talk with spirits. Do not go looking for them, or they will make you impure. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":32,"text":"Stand up when an older person comes near. Honor old people. Fear your God. I am the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"A foreigner may live with you in your land. You must not treat him badly."},{"verse":34,"text":"You must treat the foreigner living among you as if he were born in Israel. Love him as yourself. For you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":35,"text":"You must not cheat when you measure how long, how heavy, or how much something is."},{"verse":36,"text":"You must use honest scales and honest weights. You must use an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt.","note":"An ephah was a measure for dry goods; a hin was a measure for liquids."},{"verse":37,"text":"You must keep all my laws and all my rules and obey them. I am the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites this: 'Any Israelite, or any foreigner living in Israel, who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land must stone him."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will turn my face against that man. I will cut him off from his people, because he gave his child to Molech. By doing this, he made my sanctuary impure and dishonored my holy name."},{"verse":4,"text":"Suppose a man gives one of his children to Molech. If the people of the land ever close their eyes to it and do not put him to death,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I will turn my face against that man and his family. I will cut him off from his people. I will also cut off all who follow him and chase after Molech like a prostitute."},{"verse":6,"text":"If a person turns to people who call up the dead or to people who talk with spirits, and chases after them like a prostitute, I will turn my face against that person too. I will cut him off from his people."},{"verse":7,"text":"So set yourselves apart for me, and be holy. For I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":8,"text":"You must keep my laws and obey them. I am the LORD who makes you holy."},{"verse":9,"text":"Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother. His death is his own fault."},{"verse":10,"text":"If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, his neighbor's wife, both the man and the woman who committed adultery must be put to death."},{"verse":11,"text":"If a man has sex with his father's wife, he has shamed his father. Both of them must be put to death. Their death is their own fault."},{"verse":12,"text":"If a man has sex with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have done a twisted, perverse thing. Their death is their own fault."},{"verse":13,"text":"If a man has sex with a man as he would with a woman, both of them have done a hateful sin. They must be put to death. Their death is their own fault."},{"verse":14,"text":"If a man marries both a woman and her mother, that is wicked. He and both women must be burned in the fire. Then there will be no such wickedness among you."},{"verse":15,"text":"If a man has sex with an animal, he must be put to death. You must also kill the animal."},{"verse":16,"text":"If a woman goes near any animal to mate with it, you must kill both the woman and the animal. They must be put to death. Their death is their own fault."},{"verse":17,"text":"If a man marries his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother, and they have sex, that is a disgrace. They must be cut off in front of their people. He has shamed his sister. He will carry the guilt for his sin."},{"verse":18,"text":"If a man lies with a woman during her monthly period and has sex with her, he has uncovered the source of her flow. And she has uncovered the source of her blood. Both of them must be cut off from their people."},{"verse":19,"text":"You must not have sex with your mother's sister or your father's sister. That would shame your own close relative. Both of them will carry the guilt for their sin."},{"verse":20,"text":"If a man has sex with his uncle's wife, he has shamed his uncle. They will carry the guilt for their sin. They will die without children."},{"verse":21,"text":"If a man marries his brother's wife, that is an impure act. He has shamed his brother. They will have no children."},{"verse":22,"text":"So you must keep all my laws and rules. Then the land where I am bringing you to live will not throw you up."},{"verse":23,"text":"You must not follow the customs of the nations I am driving out ahead of you. They did all these things, so I hated them."},{"verse":24,"text":"But I have told you that you will take their land as your own. I will give it to you to own. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God. I have set you apart from the other peoples."},{"verse":25,"text":"So you must know the difference between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not make yourselves unclean by any animal or bird. Do not do it by anything that crawls on the ground. I have set these apart as unclean for you."},{"verse":26,"text":"You must be holy to me, because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."},{"verse":27,"text":"A man or a woman who calls up the dead or talks with spirits must be put to death. They must be stoned. Their death is their own fault.'\""}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron. Tell them this. A priest must not make himself unclean for a dead person among his people."},{"verse":2,"text":"He may do so only for his close family. That means his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother."},{"verse":3,"text":"He may also do so for his unmarried sister who is close to him, since she has no husband."},{"verse":4,"text":"He must not make himself unclean for those related to him by marriage. That would make him unholy."},{"verse":5,"text":"Priests must not shave bald spots on their heads. They must not shave off the edges of their beards. They must not cut their bodies."},{"verse":6,"text":"They must be holy to their God. They must not dishonor the name of their God. They offer to the LORD the food offerings, the food of their God. So they must be holy."},{"verse":7,"text":"A priest must not marry a woman made impure by prostitution. He must not marry a woman whose husband has divorced her. For the priest is holy to his God."},{"verse":8,"text":"You must treat him as holy, because he offers the food of your God. He must be holy to you. For I, the LORD, am holy. I am the one who sets you apart."},{"verse":9,"text":"If a priest's daughter makes herself impure by becoming a prostitute, she brings shame on her father. She must be burned in the fire."},{"verse":10,"text":"One priest is the highest among his brothers. The anointing oil has been poured on his head. He has been appointed to wear the priest's clothes. He must not let his hair hang loose or tear his clothes."},{"verse":11,"text":"He must not go near any dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even for his father or mother."},{"verse":12,"text":"He must not leave the sanctuary of his God or make it unholy. For the anointing oil of his God has set him apart. I am the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"The woman he marries must be a virgin."},{"verse":14,"text":"He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman made impure by prostitution. He must marry a virgin from his own people."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then he will not make his children impure among his people. For I am the LORD who makes him holy.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Tell Aaron this: 'For all the generations to come, none of your descendants who has something wrong with his body may come near to offer the food of his God."},{"verse":18,"text":"No man who has any flaw may come near. No man who is blind or lame may come. No man whose face is scarred or whose body is twisted may come."},{"verse":19,"text":"No man who has a broken foot or a broken hand may come."},{"verse":20,"text":"No man who has a hunched back or who is a dwarf may come. No man with a bad eye, a running rash, scabs, or a crushed testicle may come."},{"verse":21,"text":"No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a flaw may come near to offer the food offerings to the LORD. He has a flaw. So he must not come near to offer the food of his God."},{"verse":22,"text":"He may eat the most holy food of his God. He may also eat the holy food."},{"verse":23,"text":"But he has a flaw. So he must not go near the veil or come close to the altar. Then he will not make my holy places unholy. For I am the LORD who makes them holy.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the holy offerings that the Israelites set apart for me. Then they will not dishonor my holy name. I am the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell them this. For all the generations to come, suppose any of their descendants comes near the holy offerings while he is unclean. These are the offerings the Israelites set apart for the LORD. That person must be cut off from my presence. I am the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a flow from his body, he may not eat the holy offerings until he is clean. Suppose he touches anything made unclean by a dead body or by a man who has had semen come out of him,"},{"verse":5,"text":"or he touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be."},{"verse":6,"text":"The man who touches any of these will stay unclean until evening. He must not eat any of the holy offerings unless he has bathed in water."},{"verse":7,"text":"When the sun goes down, he will become clean. Then he may eat the holy offerings, because they are his food."},{"verse":8,"text":"He must not eat anything found dead or torn apart by wild animals. That would make him unclean. I am the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"The priests must do what I command. If they do not, they will be guilty and die because they treated it as common. I am the LORD who makes them holy."},{"verse":10,"text":"No one outside a priest's family may eat the holy offering. A guest of a priest may not eat it. His hired worker may not eat it."},{"verse":11,"text":"But a priest may buy a slave with his own money. Or a slave may be born in his house. That slave may eat his food."},{"verse":12,"text":"A priest's daughter may marry a man who is not a priest. Then she must not eat any of the holy gifts."},{"verse":13,"text":"But a priest's daughter may become a widow or be divorced. She may have no children and go back to live in her father's house. Then she may eat her father's food, as she did when she was young. But no outsider may eat it."},{"verse":14,"text":"Someone may eat a holy offering by mistake. He must add one-fifth to its value. He must give the holy offering to the priest."},{"verse":15,"text":"The priests must not treat as common the holy offerings that the Israelites give to the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"They must not let the people eat the holy offerings. That would bring guilt and punishment on the people. For I am the LORD who makes them holy.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites. Tell them this: 'A man of Israel, or a foreigner living there, may bring a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD. It may be to keep a promise. Or it may be an offering he chooses to give freely."},{"verse":19,"text":"He must offer a male from the cattle, sheep, or goats that has no flaw. Then it will be accepted for you."},{"verse":20,"text":"You must not offer anything with a flaw, because it will not be accepted for you."},{"verse":21,"text":"A man may bring a peace offering to the LORD from his herd or flock. It may be to keep a promise. Or it may be an offering he chooses to give freely. It must have no flaw or defect at all to be accepted."},{"verse":22,"text":"You must not offer to the LORD any animal that is blind, hurt, or crippled. You must not offer one that has a running sore, an oozing rash, or a scab. You must not put any of these on the altar as a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"An ox or a sheep may have a leg that is too long or too short. You may offer it as a freewill offering. But it will not be accepted to keep a promise."},{"verse":24,"text":"You must not offer to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut off. You must not sacrifice them in your land."},{"verse":25,"text":"You must not offer animals like these as food for your God. A foreigner must not offer them either. They will not be accepted for you, because they have flaws and something wrong with them.'\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":27,"text":"\"When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must stay with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be accepted as a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"But you must not kill an ox or a sheep on the same day as its young."},{"verse":29,"text":"When you offer a thank offering to the LORD, offer it in the right way so that it will be accepted for you."},{"verse":30,"text":"It must be eaten that same day. Do not leave any of it until morning. I am the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"You must keep my commands and obey them. I am the LORD."},{"verse":32,"text":"You must not dishonor my holy name. The Israelites must treat me as holy. I am the LORD who makes you holy."},{"verse":33,"text":"I brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: 'These are my appointed feasts. They are the feasts of the LORD. You must announce them as holy gatherings."},{"verse":3,"text":"You may work for six days. But the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest. It is a day for a holy gathering. You must not do any work. Wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"These are the LORD's appointed feasts. They are the holy gatherings you must announce at their set times."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD's Passover begins at sundown on the fourteenth day of the first month."},{"verse":6,"text":"On the fifteenth day of that month, the LORD's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins. For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast."},{"verse":7,"text":"On the first day you must hold a holy gathering. You must not do your regular work."},{"verse":8,"text":"For seven days you must bring a food offering to the LORD. On the seventh day there will be a holy gathering. You must not do your regular work.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: 'You will go into the land I am giving you. You will gather its harvest. Then you must bring the priest a bundle of grain. It is the firstfruits of your harvest."},{"verse":11,"text":"He must wave the bundle before the LORD so that it will be accepted for you. The priest must wave it on the day after the Sabbath."},{"verse":12,"text":"On the day you wave the bundle, you must offer a lamb a year old with no flaw. It is a burnt offering to the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"With it, you must bring its grain offering. It is about 4 quarts of fine flour mixed with oil. It is a food offering to the LORD, a smell that pleases him. You must also bring its drink offering of about 1 quart of wine.","note":"Hebrew: two-tenths of an ephah of flour and a quarter of a hin of wine."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must not eat any bread, roasted grain, or new grain until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is a law that will last forever for all the generations to come, wherever you live."},{"verse":15,"text":"You must count off seven full weeks. Start from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the bundle of grain for the wave offering."},{"verse":16,"text":"Count off fifty days, until the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then bring an offering of new grain to the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"Bring two loaves of bread from your homes as a wave offering. Make each one from about 4 quarts of fine flour. Bake them with yeast. They are the firstfruits to the LORD.","note":"Hebrew: two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":18,"text":"With the bread, you must offer seven male lambs a year old with no flaw. You must also offer one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD. Bring them with their grain offerings and drink offerings. It is a food offering, a smell that pleases the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"You must also offer one male goat as a sin offering. And offer two male lambs a year old as a peace offering."},{"verse":20,"text":"The priest must wave the lambs before the LORD as a wave offering. He must wave them with the bread of the firstfruits. The bread and the two lambs will be holy to the LORD. They are for the priest."},{"verse":21,"text":"On that same day you must announce a holy gathering. You must not do your regular work. This is a law that will last forever for the generations to come, wherever you live."},{"verse":22,"text":"When you gather the harvest of your land, do not harvest all the way to the edges of your field. Do not pick up the grain that is left behind. Leave it for the poor and for the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD also said to Moses,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: 'On the first day of the seventh month, you must have a day of rest. It is a holy gathering, announced by the blowing of trumpets."},{"verse":25,"text":"You must not do your regular work. But you must bring a food offering to the LORD.'\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Again the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":27,"text":"\"The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You must hold a holy gathering and humble yourselves. You must bring a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"Do not do any work on this day. For it is the Day of Atonement. On this day atonement is made for you before the LORD your God."},{"verse":29,"text":"Anyone who does not humble himself on this day must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":30,"text":"Anyone who does any work on this day, I will destroy from among his people."},{"verse":31,"text":"You must not do any work at all. This is a law that will last forever for the generations to come, wherever you live."},{"verse":32,"text":"It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you. You must humble yourselves. Keep your Sabbath from the evening of the ninth day of the month until the next evening.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this: 'The LORD's Feast of Tabernacles begins on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. It lasts for seven days."},{"verse":35,"text":"On the first day there will be a holy gathering. You must not do your regular work."},{"verse":36,"text":"For seven days you must bring a food offering to the LORD. On the eighth day you must hold a holy gathering and bring a food offering to the LORD. It is a special gathering. You must not do your regular work."},{"verse":37,"text":"These are the LORD's appointed feasts. You must announce them as holy gatherings. At these times you bring food offerings to the LORD. You bring burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings. Each one is brought on its own set day."},{"verse":38,"text":"These offerings are added to the offerings for the LORD's Sabbaths. They are also added to your gifts, to all the offerings you promised, and to all the offerings you freely give to the LORD."},{"verse":39,"text":"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you will have gathered the crops of the land. Then you must hold a feast to the LORD for seven days. The first day will be a day of complete rest. The eighth day will also be a day of complete rest."},{"verse":40,"text":"On the first day you must gather fruit from fine trees. Gather branches of palm trees, and branches of leafy trees and of willows by the stream. Then celebrate with joy before the LORD your God for seven days."},{"verse":41,"text":"You must celebrate this as a feast to the LORD for seven days each year. This is a law that will last forever for the generations to come. You must celebrate it in the seventh month."},{"verse":42,"text":"You must live in shelters for seven days. Everyone born in Israel must live in shelters."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then your descendants will know that I made the Israelites live in shelters. I did this when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'\""},{"verse":44,"text":"So Moses told the Israelites about the appointed feasts of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil from crushed olives for the light. It will keep the lamps burning all the time."},{"verse":3,"text":"Aaron must take care of the lamps in the Tent of Meeting. They are outside the curtain in front of the Testimony. He must keep them burning before the LORD all the time, from evening until morning. This is a law that will last for all your future generations."},{"verse":4,"text":"He must always take care of the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also take fine flour and bake twelve loaves of bread. Use about 4 quarts of flour for each loaf.","note":"Hebrew: two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":6,"text":"Set them in two rows, with six in each row. Put them on the table of pure gold before the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"Put pure frankincense beside each row. It will be a memorial portion for the bread. It is a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"Every Sabbath day the bread must be set out before the LORD. This is done for the Israelites as a covenant that lasts forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"The bread belongs to Aaron and his sons. They must eat it in a holy place. It is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD. It is his share forever.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Now there was a man whose mother was an Israelite and whose father was an Egyptian. He went out among the Israelites. A fight started in the camp between him and an Israelite man."},{"verse":11,"text":"The son of the Israelite woman spoke against the Name with a curse. So people brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith. She was the daughter of Dibri, from the tribe of Dan.)","note":"Or \"blasphemed the Name.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"They kept him under guard until the LORD made it clear what they should do."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,"},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Take the man who spoke against me outside the camp. Have everyone who heard him put their hands on his head. Then have the whole community stone him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Tell the Israelites, 'If anyone curses his God, he must suffer the result of his sin."},{"verse":16,"text":"Anyone who speaks against the name of the LORD must be put to death. The whole community must stone him. It does not matter if he is a foreigner or born an Israelite. If he speaks against the Name, he must be put to death."},{"verse":17,"text":"If a man takes the life of another person, he must be put to death."},{"verse":18,"text":"Anyone who kills an animal must pay it back. It is a life for a life."},{"verse":19,"text":"If anyone hurts his neighbor, the same thing he did must be done to him."},{"verse":20,"text":"It is a broken bone for a broken bone, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. The same injury he gave the other person must be given to him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Anyone who kills an animal must pay it back. But anyone who kills a person must be put to death."},{"verse":22,"text":"You must have the same law for the foreigner and for the one born an Israelite. For I am the LORD your God.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Moses spoke to the Israelites. They took the man who spoke against God outside the camp and stoned him. The Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this. When you enter the land I am giving you, the land itself must keep a Sabbath to the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"For six years you may plant your fields. You may trim your vineyards and gather their crops."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the seventh year must be a Sabbath of full rest for the land. It is a Sabbath to the LORD. Do not plant your fields or trim your vineyards that year."},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not harvest what grows up by itself from the last harvest. Do not pick the grapes from your vines that you did not tend. The land must have a year of full rest."},{"verse":6,"text":"But whatever the land grows during the Sabbath year will be food for you. It is for you and your male and female servants. It is also for the hired worker and the foreigner who lives with you."},{"verse":7,"text":"It is for your livestock and the wild animals in your land too. Everything the land grows may be eaten."},{"verse":8,"text":"Count off seven sets of Sabbath years. That is seven times seven years. These seven sets of years add up to forty-nine years."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then blow the ram's horn everywhere. Do it on the tenth day of the seventh month. That is the Day of Atonement. Blow the horn all through your land."},{"verse":10,"text":"Set apart the fiftieth year as holy. Announce freedom in the land for everyone who lives there. It will be your Jubilee. In that year each of you will go back to your own land and to your own clan."},{"verse":11,"text":"The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you. Do not plant the land that year. Do not harvest what grows up by itself. Do not pick grapes from the vines you did not tend."},{"verse":12,"text":"For it is a Jubilee. It must be holy to you. You may eat only what grows in the field by itself."},{"verse":13,"text":"In this Year of Jubilee, each of you must go back to your own land."},{"verse":14,"text":"When you sell something to your neighbor or buy something from him, do not cheat each other."},{"verse":15,"text":"When you buy from your neighbor, count the years since the last Jubilee. He must sell to you based on how many harvest years are left."},{"verse":16,"text":"If many years are left, raise the price. If only a few years are left, lower the price. For what he is really selling you is a certain number of harvests."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not cheat each other. Instead, fear your God. For I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":18,"text":"Keep my laws and be careful to obey my rules. Then you will live safely in the land."},{"verse":19,"text":"The land will give its fruit. You will eat all you want and live safely there."},{"verse":20,"text":"You may ask, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or gather our crops?'"},{"verse":21,"text":"But I will send my blessing on you in the sixth year. The land will grow enough crops for three years."},{"verse":22,"text":"In the eighth year you will plant. But you will still be eating from the old harvest. You will eat it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in."},{"verse":23,"text":"The land must never be sold forever. That is because the land is mine. You are only foreigners and guests living with me."},{"verse":24,"text":"So for every piece of land you own, you must allow the land to be bought back."},{"verse":25,"text":"Suppose your brother becomes poor and sells some of his land. Then his closest relative may come and buy back what his brother sold."},{"verse":26,"text":"Or suppose a man has no one to buy it back for him. But later he does well and gets enough money to buy back his land himself."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then he must count the years since he sold it. He must pay back what is left to the man who bought it. Then he can go back to his land."},{"verse":28,"text":"But if he cannot get enough to pay him back, what he sold will stay with the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. Then in the Jubilee it must be given back. So the man may go back to his land."},{"verse":29,"text":"If a man sells a house in a city with walls, he has the right to buy it back for one full year after he sells it. During that year he may buy it back."},{"verse":30,"text":"If he does not buy it back by the end of a full year, the house in the walled city belongs to the buyer forever. It will belong to his children after him. It is not to be given back in the Jubilee."},{"verse":31,"text":"But houses in villages without walls around them are to be treated like open fields. They may be bought back. And they must be given back in the Jubilee."},{"verse":32,"text":"Now about the cities of the Levites. The Levites always have the right to buy back their houses in the cities they own."},{"verse":33,"text":"So what belongs to the Levites may be bought back. If a house in one of their cities is sold, it must be given back in the Jubilee. That is because the houses in the Levites' cities are what they own among the Israelites."},{"verse":34,"text":"But the open pastures around their cities must not be sold. They belong to the Levites forever."},{"verse":35,"text":"Suppose someone from your own people becomes very poor. He cannot take care of himself among you. Then you must help him as you would help a foreigner or a guest. That way he can keep living among you."},{"verse":36,"text":"Do not charge him interest or make a profit from him. Instead, fear your God. Then your fellow Israelite can keep living among you."},{"verse":37,"text":"Do not lend him your silver and charge interest. Do not sell him food to make a profit."},{"verse":38,"text":"I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt. I did it to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God."},{"verse":39,"text":"Suppose someone from your own people becomes very poor and sells himself to you. Then you must not make him work like a slave."},{"verse":40,"text":"Let him stay with you like a hired worker or a guest. He will work for you until the Year of Jubilee."},{"verse":41,"text":"Then he and his children must be set free. He may go back to his clan and to the land of his fathers."},{"verse":42,"text":"The Israelites are my servants. I brought them out of the land of Egypt. So they must not be sold as slaves."},{"verse":43,"text":"Do not rule over them in a harsh way. Instead, fear your God."},{"verse":44,"text":"Your male and female servants may come from the nations around you. You may buy them from those nations."},{"verse":45,"text":"You may also buy them from the foreigners living among you. You may buy them from their clans who live among you and were born in your land. They may become your property."},{"verse":46,"text":"You may leave them to your sons after you as property to own. You may make them slaves for life. But your brothers, the Israelites, are different. No man may rule over his brother in a harsh way."},{"verse":47,"text":"Suppose a foreigner living among you becomes rich. But someone from your own people living near him becomes very poor. He sells himself to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner's clan."},{"verse":48,"text":"After he has sold himself, he still has the right to be bought back. One of his brothers may buy him back."},{"verse":49,"text":"Or his uncle or cousin may buy him back. Any close relative from his clan may do it. Or if he becomes rich, he may buy himself back."},{"verse":50,"text":"He and the man who bought him will count the time. They will count from the year he sold himself up to the Year of Jubilee. The price to set him free will be based on the number of years. It will be figured by the daily pay of a hired worker."},{"verse":51,"text":"If many years are left, he must pay back more of the price he was sold for."},{"verse":52,"text":"If only a few years are left until the Year of Jubilee, he must figure the price by the years that are left. Then he pays that amount to be set free."},{"verse":53,"text":"He must be treated like a worker hired from year to year. You must not let a foreign owner rule over him in a harsh way while you watch."},{"verse":54,"text":"Even if he is not bought back in any of these ways, he and his children must be set free in the Year of Jubilee."},{"verse":55,"text":"For the Israelites are my servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.\""}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Do not make idols for yourselves. Do not set up a carved statue or a sacred stone pillar. Do not put a carved stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":2,"text":"Keep my Sabbaths and show respect for my holy place. I am the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"If you follow my laws and are careful to keep my commands,"},{"verse":4,"text":"I will send you rain at the right time. The land will grow its crops. The trees in the fields will give their fruit."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your grain harvest will last until it is time to pick grapes. Your grape harvest will last until it is time to plant. You will have all the food you want. You will live safely in your land."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will give peace to the land. You will lie down and have nothing to fear. I will remove dangerous animals from the land. No sword will pass through your land."},{"verse":7,"text":"You will chase your enemies. They will fall by the sword in front of you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Five of you will chase a hundred. A hundred of you will chase ten thousand. Your enemies will fall by the sword in front of you."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will turn toward you. I will make you have many children and grow in number. And I will make my covenant stand with you."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will still be eating last year's grain when you have to clear it out. You will need room for the new grain."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will make my home among you. I will not turn away from you in disgust."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will walk among you and be your God. And you will be my people."},{"verse":13,"text":"I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians. I broke the bars of the yoke on your necks. I let you walk with your heads held high."},{"verse":14,"text":"But suppose you do not obey me. Suppose you do not carry out all these commands."},{"verse":15,"text":"Suppose you reject my laws and hate my rules. You fail to carry out all my commands, and so you break my covenant."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then this is what I will do to you. I will bring sudden terror on you. I will send a disease that wastes you away. I will send a fever that ruins your eyes and drains your life. You will plant your seed for nothing, because your enemies will eat the crops."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will turn against you, and your enemies will defeat you. Those who hate you will rule over you. You will run away even when no one is chasing you."},{"verse":18,"text":"If you still will not obey me after all this, I will punish you seven times more for your sins."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will break your stubborn pride. I will make the sky above you hard like iron. I will make the ground below you hard like bronze."},{"verse":20,"text":"Your strength will be used up for nothing. For your land will not grow its crops, and the trees of the land will not give their fruit."},{"verse":21,"text":"If you keep walking against me and refuse to obey me, I will add to your plagues seven times more. It will be what your sins deserve."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will send wild animals against you. They will take away your children and destroy your livestock. They will make your numbers few. Your roads will be empty."},{"verse":23,"text":"Suppose that even after these things you do not accept my correction. Suppose you keep walking against me."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then I will walk against you too. I will strike you seven times more for your sins."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will bring a sword against you to punish you for breaking the covenant. You will hide inside your cities. But I will send a plague among you. And you will be handed over to your enemy."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will cut off your supply of bread. Then ten women will bake your bread in just one oven. They will hand out your bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be full."},{"verse":27,"text":"Suppose that even after all this you do not obey me. Suppose you keep walking against me."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then I will walk against you in great anger. I myself will punish you seven times more for your sins."},{"verse":29,"text":"You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters."},{"verse":30,"text":"I will destroy your high places. I will cut down your incense altars. I will pile your dead bodies on the lifeless remains of your idols. And I will turn away from you in disgust."},{"verse":31,"text":"I will turn your cities into piles of broken stone. I will ruin your holy places. I will refuse to enjoy the pleasing smell of your sacrifices."},{"verse":32,"text":"I will ruin the land. Your enemies who come to live there will be shocked."},{"verse":33,"text":"I will scatter you among the nations. I will pull out a sword and chase after you. Your land will be empty, and your cities will be in ruins."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths. It will rest all the days it lies empty while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths."},{"verse":35,"text":"As long as it lies empty, the land will have rest. It will get the rest it did not get during the Sabbaths when you lived there."},{"verse":36,"text":"As for those of you who are left alive, I will make their hearts weak with fear in the lands of their enemies. Even the sound of a leaf blowing in the wind will make them run. They will run as if running from a sword. They will fall down even when no one is chasing them."},{"verse":37,"text":"They will trip over each other as if running from a sword, even though no one is behind them. So you will not be able to stand up against your enemies."},{"verse":38,"text":"You will perish among the nations. The land of your enemies will swallow you up."},{"verse":39,"text":"Those of you who are left in the lands of your enemies will waste away because of their sin. They will rot away because of the sins of their fathers too."},{"verse":40,"text":"But suppose they confess their sin and the sin of their fathers. Suppose they confess how unfaithful they were to me and how they walked against me."},{"verse":41,"text":"They confess that I walked against them and brought them into the land of their enemies. If their stubborn hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin,","note":"Hebrew: uncircumcised hearts."},{"verse":42,"text":"then I will remember my covenant with Jacob. I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham. And I will remember the land."},{"verse":43,"text":"For they will leave the land empty. It will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies empty without them. And they will pay the price for their sin. That is because they rejected my rules and hated my laws."},{"verse":44,"text":"Yet even so, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them. I will not hate them so much that I destroy them all. I will not break my covenant with them. For I am the LORD their God."},{"verse":45,"text":"For their sake I will remember the covenant with their fathers. I brought them out of the land of Egypt while the nations watched. I did it so that I could be their God. I am the LORD.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"These are the laws, rules, and teachings the LORD made between himself and the Israelites. He gave them through Moses on Mount Sinai."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this. 'Someone may make a special promise to give the LORD the value of a person."},{"verse":3,"text":"If the person is a man from twenty to sixty years old, his value is fifty shekels of silver. Use the shekel weight of the holy place.","note":"A shekel was about 2/5 of an ounce (11.5 grams)."},{"verse":4,"text":"If the person is a woman, her value is thirty shekels."},{"verse":5,"text":"If the person is from five to twenty years old, the value of a male is twenty shekels. The value of a female is ten shekels."},{"verse":6,"text":"If the person is from one month to five years old, the value of a boy is five shekels of silver. The value of a girl is three shekels of silver."},{"verse":7,"text":"If the person is sixty years old or older, the value of a man is fifteen shekels. The value of a woman is ten shekels."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the one who made the promise may be too poor to pay that value. Then he must bring the person to the priest. The priest will set the value based on what the one who made the promise can pay."},{"verse":9,"text":"He may promise an animal that can be brought as an offering to the LORD. Then any animal like that given to the LORD will be holy."},{"verse":10,"text":"He must not replace it or trade it. He must not trade a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one. If he does trade one animal for another, then both animals will be holy."},{"verse":11,"text":"But he may promise an unclean animal, one that cannot be brought as an offering to the LORD. Then the animal must be brought to the priest."},{"verse":12,"text":"The priest will set its value, high or low. The price will be whatever the priest says."},{"verse":13,"text":"But if the owner wants to buy the animal back, he must add one-fifth to its value."},{"verse":14,"text":"A man may set apart his house as holy to the LORD. Then the priest will decide its value, whether good or bad. The price will be whatever the priest says."},{"verse":15,"text":"If the man who set apart his house wants to buy it back, he must add one-fifth to its value. Then it will be his again."},{"verse":16,"text":"A man may set apart part of his family land to the LORD. Then its value will be based on how much seed it takes to plant it. It is fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.","note":"A homer was about 6 bushels."},{"verse":17,"text":"If he sets apart his field during the Year of Jubilee, the price will stay at the full value."},{"verse":18,"text":"But he may set apart his field after the Jubilee. Then the priest must figure the price by the years left until the next Year of Jubilee. So the value will be lowered."},{"verse":19,"text":"If the one who set apart the field wants to buy it back, he must add one-fifth to its value. Then it will be his again."},{"verse":20,"text":"But suppose he does not buy back the field, or he has sold it to another man. Then it can never be bought back."},{"verse":21,"text":"When the field is set free in the Jubilee, it will be holy. It will be like a field given fully to the LORD. It will belong to the priests."},{"verse":22,"text":"A man may set apart to the LORD a field he bought, a field that is not part of his family land."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the priest will figure its value up to the Year of Jubilee. The man must pay that price on that same day. It is a holy gift to the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"In the Year of Jubilee the field will go back to the person it was bought from. That is the first owner of the land."},{"verse":25,"text":"Every value must be set by the shekel weight of the holy place. There are twenty gerahs in a shekel."},{"verse":26,"text":"But no one may set apart the firstborn of the livestock. The firstborn already belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD's."},{"verse":27,"text":"If it is an unclean animal, he may buy it back at its set value. He must add one-fifth to its value. If it is not bought back, it must be sold at its set value."},{"verse":28,"text":"A man may set something apart for the LORD from all he owns. It may be a person, an animal, or his family land. It can never be sold or bought back. Everything given like this is most holy to the LORD."},{"verse":29,"text":"No person set apart for destruction may be paid for and set free. He must be put to death."},{"verse":30,"text":"A tenth of everything from the land belongs to the LORD. This includes grain from the fields and fruit from the trees. It is holy to the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"If a man wants to buy back part of his tenth, he must add one-fifth to its value."},{"verse":32,"text":"The animals of the herd or flock pass under the shepherd's rod. Every tenth animal will be holy to the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"The owner must not check whether it is good or bad. He must not trade it for another. But if he does trade it, both animals will be holy. They cannot be bought back.'\""},{"verse":34,"text":"These are the commands the LORD gave Moses for the Israelites on Mount Sinai."}]}]},{"name":"Numbers","slug":"numbers","usfm":"NUM","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt. On the first day of the second month of the second year after that, the LORD spoke to Moses. He spoke in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Count all the people of Israel by their clans and families. List every man by name, one by one."},{"verse":3,"text":"You and Aaron must count all those who are twenty years old or older. Count them by their army groups. Count every man who can serve in Israel's army."},{"verse":4,"text":"One man from each tribe must be there with you. Each one must be the head of his family."},{"verse":5,"text":"These are the names of the men who will help you. From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur."},{"verse":6,"text":"From Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai."},{"verse":7,"text":"From Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab."},{"verse":8,"text":"From Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar."},{"verse":9,"text":"From Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon."},{"verse":10,"text":"From the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud. From Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur."},{"verse":11,"text":"From Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni."},{"verse":12,"text":"From Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai."},{"verse":13,"text":"From Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran."},{"verse":14,"text":"From Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel."},{"verse":15,"text":"And from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"These men were chosen from the community. They were the leaders of their fathers' tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the first day of the second month, they called the whole community together. The people listed their family lines by clans and families. They counted the names one by one of all who were twenty years old or older."},{"verse":19,"text":"They did this just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So Moses counted them in the Wilderness of Sinai."},{"verse":20,"text":"First were the sons of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. Every man twenty years old or older who could serve in the army was counted one by one by name."},{"verse":21,"text":"The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500."},{"verse":22,"text":"Next were the sons of Simeon. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. Every man twenty years old or older who could serve in the army was counted one by one by name."},{"verse":23,"text":"The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300."},{"verse":24,"text":"Next were the sons of Gad. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":25,"text":"The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650."},{"verse":26,"text":"Next were the sons of Judah. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":27,"text":"The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600."},{"verse":28,"text":"Next were the sons of Issachar. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":29,"text":"The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400."},{"verse":30,"text":"Next were the sons of Zebulun. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":31,"text":"The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400."},{"verse":32,"text":"Next were the sons of Joseph. First came the sons of Ephraim. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":33,"text":"The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then came the sons of Manasseh. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":35,"text":"The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200."},{"verse":36,"text":"Next were the sons of Benjamin. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":37,"text":"The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400."},{"verse":38,"text":"Next were the sons of Dan. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":39,"text":"The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700."},{"verse":40,"text":"Next were the sons of Asher. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":41,"text":"The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500."},{"verse":42,"text":"Last were the sons of Naphtali. They were listed by the records of their clans and families. All the men twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were counted by name."},{"verse":43,"text":"The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400."},{"verse":44,"text":"These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron. The twelve leaders of Israel helped them. Each leader stood for his own family."},{"verse":45,"text":"So all the Israelites twenty years old or older who could serve in Israel's army were counted by their families."},{"verse":46,"text":"The total number of men counted was 603,550."},{"verse":47,"text":"But the Levites were not counted with them by their fathers' tribe."},{"verse":48,"text":"For the LORD had said to Moses,"},{"verse":49,"text":"\"Do not count the tribe of Levi with the other Israelites."},{"verse":50,"text":"Instead, put the Levites in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony. Put them in charge of all its things and everything in it. They must carry the tabernacle and all its things. They must take care of it and camp around it."},{"verse":51,"text":"When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites must take it down. When it is to be set up, the Levites must put it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death."},{"verse":52,"text":"The Israelites must camp by their army groups. Each man must be in his own camp under his own flag."},{"verse":53,"text":"But the Levites must camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and guard it. Then God's anger will not fall on the people of Israel. So the Levites are in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.\""},{"verse":54,"text":"So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"The Israelites must camp around the Tent of Meeting, a short distance away from it. Each man must camp under his flag with the banners of his family."},{"verse":3,"text":"On the east side, toward the sunrise, the army groups of Judah will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab."},{"verse":4,"text":"His army group numbers 74,600."},{"verse":5,"text":"The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar."},{"verse":6,"text":"His army group numbers 54,400."},{"verse":7,"text":"Next will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon."},{"verse":8,"text":"His army group numbers 57,400."},{"verse":9,"text":"The total number of men in the camp of Judah is 186,400. They will move out first."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the south side, the army groups of Reuben will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur."},{"verse":11,"text":"His army group numbers 46,500."},{"verse":12,"text":"The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai."},{"verse":13,"text":"His army group numbers 59,300."},{"verse":14,"text":"Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel."},{"verse":15,"text":"His army group numbers 45,650."},{"verse":16,"text":"The total number of men in the camp of Reuben is 151,450. They will move out second."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Tent of Meeting will travel with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps. The tribes will move out in the same order as they camp. Each one will be in its own place under its flag."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the west side, the army groups of Ephraim will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud."},{"verse":19,"text":"His army group numbers 40,500."},{"verse":20,"text":"The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur."},{"verse":21,"text":"His army group numbers 32,200."},{"verse":22,"text":"Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni."},{"verse":23,"text":"His army group numbers 35,400."},{"verse":24,"text":"The total number of men in the camp of Ephraim is 108,100. They will move out third."},{"verse":25,"text":"On the north side, the army groups of Dan will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai."},{"verse":26,"text":"His army group numbers 62,700."},{"verse":27,"text":"The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran."},{"verse":28,"text":"His army group numbers 41,500."},{"verse":29,"text":"Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan."},{"verse":30,"text":"His army group numbers 53,400."},{"verse":31,"text":"The total number of men in the camp of Dan is 157,600. They will move out last, under their flags.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"These are the Israelites, counted by their families. The total number counted in the camps by their army groups was 603,550."},{"verse":33,"text":"But the Levites were not counted with the other Israelites. This was just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":34,"text":"So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses. They camped under their flags in this way. And they moved out in the same way. Each man went with his clan and his family."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the family record of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai."},{"verse":2,"text":"These are the names of Aaron's sons. Nadab was the firstborn. Then came Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."},{"verse":3,"text":"These were Aaron's sons. They were the priests who were anointed. They were set apart to serve as priests."},{"verse":4,"text":"But Nadab and Abihu died in front of the LORD. It happened when they offered fire that was not allowed before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. They had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests while their father Aaron was alive."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Bring the tribe of Levi and give them to Aaron the priest. They will help him."},{"verse":7,"text":"They must do work for him and for the whole community in front of the Tent of Meeting. They will do the work of the tabernacle."},{"verse":8,"text":"They must take care of all the things in the Tent of Meeting. They will do the work for the Israelites by serving at the tabernacle."},{"verse":9,"text":"Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. Out of all the Israelites, they are the ones given fully to him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Appoint Aaron and his sons to do the work of priests. But any outsider who comes near the tabernacle must be put to death.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses again. He said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Look, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel. I took them in place of every firstborn son in Israel. The Levites belong to me."},{"verse":13,"text":"For all the firstborn are mine. I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt. On that day I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both people and animals. They are mine. I am the LORD.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male who is one month old or older.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Moses counted them, just as the LORD had told him to do."},{"verse":17,"text":"These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."},{"verse":18,"text":"These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei."},{"verse":19,"text":"The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel."},{"verse":20,"text":"The sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, listed by their families."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan came from Gershon. These were the clans of Gershon."},{"verse":22,"text":"All the males one month old or older numbered 7,500."},{"verse":23,"text":"The clans of Gershon were to camp on the west side, behind the tabernacle."},{"verse":24,"text":"The leader of the families of Gershon was Eliasaph son of Lael."},{"verse":25,"text":"At the Tent of Meeting, the clans of Gershon took care of the tabernacle and the tent. They took care of its covering and the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":26,"text":"They took care of the curtains of the courtyard. They took care of the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar. They took care of the ropes too. They did all the work for these things."},{"verse":27,"text":"The clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites came from Kohath. These were the clans of Kohath."},{"verse":28,"text":"All the males one month old or older numbered 8,600. They were in charge of the work of the holy place."},{"verse":29,"text":"The clans of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle."},{"verse":30,"text":"The leader of the families of Kohath was Elizaphan son of Uzziel."},{"verse":31,"text":"They took care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, and the altars. They took care of the holy things used with them and the curtain. They did all the work for these things."},{"verse":32,"text":"The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who did the work of the holy place."},{"verse":33,"text":"The clans of the Mahlites and Mushites came from Merari. These were the clans of Merari."},{"verse":34,"text":"All the males one month old or older numbered 6,200."},{"verse":35,"text":"The leader of the families of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle."},{"verse":36,"text":"The sons of Merari were given these jobs. They took care of the tabernacle's frames, crossbars, posts, and bases, and all its tools. They did all the work for these things."},{"verse":37,"text":"They also took care of the posts around the courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes."},{"verse":38,"text":"Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons were to camp on the east side of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise. They camped in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were to do the work of the holy place for the Israelites. But any outsider who came near the holy place was to be put to death."},{"verse":39,"text":"Moses and Aaron counted the Levites by their clans, as the LORD commanded. All the males one month old or older numbered 22,000."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Count every firstborn male of the Israelites who is one month old or older. Write down their names."},{"verse":41,"text":"Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of Israel. I am the LORD. And take the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn livestock of the Israelites.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":43,"text":"The total number of firstborn males one month old or older, listed by name, was 22,273."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses again. He said,"},{"verse":45,"text":"\"Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel. Take the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to me. I am the LORD."},{"verse":46,"text":"There are 273 more firstborn Israelites than there are Levites. These 273 must be bought back."},{"verse":47,"text":"Collect five shekels for each one. Use the shekel of the holy place, which weighs twenty gerahs."},{"verse":48,"text":"Give the money to Aaron and his sons. It is the price to buy back the extra Israelites.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"So Moses collected the money to buy back those who were more than the number of Levites."},{"verse":50,"text":"He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites. It was 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the holy place.","note":"About 35 pounds (16 kilograms) of silver."},{"verse":51,"text":"Moses gave the money to Aaron and his sons. He obeyed the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Count the clan of Kohath among the Levites. Count them by their clans and families."},{"verse":3,"text":"Count the men from thirty to fifty years old. Count everyone who is able to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is the work of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting. They take care of the most holy things."},{"verse":5,"text":"Whenever the camp moves out, Aaron and his sons must go in. They must take down the curtain that hangs in front of the ark. Then they must cover the ark of the Testimony with it."},{"verse":6,"text":"They must put a cover of fine leather over it. Then they must spread a cloth of solid blue on top. Then they must put its poles in place."},{"verse":7,"text":"They must spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence. They must put the plates and cups on it. They must put the bowls and jars for the drink offering on it. The bread that is always there must stay on it."},{"verse":8,"text":"They must spread a red cloth over these things. Then they must cover them with fine leather. And they must put the poles in place."},{"verse":9,"text":"They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that gives light. They must cover its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays. They must also cover all the jars of oil used for it."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then they must wrap the lampstand and all its tools in a cover of fine leather. They must put it on a frame for carrying."},{"verse":11,"text":"They must spread a blue cloth over the gold altar. They must cover it with fine leather. And they must put its poles in place."},{"verse":12,"text":"They must take all the tools used for serving in the holy place. They must wrap them in a blue cloth and cover them with fine leather. Then they must put them on a frame for carrying."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they must clean the ashes off the bronze altar. They must spread a purple cloth over it."},{"verse":14,"text":"They must put on it all the tools used to serve at the altar. These are the fire pans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. They are all the tools of the altar. They must spread a cover of fine leather over it and put its poles in place."},{"verse":15,"text":"Aaron and his sons must finish covering the holy things and all their tools. Then, when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites must come and carry them. But they must not touch the holy things, or they will die. This is what the Kohathites must carry from the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":16,"text":"Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, will be in charge of the oil for the light and the sweet-smelling incense. He will be in charge of the daily grain offering and the anointing oil. He will be in charge of the whole tabernacle and everything in it. That includes the holy things and their tools.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Do not let the clans of Kohath be wiped out from among the Levites."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do this for them so that they will live and not die when they come near the most holy things. Aaron and his sons must go in. They must give each man his job and tell him what to carry."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the Kohathites must not go in and look at the holy things, not even for a moment. If they do, they will die.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Count the clan of Gershon too. Count them by their families and clans."},{"verse":23,"text":"Count the men from thirty to fifty years old. Count everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":24,"text":"This is the work of the clans of Gershon, what they must do and what they must carry."},{"verse":25,"text":"They must carry the curtains of the tabernacle. They must carry the Tent of Meeting with its cover of fine leather on top. They must carry the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":26,"text":"They must carry the curtains of the courtyard. They must carry the curtain for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar. They must carry the ropes and all the tools used for this work. The Gershonites will do all the work needed for these things."},{"verse":27,"text":"Aaron and his sons must direct all the work of the Gershonites. That includes all they carry and all their other work. You must give them each thing they are in charge of carrying."},{"verse":28,"text":"This is the work of the clans of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting. Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest, will direct their work."},{"verse":29,"text":"Now count the sons of Merari by their clans and families."},{"verse":30,"text":"Count the men from thirty to fifty years old. Count everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":31,"text":"This is their job in all their work at the Tent of Meeting. They must carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases."},{"verse":32,"text":"They must carry the posts around the courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes. They must carry all the tools and everything used with them. Give each man by name the things he must carry."},{"verse":33,"text":"This is the work of the clans of Merari at the Tent of Meeting. Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest, will direct it.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families."},{"verse":35,"text":"They counted everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":36,"text":"The men counted by their clans numbered 2,750."},{"verse":37,"text":"This was the count of the clans of Kohath. It was everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them as the LORD had commanded through Moses."},{"verse":38,"text":"Then the Gershonites were counted by their clans and families."},{"verse":39,"text":"Everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting was counted."},{"verse":40,"text":"The men counted by their clans and families numbered 2,630."},{"verse":41,"text":"This was the count of the clans of Gershon who served at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them as the LORD commanded."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then the Merarites were counted by their clans and families."},{"verse":43,"text":"Everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting was counted."},{"verse":44,"text":"The men counted by their clans numbered 3,200."},{"verse":45,"text":"This was the count of the clans of Merari. Moses and Aaron counted them as the LORD had commanded through Moses."},{"verse":46,"text":"So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families."},{"verse":47,"text":"They counted the men from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving at the Tent of Meeting and carrying it."},{"verse":48,"text":"The number of men was 8,580."},{"verse":49,"text":"They were counted as the LORD had commanded through Moses. Each one was given his work and what he must carry. It was done just as the LORD had commanded Moses."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Command the Israelites to send certain people out of the camp. Send out anyone with a skin disease. Send out anyone who has a discharge from the body. And send out anyone who is unclean from touching a dead body."},{"verse":3,"text":"Send away both men and women. Send them outside the camp. Then they will not make the camp unclean, where I live among the people.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So the Israelites did this. They sent these people outside the camp. They did just what the LORD had told Moses."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites this. A man or woman may sin against another person. That person has been unfaithful to the LORD and is guilty."},{"verse":7,"text":"That person must confess the sin he has done. He must pay back the full amount of the wrong. He must add one-fifth to it. Then he must give it all to the person he wronged."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the wronged man may have no close relative to receive the payment. Then the payment belongs to the LORD. It must be given to the priest. A ram must be given too. With it the priest will make atonement for the guilty person."},{"verse":9,"text":"Every holy gift the Israelites bring to the priest will belong to him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Each man's holy gifts are his own. But whatever he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this. A man's wife may go astray and be unfaithful to him."},{"verse":13,"text":"She may sleep with another man. It may be hidden from her husband, and no one finds out she is unclean. There is no witness against her, and she was not caught in the act."},{"verse":14,"text":"A feeling of jealousy may come over her husband. He may think his wife has made herself unclean. Or a feeling of jealousy may come over him, and he may think this even though she has not made herself unclean."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then he must bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring an offering for her. It is about 2 quarts of barley flour. He must not pour oil on it or put frankincense on it. That is because it is a grain offering for jealousy. It is a memorial offering that brings sin to mind.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":16,"text":"The priest must bring the woman forward and have her stand before the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he must put some holy water in a clay jar. He must take some dust from the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water."},{"verse":18,"text":"The priest must have the woman stand before the LORD. Then he must loosen her hair. He must put the grain offering in her hands. It is the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy. The priest must hold the bitter water that brings a curse."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the priest must make the woman take an oath. He must say to her, 'Maybe no other man has slept with you. Maybe you have not gone astray and become unclean while married to your husband. If so, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you."},{"verse":20,"text":"But maybe you have gone astray while married to your husband. Maybe you have made yourself unclean and slept with a man other than your husband.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"Here the priest must make the woman swear the oath of the curse. He must say, 'Then may the LORD make you a curse among your people. May he do it by making your thigh shrink and your belly swell."},{"verse":22,"text":"May this water that brings a curse go into your stomach. May it make your belly swell and your thigh shrink.' Then the woman must say, 'Amen, Amen.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"The priest must write these curses on a scroll. Then he must wash the words off into the bitter water."},{"verse":24,"text":"He must have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse. The water will go into her. It may cause her bitter suffering."},{"verse":25,"text":"The priest must take the grain offering for jealousy from her hand. He must wave it before the LORD and bring it to the altar."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the priest must take a handful of the grain offering as a reminder portion. He must burn it on the altar. After that he must have the woman drink the water."},{"verse":27,"text":"He will make her drink the water. If she has made herself unclean and been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings a curse will go into her. It will cause bitter suffering. Her belly will swell, and her thigh will shrink. She will become a curse among her people."},{"verse":28,"text":"But if the woman has not made herself unclean, and she is pure, she will not be harmed. She will be able to have children."},{"verse":29,"text":"This is the law about jealousy. It is for when a wife goes astray and makes herself unclean while married to her husband."},{"verse":30,"text":"It is also for when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he suspects his wife. He must have the woman stand before the LORD. The priest must carry out this whole law with her."},{"verse":31,"text":"The husband will be free from guilt. But the woman will carry the guilt of her sin.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this. A man or a woman may make a special promise. It is the promise of a Nazirite, to be set apart to the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"That person must not drink wine or strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or strong drink. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins."},{"verse":4,"text":"All the days he is set apart, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine. He must not even eat the seeds or the skins."},{"verse":5,"text":"For the whole time of his promise, no razor may touch his head. He must be holy until his time of being set apart to the LORD is over. He must let the hair on his head grow long."},{"verse":6,"text":"All the days he is set apart to the LORD, he must not go near a dead body."},{"verse":7,"text":"Even if his father, mother, brother, or sister dies, he must not make himself unclean. That is because the sign that he is set apart to his God is on his head."},{"verse":8,"text":"All the time he is set apart, he is holy to the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"Someone may suddenly die right beside him. This makes his set-apart hair unclean. Then he must shave his head on the day he is made clean. That is the seventh day."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons. He must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":11,"text":"The priest must offer one as a sin offering. He must offer the other as a burnt offering. This will make atonement for him, because he sinned by being near the dead body. On that same day he must set apart his head again."},{"verse":12,"text":"He must give his time of being set apart to the LORD again. He must bring a one-year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. But the days before do not count, because his time of being set apart was made unclean."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is the law for the Nazirite when his time of being set apart is over. He must be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":14,"text":"There he must give his offering to the LORD. He must bring a one-year-old male lamb with no flaws as a burnt offering. He must bring a one-year-old female lamb with no flaws as a sin offering. He must bring a ram with no flaws as a peace offering."},{"verse":15,"text":"He must bring their grain offerings and drink offerings too. And he must bring a basket of bread made without yeast. It must hold cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil. It must also hold thin wafers made without yeast and brushed with oil."},{"verse":16,"text":"The priest must bring all these before the LORD. He must make the sin offering and the burnt offering."},{"verse":17,"text":"He must also offer the ram as a peace offering to the LORD, with the basket of bread made without yeast. The priest must also offer the grain offering and drink offering that go with it."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the Nazirite must shave off his set-apart hair at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He must take the hair and put it on the fire under the peace offering."},{"verse":19,"text":"The Nazirite has just shaved off his set-apart hair. Now the priest must take the boiled shoulder of the ram. He must take one cake and one wafer made without yeast from the basket. He must put them in the Nazirite's hands."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the priest must wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. This is a holy share for the priest. It is added to the breast of the wave offering and the thigh that was given. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is the law of the Nazirite who promises an offering to the LORD for being set apart. He may also give more if he can afford it. But he must do whatever he promised, by the law for the Nazirite.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Tell Aaron and his sons that this is how they must bless the Israelites. Say to them,"},{"verse":24,"text":"'May the LORD bless you and keep you."},{"verse":25,"text":"May the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you."},{"verse":26,"text":"May the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Moses finished setting up the tabernacle. On that day he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He did the same for all its furnishings, and for the altar and all its tools."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the leaders of Israel brought an offering. They were the heads of their families. These men were the tribal leaders who had been in charge of the count of the people."},{"verse":3,"text":"They brought their offering to the LORD. It was six covered carts and twelve oxen. Each leader gave an ox, and every two leaders gave a cart. They brought them to the front of the tabernacle."},{"verse":4,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Accept these gifts from them. They can be used in the work of the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites, to each man for the kind of work he does.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites."},{"verse":7,"text":"He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, because their work needed them."},{"verse":8,"text":"He gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, because their work needed them. They all worked under Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."},{"verse":9,"text":"But Moses gave none to the Kohathites. They had to carry the holy objects they were in charge of on their shoulders."},{"verse":10,"text":"When the altar was anointed, the leaders came with their offerings to dedicate it. They brought them to the front of the altar."},{"verse":11,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses, \"Each day one leader is to bring his offering to dedicate the altar.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab brought his offering. He was from the tribe of Judah."},{"verse":13,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.","note":"130 shekels is about 3 1/4 pounds; 70 shekels is about 1 3/4 pounds; 10 shekels (v. 14) is about 4 ounces."},{"verse":14,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":15,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":16,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":17,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar came with his offering. He was the leader of Issachar."},{"verse":19,"text":"The offering he brought was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":20,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":21,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":22,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":23,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar."},{"verse":24,"text":"On the third day Eliab son of Helon came with his offering. He was the leader of the Zebulunites."},{"verse":25,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":26,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":27,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":28,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":29,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon."},{"verse":30,"text":"On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur came with his offering. He was the leader of the Reubenites."},{"verse":31,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":32,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":33,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":34,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":35,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur."},{"verse":36,"text":"On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai came with his offering. He was the leader of the Simeonites."},{"verse":37,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":38,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":39,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":40,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":41,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai."},{"verse":42,"text":"On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel came with his offering. He was the leader of the Gadites."},{"verse":43,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":44,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":45,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":46,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":47,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel."},{"verse":48,"text":"On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud came with his offering. He was the leader of the Ephraimites."},{"verse":49,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":50,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":51,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":52,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":53,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud."},{"verse":54,"text":"On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur came with his offering. He was the leader of the Manassites."},{"verse":55,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":56,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":57,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":58,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":59,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur."},{"verse":60,"text":"On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni came with his offering. He was the leader of the Benjamites."},{"verse":61,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":62,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":63,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":64,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":65,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni."},{"verse":66,"text":"On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai came with his offering. He was the leader of the Danites."},{"verse":67,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":68,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":69,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":70,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":71,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai."},{"verse":72,"text":"On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran came with his offering. He was the leader of the Asherites."},{"verse":73,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":74,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":75,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":76,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":77,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran."},{"verse":78,"text":"On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan came with his offering. He was the leader of the Naphtalites."},{"verse":79,"text":"His offering was one silver platter that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl that weighed 70 shekels. Both were weighed by the sanctuary shekel. Both were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering."},{"verse":80,"text":"He also gave one gold dish that weighed 10 shekels. It was filled with incense."},{"verse":81,"text":"He gave one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering."},{"verse":82,"text":"He gave one male goat for a sin offering."},{"verse":83,"text":"And for a peace offering he gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan."},{"verse":84,"text":"These were the offerings the leaders of Israel gave to dedicate the altar when it was anointed. They gave twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes."},{"verse":85,"text":"Each silver platter weighed 130 shekels. Each silver bowl weighed 70 shekels. All the silver pieces together weighed 2,400 shekels by the sanctuary shekel.","note":"2,400 shekels is about 60 pounds."},{"verse":86,"text":"There were twelve gold dishes filled with incense. Each one weighed 10 shekels by the sanctuary shekel. All the gold dishes together weighed 120 shekels.","note":"120 shekels is about 3 pounds."},{"verse":87,"text":"The animals for the burnt offering came to twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old. Their grain offerings came with them. There were also twelve male goats for the sin offering."},{"verse":88,"text":"The animals killed for the peace offering came to twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the gift to dedicate the altar after it was anointed."},{"verse":89,"text":"Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD. There he heard the voice speaking to him. It came from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. This is how the LORD spoke to him."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to Aaron. Tell him, 'When you set up the seven lamps, they must light the area in front of the lampstand.'\""},{"verse":3,"text":"And Aaron did this. He set up the lamps so they faced the front of the lampstand. He did just what the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is how the lampstand was made. It was made of hammered gold, from its base to its flowers. It was made just like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses."},{"verse":5,"text":"Again the LORD spoke to Moses. He said,"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Take the Levites from among the Israelites. Make them clean for worship."},{"verse":7,"text":"This is what you must do to make them clean. Sprinkle them with the water that makes people clean. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. In this way they will make themselves clean."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil. And you must take a second young bull for a sin offering."},{"verse":9,"text":"Bring the Levites to the front of the Tent of Meeting. Gather the whole community of Israel there."},{"verse":10,"text":"You must bring the Levites before the LORD. Have the Israelites lay their hands on them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Aaron must give the Levites to the LORD as a wave offering from the people of Israel. Then they can do the LORD's work."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the Levites must lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Offer one bull to the LORD as a sin offering. Offer the other as a burnt offering. This will make atonement for the Levites."},{"verse":13,"text":"Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons. Then give them to the LORD as a wave offering."},{"verse":14,"text":"In this way you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the Israelites. And the Levites will belong to me."},{"verse":15,"text":"First you must make them clean and give them as a wave offering. After that they may come and serve at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":16,"text":"The Levites have been fully given to me from among the people of Israel. I have taken them for myself in place of every firstborn. They take the place of the first child born to every mother in Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Every firstborn male in Israel belongs to me, both people and animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt."},{"verse":18,"text":"But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the people of Israel."},{"verse":19,"text":"I have given the Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to Aaron and his sons. They will do the work for the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting. They will make atonement for them. They will do this so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they come near the holy place.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel did this with the Levites. They did everything the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Levites made themselves clean and washed their clothes. Aaron gave them to the LORD as a wave offering. Aaron also made atonement for them to make them clean."},{"verse":22,"text":"After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting, in front of Aaron and his sons. So the people did with the Levites just what the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":23,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"This is the rule for the Levites. Men twenty-five years old or older will come to do the work at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":25,"text":"But at age fifty, they must stop doing the work. They will not serve anymore."},{"verse":26,"text":"After that, they may help their brothers do their jobs at the Tent of Meeting. But they must not do the work themselves. This is how you must give the Levites their jobs.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai. It was the first month of the second year after Israel came out of Egypt. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"The Israelites must keep the Passover at its set time."},{"verse":3,"text":"Keep it at its set time, at sunset on the fourteenth day of this month. Follow all its rules and laws.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Moses told the Israelites to keep the Passover."},{"verse":5,"text":"And they kept it in the Wilderness of Sinai. They did it at sunset on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":6,"text":"But some men were unclean because of a dead body. So they could not keep the Passover on that day. That same day they came to Moses and Aaron."},{"verse":7,"text":"They said to Moses, \"We are unclean because of a dead body. But why should we be kept from bringing the LORD's offering with the other Israelites at the set time?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Wait here,\" Moses answered. \"I'll find out what the LORD commands about you.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites this: 'If any of you or your descendants is unclean because of a dead body, or is away on a trip, he may still keep the LORD's Passover."},{"verse":11,"text":"These people must keep it at sunset on the fourteenth day of the second month. They must eat the lamb with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs."},{"verse":12,"text":"They must not leave any of it until morning. They must not break any of its bones. They must keep the Passover by all its rules."},{"verse":13,"text":"But if a man is clean and is not on a trip, and he still does not keep the Passover, he must be cut off from his people. This is because he did not bring the LORD's offering at its set time. That man will suffer for his sin."},{"verse":14,"text":"If a foreigner living among you wants to keep the LORD's Passover, he must do it by the Passover rules and laws. You must have the same rule for the foreigner and for the person born in the land.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up. On that day the cloud covered it. From evening until morning, the cloud over the tabernacle looked like fire."},{"verse":16,"text":"It stayed that way all the time. The cloud covered the tabernacle by day, and at night it looked like fire."},{"verse":17,"text":"Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites would set out. Wherever the cloud stopped, the Israelites would camp there."},{"verse":18,"text":"When the LORD commanded, the Israelites set out. When the LORD commanded, they camped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they stayed in camp."},{"verse":19,"text":"Sometimes the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for many days. Then the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out."},{"verse":20,"text":"Sometimes the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for only a few days. They would camp when the LORD commanded. They would set out when the LORD commanded."},{"verse":21,"text":"Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening until morning. When it lifted in the morning, they would set out. By day or by night, when the cloud lifted, they would set out."},{"verse":22,"text":"The cloud might stay for two days, a month, or longer. As long as it stayed over the tabernacle, the Israelites stayed in camp and did not set out. But when it lifted, they would set out."},{"verse":23,"text":"They camped when the LORD commanded. They set out when the LORD commanded. They obeyed the LORD's order, which he gave through Moses."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Make two trumpets of hammered silver. Use them to call the people together and to tell the camps to set out."},{"verse":3,"text":"When both trumpets are blown, the whole community must gather in front of you. They will meet at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":4,"text":"But if only one is blown, then only the leaders must gather in front of you. They are the heads of the clans of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"When you blow short blasts, the camps on the east side must set out."},{"verse":6,"text":"When you blow short blasts a second time, the camps on the south side must set out. The short blasts tell them to set out."},{"verse":7,"text":"To call the people together, blow long blasts, not short ones."},{"verse":8,"text":"The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets. This is a rule for you and your children's children forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"When you go to battle in your land against an enemy who attacks you, blow short blasts on the trumpets. Then the LORD your God will remember you, and you will be saved from your enemies."},{"verse":10,"text":"Also blow the trumpets on your happy days, your set feasts, and the first day of each month. Blow them over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. They will be a reminder for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"It was the twentieth day of the second month of the second year. On that day the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony."},{"verse":12,"text":"And the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai. They traveled from place to place until the cloud stopped in the Wilderness of Paran."},{"verse":13,"text":"This was the first time they set out. They did it as the LORD commanded through Moses."},{"verse":14,"text":"The groups from the camp of Judah set out first under their flag. Nahshon son of Amminadab led them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Nethanel son of Zuar led the group from the tribe of Issachar."},{"verse":16,"text":"Eliab son of Helon led the group from the tribe of Zebulun."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the tabernacle was taken down. The Gershonites and the Merarites set out, carrying it."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the groups from the camp of Reuben set out under their flag. Elizur son of Shedeur led them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led the group from the tribe of Simeon."},{"verse":20,"text":"Eliasaph son of Deuel led the group from the tribe of Gad."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy objects. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived."},{"verse":22,"text":"Next, the groups from the camp of Ephraim set out under their flag. Elishama son of Ammihud led them."},{"verse":23,"text":"Gamaliel son of Pedahzur led the group from the tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":24,"text":"Abidan son of Gideoni led the group from the tribe of Benjamin."},{"verse":25,"text":"Last of all, the groups from the camp of Dan set out under their flag. They guarded the back for all the groups. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai led them."},{"verse":26,"text":"Pagiel son of Ocran led the group from the tribe of Asher."},{"verse":27,"text":"Ahira son of Enan led the group from the tribe of Naphtali."},{"verse":28,"text":"This was the order the Israelite groups marched in when they set out."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Moses spoke to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite. Reuel was Moses' father-in-law. Moses said, \"We are setting out for the place the LORD told us about. He said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will treat you well. The LORD has promised good things to Israel.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"\"I won't go,\" Hobab answered. \"I'm going back to my own land and my own people.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"\"Please don't leave us,\" Moses said. \"You know where we should camp in the wilderness. You can be our eyes."},{"verse":32,"text":"If you come with us, we'll share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So they set out from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the LORD's covenant went ahead of them for those three days. It went to find a place for them to rest."},{"verse":34,"text":"And the LORD's cloud was over them by day when they set out from the camp."},{"verse":35,"text":"Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,\n\"Rise up, LORD!\nMay your enemies be scattered.\nMay those who hate you run away from you.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"And when the ark stopped, he would say,\n\"Return, LORD,\nto the countless thousands of Israel.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Soon the people began to complain about their hard times, and the LORD heard them. When he heard them, he became angry. Fire from the LORD burned among them. It burned up the edges of the camp."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people cried out to Moses. Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down."},{"verse":3,"text":"So that place was named Taberah, because the LORD's fire had burned among them.","note":"Taberah means \"burning.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The mixed crowd of outsiders among them began to want other food very much. Then the Israelites started crying again. They said, \"Who will give us meat to eat?"},{"verse":5,"text":"We remember the fish we ate for free in Egypt. We remember the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic."},{"verse":6,"text":"But now we've lost our appetite. We never see anything but this manna!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The manna looked like coriander seed. It was the color of gum resin."},{"verse":8,"text":"The people went around and gathered it. They ground it in a hand mill or crushed it with a stone bowl and club. Then they boiled it in a pot or made it into flat cakes. It tasted like pastry baked with fine oil."},{"verse":9,"text":"At night the dew fell on the camp. The manna would fall with it."},{"verse":10,"text":"Moses heard the people crying, family after family, at the doors of their tents. The LORD became very angry. Moses was upset too."},{"verse":11,"text":"So Moses asked the LORD, \"Why have you brought this trouble on me, your servant? Why aren't you pleased with me? Why have you put the load of all these people on me?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Did I make all these people? Did I give birth to them? Is that why you tell me, 'Carry them in your arms, the way a nurse carries a baby'? Must I carry them all the way to the land you swore to give their fathers?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep crying to me, 'Give us meat to eat!'"},{"verse":14,"text":"I can't carry all these people by myself. The load is too heavy for me."},{"verse":15,"text":"If this is how you will treat me, please just kill me now, if you are pleased with me. Don't let me see how bad things are for me.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Bring me seventy of Israel's elders. Choose men you know are leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting. Have them stand there with you."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will help you carry the load of the people. Then you won't have to carry it alone."},{"verse":18,"text":"And tell the people this: 'Make yourselves holy for tomorrow. Then you will eat meat. This is because you cried where the LORD could hear you. You said, \"Who will give us meat? We had it better in Egypt!\" So the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it."},{"verse":19,"text":"You won't eat it for just one or two days. You won't eat it for just five or ten or twenty days."},{"verse":20,"text":"You will eat it for a whole month, until it comes out of your noses and makes you sick of it. This is because you have rejected the LORD, who is with you. You cried to him and said, \"Why did we ever leave Egypt?\"'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But Moses answered, \"There are 600,000 men on foot here with me. And you say, 'I will give them meat, and they will eat it for a month.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"Would they have enough if all our flocks and herds were killed for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD answered Moses, \"Is the LORD's arm too short? Now you will see if what I say will happen or not.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He gathered seventy of the people's elders. He had them stand around the tent."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they never did it again."},{"verse":26,"text":"But two men had stayed in the camp. One was named Eldad, and the other was Medad. The Spirit rested on them too. Their names were on the list, but they had not gone out to the tent. They prophesied in the camp."},{"verse":27,"text":"A young man ran and told Moses, \"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Joshua son of Nun had been Moses' helper since he was young. He spoke up and said, \"Moses, my master, stop them!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"But Moses answered, \"Are you jealous for my sake? I wish all the LORD's people were prophets! I wish the LORD would put his Spirit on all of them!\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Moses and the elders of Israel went back to the camp."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then the LORD sent a wind. It drove quail in from the sea and brought them down near the camp. They were about 3 feet above the ground. They covered the land for a day's walk in every direction around the camp.","note":"Hebrew: two cubits. This may mean the birds were piled about 3 feet deep."},{"verse":32,"text":"The people stayed up all that day and night and all the next day gathering quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. They spread the birds out all around the camp.","note":"Ten homers is about 60 bushels."},{"verse":33,"text":"But the meat was still between their teeth. They had not even chewed it yet. Then the LORD's anger burned against the people. He struck them with a terrible plague."},{"verse":34,"text":"So that place was named Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had wanted other food so badly.","note":"Kibroth-hattaavah means \"graves of craving.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"From Kibroth-hattaavah the people moved on to Hazeroth. They stayed there for a while."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married. He had married a woman from Cush."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Does the LORD speak only through Moses?\" they asked. \"Doesn't he speak through us too?\" And the LORD heard what they said."},{"verse":3,"text":"Now Moses was a very humble man. He was more humble than anyone else on earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"All at once the LORD spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. \"You three, come out to the Tent of Meeting,\" he said. So the three of them went out."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud. He stood at the entrance to the Tent and called Aaron and Miriam. They both stepped forward."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD said, \"Listen to what I say.\nIf there is a prophet among you,\nI, the LORD, will show myself to him in a vision.\nI will speak to him in a dream."},{"verse":7,"text":"But it is not this way with my servant Moses.\nHe is faithful in all my house."},{"verse":8,"text":"I speak with him face to face,\nclearly and not in riddles.\nHe sees the form of the LORD.\nSo why weren't you afraid\nto speak against my servant Moses?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD was very angry with them, and he left."},{"verse":10,"text":"The cloud lifted from above the Tent. Suddenly Miriam had a skin disease. Her skin was white like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had the disease.","note":"The Hebrew word was used for many kinds of skin disease, often called leprosy."},{"verse":11,"text":"He said to Moses, \"My master, please don't hold this sin against us. We were foolish to do it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Please don't let her be like a baby born dead, with its body half eaten away when it comes from its mother's womb.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Moses cried out to the LORD, \"God, please heal her!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But the LORD answered Moses, \"Suppose her father had spit in her face. Wouldn't she be in shame for seven days? Keep her outside the camp for seven days. After that she may be brought back in.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days. The people did not move on until she was brought back in."},{"verse":16,"text":"After that, the people left Hazeroth. They camped in the Wilderness of Paran."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Send out men to spy out the land of Canaan. I am giving it to the Israelites. Send one man from each of their fathers' tribes. Each one must be a leader among them.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Moses sent them out from the Wilderness of Paran, as the LORD commanded. All the men were leaders of the Israelites."},{"verse":4,"text":"These were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur."},{"verse":5,"text":"From the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori."},{"verse":6,"text":"From the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph."},{"verse":8,"text":"From the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun."},{"verse":9,"text":"From the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu."},{"verse":10,"text":"From the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi."},{"verse":11,"text":"From the tribe of Manasseh (one of Joseph's tribes), Gaddi son of Susi."},{"verse":12,"text":"From the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli."},{"verse":13,"text":"From the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael."},{"verse":14,"text":"From the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi."},{"verse":15,"text":"And from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi."},{"verse":16,"text":"These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua."},{"verse":17,"text":"Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan. He told them, \"Go up through the Negev and into the hill country."},{"verse":18,"text":"See what the land is like. See if the people there are strong or weak, few or many."},{"verse":19,"text":"Is the land they live in good or bad? Are their towns open camps, or do they have walls?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Is the soil rich or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Be brave, and bring back some of the fruit of the land.\" (It was the time of year for the first ripe grapes.)"},{"verse":21,"text":"So they went up and spied out the land. They went from the Wilderness of Zin all the way to Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath."},{"verse":22,"text":"They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai lived there. They were the descendants of Anak. Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt."},{"verse":23,"text":"They came to the Valley of Eshcol. There they cut off a branch with one bunch of grapes on it. Two men carried it on a pole between them. They also took some pomegranates and figs."},{"verse":24,"text":"That place was named the Valley of Eshcol because of the bunch of grapes the Israelites cut there.","note":"Eshcol means \"bunch of grapes.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"After forty days the men came back from spying out the land."},{"verse":26,"text":"They came back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel. The people were at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Paran. The men gave a report to the whole community. They showed them the fruit of the land."},{"verse":27,"text":"They told Moses, \"We went into the land you sent us to. It really does flow with milk and honey! Here is some of its fruit."},{"verse":28,"text":"But the people who live there are strong. Their cities are large and have strong walls. We even saw the descendants of Anak there."},{"verse":29,"text":"The Amalekites live in the Negev. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan River.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Caleb quieted the people in front of Moses. He said, \"We must go up and take the land. We can surely beat them!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"But the men who had gone up with him said, \"We can't fight those people. They are stronger than we are!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land they had spied out. They said, \"The land we explored eats up the people who live there. All the people we saw there are very tall."},{"verse":33,"text":"We even saw the Nephilim there. The descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! We felt as small as grasshoppers. And we must have looked that way to them too!\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the whole community cried out loud. That night the people wept."},{"verse":2,"text":"All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole community said to them, \"We wish we had died in Egypt! Or we wish we had died in this wilderness!"},{"verse":3,"text":"Why is the LORD bringing us to this land to be killed by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"And they said to each other, \"Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole gathering of the community of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh had been among those who spied out the land. They tore their clothes."},{"verse":7,"text":"They said to the whole community of Israel, \"The land we went through and explored is a very, very good land."},{"verse":8,"text":"If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. He will give it to us."},{"verse":9,"text":"Only don't rebel against the LORD. And don't be afraid of the people of the land. We will eat them up like bread. Their protection is gone, and the LORD is with us. Don't be afraid of them!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But the whole community said they would stone Joshua and Caleb. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"How long will these people treat me with such scorn? How long will they refuse to believe in me, even after all the signs I have done among them?"},{"verse":12,"text":"I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Then I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they are.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Moses said to the LORD, \"The Egyptians will hear about it! You used your power to bring these people out from among them."},{"verse":14,"text":"And they will tell the people who live in this land. They have already heard about you, LORD. They know you are with these people. They know you, LORD, have been seen face to face. They know your cloud stays over them. They know you go ahead of them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night."},{"verse":15,"text":"Suppose you kill all these people at once. Then the nations who have heard about you will say,"},{"verse":16,"text":"'The LORD couldn't bring these people into the land he swore to give them. So he killed them in the wilderness.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"So now, I pray, let my Lord's power be shown to be great, just as you have said:"},{"verse":18,"text":"'The LORD is slow to get angry. He is full of faithful love. He forgives sin and wrong. But he will never let the guilty go unpunished. He will punish the children for the sin of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"Please forgive the sin of these people, because your faithful love is so great. Forgive them just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD answered, \"I have forgiven them, as you asked."},{"verse":21,"text":"But as surely as I live, and as surely as the LORD's glory fills the whole earth, this is true."},{"verse":22,"text":"These men have seen my glory. They have seen the signs I did in Egypt and in the wilderness. Yet they have tested me and disobeyed me these ten times."},{"verse":23,"text":"Not one of them will ever see the land I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated me with scorn will see it."},{"verse":24,"text":"But my servant Caleb has a different spirit. He has followed me with all his heart. So I will bring him into the land he went into. His descendants will receive it as their own."},{"verse":25,"text":"The Amalekites and Canaanites live in the valleys. So tomorrow, turn back. Head into the wilderness on the road to the Red Sea.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":27,"text":"\"How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the Israelites complaining against me."},{"verse":28,"text":"So tell them this: 'As surely as I live, says the LORD, I will do to you just what I heard you say."},{"verse":29,"text":"Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness. This means all of you who were counted, everyone twenty years old or older. It is because you have grumbled against me."},{"verse":30,"text":"Not one of you will enter the land I swore to give you as a home. Only Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun will enter it."},{"verse":31,"text":"You said your children would be taken as plunder. But I will bring them into the land you have rejected. They will enjoy it."},{"verse":32,"text":"But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness."},{"verse":33,"text":"Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years. They will suffer for your unfaithfulness. This will last until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness."},{"verse":34,"text":"You spied out the land for forty days. So you will suffer for your guilt for forty years, one year for each day. You will know what it is like to have me against you."},{"verse":35,"text":"I, the LORD, have spoken. I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community. They have joined together against me. They will come to their end in this wilderness. They will die here.'\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Moses had sent men to spy out the land. They came back and gave a bad report about the land. That made the whole community grumble against Moses."},{"verse":37,"text":"Those men who gave the bad report about the land were struck down by a plague before the LORD."},{"verse":38,"text":"Of the men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh stayed alive."},{"verse":39,"text":"Moses told all the Israelites what the LORD had said. And the people mourned bitterly."},{"verse":40,"text":"Early the next morning they got up. They started up toward the top of the hill country. \"We know we have sinned,\" they said. \"But now we will go to the place the LORD promised.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"But Moses said, \"Why are you disobeying the LORD's command? This won't work!"},{"verse":42,"text":"Don't go up, because the LORD isn't with you. If you go, your enemies will strike you down."},{"verse":43,"text":"The Amalekites and Canaanites will fight you there. You will be killed by the sword. You have turned away from the LORD, so he won't be with you.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"But they dared to go up toward the top of the hill country anyway. Yet Moses and the ark of the LORD's covenant did not leave the camp."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in those hills came down. They attacked the Israelites and chased them all the way to Hormah."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites. Tell them this: You will enter the land I am giving you as a home."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then when you bring the LORD a food offering from your herd or flock, to make a smell that pleases the LORD, here is what to do. It may be a burnt offering or a sacrifice. It may be for a special promise, a freewill offering, or a set feast."},{"verse":4,"text":"The one who brings his offering to the LORD must also bring a grain offering. It must be two quarts of fine flour mixed with one quart of olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah of flour and a quarter of a hin of oil."},{"verse":5,"text":"With each lamb for the burnt offering or sacrifice, prepare one quart of wine as a drink offering.","note":"Hebrew: a quarter of a hin."},{"verse":6,"text":"With a ram, prepare a grain offering of four quarts of fine flour mixed with one and a quarter quarts of olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: two-tenths of an ephah of flour and a third of a hin of oil."},{"verse":7,"text":"Also give one and a quarter quarts of wine as a drink offering. Its smell will please the LORD.","note":"Hebrew: a third of a hin."},{"verse":8,"text":"When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to keep a promise or as a peace offering to the LORD,"},{"verse":9,"text":"bring a grain offering with the bull. It must be six quarts of fine flour mixed with two quarts of olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah of flour and half a hin of oil."},{"verse":10,"text":"Also bring two quarts of wine as a drink offering. It is a food offering, and its smell will please the LORD.","note":"Hebrew: half a hin."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do this for each bull, ram, lamb, or goat."},{"verse":12,"text":"Prepare each one this way, no matter how many you bring."},{"verse":13,"text":"Everyone born an Israelite must do these things this way. Do it when you bring a food offering with a smell that pleases the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"For all time to come, a foreigner may live with you, or someone else may be among you. If he wants to bring a food offering with a smell that pleases the LORD, he must do it just the way you do."},{"verse":15,"text":"The community must have the same rule for you and for the foreigner who lives with you. This rule lasts forever, for all your children's children. You and the foreigner are the same before the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"The same law and the same rule will be for you and for the foreigner who lives with you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites. Tell them this: You will enter the land I am bringing you to."},{"verse":19,"text":"When you eat the food of that land, you must lift up an offering to the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"Take a loaf from the first of your dough and lift it up as a gift. Offer it the same way as an offering from the threshing floor."},{"verse":21,"text":"For all time to come, give the LORD an offering from the first of your dough."},{"verse":22,"text":"Suppose you go wrong without meaning to. You don't obey all these commands the LORD gave Moses."},{"verse":23,"text":"These are all the things the LORD has commanded you through Moses. They are from the day the LORD gave them, and they go on for all time to come."},{"verse":24,"text":"If the community did it without meaning to and without knowing it, here is what to do. The whole community must prepare one young bull as a burnt offering. Its smell will please the LORD. Bring it with its grain offering and drink offering, as the rule says. Also bring one male goat as a sin offering."},{"verse":25,"text":"The priest must make atonement for the whole community of Israel. Then they will be forgiven, because the sin was not on purpose. They have brought the LORD a food offering and a sin offering for the sin they did without meaning to."},{"verse":26,"text":"So the whole community of Israel will be forgiven. The foreigners living among them will be forgiven too, because all the people did it without meaning to."},{"verse":27,"text":"Or suppose one person sins without meaning to. He must bring a female goat a year old as a sin offering."},{"verse":28,"text":"The priest must make atonement before the LORD for the person who sinned by mistake. When atonement is made for him, he will be forgiven."},{"verse":29,"text":"You must have the same law for anyone who sins by mistake. It does not matter if he was born an Israelite or is a foreigner living among you."},{"verse":30,"text":"But anyone who sins on purpose, whether born an Israelite or a foreigner, speaks against the LORD with contempt. That person must be cut off from his people."},{"verse":31,"text":"He must surely be cut off, because he has looked down on the word of the LORD and broken his command. His guilt stays on him.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day."},{"verse":33,"text":"The people who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community."},{"verse":34,"text":"No one had told them yet what should be done to him. So they kept him under guard."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"The man must be put to death. The whole community must stone him outside the camp.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"So the whole community took the man outside the camp. They stoned him to death, as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":37,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":38,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites. Tell them to make tassels for the corners of their clothes, for all time to come. They must put a blue cord on each tassel."},{"verse":39,"text":"You will have these tassels to look at. Then you will remember all the LORD's commands and obey them. You will not chase after what your own heart and eyes want. Doing that would make you unfaithful, like a prostitute."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then you will remember and obey all my commands. You will be holy to your God."},{"verse":41,"text":"I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Korah was the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi. He joined with some men from the tribe of Reuben. They were Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth. Together they led"},{"verse":2,"text":"a rebellion against Moses. With them were 250 men of Israel. These men were well-known leaders of the community, chosen to speak for the people."},{"verse":3,"text":"They came together against Moses and Aaron. They said to them, \"You have gone too far! Everyone in the whole community is holy, and the LORD is with them. So why do you put yourselves above the LORD's people?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"When Moses heard this, he fell facedown."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then he said to Korah and all his followers, \"Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who belongs to him and who is holy. He will bring that person near to himself. He will bring near the one he chooses."},{"verse":6,"text":"Korah, here is what you and all your followers must do. Take censers."},{"verse":7,"text":"Tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. You sons of Levi are the ones who have gone too far!\"","note":"A censer was a pan for carrying burning coals and incense."},{"verse":8,"text":"Moses also said to Korah, \"Now listen, you sons of Levi!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the rest of Israel? He has brought you near to himself. You do the work at the LORD's tabernacle. You stand before the people and serve them."},{"verse":10,"text":"He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites. But now you want to be priests too!"},{"verse":11,"text":"So it is you and all your followers who have joined together against the LORD! And who is Aaron, that you grumble against him?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, \"We won't come!"},{"verse":13,"text":"You brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness. Isn't that enough? Now do you also want to make yourself our ruler?"},{"verse":14,"text":"And you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey. You haven't given us fields and vineyards to own. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we won't come!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Moses became very angry. He said to the LORD, \"Don't accept their offering. I haven't taken even one donkey from them. I haven't done wrong to any of them.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Moses said to Korah, \"Tomorrow you and all your followers must come before the LORD. You and they and Aaron must all be there."},{"verse":17,"text":"Each man must take his censer and put incense in it. Then bring it before the LORD. There will be 250 censers. You and Aaron must bring your censers too.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So each man took his censer and put fire and incense in it. They stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":19,"text":"Korah gathered all his followers against Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community."},{"verse":20,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Get away from this community. Then I will destroy them in a moment.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"But Moses and Aaron fell facedown. They said, \"God, you are the God who gives breath to every living thing. When one man sins, will you be angry with the whole community?\"","note":"Hebrew: the God of the spirits of all flesh."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Tell the community to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram. The elders of Israel followed him."},{"verse":26,"text":"He warned the community, \"Get away from the tents of these wicked men now! Don't touch anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be swept away because of all their sins.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So the people moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out. They were standing at the doors of their tents with their wives, children, and babies."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Moses said, \"Here is how you will know that the LORD sent me to do all these things. It was not my own idea."},{"verse":29,"text":"If these men die a normal death, or if the same thing happens to them that happens to everyone, then the LORD has not sent me."},{"verse":30,"text":"But suppose the LORD does something brand new. Suppose the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and everything they own, and they go down alive into the grave. Then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with scorn.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":31,"text":"As soon as Moses finished saying all this, the ground under them split open."},{"verse":32,"text":"The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their families. It swallowed all Korah's men and everything they owned."},{"verse":33,"text":"They went down alive into the grave with everything they owned. The earth closed over them. They were gone from the community.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":34,"text":"All the Israelites around them heard their screams and ran away. They shouted, \"The earth might swallow us too!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then fire came out from the LORD. It burned up the 250 men who were offering the incense."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":37,"text":"\"Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to take the censers out of the fire. Tell him to scatter the coals far away. The censers are holy."},{"verse":38,"text":"Those men sinned, and it cost them their lives. Take their censers and hammer them into thin sheets to cover the altar. They were brought before the LORD, so they have become holy. They will be a sign to the Israelites.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers. They had been brought by the men who were burned up. He had them hammered out to cover the altar,"},{"verse":40,"text":"just as the LORD told him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites of something. No outsider who is not from Aaron's family should come near to burn incense before the LORD. If he does, he will end up like Korah and his followers."},{"verse":41,"text":"The next day the whole community of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. They said, \"You have killed the LORD's people!\""},{"verse":42,"text":"When the community gathered against Moses and Aaron, the two men turned toward the Tent of Meeting. Suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":44,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":45,"text":"\"Get away from this community. Then I will destroy them in a moment.\" And Moses and Aaron fell facedown."},{"verse":46,"text":"Moses said to Aaron, \"Take your censer. Put fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Hurry to the community and make atonement for them, because the LORD's anger has come out. The plague has started.\""},{"verse":47,"text":"So Aaron took the censer as Moses had said. He ran into the middle of the crowd. He saw that the plague had already started among the people. So he offered the incense and made atonement for the people."},{"verse":48,"text":"He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped."},{"verse":49,"text":"But 14,700 people died from the plague. That was besides those who had died because of Korah."},{"verse":50,"text":"The plague had stopped. So Aaron went back to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites. Get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man's name on his staff."},{"verse":3,"text":"Write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. There must be one staff for the head of each tribe."},{"verse":4,"text":"Put the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony. That is where I meet with you."},{"verse":5,"text":"The staff of the man I choose will sprout. Then I will put a stop to the Israelites' constant grumbling against you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Each of their leaders gave him a staff. There was one for each leader of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. Aaron's staff was among them."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Moses put the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony."},{"verse":8,"text":"The next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony. He saw that Aaron's staff, for the family of Levi, had sprouted. It had grown buds and flowers, and it had made almonds!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Put Aaron's staff back in front of the Testimony. Keep it there as a sign for those who rebel. It will put an end to their grumbling against me, so they won't die.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Moses did just what the LORD commanded him."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the Israelites said to Moses, \"Look, we're going to die! We're lost. We're all lost!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Anyone who comes near the LORD's tabernacle will die. Are we all going to die?\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So the LORD said to Aaron, \"You and your sons and your father's family must carry the guilt for any wrong done against the holy place. And you and your sons alone must carry the guilt for any wrong done in your work as priests."},{"verse":2,"text":"But also bring your relatives from the tribe of Levi, your father's tribe. They will join you and help you and your sons in front of the Tent of the Testimony."},{"verse":3,"text":"They will do what you tell them and take care of all the jobs at the Tent. But they must not go near the holy furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. If they do, both they and you will die."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will join you and take care of the Tent of Meeting. They will do all the work at the Tent. But no outsider may come near you."},{"verse":5,"text":"You must take care of the holy place and the altar, so that anger will not fall on the Israelites again."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look, I myself have chosen your fellow Levites from among the Israelites. They are a gift to you. They are given to the LORD to do the work at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":7,"text":"But only you and your sons may serve as priests. You will take care of everything at the altar and behind the curtain. You must do that work. I am giving you the work of the priests as a gift. But any outsider who comes near the holy place must be put to death.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said to Aaron, \"Look, I have put you in charge of the offerings brought to me. I have given you and your sons all the holy offerings of the Israelites. They are your share. This rule will last forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"Part of the most holy offerings will be yours. It is the part that is not burned in the fire. The people give me most holy offerings. These are grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. The part that is kept back belongs to you and your sons."},{"verse":10,"text":"You must eat it as a most holy offering. Every male may eat it. You must treat it as holy."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is yours too: the gifts the Israelites set aside, with all their wave offerings. I have given these to you and your sons and daughters. This rule will last forever. Everyone in your family who is clean for worship may eat it."},{"verse":12,"text":"I give you all the best fresh olive oil and all the best new wine and grain. The Israelites give these to the LORD as their firstfruits."},{"verse":13,"text":"All the firstfruits from their land that they bring to the LORD will be yours. Everyone in your family who is clean for worship may eat them."},{"verse":14,"text":"Everything in Israel that is set apart for the LORD for good belongs to you."},{"verse":15,"text":"The first one born from every mother, both people and animals, is offered to the LORD. It belongs to you. But you must surely buy back every firstborn son. And you must buy back every firstborn male of animals that are unclean."},{"verse":16,"text":"Buy them back when they are a month old. The price you set is five shekels of silver. Use the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.","note":"Five shekels is about 2 ounces of silver."},{"verse":17,"text":"But you must not buy back the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat. They are holy. Splash their blood on the altar. Burn their fat as a food offering. Its smell will please the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"Their meat belongs to you. It is just like the breast and right thigh of the wave offering, which belong to you."},{"verse":19,"text":"The Israelites bring holy offerings to the LORD. I give all of them to you and your sons and daughters. This rule will last forever. It is a covenant of salt before the LORD that lasts forever. It is for you and your children after you.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the LORD said to Aaron, \"You will not own any land in Israel. You will not have any share among them. I am your share. I am what you will receive among the Israelites."},{"verse":21,"text":"Look, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their share. It pays them for the work they do, serving at the Tent of Meeting.","note":"A tithe is a tenth of what a person grows or earns."},{"verse":22,"text":"From now on, the Israelites must not come near the Tent of Meeting. If they do, they will be guilty and die."},{"verse":23,"text":"The Levites must do the work at the Tent of Meeting. They must carry the guilt for any wrong done there. This rule is for all time to come. The Levites will not receive any land as their share among the Israelites."},{"verse":24,"text":"The Israelites give a tithe to the LORD as a gift. I have given that tithe to the Levites as their share. That is why I told them they would not receive any land among the Israelites.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"And the LORD told Moses,"},{"verse":26,"text":"\"Speak to the Levites. Tell them this: 'You will receive the tithe from the Israelites. I have given it to you as your share. When you receive it, you must give part of it as an offering to the LORD. It will be a tenth of the tithe."},{"verse":27,"text":"Your offering will count for you like grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress."},{"verse":28,"text":"So you must give an offering to the LORD from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. Give the LORD's part to Aaron the priest."},{"verse":29,"text":"From every gift you get, you must give the LORD his part. Give the best part, the holiest part of it.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"So tell the Levites this: 'When you have given the best part, it will count for you like the crops from the threshing floor or the winepress."},{"verse":31,"text":"You and your families may eat the rest of it anywhere. It is your pay for your work at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":32,"text":"Once you have given the best part of it, you will not be guilty because of it. But you must not treat the Israelites' holy offerings as common. If you do, you will die.'\""}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is a rule of the law that the LORD has given. Tell the Israelites to bring you a red young cow. It must be perfect, with nothing wrong with it. It must never have worn a yoke."},{"verse":3,"text":"Give it to Eleazar the priest. He will have it taken outside the camp. There it will be killed while he watches."},{"verse":4,"text":"Eleazar the priest is to put some of its blood on his finger. Then he will sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the cow must be burned while he watches. Its skin, its meat, and its blood are to be burned. Its dung must be burned too."},{"verse":6,"text":"The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and red wool. He will throw them onto the burning cow."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water. After that he may come into the camp. But he will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":8,"text":"The man who burned the cow must also wash his clothes and bathe his body in water. He too will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then a man who is clean is to gather up the cow's ashes. He will store them in a clean place outside the camp. The people of Israel must keep the ashes. They will use them to make the water for cleansing. This is for cleansing from sin."},{"verse":10,"text":"The man who gathered up the ashes must also wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening. This is a rule that lasts forever. It is for the Israelites and for the foreigner who lives among them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Anyone who touches a dead body will be unclean for seven days."},{"verse":12,"text":"He must make himself clean with the water on the third day and on the seventh day. Then he will be clean. But if he does not make himself clean on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean."},{"verse":13,"text":"Anyone who touches a dead person and does not make himself clean makes the LORD's tabernacle unclean. That person must be cut off from Israel. He stays unclean, because the water for cleansing was not sprinkled on him. He is still unclean."},{"verse":14,"text":"This is the law for when a person dies in a tent. Everyone who goes into the tent will be unclean for seven days. So will everyone who is already in the tent."},{"verse":15,"text":"And any open pot without a lid tied on it is unclean."},{"verse":16,"text":"Someone out in an open field may touch a person who was killed with a sword. Or he may touch someone who died a natural death. Or he may touch a human bone or a grave. Anyone who does this will be unclean for seven days."},{"verse":17,"text":"Here is how to make the unclean person clean. Take some ashes from the burnt sin offering and put them in a jar. Then pour fresh water over them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then a man who is clean is to take some hyssop and dip it in the water. He will sprinkle the tent, all the things in it, and the people who were there. He will also sprinkle the person who touched a bone or a grave. He will sprinkle the one who touched someone who died or was killed."},{"verse":19,"text":"The clean man is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. On the seventh day he will make him clean. Then the person being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water. That evening he will be clean."},{"verse":20,"text":"But if a person who is unclean does not make himself clean, he will be cut off from the people. That is because he has made the LORD's holy place unclean. The water for cleansing has not been sprinkled on him. He is unclean."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is a rule for the people that lasts forever. The one who sprinkles the water for cleansing must wash his clothes. And whoever touches the water for cleansing will be unclean until evening."},{"verse":22,"text":"Anything the unclean person touches will become unclean. And anyone who touches that thing will be unclean until evening.\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the first month, the whole community of Israel came into the Wilderness of Zin. They stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now there was no water for the people. So they gathered together against Moses and Aaron."},{"verse":3,"text":"The people argued with Moses. They said, \"We wish we had died when our brothers died before the LORD!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Why did you bring the LORD's people into this wilderness? Did you want us and our animals to die here?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Why did you lead us up out of Egypt? Why did you bring us to this terrible place? It has no grain, figs, grapevines, or pomegranates. And there's no water to drink!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Moses and Aaron left the people. They went to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They fell with their faces to the ground. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Take the staff and gather the people together. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch. Then it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for them. You will give the people and their animals something to drink.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence. He did just as he had been told."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Moses and Aaron gathered the people in front of the rock. Moses said to them, \"Listen, you rebels! Must we bring you water out of this rock?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Moses raised his hand. He hit the rock twice with his staff. A lot of water gushed out. The people and their animals were able to drink."},{"verse":12,"text":"But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"Because you did not trust me to show that I am holy in front of the Israelites, you will not bring these people into the land I have given them.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"These were the waters of Meribah. There the Israelites argued with the LORD. And there he showed them that he is holy.","note":"Meribah means \"arguing.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. They said, \"Your brother Israel says this: You know about all the hard times we have had."},{"verse":15,"text":"Our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly."},{"verse":16,"text":"But we cried out to the LORD, and he heard us. He sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are here in Kadesh. It is a town at the edge of your land."},{"verse":17,"text":"Please let us pass through your land. We won't go through any field or vineyard. We won't drink water from any well. We'll stay on the King's Highway. We won't turn to the right or the left until we've passed through your land.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But Edom answered, \"You may not travel through our land. If you try, we will come out and fight you with the sword.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The Israelites answered, \"We'll stay on the main road. If we or our herds drink any of your water, we'll pay for it. There won't be any trouble. Just let us walk through.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But Edom said again, \"You may not pass through.\" Then they came out against the Israelites with a large and powerful army."},{"verse":21,"text":"So Edom would not let Israel pass through their land. And Israel turned away from them."},{"verse":22,"text":"The whole community of Israel set out from Kadesh. They came to Mount Hor."},{"verse":23,"text":"Mount Hor was near the border of Edom. There the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not go into the land I have given the Israelites. That is because you both rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah."},{"verse":25,"text":"Take Aaron and his son Eleazar. Bring them up Mount Hor."},{"verse":26,"text":"Take off Aaron's priestly clothes and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will die there.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Moses did what the LORD commanded. They climbed Mount Hor while the whole community watched."},{"verse":28,"text":"Moses took off Aaron's clothes and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain."},{"verse":29,"text":"The whole community saw that Aaron had died. So all the people of Israel mourned for him for thirty days."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Canaanite king of Arad lived in the Negev. He heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim. So he attacked Israel and took some of them as prisoners."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Israel made a vow to the LORD. They said, \"If you will hand these people over to us, we will destroy their cities completely.\"","note":"Or \"devote their cities to destruction\"; that is, give them over to the LORD by destroying them."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD listened to Israel's request and handed the Canaanites over to them. Israel completely destroyed them and their cities. So the place was named Hormah.","note":"Hormah sounds like the Hebrew word for \"destruction.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then they set out from Mount Hor along the road toward the Red Sea. They went that way to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way."},{"verse":5,"text":"They spoke against God and against Moses. They said, \"Why did you lead us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There's no bread or water! And we hate this awful food!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people. They bit many of the Israelites, and they died."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the people came to Moses. They said, \"We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD for us. Ask him to take the snakes away from us.\" So Moses prayed for the people."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Make a fiery snake and put it up on a pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it, and he will live.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the Israelites set out. They camped at Oboth."},{"verse":11,"text":"They traveled on from Oboth. They camped at Iye-abarim in the wilderness east of Moab."},{"verse":12,"text":"From there they set out. They camped in the Valley of Zered."},{"verse":13,"text":"From there they moved on. They camped on the other side of the Arnon River. This was in the wilderness that reaches into the land of the Amorites. The Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites."},{"verse":14,"text":"That is why the Book of the Wars of the LORD says,\n\"Waheb in Suphah and the dry riverbeds of the Arnon,"},{"verse":15,"text":"and the slopes of the riverbeds\nthat reach to the town of Ar\nand lie along the border of Moab.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"From there they went on to Beer. That is the well where the LORD said to Moses, \"Gather the people together, and I will give them water.\"","note":"Beer means \"well.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Israel sang this song:\n\"Spring up, O well!\nAll of you, sing to it!"},{"verse":18,"text":"The princes dug the well.\nThe leaders of the people dug it out\nwith their scepters and their staffs.\"\nThen the Israelites went from the wilderness to Mattanah."},{"verse":19,"text":"They went from Mattanah to Nahaliel. And they went from Nahaliel to Bamoth."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then they went from Bamoth to the valley in Moab. There the top of Pisgah looks down over the wasteland."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites. They said,"},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Let us pass through your land. We won't turn off into any field or vineyard. We won't drink water from any well. We'll stay on the King's Highway until we've passed through your land.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his land. Instead, he gathered his whole army. He went out into the wilderness to fight Israel. He came to Jahaz and fought against Israel there."},{"verse":24,"text":"But Israel killed him with the sword. They took over his land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. They went only as far as the land of the Ammonites, because its border was strongly guarded."},{"verse":25,"text":"Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and lived in them. This included Heshbon and all the villages around it."},{"verse":26,"text":"Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites. He had fought against the king of Moab who ruled before. He had taken all his land as far as the Arnon."},{"verse":27,"text":"That is why the poets say,\n\"Come to Heshbon! Let it be built again!\nLet Sihon's city be made strong again!"},{"verse":28,"text":"For a fire went out from Heshbon.\nFlames came from Sihon's city.\nIt burned up Ar of Moab\nand the rulers of the hills of the Arnon."},{"verse":29,"text":"How terrible for you, Moab!\nYou are destroyed, you people of Chemosh!\nHe let his sons run away as refugees.\nHe gave his daughters as captives\nto Sihon king of the Amorites."},{"verse":30,"text":"But we have defeated them.\nHeshbon is destroyed all the way to Dibon.\nWe have torn them down as far as Nophah,\nwhich reaches to Medeba.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"So Israel lived in the land of the Amorites."},{"verse":32,"text":"Moses sent spies to Jazer. Then Israel captured its villages. They drove out the Amorites who lived there."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then they turned and went up the road toward Bashan. Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to fight them at Edrei."},{"verse":34,"text":"But the LORD said to Moses, \"Do not be afraid of him. I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"So they killed Og, his sons, and his whole army. No one was left alive. And they took over his land."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the Israelites traveled on. They camped on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, across from Jericho."},{"verse":2,"text":"Balak son of Zippor saw everything Israel had done to the Amorites."},{"verse":3,"text":"And the people of Moab were terrified of Israel, because there were so many of them. Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, \"This huge crowd will eat up everything around us. It will be like an ox licking up the grass of the field.\" Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time."},{"verse":5,"text":"He sent messengers to call for Balaam son of Beor. Balaam lived at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in the land of his people. Balak said, \"Look, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the whole land. And they have settled right next to me."},{"verse":6,"text":"So please come now and put a curse on these people. They are too strong for me. Then maybe I can defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that the people you bless are blessed. And the people you curse are cursed."},{"verse":7,"text":"The elders of Moab and Midian left. They took with them the payment for reading omens. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said."},{"verse":8,"text":"Balaam said to them, \"Stay here tonight. Then I'll give you the answer the LORD gives me.\" So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then God came to Balaam. He asked, \"Who are these men with you?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Balaam said to God, \"Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:"},{"verse":11,"text":"'Look, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the whole land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Then maybe I can fight them and drive them away.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But God said to Balaam, \"Do not go with them. You must not curse these people, because they are blessed.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Balaam got up the next morning. He said to Balak's princes, \"Go back to your own country. The LORD has refused to let me go with you.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the princes of Moab got up and went back to Balak. They said, \"Balaam refused to come with us.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Balak sent other princes. There were more of them this time, and they were more important than the first ones."},{"verse":16,"text":"They came to Balaam and said, \"Balak son of Zippor says this: 'Please don't let anything stop you from coming to me."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will reward you very well. I will do anything you say. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But Balaam answered Balak's servants, \"Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD my God. I could not do anything, small or great."},{"verse":19,"text":"Now please stay here tonight, as the others did. Then I can find out what else the LORD will tell me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"That night God came to Balaam. He said, \"These men have come to call for you. So get up and go with them. But you must do only what I tell you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Balaam got up in the morning and put a saddle on his donkey. He went with the princes of Moab."},{"verse":22,"text":"But God became angry because Balaam was going. The angel of the LORD stood in the road to block his way. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him."},{"verse":23,"text":"The donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road. He held a drawn sword in his hand. So the donkey turned off the road and went into a field. Balaam beat her to make her go back to the road."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards. There were walls on both sides."},{"verse":25,"text":"The donkey saw the angel of the LORD. She pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD went on ahead. He stood in a narrow place. There was no room to turn to the right or the left."},{"verse":27,"text":"The donkey saw the angel of the LORD, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam was furious. He beat her with his staff."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth. She said to Balaam, \"What have I done to you? Why have you beaten me these three times?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Balaam answered the donkey, \"You've made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I'd kill you right now!\""},{"verse":30,"text":"But the donkey said to Balaam, \"Am I not your own donkey? You've ridden me all your life, up to this day. Have I ever acted this way with you before?\" \"No,\" he answered."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes. He saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road. The angel held a drawn sword in his hand. So Balaam bowed low with his face to the ground."},{"verse":32,"text":"The angel of the LORD asked him, \"Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I have come out to stand against you. The path you are on is evil in my sight."},{"verse":33,"text":"The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would have killed you by now. But I would have let her live.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, \"I have sinned. I didn't know you were standing in the road to stop me. Now, if you don't like what I'm doing, I'll go back home.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, \"Go with the men. But you must say only what I tell you.\" So Balaam went with Balak's princes."},{"verse":36,"text":"Balak heard that Balaam was coming. So he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border. It was at the edge of his land."},{"verse":37,"text":"Balak said to Balaam, \"Didn't I send for you and tell you to hurry? Why didn't you come to me? Do you think I can't reward you well?\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Balaam answered, \"Well, I've come to you now. But can I say just anything I want? I must speak only the words God puts in my mouth.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"So Balaam went with Balak. They came to Kiriath-huzoth."},{"verse":40,"text":"Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep. He gave some of the meat to Balaam and to the princes who were with him."},{"verse":41,"text":"The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there Balaam could see the edge of the people's camp."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Balaam said to Balak, \"Build seven altars here for me. And get seven bulls and seven rams ready for me.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Balak did what Balaam told him. Then Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar."},{"verse":3,"text":"Balaam said to Balak, \"Stay here beside your burnt offering while I'm gone. Maybe the LORD will come to meet me. I'll tell you whatever he shows me.\" Then Balaam went off to a bare hilltop."},{"verse":4,"text":"There God met with him. Balaam said, \"I have set up seven altars. On each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth. He said, \"Go back to Balak and give him this message.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak was standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Balaam spoke this message:\n\"Balak brought me from Aram.\nThe king of Moab brought me from the eastern mountains.\nHe said, 'Come and curse Jacob for me.\nCome and speak against Israel!'"},{"verse":8,"text":"How can I curse people God has not cursed?\nHow can I speak against people the LORD has not spoken against?"},{"verse":9,"text":"From the tops of the rocky cliffs I see them.\nFrom the hills I watch them.\nLook, they are a people who live apart.\nThey do not count themselves as one of the nations."},{"verse":10,"text":"Who can count Jacob's people? They are like dust.\nWho can number even a fourth of Israel?\nLet me die the death of the righteous.\nLet my end be like theirs!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Balak said to Balaam, \"What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies. But look, all you've done is bless them!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But Balaam answered, \"Shouldn't I say exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Balak said to him, \"Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You'll see only the edge of their camp, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Balak took him to the field of Zophim, on the top of Pisgah. There he built seven altars. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar."},{"verse":15,"text":"Balaam said to Balak, \"Stay here beside your burnt offering. I'll go meet the LORD over there.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth. He said, \"Go back to Balak and say what I tell you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak was standing beside his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. Balak asked, \"What did the LORD say?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Balaam spoke this message:\n\"Get up, Balak, and listen.\nHear me, son of Zippor."},{"verse":19,"text":"God is not a man, that he should lie.\nHe is not a human, that he should change his mind.\nDoes he speak and then not act?\nDoes he make a promise and not keep it?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Look, I was told to bless.\nGod has blessed, and I can't change it."},{"verse":21,"text":"He sees no disaster coming for Jacob.\nHe sees no trouble ahead for Israel.\nThe LORD their God is with them.\nThey shout for their King among them."},{"verse":22,"text":"God brought them out of Egypt.\nHe is as strong as a wild ox for them."},{"verse":23,"text":"No magic spell can work against Jacob.\nNo reading of omens can work against Israel.\nNow people will say about Jacob and Israel,\n'Look at the great things God has done!'"},{"verse":24,"text":"Look, the people rise up like a lioness.\nThey stir themselves like a lion.\nThey do not rest until they eat their prey\nand drink the blood of those they have killed.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Balak said to Balaam, \"Don't curse them at all, and don't bless them at all!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"But Balaam answered, \"Didn't I tell you? I must do whatever the LORD says.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Balak said, \"Please come. I'll take you to another place. Maybe God will be pleased to let you curse them for me from there.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor. It looks down over the wasteland."},{"verse":29,"text":"Balaam said, \"Build seven altars here for me. And get seven bulls and seven rams ready for me.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So Balak did what Balaam told him. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Balaam saw that the LORD was pleased to bless Israel. So he did not go looking for omens as he had done the other times. Instead, he turned and faced the wilderness."},{"verse":2,"text":"Balaam looked up and saw Israel camped tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came on him."},{"verse":3,"text":"And he spoke this message:\n\"This is the message of Balaam son of Beor.\nThis is the message of the man whose eyes are open."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is the message of the one who hears God's words.\nHe sees a vision from the Almighty.\nHe bows down, and his eyes are wide open."},{"verse":5,"text":"How beautiful are your tents, Jacob!\nHow lovely are your homes, Israel!"},{"verse":6,"text":"They spread out like groves of palm trees.\nThey are like gardens beside a river.\nThey are like aloes the LORD has planted.\nThey are like cedar trees beside the waters."},{"verse":7,"text":"Water will flow from his buckets.\nHis seed will have plenty of water.\nHis king will be greater than Agag.\nHis kingdom will be lifted up high."},{"verse":8,"text":"God brought him out of Egypt.\nHe is as strong as a wild ox for him.\nHe will eat up the nations that fight him.\nHe will crush their bones.\nHe will shoot them through with his arrows."},{"verse":9,"text":"He crouches and lies down like a lion,\nlike a lioness. Who dares to wake him up?\nThose who bless you will be blessed.\nThose who curse you will be cursed.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Balak became very angry with Balaam. He clapped his hands together in anger. He said to Balaam, \"I called you here to curse my enemies. But look, you have kept on blessing them these three times."},{"verse":11,"text":"So now, run off home right away! I said I would reward you well. But the LORD has kept you from your reward.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Balaam answered Balak, \"Didn't I already tell the messengers you sent to me?"},{"verse":13,"text":"I told them, 'Even if Balak gave me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the LORD's command. I could not do anything on my own, good or bad. I must say whatever the LORD says.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"Now I'm going back to my own people. But come, let me warn you. I'll tell you what these people will do to your people in the days to come.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Balaam spoke this message:\n\"This is the message of Balaam son of Beor.\nThis is the message of the man whose eyes are open."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is the message of the one who hears God's words.\nHe has knowledge from the Most High.\nHe sees a vision from the Almighty.\nHe bows down, and his eyes are wide open."},{"verse":17,"text":"I see him, but not now.\nI look at him, but he is not near.\nA star will come out of Jacob.\nA scepter will rise out of Israel.\nHe will crush the heads of Moab.\nHe will strike down all the sons of Sheth."},{"verse":18,"text":"Edom will be taken over.\nSeir, his enemy, will be taken over too.\nBut Israel will grow strong and brave."},{"verse":19,"text":"A ruler will come out of Jacob.\nHe will destroy those left alive in the city.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Balaam saw Amalek, and he spoke this message:\n\"Amalek was first among the nations.\nBut in the end it will be destroyed.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Next he saw the Kenites, and he spoke this message:\n\"The place where you live is safe.\nYour nest is set in a cliff."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Kain will be destroyed\nwhen Asshur takes you away as captives.\"","note":"Kain refers to the Kenites. Asshur is Assyria."},{"verse":23,"text":"Once more Balaam spoke a message:\n\"Oh, who can live unless God has planned it?"},{"verse":24,"text":"Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus.\nThey will defeat Asshur and Eber.\nBut they too will be destroyed forever.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Balaam got up and went back home. And Balak went on his way too."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Israel was staying at Shittim. There the men began to sin sexually with the women of Moab."},{"verse":2,"text":"These women also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. The people ate the food and bowed down to these gods."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD said to Moses, \"Take all the leaders of the people. Put them to death in broad daylight before the LORD. Do this so that the LORD's fierce anger will turn away from Israel.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Moses said to the judges of Israel, \"Each of you must kill any of your men who joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Just then an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman home to his family. He did it right in front of Moses and all the people of Israel. They were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":7,"text":"Phinehas saw this. He was the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest. He got up from the crowd and took a spear in his hand."},{"verse":8,"text":"He followed the Israelite man into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them. It went through the man and into the woman's belly. Then the plague against the Israelites stopped."},{"verse":9,"text":"But 24,000 people died in the plague."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. He was jealous for my honor among them. So I did not wipe out the Israelites in my jealous anger."},{"verse":12,"text":"So tell him that I am giving him my covenant of peace."},{"verse":13,"text":"It will be a covenant for him and his descendants. They will be priests forever. That is because he was jealous for the honor of his God. He made atonement for the Israelites.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The Israelite man who was killed with the Midianite woman was named Zimri son of Salu. He was the leader of a family from the tribe of Simeon."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Midianite woman who was killed was named Cozbi. She was the daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Attack the Midianites and kill them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do this because they attacked you with their tricks. They led you into sin in the matter of Peor. They also tricked you through their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader. She was the woman who was killed on the day the plague came because of Peor.\""}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After the plague was over, the LORD spoke to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Count the whole community of Israel by their families. Count all those twenty years old or older who can serve in Israel's army.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to the people. They were on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. They said,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Count the men twenty years old or older, as the LORD commanded Moses.\" These are the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:"},{"verse":5,"text":"Reuben was Israel's firstborn son. These were Reuben's descendants: the Hanochite clan from Hanoch and the Palluite clan from Pallu,"},{"verse":6,"text":"the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi."},{"verse":7,"text":"These were the clans of Reuben. They counted 43,730 men."},{"verse":8,"text":"Pallu's son was Eliab."},{"verse":9,"text":"Eliab's sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. The people had chosen Dathan and Abiram as leaders. But these two rebelled against Moses and Aaron. They joined Korah's followers when they rebelled against the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with Korah. His followers died when fire burned up 250 men. They became a warning sign."},{"verse":11,"text":"But Korah's family line did not die out."},{"verse":12,"text":"These were Simeon's descendants by their clans: the Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin,"},{"verse":13,"text":"the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul."},{"verse":14,"text":"These were the clans of Simeon. There were 22,200 men."},{"verse":15,"text":"These were Gad's descendants by their clans: the Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni,"},{"verse":16,"text":"the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri,"},{"verse":17,"text":"the Arodite clan from Arod, and the Arelite clan from Areli."},{"verse":18,"text":"These were the clans of Gad. They counted 40,500 men."},{"verse":19,"text":"Judah's sons were Er and Onan. But they died in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":20,"text":"These were Judah's descendants by their clans: the Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah."},{"verse":21,"text":"These were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul."},{"verse":22,"text":"These were the clans of Judah. They counted 76,500 men."},{"verse":23,"text":"These were Issachar's descendants by their clans: the Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,"},{"verse":24,"text":"the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron."},{"verse":25,"text":"These were the clans of Issachar. They counted 64,300 men."},{"verse":26,"text":"These were Zebulun's descendants by their clans: the Seredite clan from Sered, the Elonite clan from Elon, and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel."},{"verse":27,"text":"These were the clans of Zebulun. They counted 60,500 men."},{"verse":28,"text":"Joseph's descendants were the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim."},{"verse":29,"text":"These were Manasseh's descendants: the Machirite clan from Machir, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead. Machir was Gilead's father."},{"verse":30,"text":"These were Gilead's descendants: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek,"},{"verse":31,"text":"the Asrielite clan from Asriel, the Shechemite clan from Shechem,"},{"verse":32,"text":"the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher."},{"verse":33,"text":"Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons. He had only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."},{"verse":34,"text":"These were the clans of Manasseh. They counted 52,700 men."},{"verse":35,"text":"These were Ephraim's descendants by their clans: the Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan."},{"verse":36,"text":"These were Shuthelah's descendants: the Eranite clan from Eran."},{"verse":37,"text":"These were the clans of Ephraim. They counted 32,500 men. These clans were Joseph's descendants."},{"verse":38,"text":"These were Benjamin's descendants by their clans: the Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,"},{"verse":39,"text":"the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham."},{"verse":40,"text":"Bela's descendants through Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ard and the Naamite clan from Naaman."},{"verse":41,"text":"These were the clans of Benjamin. They counted 45,600 men."},{"verse":42,"text":"These were Dan's descendants by their clans: the Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan."},{"verse":43,"text":"All of them were Shuhamite clans. They counted 64,400 men."},{"verse":44,"text":"These were Asher's descendants by their clans: the Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah."},{"verse":45,"text":"These were Beriah's descendants: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel."},{"verse":46,"text":"Asher had a daughter named Serah."},{"verse":47,"text":"These were the clans of Asher. They counted 53,400 men."},{"verse":48,"text":"These were Naphtali's descendants by their clans: the Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,"},{"verse":49,"text":"the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem."},{"verse":50,"text":"These were the clans of Naphtali. They counted 45,400 men."},{"verse":51,"text":"All together, the men of Israel numbered 601,730."},{"verse":52,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":53,"text":"\"Divide the land among the tribes as their inheritance. Divide it by the number of names counted."},{"verse":54,"text":"Give a large tribe more land, and give a small tribe less. Each tribe will get land based on the number of people counted in it."},{"verse":55,"text":"But the land must be divided by casting lots. Each tribe will get its share by the name of its father's tribe."},{"verse":56,"text":"Each share is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.\""},{"verse":57,"text":"These were the Levites counted by their clans: the Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari."},{"verse":58,"text":"These were the families of the Levites: the Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Kohath was the father of Amram."},{"verse":59,"text":"Amram's wife was named Jochebed. She was also from Levi's family. She was born to Levi in Egypt. She had three children with Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam."},{"verse":60,"text":"Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."},{"verse":61,"text":"But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered fire before the LORD that he had not allowed."},{"verse":62,"text":"The Levites counted 23,000 in all. This was every male one month old or older. They were not counted with the other Israelites. That is because they were not given any land as an inheritance among the Israelites."},{"verse":63,"text":"These are the people counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest. They counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho."},{"verse":64,"text":"But not one of these people had been counted before by Moses and Aaron the priest. That was when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai."},{"verse":65,"text":"That was because the LORD had told those people that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one of them was left, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Zelophehad had daughters. He was the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. They were from the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. His daughters were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came forward"},{"verse":2,"text":"to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They stood in front of Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the people. They said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Our father died in the wilderness. But he was not one of Korah's followers who joined together against the LORD. He died because of his own sin. And he had no sons."},{"verse":4,"text":"Why should our father's name disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us land among our father's brothers.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Moses brought their case to the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"And the LORD answered him,"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Zelophehad's daughters are right. You must give them land as an inheritance among their father's brothers. Give their father's inheritance to them."},{"verse":8,"text":"Also, tell the Israelites, 'If a man dies and has no son, give his inheritance to his daughter."},{"verse":9,"text":"If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers."},{"verse":10,"text":"If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers."},{"verse":11,"text":"If his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to his closest relative in his clan. That person will own it. This is to be a lasting law for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go up this mountain in the Abarim range. Look at the land I have given the Israelites."},{"verse":13,"text":"After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was."},{"verse":14,"text":"That is because both of you rebelled against my command when the people argued in the Wilderness of Zin. I told you to show that I am holy in front of them at the waters.\" These were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Moses spoke to the LORD. He said,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all people, choose a man to be over these people."},{"verse":17,"text":"Let him go out and come in ahead of them. Let him lead them out and bring them in. Then the LORD's people won't be like sheep without a shepherd.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD answered Moses, \"Take Joshua son of Nun. He is a man who has the Spirit in him. Put your hands on him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people. Then give him his task while they watch."},{"verse":20,"text":"Give him some of your authority. Then all the people of Israel will obey him."},{"verse":21,"text":"He will stand before Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will ask the LORD what to do for him by using the Urim. At his command, Joshua and all the Israelites with him will go out and come in. The whole community will do this.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Moses did what the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then he put his hands on him and gave him his task. He did it just as the LORD had said through Moses."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Give the Israelites this command. Tell them: Be sure to bring me the food for my food offerings at the right time. It is a smell that pleases me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell them this is the food offering you are to bring to the LORD. It is a burnt offering to give every day. Bring two male lambs a year old. They must be perfect, with nothing wrong with them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Offer one lamb in the morning. Offer the other one at twilight."},{"verse":5,"text":"With each lamb, bring a grain offering of two quarts of fine flour. Mix it with one quart of oil from crushed olives.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah of flour and a quarter of a hin of oil."},{"verse":6,"text":"This is the daily burnt offering that was set up at Mount Sinai. It is a smell that pleases the LORD. It is a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"The drink offering for each lamb will be one quart. Pour out the offering of strong drink to the LORD in the holy place.","note":"Hebrew: a quarter of a hin."},{"verse":8,"text":"Offer the second lamb at twilight. Bring the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is a food offering. It is a smell that pleases the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"On the Sabbath day, bring two male lambs a year old. They must be perfect. Bring with them a grain offering of four quarts of fine flour mixed with oil. Also bring a drink offering.","note":"Hebrew: two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath. It is given along with the daily burnt offering and its drink offering."},{"verse":11,"text":"At the start of every month, bring a burnt offering to the LORD. Bring two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":12,"text":"With each bull, bring a grain offering of six quarts of fine flour mixed with oil. With the ram, bring a grain offering of four quarts of fine flour mixed with oil.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah; two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":13,"text":"With each lamb, bring a grain offering of two quarts of fine flour mixed with oil. This is a burnt offering. It is a smell that pleases the LORD. It is a food offering to the LORD.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":14,"text":"Their drink offerings will be wine. Give two quarts with each bull, about one and a quarter quarts with the ram, and one quart with each lamb. This is the burnt offering for each new moon, every month of the year.","note":"Hebrew: half a hin; a third of a hin; a quarter of a hin."},{"verse":15,"text":"Also bring one male goat to the LORD as a sin offering. Give it along with the daily burnt offering and its drink offering."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD's Passover is on the fourteenth day of the first month."},{"verse":17,"text":"On the fifteenth day of that month there will be a feast. For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the first day you must hold a holy meeting. You must not do any of your usual work."},{"verse":19,"text":"Bring the LORD a food offering. It is a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":20,"text":"The grain offering will be fine flour mixed with oil. Offer six quarts with each bull and four quarts with the ram.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah; two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":21,"text":"Offer two quarts with each of the seven lambs.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":22,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you."},{"verse":23,"text":"Bring these along with the daily burnt offering in the morning."},{"verse":24,"text":"Offer the same food each day for seven days. It is a food offering, a smell that pleases the LORD. Offer it with its drink offering and with the daily burnt offering."},{"verse":25,"text":"On the seventh day you must hold a holy meeting. You must not do any of your usual work."},{"verse":26,"text":"The day of firstfruits comes during the Feast of Weeks. On that day you bring the LORD an offering of new grain. You must hold a holy meeting. You must not do any of your usual work."},{"verse":27,"text":"Bring a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. It is a smell that pleases the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"Bring their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil. Give six quarts with each bull and four quarts with the ram.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah; two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":29,"text":"Give two quarts with each of the seven lambs.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":30,"text":"Include one male goat to make atonement for you."},{"verse":31,"text":"Offer these with their drink offerings. Give them along with the daily burnt offering and its grain offering. The animals must be perfect."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"On the first day of the seventh month, you must hold a holy meeting. You must not do any of your usual work. It will be a day for you to blow the trumpets."},{"verse":2,"text":"Bring a burnt offering as a smell that pleases the LORD. Bring one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":3,"text":"Bring their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil. Give six quarts with the bull and four quarts with the ram.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah; two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":4,"text":"Give two quarts with each of the seven male lambs.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you."},{"verse":6,"text":"These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings. Those have their own grain offerings and drink offerings, as the law says. They are a smell that pleases the LORD. They are a food offering to the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"On the tenth day of this seventh month, you must hold a holy meeting. You must humble yourselves. You must not do any work."},{"verse":8,"text":"Bring a burnt offering as a smell that pleases the LORD. Bring one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":9,"text":"Bring their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil. Give six quarts with the bull and four quarts with the ram.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah; two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":10,"text":"Give two quarts with each of the seven lambs.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the sin offering for atonement. It is also in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings."},{"verse":12,"text":"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you must hold a holy meeting. You must not do any of your usual work. Hold a feast to the LORD for seven days."},{"verse":13,"text":"Bring a food offering as a smell that pleases the LORD. It is a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":14,"text":"Bring the grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil. Give six quarts with each of the thirteen bulls. Give four quarts with each of the two rams.","note":"Hebrew: three-tenths of an ephah; two-tenths of an ephah."},{"verse":15,"text":"Give two quarts with each of the fourteen lambs.","note":"Hebrew: a tenth of an ephah."},{"verse":16,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":17,"text":"On the second day, bring twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":18,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":19,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":20,"text":"On the third day, bring eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":21,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":22,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":23,"text":"On the fourth day, bring ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":24,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":25,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":26,"text":"On the fifth day, bring nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":27,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":28,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":29,"text":"On the sixth day, bring eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":30,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":31,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":32,"text":"On the seventh day, bring seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":33,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":34,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":35,"text":"On the eighth day you must hold a special holy meeting. You must not do any of your usual work."},{"verse":36,"text":"Bring a food offering as a smell that pleases the LORD. It is a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. All of them must be perfect."},{"verse":37,"text":"Bring the grain and drink offerings for the bull, the ram, and the lambs. Bring the right amount for each animal."},{"verse":38,"text":"Include one male goat as a sin offering. This is in addition to the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."},{"verse":39,"text":"Bring these offerings to the LORD at your appointed feasts. They are in addition to the offerings you make for a vow and the offerings you give freely. These may be burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"So Moses told the Israelites all this, just as the LORD had commanded him."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of Israel. He said, \"This is what the LORD has commanded."},{"verse":2,"text":"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself to a promise, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do."},{"verse":3,"text":"If a young woman still living in her father's house makes a vow to the LORD, or binds herself with a promise,"},{"verse":4,"text":"and her father hears about her vow or promise but says nothing to her, then all her vows and promises that she has bound herself to will stand."},{"verse":5,"text":"But if her father forbids it on the day he hears about it, then none of her vows or promises that she has bound herself to will stand. The LORD will release her, because her father has forbidden it."},{"verse":6,"text":"If a woman gets married while she is under a vow, or under a careless promise that binds her,"},{"verse":7,"text":"and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her on that day, then her vows and promises that she has bound herself to will stand."},{"verse":8,"text":"But if her husband forbids it when he hears about it, he cancels the vow that binds her or the careless promise she made. And the LORD will release her."},{"verse":9,"text":"A widow or a divorced woman must keep every vow she promises to keep."},{"verse":10,"text":"If a woman living in her husband's house makes a vow, or binds herself to something with an oath,"},{"verse":11,"text":"and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid it, then all her vows and promises that she has bound herself to will stand."},{"verse":12,"text":"But if her husband cancels them on the day he hears about them, then nothing she said will stand, whether vows or promises. Her husband has canceled them, and the LORD will release her."},{"verse":13,"text":"Her husband may approve or cancel any vow she makes. He may approve or cancel any promise she swears to deny herself."},{"verse":14,"text":"But if her husband says nothing to her about it day after day, then he approves all her vows and promises that bind her. He has approved them, because he said nothing to her on the day he heard about them."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if he cancels them some time after he hears about them, then he will carry the guilt for her sin.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"These are the rules the LORD gave Moses. They are about a man and his wife, and about a father and his young daughter who still lives in his home."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Pay back the Midianites for what they did to the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Moses said to the people, \"Get some of your men ready for war. They will go against the Midianites. They will carry out the LORD's vengeance on them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Send a thousand men from each tribe of Israel into battle.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So a thousand men were chosen from each tribe of Israel. That made twelve thousand men armed for war."},{"verse":6,"text":"Moses sent the thousand men from each tribe into battle. Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest went with them. He took with him the holy objects from the sanctuary and the trumpets for giving signals."},{"verse":7,"text":"They fought against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses. They killed every male."},{"verse":8,"text":"Among those killed were the five kings of Midian. Their names were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Israelites captured the Midianite women and their children. They took all their herds, flocks, and goods as plunder."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites had lived. They also burned all their camps."},{"verse":11,"text":"They carried away all the plunder and loot, both people and animals."},{"verse":12,"text":"They brought the captives, the loot, and the plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest. They brought them to the people of Israel at the camp. The camp was on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho."},{"verse":13,"text":"Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the people went out to meet them outside the camp."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Moses was angry with the officers of the army. These were the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds. They were coming back from the battle."},{"verse":15,"text":"He asked them, \"Have you let all the women live?"},{"verse":16,"text":"Look, these women followed Balaam's advice. They led the sons of Israel to turn away from the LORD at Peor. That's why the plague struck the LORD's people."},{"verse":17,"text":"So now, kill all the boys. Also kill every woman who has slept with a man."},{"verse":18,"text":"But keep alive for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man."},{"verse":19,"text":"Any of you who has killed someone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day, you must make yourselves and your captives clean."},{"verse":20,"text":"Also make clean every piece of clothing and everything made of leather. Clean everything made of goat's hair and everything made of wood.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Eleazar the priest spoke to the soldiers who had gone into battle. He said, \"This is the rule of the law that the LORD gave Moses."},{"verse":22,"text":"Only the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead,"},{"verse":23,"text":"and everything else that can stand the fire, must be put through the fire. Then it will be clean. But it must still be made clean with the water for cleansing. And everything that can't stand the fire must be put through the water."},{"verse":24,"text":"On the seventh day, wash your clothes, and you will be clean. After that you may come into the camp.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":26,"text":"\"You and Eleazar the priest and the family leaders of the people must count everything that was captured. Count both the people and the animals."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then divide the captives into two halves. Give one half to the soldiers who went out to battle. Give the other half to the rest of the people."},{"verse":28,"text":"From the soldiers who went into battle, set apart a share for the LORD. Take one out of every five hundred. Do this with the people, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep."},{"verse":29,"text":"Take it from the soldiers' half. Give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"From the Israelites' half, take one out of every fifty. Do this with the people, cattle, donkeys, sheep, and other animals. Give them to the Levites who take care of the LORD's tabernacle.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"So Moses and Eleazar the priest did what the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":32,"text":"This was what was left from the loot the soldiers had taken: 675,000 sheep,"},{"verse":33,"text":"72,000 cattle,"},{"verse":34,"text":"61,000 donkeys,"},{"verse":35,"text":"and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man."},{"verse":36,"text":"This was the half that went to those who had fought in the war: 337,500 sheep,"},{"verse":37,"text":"and 675 of these were the share for the LORD;"},{"verse":38,"text":"36,000 cattle, and 72 of these were the share for the LORD;"},{"verse":39,"text":"30,500 donkeys, and 61 of these were the share for the LORD;"},{"verse":40,"text":"and 16,000 people, and 32 of these were the share for the LORD."},{"verse":41,"text":"Moses gave the LORD's share to Eleazar the priest as an offering for the LORD. He did as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":42,"text":"Moses had set apart the Israelites' half from the half for the men who went to war."},{"verse":43,"text":"This half belonged to the people: 337,500 sheep,"},{"verse":44,"text":"36,000 cattle,"},{"verse":45,"text":"30,500 donkeys,"},{"verse":46,"text":"and 16,000 people."},{"verse":47,"text":"From the Israelites' half, Moses took one out of every fifty people and animals. He gave them to the Levites who took care of the LORD's tabernacle. He did as the LORD had commanded him."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then the officers over the army units came to Moses. These were the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds."},{"verse":49,"text":"They said to him, \"We, your servants, have counted the soldiers under us. Not one of us is missing."},{"verse":50,"text":"So we have brought an offering to the LORD. It is the gold things each man took: arm bands, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. We bring them to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"So Moses and Eleazar the priest took from them all the things made of gold."},{"verse":52,"text":"The commanders of thousands and of hundreds gave all this gold as an offering to the LORD. It weighed 16,750 shekels.","note":"16,750 shekels is about 420 pounds."},{"verse":53,"text":"Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself."},{"verse":54,"text":"Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. They brought it into the Tent of Meeting. It was a reminder for the Israelites before the LORD."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The tribes of Reuben and Gad had very large herds and flocks. They looked over the lands of Jazer and Gilead. They saw that the area was a good place for livestock."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the men of Gad and Reuben came to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the community. They said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Look at Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD defeated these places for the people of Israel. This land is good for livestock, and we, your servants, have livestock.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"They said, \"If you are pleased with us, please give this land to your servants as our own. Don't make us cross the Jordan River.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But Moses asked the men of Gad and Reuben, \"Should your brothers go to war while you sit here?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Why are you making the Israelites lose heart? Why stop them from crossing into the land the LORD has given them?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Your fathers did the same thing. I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to look over the land."},{"verse":9,"text":"They went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land. Then they made the Israelites lose heart. They kept them from going into the land the LORD had given them."},{"verse":10,"text":"So the LORD's anger flared up that day. He made a promise with an oath. He said,"},{"verse":11,"text":"'Because they did not follow me with all their hearts, not one of the men who came out of Egypt who is 20 years old or older will see the land. It is the land I promised with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."},{"verse":12,"text":"Not one of them will see it except Caleb and Joshua. Caleb is the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua is the son of Nun. They will see it because they did follow the LORD with all their hearts.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD's anger burned against Israel. He made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years. They wandered until the whole generation who had done evil in his sight was gone."},{"verse":14,"text":"And now look at you! You are a family of sinners, and you have taken your fathers' place. You are making the LORD even more angry with Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"If you turn away from following him, he will leave these people in the wilderness again. Then you will be the reason they are destroyed.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the men of Gad and Reuben came up to Moses. They said, \"We want to build pens for our sheep here. We also want to build cities for our little children."},{"verse":17,"text":"But we will get our weapons and be ready for battle. We will go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. While we are gone, our little children will stay in the walled cities. There they will be safe from the people who live in the land."},{"verse":18,"text":"We will not go back to our homes until every Israelite has taken his own share of the land."},{"verse":19,"text":"But we will not take any land with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our share has come to us here on the east side of the Jordan.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Moses answered, \"Suppose you do this. Suppose you arm yourselves for battle before the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"Suppose every one of your armed men crosses the Jordan before the LORD. And suppose you stay until he has driven his enemies out ahead of him."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then, when the land is under control before the LORD, you may come back. You will be free of your duty to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be yours to keep before the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"But if you don't do this, you will surely sin against the LORD. And you can be sure that your sin will find you out."},{"verse":24,"text":"Build cities for your little children and pens for your flocks. But do what you have promised.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The men of Gad and Reuben said to Moses, \"We are your servants. We will do just what our master commands."},{"verse":26,"text":"Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will stay here in the cities of Gilead."},{"verse":27,"text":"But we, your servants, are armed for war. Every man will cross over to fight before the LORD, just as our master says.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua son of Nun. He also gave orders to the family leaders of the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":29,"text":"Moses told them, \"The men of Gad and Reuben may cross the Jordan with you, every man armed for battle before the LORD. If they do, and the land comes under your control, then give them the land of Gilead as their own."},{"verse":30,"text":"But if they don't arm themselves and cross over with you, they must take their land among you in the land of Canaan.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The men of Gad and Reuben answered, \"The LORD has spoken to us, your servants. We will do what he said."},{"verse":32,"text":"We will cross over into the land of Canaan armed for battle before the LORD. Then our share of land will be on this side of the Jordan.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So Moses gave land to the tribes of Gad and Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph. He gave them the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan. He gave them the whole land, with its cities and the land around them."},{"verse":34,"text":"The tribe of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,"},{"verse":36,"text":"Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as walled cities. They also built pens for their flocks."},{"verse":37,"text":"The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,"},{"verse":38,"text":"Nebo, Baal-meon, and Sibmah. The names of Nebo and Baal-meon were changed. They gave new names to the cities they rebuilt."},{"verse":39,"text":"The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead. They captured it and drove out the Amorites who lived there."},{"verse":40,"text":"So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there."},{"verse":41,"text":"Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages. He named them Havvoth-jair.","note":"Havvoth-jair means \"villages of Jair.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"And Nobah went and captured Kenath and the villages around it. He named it Nobah, after himself."}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the list of the journeys of the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. They marched in their groups, led by Moses and Aaron."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD told Moses to write down each stage of their journey, and he did. Here are the stages, listed by the places they started from:"},{"verse":3,"text":"The Israelites left Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month. It was the day after the Passover. They marched out boldly while all the Egyptians watched."},{"verse":4,"text":"The Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. For the LORD had brought judgment on their gods."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Succoth."},{"verse":6,"text":"They left Succoth and camped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness."},{"verse":7,"text":"They left Etham and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. They camped near Migdol."},{"verse":8,"text":"They left Pi-hahiroth and passed through the sea into the wilderness. They traveled three days into the Wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah."},{"verse":9,"text":"They left Marah and came to Elim. There were 12 springs and 70 palm trees there, and they camped there."},{"verse":10,"text":"They left Elim and camped by the Red Sea."},{"verse":11,"text":"They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin."},{"verse":12,"text":"They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah."},{"verse":13,"text":"They left Dophkah and camped at Alush."},{"verse":14,"text":"They left Alush and camped at Rephidim. There was no water there for the people to drink."},{"verse":15,"text":"They left Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai."},{"verse":16,"text":"They left the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah."},{"verse":17,"text":"They left Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth."},{"verse":18,"text":"They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah."},{"verse":19,"text":"They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez."},{"verse":20,"text":"They left Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah."},{"verse":21,"text":"They left Libnah and camped at Rissah."},{"verse":22,"text":"They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah."},{"verse":23,"text":"They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher."},{"verse":24,"text":"They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah."},{"verse":25,"text":"They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth."},{"verse":26,"text":"They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath."},{"verse":27,"text":"They left Tahath and camped at Terah."},{"verse":28,"text":"They left Terah and camped at Mithkah."},{"verse":29,"text":"They left Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah."},{"verse":30,"text":"They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth."},{"verse":31,"text":"They left Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan."},{"verse":32,"text":"They left Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad."},{"verse":33,"text":"They left Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah."},{"verse":34,"text":"They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah."},{"verse":35,"text":"They left Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber."},{"verse":36,"text":"They left Ezion-geber and camped at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin."},{"verse":37,"text":"They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom."},{"verse":38,"text":"The LORD told Aaron the priest to climb Mount Hor, and he did. He died there on the first day of the fifth month. It was the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt."},{"verse":39,"text":"Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor."},{"verse":40,"text":"Now the Canaanite king of Arad heard that the Israelites were coming. He lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":41,"text":"The Israelites left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah."},{"verse":42,"text":"They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon."},{"verse":43,"text":"They left Punon and camped at Oboth."},{"verse":44,"text":"They left Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab."},{"verse":45,"text":"They left Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad.","note":"Iyim is a short form of Iye-abarim."},{"verse":46,"text":"They left Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim."},{"verse":47,"text":"They left Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, facing Nebo."},{"verse":48,"text":"They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab. They were by the Jordan River, across from Jericho."},{"verse":49,"text":"There on the plains of Moab, they camped by the Jordan. Their camp stretched from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim."},{"verse":50,"text":"The LORD spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. He said,"},{"verse":51,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this. You will cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan."},{"verse":52,"text":"When you do, you must drive out all the people who live in the land. Destroy all their carved idols and metal idols. Tear down all their high places of worship."},{"verse":53,"text":"Take over the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to own."},{"verse":54,"text":"Divide the land among your clans by casting lots. Give a larger share to a larger clan and a smaller share to a smaller clan. Whatever land the lot gives to each one will be his. You will get your shares by the tribes of your fathers."},{"verse":55,"text":"But suppose you don't drive out the people who live in the land. Then those you let stay will be like sharp hooks in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will cause you trouble in the land where you live."},{"verse":56,"text":"And then I will do to you what I planned to do to them.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Give the Israelites this command. Tell them this. You are going into the land of Canaan. It will be given to you as your own land, and these will be its borders."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your southern border will start at the Wilderness of Zin and run along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will start at the end of the Salt Sea."},{"verse":4,"text":"It will cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim and go on to Zin. It will pass south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and on to Azmon."},{"verse":5,"text":"From Azmon it will turn and join the Brook of Egypt. It will end at the Sea."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your western border will be the coast of the Great Sea. This will be your border on the west."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your northern border will run from the Great Sea straight to Mount Hor."},{"verse":8,"text":"From Mount Hor it will go to Lebo-hamath. Then it will reach to Zedad."},{"verse":9,"text":"It will go on to Ziphron and end at Hazar-enan. This will be your border on the north."},{"verse":10,"text":"Your eastern border will run straight from Hazar-enan to Shepham."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then it will go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. It will go on along the hillsides east of the Sea of Chinnereth."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the border will go down along the Jordan River and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, with its borders on every side.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Moses gave this command to the Israelites. \"Divide this land by casting lots. It will be your land to pass down. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes."},{"verse":14,"text":"For the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have already been given their land."},{"verse":15,"text":"These two and a half tribes have their land across the Jordan from Jericho. It is to the east, where the sun rises.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Here are the names of the men who will give out the land to you as your own. They are Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun."},{"verse":18,"text":"Also choose one leader from each tribe to help divide the land."},{"verse":19,"text":"Here are their names. From the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh."},{"verse":20,"text":"From the tribe of Simeon, Shemuel son of Ammihud."},{"verse":21,"text":"From the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Chislon."},{"verse":22,"text":"From the tribe of Dan, the leader Bukki son of Jogli."},{"verse":23,"text":"From the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph, the leader Hanniel son of Ephod."},{"verse":24,"text":"From the tribe of Ephraim, the leader Kemuel son of Shiphtan."},{"verse":25,"text":"From the tribe of Zebulun, the leader Eli-zaphan son of Parnach."},{"verse":26,"text":"From the tribe of Issachar, the leader Paltiel son of Azzan."},{"verse":27,"text":"From the tribe of Asher, the leader Ahihud son of Shelomi."},{"verse":28,"text":"And from the tribe of Naphtali, the leader Pedahel son of Ammihud.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"These are the men the LORD commanded to give out the land to the Israelites in the land of Canaan."}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD spoke to Moses again on the plains of Moab. They were by the Jordan River, across from Jericho. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Command the Israelites to give the Levites cities to live in. They must give these from the land they will own. They must also give the fields around the cities for grazing."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Levites will live in the cities. The fields will be for their herds, their flocks, and all their other animals."},{"verse":4,"text":"The fields you give the Levites around the cities will reach out 1,500 feet from the city wall on every side.","note":"Hebrew: 1,000 cubits."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also measure 3,000 feet outside the city on each side. Measure 3,000 feet on the east, on the south, on the west, and on the north. The city will be in the middle. This land will be larger fields for the cities.","note":"Hebrew: 2,000 cubits."},{"verse":6,"text":"Six of the cities you give the Levites will be cities of refuge. A person who has killed someone may run to one of them to be safe. Besides these, give the Levites 42 other cities."},{"verse":7,"text":"In all, you will give the Levites 48 cities, along with the fields around them."},{"verse":8,"text":"These cities will come from the land the Israelites own. Each tribe will give cities to the Levites based on how much land it has. Take more from a larger tribe and fewer from a smaller one.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Speak to the Israelites and tell them this. You will cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then choose some cities to be your cities of refuge. A person who kills someone by accident may run to one of them."},{"verse":12,"text":"These cities will keep him safe from the person who wants to avenge the death. That way the one who killed will not die before he has a trial in front of the community."},{"verse":13,"text":"The cities you choose will be your six cities of refuge."},{"verse":14,"text":"Choose three cities on the east side of the Jordan. Choose three in the land of Canaan. They will be cities of refuge."},{"verse":15,"text":"These six cities will be a safe place for the Israelites. They will also be safe places for foreigners and outsiders living among them. Anyone who kills a person by accident may run there."},{"verse":16,"text":"But suppose someone hits a person with an iron object, and the person dies. Then the one who hit him is a murderer. The murderer must be put to death."},{"verse":17,"text":"Or suppose someone holds a stone big enough to kill. If he hits and kills another person, he is a murderer. The murderer must be put to death."},{"verse":18,"text":"Suppose someone holds a wooden object that can kill. If he hits and kills another person, he is a murderer. The murderer must be put to death."},{"verse":19,"text":"The avenger of blood must put the murderer to death. When he finds him, he must kill him.","note":"The avenger of blood was a close relative of the dead person."},{"verse":20,"text":"Suppose someone pushes another person out of hate. Or suppose he throws something at him on purpose, and the person dies."},{"verse":21,"text":"Or suppose he hits him with his fist because he is his enemy, and the person dies. Then the one who hit him must be put to death. He is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he must kill him."},{"verse":22,"text":"But suppose someone pushes a person all of a sudden, but not out of hate. Or suppose he throws something at him, but not on purpose."},{"verse":23,"text":"Or suppose he drops a heavy stone without seeing the person, and it kills him. He was not the person's enemy, and he did not mean to hurt him."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the community must judge between the one who killed and the avenger of blood. They must follow these rules."},{"verse":25,"text":"The community must protect the one who killed from the avenger of blood. They will send him back to the city of refuge he ran to. He must live there until the high priest dies. The high priest is the one who was anointed with the holy oil."},{"verse":26,"text":"But suppose the one who killed ever goes outside the city of refuge he ran to."},{"verse":27,"text":"And suppose the avenger of blood finds him outside his city of refuge and kills him. Then the avenger will not be guilty of murder."},{"verse":28,"text":"That is because the one who killed must stay in his city of refuge until the high priest dies. Only after the high priest dies may he go back to his own land."},{"verse":29,"text":"This will be a lasting law for you, for all the generations to come, wherever you live."},{"verse":30,"text":"If anyone kills a person, the murderer must be put to death if witnesses speak against him. But no one may be put to death because of what only one witness says."},{"verse":31,"text":"Do not take a payment to save the life of a murderer who deserves to die. He must be put to death."},{"verse":32,"text":"And do not take a payment from someone who ran to a city of refuge. Do not let him go back and live on his own land before the high priest dies."},{"verse":33,"text":"Do not make the land where you live unclean, for killing makes the land unclean. No atonement can be made for land where blood is spilled, except by the blood of the one who spilled it."},{"verse":34,"text":"Do not make the land unclean where you live and where I live. For I, the LORD, live among the Israelites.\""}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The family heads of the clan of Gilead came to Moses. Gilead was the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. His clan was one of the clans of Joseph. They also came to the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families. They spoke to them."},{"verse":2,"text":"They said, \"The LORD commanded you, our master, to give the land to the Israelites by casting lots. He also commanded you to give our brother Zelophehad's land to his daughters."},{"verse":3,"text":"But if they marry men from other tribes of Israel, their land will be taken from our fathers' share. It will be added to the tribe they marry into. So part of the land given to us would be taken away."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the Year of Jubilee will come for the Israelites. Their land will be added to the tribe they marry into. It will be taken away from the tribe of our fathers.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Moses gave the Israelites a command from the LORD. He said, \"The tribe of Joseph's sons is right."},{"verse":6,"text":"Here is what the LORD commands about Zelophehad's daughters. They may marry anyone they like. But they must marry within a clan of their father's tribe."},{"verse":7,"text":"In Israel, no land passed down in a family may move from one tribe to another tribe, because each Israelite must keep the land of his fathers' tribe."},{"verse":8,"text":"Any daughter in any tribe of Israel who receives land must marry within a clan of her father's tribe. Then every Israelite will keep the land of his fathers."},{"verse":9,"text":"No land may move from one tribe to another, for each tribe of Israel must keep its own land.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Zelophehad's daughters did what the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":11,"text":"Zelophehad's daughters were Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah. They married cousins on their father's side."},{"verse":12,"text":"They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph. So their land stayed in the tribe of their father's clan."},{"verse":13,"text":"These are the commands and rules the LORD gave the Israelites through Moses. He gave them on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River across from Jericho."}]}]},{"name":"Deuteronomy","slug":"deuteronomy","usfm":"DEU","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel. They were in the wilderness east of the Jordan River. They were in the Arabah across from Suph. It was between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab."},{"verse":2,"text":"It takes eleven days to travel from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea by the Mount Seir road."},{"verse":3,"text":"It was the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month. Moses told the Israelites everything the LORD had commanded him to tell them."},{"verse":4,"text":"This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He had also defeated Og king of Bashan at Edrei. Og lived in Ashtaroth."},{"verse":5,"text":"Moses was east of the Jordan in the land of Moab. There he began to explain this law. He said,"},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb. He said, \"You have stayed at this mountain long enough."},{"verse":7,"text":"Break camp and go on your way. Go to the hill country of the Amorites. Go to all the nearby peoples. Go to the Arabah, the hill country, the foothills, the Negev, and the seacoast. Go to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon. Go as far as the great Euphrates River."},{"verse":8,"text":"Look, I have put the land in front of you. Go in and take the land. The LORD promised with an oath to give it to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He promised it to their descendants after them too.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"At that time I said to you, \"I can't carry the load of caring for you all alone."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD your God has made you grow in number. Today you are as many as the stars in the sky."},{"verse":11,"text":"May the LORD, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times more! May he bless you as he promised."},{"verse":12,"text":"But how can I handle your troubles, your loads, and your arguments all by myself?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Choose some men from each of your tribes. Choose men who are wise, who understand, and who are respected. I will make them your leaders.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"You answered me, \"What you want to do is good.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So I took the leaders of your tribes. They were wise and respected men. I made them leaders over you. Some were in charge of a thousand people, some of a hundred, some of fifty, and some of ten. Others were officers for your tribes."},{"verse":16,"text":"At that time I gave your judges this order: \"Listen to the arguments between your people. Judge fairly between two Israelites. Judge fairly between an Israelite and a foreigner who lives among you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Don't take sides when you judge. Listen to the unimportant and the important alike. Don't be afraid of anyone, because judging belongs to God. If a case is too hard for you, bring it to me. I will hear it.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"At that time I told you everything you were to do."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then we left Horeb, as the LORD our God had commanded us. We headed toward the hill country of the Amorites. We went through all that huge and terrible wilderness you saw. Then we reached Kadesh-barnea."},{"verse":20,"text":"I said to you, \"You have reached the hill country of the Amorites. The LORD our God is giving it to us."},{"verse":21,"text":"Look, the LORD your God has put the land in front of you. Go up and take it, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Don't be afraid or lose heart.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then all of you came to me. You said, \"Let's send men ahead of us to explore the land. They can come back and tell us which road to take. They can tell us which cities to go to.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The plan seemed good to me. So I chose twelve of your men, one from each tribe."},{"verse":24,"text":"They left and went up into the hill country. They came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied out the land."},{"verse":25,"text":"They picked some of the fruit of the land and carried it down to us. They told us, \"The land the LORD our God is giving us is good.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"But you would not go up. You rebelled against the command of the LORD your God."},{"verse":27,"text":"You complained in your tents. You said, \"The LORD hates us. That's why he brought us out of Egypt. He wants to hand us over to the Amorites so they will wipe us out."},{"verse":28,"text":"Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They said, 'The people are bigger and taller than we are. The cities are large. Their walls reach up to the sky! We even saw the descendants of Anak there.'\"","note":"The descendants of Anak (the Anakim) were known as giants."},{"verse":29,"text":"So I told you, \"Don't be terrified! Don't be afraid of them!"},{"verse":30,"text":"The LORD your God goes ahead of you. He will fight for you. You saw him do it for you in Egypt."},{"verse":31,"text":"You saw it in the wilderness too. There the LORD your God carried you, like a man carries his son. He carried you all along the way until you came to this place.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"But even after all this, you did not trust the LORD your God."},{"verse":33,"text":"He went ahead of you on your journey. He was in the fire at night and in the cloud during the day. He looked for places for you to camp. He showed you the way to go."},{"verse":34,"text":"The LORD heard what you said, and he became angry. He made a promise with an oath. He said,"},{"verse":35,"text":"\"Not one man of this evil generation will see the good land. I promised with an oath to give it to your fathers."},{"verse":36,"text":"Only Caleb son of Jephunneh will see it. I will give him and his descendants the land he has walked on, because he followed the LORD with all his heart.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Because of you, the LORD was angry with me too. He said, \"You will not go into the land either."},{"verse":38,"text":"Joshua son of Nun, your helper, will go into it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to take the land as their own.","note":"Hebrew: \"who stands before you.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"You said your little ones would be taken captive. On that day your children did not yet know good from evil. But they are the ones who will go into the land. I will give it to them, and they will own it."},{"verse":40,"text":"But as for you, turn around. Head back into the wilderness on the road to the Red Sea.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Then you answered, \"We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God commanded us.\" So each of you put on your weapons. You thought it would be easy to go up into the hill country."},{"verse":42,"text":"But the LORD said to me, \"Tell them, 'Don't go up and fight. I am not with you. Your enemies will defeat you.'\""},{"verse":43,"text":"So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the LORD's command. You were proud and went up into the hill country anyway."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then the Amorites who lived in those hills came out to fight you. They chased you like a swarm of bees. They beat you and drove you all the way from Seir to Hormah."},{"verse":45,"text":"You came back and cried before the LORD. But he would not listen to you or pay attention to you."},{"verse":46,"text":"That is why you stayed in Kadesh a long time, a very long time."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then we turned back, as the LORD had told me. We headed into the wilderness on the road to the Red Sea. For many days we wandered around Mount Seir."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the LORD said to me,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"You have wandered around this hill country long enough. Turn north."},{"verse":4,"text":"Give the people this command: 'You will pass through the land of your relatives, the descendants of Esau. They live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so be very careful."},{"verse":5,"text":"Don't start a fight with them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to set your foot on. That is because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his own."},{"verse":6,"text":"You must pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD your God has blessed all the work of your hands. He has watched over you as you traveled through this huge wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these 40 years. You have not needed anything."},{"verse":8,"text":"So we passed by our relatives, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber. We traveled on the road through the Wilderness of Moab."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Don't bother the Moabites. Don't start a war with them, for I will not give you any of their land. That is because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their own.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"(The Emites used to live there. They were a strong people, and there were many of them. They were as tall as the Anakites."},{"verse":11,"text":"Like the Anakites, they were also thought of as Rephaim. But the Moabites called them Emites."},{"verse":12,"text":"The Horites used to live in Seir. But the descendants of Esau drove them out. They wiped out the Horites and settled in their place. Israel did the same thing in the land the LORD gave them as their own.)"},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD said, \"Now get up and cross the Brook of Zered.\" So we crossed the Brook of Zered."},{"verse":14,"text":"We traveled 38 years from the time we left Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Brook of Zered. By then, that whole generation of fighting men had died and was gone from the camp. This happened just as the LORD had sworn to them."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD's hand was against them. He removed them from the camp until they had all died."},{"verse":16,"text":"At last all the fighting men among the people had died."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the LORD said to me,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Today you will cross the border of Moab at Ar."},{"verse":19,"text":"But when you come near the Ammonites, don't bother them or start a fight with them. For I will not give you any of the Ammonites' land. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their own.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"(That land was also thought of as the land of the Rephaim. They used to live there. But the Ammonites called them Zamzummites."},{"verse":21,"text":"They were a strong people, and there were many of them. They were as tall as the Anakites. But the LORD wiped them out ahead of the Ammonites. The Ammonites drove them out and settled in their place."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD had done the same for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir. He wiped out the Horites ahead of them. They drove the Horites out and still live in their place today."},{"verse":23,"text":"The Avvim lived in villages as far as Gaza. But the Caphtorites came out of Caphtor and wiped them out. Then they settled in their place.)","note":"Caphtor is probably the island of Crete."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Get up and go on your way. Cross the Arnon Valley. Look, I have handed Sihon the Amorite over to you. He is king of Heshbon. I have given you his land too. Begin to take it over. Go to battle against him."},{"verse":25,"text":"This very day I will start to make all the nations under heaven fear you and dread you. They will hear about you. They will shake and be in deep pain because of you.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon. They offered him peace. They said,"},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Let us pass through your land. We will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left."},{"verse":28,"text":"Sell us food to eat and water to drink, and we will pay in silver. Just let us walk through,"},{"verse":29,"text":"as the descendants of Esau did for us. They live in Seir. The Moabites who live in Ar did it too. Let us pass until we cross the Jordan. We are going into the land the LORD our God is giving us.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through. The LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart hard. He did this so he could hand Sihon over to you. And that is what has happened today."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Look, I have begun to hand Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer his land and take it over.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So Sihon and his whole army came out to fight against us at Jahaz."},{"verse":33,"text":"The LORD our God handed him over to us. We defeated him, his sons, and his whole army."},{"verse":34,"text":"At that time we captured all his cities. We completely destroyed the people of every city, as an offering to the LORD. That included the women and children. We left no one alive.","note":"Hebrew: devoted to destruction. This means given over to God by being completely destroyed."},{"verse":35,"text":"We kept only the livestock and the goods we took from the cities we captured."},{"verse":36,"text":"We took Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley and the city in the valley. We took everything as far as Gilead. No city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them."},{"verse":37,"text":"But you did not go near the land of the Ammonites. You did not go near the land along the Jabbok River or the cities of the hill country. You stayed away from every place the LORD our God had told us not to go."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan. Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to fight us at Edrei."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the LORD said to me, \"Don't be afraid of him. I have handed him over to you. I have given you all his people and his land too. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So the LORD our God also handed Og king of Bashan and his whole army over to us. We struck them down until no one was left alive."},{"verse":4,"text":"At that time we captured all 60 of his cities. There was not one city we didn't take. We took the whole area of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan."},{"verse":5,"text":"All these cities had high walls, with gates and bars to make them strong. There were also many more villages without walls."},{"verse":6,"text":"We completely destroyed them as an offering to the LORD. We did what we had done to Sihon king of Heshbon. We destroyed the men, women, and children of every city.","note":"Hebrew: devoted them to destruction."},{"verse":7,"text":"But we kept all the livestock and the goods from the cities for ourselves."},{"verse":8,"text":"At that time we took land from the two kings of the Amorites. It was the land east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon."},{"verse":9,"text":"The people of Sidon call Mount Hermon Sirion. The Amorites call it Senir."},{"verse":10,"text":"We took all the cities of the high plain, and all of Gilead. We took all of Bashan as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og."},{"verse":11,"text":"(Og king of Bashan was the last one left of the Rephaim. His bed was made of iron. It was about 13 feet long and 6 feet wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.)","note":"Hebrew: 9 cubits long and 4 cubits wide."},{"verse":12,"text":"So at that time we took over this land. I gave land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. I gave them the land past Aroer along the Arnon Valley. I also gave them half the hill country of Gilead, with its cities."},{"verse":13,"text":"I gave the rest of Gilead to half the tribe of Manasseh. I also gave them all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og. (The whole area of Argob, all of Bashan, used to be called the land of the Rephaim.)"},{"verse":14,"text":"Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole area of Argob. He took it as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites. He named Bashan after himself. He called it Havvoth-jair, and it still has that name today."},{"verse":15,"text":"I gave Gilead to Machir."},{"verse":16,"text":"I gave the tribes of Reuben and Gad the land from Gilead down to the Arnon Valley. The middle of the valley was the border. Their land went up to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites."},{"verse":17,"text":"Their western border was the Jordan River in the Arabah. It ran from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah, which is the Salt Sea. The slopes of Pisgah were to the east."},{"verse":18,"text":"At that time I gave you this command: \"The LORD your God has given you this land to own. But all your brave men must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. They must be armed for battle."},{"verse":19,"text":"But your wives, your children, and your livestock may stay in the cities I have given you. I know you have a lot of livestock."},{"verse":20,"text":"Help your fellow Israelites until the LORD gives them rest, as he has given you. They must also take over the land the LORD your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may go back to the land I have given you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"At that time I also gave Joshua a command. I said, \"You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms you are going into."},{"verse":22,"text":"Don't be afraid of them. The LORD your God himself will fight for you.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"At that time I also begged the LORD. I said,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"O Lord GOD, you have begun to show me, your servant, how great and powerful you are. There is no god in heaven or on earth who can do the mighty things you do!"},{"verse":25,"text":"Please let me cross over and see the good land across the Jordan. Let me see that lovely hill country and Lebanon!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"But the LORD was angry with me because of you. He would not listen to me. The LORD said to me, \"That's enough! Don't speak to me about this again."},{"verse":27,"text":"Go up to the top of Pisgah. Look west, north, south, and east. See the land with your own eyes. You will not cross this Jordan."},{"verse":28,"text":"But give Joshua his orders. Encourage him and make him strong. He will lead these people across. He will help them take as their own the land you will see.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So we stayed in the valley across from Beth-peor."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now, Israel, listen to the laws and rules I am teaching you. Obey them so that you may live. Then you may go in and take over the land the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Do not add anything to what I command you. Do not take anything away from it. Then you will keep the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you."},{"verse":3,"text":"You saw with your own eyes what the LORD did at Baal-peor. The LORD your God destroyed every one of you who followed Baal of Peor."},{"verse":4,"text":"But you held on tight to the LORD your God. And every one of you is still alive today."},{"verse":5,"text":"Look, I have taught you laws and rules, just as the LORD my God commanded me. Follow them in the land you are about to enter and take over."},{"verse":6,"text":"Be careful to obey them. This will show the other nations how wise you are and how much you understand. They will hear about all these laws. They will say, \"This great nation must be a wise and understanding people!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"What other nation is so great? What other nation has a god as close to them as the LORD our God is to us? He is near whenever we call to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"And what other nation is so great that it has laws and rules as right as this whole law? I am giving it to you today."},{"verse":9,"text":"But be on guard! Watch yourselves closely. Don't forget the things you have seen with your own eyes. Don't let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren."},{"verse":10,"text":"Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb. The LORD said to me, \"Bring the people together in front of me to hear my words. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live on the earth. And they will teach my words to their children.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"You came near and stood at the bottom of the mountain. The mountain was burning with fire that reached up to the sky. There were black clouds and deep darkness."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of his words, but you did not see any shape. There was only a voice."},{"verse":13,"text":"He told you about his covenant, which he commanded you to keep. It was the Ten Commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets."},{"verse":14,"text":"At that time the LORD commanded me to teach you laws and rules. You are to follow them in the land you are crossing the Jordan to take over."},{"verse":15,"text":"You did not see any shape at all on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb. So be careful."},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't do evil by making an idol for yourselves. Don't make one in any shape or form. Don't make one that looks like a man or a woman,"},{"verse":17,"text":"or like any animal on the earth, or like any bird that flies in the air,"},{"verse":18,"text":"or like any creature that crawls on the ground, or like any fish in the waters below."},{"verse":19,"text":"You may look up to the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars, all the lights in the sky. Don't be pulled away to bow down and worship them. The LORD your God has given them to all the nations under heaven."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of Egypt, out of that furnace for melting iron. He did it so you would be his very own people, as you are today."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the LORD was angry with me because of you. He swore that I would not cross the Jordan. I would not go into the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your own."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will not cross the Jordan, because I must die in this land. But you will cross over and take that good land."},{"verse":23,"text":"Be careful not to forget the covenant the LORD your God made with you. Do not make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything. He has told you not to."},{"verse":24,"text":"For the LORD your God is a fire that burns everything up. He is a jealous God."},{"verse":25,"text":"Someday you will have children and grandchildren. You will have lived in the land a long time. Then you may do evil and make an idol of any shape. You may do what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God and make him angry."},{"verse":26,"text":"If you do, I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today. You will quickly perish from the land you are crossing the Jordan to take. You will not live there long. You will be completely destroyed."},{"verse":27,"text":"The LORD will scatter you among the peoples. Only a few of you will be left alive among the nations where the LORD will drive you."},{"verse":28,"text":"There you will serve gods made by human hands. They are made of wood and stone. They cannot see or hear or eat or smell."},{"verse":29,"text":"But if you look for the LORD your God from there, you will find him. You will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."},{"verse":30,"text":"You will be in trouble, and all these things will happen to you. Then, in days to come, you will come back to the LORD your God and obey his voice."},{"verse":31,"text":"For the LORD your God is a God of mercy. He will not leave you or destroy you. He will not forget the covenant he made with your fathers. He swore to it with an oath."},{"verse":32,"text":"Ask about the days long before you, from the day God made people on the earth. Ask from one end of the sky to the other. Has anything this great ever happened? Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?"},{"verse":33,"text":"Has any people ever heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire, as you did, and lived?"},{"verse":34,"text":"Has any god ever tried to take a nation for himself out of another nation? Has any god done it with tests, signs, wonders, and war? Has any god done it with a strong hand and an arm stretched out, and with great terrors? The LORD your God did all this for you in Egypt, right in front of you!"},{"verse":35,"text":"You were shown these things so you would know that the LORD is God. There is no other God besides him."},{"verse":36,"text":"He let you hear his voice from heaven to teach you and correct you. On earth he showed you his great fire. And you heard his words out of the fire."},{"verse":37,"text":"He loved your fathers. So he chose their descendants after them. He himself brought you out of Egypt with his great power."},{"verse":38,"text":"He drove out nations ahead of you that were greater and stronger than you. He brought you into their land and gave it to you as your own. That is what is happening today."},{"verse":39,"text":"So know this today, and keep it in your heart. The LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other."},{"verse":40,"text":"Keep his laws and commands that I am giving you today. Then things will go well for you and your children after you. You will live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you for all time."},{"verse":41,"text":"Then Moses set apart three cities east of the Jordan."},{"verse":42,"text":"A person who killed his neighbor by accident could run to one of them. He had to be someone who did not hate his neighbor before. He could run to one of these cities to save his life."},{"verse":43,"text":"The cities were Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan. Bezer was in the wilderness on the high plain. It belonged to the tribe of Reuben. Ramoth was in Gilead and belonged to the tribe of Gad. Golan was in Bashan and belonged to the tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":44,"text":"This is the law Moses gave to the Israelites."},{"verse":45,"text":"These are the laws, rules, and decrees Moses gave them after they came out of Egypt."},{"verse":46,"text":"At that time they were in the valley east of the Jordan, across from Beth-peor. It was in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. Moses and the Israelites had defeated him after they came out of Egypt."},{"verse":47,"text":"They took over the land of Sihon and the land of Og king of Bashan. These were the two Amorite kings who lived east of the Jordan."},{"verse":48,"text":"The land stretched from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley to Mount Siyon, which is Hermon."},{"verse":49,"text":"It included all the Arabah east of the Jordan. It went as far as the Sea of the Arabah, below the slopes of Pisgah."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses called all Israel together. He said to them: Listen, Israel, to the laws and rules I am telling you today. Learn them and be careful to obey them."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb."},{"verse":3,"text":"He did not make this covenant with our fathers. He made it with all of us who are alive here today."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD spoke with you face to face out of the fire on the mountain."},{"verse":5,"text":"At that time I stood between the LORD and you. I told you the word of the LORD. You were afraid of the fire, so you would not go up the mountain. And the LORD said:"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you were slaves."},{"verse":7,"text":"You shall have no other gods before me."},{"verse":8,"text":"You shall not make for yourself an idol. Do not make one in the shape of anything in the sky above, on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"You shall not bow down to them or worship them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sins of their fathers who hate me. I punish them to the third and fourth generations."},{"verse":10,"text":"But I show faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."},{"verse":11,"text":"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let anyone go unpunished who misuses his name."},{"verse":12,"text":"Keep the Sabbath day holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Six days you shall work and do all your jobs."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On that day you must not do any work. This is for you, your son, and your daughter. It is for your male and female servants. It is for your ox, your donkey, and all your animals. It is also for the foreigner living in your towns. Then your male and female servants may rest as you do."},{"verse":15,"text":"Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. The LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."},{"verse":16,"text":"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Then you will live a long time, and it will go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you."},{"verse":17,"text":"You shall not murder."},{"verse":18,"text":"You shall not commit adultery."},{"verse":19,"text":"You shall not steal."},{"verse":20,"text":"You shall not be a false witness against your neighbor."},{"verse":21,"text":"You shall not long to have your neighbor's wife. You shall not long to have your neighbor's house or field. You shall not long for his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.\"","note":"Traditionally: \"You shall not covet.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD spoke these commandments in a loud voice to all of you gathered there. He spoke out of the fire, the cloud, and the deep darkness on the mountain. He added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me."},{"verse":23,"text":"You heard the voice out of the darkness while the mountain was burning with fire. Then all the leaders of your tribes and your elders came to me."},{"verse":24,"text":"You said, \"The LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness. We have heard his voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with him."},{"verse":25,"text":"But now, why should we die? This great fire will burn us up. If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, we will die."},{"verse":26,"text":"What human being has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire, as we have, and lived?"},{"verse":27,"text":"You go near and listen to everything the LORD our God says. Then tell us everything the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"The LORD heard what you said to me. He said to me, \"I have heard what these people said to you. Everything they said is good."},{"verse":29,"text":"Oh, I wish they would always have hearts like this! I wish they would fear me and keep all my commands always. Then it would go well with them and with their children forever."},{"verse":30,"text":"Go and tell them to go back to their tents."},{"verse":31,"text":"But you stay here with me. I will tell you all the commands, laws, and rules. You must teach them to the people. They must follow them in the land I am giving them to own.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you. Do not turn away to the right or to the left."},{"verse":33,"text":"Walk in all the ways the LORD your God has commanded you. Then you will live, and things will go well for you. You will live long in the land you will own."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the commands, laws, and rules the LORD your God told me to teach you. Follow them in the land you are about to enter and take over."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then you, your children, and your grandchildren will fear the LORD your God all your lives. You will keep all his laws and commands that I give you. And you will live a long time."},{"verse":3,"text":"Listen, Israel, and be careful to obey them. Then things will go well for you. You will grow into a great many people in a land flowing with milk and honey. This is what the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."},{"verse":5,"text":"Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."},{"verse":6,"text":"Keep these words I am commanding you today in your hearts."},{"verse":7,"text":"Teach them to your children again and again. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up."},{"verse":8,"text":"Tie them on your hands as reminders. Wear them on your foreheads."},{"verse":9,"text":"Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD your God will bring you into the land. He promised with an oath to give it to you. He made that promise to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with great and beautiful cities you did not build."},{"verse":11,"text":"It has houses full of all kinds of good things you did not put there. It has wells you did not dig. It has vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you eat there and are full,"},{"verse":12,"text":"be careful not to forget the LORD. He brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you were slaves."},{"verse":13,"text":"Fear the LORD your God. Serve him only. Make your promises in his name."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. If you follow other gods, the LORD your God will become angry with you. He will wipe you off the face of the earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"Do not test the LORD your God, as you tested him at Massah."},{"verse":17,"text":"Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God. Keep the laws and decrees he has given you."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight. Then things will go well for you. You will go in and take over the good land. The LORD your God promised it with an oath to your fathers."},{"verse":19,"text":"He will drive out all your enemies ahead of you, as the LORD has said."},{"verse":20,"text":"Someday your son may ask you, \"What do these decrees, laws, and rules mean? Why did the LORD our God command you to keep them?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then tell him, \"We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. But the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand."},{"verse":22,"text":"We watched as the LORD did great and terrible signs and wonders. He sent them on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on his whole family."},{"verse":23,"text":"But he brought us out of there. He led us in and gave us the land he had promised with an oath to our fathers."},{"verse":24,"text":"The LORD commanded us to obey all these laws and to fear the LORD our God. Then things will always go well for us, and he will keep us alive. That is how it is today."},{"verse":25,"text":"If we are careful to obey all these commands before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD your God will bring you into the land you are going to take over. He will drive out many nations ahead of you. They are the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are larger and stronger than you."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD your God will hand them over to you, and you will defeat them. Then you must destroy them completely, as an offering to the LORD. Do not make any peace treaty with them. Show them no mercy.","note":"Hebrew: devote them to complete destruction."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not marry any of them. Do not give your daughters to their sons. Do not take their daughters for your sons."},{"verse":4,"text":"That is because they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods. Then the LORD will be very angry with you. He will quickly destroy you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Here is what you must do to them. Tear down their altars. Smash their sacred stone pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles. Burn their idols in the fire."},{"verse":6,"text":"For you are a people set apart as holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the earth. You are his people, his special treasure."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD did not love you and choose you because there were more of you than other peoples. In fact, you were the fewest of all peoples."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the LORD loved you, and he kept the oath he swore to your fathers. So he brought you out with a mighty hand. He set you free from the place where you were slaves. He rescued you from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt."},{"verse":9,"text":"So know that the LORD your God is God. He is the faithful God. He keeps his covenant of faithful love for a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."},{"verse":10,"text":"But he pays back those who hate him. He destroys them to their faces. He will not wait to pay back to his face anyone who hates him."},{"verse":11,"text":"So keep the commands, laws, and rules I am giving you today. Follow them."},{"verse":12,"text":"If you listen to these rules and are careful to keep them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant with you. He will show you the faithful love he promised your fathers with an oath."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will love you and bless you. He will make you grow in number. He will bless you with children. He will bless the crops of your land, your grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will bless the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. He will do this in the land he promised your fathers with an oath to give you."},{"verse":14,"text":"You will be blessed more than any other people. None of your men or women will be unable to have children. None of your animals will be without young."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD will take all sickness away from you. He will not put on you any of the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt. But he will put them on all who hate you."},{"verse":16,"text":"You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God hands over to you. Do not feel sorry for them. Do not worship their gods, because that would be a trap for you."},{"verse":17,"text":"You may think to yourself, \"These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt."},{"verse":19,"text":"Remember the great troubles you saw. Remember the signs and wonders. Remember the mighty hand and outstretched arm the LORD your God used to bring you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you are afraid of now."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD your God will also send the hornet against them. Even those who are left and hide from you will die.","note":"The meaning of \"the hornet\" is not certain. It may mean terror or panic."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not be terrified of them. The LORD your God is among you. He is a great and awesome God."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD your God will drive out these nations ahead of you little by little. You will not be allowed to get rid of them all at once. If you did, the wild animals would grow too many around you."},{"verse":23,"text":"But the LORD your God will hand them over to you. He will throw them into great panic until they are destroyed."},{"verse":24,"text":"He will hand their kings over to you. You will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand against you. You will destroy them all."},{"verse":25,"text":"You must burn up the statues of their gods. Do not want the silver and gold on them. Do not take it for yourselves, or it will trap you. For the LORD your God hates it."},{"verse":26,"text":"Do not bring anything hateful to God into your house. If you do, you will be set apart to be destroyed, just like it. Hate it completely and turn away from it in disgust, because it is set apart to be destroyed."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Be careful to obey every command I am giving you today. Then you will live and grow in number. You will go in and take over the land the LORD promised with an oath to give your fathers."},{"verse":2,"text":"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way through the wilderness these 40 years. He did it to humble you and test you. He wanted to know what was in your heart. He wanted to see if you would keep his commands or not."},{"verse":3,"text":"He humbled you and let you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna. You and your fathers had never known about it before. He did this to teach you that people do not live on bread alone. They live on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your clothes did not wear out, and your feet did not swell during these 40 years."},{"verse":5,"text":"So know this in your heart. A father trains and corrects his son. In the same way, the LORD your God trains and corrects you."},{"verse":6,"text":"So keep the commands of the LORD your God. Walk in his ways and fear him."},{"verse":7,"text":"For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land. It is a land of streams and pools of water. Springs flow out in its valleys and hills."},{"verse":8,"text":"It is a land of wheat and barley, of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates. It is a land of olive oil and honey."},{"verse":9,"text":"In that land you will have plenty of food to eat. You will not need anything. Its rocks have iron in them. You can dig copper out of its hills."},{"verse":10,"text":"When you have eaten and are full, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you."},{"verse":11,"text":"Be careful not to forget the LORD your God. Do not fail to keep his commands, rules, and laws that I am giving you today."},{"verse":12,"text":"Otherwise, when you eat and are full, and when you build nice houses and live in them,"},{"verse":13,"text":"and when your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold increase, and everything you have grows,"},{"verse":14,"text":"then your heart will become proud. You will forget the LORD your God. He brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you were slaves."},{"verse":15,"text":"He led you through the huge and terrible wilderness. It had poisonous snakes and scorpions. It was a dry land with no water. He brought you water out of hard rock."},{"verse":16,"text":"He fed you manna in the wilderness. Your fathers had never known about it. He did this to humble you and test you. Then in the end he could do good things for you."},{"verse":17,"text":"You might think to yourself, \"I got all this wealth by my own power and strength.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you the power to get wealth. He does it to keep his covenant, which he promised your fathers with an oath. He still keeps it today."},{"verse":19,"text":"If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods to worship them and bow down to them, I warn you today that you will surely perish."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD has destroyed nations ahead of you. If you do not obey the LORD your God, you will perish just like them."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Listen, Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan River. You will go in and take the land from nations bigger and stronger than you. Their cities are large, with walls that reach up to the sky."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people are strong and tall. They are the Anakim. You know about them. You have heard people say, \"Who can stand up against the sons of Anak?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But know this today. The LORD your God is crossing over ahead of you like a fire that burns everything up. He will destroy them. He will bring them down in front of you. And you will drive them out and wipe them out fast, just as the LORD promised you."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD your God will drive them out in front of you. When he does, do not say to yourself, \"The LORD brought me in to take this land because I do what is right.\" No, the LORD is driving out these nations in front of you because they are wicked."},{"verse":5,"text":"You are not going in to take their land because you do what is right or because your heart is honest. The LORD your God is driving out these nations in front of you because they are wicked. He is also doing it to keep the promise he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."},{"verse":6,"text":"So understand this. The LORD your God is not giving you this good land to own because you do what is right. After all, you are a stubborn people.","note":"Hebrew: stiff-necked."},{"verse":7,"text":"Remember this, and never forget it. You made the LORD your God angry in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you got to this place, you have kept rebelling against the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"At Horeb you made the LORD angry. He was angry enough to destroy you."},{"verse":9,"text":"I went up on the mountain to get the stone tablets. They were the tablets of the covenant the LORD made with you. I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I ate no bread, and I drank no water."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD gave me the two stone tablets. They were written by the finger of God. On them were the exact words the LORD spoke to you from the fire on the mountain. He spoke them on the day all of you gathered there."},{"verse":11,"text":"At the end of the forty days and forty nights, the LORD gave me the two stone tablets. They were the tablets of the covenant."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Get up and go down from here right now. Your people, the ones you brought out of Egypt, have become evil. They have turned away so fast from the way I commanded them! They have made an idol for themselves out of melted metal.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD also said to me, \"I have seen these people. They really are a stubborn people."},{"verse":14,"text":"Leave me alone so I can destroy them. I will wipe out their name from under heaven. Then I will make you into a nation stronger and greater than they are.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So I turned and went back down the mountain. The mountain was blazing with fire. The two tablets of the covenant were in my hands."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God. You had made yourselves a calf out of melted metal. You had quickly turned away from the way the LORD had commanded you."},{"verse":17,"text":"So I took the two tablets and threw them down from my hands. I smashed them to pieces right in front of you."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then I lay face down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, just like the first time. I ate no bread and drank no water. I did this because of all the sin you had done. You had done what was evil in the LORD's eyes, and you had made him angry."},{"verse":19,"text":"I was afraid of the LORD's anger and fury against you. He was angry enough to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me this time too."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD was also angry enough with Aaron to destroy him. But at that time I prayed for Aaron too."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then I took that sinful thing you had made, the calf, and burned it in the fire. I crushed it and ground it into powder as fine as dust. Then I threw the dust into the stream that flowed down the mountain."},{"verse":22,"text":"You also made the LORD angry at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea. He said, \"Go up and take the land I have given you.\" But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You did not trust him, and you did not obey him."},{"verse":24,"text":"You have been rebelling against the LORD ever since the day I first knew you."},{"verse":25,"text":"So I lay face down before the LORD for those forty days and forty nights. I did it because the LORD had said he would destroy you."},{"verse":26,"text":"I prayed to the LORD. I said, \"Lord GOD, please do not destroy your people. They are your own special people. You redeemed them by your great power. You brought them out of Egypt with your mighty hand.","note":"Hebrew: your inheritance."},{"verse":27,"text":"Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Look past how stubborn these people are. Look past their wickedness and their sin."},{"verse":28,"text":"If you don't, the people in the land you brought us out of will talk. They will say, 'The LORD was not able to bring them into the land he promised them. And he hated them. So he brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"But they are your people. They are your own special people. You brought them out by your great power and your strong arm.\"","note":"Hebrew: your inheritance ... your outstretched arm."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time the LORD said to me, \"Cut out two stone tablets like the first ones. Come up to me on the mountain. And make an ark out of wood."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the first tablets, the ones you broke. Then you must put them in the ark.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So I made an ark out of acacia wood. I cut out two stone tablets like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD wrote on the tablets what he had written before. It was the Ten Commandments. He had spoken them to you on the mountain from the fire, on the day all of you gathered there. And the LORD gave them to me."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I turned and went back down the mountain. I put the tablets in the ark I had made, just as the LORD commanded me. They are still there today."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Israelites traveled from the wells of Bene-jaakan to Moserah. Aaron died there and was buried there. His son Eleazar took his place as priest.","note":"Hebrew: Beeroth Bene-jaakan (the wells of the sons of Jaakan)."},{"verse":7,"text":"From there they traveled to Gudgodah. From Gudgodah they went on to Jotbathah, a land with streams of water."},{"verse":8,"text":"At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi. Their job was to carry the ark of the LORD's covenant. They were to stand before the LORD and serve him. And they were to speak blessings in his name. They still do this today."},{"verse":9,"text":"That is why Levi has no share of land like his brothers. The LORD himself is Levi's share, just as the LORD your God promised him."},{"verse":10,"text":"I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, just like the first time. And this time too the LORD listened to me. He agreed not to destroy you."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Get up. Go on your way and lead the people. Then they can go in and take the land I swore to their fathers to give them.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you? He asks you to fear the LORD your God and to walk in all his ways. He asks you to love him. He asks you to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."},{"verse":13,"text":"He asks you to keep the LORD's commands and laws that I am giving you today. They are for your own good."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, the heavens belong to the LORD your God, even the highest heavens. The earth and everything in it belong to him too."},{"verse":15,"text":"Yet the LORD set his heart on your fathers and loved them. And he chose you, their children after them, out of all the peoples. You are still his chosen ones today."},{"verse":16,"text":"So circumcise your hearts. Do not be stubborn anymore.","note":"Hebrew: stiffen your necks no more."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome. He does not play favorites, and he does not take bribes."},{"verse":18,"text":"He makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly. He loves the foreigner, and he gives him food and clothes."},{"verse":19,"text":"So you also must love the foreigner. After all, you were foreigners yourselves in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":20,"text":"You must fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold on tight to him. Make your promises in his name."},{"verse":21,"text":"He is the one you praise, and he is your God. He has done these great and awesome wonders for you. You saw them with your own eyes."},{"verse":22,"text":"When your fathers went down to Egypt, there were only seventy of them. But now the LORD your God has made you as many as the stars in the sky."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So love the LORD your God. Always do what he tells you. Keep his laws, his rules, and his commands."},{"verse":2,"text":"Know this today. It was not your children who saw how the LORD your God trained and corrected you. It was you. You saw how great he is. You saw his mighty hand and his strong arm."},{"verse":3,"text":"You saw the signs and works he did in Egypt. He did them to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to his whole land."},{"verse":4,"text":"You saw what he did to the army of Egypt, to its horses and its chariots. They were chasing you, and he made the waters of the Red Sea cover them. He destroyed them completely. They are still gone today."},{"verse":5,"text":"You saw what he did for you in the wilderness until you reached this place."},{"verse":6,"text":"And you saw what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab from the tribe of Reuben. It happened in the middle of all the Israelites. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up. It swallowed their families, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your own eyes have seen every great thing the LORD has done."},{"verse":8,"text":"So keep every command I am giving you today. Then you will be strong enough to go in and take the land. You are about to cross the Jordan to take it."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then you will also live a long time in the land. The LORD swore to give it to your fathers and to their children. It is a land flowing with milk and honey."},{"verse":10,"text":"The land you are going into is not like the land of Egypt, where you came from. In Egypt you planted your seed. Then you watered it by working with your feet, as you would water a vegetable garden."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take is different. It is a land of mountains and valleys. It drinks in the rain that falls from the sky."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD your God cares for this land. His eyes are always on it, from the start of the year to the end."},{"verse":13,"text":"So if you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the LORD your God and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,"},{"verse":14,"text":"then I will send rain on your land at the right time. I will send the fall rains and the spring rains. Then you can gather your grain, your new wine, and your olive oil."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will give grass in the fields for your animals. And you will eat and be full."},{"verse":16,"text":"But be careful. Do not let yourselves be tricked into turning away to worship other gods and bow down to them."},{"verse":17,"text":"If you do, the LORD's anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky so no rain falls. The land will not grow its crops. And you will soon die off from the good land the LORD is giving you."},{"verse":18,"text":"Put these words of mine deep in your hearts and minds. Tie them on your hands as reminders. Wear them on your foreheads."},{"verse":19,"text":"Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up."},{"verse":20,"text":"Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then you and your children will live a long time in the land. The LORD swore to give it to your fathers. You will live there as long as the sky is above the earth."},{"verse":22,"text":"If you carefully keep all these commands I am giving you to follow, and if you love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, and hold on tight to him,"},{"verse":23,"text":"then the LORD will drive out all these nations in front of you. You will take the land from nations bigger and stronger than you."},{"verse":24,"text":"Every place you set your foot will be yours. Your land will reach from the wilderness to Lebanon. It will reach from the Euphrates River to the Western Sea.","note":"The Western Sea is the Mediterranean Sea."},{"verse":25,"text":"No one will be able to stand against you. Wherever you go in the land, the LORD your God will make people fear you and be terrified of you. He promised you this."},{"verse":26,"text":"Look, today I am putting in front of you a blessing and a curse."},{"verse":27,"text":"You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today."},{"verse":28,"text":"But you will be cursed if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God. You will be cursed if you turn away from the path I am commanding you today to follow other gods you have not known."},{"verse":29,"text":"The LORD your God will bring you into the land you are going in to take. When he does, you must announce the blessing on Mount Gerizim. And you must announce the curse on Mount Ebal."},{"verse":30,"text":"These mountains are on the other side of the Jordan, aren't they? They are west of the road, toward the sunset. They are in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah. They are across from Gilgal, near the Oak of Moreh."},{"verse":31,"text":"You are about to cross the Jordan to go in and take the land. The LORD your God is giving it to you. When you take it over and settle there,"},{"verse":32,"text":"be careful to follow all the laws and rules I am giving you today."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the laws and rules you must be careful to follow. Follow them all the days you live in the land. The LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you this land to own."},{"verse":2,"text":"You are driving out the nations there. Completely destroy all the places where they served their gods. Destroy them on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tear down their altars. Smash their sacred stone pillars. Burn up their Asherah poles. Cut down the idols of their gods. Wipe out their names from every one of those places."},{"verse":4,"text":"You must not worship the LORD your God the way they worship their gods."},{"verse":5,"text":"Instead, the LORD your God will choose a place from among all your tribes. He will put his Name there to live. You must look for that place and go there."},{"verse":6,"text":"That is the place where you must bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices. Bring your tithes and your raised offerings. Bring the offerings you promised and the offerings you choose to give. Bring the firstborn of your herds and flocks too.","note":"Hebrew: heave offerings."},{"verse":7,"text":"There you and your families will eat in the presence of the LORD your God. You will celebrate all that you have done, because the LORD your God has blessed you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You must not do what we are doing here today. Right now everyone does whatever he thinks is right."},{"verse":9,"text":"That is because you have not yet come to the place of rest. You have not yet come to the land the LORD your God is giving you as your own."},{"verse":10,"text":"But you will cross the Jordan and live in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your own. He will give you rest from all the enemies around you. You will live there safely."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD your God will choose a place to be the home for his Name. You must bring everything I command you to that place. Bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts. Bring all the best offerings you promise to give the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"And you will celebrate before the LORD your God. Celebrate with your sons and daughters and your male and female servants. Celebrate with the Levite who lives in your town, since he has no share of land among you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings at just any place you see."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in the land of one of your tribes. That is where you must do everything I command you."},{"verse":15,"text":"But you may kill animals and eat meat in any of your towns whenever you want. Eat as much as the LORD your God has blessed you with. People who are ceremonially clean and people who are unclean may both eat it. They may eat it as they would eat a gazelle or a deer."},{"verse":16,"text":"But you must not eat the blood. Pour it out on the ground like water."},{"verse":17,"text":"There are some things you must not eat in your own towns. Do not eat the tithe of your grain, your new wine, or your olive oil there. Do not eat the firstborn of your herds or flocks there. Do not eat there any offering you promised to give, your freewill offerings, or your special gifts."},{"verse":18,"text":"Instead, you must eat them in the presence of the LORD your God. Eat them at the place the LORD your God will choose. Eat them with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite in your town. Celebrate before the LORD your God in all that you do."},{"verse":19,"text":"And be careful not to forget about the Levites as long as you live in your land."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD your God will make your land bigger, as he has promised. Then you may want meat and say, \"I want to eat some meat.\" If so, you may eat it whenever you want."},{"verse":21,"text":"The place where the LORD your God chooses to put his Name may be too far away from you. If it is, you may kill any of the cattle or sheep the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you. You may eat it in your own town whenever you want."},{"verse":22,"text":"Yes, you may eat it as you would eat a gazelle or a deer. People who are ceremonially unclean and people who are clean may both eat it."},{"verse":23,"text":"Just be sure you do not eat the blood. The blood is the life. You must not eat the life along with the meat."},{"verse":24,"text":"You must not eat the blood. Pour it out on the ground like water."},{"verse":25,"text":"Do not eat it. Then things will go well for you and for your children after you, because you will be doing what is right in the LORD's eyes."},{"verse":26,"text":"But take your holy things and the offerings you have promised. Go with them to the place the LORD will choose."},{"verse":27,"text":"Offer the meat and the blood of your burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD your God. For your other sacrifices, the blood must be poured out beside the altar of the LORD your God. But you may eat the meat."},{"verse":28,"text":"Be careful to obey all these things I command you. Then it will always go well for you and for your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the LORD your God."},{"verse":29,"text":"You are going in to take the land from the nations there. The LORD your God will cut them off in front of you. You will drive them out and live in their land."},{"verse":30,"text":"After they are destroyed in front of you, be careful not to be trapped by their ways. Do not ask about their gods. Do not say, \"How do these nations serve their gods? I will do the same thing.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"You must not worship the LORD your God that way, because they do every disgusting thing the LORD hates for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods."},{"verse":32,"text":"Make sure you do everything I command you. Do not add anything to it, and do not take anything away from it."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A prophet or someone who has dreams may come among you. He may tell you about a sign or a wonder."},{"verse":2,"text":"The sign or wonder he told you about may even come true. But then he says, \"Let us follow other gods and worship them.\" These are gods you have not known."},{"verse":3,"text":"If that happens, you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you. He wants to find out if you love him with all your heart and with all your soul."},{"verse":4,"text":"You must follow the LORD your God and fear him. Keep his commands and listen to his voice. Serve him and hold on tight to him."},{"verse":5,"text":"That prophet or dreamer must be put to death. He has called for rebellion against the LORD your God. The LORD brought you out of the land of Egypt. He redeemed you from the land where you were slaves. But this man has tried to turn you away from the way the LORD your God commanded you to live. So you must get rid of the evil among you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Someone close to you may secretly try to lead you astray. It may be your own brother, your son or daughter, the wife you love, or your closest friend. He may say, \"Let us go and worship other gods.\" These are gods that neither you nor your fathers have known."},{"verse":7,"text":"They may be the gods of the peoples around you, near or far. They may be from one end of the earth to the other."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not give in to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or protect him."},{"verse":9,"text":"Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first to put him to death. Then the hands of all the people must follow."},{"verse":10,"text":"Stone him to death. He tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the land where you were slaves."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then all Israel will hear about it and be afraid. No one among you will ever do such a wicked thing again."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD your God is giving you cities to live in. You may hear something said about one of them."},{"verse":13,"text":"You may hear that wicked men have come from among you. They have led the people of their city astray. They have said, \"Let us go and serve other gods.\" These are gods you have not known."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then you must ask questions and look into it. Find out everything. It may be proven true that this disgusting thing has been done among you."},{"verse":15,"text":"If so, you must surely kill the people of that city with the sword. Devote it to destruction. Destroy all its people and all its animals."},{"verse":16,"text":"Gather everything taken from the city into the middle of its public square. Then burn the whole city and everything taken from it. It will be a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. The city must stay a pile of ruins forever. It must never be built again."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not keep for yourselves anything that was devoted to destruction. Then the LORD will turn away from his burning anger. He will show you mercy and kindness. He will make you grow in number, as he swore to your fathers."},{"verse":18,"text":"He will do this because you obey the LORD your God. You will keep all his commands that I am giving you today. And you will do what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You are sons of the LORD your God. So do not cut yourselves for the dead. Do not shave the front of your heads for them."},{"verse":2,"text":"You are a people set apart as holy to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. You are his own treasured people."},{"verse":3,"text":"You must not eat anything disgusting."},{"verse":4,"text":"These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,"},{"verse":5,"text":"the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep."},{"verse":6,"text":"You may eat any animal that has a hoof split in two and that chews the cud."},{"verse":7,"text":"But some animals only chew the cud, and some only have a split hoof. You must not eat these: the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger. They chew the cud, but they do not have a split hoof. They are unclean for you."},{"verse":8,"text":"The pig is unclean for you too. It has a split hoof, but it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its dead body."},{"verse":9,"text":"Of all the creatures that live in the water, you may eat anything that has fins and scales."},{"verse":10,"text":"But you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales. It is unclean for you."},{"verse":11,"text":"You may eat any clean bird."},{"verse":12,"text":"But you may not eat these birds: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,"},{"verse":13,"text":"the red kite, the falcon, any kind of kite,"},{"verse":14,"text":"any kind of raven,"},{"verse":15,"text":"the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,"},{"verse":16,"text":"the little owl, the great owl, the white owl,"},{"verse":17,"text":"the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant,"},{"verse":18,"text":"the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, or the bat."},{"verse":19,"text":"All insects that fly are unclean for you. You must not eat them."},{"verse":20,"text":"But you may eat any clean bird."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not eat any animal that died by itself. You may give it to a foreigner living in your town, and he may eat it. Or you may sell it to a foreigner. Do this because you are a holy people who belong to the LORD your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."},{"verse":22,"text":"Be sure to set aside a tenth of all the crops that grow in your fields each year."},{"verse":23,"text":"Eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil in the presence of the LORD your God. Eat the firstborn of your herds and flocks there too. Do it at the place he will choose to be the home for his Name. Then you will learn to always fear the LORD your God."},{"verse":24,"text":"But the place the LORD your God chooses to put his Name may be too far away. The trip may be too long for you to carry what the LORD your God has blessed you with."},{"verse":25,"text":"If so, trade it for money. Take the money with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then spend the money on anything you want. Buy cattle, sheep, wine, strong drink, or anything you like. Then you and your family must feast there in the presence of the LORD your God and celebrate."},{"verse":27,"text":"And do not forget about the Levite who lives in your town. He has no share of land among you."},{"verse":28,"text":"At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your crops from that year. Store it in your towns."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then the Levite may come and eat until he is full, because he has no share of land among you. The foreigner, the orphan, and the widow in your towns may also come and eat until they are full. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work you do."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is how you must cancel them. Everyone who has lent something to his neighbor must cancel the loan. He must not make his neighbor or his brother pay it back. That is because the LORD's time for canceling debts has been announced."},{"verse":3,"text":"You may make a foreigner pay you back. But you must cancel whatever your brother owes you."},{"verse":4,"text":"But there will be no poor people among you, because the LORD will surely bless you in the land. The LORD your God is giving you this land to own as your share."},{"verse":5,"text":"He will do this if you just obey the LORD your God. Be careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD your God will bless you as he has promised. Then you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow from any. You will rule over many nations, but none will rule over you."},{"verse":7,"text":"There may be a poor man among your brothers in one of your towns. It may be in the land the LORD your God is giving you. If so, do not be hard-hearted toward your poor brother. Do not close your hand to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"Instead, open your hand to him. Gladly lend him whatever he needs."},{"verse":9,"text":"Be careful not to let this wicked thought into your heart: \"The seventh year is near. That is the year when debts are canceled.\" Do not let that thought make you look at your poor brother with a stingy heart and give him nothing. If you do, he will cry out to the LORD against you. And you will be guilty of sin."},{"verse":10,"text":"Give to him freely. Do not feel sad in your heart when you give. Because of this, the LORD your God will bless you in all your work. He will bless everything you put your hand to."},{"verse":11,"text":"There will always be poor people in the land. That is why I am commanding you to open your hand wide to your brother. Open it wide to the poor and needy people in your land."},{"verse":12,"text":"A fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, may be sold to you. That person may serve you for six years. Then in the seventh year you must set that servant free."},{"verse":13,"text":"And when you set him free, do not send him away with empty hands."},{"verse":14,"text":"Give him plenty from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. Give to him in the same way the LORD your God has blessed you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. And the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I am giving you this command today."},{"verse":16,"text":"But your servant may say to you, 'I don't want to leave you.' He may say this because he loves you and your family and is doing well with you."},{"verse":17,"text":"If so, take an awl, a sharp tool. Push it through his ear into the door. Then he will be your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do not think it is too hard to set your servant free, because his six years of work were worth twice as much as a hired worker's pay. And the LORD your God will bless you in all you do."},{"verse":19,"text":"Every firstborn male born to your herds and flocks must be set apart for the LORD your God. Do not put the firstborn of your oxen to work. Do not cut the wool from the firstborn of your sheep."},{"verse":20,"text":"Each year you and your family must eat these animals before the LORD your God. Eat them at the place the LORD will choose."},{"verse":21,"text":"But an animal may have something wrong with it. It may be lame or blind, or it may have some other serious flaw. If so, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God."},{"verse":22,"text":"Eat it in your own town. People who are ceremonially unclean and people who are clean may both eat it. They may eat it as they would eat a gazelle or a deer."},{"verse":23,"text":"But you must not eat the blood. Pour it out on the ground like water."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Keep the month of Abib. Celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God in that month. Do this because in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt at night."},{"verse":2,"text":"Offer the Passover sacrifice to the LORD your God from your cattle or your sheep. Offer it at the place the LORD will choose to be the home for his Name."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not eat bread made with yeast along with it. For seven days eat bread made without yeast with it. It is the bread of suffering. Eat it because you left the land of Egypt in a hurry. Then you will remember the day you left the land of Egypt for the rest of your life."},{"verse":4,"text":"For seven days there must be no yeast anywhere in your land. You will sacrifice meat in the evening of the first day. None of that meat may be left over until morning."},{"verse":5,"text":"You must not sacrifice the Passover animal in just any of the towns the LORD your God gives you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Offer the Passover sacrifice only at the place the LORD your God will choose to be the home for his Name. Do it in the evening as the sun goes down. That is the time of day you left Egypt."},{"verse":7,"text":"Roast the animal and eat it at the place the LORD your God will choose. Then in the morning go back to your tents."},{"verse":8,"text":"For six days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the seventh day, hold a special meeting to worship the LORD your God. Do no work that day."},{"verse":9,"text":"Count seven weeks. Start counting from the day you first cut the standing grain with a sickle."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God. Bring an offering you choose to give. Give as much as the LORD your God has blessed you."},{"verse":11,"text":"And celebrate before the LORD your God at the place he will choose to be the home for his Name. Celebrate with your sons and daughters and your male and female servants. Celebrate with the Levite in your town and with the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. Be careful to follow these laws."},{"verse":13,"text":"Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days. Do it after you have gathered in your crops from your threshing floor and your winepress.","note":"Also called the Feast of Booths or Shelters."},{"verse":14,"text":"Be joyful at your feast. Celebrate with your sons and daughters and your male and female servants. Celebrate with the Levite and with the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you."},{"verse":15,"text":"For seven days, hold a feast to the LORD your God at the place he will choose. Do this because the LORD your God will bless all your crops and all the work you do. So your joy will be full."},{"verse":16,"text":"Three times a year all your men must come before the LORD your God at the place he will choose. They must come at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should come before the LORD with empty hands."},{"verse":17,"text":"Each man must bring a gift as he is able. He should give as much as the LORD your God has blessed you."},{"verse":18,"text":"Choose judges and officials for your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you. They must judge the people fairly."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do not twist justice. Do not play favorites. Do not take a bribe. A bribe blinds the eyes of wise people. It twists the words of those who do what is right."},{"verse":20,"text":"Go after justice, and only justice. Then you will live, and you will own the land the LORD your God is giving you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not set up any wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you will build for the LORD your God."},{"verse":22,"text":"And do not set up a sacred stone pillar for yourselves. The LORD your God hates these."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Do not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep that has something wrong with it or has any serious flaw. That would be disgusting to the LORD your God."},{"verse":2,"text":"A man or woman among you may be found doing evil in the eyes of the LORD your God. It may be in one of the towns the LORD your God gives you. That person may be breaking his covenant."},{"verse":3,"text":"That person may have gone to worship other gods and bow down to them. Or they may bow down to the sun or the moon or any of the stars in the sky. I have forbidden this."},{"verse":4,"text":"Someone may tell you about it, and you hear about it. Then you must look into it carefully. The report may be true. This disgusting thing may really have happened in Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"If so, bring the man or woman who did this evil thing out to your town gates. Then stone that person to death."},{"verse":6,"text":"A person may be put to death only if two or three witnesses speak against him. No one may be put to death if only one witness speaks against him."},{"verse":7,"text":"The witnesses must be the first to put him to death. After that, all the people must join in. So you must get rid of the evil among you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Some cases in your towns may be too hard for you to judge. They may be about killing, lawsuits, or attacks. If so, go up to the place the LORD your God will choose."},{"verse":9,"text":"Go to the priests, who are Levites, and to the judge who is in charge at that time. Ask them about the case. They will tell you their decision."},{"verse":10,"text":"You must follow the decision they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they tell you."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do what the law they teach you says. Do what their decision says. Do not turn away from what they tell you, either to the right or to the left."},{"verse":12,"text":"But someone may proudly refuse to listen to the priest who serves the LORD your God there. Or he may refuse to listen to the judge. That man must be put to death. You must get rid of the evil in Israel."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then all the people will hear about it and be afraid. They will not act so proudly again."},{"verse":14,"text":"You will go into the land the LORD your God is giving you. You will take it over and settle there. Then you may say, \"Let us put a king over us like all the nations around us.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"If so, be sure to make the king the one the LORD your God chooses. He must be one of your own people. Do not put a foreigner over you as king, someone who is not one of your brothers."},{"verse":16,"text":"But the king must not get many horses for himself. He must not send the people back to Egypt to get more horses. The LORD has told you, 'You must never go back that way again.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"The king must not take many wives for himself. If he does, his heart will be led away. He must not pile up lots of silver and gold for himself."},{"verse":18,"text":"When he sits on his royal throne, he must write a copy of this law for himself on a scroll. He must do it in front of the priests, who are Levites."},{"verse":19,"text":"He must keep it with him and read from it all the days of his life. Then he will learn to fear the LORD his God. He will learn to carefully obey all the words of this law and these rules."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then he will not think he is better than his fellow Israelites. He will not turn away from the commands, to the right or to the left. Then he and his sons will rule over his kingdom in Israel for many years."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The priests, who are Levites, will have no share of land in Israel. In fact, the whole tribe of Levi will have none. They will eat the food offerings made to the LORD. That is their share."},{"verse":2,"text":"They will have no share of land among their brothers. The LORD himself is their share, as he promised them."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is the part the priests will get from the people who offer a sacrifice, a bull or a sheep. The priests must be given the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach."},{"verse":4,"text":"Give them the firstfruits of your grain, your new wine, and your olive oil. Also give them the first wool you cut from your sheep."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD your God has chosen Levi and his sons out of all your tribes. They are to stand and serve in his name for all time."},{"verse":6,"text":"A Levite may move from any town where he lives in Israel. He may come with all his heart to the place the LORD will choose."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he may serve in the name of the LORD his God. He may serve like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"He must get an equal share of the food, even though he has money from selling his family's property."},{"verse":9,"text":"You will go into the land the LORD your God is giving you. When you do, do not copy the disgusting ways of the nations there."},{"verse":10,"text":"No one among you must sacrifice his son or daughter in the fire. No one must try to tell the future, use magic, read signs, or practice witchcraft."},{"verse":11,"text":"No one must cast spells. No one must go to a medium or a spiritist, or try to talk to the dead."},{"verse":12,"text":"Anyone who does these things is disgusting to the LORD. The LORD your God is driving out the nations in front of you because of these disgusting things."},{"verse":13,"text":"You must be without fault before the LORD your God."},{"verse":14,"text":"You will drive out these nations. They listen to people who use magic and try to tell the future. But the LORD your God has not let you do that."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me. He will come from among your own people. You must listen to him."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what you asked the LORD your God for at Horeb. It was on the day all of you gathered there. You said, \"Don't let us hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore. Don't let us see this great fire anymore, or we will die!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"What they said is good."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people. I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him."},{"verse":19,"text":"The prophet will speak my words in my name. If anyone does not listen to them, I will hold that person responsible."},{"verse":20,"text":"But a prophet may dare to speak a message in my name that I did not command him to speak. Or he may speak in the name of other gods. That prophet must be put to death.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"You may ask yourselves, \"How can we tell when a message is not from the LORD?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"A prophet may speak in the name of the LORD, but what he says does not happen or come true. Then that message is not from the LORD. That prophet has spoken out of pride. Do not be afraid of him."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD your God will cut off the nations whose land he is giving you. You will drive them out and live in their cities and houses."},{"verse":2,"text":"When that happens, set apart three cities for yourselves. They must be in the land the LORD your God is giving you to own."},{"verse":3,"text":"Build roads to them. Divide the land the LORD your God is giving you into three parts. Then anyone who has killed a person can run to one of these cities."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is the rule for someone who kills a person and runs to one of these cities to save his life. He must have killed his neighbor by accident. He must not have meant to hurt him."},{"verse":5,"text":"For example, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood. He swings his axe to chop down a tree. But the axe head flies off the handle. It hits his neighbor and kills him. That man may run to one of these cities to save his life."},{"verse":6,"text":"If he can't, the relative who avenges the dead man might chase him in anger. If the trip is long, he might catch him and kill him. But the man did not deserve to die. He did not mean to hurt anyone.","note":"Hebrew: the avenger of blood."},{"verse":7,"text":"That is why I am commanding you to set apart three cities for yourselves."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD your God may make your land bigger, as he swore to your fathers. He may give you all the land he promised them."},{"verse":9,"text":"And you may carefully keep all these commands I am giving you today. You may love the LORD your God and always walk in his ways. If so, then add three more cities to these three."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then innocent blood will not be spilled in the land the LORD your God is giving you as your own. And you will not be guilty of killing."},{"verse":11,"text":"But a man may hate his neighbor. He may hide and wait for him, attack him, and kill him. Then he may run to one of these cities."},{"verse":12,"text":"If so, the elders of his own city must send for him and bring him back. They must hand him over to the relative who avenges the dead man. And he will die."},{"verse":13,"text":"Show him no pity. You must get rid of the guilt of killing innocent people from Israel. Then things will go well for you."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone. People who lived long ago set it up. It marks the share you will get in the land the LORD your God is giving you to own."},{"verse":15,"text":"One witness is not enough to prove that a man did any wrong or sin. It does not matter what he did. A matter must be proven by two or three witnesses."},{"verse":16,"text":"A witness may lie about someone and accuse him of a crime."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then both people in the argument must stand in the presence of the LORD. They must stand before the priests and judges who are serving at that time."},{"verse":18,"text":"The judges must look into it carefully. The witness may be proven to be a liar. He may have told lies about his brother."},{"verse":19,"text":"If so, do to him what he planned to do to his brother. So you must get rid of the evil among you."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid. They will never again do such an evil thing among you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Show no pity. It must be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. It must be a hand for a hand and a foot for a foot."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You will go out to fight against your enemies. You may see horses and chariots and an army bigger than yours. Do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God is with you. He is the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":2,"text":"When you are about to go into battle, the priest must come forward and speak to the army."},{"verse":3,"text":"He must say to them, \"Listen, Israel! Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not lose heart or be afraid. Do not panic or be terrified of them."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies. He will give you the victory.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the officers must speak to the army. They must say, \"Has anyone built a new house but not yet dedicated it? He should go home. Otherwise he might die in battle, and someone else would dedicate it."},{"verse":6,"text":"Has anyone planted a vineyard but not yet started to enjoy its fruit? He should go home. Otherwise he might die in battle, and someone else would enjoy its fruit."},{"verse":7,"text":"Is anyone engaged to a woman but not yet married to her? He should go home. Otherwise he might die in battle, and someone else would marry her.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the officers must say more to the army. They must say, \"Is anyone afraid or losing heart? He should go home. Then his brothers won't lose heart like him.\"","note":"Hebrew: so that the hearts of his brothers will not melt like his own."},{"verse":9,"text":"When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they must choose commanders to lead it."},{"verse":10,"text":"When you march up to a city to attack it, first offer its people peace."},{"verse":11,"text":"They may accept your offer of peace and open their gates. If they do, all the people there will become your forced workers and serve you."},{"verse":12,"text":"But they may refuse to make peace with you and fight against you. If so, surround that city and attack it."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD your God will hand it over to you. Then you must kill every man in it with the sword."},{"verse":14,"text":"But you may take the women, the children, the animals, and everything else in the city. All of it is yours to take. You may use what you take from your enemies. The LORD your God gives it to you."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is how you must treat all the cities that are far away from you. These are the cities that do not belong to the nations nearby."},{"verse":16,"text":"But some cities belong to the nations the LORD your God is giving you as your own land. In those cities, do not leave alive anything that breathes."},{"verse":17,"text":"You must completely destroy them. Destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, as the LORD your God has commanded you."},{"verse":18,"text":"If you don't, they will teach you to do all the disgusting things they do for their gods. Then you would sin against the LORD your God."},{"verse":19,"text":"You may surround a city and fight against it for a long time to capture it. Even then, do not destroy its trees by cutting them with an axe. You can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees in the field people, that you should attack them?"},{"verse":20,"text":"But you may destroy trees you know do not grow fruit. Use them to build attack works against the city that is fighting you. Use them until the city falls."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Someone may be found killed and lying in a field. It may be in the land the LORD your God is giving you to own. And no one may know who killed him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then your elders and judges must come out. They must measure how far it is from the body to the cities around it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the elders of the city closest to the body must take a young cow. It must be one that has never worn a yoke or been used for work."},{"verse":4,"text":"They must bring the cow down to a valley with a flowing stream. The valley must be one that has never been plowed or planted. There by the stream they must break the cow's neck."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the priests, the sons of Levi, must come forward. The LORD your God has chosen them to serve him and to speak blessings in his name. They also decide every argument and every case of attack."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then all the elders of the city closest to the body must wash their hands by the stream. They must wash them over the cow whose neck was broken."},{"verse":7,"text":"And they must say, \"Our hands did not spill this blood. Our eyes did not see it happen."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD, accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed. Do not hold the killing of an innocent person against them.\" And the killing will be atoned for."},{"verse":9,"text":"So you must get rid of the guilt of killing an innocent person from among you. You will have done what is right in the LORD's eyes."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will go to war against your enemies. The LORD your God will hand them over to you, and you will take them as prisoners."},{"verse":11,"text":"You may see a beautiful woman among the prisoners. You may want her and want to make her your wife."},{"verse":12,"text":"If so, bring her into your house. She must shave her head and cut her nails."},{"verse":13,"text":"She must take off the clothes she wore when she was captured. She must live in your house a full month and mourn for her father and mother. After that you may sleep with her and be her husband. And she will be your wife."},{"verse":14,"text":"But you may not be pleased with her. If so, let her go wherever she wants. You must not sell her for money or treat her like a slave, because you have shamed her."},{"verse":15,"text":"A man may have two wives. He loves one and does not love the other. Both wives may have sons by him. But the firstborn son may belong to the wife he does not love."},{"verse":16,"text":"When that man divides up his property for his sons, he must not treat the son of the wife he loves as the firstborn. He must not put him ahead of the son of the wife he does not love."},{"verse":17,"text":"Instead, he must accept the son of the wife he does not love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double share of everything he owns. That son is the first sign of his father's strength. The rights of the firstborn belong to him.","note":"Hebrew: the firstfruits of his father's strength."},{"verse":18,"text":"A man may have a stubborn son who rebels. The son does not obey his father and mother. He does not listen to them even when they correct him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then his father and mother must take hold of him. They must bring him to the elders at the gate of his city."},{"verse":20,"text":"They must say to the elders, \"This son of ours is stubborn and rebels. He does not obey us. He eats too much and gets drunk.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then all the men of his city must stone him to death. So you must get rid of the evil among you. All Israel will hear about it and be afraid."},{"verse":22,"text":"A man may commit a sin that deserves death. He is put to death, and you hang his body on a tree."},{"verse":23,"text":"Do not leave his body on the tree all night. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not make the land unclean. The LORD your God is giving you this land as your own."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You may see your brother's ox or sheep wandering off. Do not pretend you didn't see it. Be sure to take it back to your brother."},{"verse":2,"text":"Your brother may not live near you. Or you may not know who he is. If so, take the animal home with you. Keep it until your brother comes looking for it. Then give it back to him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do the same for his donkey or his cloak. Do the same for anything your brother has lost that you find. Do not pretend you didn't see it."},{"verse":4,"text":"You may see your brother's donkey or ox fallen down on the road. Do not pretend you didn't see it. You must help him lift it up."},{"verse":5,"text":"A woman must not wear men's clothes. A man must not wear women's clothes. The LORD your God finds anyone who does this disgusting."},{"verse":6,"text":"You may come across a bird's nest beside the road. It may be in a tree or on the ground. It may have baby birds or eggs in it, with the mother sitting on them. If so, do not take the mother along with the young."},{"verse":7,"text":"You may take the young. But be sure to let the mother go. Then things will go well for you, and you will live a long life."},{"verse":8,"text":"When you build a new house, build a low wall around the edge of your roof. Then if someone falls off it, your family will not be guilty of his death."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard. If you do, the whole harvest will be made unholy, both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard.","note":"Or: will be forfeited to the sanctuary."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not plow with an ox and a donkey tied together under one yoke."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do not wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together."},{"verse":12,"text":"Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear."},{"verse":13,"text":"Suppose a man marries a woman and sleeps with her. Then he comes to hate her."},{"verse":14,"text":"He accuses her of shameful acts and gives her a bad name. He says, \"I married this woman and slept with her. But I found out she was not a virgin.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the young woman's father and mother must bring the proof that she was a virgin. They must bring it to the elders of the city at the gate."},{"verse":16,"text":"Her father must say to the elders, \"I gave my daughter to this man to be his wife. But he has come to hate her."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now he has accused her of shameful acts. He says, 'I found out that your daughter was not a virgin.' But here is the proof that my daughter was a virgin.\" Then her parents must spread out the cloth in front of the elders of the city."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the elders of that city must take the man and punish him."},{"verse":19,"text":"They must also make him pay a hundred shekels of silver. They must give the silver to the young woman's father. This is because the man gave a virgin of Israel a bad name. And she must stay his wife. He must never divorce her as long as he lives.","note":"A hundred shekels is about 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilograms) of silver."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the charge may be true. No proof may be found that the young woman was a virgin."},{"verse":21,"text":"If so, she must be brought to the door of her father's house. There the men of her city must stone her to death. She has done a shameful thing in Israel. She slept with men while she lived in her father's house. So you must get rid of the evil among you."},{"verse":22,"text":"A man may be caught sleeping with another man's wife. Then both of them must die, the man who slept with her and the woman. You must get rid of the evil in Israel."},{"verse":23,"text":"A young woman who is a virgin may be promised in marriage to a man. Another man may meet her in the city and sleep with her."},{"verse":24,"text":"If so, take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death. The young woman must die because she did not cry out for help in the city. The man must die because he took his neighbor's wife. So you must get rid of the evil among you."},{"verse":25,"text":"But a man may meet a woman who is promised in marriage out in the country. He may grab her and force her to sleep with him. Then only the man who did this must die."},{"verse":26,"text":"Do nothing to the young woman. She has done no sin that deserves death. This case is just like when a man attacks his neighbor and murders him."},{"verse":27,"text":"The man found her out in the field. The woman who was promised in marriage cried out, but there was no one to save her."},{"verse":28,"text":"A man may meet a young woman who is a virgin and is not promised in marriage. He may grab her and sleep with her. And they may be found out."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then the man who slept with her must pay the young woman's father fifty shekels of silver. She must become his wife, because he took her by force. He must never divorce her as long as he lives.","note":"Fifty shekels is about 1.25 pounds (570 grams) of silver."},{"verse":30,"text":"A man must not marry his father's wife. He must not bring shame on his father's marriage bed."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"No man whose private parts are crushed or cut off may join the assembly of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"No one born of a forbidden marriage may join the assembly of the LORD. None of his descendants may join either, down to the tenth generation.","note":"Or: of illegitimate birth. The exact meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain."},{"verse":3,"text":"No Ammonite or Moabite may join the assembly of the LORD. None of their descendants may join either, down to the tenth generation."},{"verse":4,"text":"They did not come to meet you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. And they hired Balaam son of Beor to curse you. Balaam was from Pethor in Aram-naharaim."},{"verse":5,"text":"But the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam. Instead, the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you. He did this because the LORD your God loves you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Never try to make peace with them or help them do well, as long as you live."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not hate an Edomite, because he is your brother. Do not hate an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land."},{"verse":8,"text":"The third generation of children born to them may join the assembly of the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"When your army is camped against your enemies, keep away from every evil thing."},{"verse":10,"text":"A man among you may become unclean because of a release of semen during the night. If so, he must go outside the camp and stay out."},{"verse":11,"text":"As evening comes, he must wash with water. When the sun sets, he may come back into the camp."},{"verse":12,"text":"Have a place outside the camp where you can go to the bathroom."},{"verse":13,"text":"Carry a digging tool with your gear. When you go to the bathroom, dig a hole. Then cover up your waste."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD your God walks around in your camp. He is there to protect you and to hand your enemies over to you. So your camp must be holy. Then he will not see anything unclean among you and turn away from you."},{"verse":15,"text":"A slave may run away from his master and come to you for safety. Do not send him back to his master."},{"verse":16,"text":"Let him live among you anywhere he chooses, in whatever town he likes. Do not treat him badly."},{"verse":17,"text":"No daughter or son of Israel may become a shrine prostitute."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do not bring the money a prostitute earns into the house of the LORD your God to pay for any vow. This is true for a female or a male prostitute. The LORD your God finds both of them disgusting.","note":"Hebrew: of a dog (a term for a male prostitute)."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do not charge your brother interest. Do not charge interest on money, food, or anything else you lend."},{"verse":20,"text":"You may charge a foreigner interest, but not your brother. Then the LORD your God will bless everything you do in the land. You are going into that land to own it."},{"verse":21,"text":"If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it. He will surely make you keep it. If you don't, you will be guilty of sin."},{"verse":22,"text":"But if you choose not to make a vow, you will not be guilty of sin."},{"verse":23,"text":"Be careful to do what your lips have said. You chose to make a vow to the LORD your God. You made it with your own mouth."},{"verse":24,"text":"When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want. But do not put any in your basket."},{"verse":25,"text":"When you go into your neighbor's grain field, you may pick some heads of grain with your hand. But do not cut your neighbor's grain with a sickle."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A man may marry a woman. But then he may not be pleased with her because he finds something indecent about her. He may write her a paper of divorce. He gives it to her and sends her away from his house."},{"verse":2,"text":"After she leaves his house, she may go and marry another man."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the second man may hate her. He may write her a paper of divorce, give it to her, and send her away from his house. Or the second man may die."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the first husband who divorced her may not marry her again. She has been made unclean. That would be disgusting to the LORD. Do not bring sin on the land the LORD your God is giving you as your own."},{"verse":5,"text":"If a man has just gotten married, he must not be sent to war. He must not be given any other duty. For one year he is free to stay home and make the wife he married happy."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not take a pair of millstones as a promise that a debt will be paid. Do not even take the top millstone. That would be taking the way a person makes a living."},{"verse":7,"text":"A man may be caught kidnapping one of his fellow Israelites. He may treat him like a slave or sell him. That kidnapper must die. So you must get rid of the evil among you."},{"verse":8,"text":"When there is a skin disease that spreads, be very careful to do everything the priests, who are Levites, tell you. Be careful to do what I have commanded them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the trip after you came out of Egypt."},{"verse":10,"text":"When you lend anything to your neighbor, do not go into his house to get what he gives you as a promise to pay."},{"verse":11,"text":"Stand outside. Let the man you are lending to bring it out to you."},{"verse":12,"text":"If he is a poor man, do not go to sleep while you still have what he gave you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be sure to give it back to him by sunset. Then he can sleep in his own cloak, and he will bless you. And it will be credited to you as righteousness before the LORD your God."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy. This is true whether he is your fellow Israelite or a foreigner living in one of your towns."},{"verse":15,"text":"Pay him what he has earned each day before the sun goes down. He is poor, and he needs that money. If you don't, he may cry out to the LORD against you. And you will be guilty of sin."},{"verse":16,"text":"Fathers must not be put to death for what their children did. Children must not be put to death for what their fathers did. Each person must die for his own sin."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not treat the foreigner or the orphan unfairly. Do not take a widow's cloak as a promise to pay."},{"verse":18,"text":"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. And the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I am commanding you to do this."},{"verse":19,"text":"When you gather the crops in your field, you may forget a bundle of grain. Do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all the work you do."},{"verse":20,"text":"When you beat your olive trees to knock the olives down, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what is left for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow."},{"verse":21,"text":"When you pick the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines a second time. Leave what is left for the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow."},{"verse":22,"text":"Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am commanding you to do this."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Men may have an argument. They must go to court, and the judges will decide the case. The judges must say that the innocent one is not guilty. They must say that the guilty one is guilty."},{"verse":2,"text":"The guilty man may deserve to be beaten. If so, the judge must make him lie down. Then he must be whipped while the judge watches. He must get as many lashes as his crime deserves."},{"verse":3,"text":"He may not be given more than forty lashes. If he is beaten more than that, your brother would be shamed in front of you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not put a muzzle on an ox while it is walking on the grain to separate it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Brothers may live together, and one of them may die without a son. If so, his widow must not marry someone outside the family. Her husband's brother must marry her. He must do his duty as a brother-in-law for her."},{"verse":6,"text":"The first son she has will carry on the name of the brother who died. Then his name will not be wiped out from Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the man may not want to marry his brother's widow. If so, she must go to the elders at the city gate. She must say, \"My husband's brother refuses to keep his brother's name alive in Israel. He won't do his duty as a brother-in-law for me.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the elders of his city must call for him and talk with him. He may still say, \"I don't want to marry her.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"If so, his brother's widow must go up to him in front of the elders. She must take off his sandal and spit in his face. Then she must say, \"This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"And his family will be known in Israel as \"The Family of the Man Whose Sandal Was Taken Off.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Two men may be fighting. The wife of one of them may come to save her husband from the man hitting him. She may reach out and grab the other man's private parts."},{"verse":12,"text":"If so, you must cut off her hand. Show her no pity."},{"verse":13,"text":"Do not have two different weights in your bag, one heavy and one light."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not have two different measuring baskets in your house, one large and one small."},{"verse":15,"text":"Your weights and measures must be exact and honest. Then you will live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving you."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD your God finds anyone who cheats with these things disgusting."},{"verse":17,"text":"Remember what the Amalekites did to you on your way out of Egypt."},{"verse":18,"text":"They came out to meet you on your trip when you were tired and worn out. They attacked all the people who were lagging behind. They had no fear of God."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD your God will give you rest from all the enemies around you. He will do it in the land he is giving you to own as your share. When he does, you must wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!"}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You will go into the land the LORD your God is giving you as your own. You will take it over and settle there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then take some of the firstfruits of all the crops you grow in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose to be the home for his Name."},{"verse":3,"text":"Go to the priest who is serving at that time. Say to him, \"Today I announce to the LORD your God that I have come into the land. It is the land the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the priest must take the basket from your hands. He must set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then you must say before the LORD your God, \"My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt with only a few people and lived there. There he became a great nation, strong and large."},{"verse":6,"text":"But the Egyptians treated us badly and made us suffer. They forced us to do hard work."},{"verse":7,"text":"So we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers. The LORD heard our voice. He saw how we suffered, how hard we worked, and how badly we were treated."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand and his strong arm. He did it with great and terrible acts and with signs and wonders."},{"verse":9,"text":"He brought us to this place and gave us this land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey."},{"verse":10,"text":"And now, LORD, look! I have brought the firstfruits of the land you have given me.\" Then set the basket down before the LORD your God, and bow down before him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then you must celebrate all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your family. Celebrate with the Levite and the foreigner who lives among you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Every third year is the year of the tithe. That year, set aside a tenth of all your crops. When you are done, give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. Then they can eat in your towns until they are full."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then say in the presence of the LORD your God, \"I have taken the holy share out of my house. I have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow. I did everything you commanded me. I have not broken any of your commands or forgotten them."},{"verse":14,"text":"I have not eaten any of the holy share while I was mourning. I have not taken any of it out while I was unclean. I have not offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God. I have done everything you commanded me."},{"verse":15,"text":"Look down from heaven, your holy home. Bless your people Israel. Bless the land you have given us, as you swore to our fathers. It is a land flowing with milk and honey.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Today the LORD your God commands you to follow these laws and rules. Be careful to obey them with all your heart and with all your soul."},{"verse":17,"text":"Today you have announced that the LORD is your God. You have said you will walk in his ways. You will keep his laws, commands, and rules. And you will listen to his voice."},{"verse":18,"text":"And today the LORD has announced that you are his people. You are his treasured possession, as he promised. He has said you must keep all his commands."},{"verse":19,"text":"He has said he will set you high above all the nations he has made. He will give you praise, fame, and honor. And you will be a holy people to the LORD your God, as he promised."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses and the elders of Israel gave the people a command. They said, \"Keep all the commands I am giving you today."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD your God is giving you a land. On the day you cross the Jordan into it, set up some large stones. Cover them with plaster."},{"verse":3,"text":"When you have crossed over to go into the land the LORD your God is giving you, write all the words of this law on them. It is a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you."},{"verse":4,"text":"When you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal. Do it just as I am commanding you today. Cover them with plaster."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also build an altar there to the LORD your God. Make it an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool on the stones."},{"verse":6,"text":"Build the altar of the LORD your God with stones that have not been cut. Offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God."},{"verse":7,"text":"Sacrifice your peace offerings there. Eat them there and be glad in front of the LORD your God."},{"verse":8,"text":"Write all the words of this law on these stones. Write them very clearly.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Moses and the priests, who were Levites, spoke to all Israel. They said, \"Be quiet, Israel, and listen! Today you have become the people of the LORD your God."},{"verse":10,"text":"So obey the voice of the LORD your God. Follow his commands and his rules that I am giving you today.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"On that same day Moses gave the people this command:"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin."},{"verse":13,"text":"And these tribes will stand on Mount Ebal to speak the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the Levites will call out in a loud voice to every person in Israel:"},{"verse":15,"text":"'Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or a metal idol and sets it up in secret. It is the work of a craftsman's hands. The LORD hates it.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":16,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who dishonors his father or mother.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":17,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary stone.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":18,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who leads a blind man the wrong way on the road.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":19,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who keeps justice from the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":20,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father's wife. He has shamed his father's marriage bed.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":21,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who has sex with any animal.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":22,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his sister. This means his father's daughter or his mother's daughter.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":23,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":24,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who kills his neighbor in secret.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":25,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"},{"verse":26,"text":"'Cursed is anyone who does not do what the words of this law say.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen!'"}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Now if you truly obey the voice of the LORD your God, and if you are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, then the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"If you obey the voice of the LORD your God, all these blessings will come to you. They will catch up with you:"},{"verse":3,"text":"You will be blessed in the city. You will be blessed in the country."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your children will be blessed. The crops of your land will be blessed. The young of your animals will be blessed. This means the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your basket will be blessed, and so will the bowl where you mix your bread dough."},{"verse":6,"text":"You will be blessed when you come in. You will be blessed when you go out."},{"verse":7,"text":"Enemies will rise up against you. But the LORD will make them lose to you. They will march out against you from one direction. But they will run away from you in seven directions."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD will order a blessing on your barns. He will bless everything you set your hand to do. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD will make you his holy people, just as he promised you with an oath. He will do this if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD. And they will be afraid of you."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD will make you very rich in good things. You will have many children. Your animals will have many young. Your land will grow many crops. All this will happen in the land the LORD promised your fathers with an oath to give you."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD will open the heavens, his rich storehouse. He will send rain on your land at the right time. He will bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations. But you will not borrow from any."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD will make you the head and not the tail. You will only move up and never down. This will happen if you listen to the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully follow them."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not turn away to the right or to the left from any of the words I command you today. Do not go after other gods to serve them."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if you do not obey the LORD your God, and if you do not carefully follow all his commands and rules that I am giving you today, then all these curses will come on you. They will catch up with you:"},{"verse":16,"text":"You will be cursed in the city. You will be cursed in the country."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your basket will be cursed, and so will the bowl where you mix your bread dough."},{"verse":18,"text":"Your children will be cursed. The crops of your land will be cursed. The calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks will be cursed."},{"verse":19,"text":"You will be cursed when you come in. You will be cursed when you go out."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD will send curses on you. He will send confusion and scolding on everything you set your hand to do. This will go on until you are destroyed and quickly perish. It will happen because of the evil you did when you left him."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD will make the plague cling to you. It will stay until he has wiped you out from the land you are going in to take."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD will strike you with a disease that wastes you away. He will strike you with fever and swelling. He will send burning heat and no rain. He will send blight and mold. These will chase you until you perish."},{"verse":23,"text":"The sky over your head will be like bronze. The ground under you will be like iron."},{"verse":24,"text":"The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder. It will come down on you from the sky until you are destroyed."},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD will make you lose to your enemies. You will march out against them from one direction. But you will run away from them in seven directions. All the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified at you."},{"verse":26,"text":"Your dead bodies will be food for all the birds of the sky and the wild animals. No one will be there to scare them away."},{"verse":27,"text":"The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt. He will strike you with tumors, sores, and itching. You will not be able to be cured of them."},{"verse":28,"text":"The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness. He will strike your mind with confusion,"},{"verse":29,"text":"and at noon you will feel your way around like a blind man in the dark. You will not do well in anything you do. Day after day people will beat you down and rob you. No one will save you."},{"verse":30,"text":"You will be promised in marriage to a woman. But another man will rape her. You will build a house. But you will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard. But you will not enjoy its fruit."},{"verse":31,"text":"Your ox will be killed while you watch. But you will not eat any of it. Your donkey will be taken away from you. It will not be given back. Your flock will be given to your enemies. No one will save you."},{"verse":32,"text":"Your sons and daughters will be given to another nation. Your eyes will grow tired looking for them day after day. And you will have no power to do anything."},{"verse":33,"text":"A people you do not know will eat the crops of your land and everything you worked for. All your life you will be treated cruelly and crushed."},{"verse":34,"text":"The things you see will drive you mad."},{"verse":35,"text":"The LORD will strike your knees and legs with painful boils that cannot be cured. They will spread from the bottoms of your feet to the top of your head."},{"verse":36,"text":"The LORD will take you and the king you choose to a nation you do not know. Your fathers did not know it either. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone."},{"verse":37,"text":"The LORD will drive you away to many nations. Among all of them, you will be something people are horrified at. They will make fun of you and laugh at you."},{"verse":38,"text":"You will plant a lot of seed in the field. But you will gather only a little, because the locusts will eat it up."},{"verse":39,"text":"You will plant vineyards and take care of them. But you will not drink the wine or pick the grapes, because worms will eat them."},{"verse":40,"text":"You will have olive trees all over your land. But you will never rub their oil on yourself, because the olives will fall off."},{"verse":41,"text":"You will have sons and daughters. But they will not stay yours, because they will be taken away as captives."},{"verse":42,"text":"Swarms of locusts will eat all your trees and the crops of your land."},{"verse":43,"text":"The foreigner who lives among you will rise higher and higher above you. But you will sink lower and lower."},{"verse":44,"text":"He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail."},{"verse":45,"text":"All these curses will come on you. They will chase you and catch you until you are destroyed. This will happen because you did not obey the LORD your God. You did not keep the commands and rules he gave you."},{"verse":46,"text":"These curses will be a sign and a wonder on you and your children after you forever."},{"verse":47,"text":"You did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart when you had plenty of everything. Because of this,"},{"verse":48,"text":"you will serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you. You will be hungry and thirsty. You will have no clothes and nothing at all. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you."},{"verse":49,"text":"The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth. It will swoop down on you like an eagle. You will not understand its language."},{"verse":50,"text":"It will be a cruel nation. It will not respect the old or show pity to the young."},{"verse":51,"text":"They will eat the young of your animals and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine, or oil. They will leave you no calves from your herds or lambs from your flocks. They will do this until they have made you perish."},{"verse":52,"text":"They will surround all the cities in your land and attack them. They will keep on until your high, strong walls fall. You trust in those walls. They will attack all your cities in the land the LORD your God has given you."},{"verse":53,"text":"Then you will eat your own children. You will eat the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your God gave you. You will do this during the siege, when your enemy surrounds you and brings suffering on you."},{"verse":54,"text":"Even the most gentle and tender man among you will be selfish. He will be selfish toward his brother and toward the wife he loves. He will be selfish toward the rest of his children who are still alive."},{"verse":55,"text":"He will not share with any of them the flesh of his children that he is eating. This is because he will have nothing else left during the siege, when your enemy brings suffering on you inside all your city gates."},{"verse":56,"text":"The most gentle and tender woman among you is so gentle and tender that she would not even dare to set the bottom of her foot on the ground. But she will be selfish toward the husband she loves and toward her son and daughter."},{"verse":57,"text":"She will hold back from them the afterbirth that comes out from between her legs. She will hold back the children she gives birth to. She will eat them in secret because she has nothing else during the siege, when your enemy brings suffering on you inside your city gates."},{"verse":58,"text":"If you are not careful to obey all the words of this law that are written in this book, so that you fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God,"},{"verse":59,"text":"then he will bring disasters unlike any others on you and your children after you. He will send terrible plagues that last a long time. He will send awful sicknesses that do not go away."},{"verse":60,"text":"He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt that you were afraid of. And they will cling to you."},{"verse":61,"text":"The LORD will also bring on you every sickness and plague that is not written in this Book of the Law. He will do this until you are destroyed."},{"verse":62,"text":"You were once as many as the stars in the sky. But only a few of you will be left, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God."},{"verse":63,"text":"It pleased the LORD to make you do well and grow in number. In the same way, it will please him to wipe you out and destroy you. You will be pulled up by the roots from the land you are going in to take."},{"verse":64,"text":"Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone. You and your fathers have never known them."},{"verse":65,"text":"Among those nations you will find no rest. You will not even have a place to rest the bottom of your foot. There the LORD will give you a shaking heart and tired eyes. He will give you a soul without hope."},{"verse":66,"text":"Your life will always be in danger. You will be afraid night and day. You will never be sure you will stay alive."},{"verse":67,"text":"In the morning you will say, 'I wish it were evening!' And in the evening you will say, 'I wish it were morning!' This is because of the fear in your hearts at the terrible things you will see."},{"verse":68,"text":"The LORD will send you back to Egypt in ships. He will take you by a way I said you would never see again. There you will try to sell yourselves to your enemies as slaves, both men and women. But no one will buy you.\""}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of the covenant the LORD told Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab. This was added to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb."},{"verse":2,"text":"Moses called all Israel together. He said to them, \"You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD did in Egypt. You saw what he did to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land."},{"verse":3,"text":"With your own eyes you saw the great testings. You saw those miraculous signs and wonders."},{"verse":4,"text":"But even now the LORD has not given you a mind that understands. He has not given you eyes that see or ears that hear."},{"verse":5,"text":"For forty years I led you in the wilderness. Yet your clothes did not wear out, and neither did your sandals."},{"verse":6,"text":"You ate no bread. You drank no wine or strong drink. This was so you would know that I am the LORD your God."},{"verse":7,"text":"When you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight us. But we beat them."},{"verse":8,"text":"We took their land. We gave it to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh to keep as their own."},{"verse":9,"text":"So keep the words of this covenant and do them. Then you will do well in all you do."},{"verse":10,"text":"Today all of you are standing in front of the LORD your God. Here are the leaders of your tribes, your elders, and your officials. Here are all the men of Israel,"},{"verse":11,"text":"your children and your wives. Here are the foreigners in your camps who cut your wood and carry your water."},{"verse":12,"text":"You are here to enter into the covenant of the LORD your God. He is making it with you today, and he is making his oath with you."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is so that today he may make you his people, and he may be your God. He promised you this. He promised it with an oath to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."},{"verse":14,"text":"I am not making this covenant and this oath only with you."},{"verse":15,"text":"I am making it with those who stand here with us today in front of the LORD our God. And I am making it with those who are not here today."},{"verse":16,"text":"You know how we lived in the land of Egypt. You know how we passed through the nations on the way here."},{"verse":17,"text":"You saw their hateful things and their idols. They were made of wood and stone, and of silver and gold."},{"verse":18,"text":"Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God. Make sure no one goes to worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that grows such poison and bitter fruit."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he blesses himself. He says, 'I will be safe, even though I go my own stubborn way.' This will bring ruin on the watered land and the dry land alike."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. His anger and jealousy will burn against that man. Every curse written in this book will fall on him. The LORD will wipe out his name from under heaven."},{"verse":21,"text":"He will pick him out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster. It will match all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the people who come later will see it. Your sons who come after you will see it. So will the foreigner who comes from a land far away. They will see the plagues of the land. They will see the sicknesses the LORD has brought on it."},{"verse":23,"text":"All its soil will be a burning waste of sulfur and salt. Nothing will be planted, and nothing will grow. No plant will come up on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim. The LORD destroyed them in his fierce anger."},{"verse":24,"text":"All the nations will ask, 'Why has the LORD done this to this land? Why is his anger so great and so hot?'"},{"verse":25,"text":"And people will answer, 'It is because they left the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers. He made it with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":26,"text":"They went and served other gods. They worshiped gods they had not known. The LORD had not given those gods to them."},{"verse":27,"text":"So the LORD's anger burned against this land. He brought on it every curse written in this book."},{"verse":28,"text":"The LORD pulled them up by the roots from their land. He did it in his anger, his rage, and his great fury. He threw them into another land, where they are today.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"The secret things belong to the LORD our God. But the things he has shown us belong to us and to our children forever. They are so we can obey all the words of this law."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"The blessings and the curses I have put in front of you will all come on you. When they do, you may think about them again in all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you."},{"verse":2,"text":"You and your children may return to the LORD your God. You may obey his voice with all your heart and all your soul, doing everything I am commanding you today. When you do,"},{"verse":3,"text":"then he will bring you back from captivity. He will have mercy on you. He will gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God scattered you."},{"verse":4,"text":"You may have been driven away to the farthest edge of the sky. Even from there he will gather you and bring you back."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD your God will bring you into the land your fathers owned. And you will take it for your own. He will make you do well. He will make you more in number than your fathers."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts. He will do the same for the hearts of your children after you. Then you will love him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies. They are the ones who hate you and hurt you."},{"verse":8,"text":"And you will obey the voice of the LORD again. You will follow all his commands I am giving you today."},{"verse":9,"text":"So the LORD your God will give you plenty in all the work of your hands. You will have many children. Your animals will have many young. Your land will grow many crops. The LORD will again be glad to make you rich, just as he was glad to make your fathers rich."},{"verse":10,"text":"He will do this if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and rules that are written in this Book of the Law. He will do it if you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul."},{"verse":11,"text":"This command I give you today is not too hard for you. It is not out of your reach."},{"verse":12,"text":"It is not up in heaven. You do not need to ask, 'Who will go up to heaven to get it for us? Who will tell it to us so we can obey it?'"},{"verse":13,"text":"And it is not across the sea. You do not need to ask, 'Who will cross the sea to get it for us? Who will tell it to us so we can obey it?'"},{"verse":14,"text":"No, the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so you can obey it."},{"verse":15,"text":"Look, today I have put life and good things in front of you. I have also put death and disaster in front of you."},{"verse":16,"text":"Today I am commanding you to love the LORD your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commands, his rules, and his laws. Then you will live and grow in number. And the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are going in to take."},{"verse":17,"text":"But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, and if you are pulled away to bow down to other gods and worship them,"},{"verse":18,"text":"then I tell you today that you will surely perish. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to take."},{"verse":19,"text":"Today I call heaven and earth to be witnesses against you. I have put life and death in front of you. I have put blessing and curse in front of you. So choose life! Then you and your children will live."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then you will love the LORD your God. You will obey him and hold on tight to him. For he is your life. He will give you a long life in the land. It is the land the LORD promised with an oath to give your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\""}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Moses finished speaking these words to all Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then he said to them, \"I am now 120 years old. I can no longer come and go. And the LORD has told me, 'You will not cross the Jordan.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations in front of you. And you will drive them out. Joshua will also cross over ahead of you, as the LORD has said."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. He destroyed them and their land."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD will hand them over to you. You must do to them exactly what I have commanded you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will never leave you or forsake you.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Moses called Joshua. He spoke to him in front of all Israel. He said, \"Be strong and courageous, for you will go with these people into the land. The LORD promised their fathers with an oath to give it to them. You will give it to them to keep as their own."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD himself goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or lose heart.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Moses wrote down this law. He gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi. They carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. He also gave it to all the elders of Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Moses gave them a command. He said, \"Do this at the end of every seven years. That is the set time in the year when debts are canceled. Do it during the Feast of Tabernacles."},{"verse":11,"text":"All Israel will come to stand before the LORD your God at the place he will choose. Then read this law out loud so all Israel can hear it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Gather the people together. Bring the men, women, and children, and the foreigners who live in your towns. Then they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God. They can learn to carefully follow all the words of this law."},{"verse":13,"text":"Their children who do not know the law will listen too. They will learn to fear the LORD your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to take.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Look, it is almost time for you to die. Call Joshua. Then both of you come to the Tent of Meeting. There I will give him his orders.\" So Moses and Joshua went and stood at the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud. The cloud stood over the door of the tent."},{"verse":16,"text":"And the LORD said to Moses, \"You will soon rest with your fathers. Then these people will rise up and chase after the foreign gods of the land they are going into. They will be like a prostitute with those gods. They will forsake me. They will break the covenant I made with them."},{"verse":17,"text":"On that day my anger will burn against them. I will leave them. I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many troubles and hard times will come on them. On that day they will say, 'Haven't these disasters come on us because our God is not with us anymore?'"},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day I will surely hide my face. I will do it because of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods."},{"verse":19,"text":"So now write down this song for yourselves. Teach it to the Israelites. Have them say it out loud. Then it will be a witness for me against them."},{"verse":20,"text":"I will bring them into the land I promised their fathers with an oath. It is a land flowing with milk and honey. They will eat all they want and grow rich. Then they will turn to other gods and worship them. They will reject me and break my covenant."},{"verse":21,"text":"When many troubles and hard times have come on them, this song will speak against them like a witness. That is because their children will not forget it from their lips. For I know what they lean toward doing. I know it even before I bring them into the land I promised them with an oath.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So on that same day Moses wrote down this song. He taught it to the Israelites."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the LORD gave Joshua son of Nun his orders. He said, \"Be strong and courageous. You will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them with an oath. And I will be with you.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Moses finished writing the words of this law in a book, from beginning to end."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD:"},{"verse":26,"text":"\"Take this Book of the Law. Put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. It will stay there as a witness against you."},{"verse":27,"text":"I know how stubborn you are and how you go against God. Even now, while I am still alive, you rebel against the LORD. You will rebel even more after I die!"},{"verse":28,"text":"Gather all the elders of your tribes and all your officers in front of me. Then I can speak these words so they hear them. I will call heaven and earth to be witnesses against them."},{"verse":29,"text":"I know that after I die you will become completely wicked. You will turn away from the path I have commanded you. In the days to come, disaster will fall on you. That is because you will do evil in the eyes of the LORD. You will make him angry by what your hands have made.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Moses said the words of this song out loud, from beginning to end. He said them to the whole gathering of Israel:"}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Listen, you heavens, and I will speak.\nHear, O earth, the words of my mouth."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let my teaching fall like rain.\nLet my words come down like dew,\nlike soft rain on new grass,\nlike showers on young plants."},{"verse":3,"text":"For I will tell out the name of the LORD.\nPraise the greatness of our God!"},{"verse":4,"text":"He is the Rock. His work is perfect.\nAll his ways are fair.\nHe is a faithful God who does no wrong.\nHe is righteous and good."},{"verse":5,"text":"His people have acted wickedly toward him.\nThey have a stain on them.\nIt is not the mark of his children.\nIt is the mark of a twisted and crooked generation."},{"verse":6,"text":"Is this how you pay back the LORD,\nyou foolish people with no sense?\nIsn't he your Father, the one who made you?\nDidn't he make you and set you firmly in place?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Remember the days of long ago.\nThink about the years that are long past.\nAsk your father, and he will tell you.\nAsk your elders, and they will explain it to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Most High gave the nations their land.\nHe divided up all people.\nThen he set the borders of the peoples.\nHe set them by the number of the sons of God.","note":"Many manuscripts read 'the sons of Israel.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"But the LORD's share is his people.\nJacob is the share he chose for himself."},{"verse":10,"text":"He found him in a desert land,\nin an empty, howling wilderness.\nHe put his arms around him and taught him.\nHe guarded him like the pupil of his eye."},{"verse":11,"text":"He was like an eagle that stirs up its nest\nand flies over its young.\nHe spread his wings to catch them.\nHe carried them on his feathers."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD alone led him.\nNo foreign god was with him."},{"verse":13,"text":"He made him ride on the high places of the land.\nHe fed him the crops of the field.\nHe fed him with honey from the rock\nand oil from the hard, rocky cliff,"},{"verse":14,"text":"with curds from the herd and milk from the flock,\nwith the fat of lambs,\nwith rams from Bashan, and with goats,\nwith the best grains of wheat.\nYou drank wine made from the juice of the finest grapes."},{"verse":15,"text":"But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked.\nHe became fat, swollen, and stuffed full.\nHe left the God who made him.\nHe turned up his nose at the Rock who saved him.","note":"Jeshurun is a name for Israel. It means 'the upright one.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"They made him jealous with foreign gods.\nThey made him angry with things he hates."},{"verse":17,"text":"They sacrificed to demons, not to God.\nThey sacrificed to gods they had not known,\nto new gods that had just come along.\nYour fathers did not fear those gods."},{"verse":18,"text":"You paid no attention to the Rock who gave you life.\nYou forgot the God who gave birth to you."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD saw this, and he rejected them.\nHis sons and daughters had made him angry."},{"verse":20,"text":"He said, \"I will hide my face from them.\nI will see what their end will be.\nFor they are a twisted generation.\nThey are children who are not faithful."},{"verse":21,"text":"They made me jealous with what is not God.\nThey made me angry with their worthless idols.\nSo I will make them jealous with those who are not a people.\nI will make them angry with a foolish nation."},{"verse":22,"text":"For my anger has started a fire.\nIt burns down to the deepest part of the grave.\nIt eats up the earth and its crops.\nIt sets fire to the roots of the mountains.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will pile disasters on them.\nI will shoot all my arrows at them."},{"verse":24,"text":"They will waste away from hunger.\nThey will be destroyed by sickness and bitter plague.\nI will send the teeth of wild animals against them.\nI will send the poison of snakes that crawl in the dust."},{"verse":25,"text":"Outside, the sword will take their children.\nInside, terror will strike.\nIt will strike young men and young women,\nbabies and gray-haired men."},{"verse":26,"text":"I would have said that I would cut them to pieces\nand wipe out all memory of them from the human race,"},{"verse":27,"text":"if I had not been afraid of the enemy's mocking.\nTheir enemies might get it wrong and say,\n'Our own power has won.\nThe LORD did not do all this.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Israel is a nation with no good sense.\nNone of them understand."},{"verse":29,"text":"If only they were wise, they would understand this!\nThey would know what will happen to them."},{"verse":30,"text":"How could one man chase a thousand?\nHow could two make ten thousand run away?\nOnly if their Rock had sold them,\nonly if the LORD had given them up!"},{"verse":31,"text":"For their rock is not like our Rock.\nEven our enemies admit it."},{"verse":32,"text":"Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom\nand from the fields of Gomorrah.\nTheir grapes are full of poison.\nTheir bunches of grapes are bitter."},{"verse":33,"text":"Their wine is the poison of snakes,\nthe deadly poison of cobras."},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Haven't I stored these things away?\nHaven't I sealed them up in my storerooms?"},{"verse":35,"text":"Vengeance is mine. I will repay.\nAt the right time their foot will slip.\nTheir day of disaster is near.\nTheir doom is coming fast.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"For the LORD will stand up for his people.\nHe will have mercy on his servants.\nHe will do this when he sees their strength is gone,\nand no one is left, slave or free."},{"verse":37,"text":"He will say, \"Where are their gods now?\nWhere is the rock they ran to for safety?"},{"verse":38,"text":"Those gods ate the fat of their sacrifices.\nThey drank the wine of their drink offerings.\nLet them get up and help you!\nLet them give you a place to hide!"},{"verse":39,"text":"See now that I, I am he.\nThere is no God except me.\nI put to death, and I give life.\nI wound, and I heal.\nNo one can rescue anyone from my hand."},{"verse":40,"text":"For I raise my hand to heaven and make a promise.\nAs surely as I live forever,"},{"verse":41,"text":"when I sharpen my flashing sword\nand my hand takes hold of it to judge,\nI will take vengeance on my enemies.\nI will repay those who hate me."},{"verse":42,"text":"I will make my arrows drunk with blood.\nMy sword will eat flesh.\nIt will drink the blood of the dead and the captives.\nIt will take the heads of the enemy's leaders.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Be glad with him, you heavens.\nLet all God's angels worship him.\nBe glad, you nations, with his people.\nFor he will pay back those who killed his children.\nHe will take revenge on his enemies.\nHe will repay those who hate him.\nHe will make his land and his people clean.","note":"Some manuscripts do not include the lines about the heavens and the angels."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then Moses came with Joshua son of Nun. He said all the words of this song while the people listened."},{"verse":45,"text":"Moses finished saying all these words to all Israel."},{"verse":46,"text":"Then he said to them, \"Take to heart all the words I have warned you about today. Then you can command your children to carefully obey all the words of this law."},{"verse":47,"text":"These are not empty words for you. They are your life! By them you will live a long time in the land you are crossing the Jordan to take.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"On that same day the LORD said to Moses,"},{"verse":49,"text":"\"Go up into the Abarim mountains to Mount Nebo. It is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho. Look out over the land of Canaan. I am giving it to the Israelites to own."},{"verse":50,"text":"You will die there on the mountain you climb. You will be gathered to your people. It will be just like your brother Aaron. He died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people."},{"verse":51,"text":"This is because both of you broke faith with me in front of the Israelites. It happened at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin. You did not treat me as holy in front of them."},{"verse":52,"text":"You will see the land I am giving the Israelites from far away. But you will not go into it.\""}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Moses was the man of God. This is the blessing he spoke over the Israelites before he died."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said,\n\"The LORD came from Sinai.\nHe rose like the sun on us from Seir.\nHe shone out from Mount Paran.\nHe came with countless holy ones.\nFlaming fire was at his right hand."},{"verse":3,"text":"Surely you love the people.\nAll the holy ones are in your hand.\nThey sit down at your feet.\nEach one receives your words,"},{"verse":4,"text":"the law Moses gave us.\nIt belongs to the people of Jacob."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the LORD became King in Jeshurun.\nThe leaders of the people gathered.\nThe tribes of Israel came together."},{"verse":6,"text":"Let Reuben live and not die.\nAnd do not let his men be few.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Moses said this about Judah:\n\"LORD, hear the cry of Judah.\nBring him to his people.\nWith his own hands he fights for himself.\nBut may you help him against his enemies.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Moses said about Levi:\n\"Give your Thummim to Levi.\nGive your Urim to your faithful one.\nYou tested him at Massah.\nYou argued with him at the waters of Meribah.","note":"The Urim and Thummim were objects the priest used to learn God's will."},{"verse":9,"text":"He said about his father and mother,\n'I do not think about them.'\nHe paid no attention to his brothers.\nHe did not know his own sons.\nFor he kept your word.\nHe guarded your covenant."},{"verse":10,"text":"He will teach your rules to Jacob\nand your law to Israel.\nHe will put incense in front of you.\nHe will put whole burnt offerings on your altar."},{"verse":11,"text":"Bless all he has, LORD.\nAccept the work of his hands.\nCrush the hips of those who rise against him.\nCrush his enemies so they can never rise again.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Moses said about Benjamin:\n\"May the one the LORD loves rest safely in him.\nGod protects him all day long.\nHe rests on God's shoulders.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Moses said about Joseph:\n\"May the LORD bless his land\nwith the precious dew from heaven above\nand the deep waters that lie below,"},{"verse":14,"text":"with the rich harvest the sun brings\nand the plentiful crops of each season,"},{"verse":15,"text":"with the best things of the ancient mountains\nand the riches of the hills that last forever,"},{"verse":16,"text":"with the best gifts of the land and all that fills it,\nand with the kindness of the one who lived in the burning bush.\nMay these rest on the head of Joseph.\nMay they be a crown on the brow of the prince among his brothers."},{"verse":17,"text":"He is as great as a firstborn bull.\nHis horns are like the horns of a wild ox.\nWith them he will gore the nations,\neven to the ends of the earth.\nSo are the tens of thousands of Ephraim.\nSo are the thousands of Manasseh.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Moses said about Zebulun:\n\"Be glad, Zebulun, when you go out.\nAnd be glad, Issachar, in your tents."},{"verse":19,"text":"They will call the peoples to a mountain.\nThere they will offer right sacrifices.\nFor they will feast on the riches of the seas\nand the hidden treasures in the sand.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Moses said about Gad:\n\"Blessed is the one who makes Gad's land larger!\nGad lies down like a lion.\nHe tears off an arm or a head."},{"verse":21,"text":"He chose the best land for himself.\nA ruler's share was saved for him there.\nHe came with the leaders of the people.\nHe carried out the LORD's justice\nand his laws for Israel.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Moses said about Dan:\n\"Dan is a lion's cub.\nHe leaps out of Bashan.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Moses said about Naphtali:\n\"Naphtali has plenty of favor.\nHe is full of the LORD's blessing.\nHe will take the sea and the south for his own.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Moses said about Asher:\n\"May Asher be the most blessed of the sons.\nMay his brothers like him best.\nMay he dip his foot in olive oil."},{"verse":25,"text":"May the bars of your gates be iron and bronze.\nMay your strength last as long as your days.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"\"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun.\nHe rides across the heavens to help you.\nHe rides on the clouds in his majesty."},{"verse":27,"text":"The eternal God is your home.\nUnderneath you are his arms that last forever.\nHe drives out the enemy in front of you.\nHe gives the command, 'Destroy him!'"},{"verse":28,"text":"So Israel lives in safety.\nJacob's spring lives without trouble\nin a land of grain and new wine.\nThere even the skies drip with dew."},{"verse":29,"text":"Blessed are you, Israel!\nWho is like you, a people saved by the LORD?\nHe is the shield that protects you.\nHe is the sword you boast in.\nYour enemies will shrink back from you.\nYou will walk on their high places.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo. He went to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land. He showed him from Gilead all the way to Dan,"},{"verse":2,"text":"all of Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh. He showed him all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,"},{"verse":3,"text":"the Negev, and the land from the Valley of Jericho all the way to Zoar. Jericho is the City of Palms."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD said to him, \"This is the land I promised with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I said, 'I will give it to your children after you.' I have let you see it with your own eyes. But you will not cross over into it.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, across from Beth-peor. To this day no one knows where his grave is."},{"verse":7,"text":"Moses was 120 years old when he died. But his eyes were not weak, and his strength was not gone."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Israelites cried for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days. Then the time of crying and mourning for Moses was over."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed Joshua. They did what the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":10,"text":"Since then, no prophet like Moses has come up in Israel. The LORD knew Moses face to face."},{"verse":11,"text":"No other prophet has done all the signs and wonders the LORD sent Moses to do. Moses did them in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land."},{"verse":12,"text":"No other prophet has done all the mighty acts of power and the awesome things that Moses did in front of all Israel."}]}]},{"name":"Joshua","slug":"joshua","usfm":"JOS","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Moses, the servant of the LORD, had died. After that, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun. Joshua had been Moses' helper. The LORD said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Moses my servant is dead. So now get up, you and all these people. Cross the Jordan River. Go into the land I am giving to the people of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"I have given you every place where you set your foot. This is just what I promised Moses."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your land will reach from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River. It will take in all the land of the Hittites. And it will go west as far as the Great Sea.","note":"The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea."},{"verse":5,"text":"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will never leave you or forsake you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to receive the land as their inheritance. It is the land I promised with an oath to give their fathers."},{"verse":7,"text":"Most of all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left. Then you will do well wherever you go."},{"verse":8,"text":"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips. Think about it day and night. Then you will be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will do well, and you will succeed in all you do."},{"verse":9,"text":"Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid. Do not lose heart. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Joshua gave orders to the officers of the people."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Go through the camp,\" he said. \"Tell the people, 'Get your food ready, because in three days you will cross the Jordan. You will go in and take over the land. The LORD your God is giving it to you to own.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But Joshua spoke to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He said,"},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Remember what Moses the servant of the LORD told you. He said, 'The LORD your God will give you rest. He will give you this land.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"Your wives, your young children, and your animals may stay in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your brave fighting men must cross over ahead of your brothers. They must be armed for battle and help them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Help them until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you. Help them until they also take over the land the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may go back to your own land and live there. It is the land Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then they answered Joshua, \"We will do everything you have told us. We will go anywhere you send us."},{"verse":17,"text":"We obeyed Moses in everything. In the same way, we will obey you. And may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses."},{"verse":18,"text":"Anyone who rebels against your orders and does not obey all you command him will be put to death. Most of all, be strong and courageous!\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent out two spies from Shittim. \"Go and look over the land,\" he said. \"Look closely at Jericho.\" So they went. They came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Someone told the king of Jericho, \"Look! Some men of Israel came here tonight. They came to spy out the land.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So the king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab. It said, \"Bring out the men who came to you and went into your house. They have come to spy out the whole land.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, \"Yes, the men did come to me. But I didn't know where they came from."},{"verse":5,"text":"They left at dusk, when it was time to close the city gate. I don't know which way they went. Go after them fast. You may catch them!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof. She had hidden them under stalks of flax she had spread out there.)"},{"verse":7,"text":"So the king's men went out to chase the spies. They took the road that goes to the places where people cross the Jordan. As soon as they went out, the gate was shut."},{"verse":8,"text":"The spies had not yet lain down for the night. Rahab went up to them on the roof."},{"verse":9,"text":"She said to them, \"I know that the LORD has given you this land. Fear of you has fallen on us. So everyone who lives in this land is melting with fear because of you."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is because we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you left Egypt. We heard what you did to Sihon and Og. They were the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan. You destroyed them completely, as things given over to God."},{"verse":11,"text":"When we heard this, our hearts melted. No one has any courage left because of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."},{"verse":12,"text":"So now, please make me a promise in the name of the LORD. I was kind to you. Promise that you will be kind to my family too. Give me a sign I can trust."},{"verse":13,"text":"Promise that you will spare my father and mother. Spare my brothers and sisters and all their families. Save us from death.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Our lives for your lives!\" the men agreed. \"If you don't tell anyone what we are doing, then we will be kind and faithful to you when the LORD gives us the land.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window. Her house was built into the city wall."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Go to the hill country,\" she told them. \"Then the men chasing you won't find you. Hide there for three days until they come back. After that, go on your way.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The men said to her, \"We will not be held to this promise you made us swear"},{"verse":18,"text":"unless, when we come into the land, you have tied this red cord in the window you let us down through. And you must have brought your father, mother, brothers, and all your family into your house."},{"verse":19,"text":"If anyone goes out of your house into the street, his death will be his own fault. We will not be to blame. But if anyone in the house with you is harmed, the blame for his death will be on us."},{"verse":20,"text":"But if you tell anyone what we are doing, we will be free from the promise you made us swear.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"I agree,\" she said. \"Let it be as you say.\" Then she sent them away, and they left. And she tied the red cord in the window."},{"verse":22,"text":"The spies went into the hill country. They stayed there three days. By then the men chasing them had gone back. They had searched all along the road but had not found them."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the two men started back. They came down out of the hills and crossed the river. They came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"The LORD has surely given the whole land to us,\" they told Joshua. \"Everyone who lives there is melting with fear because of us.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Early the next morning Joshua got up. He and all the Israelites left Shittim and went to the Jordan. They camped there before they crossed over."},{"verse":2,"text":"After three days the officers went through the camp."},{"verse":3,"text":"They gave orders to the people. \"Watch for the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. You will see the priests, who are Levites, carrying it. When you do, leave your places and follow it."},{"verse":4,"text":"But stay about 3,000 feet behind the ark. Don't go near it. Then you will see which way to go, since you have never gone this way before.\"","note":"Hebrew: about 2,000 cubits."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Joshua told the people, \"Make yourselves holy, because tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"He told the priests, \"Pick up the ark of the covenant. Go out in front of the people.\" So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD said to Joshua, \"Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all Israel. Then they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses."},{"verse":8,"text":"Give orders to the priests who carry the ark of the covenant. Tell them, 'When you reach the edge of the water, stand still in the Jordan.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Joshua told the Israelites, \"Come here. Listen to the words of the LORD your God.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Joshua went on, \"Here is how you will know that the living God is among you. You will know he will surely drive out the people ahead of you. He will drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites."},{"verse":11,"text":"Look! The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go ahead of you into the Jordan."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel. Choose one man from each tribe."},{"verse":13,"text":"The priests will carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water of the Jordan, the flowing water will be cut off. It will stand up in a heap.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the people left their tents to cross the Jordan. The priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now the Jordan floods over its banks all through the harvest season. But then the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan. As soon as their feet touched the edge of the water,"},{"verse":16,"text":"the flowing water stood still. It piled up far upstream, at a city called Adam near Zarethan. The water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was cut off completely. So the people crossed over across from Jericho."},{"verse":17,"text":"The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. Meanwhile all Israel crossed over on dry ground. They stood there until the whole nation had crossed the Jordan."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The whole nation finished crossing the Jordan. Then the LORD said to Joshua,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Choose twelve men from the people, one from each tribe."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell them, 'Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, where the priests stood. Carry them with you. Put them down at the place where you stay tonight.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Joshua called the twelve men he had chosen from the Israelites, one from each tribe."},{"verse":5,"text":"He said to them, \"Go ahead of the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you must lift a stone onto his shoulder. There will be one stone for each tribe of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"These stones will be a sign among you. In the future, your children may ask, 'What do these stones mean to you?'"},{"verse":7,"text":"When they do, tell them, 'The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When the ark crossed the Jordan, the water was cut off.' So these stones will help the Israelites remember forever.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the Israelites did what Joshua told them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each tribe of Israel. This was just as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried the stones to the camp and put them down there."},{"verse":9,"text":"Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan. He put them where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant had stood. The stones are still there today."},{"verse":10,"text":"The priests carrying the ark stayed standing in the middle of the Jordan. They stayed until the people had done everything the LORD told Joshua to tell them. This was just as Moses had told Joshua. The people hurried across."},{"verse":11,"text":"When everyone had finished crossing, the priests crossed with the ark of the LORD. The people watched them."},{"verse":12,"text":"The men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over ahead of the Israelites. They were armed for battle, as Moses had told them."},{"verse":13,"text":"About 40,000 soldiers armed for battle crossed over before the LORD. They went to the plains of Jericho."},{"verse":14,"text":"That day the LORD made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel. They honored him all his life, just as they had honored Moses."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the LORD said to Joshua,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Tell the priests who carry the ark of the Testimony to come up out of the Jordan.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Joshua gave orders to the priests. \"Come up out of the Jordan,\" he said."},{"verse":18,"text":"The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the Jordan. As soon as their feet touched dry land, the water of the Jordan came back. It flowed over all its banks as before."},{"verse":19,"text":"The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. They camped at Gilgal, on the east edge of Jericho."},{"verse":20,"text":"There at Gilgal Joshua set up the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Joshua said to the Israelites, \"In the future, your children may ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?'"},{"verse":22,"text":"When they do, tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"This is because the LORD your God dried up the water of the Jordan in front of you until you had crossed. He did just what he did to the Red Sea. He dried it up in front of us until we had crossed over."},{"verse":24,"text":"He did this so that all the people of the earth would know that the LORD's hand is mighty. He did it so that you would always fear the LORD your God.\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"All the Amorite kings west of the Jordan heard what had happened. So did all the Canaanite kings along the coast. They heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan in front of the Israelites until they had crossed. Then their hearts melted. They lost all courage because they were afraid of the Israelites."},{"verse":2,"text":"At that time the LORD said to Joshua, \"Make knives out of flint. Circumcise the men of Israel once again.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Joshua made flint knives. He circumcised the men of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.","note":"Gibeath-haaraloth means hill of foreskins."},{"verse":4,"text":"Here is why Joshua circumcised them. All the men who came out of Egypt, all the fighting men, had died. They died in the wilderness on the trip after they left Egypt."},{"verse":5,"text":"All the men who came out had been circumcised. But none of those born in the wilderness on the trip from Egypt had been circumcised."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for forty years. In that time, all the nation's fighting men who came out of Egypt died. They died because they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD had made a vow. He said they would never see the land he had promised their fathers to give us. It was a land flowing with milk and honey."},{"verse":7,"text":"God raised up their sons to take their place. These were the ones Joshua circumcised. Up to this time they were still not circumcised. No one had circumcised them along the way."},{"verse":8,"text":"After the whole nation had been circumcised, they stayed in the camp until they were healed."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said to Joshua, \"Today I have rolled away the shame of Egypt from you.\" So that place is still called Gilgal today.","note":"Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word for roll."},{"verse":10,"text":"The Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho. On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, they kept the Passover."},{"verse":11,"text":"On the very next day after the Passover, they ate food grown in the land. They ate bread made without yeast and roasted grain."},{"verse":12,"text":"The day after they ate food from the land, the manna stopped. The Israelites had no more manna. So that year they ate the crops of the land of Canaan."},{"verse":13,"text":"One day Joshua was near Jericho. He looked up and saw a man standing in front of him. The man held a sword in his hand, ready to use. Joshua went up to him and asked, \"Are you on our side or on our enemies' side?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Neither,\" he answered. \"I have come now as the Commander of the LORD's army.\" Then Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground in worship. He asked him, \"What does my Lord want to say to his servant?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The Commander of the LORD's army answered, \"Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy.\" And Joshua did so."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Jericho was shut up tight because of the Israelites. No one went out, and no one came in."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to Joshua, \"Look! I have given Jericho to you. I have given you its king and its brave fighting men."},{"verse":3,"text":"March around the city with all your fighting men. Go around the city one time. Do this for six days."},{"verse":4,"text":"Have seven priests carry seven horns made from rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times. Have the priests blow the horns."},{"verse":5,"text":"When there is a long blast on the ram's horn and you hear it, have all the people give a loud shout. Then the city wall will fall down. All your people will rush straight into the city.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Joshua son of Nun called the priests. He said, \"Pick up the ark of the covenant. Have seven priests carry seven rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"He told the people, \"Go! March around the city. Have the armed men go ahead of the ark of the LORD.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Joshua finished speaking to the people. Then the seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns went forward before the LORD. They blew the horns. The ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them."},{"verse":9,"text":"The horns kept sounding. The armed men marched ahead of the priests who blew the horns. The rear guard followed the ark."},{"verse":10,"text":"But Joshua had given the people this order: \"Do not shout a battle cry. Do not let your voice be heard. Do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Joshua had the ark of the LORD carried around the city one time. Then the people went back to the camp and spent the night there."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests picked up the ark of the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"The seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns kept marching ahead of the ark of the LORD. They kept blowing the horns. The armed men went in front of them. The rear guard followed the ark of the LORD. All the while, the horns kept sounding."},{"verse":14,"text":"So on the second day they marched around the city once. Then they went back to the camp. They did this for six days."},{"verse":15,"text":"On the seventh day, they got up at dawn. They marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they went around the city seven times."},{"verse":16,"text":"The seventh time around, the priests blew the horns. Joshua ordered the people, \"Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!"},{"verse":17,"text":"The city and everything in it must be given over to the LORD to be destroyed. Only Rahab the prostitute will live, along with everyone with her in her house. This is because she hid the spies we sent."},{"verse":18,"text":"But stay away from the things set apart to be destroyed. If you don't, you yourself will be set apart to be destroyed. If you take any of these things, you will put the camp of Israel under that curse. You will bring trouble on it."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is because all the silver and gold and all the things made of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They must go into his treasury.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So the rams' horns were blown, and the people shouted. When they heard the blast of the horn, the people gave a loud shout. Then the wall fell down. All the people rushed straight into the city and took it."},{"verse":21,"text":"They destroyed everything in the city with the sword. They gave it all over to the LORD to be destroyed. They killed men and women, young and old. They killed the oxen, sheep, and donkeys."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Joshua spoke to the two men who had spied out the land. \"Go into the prostitute's house,\" he said. \"Bring out the woman and everyone with her, just as you promised her.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So the young men who had been spies went in. They brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family. They gave them a place to stay outside the camp of Israel."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the Israelites burned the city and everything in it. But they put the silver and gold and the things made of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD's house."},{"verse":25,"text":"But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute. He spared her father's family and all who belonged to her. He did this because she hid the men Joshua had sent to spy out Jericho. She has lived among the Israelites to this day."},{"verse":26,"text":"At that time Joshua made this solemn oath: \"May the man who rises up to rebuild this city, Jericho, be cursed before the LORD. Laying its foundations will cost him his oldest son. Setting up its gates will cost him his youngest son.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So the LORD was with Joshua. And people all through the land heard about him."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But the Israelites were not faithful about the things set apart to be destroyed. A man named Achan took some of those things. He was the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah. So the LORD's anger burned against the Israelites."},{"verse":2,"text":"Meanwhile, Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai. Ai is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel. He told them, \"Go up and spy out the land.\" So the men went up and spied out Ai."},{"verse":3,"text":"They came back to Joshua and told him, \"You don't need to send all the people. Two or three thousand men are enough to go up and attack Ai. There are only a few people in Ai. Don't make all our people tire themselves out going there.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So about three thousand men went up. But they ran away from the men of Ai."},{"verse":5,"text":"The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them. They chased them from the city gate as far as the stone pits. They struck them down on the hillside. So the hearts of the people melted. They became as weak as water."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Joshua tore his clothes. He fell facedown on the ground in front of the ark of the LORD. He stayed there until evening. The elders of Israel did the same. They all threw dust on their heads."},{"verse":7,"text":"Joshua said, \"Oh, Lord GOD, why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan? Was it to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been happy to stay on the other side of the Jordan!"},{"verse":8,"text":"Oh, Lord, what can I say? Israel has turned and run away from its enemies!"},{"verse":9,"text":"The Canaanites and everyone else in the land will hear about this. They will surround us and wipe our name off the earth. Then what will you do for your own great name?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But the LORD said to Joshua, \"Stand up! Why are you lying on your face?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Israel has sinned. They have broken my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the things set apart to be destroyed. They have stolen and lied. They have put those things with their own things."},{"verse":12,"text":"That is why the Israelites can't stand against their enemies. They turn their backs and run away from them, because they themselves have now been set apart to be destroyed. I will not be with you anymore unless you get rid of what was set apart to be destroyed from among you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Get up and make the people holy. Tell them, 'Make yourselves holy for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Israel, there are things among you that were set apart to be destroyed. You can't stand against your enemies until you get rid of them."},{"verse":14,"text":"In the morning, come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD picks will come forward clan by clan. The clan the LORD picks will come forward family by family. The family the LORD picks will come forward man by man."},{"verse":15,"text":"The one who is caught with the things set apart to be destroyed must be burned. Everything that belongs to him must be burned too. This is because he has broken the covenant of the LORD. He has done a shameful thing in Israel.'\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Joshua got up early the next morning. He had Israel come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe of Judah was picked."},{"verse":17,"text":"He had the clans of Judah come forward. The clan of Zerah was picked. He had the clan of Zerah come forward, and the family of Zabdi was picked."},{"verse":18,"text":"Joshua had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man. Achan was picked. He was the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah."},{"verse":19,"text":"So Joshua said to Achan, \"My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel. Confess to him. Please tell me what you have done. Don't hide it from me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"It's true,\" Achan answered. \"I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. Here is what I did."},{"verse":21,"text":"Among the things we took, I saw a beautiful robe from Shinar. I saw 200 shekels of silver and a bar of gold that weighed 50 shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are buried in the ground inside my tent. The silver is underneath.\"","note":"200 shekels is about 5 pounds; 50 shekels is about 1¼ pounds."},{"verse":22,"text":"So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent. There it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath."},{"verse":23,"text":"They took the things out of the tent. They brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. They spread them out before the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan son of Zerah. They took the silver, the robe, and the bar of gold. They took his sons and daughters, his oxen, donkeys, and sheep, and his tent. They took everything else he owned. They brought them all to the Valley of Achor."},{"verse":25,"text":"Joshua said, \"Why have you brought this trouble on us? Today the LORD will bring trouble on you!\" Then all Israel stoned him to death. They also stoned the others and burned their bodies."},{"verse":26,"text":"They piled a large heap of rocks over Achan. It is still there today. Then the LORD turned away from his burning anger. That is why the place is still called the Valley of Achor today.","note":"Achor means trouble."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Joshua, \"Do not be afraid. Do not lose heart. Take the whole army with you. Go up and attack Ai. Look, I have given you the king of Ai. I have given you his people, his city, and his land."},{"verse":2,"text":"Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep their goods and animals for yourselves. Set a trap by hiding men behind the city.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Joshua and the whole army went out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 brave fighting men. He sent them out at night."},{"verse":4,"text":"He gave them these orders: \"Listen closely. Hide and wait behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be ready."},{"verse":5,"text":"I and all the troops with me will march toward the city. The men of Ai will come out to fight us, like they did the first time. Then we will run away from them."},{"verse":6,"text":"They will chase us until we have led them away from the city. They will say, 'The Israelites are running away from us like before.' So while we run from them,"},{"verse":7,"text":"you will jump up from your hiding place and take the city, because the LORD your God will give it to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded! You have my orders.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Joshua sent them out. They went to their hiding place and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But Joshua spent that night with the people."},{"verse":10,"text":"Joshua got up early the next morning and gathered his men. He and the elders of Israel marched ahead of them up to Ai."},{"verse":11,"text":"All the troops with him marched up and came near the city. They arrived in front of Ai. They camped north of it, with the valley between them and the city."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joshua had taken about five thousand men. He had hidden them to wait between Bethel and Ai, west of the city."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the soldiers took their places. The main camp was north of the city. The men hiding in wait were west of the city. That night Joshua went into the valley."},{"verse":14,"text":"The king of Ai saw the Israelites. So he and the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to fight them. They went to a place they had chosen that looked out over the Arabah. But the king did not know that men were hiding behind the city to attack him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joshua and all Israel let the men of Ai push them back. They ran away toward the wilderness."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then all the men of Ai were called out to chase them. They followed Joshua, and they were drawn away from the city."},{"verse":17,"text":"Not one man was left in Ai or Bethel. They all went out after Israel. They left the city wide open while they chased Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the LORD said to Joshua, \"Hold out your spear toward Ai. I will give the city to you.\" So Joshua held out his spear toward Ai."},{"verse":19,"text":"As soon as he did, the men who were hiding jumped up from their places. They rushed forward and went into the city. They took it and quickly set it on fire."},{"verse":20,"text":"The men of Ai turned and looked back. They saw smoke from the city rising into the sky. They had no way to escape in any direction. Then the Israelites who had run toward the wilderness turned around against the men chasing them."},{"verse":21,"text":"Joshua and all Israel saw that the hidden men had taken the city. They saw smoke rising from it. So they turned around and struck down the men of Ai."},{"verse":22,"text":"Meanwhile, the men who had been hiding came out of the city against them. So the men of Ai were trapped. Israelites were on both sides of them. Israel struck them down until no one was left alive. No one got away."},{"verse":23,"text":"But they took the king of Ai alive. They brought him to Joshua."},{"verse":24,"text":"Israel finished killing all the men of Ai who had chased them into the fields and the wilderness. Every last one of them was killed by the sword. Then all the Israelites went back to Ai. They killed the people there with the sword too."},{"verse":25,"text":"Twelve thousand men and women died that day. That was all the people of Ai."},{"verse":26,"text":"Joshua kept holding out his spear. He did not pull back his hand until he had destroyed everyone who lived in Ai. They were all given over to the LORD to be destroyed."},{"verse":27,"text":"Israel kept only the cattle and the goods from that city for themselves. This was what the LORD had commanded Joshua."},{"verse":28,"text":"So Joshua burned Ai. He made it a heap of ruins forever. It is still an empty ruin today."},{"verse":29,"text":"He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body down from the tree. They threw it down at the city gate. They piled a large heap of rocks over it. It is still there today."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":31,"text":"He did just what Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it the way the Book of the Law of Moses says: \"an altar of whole stones that no iron tool has touched.\" On it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD. They also offered peace offerings."},{"verse":32,"text":"There, with the Israelites watching, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses. Moses had written this law."},{"verse":33,"text":"All Israel stood on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Foreigners stood there as well as people born in Israel. Their elders, officers, and judges were there too. They faced the priests, who were Levites, carrying the ark. Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim. Half stood in front of Mount Ebal. Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded this earlier. It was for blessing the people of Israel."},{"verse":34,"text":"After that, Joshua read out loud all the words of the law. He read the blessings and the curses. He read everything written in the Book of the Law."},{"verse":35,"text":"Joshua read every word Moses had commanded. He did not leave out one. He read it to the whole gathering of Israel. The women, the little children, and the foreigners living among them heard it too."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"All the kings west of the Jordan heard about this. There were kings in the hill country and the foothills. There were kings all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon. They were the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."},{"verse":2,"text":"They all came together to make war against Joshua and Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai."},{"verse":4,"text":"So they came up with a trick. They set out as messengers. They loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks. They brought old wineskins that were cracked and patched."},{"verse":5,"text":"They wore old, patched sandals on their feet. They wore worn-out clothes. All the bread they brought was dry and moldy."},{"verse":6,"text":"They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal. They said to him and the men of Israel, \"We have come from a land far away. Please make a peace treaty with us.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But the men of Israel said to these Hivites, \"Maybe you live near us. How can we make a treaty with you?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"We are your servants,\" they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, \"Who are you? Where do you come from?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"They answered, \"We, your servants, have come from a land very far away. We came because of how famous the LORD your God is. We have heard about him. We heard all he did in Egypt."},{"verse":10,"text":"We heard all he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan. They were Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth."},{"verse":11,"text":"So our elders and all the people of our land told us, 'Take food for your trip. Go and meet them. Tell them, \"We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.\"'"},{"verse":12,"text":"Look at our bread. It was warm when we packed it at home. That was the day we left to come to you. But look, now it's dry and moldy."},{"verse":13,"text":"These wineskins were new when we filled them. But look, now they're cracked. And our clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long trip.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The men of Israel tasted some of their food. But they did not ask the LORD what to do."},{"verse":15,"text":"So Joshua made a peace treaty with them. He promised to let them live. The leaders of the people made a promise with an oath to them."},{"verse":16,"text":"Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites found out the truth. These people were their neighbors. They lived close by."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the Israelites set out. On the third day they came to their cities. The cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the Israelites did not attack them. The leaders of the people had sworn an oath to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. And all the people grumbled against the leaders."},{"verse":19,"text":"But all the leaders answered, \"We have sworn an oath to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. So now we can't touch them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Here is what we will do. We will let them live, so that no anger will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"They went on, \"Let them live. But let them cut wood and carry water for all the people.\" So the leaders kept their promise."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Joshua called for the Gibeonites. He said, \"Why did you trick us? You told us you live far away from us. But really you live right here among us."},{"verse":23,"text":"So now you are under a curse. You will always serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The Gibeonites answered, \"We, your servants, were told clearly what the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses. He was to give you all this land. He was to wipe out all the people living in it ahead of you. So we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That's why we did this."},{"verse":25,"text":"Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is good and right.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So Joshua did this. He saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites."},{"verse":27,"text":"That day he made them woodcutters and water carriers. They served the people of the LORD and the altar of the LORD. The altar would be at the place God would choose. They still do this work today."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Adoni-zedek was king of Jerusalem. He heard that Joshua had taken Ai and destroyed it completely. Joshua had done to Ai and its king what he did to Jericho and its king. Adoni-zedek also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel. They were now living near the Israelites."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Adoni-zedek and his people were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the cities that had a king. It was bigger than Ai, and all its men were strong fighters."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent a message to four kings. They were Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon. He said,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Come up and help me. Let's attack Gibeon, because they have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So the five kings of the Amorites joined their forces. They were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. They marched out with all their armies. They camped around Gibeon and attacked it."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the men of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal. \"Don't leave us, your servants, on our own. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined together against us.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Joshua and his whole army went up from Gilgal. All his bravest fighting men went with him."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD said to Joshua, \"Don't be afraid of them, because I have given them to you. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Joshua marched all night from Gilgal. He took them by surprise."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD threw them into a panic in front of Israel. Israel beat them badly and killed many at Gibeon. Israel chased them up the road to Beth-horon. They struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah."},{"verse":11,"text":"The enemy ran from Israel down the road from Beth-horon to Azekah. As they ran, the LORD threw large hailstones down on them from the sky. More of them died from the hail than from the swords of the Israelites."},{"verse":12,"text":"On that day the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites. That day Joshua spoke to the LORD in front of all Israel. He said,\n\"Sun, stand still over Gibeon.\nMoon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped. They stayed there until the nation paid back its enemies. This is written in the Book of Jashar, isn't it? It says, \"So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky. It waited about a whole day before going down.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"There has never been a day like it, before or since, when the LORD listened to a man's voice. This was because the LORD fought for Israel!"},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Joshua went back with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal."},{"verse":16,"text":"Now the five kings had run away. They hid in the cave at Makkedah."},{"verse":17,"text":"Someone told Joshua, \"The five kings have been found. They are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Joshua said, \"Roll large stones over the opening of the cave. Put men there to guard the kings."},{"verse":19,"text":"But don't stop there yourselves. Chase your enemies. Attack them from behind. Don't let them get back to their cities, because the LORD your God has given them to you.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Joshua and the Israelites kept on killing them. They killed a great many of them until they had finished them off. The few who were left alive escaped into their walled cities."},{"verse":21,"text":"The whole army came back safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to say a word against the Israelites."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Joshua said, \"Open the cave. Bring those five kings out to me.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So they brought the five kings out of the cave. They were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon."},{"verse":24,"text":"They brought the kings to Joshua. Then he called all the men of Israel together. He said to the army leaders who had gone with him, \"Come here. Put your feet on the necks of these kings.\" So the leaders came and put their feet on the kings' necks."},{"verse":25,"text":"Joshua said to them, \"Don't be afraid. Don't lose heart. Be strong and courageous, because this is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you fight.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Joshua struck the kings and killed them. He hung their bodies on five trees. They stayed there until evening."},{"verse":27,"text":"At sunset Joshua gave an order. The bodies were taken down from the trees. They were thrown into the cave where the kings had hidden. Then large stones were put over the opening of the cave. The stones are still there today."},{"verse":28,"text":"That day Joshua took Makkedah. He killed its king and its people with the sword. He destroyed everyone in the city completely. No one was left alive. He did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Makkedah to Libnah. They attacked Libnah."},{"verse":30,"text":"The LORD gave that city and its king to Israel too. Joshua killed all its people with the sword. No one was left alive. He did to the king of Libnah what he had done to the king of Jericho."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Libnah to Lachish. They surrounded it and attacked it."},{"verse":32,"text":"The LORD gave Lachish to Israel. Joshua took it on the second day. He killed all its people with the sword, just as he had done to Libnah."},{"verse":33,"text":"At that time Horam king of Gezer came to help Lachish. But Joshua defeated him and his army. No one was left alive."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Joshua went on from Lachish to Eglon. All Israel went with him. They surrounded it and attacked it."},{"verse":35,"text":"They took Eglon that same day and killed its people with the sword. Joshua destroyed everyone in the city completely, just as he had done to Lachish."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. They attacked it."},{"verse":37,"text":"They took it. They killed its king with the sword. They also killed the people of all its villages and everyone else there. Joshua left no one alive, just as at Eglon. He destroyed Hebron and everyone in it completely."},{"verse":38,"text":"Last of all, Joshua and all Israel with him turned back toward Debir. They attacked it."},{"verse":39,"text":"They took Debir, its king, and all its villages. They killed them with the sword. They destroyed everyone in the city completely. No one was left alive. Joshua did to Debir and its king what he had done to Hebron. He did what he had done to Libnah and its king."},{"verse":40,"text":"So Joshua took over the whole region. He took the hill country, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes. He defeated all their kings. He left no one alive. He destroyed everything that breathed. This was what the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded."},{"verse":41,"text":"Joshua conquered the land from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza. He took the whole region of Goshen as far as Gibeon."},{"verse":42,"text":"Joshua took all these kings and their land in one campaign. He did it because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then Joshua went back with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jabin king of Hazor heard about all this. So he sent messages to other kings. He sent word to Jobab king of Madon. He sent word to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent word to the kings in the north. They were in the mountains, in the Arabah south of Chinnereth, and in the foothills. They were also in Naphoth-dor to the west."},{"verse":3,"text":"He sent word to the Canaanites in the east and west. He sent word to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country. He also sent word to the Hivites below Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah."},{"verse":4,"text":"So these kings came out with all their armies. There were as many soldiers as grains of sand on the seashore. They had a great many horses and chariots."},{"verse":5,"text":"All these kings joined their forces. They camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the LORD said to Joshua, \"Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, dead. Cut the leg tendons of their horses so they can't run. Burn up their chariots.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Joshua and his whole army came at them suddenly by the waters of Merom. They attacked them."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD gave them to Israel. Israel struck them down. They chased them all the way to Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim. They chased them east as far as the Valley of Mizpeh. They struck them down until no one was left alive."},{"verse":9,"text":"Joshua did to them what the LORD had told him. He cut the leg tendons of their horses. He burned up their chariots."},{"verse":10,"text":"At that time Joshua turned back and took Hazor. He killed its king with the sword, because in the past Hazor had been the leader of all these kingdoms."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Israelites killed everyone in Hazor with the sword. They destroyed them completely. Nothing that breathed was left alive. And Joshua burned Hazor itself."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joshua took all these kings and their cities. He killed them with the sword. He destroyed them completely. This was what Moses the LORD's servant had commanded."},{"verse":13,"text":"But Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their hills. Hazor was the only one Joshua burned."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Israelites kept for themselves all the goods and animals from these cities. But they killed all the people with the sword until they had destroyed them completely. They did not spare anyone who breathed."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD had given commands to his servant Moses. Then Moses gave the same commands to Joshua. And Joshua did them. He did not leave out anything the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":16,"text":"So Joshua took this whole land. He took the hill country, all the Negev, and all the land of Goshen. He took the western foothills and the Arabah. He took the mountains of Israel and their foothills."},{"verse":17,"text":"The land went from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, to Baal-gad. Baal-gad is in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. Joshua captured all their kings. He struck them down and put them to death."},{"verse":18,"text":"Joshua fought against all these kings for a long time."},{"verse":19,"text":"Not one city made peace with the Israelites except Gibeon, where the Hivites lived. Israel took all the others in battle."},{"verse":20,"text":"It was the LORD who made their hearts stubborn so they would fight Israel. He did it so that they would be set apart to be destroyed. They would get no mercy. They would be wiped out, as the LORD had commanded Moses."},{"verse":21,"text":"At that time Joshua went out to wipe out the Anakim. He wiped them out of the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab. He wiped them out of all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua destroyed them and their cities completely.","note":"The Anakim were a people known for being very tall and strong."},{"verse":22,"text":"No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites. Only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod were some still alive."},{"verse":23,"text":"So Joshua took the whole land, just as the LORD had told Moses. Joshua gave it to Israel to own. He divided it among their tribes. Then the land had rest from war."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the kings of the land that the Israelites defeated east of the Jordan. The Israelites took their land. It went from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon. It took in all the Arabah on the east side."},{"verse":2,"text":"First was Sihon king of the Amorites. He lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley, from the middle of the valley. His land went up to the Jabbok River, which was the border of the Ammonites. That was half of Gilead."},{"verse":3,"text":"He also ruled the Arabah east of the Sea of Chinnereth. It went down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). It went east toward Beth-jeshimoth. It went south below the slopes of Pisgah."},{"verse":4,"text":"Next was Og king of Bashan. He was one of the last of the Rephaim. He lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.","note":"The Rephaim were a people known for being very tall."},{"verse":5,"text":"He ruled Mount Hermon and Salecah. He ruled all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites. He ruled half of Gilead, up to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon."},{"verse":6,"text":"Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites had defeated them. Moses gave their land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh to own."},{"verse":7,"text":"These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites defeated west of the Jordan. Their land went from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. (Joshua gave this land to the tribes of Israel to own. He divided it among them."},{"verse":8,"text":"It was the hill country, the foothills, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev. It was the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.) Here are the kings:"},{"verse":9,"text":"the king of Jericho, one;\nthe king of Ai, near Bethel, one;"},{"verse":10,"text":"the king of Jerusalem, one;\nthe king of Hebron, one;"},{"verse":11,"text":"the king of Jarmuth, one;\nthe king of Lachish, one;"},{"verse":12,"text":"the king of Eglon, one;\nthe king of Gezer, one;"},{"verse":13,"text":"the king of Debir, one;\nthe king of Geder, one;"},{"verse":14,"text":"the king of Hormah, one;\nthe king of Arad, one;"},{"verse":15,"text":"the king of Libnah, one;\nthe king of Adullam, one;"},{"verse":16,"text":"the king of Makkedah, one;\nthe king of Bethel, one;"},{"verse":17,"text":"the king of Tappuah, one;\nthe king of Hepher, one;"},{"verse":18,"text":"the king of Aphek, one;\nthe king of Lasharon, one;"},{"verse":19,"text":"the king of Madon, one;\nthe king of Hazor, one;"},{"verse":20,"text":"the king of Shimron-meron, one;\nthe king of Achshaph, one;"},{"verse":21,"text":"the king of Taanach, one;\nthe king of Megiddo, one;"},{"verse":22,"text":"the king of Kedesh, one;\nthe king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;"},{"verse":23,"text":"the king of Dor in Naphath-dor, one;\nthe king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;"},{"verse":24,"text":"and the king of Tirzah, one.\nThere were thirty-one kings in all."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Joshua was very old. The LORD said to him, \"You are very old. But there is still a great deal of land left to take over."},{"verse":2,"text":"Here is the land that is left. There is all the land of the Philistines and the Geshurites."},{"verse":3,"text":"It goes from the Shihor, east of Egypt, north to the land of Ekron. It is counted as Canaanite land. It belongs to the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The land of the Avvites is left too."},{"verse":4,"text":"To the south, there is all the land of the Canaanites. It goes from Mearah, which belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek. It goes as far as the border of the Amorites."},{"verse":5,"text":"There is the land of the Gebalites. There is all Lebanon to the east. It goes from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath."},{"verse":6,"text":"There are all the people of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim. These are all the Sidonians. I myself will drive them out ahead of the Israelites. Be sure to divide this land among Israel by casting lots. Give it to them to own, as I have commanded you."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now divide this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Give it to them to own.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The other half of Manasseh, along with the tribes of Reuben and Gad, had already received their land. Moses had given it to them east of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD had given it to them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their land started at Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley. It took in the city in the middle of the valley. It took in the whole high plain of Medeba as far as Dibon."},{"verse":10,"text":"It took in all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. It went as far as the border of the Ammonites."},{"verse":11,"text":"It also took in Gilead and the land of the Geshurites and Maacathites. It took in all of Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salecah."},{"verse":12,"text":"That was the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan. He had ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. He was one of the last of the Rephaim. Moses had defeated these kings and taken their land."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. So the people of Geshur and Maacath still live among the Israelites today."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Moses gave no land to the tribe of Levi. Their share is the food offerings given to the LORD, the God of Israel. This is just what the LORD had promised them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Here is the land Moses gave to the clans of the tribe of Reuben."},{"verse":16,"text":"Their land started at Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley. It took in the city in the middle of the valley. It went to the whole high plain past Medeba."},{"verse":17,"text":"It went to Heshbon and all its cities on the high plain. These included Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon,"},{"verse":18,"text":"Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,"},{"verse":19,"text":"Kiriathaim, Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley."},{"verse":20,"text":"They also included Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth."},{"verse":21,"text":"It was all the cities of the high plain. It was the whole kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. Moses had killed Sihon. He also killed the chiefs of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They were princes under Sihon who lived in that land."},{"verse":22,"text":"The Israelites also killed Balaam son of Beor, who told the future by magic. They killed him with the sword along with the others."},{"verse":23,"text":"The border of the tribe of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the land the clans of Reuben received. It included the cities and villages."},{"verse":24,"text":"Here is the land Moses gave to the clans of the tribe of Gad."},{"verse":25,"text":"It took in the land of Jazer and all the cities of Gilead. It took in half the land of the Ammonites, as far as Aroer near Rabbah."},{"verse":26,"text":"It went from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim. It went from Mahanaim to the border of Debir."},{"verse":27,"text":"In the valley it took in Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon. It took in the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon. (This was the land east of the Jordan up to the end of the Sea of Chinnereth.)"},{"verse":28,"text":"This was the land the clans of Gad received. It included the cities and villages."},{"verse":29,"text":"Here is the land Moses gave to the clans of the half-tribe of Manasseh. That is, it went to half the families who came from Manasseh."},{"verse":30,"text":"Their land went from Mahanaim through all Bashan. It was the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan. It took in all the towns of Jair in Bashan, sixty cities."},{"verse":31,"text":"It took in half of Gilead. It took in Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. All this went to the clans who came from Machir son of Manasseh. That was half of Machir's family line."},{"verse":32,"text":"These were the shares of land Moses gave out. He gave them while he was on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan, east of Jericho."},{"verse":33,"text":"But Moses gave no land to the tribe of Levi. The LORD, the God of Israel, is their share. This is just what he had promised them."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the shares of land the Israelites received in the land of Canaan. Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun gave them out. The heads of the families of the tribes of Israel helped them."},{"verse":2,"text":"The land for the nine and a half tribes was given out by casting lots. This was what the LORD had commanded through Moses."},{"verse":3,"text":"Moses had already given land east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he gave no land to the Levites among them."},{"verse":4,"text":"The family of Joseph had become two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were not given any share of the land. They were only given cities to live in. They also got pastures for their flocks and herds."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the Israelites did what the LORD had commanded Moses. They divided up the land."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite spoke to him. He said, \"You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God about you and me. He said it at Kadesh-barnea."},{"verse":7,"text":"I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea. He sent me to spy out the land. I came back and gave him an honest report."},{"verse":8,"text":"The men who went with me made the people's hearts melt with fear. But I stayed loyal to the LORD my God."},{"verse":9,"text":"So on that day Moses made a promise to me with an oath. He said, 'The land you walked on will surely belong to you and your children forever. This is because you followed the LORD my God with all your heart.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Now look! The LORD has kept me alive, just as he promised. It has been forty-five years since he said this to Moses. That was while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old."},{"verse":11,"text":"I'm still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. I'm just as strong now as I was then. I'm strong enough for war and for going out and coming in."},{"verse":12,"text":"So now give me this hill country. The LORD promised it to me on that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakim were there. They had large cities with strong walls. But maybe the LORD will help me, and I will drive them out, as the LORD said.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh. He gave him Hebron as his own land."},{"verse":14,"text":"So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since. It is still his family's land today. This is because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart."},{"verse":15,"text":"(Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba. It was named after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This was the land given by lot to the clans of the tribe of Judah. It reached to the border of Edom. It went to the Wilderness of Zin at the far south end."},{"verse":2,"text":"Their southern border started at the bay at the south end of the Salt Sea."},{"verse":3,"text":"It went south of the Ascent of Akrabbim and on to Zin. It went south of Kadesh-barnea. It ran past Hezron up to Addar. Then it turned toward Karka."},{"verse":4,"text":"It went on to Azmon and joined the Brook of Egypt. It ended at the Sea. This was their southern border."},{"verse":5,"text":"The eastern border was the Salt Sea, up to where the Jordan flows into it. The northern border started at the bay of the sea where the Jordan flows in."},{"verse":6,"text":"It went up to Beth-hoglah. It passed north of Beth-arabah. It went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor. It turned north to Gilgal. Gilgal faces the Ascent of Adummim, south of the ravine. It went on along the waters of En-shemesh. It came out at En-rogel."},{"verse":8,"text":"From there the border went up the Valley of Ben-hinnom. It ran along the south side of the Jebusite city. That city is Jerusalem. Then it went up to the top of the hill west of the Valley of Hinnom. This hill is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":9,"text":"From the top of the hill the border turned to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah. It went on to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then it bent around toward Baalah, which is Kiriath-jearim."},{"verse":10,"text":"From Baalah the border turned west to Mount Seir. It ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim, which is Chesalon. It went down to Beth-shemesh and crossed to Timnah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron. It turned toward Shikkeron and went on to Mount Baalah. It went on to Jabneel and ended at the Sea."},{"verse":12,"text":"The western border was the coast of the Great Sea. These were the borders all around the clans of Judah's family line."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD had given Joshua a command. So Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a share of land among the people of Judah. He gave him Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron. (Arba was the father of Anak's family line.)"},{"verse":14,"text":"Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there. They were the families of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, who came from Anak."},{"verse":15,"text":"From there he marched against the people living in Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath-sepher.)"},{"verse":16,"text":"Caleb said, \"I will give my daughter Acsah to be the wife of the man who attacks Kiriath-sepher and takes it.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Othniel took the city. He was the son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother. So Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah to be his wife."},{"verse":18,"text":"One day Acsah came to Othniel. She urged him to ask her father for a field. She got down off her donkey. Caleb asked her, \"What do you want?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Give me a blessing,\" she answered. \"You have given me land in the Negev. Now give me springs of water too.\" So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs."},{"verse":20,"text":"This is the land the clans of the tribe of Judah received."},{"verse":21,"text":"These were the cities farthest south in the tribe of Judah. They were in the Negev near the border of Edom. They were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,"},{"verse":22,"text":"Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,"},{"verse":23,"text":"Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,"},{"verse":24,"text":"Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,"},{"verse":25,"text":"Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (which is Hazor),"},{"verse":26,"text":"Amam, Shema, Moladah,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,"},{"verse":28,"text":"Hazar-shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,"},{"verse":29,"text":"Baalah, Iim, Ezem,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,"},{"verse":32,"text":"Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. There were twenty-nine cities in all, with their villages."},{"verse":33,"text":"These cities were in the foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,"},{"verse":34,"text":"Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,"},{"verse":36,"text":"Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim). There were fourteen cities, with their villages."},{"verse":37,"text":"There were also Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,"},{"verse":38,"text":"Dilan, Mizpeh, Joktheel,"},{"verse":39,"text":"Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,"},{"verse":40,"text":"Cabbon, Lahmas, Chitlish,"},{"verse":41,"text":"Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah. There were sixteen cities, with their villages."},{"verse":42,"text":"There were also Libnah, Ether, Ashan,"},{"verse":43,"text":"Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,"},{"verse":44,"text":"Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah. There were nine cities, with their villages."},{"verse":45,"text":"There was Ekron, with its towns and villages."},{"verse":46,"text":"From Ekron to the sea, there were all the cities near Ashdod, with their villages."},{"verse":47,"text":"There was Ashdod, with its towns and villages. There was Gaza, with its towns and villages. Their land went as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coast of the Great Sea."},{"verse":48,"text":"These cities were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,"},{"verse":49,"text":"Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (which is Debir),"},{"verse":50,"text":"Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,"},{"verse":51,"text":"Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. There were eleven cities, with their villages."},{"verse":52,"text":"There were also Arab, Dumah, Eshan,"},{"verse":53,"text":"Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,"},{"verse":54,"text":"Humtah, Kiriath-arba (which is Hebron), and Zior. There were nine cities, with their villages."},{"verse":55,"text":"There were also Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,"},{"verse":56,"text":"Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,"},{"verse":57,"text":"Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah. There were ten cities, with their villages."},{"verse":58,"text":"There were also Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,"},{"verse":59,"text":"Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon. There were six cities, with their villages."},{"verse":60,"text":"There were Kiriath-baal (which is Kiriath-jearim) and Rabbah. There were two cities, with their villages."},{"verse":61,"text":"These cities were in the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,"},{"verse":62,"text":"Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi. There were six cities, with their villages."},{"verse":63,"text":"But the people of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live there among the people of Judah today."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This was the land given by lot to the family of Joseph. It started at the Jordan near Jericho, at the springs of Jericho on the east. It went through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel."},{"verse":2,"text":"It went on from Bethel, which is Luz. It went to the border of the Archites at Ataroth."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then it went down to the west, to the border of the Japhletites. It went as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer. It ended at the Sea."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, received their land."},{"verse":5,"text":"This was the land of Ephraim's family line, clan by clan. The border of their land went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then it went on toward the Sea. From Michmethath on the north, it turned east toward Taanath-shiloh. It passed it and went on to Janoah on the east."},{"verse":7,"text":"From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah. Then it reached Jericho and came out at the Jordan."},{"verse":8,"text":"From Tappuah the border went west to the Brook of Kanah. It ended at the Sea. This was the land the clans of the tribe of Ephraim received."},{"verse":9,"text":"They also received all the cities and villages set apart for them inside the land of Manasseh."},{"verse":10,"text":"But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer. So the Canaanites still live among the people of Ephraim today. But they are forced to work as slaves."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This was the land given by lot to the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's oldest son. Machir was Manasseh's oldest son and the father of Gilead. Machir had already received Gilead and Bashan because he was a great soldier."},{"verse":2,"text":"So this land was for the rest of Manasseh's family line. It was for the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the other sons in the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph."},{"verse":3,"text":"But Zelophehad had no sons. He had only daughters. He was the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. His daughters were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."},{"verse":4,"text":"They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders. They said, \"The LORD commanded Moses to give us land among our relatives.\" So Joshua gave them land among their father's brothers. This was what the LORD had commanded."},{"verse":5,"text":"So Manasseh received ten shares of land. That was besides the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan."},{"verse":6,"text":"This was because the daughters of Manasseh received land along with his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of Manasseh's sons."},{"verse":7,"text":"The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Michmethath near Shechem. Then it went south to take in the people living in En-tappuah."},{"verse":8,"text":"The land around Tappuah belonged to Manasseh. But the town of Tappuah itself, on Manasseh's border, belonged to Ephraim."},{"verse":9,"text":"From there the border went south to the Brook of Kanah. Some cities that belonged to Ephraim were among the cities of Manasseh. But Manasseh's border ran along the north side of the brook. It ended at the Sea."},{"verse":10,"text":"Ephraim's land was to the south, and Manasseh's land was to the north. The Sea was Manasseh's border. Manasseh's land touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east."},{"verse":11,"text":"Inside the land of Issachar and Asher, Manasseh was given some towns. They were Beth-shean, Ibleam, Dor (which is Naphath), Endor, Taanach, and Megiddo. Each came with the villages around it."},{"verse":12,"text":"But the people of Manasseh could not take over these cities, because the Canaanites were set on staying in that land."},{"verse":13,"text":"Later the Israelites grew stronger. Then they made the Canaanites work as slaves. But they did not drive them out completely."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Joseph's family line said to Joshua, \"Why have you given us only one share of land? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us so much.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Joshua answered them, \"If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, then go to the forest. Clear some land for yourselves there, in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"They answered, \"The hill country is not big enough for us. And all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots. They are in Beth-shean and its towns and in the Valley of Jezreel.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Joshua spoke to the family of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh. He said, \"You have many people, and you are very strong. You will not have just one share of land."},{"verse":18,"text":"This is because the hill country will be yours too. It is a forest, but you can clear it. All of it, to its farthest edges, will be yours. The Canaanites have iron chariots, and they are strong. But you can drive them out.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh. They set up the Tent of Meeting there. The land was now under their control,"},{"verse":2,"text":"but there were still seven tribes of Israel that had not yet been given their share of the land."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Joshua said to the Israelites, \"How long will you wait to go in and take the land? The LORD, the God of your fathers, has given it to you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Choose three men from each tribe. I will send them out to look over the land and map it out. They will map it by the share each tribe will get. Then they will come back to me"},{"verse":5,"text":"and divide the land into seven parts. Judah will stay in its land in the south. The family of Joseph will stay in its land in the north."},{"verse":6,"text":"Map out the seven parts of the land and bring the map to me. Then I will cast lots for you here, in front of the LORD our God."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the Levites get no share of land among you. Their share is to serve as priests of the LORD. And Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh already have their share. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them east of the Jordan.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The men got up to leave. Joshua told them to map out the land. He said, \"Go and look over the land and map it out. Then come back to me. I will cast lots for you here in Shiloh, in front of the LORD.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So the men left and went all through the land. They wrote it down town by town in a scroll, in seven parts. Then they came back to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh."},{"verse":10,"text":"Joshua cast lots for them in front of the LORD at Shiloh. There he gave out the land to the Israelites, tribe by tribe."},{"verse":11,"text":"The first lot was for the clans of the tribe of Benjamin. Their land was between the tribes of Judah and Joseph."},{"verse":12,"text":"On the north side, their border started at the Jordan. It went up past the north slope of Jericho. Then it went west through the hill country. It came out at the desert of Beth-aven."},{"verse":13,"text":"From there the border crossed over to the south slope of Luz, which is Bethel. Then it went down to Ataroth-addar, on the hill south of Lower Beth-horon."},{"verse":14,"text":"On the west side, the border turned south from the hill facing Beth-horon on the south. It came out at Kiriath-baal, which is Kiriath-jearim. That was a city of the people of Judah. This was the west side."},{"verse":15,"text":"On the south side, the border started at the edge of Kiriath-jearim. It went west to the spring at the Waters of Nephtoah."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then it went down to the foot of the hill facing the Valley of Ben-hinnom. That hill is at the north end of the Valley of Rephaim. The border ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the south slope of the Jebusites. Then it went down to En-rogel."},{"verse":17,"text":"From there it turned north and went to En-shemesh. It went on to Geliloth, facing the Ascent of Adummim. Then it went down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then it went on to the north slope of Beth-arabah and down into the valley."},{"verse":19,"text":"The border went on to the north slope of Beth-hoglah. It came out at the north bay of the Salt Sea, where the Jordan flows in. This was the south border."},{"verse":20,"text":"On the east side, the Jordan was the border. These were the borders all around the land of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin."},{"verse":21,"text":"These were the cities of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,"},{"verse":22,"text":"Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,"},{"verse":23,"text":"Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,"},{"verse":24,"text":"Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba. That was twelve cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":25,"text":"There were also Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,"},{"verse":26,"text":"Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,"},{"verse":28,"text":"Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim. That was fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Benjamin."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The second lot was for the clans of the tribe of Simeon. Their land was inside the land of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"It included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,"},{"verse":3,"text":"Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,"},{"verse":4,"text":"Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,"},{"verse":6,"text":"Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen. That was thirteen cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":7,"text":"It also included Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan. That was four cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":8,"text":"It included all the villages around these cities, as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Simeon."},{"verse":9,"text":"The land for the people of Simeon was taken from Judah's land. That was because Judah's share was too big for them. So the people of Simeon got their share inside Judah's land."},{"verse":10,"text":"The third lot was for the clans of the tribe of Zebulun. The border of their land went as far as Sarid."},{"verse":11,"text":"It went up west to Maralah and reached Dabbesheth. Then it met the stream east of Jokneam."},{"verse":12,"text":"From Sarid it turned east along the border of Chisloth-tabor. It went on to Daberath and up to Japhia."},{"verse":13,"text":"From there it crossed east to Gath-hepher and to Eth-kazin. It went to Rimmon and turned toward Neah."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the border went around the north side of Neah to Hannathon. It ended at the Valley of Iphtah-el."},{"verse":15,"text":"It also included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":16,"text":"This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Zebulun. It included these cities and their villages."},{"verse":17,"text":"The fourth lot was for the clans of the tribe of Issachar."},{"verse":18,"text":"Their land included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,"},{"verse":19,"text":"Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,"},{"verse":20,"text":"Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez."},{"verse":22,"text":"The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh. It ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":23,"text":"This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Issachar. It included these cities and their villages."},{"verse":24,"text":"The fifth lot was for the clans of the tribe of Asher."},{"verse":25,"text":"Their land included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,"},{"verse":26,"text":"Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. On the west the border touched Carmel and Shihor-libnath."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then it turned east toward Beth-dagon. It touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah-el. It went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left."},{"verse":28,"text":"It went on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then the border turned back toward Ramah, as far as the walled city of Tyre. It turned toward Hosah and came out at the Sea near Achzib."},{"verse":30,"text":"It also included Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":31,"text":"This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Asher. It included these cities and their villages."},{"verse":32,"text":"The sixth lot was for the clans of the tribe of Naphtali."},{"verse":33,"text":"Their border started at Heleph and the great tree of Zaanannim. It passed Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakkum. It ended at the Jordan."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the border turned west to Aznoth-tabor. From there it ran to Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south and Asher on the west. It touched Judah at the Jordan on the east."},{"verse":35,"text":"The walled cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,"},{"verse":36,"text":"Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,"},{"verse":38,"text":"Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh. There were nineteen cities, along with their villages."},{"verse":39,"text":"This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Naphtali. It included these cities and their villages."},{"verse":40,"text":"The seventh lot was for the clans of the tribe of Dan."},{"verse":41,"text":"Their land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,"},{"verse":42,"text":"Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,"},{"verse":43,"text":"Elon, Timnah, Ekron,"},{"verse":44,"text":"Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,"},{"verse":45,"text":"Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,"},{"verse":46,"text":"Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the land across from Joppa."},{"verse":47,"text":"(Later the people of Dan lost their land. So they went up and fought against Leshem. They captured it and killed its people with the sword. Then they took over Leshem and lived there. They named it Dan, after their father Dan.)"},{"verse":48,"text":"This was the land given to the clans of the tribe of Dan. It included these cities and their villages."},{"verse":49,"text":"The Israelites finished dividing up the land into its parts. Then they gave Joshua son of Nun a share of land among them,"},{"verse":50,"text":"just as the LORD had commanded. They gave him the city he asked for. It was Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the city and lived there."},{"verse":51,"text":"These are the shares of land that were given out by lot to the tribes of Israel. Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the family leaders gave them out. They did it at Shiloh, in front of the LORD, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. So they finished dividing up the land."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to Joshua,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the Israelites to choose the cities of refuge. I told you about them through Moses."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is so that anyone who kills a person by mistake, without meaning to, may run there. These cities will keep you safe from the avenger of blood."},{"verse":4,"text":"Someone may run to one of these cities. He will stand at the entrance of the city gate. He will tell his side of the story to the elders there. When he does, they must take him into the city. They must give him a place to live among them."},{"verse":5,"text":"If the avenger of blood chases him, the elders must not hand the man over to him. That is because he killed his neighbor by accident. He had not hated him before."},{"verse":6,"text":"He must stay in that city until he stands trial before the people. He must also stay until the high priest who is serving at that time dies. Then the man may go back to his own home, in the town he ran from.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali. They set apart Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim. They also set apart Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah."},{"verse":8,"text":"East of the Jordan, across from Jericho, they chose three more. They chose Bezer on the high desert plain, from the tribe of Reuben. They chose Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad. And they chose Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":9,"text":"These cities were chosen for all the Israelites and for the foreigners living among them. They were chosen so that anyone who killed a person by mistake could run there. Then the avenger of blood could not kill him before his trial before the people."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the family leaders of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua son of Nun. They also came to the leaders of the other tribes of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"This was at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They said to them, \"The LORD gave a command through Moses. He said we should be given cities to live in. He said we should also get pastures for our animals.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So the LORD commanded it, and the Israelites obeyed. They gave the Levites these cities and their pastures out of their own land."},{"verse":4,"text":"The first lot was for the clans of Kohath. Some Levites were from the family of Aaron the priest. They got thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin."},{"verse":5,"text":"The rest of the family of Kohath got ten cities by lot. These came from the tribes of Ephraim and Dan and from half the tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":6,"text":"The family of Gershon got thirteen cities by lot. These came from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali. They also came from half the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan."},{"verse":7,"text":"The family of Merari got twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun."},{"verse":8,"text":"So the Israelites gave these cities and their pastures to the Levites by lot. They did just as the LORD had commanded through Moses."},{"verse":9,"text":"From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they gave these cities, named here,"},{"verse":10,"text":"to the family of Aaron. They were from the clans of Kohath, who were Levites. They were given these cities because the first lot was theirs."},{"verse":11,"text":"They gave them Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron, with the pastures around it. It was in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the father of Anak.)"},{"verse":12,"text":"But the fields and villages around the city had already been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. They were his to keep."},{"verse":13,"text":"So they gave these cities and their pastures to the family of Aaron the priest: Hebron, a city of refuge for anyone who killed by mistake, Libnah,"},{"verse":14,"text":"Jattir, Eshtemoa,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Holon, Debir,"},{"verse":16,"text":"Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh. That was nine cities from these two tribes, with their pastures."},{"verse":17,"text":"From the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba,"},{"verse":18,"text":"Anathoth, and Almon. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":19,"text":"In all, thirteen cities with their pastures were given to the priests. The priests were the family of Aaron."},{"verse":20,"text":"The rest of the clans of Kohath, who were Levites, were given cities by lot. From the tribe of Ephraim"},{"verse":21,"text":"they were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim. It was a city of refuge for anyone who killed by mistake. They also got Gezer,"},{"verse":22,"text":"Kibzaim, and Beth-horon. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":23,"text":"From the tribe of Dan they were given Elteke, Gibbethon,"},{"verse":24,"text":"Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":25,"text":"From half the tribe of Manasseh they were given Taanach and Gath-rimmon. That was two cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":26,"text":"In all, ten cities with their pastures were given to the rest of the clans of Kohath."},{"verse":27,"text":"This is what the Levite clans of Gershon were given. From half the tribe of Manasseh they got Golan in Bashan. It was a city of refuge for anyone who killed by mistake. They also got Beeshterah. That was two cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":28,"text":"From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kishion, Daberath,"},{"verse":29,"text":"Jarmuth, and En-gannim. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":30,"text":"From the tribe of Asher they were given Mishal, Abdon,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Helkath, and Rehob. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":32,"text":"From the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee. It was a city of refuge for anyone who killed by mistake. They also got Hammoth-dor and Kartan. That was three cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":33,"text":"In all, thirteen cities with their pastures were given to the clans of Gershon."},{"verse":34,"text":"This is what the clan of Merari, the rest of the Levites, were given. From the tribe of Zebulun they got Jokneam, Kartah,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Dimnah, and Nahalal. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":36,"text":"From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer, Jahaz,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Kedemoth, and Mephaath. That was four cities, with their pastures."},{"verse":38,"text":"From the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead. It was a city of refuge for anyone who killed by mistake. They also got Mahanaim,"},{"verse":39,"text":"Heshbon, and Jazer. That was four cities in all, with their pastures."},{"verse":40,"text":"In all, twelve cities were given by lot to the clans of Merari. They were the rest of the Levite clans."},{"verse":41,"text":"So the Levites had forty-eight cities in all, with their pastures. These were inside the land of the Israelites."},{"verse":42,"text":"Each of these cities had its own pastures around it. This was true for all the cities."},{"verse":43,"text":"So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had promised with an oath to give their fathers. They took it over and lived in it."},{"verse":44,"text":"The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had promised their fathers with an oath. None of their enemies could stand against them, because the LORD handed all their enemies over to them."},{"verse":45,"text":"The LORD had made many good promises to the people of Israel. Not one of them had failed. Every one came true."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joshua called together the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":2,"text":"He told them, \"You have done everything Moses the servant of the LORD told you to do. And you have obeyed me in everything I told you."},{"verse":3,"text":"All this time you have not left your brothers, right up to today. You have done the job the LORD your God gave you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Now the LORD your God has given your brothers rest, as he promised them. So you may go back to your homes. Go to the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan."},{"verse":5,"text":"But be very careful to obey the command and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you. Love the LORD your God. Live the way he wants in all things. Keep his commands. Hold on tight to him. Serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way. And they went to their homes."},{"verse":7,"text":"(Moses had given land in Bashan to half the tribe of Manasseh. Joshua gave the other half land west of the Jordan, among their brothers.) Joshua blessed them when he sent them home."},{"verse":8,"text":"He said, \"Go back to your homes with your great riches. Take your huge herds of animals. Take your silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and lots and lots of clothes. Share with your brothers what you took from your enemies.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They went back home to their own land of Gilead. They had gotten it because the LORD commanded it through Moses."},{"verse":10,"text":"They came to Geliloth near the Jordan, in the land of Canaan. There, by the Jordan, the people of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar. It was huge and could be seen from far away."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the rest of the Israelites heard the news. \"Look!\" people said. \"The people of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar! It is at the edge of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan, on the Israelite side.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"When the Israelites heard this, the whole community gathered at Shiloh. They were ready to go to war against them."},{"verse":13,"text":"The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead. He went to the people of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":14,"text":"They sent ten leaders with him. There was one family leader from each tribe of Israel. Each was the head of a family among the clans of Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"They went to the people of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead. They said to them,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"The whole community of the LORD says this: 'Why have you been unfaithful to the God of Israel today? You have turned away from the LORD. You built an altar for yourselves. You have turned against the LORD today."},{"verse":17,"text":"Wasn't the sin at Peor bad enough for us? We still have not been made clean from it, even today. It even brought a deadly sickness on the LORD's people."},{"verse":18,"text":"And now will you turn away from the LORD? If you turn against the LORD today, he will be angry with the whole community of Israel tomorrow."},{"verse":19,"text":"Maybe the land you were given is unclean. If so, then come across to the LORD's own land, where the LORD's tabernacle stands. Take a share of land among us. But do not turn against the LORD or against us. Do not build an altar for yourselves other than the altar of the LORD our God."},{"verse":20,"text":"Remember Achan son of Zerah. He was unfaithful about the things set apart to be destroyed. Didn't God's anger come on the whole community of Israel? And Achan was not the only one who died because of his sin!'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and we want Israel to know too. Did we do this to turn against the LORD or to be unfaithful to him? If so, do not spare us today."},{"verse":23,"text":"Did we build this altar to turn away from him? Did we build it to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it? Did we build it to offer peace offerings on it? If so, may the LORD himself make us pay for it."},{"verse":24,"text":"No! We did this because we were afraid. Someday your children might say to our children, 'What do you have to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?"},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no share in the LORD!' Then your children might make our children stop fearing the LORD."},{"verse":26,"text":"That is why we said, 'Let's do something. Let's build an altar for ourselves. But it won't be for burnt offerings or sacrifices.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"'Instead, it will be a witness between us and you, and for the people born after us. It will show that we will worship the LORD in his presence. We will bring our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.' Then someday your children cannot say to our children, 'You have no share in the LORD!'"},{"verse":28,"text":"So we said, 'Someday they might say this to us or to our children. Then we will answer, \"Look at this copy of the LORD's altar. Our fathers made it. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices. It is a witness between us and you.\"'"},{"verse":29,"text":"We would never turn against the LORD! We would never turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. We would never build any altar besides the altar of the LORD our God, which stands in front of his tabernacle.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community were there. They were the heads of Israel's clans who came with him. They heard what the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said. And they were pleased."},{"verse":31,"text":"Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest spoke to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. He said, \"Today we know that the LORD is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to him in this. So you have saved the Israelites from the LORD's hand.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest and the other leaders came back from the people of Reuben and Gad in the land of Gilead. They went back to the Israelites in the land of Canaan. They brought back a report about them."},{"verse":33,"text":"The Israelites were pleased with the report. They praised God. They stopped talking about going to war against them. They no longer planned to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and Gad lived."},{"verse":34,"text":"So the people of Reuben and Gad named the altar Witness. They said, \"It is a witness between us that the LORD is God.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A long time passed after the LORD gave Israel rest from all the enemies around them. Joshua was now old, and he had lived many years."},{"verse":2,"text":"He called together all Israel, with its elders, leaders, judges, and officers. He said, \"I am old, and I have lived many years."},{"verse":3,"text":"You have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for you, because it was the LORD your God who fought for you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look, I have given your tribes the land of the nations that are left. It is your share. It includes all the nations I have already wiped out. It reaches from the Jordan west to the Great Sea."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD your God will push them out of your way. He will drive them out ahead of you. Then you can take over their land, as the LORD your God promised you."},{"verse":6,"text":"So be very strong, so that you can keep and obey everything written in the Book of the Law of Moses. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not mix with these nations that are left among you. Do not call on the names of their gods. Do not make promises in their names. Do not serve them or bow down to them."},{"verse":8,"text":"Instead, hold on tight to the LORD your God, as you have done until today."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations ahead of you. To this day no one has been able to stand against you."},{"verse":10,"text":"One of you can make a thousand run away. That is because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised."},{"verse":11,"text":"So be very careful to love the LORD your God."},{"verse":12,"text":"But you might turn away. You might hold on to the rest of these nations that are left among you. You might marry them and mix with them."},{"verse":13,"text":"If you do, know this for sure. The LORD your God will not drive out these nations ahead of you anymore. Instead, they will be like a net and a trap to you. They will be like a whip on your backs and thorns in your eyes. This will go on until you perish from this good land. The LORD your God gave you this land."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, today I am about to die, as everyone on earth must. You know with all your heart and soul that the LORD your God has kept every good promise he made to you. Not one has failed. Every one has come true for you. Not one promise has failed."},{"verse":15,"text":"Every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come true. In the same way, the LORD will bring on you the disaster he warned about. He will do it until he has wiped you out from this good land he has given you."},{"verse":16,"text":"If you break the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the LORD's anger will burn against you. And you will quickly perish from this good land he has given you.\""}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He called for the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. They came and stood before God."},{"verse":2,"text":"Joshua said to all the people, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates River. Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, was one of them. They worshiped other gods."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates. I led him through all the land of Canaan. I gave him many, many descendants. I gave him Isaac,"},{"verse":4,"text":"and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to be his own. But Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I sent Moses and Aaron. I struck the Egyptians with troubles by what I did there. After that I brought you out."},{"verse":6,"text":"I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the Red Sea. The Egyptians chased them with chariots and horsemen all the way to the Red Sea."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then your fathers cried out to the LORD. He put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He brought the sea over the Egyptians and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time."},{"verse":8,"text":"Later I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I handed them over to you. I wiped them out ahead of you, so you could take their land."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, got ready to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you."},{"verse":10,"text":"But I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again. And I saved you from his power."},{"verse":11,"text":"After this you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought against you. So did the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites. But I handed them over to you."},{"verse":12,"text":"I sent the hornet ahead of you. It drove out the two Amorite kings ahead of you. It was not by your own sword or bow."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I gave you a land you did not work for. I gave you cities you did not build. Now you live in them. You eat from vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"So now, fear the LORD. Serve him with honest hearts and in truth. Throw away the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt. Serve the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"But maybe you do not want to serve the LORD. Then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Will it be the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living? But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The people answered, \"We would never forsake the LORD to serve other gods!"},{"verse":17,"text":"For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, where we were slaves. He did these great signs before our eyes. He also kept us safe on our whole journey. He kept us safe among all the nations we passed through."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD drove out all the nations ahead of us. That includes the Amorites who lived in the land. We will serve the LORD too, because he is our God!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But Joshua said to the people, \"You are not able to serve the LORD, because he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your turning against him or your sins."},{"verse":20,"text":"If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn against you. He will bring disaster on you and wipe you out. He will do this even after he has been good to you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"No!\" the people answered. \"We will serve the LORD!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Joshua told them, \"You are witnesses against yourselves. You have chosen to serve the LORD.\" \"Yes, we are witnesses!\" they said."},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Then get rid of the foreign gods among you,\" he said. \"Turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The people said to Joshua, \"We will serve the LORD our God and obey his voice.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"That day Joshua made a covenant for the people. There at Shechem he gave them rules and laws."},{"verse":26,"text":"Joshua wrote these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone. He set it up there under the oak tree near the holy place of the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"Joshua said to all the people, \"Look at this stone. It will be a witness against us, because it has heard every word the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you ever turn your back on your God.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Joshua sent the people away. Each one went to his own land."},{"verse":29,"text":"Some time later, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died. He was 110 years old."},{"verse":30,"text":"They buried him on his own land, at Timnath-serah. It was in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash."},{"verse":31,"text":"Israel served the LORD all through the life of Joshua. They also served him through the lives of the elders who lived longer than Joshua. These elders had seen all the things the LORD had done for Israel."},{"verse":32,"text":"The Israelites had brought the bones of Joseph up out of Egypt. They buried them at Shechem. It was in the piece of land Jacob had bought for a hundred pieces of silver. He bought it from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This land became the property of Joseph's descendants."},{"verse":33,"text":"Eleazar son of Aaron also died. They buried him at Gibeah, in the hill country of Ephraim. That town had been given to his son Phinehas."}]}]},{"name":"Judges","slug":"judges","usfm":"JDG","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the LORD, \"Who should go up first to fight for us against the Canaanites?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD answered, \"Judah will go up. Look, I have handed the land over to them.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the men of Judah spoke to their brothers, the people of Simeon. They said, \"Come up with us into the land given to us. Let's fight the Canaanites together. Then we will go with you into your land too.\" So the people of Simeon went with them."},{"verse":4,"text":"When Judah attacked, the LORD handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They killed ten thousand men at Bezek."},{"verse":5,"text":"There they found Adoni-bezek and fought against him. They struck down the Canaanites and Perizzites."},{"verse":6,"text":"Adoni-bezek ran away, but they chased him and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Adoni-bezek said, \"Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.\" They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They killed its people with the sword and set the city on fire."},{"verse":9,"text":"After that, the men of Judah went down to fight the Canaanites. These Canaanites lived in the hill country, in the Negev, and in the low hills to the west."},{"verse":10,"text":"Judah also marched against the Canaanites living in Hebron. Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba. They struck down Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai."},{"verse":11,"text":"From there they marched against the people living in Debir. Debir used to be called Kiriath-sepher."},{"verse":12,"text":"Caleb said, \"I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife to the man who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Othniel captured the city. He was the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. So Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah to be his wife."},{"verse":14,"text":"One day Acsah came to Othniel. She urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, \"What do you want?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Give me a blessing,\" she answered. \"You have given me land in the Negev. Now give me springs of water too.\" So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs."},{"verse":16,"text":"Moses' father-in-law was a Kenite. His descendants went up with the men of Judah from the City of Palms. They went to the Desert of Judah in the Negev, near Arad. They went to live among the people there."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the men of Judah went with their brothers, the people of Simeon. They attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath. They set the city apart to be completely destroyed. So it was named Hormah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Judah also captured Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron, each with the land around it."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD was with Judah. They took over the hill country. But they could not drive out the people living on the plains, because those people had iron chariots."},{"verse":20,"text":"Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, just as Moses had promised. Caleb drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak from there."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live there with the people of Benjamin to this day."},{"verse":22,"text":"The family of Joseph also attacked Bethel. And the LORD was with them."},{"verse":23,"text":"They sent spies to Bethel. It used to be called Luz."},{"verse":24,"text":"The spies saw a man coming out of the city. They said to him, \"Please show us how to get into the city. If you do, we will be kind to you.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So the man showed them the way into the city. They killed the people of the city with the sword. But they let that man and his whole family go."},{"verse":26,"text":"The man went to the land of the Hittites. He built a city there and named it Luz. That is still its name today."},{"verse":27,"text":"At that time Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages. That was because the Canaanites were set on staying in that land."},{"verse":28,"text":"Later Israel grew stronger. Then they made the Canaanites do forced labor. But they never drove them out completely."},{"verse":29,"text":"Ephraim also did not drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer. So the Canaanites kept on living among them in Gezer."},{"verse":30,"text":"Zebulun did not drive out the people of Kitron and Nahalol. So the Canaanites lived among them and were made to do forced labor."},{"verse":31,"text":"Asher did not drive out the people of Acco, Sidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, and Rehob."},{"verse":32,"text":"So the people of Asher lived among the Canaanites who lived in the land. That was because they did not drive them out."},{"verse":33,"text":"Naphtali did not drive out the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath. So the people of Naphtali also lived among the Canaanites who lived in the land. But the people of Beth-shemesh and Beth-anath were made to do forced labor for them."},{"verse":34,"text":"The Amorites pushed the people of Dan back into the hill country. They did not let them come down into the plain."},{"verse":35,"text":"The Amorites were set on staying in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But the family of Joseph grew stronger. Then they made the Amorites do forced labor."},{"verse":36,"text":"The border of the Amorites ran from the Ascent of Akrabbim to Sela and beyond."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, \"I brought you up out of Egypt. I led you into the land I had promised to your fathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you."},{"verse":2,"text":"And you must not make a covenant with the people of this land. You must tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed me. Why have you done this?"},{"verse":3,"text":"So now I tell you this. I will not drive these people out ahead of you. They will be thorns in your sides. And their gods will be a trap for you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The angel of the LORD said these words to all the Israelites. Then the people cried loudly."},{"verse":5,"text":"So they named that place Bochim. They offered sacrifices there to the LORD.","note":"Bochim means \"people crying.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Joshua had sent the people away. Then the Israelites went out to take over the land. Each one went to his own share."},{"verse":7,"text":"The people served the LORD all through the life of Joshua. They also served him through the lives of the elders who lived longer than Joshua. These elders had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died. He was 110 years old."},{"verse":9,"text":"They buried him on his own land, at Timnath-heres. It was in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash."},{"verse":10,"text":"That whole generation also died and joined their fathers. Then another generation grew up. They did not know the LORD. They did not know what he had done for Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals."},{"verse":12,"text":"So they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, the gods of the nations around them. They bowed down to them and made the LORD angry."},{"verse":13,"text":"This was because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD's anger burned against Israel. He handed them over to robbers who took their things. He sold them to their enemies all around them. They could no longer stand up to their enemies."},{"verse":15,"text":"Every time Israel went out to fight, the LORD's hand was against them. He brought disaster on them, just as he had warned them with an oath. So they were in great trouble."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the LORD gave them judges. The judges saved them from the robbers who took their things."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Israel did not listen to their judges. Instead, they were unfaithful to God like a prostitute. They went after other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way their fathers had lived. Their fathers had obeyed the LORD's commands. But they did not do what their fathers had done."},{"verse":18,"text":"Each time the LORD gave the Israelites a judge, he was with that judge. He saved them from their enemies as long as the judge was alive. That was because the LORD felt sorry for them when they groaned. They groaned because of the people who were cruel to them and hurt them."},{"verse":19,"text":"But when the judge died, the Israelites became even worse than their fathers. They went after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil ways and their stubborn ways."},{"verse":20,"text":"So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. He said, \"This nation has broken the covenant I gave their fathers. They have not listened to me."},{"verse":21,"text":"So I will not drive out ahead of them any of the nations that were left when Joshua died."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will use these nations to test Israel. I will see if they will keep to the way of the LORD and walk in it, as their fathers did.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"That is why the LORD had left those nations in the land. He had not driven them out right away. He had not handed them over to Joshua."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the nations the LORD left in the land to test the Israelites. These Israelites had not been through any of the wars in Canaan."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did it to teach war to the later generations of Israel. This was mostly for those who had never known war before."},{"verse":3,"text":"These were the nations: the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the people of Sidon, and the Hivites. The Hivites lived in the mountains of Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath."},{"verse":4,"text":"These nations were left to test the Israelites. God wanted to find out if they would keep the LORD's commands. He had given these commands to their fathers through Moses."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the Israelites kept living among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."},{"verse":6,"text":"They married the daughters of these people. They gave their own daughters to marry their sons. And they served their gods."},{"verse":7,"text":"So the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God. They served the Baals and the Asherahs."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD's anger burned against Israel. He sold them into the power of Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-naharaim. The Israelites served him for eight years."},{"verse":9,"text":"But the Israelites cried out to the LORD. So he gave them a man to rescue them. It was Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother."},{"verse":10,"text":"The Spirit of the LORD came on him. He became Israel's judge and went out to war. The LORD handed Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram over to Othniel. Othniel won against him."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the land had peace for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died."},{"verse":12,"text":"Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. So he made Eglon king of Moab strong against Israel. He did this because they had done evil in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"Eglon got the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him. Then he attacked Israel and beat them. He took over the City of Palms."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years."},{"verse":15,"text":"Again they cried out to the LORD. So he gave them a man to rescue them. It was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man from Benjamin. The Israelites sent him to bring their tax payment to Eglon king of Moab."},{"verse":16,"text":"Now Ehud had made a sword for himself. It had two sharp edges and was about 18 inches long. He tied it to his right thigh under his clothes.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit."},{"verse":17,"text":"He brought the tax payment to Eglon king of Moab. Eglon was a very fat man."},{"verse":18,"text":"Ehud finished giving the payment. Then he sent away the men who had carried it."},{"verse":19,"text":"But when he got to the idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He said, \"I have a secret message for you, O king.\" The king said, \"Quiet!\" And all his servants left him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Ehud came up to him. The king was sitting alone in his cool upper room. Ehud said, \"I have a message from God for you.\" And the king stood up from his seat."},{"verse":21,"text":"Ehud reached with his left hand. He pulled the sword from his right thigh. He pushed it deep into Eglon's belly."},{"verse":22,"text":"Even the handle went in after the blade. Eglon's fat closed over it. Ehud did not pull the sword out of his belly. And Eglon's bowels emptied out."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Ehud went out through the porch. He shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them."},{"verse":24,"text":"After Ehud left, Eglon's servants came. They found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, \"He must be going to the bathroom in the cool room.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So they waited until they got worried. He still had not opened the doors of the upper room. So they took the key and opened the doors. And there was their master, lying dead on the floor!"},{"verse":26,"text":"But Ehud had gotten away while the servants waited. He went past the idols and escaped to Seirah."},{"verse":27,"text":"When he got to Seirah, he blew the ram's horn all through the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down from the hills with him. He was their leader."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Follow me,\" he told them. \"The LORD has handed your enemies the Moabites over to you.\" So they followed him down. They took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan that led to Moab. They did not let anyone cross over."},{"verse":29,"text":"At that time they killed about ten thousand Moabites. All of them were strong, brave men. Not one of them got away."},{"verse":30,"text":"So that day Moab was brought under Israel's control. And the land had peace for eighty years."},{"verse":31,"text":"After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. He also saved Israel. He killed six hundred Philistines with a stick used to drive oxen."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After Ehud died, the Israelites again did evil in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the LORD sold them into the power of Jabin king of Canaan. Jabin ruled in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera. Sisera lived in Harosheth-hagoyim."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred iron chariots. He had been very cruel to the Israelites for twenty years."},{"verse":4,"text":"At that time Deborah was judging Israel. She was a prophet and the wife of Lappidoth."},{"verse":5,"text":"She would sit under the Palm Tree of Deborah. It was between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites would go up to her to settle their problems."},{"verse":6,"text":"She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. She said to him, \"The LORD, the God of Israel, is giving you a command. He says, 'Go and march to Mount Tabor. Take ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will draw Sisera out to you at the Kishon River. He is the commander of Jabin's army. I will bring him with his chariots and his troops. And I will hand him over to you.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Barak said to her, \"If you go with me, I will go. But if you don't go with me, I won't go.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"I will surely go with you,\" Deborah answered. \"But you will get no honor on the road you are taking, because the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.\" So Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh."},{"verse":10,"text":"There Barak called the men of Zebulun and Naphtali together. Ten thousand men followed him. Deborah went with him too."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the other Kenites. They were the descendants of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law. Heber had set up his tent by the great tree of Zaanannim, near Kedesh."},{"verse":12,"text":"Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up Mount Tabor."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Sisera called out all nine hundred of his iron chariots and all his men. He brought them from Harosheth-hagoyim to the Kishon River."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Deborah said to Barak, \"Get up! Today the LORD has handed Sisera over to you. The LORD has gone ahead of you, hasn't he?\" So Barak came down from Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him."},{"verse":15,"text":"As Barak came on, the LORD threw Sisera into a panic. He struck down Sisera's chariot drivers and his whole army with the sword. Sisera got down from his chariot and ran away on foot."},{"verse":16,"text":"Barak chased the chariots and the army all the way to Harosheth-hagoyim. Sisera's whole army was killed by the sword. Not one man was left."},{"verse":17,"text":"Meanwhile, Sisera ran on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. He went there because there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jael went out to meet Sisera. She said to him, \"Come in, my lord. Come in here with me. Don't be afraid.\" So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket."},{"verse":19,"text":"Sisera said to her, \"Please give me a little water to drink. I'm thirsty.\" So she opened a skin bag of milk. She gave him a drink and covered him up again."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Stand at the door of the tent,\" he told her. \"Someone may come and ask you, 'Is there a man here?' If they do, say, 'No.'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But Sisera was worn out and fell fast asleep. Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a tent peg and a hammer. She went quietly to him. She drove the peg through the side of his head and into the ground. And he died."},{"verse":22,"text":"Barak came by, chasing Sisera. Jael went out to meet him. She said, \"Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.\" So he went in with her. There lay Sisera, dead, with a tent peg through the side of his head."},{"verse":23,"text":"On that day God beat Jabin king of Canaan in front of the Israelites."},{"verse":24,"text":"The Israelites pushed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan. At last they destroyed him."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"When the leaders in Israel lead the way,\nwhen the people gladly offer themselves,\npraise the LORD!"},{"verse":3,"text":"Listen, you kings!\nPay attention, you rulers!\nI will sing to the LORD.\nI will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"LORD, you went out from Seir.\nYou marched from the land of Edom.\nThen the earth shook.\nThe skies poured out rain.\nThe clouds poured down water."},{"verse":5,"text":"The mountains shook before the LORD, the One of Sinai.\nThey shook before the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,\nin the days of Jael,\nthe main roads were empty.\nTravelers took the back roads."},{"verse":7,"text":"Life in the villages stopped.\nIt stopped in Israel,\nuntil I, Deborah, rose up.\nI rose up as a mother in Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"When they chose new gods,\nwar came to their city gates.\nNot one shield or spear could be seen\namong forty thousand in Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"My heart is with the leaders of Israel.\nIt is with the people who gladly offered themselves.\nPraise the LORD!"},{"verse":10,"text":"You who ride on white donkeys,\nyou who sit on saddle blankets,\nand you who walk along the road,\nthink about this."},{"verse":11,"text":"Listen to the singers at the watering holes.\nThere they will tell of the righteous acts of the LORD.\nThey will tell of the righteous deeds of his villagers in Israel.\nThen the LORD's people went down to the city gates."},{"verse":12,"text":"'Wake up, wake up, Deborah!\nWake up, wake up, sing a song!\nGet up, Barak!\nSon of Abinoam, lead away your captives!'"},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the ones who were left came down to the leaders.\nThe LORD's people came down to me to fight the mighty."},{"verse":14,"text":"Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek.\nBenjamin came after you with your people.\nCommanders came down from Machir.\nFrom Zebulun came those who carry the leader's staff."},{"verse":15,"text":"The leaders of Issachar were with Deborah.\nIssachar was with Barak,\nrushing into the valley right behind him.\nBut the clans of Reuben could not make up their minds."},{"verse":16,"text":"Why did you stay among the sheep pens?\nWas it to hear the shepherds whistling for the flocks?\nThe clans of Reuben could not make up their minds."},{"verse":17,"text":"Gilead stayed east of the Jordan.\nAnd Dan, why did you stay by the ships?\nAsher stayed by the seashore.\nHe stayed in his harbors."},{"verse":18,"text":"The people of Zebulun risked their lives.\nSo did Naphtali, on the high ground of the battle."},{"verse":19,"text":"Kings came and fought.\nThe kings of Canaan fought at Taanach,\nby the waters of Megiddo.\nBut they carried off no silver."},{"verse":20,"text":"The stars fought from the sky.\nFrom their paths they fought against Sisera."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Kishon River swept them away.\nIt was the ancient river, the Kishon River.\nMarch on with strength, my soul!"},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the horses' hooves pounded like thunder.\nHis strong horses galloped wildly."},{"verse":23,"text":"'Curse Meroz,' says the angel of the LORD.\n'Bitterly curse the people who live there.\nThey did not come to help the LORD.\nThey did not help the LORD against the mighty.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"Jael is the most blessed of women.\nShe is the wife of Heber the Kenite.\nShe is the most blessed of women who live in tents."},{"verse":25,"text":"He asked for water, and she gave him milk.\nIn a bowl fit for a prince, she brought him cream."},{"verse":26,"text":"She reached out her hand for the tent peg.\nHer right hand took the worker's hammer.\nShe struck Sisera and crushed his head.\nShe smashed and pierced the side of his head."},{"verse":27,"text":"He sank down at her feet.\nHe fell, and there he lay still.\nHe sank down at her feet. He fell.\nWhere he sank down, there he fell dead."},{"verse":28,"text":"Sisera's mother looked out the window.\nShe peeked through the window screen and cried,\n'Why is his chariot taking so long to come?\nWhy can't I hear the noise of his chariots?'"},{"verse":29,"text":"Her wisest ladies answer her.\nAnd she keeps telling herself,"},{"verse":30,"text":"'They must be finding and dividing the things they took.\nThere must be a girl or two for each soldier.\nThere must be colorful clothes for Sisera,\nfancy, stitched clothes to wear around the neck of the one who took them.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"So may all your enemies perish, LORD!\nBut may those who love you shine like the sun at its brightest.\"\nAnd the land had peace for forty years."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. So he handed them over to Midian for seven years."},{"verse":2,"text":"Midian was too strong for Israel. Because of the Midianites, the Israelites made hiding places for themselves. They hid in the mountains, in caves, and in strong places."},{"verse":3,"text":"Every time the Israelites planted their crops, enemies came up and attacked them. They were the Midianites, the Amalekites, and other people from the east."},{"verse":4,"text":"They set up camp against them all the way to Gaza. They ruined the crops of the land. They left Israel nothing to live on. They left no sheep, no oxen, and no donkeys."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Midianites came with their animals and their tents, like a huge swarm of locusts. No one could count them or their camels. They came into the land to ruin it."},{"verse":6,"text":"Midian made Israel very poor. So the Israelites cried out to the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Israelites cried out to the LORD because of Midian."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD sent them a prophet. The prophet told them, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, where you were slaves."},{"verse":9,"text":"I saved you from the power of Egypt and from everyone who was cruel to you. I drove them out ahead of you, and I gave you their land."},{"verse":10,"text":"I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites. You are living in their land.' But you did not obey me.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah. The tree belonged to Joash, from the family of Abiezer. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress. He was doing it there to hide it from the Midianites."},{"verse":12,"text":"The angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon. He said, \"The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Please, my Lord,\" Gideon answered, \"if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his miracles? Our fathers told us about them. They said, 'Didn't the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has forsaken us. He has handed us over to Midian.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD turned to him and said, \"Go in the strength you have. Save Israel from the power of Midian. I am the one sending you, am I not?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Please, my Lord,\" Gideon answered, \"how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh. And I am the youngest in my father's family.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD answered, \"I will surely be with you. You will strike down all the Midianites as if they were just one man.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Gideon answered, \"If you are pleased with me, give me a sign. Show me that it is really you talking with me."},{"verse":18,"text":"Please don't leave this place until I come back to you. Let me bring my offering and set it in front of you.\" And the LORD said, \"I will stay until you come back.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Gideon went inside and cooked a young goat. He made bread without yeast from about 20 pounds of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought them out and offered them to him under the oak tree.","note":"Hebrew: an ephah, about 20 dry quarts."},{"verse":20,"text":"The angel of God said to him, \"Take the meat and the bread without yeast. Put them on this rock. Then pour out the broth.\" And Gideon did it."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff in his hand. He touched the meat and the bread without yeast. Fire blazed up from the rock and burned up the meat and the bread. Then the angel of the LORD disappeared."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Gideon knew it was the angel of the LORD. He said, \"Oh no, Lord GOD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But the LORD said to him, \"Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, because you will not die.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there. He named it The LORD Is Peace. It still stands today in Ophrah, the town of the family of Abiezer."},{"verse":25,"text":"That same night the LORD said to Gideon, \"Take your father's young bull. Also take a second bull, seven years old. Tear down your father's altar to Baal. Cut down the Asherah pole beside it."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then build a proper altar to the LORD your God on top of this high, safe place. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering. Burn it with the wood of the Asherah pole you cut down.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Gideon took ten of his servants and did what the LORD told him. But he was too afraid of his father's family and the men of the town. So he did it at night instead of in the daytime."},{"verse":28,"text":"The men of the town got up in the morning. And there was Baal's altar, torn down! The Asherah pole beside it was cut down. The second bull had been offered on the new altar."},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Who did this?\" they asked each other. They looked into it carefully. Then they were told, \"Gideon son of Joash did it.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the men of the town said to Joash, \"Bring out your son. He must die, because he tore down Baal's altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"But Joash spoke to all the people standing against him. \"Are you going to fight for Baal?\" he said. \"Are you trying to save him? Anyone who fights for him will be put to death by morning! If Baal is a god, let him fight for himself. Let him fight the one who tore down his altar.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So that day Gideon was given the name Jerubbaal. It means \"Let Baal fight with him.\" He was named this because he tore down Baal's altar."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and other people from the east joined together. They crossed the Jordan and set up camp in the Valley of Jezreel."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon. He blew the ram's horn and called the family of Abiezer to follow him."},{"verse":35,"text":"Gideon sent messengers all through Manasseh to call them to battle. He also sent them to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. So these men came up to meet him."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then Gideon said to God, \"If you are going to save Israel by my hand, as you have said,"},{"verse":37,"text":"then look, I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"And that is just what happened. Gideon got up early the next morning. He squeezed the fleece and wrung the dew out of it. It filled a bowl with water."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then Gideon said to God, \"Please don't be angry with me. Let me speak just one more time. Please let me test with the fleece one more time. This time let the fleece be dry, and let the ground be covered with dew.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"That night God did just that. Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered all the ground."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Early in the morning, Jerubbaal (which is Gideon) and all his men set up camp by the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them, in the valley near the hill of Moreh."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the LORD said to Gideon, \"You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to them. If I did, Israel might brag against me and say, 'We saved ourselves by our own strength.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"So now, announce this so the men can hear: 'Anyone who is afraid and shaking may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.'\" So twenty-two thousand of them went back home. But ten thousand stayed."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD said to Gideon, \"There are still too many men. Take them down to the water. I will sort them out for you there. If I tell you, 'This one will go with you,' he will go. But if I say, 'This one will not go with you,' he will not go.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Gideon took the men down to the water. The LORD said to him, \"Some will lap up the water with their tongues, like a dog. Put them in one group. Put those who kneel down to drink in another group.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Three hundred men lapped the water from their hands to their mouths. All the others knelt down to drink."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the LORD said to Gideon, \"I will save you with the three hundred men who lapped the water. I will hand the Midianites over to you. Send all the others home.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents. But he kept the three hundred men. They took over the food and the rams' horns of the others. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley."},{"verse":9,"text":"That night the LORD said to Gideon, \"Get up and go down against the camp, because I have handed it over to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Listen to what they are saying. Then you will feel brave enough to attack the camp.\" So Gideon went with his servant Purah to the edge of the camp, where armed men stood guard."},{"verse":12,"text":"The Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the other people from the east had settled in the valley. They were like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them."},{"verse":13,"text":"Gideon got there just as a man was telling his friend about a dream. \"Listen, I had a dream,\" he said. \"I saw a loaf of barley bread come rolling into the Midianite camp. It hit the tent so hard that the tent turned over and fell flat.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"His friend answered, \"This can only be the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed Midian and the whole camp over to him.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Gideon heard the dream and what it meant. Then he bowed down and worshiped. He went back to the camp of Israel. He said, \"Get up! The LORD has handed the camp of Midian over to you.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"He split the three hundred men into three groups. He gave each man a ram's horn and a large empty jar. Inside each jar was a torch."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Watch me, and do what I do,\" Gideon said. \"When I get to the edge of the camp, do just what I do."},{"verse":18,"text":"When I and all the men with me blow our horns, then you blow your horns too, from all around the camp. And shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon!'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp. It was the middle of the night. The guards had just changed. Gideon's men blew their horns and broke the jars in their hands.","note":"Hebrew: at the beginning of the middle watch."},{"verse":20,"text":"All three groups blew their horns and smashed their jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands. They shouted, \"A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Each Israelite stayed in his place around the camp. And the whole Midianite army ran away, crying out as they ran."},{"verse":22,"text":"The three hundred rams' horns blew. Then the LORD made all the men in the camp turn on each other with their swords. The army ran away to Beth-shittah, toward Zererah. They ran as far as the border of Abel-meholah, near Tabbath."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali, Asher, and all of Manasseh. They chased the Midianites."},{"verse":24,"text":"Gideon sent messengers all through the hill country of Ephraim. They said, \"Come down and fight the Midianites. Get to the waters of the Jordan before they do. Take control of them as far as Beth-barah.\" So all the men of Ephraim were called out. They took control of the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth-barah."},{"verse":25,"text":"They also captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb. They killed Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They kept chasing the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was across the Jordan."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the men of Ephraim spoke to Gideon. \"Why have you treated us like this?\" they asked. \"Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?\" And they argued with him angrily."},{"verse":2,"text":"But Gideon answered them, \"What have I done compared to you? The grapes Ephraim picks up after the harvest are better than the whole grape harvest of Abiezer, aren't they?"},{"verse":3,"text":"God handed Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, over to you. What could I do compared to you?\" When he said this, their anger against him calmed down."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Gideon and his 300 men came to the Jordan River and crossed it. They were worn out, but they kept chasing the enemy."},{"verse":5,"text":"Gideon said to the men of Succoth, \"Please give my troops some bread. They are worn out. I am still chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But the leaders of Succoth said, \"Do you already have Zebah and Zalmunna in your hands? Why should we give bread to your army?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"\"All right,\" Gideon answered. \"The LORD will hand Zebah and Zalmunna over to me. When he does, I will tear your skin with thorns and briers from the wilderness!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"From there Gideon went up to Penuel. He asked the people there for the same thing. But the men of Penuel gave the same answer as the men of Succoth."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Gideon told the men of Penuel, \"When I come back after winning, I will tear down this tower!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army. They had about 15,000 men. That was all that was left of the armies of the people of the east. 120,000 soldiers with swords had already been killed."},{"verse":11,"text":"Gideon went up by the road the traders used. It ran east of Nobah and Jogbehah. Then he attacked their army and took them by surprise."},{"verse":12,"text":"Zebah and Zalmunna ran away, but Gideon chased them. He caught these two kings of Midian. He made their whole army run in panic."},{"verse":13,"text":"After this, Gideon son of Joash came back from the battle. He came by the Pass of Heres."},{"verse":14,"text":"There he caught a young man from Succoth and questioned him. The young man wrote down for him the names of the 77 leaders and elders of Succoth."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Gideon went to the men of Succoth. He said, \"Here are Zebah and Zalmunna! You made fun of me because of them. You said, 'Do you already have Zebah and Zalmunna in your hands? Why should we give bread to your tired men?'\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then he took the elders of the city. He used thorns and briers from the wilderness to punish the men of Succoth."},{"verse":17,"text":"He also tore down the tower of Penuel. And he killed the men of that city."},{"verse":18,"text":"Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, \"What were the men like that you killed at Tabor?\" \"They were like you,\" they answered. \"Each one looked like the son of a king.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"They were my brothers,\" Gideon said. \"They were my own mother's sons! As surely as the LORD lives, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then he said to Jether, his oldest son, \"Get up and kill them.\" But the young man did not pull out his sword. He was afraid, because he was still just a boy."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, \"Get up and kill us yourself. A man is only as strong as he is grown.\" So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. He took the moon-shaped ornaments from their camels' necks.","note":"Hebrew: \"as the man is, so is his strength.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the Israelites said to Gideon, \"Rule over us. You, your son, and your grandson should rule. You have saved us from the power of Midian.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Gideon answered, \"I will not rule over you. My son will not rule over you either. The LORD will rule over you.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then he said, \"Let me ask one thing of you. Each of you give me an earring from the things you took in battle.\" (The enemy soldiers wore gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)"},{"verse":25,"text":"\"We'll be glad to give them,\" they answered. So they spread out a robe. Each man threw onto it an earring from what he had taken."},{"verse":26,"text":"The gold earrings he asked for weighed 1,700 shekels. That did not count the moon-shaped ornaments or the pendants. It did not count the purple clothes the kings of Midian wore or the chains on their camels' necks.","note":"1,700 shekels is about 43 pounds."},{"verse":27,"text":"Gideon used all this gold to make an ephod. He put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all Israel was unfaithful to God by worshiping it there. It became a trap for Gideon and his family.","note":"An ephod was a vest-like priestly garment. Hebrew: \"prostituted themselves.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"In this way Midian was beaten down by the Israelites. Midian never raised its head again. So the land had peace for 40 years while Gideon lived."},{"verse":29,"text":"Gideon, also called Jerubbaal son of Joash, went back home and lived there."},{"verse":30,"text":"Gideon had 70 sons of his own, because he had many wives."},{"verse":31,"text":"He also had a concubine who lived in Shechem. She had a son by him, and Gideon named him Abimelech.","note":"A concubine was a wife of lower rank."},{"verse":32,"text":"Later Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age. He was buried in the tomb of his father Joash. It was in Ophrah, the town of the Abiezrites."},{"verse":33,"text":"As soon as Gideon was dead, the Israelites turned away again. They were unfaithful to God by chasing after the Baals. They made Baal-berith their god.","note":"Hebrew: \"prostituted themselves with the Baals.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God. He had rescued them from the power of all their enemies around them."},{"verse":35,"text":"They were not kind to the family of Jerubbaal, also called Gideon. They did not repay him for all the good he had done for Israel."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem. He spoke to them and to his mother's whole clan. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Please ask all the leaders of Shechem this: 'Which is better for you? Should 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you? Or should just one man?' Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"His mother's brothers told all these words to the leaders of Shechem for him. Then the leaders' hearts leaned toward following Abimelech. They said, \"He is our brother.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So they gave him 70 shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used it to hire some worthless, reckless men to follow him.","note":"70 shekels is about 28 ounces."},{"verse":5,"text":"He went to his father's house in Ophrah. There, on one stone, he murdered his 70 brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, stayed alive, because he hid."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered by the oak tree at the stone pillar in Shechem. There they made Abimelech their king."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jotham was told about this. So he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted loudly. He said, \"Listen to me, leaders of Shechem! Then God may listen to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I stop making my oil? It is used to honor both God and people. Should I give that up just to wave over the trees?'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Next the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"But the fig tree answered, 'Should I stop making my sweet, good fruit just to wave over the trees?'"},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the trees said to the grapevine, 'Come and be our king.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"But the grapevine answered, 'Should I stop making my wine? It cheers both God and people. Should I give that up just to wave over the trees?'"},{"verse":14,"text":"At last all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"The thornbush answered, 'Do you really mean to anoint me as your king? Then come and find safety in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush! May it burn up the cedars of Lebanon!'"},{"verse":16,"text":"Now suppose you acted in a faithful and honest way when you made Abimelech king. Suppose you treated Jerubbaal and his family well and gave him what he deserves."},{"verse":17,"text":"For my father fought for you. He risked his life to rescue you from the power of Midian."},{"verse":18,"text":"But today you have turned against my father's family. You killed his 70 sons on one stone. You made Abimelech king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your relative. He is only the son of my father's slave woman."},{"verse":19,"text":"So if you have acted in a faithful and honest way toward Jerubbaal and his family today, then be happy with Abimelech. And may he be happy with you."},{"verse":20,"text":"But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech! May it burn up the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo. And may fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo! May it burn up Abimelech!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Jotham ran away and escaped to Beer. He lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech."},{"verse":22,"text":"Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then God sent a spirit of hatred between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made them turn against Abimelech and betray him."},{"verse":24,"text":"God did this so that the crime against Jerubbaal's 70 sons would be punished. Their blood would be paid back on their brother Abimelech. It would also be paid back on the leaders of Shechem, who helped him murder his brothers."},{"verse":25,"text":"The leaders of Shechem set men to hide and wait for Abimelech on the hilltops. These men robbed everyone who passed by on the road. Abimelech was told about this."},{"verse":26,"text":"Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came into Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem trusted him."},{"verse":27,"text":"They went out into the fields and picked grapes from their vineyards. They crushed the grapes with their feet. Then they held a festival and went into the temple of their god. While they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Gaal son of Ebed said, \"Who is Abimelech? And who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn't Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem! Why should we serve Abimelech?"},{"verse":29,"text":"If only these people were under my command! Then I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, 'Call up your army and come out to fight!'\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Zebul was the ruler of the city. He heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, and he burned with anger."},{"verse":31,"text":"So he secretly sent messengers to Abimelech. They said, \"Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem. They are turning the city against you."},{"verse":32,"text":"So tonight, you and your men should come. Hide and wait in the fields."},{"verse":33,"text":"In the morning, as soon as the sun comes up, get up and march against the city. Gaal and his men will come out against you. Then do to them whatever you can.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"So Abimelech and all his troops set out at night. They split into four groups and hid near Shechem, waiting."},{"verse":35,"text":"Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Just then, Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places."},{"verse":36,"text":"Gaal saw the people and said to Zebul, \"Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!\" But Zebul answered, \"You're seeing the shadows of the mountains. They just look like men to you.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"But Gaal spoke again. \"Look, people are coming down from the center of the land! And one group is coming by the Fortune-Tellers' Oak.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Then Zebul said to him, \"Where is your big talk now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Aren't these the people you made fun of? Go out now and fight them!\""},{"verse":39,"text":"So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought against Abimelech."},{"verse":40,"text":"But Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many men of Shechem fell wounded all along the way to the entrance of the gate."},{"verse":41,"text":"Abimelech stayed in Arumah. And Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem."},{"verse":42,"text":"The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields. Abimelech was told about it."},{"verse":43,"text":"So he took his men and divided them into three groups. They hid in the fields and waited. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he jumped up and attacked them."},{"verse":44,"text":"Abimelech and the group with him rushed forward. They took their place at the entrance of the city gate. The other two groups rushed at all the people in the fields and killed them."},{"verse":45,"text":"Abimelech fought against the city all that day. At last he captured it and killed its people. Then he tore down the city and spread salt over it."},{"verse":46,"text":"All the leaders in the tower of Shechem heard about this. So they went into the inner room of the temple of El-berith."},{"verse":47,"text":"Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem had gathered there."},{"verse":48,"text":"So he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees. He lifted it onto his shoulder. He told his men, \"Hurry! Do what you've seen me do.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"So each man cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. They piled the branches against the inner room. Then they set it on fire over the people inside. Everyone in the tower of Shechem died, about 1,000 men and women."},{"verse":50,"text":"Then Abimelech went to Thebez. He camped around it and captured it."},{"verse":51,"text":"But there was a strong tower inside the city. All the men, women, and leaders of the city ran there. They locked themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower."},{"verse":52,"text":"Abimelech came to attack the tower. He went up to its door to set it on fire."},{"verse":53,"text":"But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and it cracked his skull.","note":"A millstone was a heavy, round stone used to grind grain."},{"verse":54,"text":"Right away he called to the man who carried his armor. He said, \"Pull out your sword and kill me. I don't want people to say about me, 'A woman killed him.'\" So the man who carried his armor stabbed him with his sword, and Abimelech died."},{"verse":55,"text":"When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home."},{"verse":56,"text":"In this way God paid Abimelech back for the evil he had done to his father. He had murdered his 70 brothers."},{"verse":57,"text":"God also made the men of Shechem pay for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came true for them."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After the time of Abimelech, a man named Tola came to save Israel. He was the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim."},{"verse":2,"text":"Tola led Israel as judge for 23 years. When he died, he was buried in Shamir."},{"verse":3,"text":"After Tola came Jair from Gilead. He led Israel as judge for 22 years."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. They had 30 towns in the land of Gilead. To this day those towns are called Havvoth-jair."},{"verse":5,"text":"When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon."},{"verse":6,"text":"Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. They served the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab. They served the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines. They left the LORD and did not serve him."},{"verse":7,"text":"So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. He sold them into the power of the Philistines and the Ammonites."},{"verse":8,"text":"That same year these enemies began to crush and mistreat the Israelites. They did this for 18 years. They did it to all the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land of the Amorites."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the family of Ephraim. Israel was in terrible trouble."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said, \"We have sinned against you! We have left our God and served the Baals.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD answered, \"There were times when the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,"},{"verse":12,"text":"Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites crushed you. Then you cried out to me. Didn't I save you from their power?"},{"verse":13,"text":"But you have left me and served other gods. So I will not save you anymore."},{"verse":14,"text":"Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But the Israelites said to the LORD, \"We have sinned. Do to us whatever you think is best. But please rescue us today!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the LORD. And the LORD could not stand to see Israel suffer any longer."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the Ammonites were called to war, and they camped in Gilead. The Israelites gathered together and camped at Mizpah."},{"verse":18,"text":"The leaders of the people of Gilead said to one another, \"Who will lead the attack against the Ammonites? That man will be the head of everyone who lives in Gilead.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jephthah from Gilead was a strong and brave warrior. He was the son of a prostitute, and his father was Gilead."},{"verse":2,"text":"Gilead's wife also had sons by him. When they grew up, they drove Jephthah away. They told him, \"You won't get any share of our father's property, because you are the son of another woman.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Jephthah ran away from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. There a group of worthless men gathered around him and went out with him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some time later, the Ammonites fought against Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"When the Ammonites went to war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Come,\" they said. \"Be our commander. Then we can fight the Ammonites.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jephthah answered the elders of Gilead, \"Didn't you hate me? Didn't you drive me out of my father's house? So why have you come to me now that you're in trouble?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"They answered Jephthah, \"That is why we're turning to you now. Come with us and fight the Ammonites. Then you will be the leader over all of us who live in Gilead.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jephthah asked them, \"Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them to me. Will I really be your leader?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, \"The LORD is our witness if we don't do what you say.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander. And at Mizpah, Jephthah repeated all his terms before the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites. They asked, \"What do you have against me? Why have you come to attack my land?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers. He said, \"When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took my land. They took it from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River, all the way to the Jordan. So now give it back peacefully.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Jephthah sent messengers back to the king of the Ammonites."},{"verse":15,"text":"They told him, \"This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites."},{"verse":16,"text":"Israel came up out of Egypt and went through the wilderness to the Red Sea. Then they came to Kadesh."},{"verse":17,"text":"Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom. They said, 'Please let us go through your land.' But the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he refused too. So Israel stayed at Kadesh."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Israel traveled through the wilderness. They went around the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of Moab and camped across the Arnon River. But they did not go into Moab, because the Arnon was its border."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. They said to him, 'Please let us go through your land to our own place.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"But Sihon did not trust Israel to go through his land. So he gathered all his people and camped at Jahaz. Then he fought against Israel."},{"verse":21,"text":"But the LORD, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel. Israel defeated them. So Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived there."},{"verse":22,"text":"They took all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness to the Jordan."},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD, the God of Israel, drove out the Amorites in front of his people Israel. So should you take the land now?"},{"verse":24,"text":"You keep whatever land your god Chemosh gives you, don't you? In the same way, we will keep whatever land the LORD our God has given us."},{"verse":25,"text":"Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever argue with Israel? Did he ever fight against them?"},{"verse":26,"text":"For 300 years Israel has lived in Heshbon and Aroer and their villages. They have lived in all the cities along the Arnon River. Why didn't you take them back during all that time?"},{"verse":27,"text":"I have not sinned against you. But you are doing wrong to me by attacking me. May the LORD, who is the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"But the king of the Ammonites paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jephthah. He went through Gilead and Manasseh. He went through Mizpah in Gilead. From there he marched against the Ammonites."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jephthah made a promise to the LORD. He said, \"If you will truly hand the Ammonites over to me,"},{"verse":31,"text":"then this is what I will do. When I come home from beating the Ammonites, whatever comes out the door of my house to meet me will belong to the LORD. I will offer it up as a burnt offering.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Then Jephthah went over to fight against the Ammonites. And the LORD handed them over to him."},{"verse":33,"text":"He struck them hard and destroyed 20 towns. He went from Aroer to the area of Minnith, as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were beaten down by the Israelites."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Jephthah came home to Mizpah. And there was his daughter, coming out to meet him! She was dancing and playing tambourines. She was his only child. He had no other son or daughter."},{"verse":35,"text":"As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes. He said, \"Oh no! My daughter! You have crushed me! You have brought great pain on me. I made a promise to the LORD, and I can't take it back.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"\"My father,\" she said, \"you made a promise to the LORD. So do to me what you said you would, because the LORD has paid back your enemies, the Ammonites, for you.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"She also said to her father, \"Let me do just one thing. Let me go for two months and wander in the mountains with my friends. Let me weep there because I will never marry.\"","note":"Hebrew: \"mourn my virginity.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"\"Go,\" he said. And he let her go for two months. So she went with her friends into the mountains. There she wept because she would never marry."},{"verse":39,"text":"After two months, she came back to her father. And he did to her what he had promised. She had never slept with a man. So it became a custom in Israel"},{"verse":40,"text":"that every year the young women of Israel go out for four days. They go to weep for the daughter of Jephthah from Gilead.","note":"Or \"to remember\" or \"to honor.\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the men of Ephraim gathered their troops and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, \"Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Jephthah answered, \"My people and I were in a big fight with the Ammonites. I called you, but you didn't save me from them."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I saw that you wouldn't save me, I risked my life. I went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. So why have you come today to fight me?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck them down. They did this because the men of Ephraim had said, \"You people of Gilead are just runaways from Ephraim. You live in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The men of Gilead took control of the river crossings of the Jordan that led to Ephraim. Whenever a man from Ephraim who was running away said, \"Let me cross over,\" the men of Gilead would ask him, \"Are you from Ephraim?\" If he said, \"No,\""},{"verse":6,"text":"they said, \"Then say 'Shibboleth.'\" He would say \"Sibboleth,\" because he could not say the word right. Then they grabbed him and killed him at the river crossings of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 men of Ephraim were killed."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jephthah led Israel as judge for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead."},{"verse":8,"text":"After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel as judge."},{"verse":9,"text":"He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. He gave his daughters to be married to men outside his clan. And he brought in 30 wives from outside for his sons. Ibzan led Israel as judge for seven years."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem."},{"verse":11,"text":"After Ibzan, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun led Israel as judge for ten years."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Elon from Zebulun died. He was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun."},{"verse":13,"text":"After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel led Israel as judge. He was from Pirathon."},{"verse":14,"text":"He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. They rode on 70 donkeys. He led Israel as judge for eight years."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died. He was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight. So he handed them over to the Philistines for 40 years."},{"verse":2,"text":"There was a man named Manoah from the town of Zorah. He was from the clan of Dan. His wife was not able to have children, and she had none."},{"verse":3,"text":"The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman. He said to her, \"It's true that you can't have children, and you have none. But you will become pregnant and have a son."},{"verse":4,"text":"So please be careful. Do not drink wine or any other strong drink. Do not eat anything unclean."},{"verse":5,"text":"Listen! You will become pregnant and have a son. No razor may ever touch his head. The boy will be a Nazirite to God from his mother's womb. He will begin to rescue Israel from the power of the Philistines.\"","note":"A Nazirite was a person set apart for God by a special promise."},{"verse":6,"text":"So the woman went and told her husband, \"A man of God came to me. He looked like the angel of God. He was very frightening. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name."},{"verse":7,"text":"But he told me, 'Listen! You will become pregnant and have a son. So do not drink wine or any other strong drink. Do not eat anything unclean. The boy will be a Nazirite to God from his mother's womb until the day he dies.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Manoah prayed to the LORD. \"Please, Lord,\" he said, \"let the man of God you sent come to us again. Let him teach us how to raise the boy who will be born.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"God heard Manoah's prayer. The angel of God came again to the woman while she was sitting in the field. But her husband Manoah was not with her."},{"verse":10,"text":"The woman ran quickly to tell her husband. \"Look!\" she said. \"The man who came to me the other day is here again!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he asked, \"Are you the man who talked to my wife?\" \"I am,\" he said."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Manoah asked, \"When your words come true, how should the boy live? What will his work be?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The angel of the LORD answered Manoah, \"Your wife must do everything I told her."},{"verse":14,"text":"She must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine. She must not drink wine or any other strong drink. She must not eat anything unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, \"Please stay here. We will cook a young goat for you.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The angel of the LORD answered, \"Even if I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.\" Manoah did not know that this was the angel of the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Manoah asked the angel of the LORD, \"What is your name? We want to honor you when your words come true.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The angel of the LORD said, \"Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful to understand.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering. He offered them on a rock to the LORD. And while Manoah and his wife watched, the LORD did an amazing thing."},{"verse":20,"text":"The flame went up from the altar toward the sky. And the angel of the LORD went up in the flame! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground."},{"verse":21,"text":"The angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah understood that it had been the angel of the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"We're going to die!\" he said to his wife. \"We have seen God!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But his wife answered, \"If the LORD wanted to kill us, he would not have taken the burnt offering and grain offering from us. He would not have shown us all these things. And he would not have told us all this.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So the woman had a son, and she named him Samson. The boy grew up, and the LORD blessed him."},{"verse":25,"text":"The Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan. It is between Zorah and Eshtaol."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Samson went down to Timnah. There he saw a young Philistine woman."},{"verse":2,"text":"So he went back and told his father and mother, \"I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me to be my wife.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But his father and mother said, \"Can't you find a young woman among your relatives or among all our people? Do you have to go to the Philistines to get a wife? They aren't even circumcised!\" But Samson told his father, \"Get her for me. She looks good to me.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"(His father and mother did not know that this was from the LORD. The LORD was looking for a chance to act against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)"},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother. They came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Spirit of the LORD came on him with power. He tore the lion apart with his bare hands, as easily as tearing apart a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Samson went on down and talked with the woman, because she looked good to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"Some time later, Samson went back to marry her. On the way, he left the road to look at the lion's dead body. Inside it was a swarm of bees and some honey."},{"verse":9,"text":"He scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he came back to his father and mother, he gave them some, and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had taken the honey from the lion's dead body."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then his father went down to see the woman. Samson gave a feast there, because that was what young men getting married used to do."},{"verse":11,"text":"When the Philistines saw him, they chose 30 men to be with him."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Let me tell you a riddle,\" Samson said to them. \"The feast lasts seven days. If you can solve it for me by then, I will give you 30 linen robes and 30 sets of clothes."},{"verse":13,"text":"But if you can't solve it, you must give me 30 linen robes and 30 sets of clothes.\" \"Tell us your riddle,\" they said. \"Let's hear it.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So he said to them,\n\"Out of the eater came something to eat.\nOut of the strong came something sweet.\"\nFor three days they could not solve the riddle."},{"verse":15,"text":"On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, \"Trick your husband into telling us the answer to the riddle. If you don't, we will burn you and your father's family to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Samson's wife came to him crying. She said, \"You hate me! You don't really love me! You told my people a riddle, but you haven't told me the answer.\" \"Look,\" he said, \"I haven't even told my father or mother. So why should I tell you?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"She cried the whole seven days of the feast. She kept pushing him so hard that on the seventh day he finally told her. Then she told the answer to her people."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the seventh day, before the sun went down, the men of the city said to Samson,\n\"What is sweeter than honey?\nWhat is stronger than a lion?\"\nSamson said to them,\n\"If you had not plowed with my young cow,\nyou would not have solved my riddle!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the Spirit of the LORD came on him with great power. He went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 of their men. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who had solved the riddle. Samson was burning with anger, and he went back to his father's house."},{"verse":20,"text":"And Samson's wife was given to one of the men who had been with him."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said, \"I'm going into my wife's room.\" But her father would not let him go in."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I was sure you really hated her,\" her father said. \"So I gave her to one of the men who were with you. Isn't her younger sister even prettier? Please take her instead.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Samson said to them, \"This time no one can blame me when I hurt the Philistines.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Samson went out and caught 300 foxes. He took torches and tied the foxes together in pairs by their tails. Then he tied a torch between each pair of tails."},{"verse":5,"text":"He lit the torches and let the foxes loose into the Philistines' grain fields. The fire burned up the piles of cut grain and the grain still growing. It also burned up the vineyards and the olive groves."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Who did this?\" the Philistines asked. They were told, \"Samson did. He is the son-in-law of the man from Timnah. Samson did it because his wife was given to his friend.\" So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father to death."},{"verse":7,"text":"Samson told them, \"Since you did this, I won't stop until I get back at you.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"He attacked them without mercy and killed many of them. Then he went down and stayed in the cave in the rock of Etam."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the Philistines went up and camped in Judah. They spread out near the town of Lehi."},{"verse":10,"text":"The men of Judah asked, \"Why have you come to attack us?\" The Philistines answered, \"We've come to capture Samson. We want to do to him what he did to us.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam. They said to Samson, \"Don't you know the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?\" He answered, \"I only did to them what they did to me.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"They said to him, \"We've come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.\" Samson said, \"Promise me that you won't kill me yourselves.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"We won't,\" they answered. \"We won't kill you. We'll just tie you up tight and hand you over to them.\" So they tied him with two new ropes. Then they led him up from the rock."},{"verse":14,"text":"Samson came to Lehi, and the Philistines came out to meet him, shouting. Then the Spirit of the LORD came on him with great power. The ropes on his arms became like burned threads. They fell off his hands.","note":"Hebrew: \"burnt flax.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"He found the jawbone of a donkey that had just died. He reached out and picked it up. With it he killed 1,000 men."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Samson said,\n\"With a donkey's jawbone\nI have piled them up in heaps.\nWith a donkey's jawbone\nI have killed 1,000 men.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"When Samson finished speaking, he threw the jawbone away. And he named that place Ramath-lehi.","note":"Ramath-lehi means \"Jawbone Hill.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Samson was very thirsty. He cried out to the LORD, \"You have given your servant this great victory. Now must I die of thirst? Must I fall into the hands of these people who aren't circumcised?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So God split open the hollow place at Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength came back, and he felt alive again. That is why he named the spring En-hakkore. It is still in Lehi today.","note":"En-hakkore means \"the spring of the one who called.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Samson led Israel as judge for 20 years while the Philistines ruled."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute, and he went in to spend the night with her."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people of Gaza heard that Samson was there. So they surrounded the place. All night they hid and waited for him at the city gate. They kept quiet all night. They said, \"Let's wait until morning. Then we'll kill him.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Samson stayed there only until midnight. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate and both posts. He pulled them out, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some time later, Samson fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek. Her name was Delilah."},{"verse":5,"text":"The rulers of the Philistines went to her. They said, \"Trick him. Find out what makes him so strong. Find out how we can beat him, tie him up, and control him. Then each of us will give you 1,100 shekels of silver.\"","note":"1,100 shekels is about 28 pounds."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Delilah said to Samson, \"Please tell me what makes you so strong. How could someone tie you up and control you?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Samson told her, \"If they tie me up with seven new bowstrings that haven't been dried, I'll become as weak as any other man.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven new bowstrings that had not been dried. She tied him up with them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Some men were hiding in her room. She called out, \"Samson, the Philistines are here!\" But he snapped the bowstrings like a piece of string that gets near a flame. So no one found out what made him strong."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Delilah said to Samson, \"You made a fool of me! You lied to me! Now please tell me how you can be tied up.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"He said, \"If they tie me up with new ropes that have never been used, I'll become as weak as any other man.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them. Men were hiding in her room. She called out, \"Samson, the Philistines are here!\" But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Delilah said to Samson, \"You've been making a fool of me and lying to me this whole time! Tell me how you can be tied up.\" He told her, \"If you weave the seven braids of my hair into the cloth on a loom and tighten it with a pin, I'll become as weak as any other man.\"","note":"A loom is a frame used for weaving cloth."},{"verse":14,"text":"So while he was asleep, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair. She wove them into the cloth and tightened it with the pin. Then she called to him, \"Samson, the Philistines are here!\" But he woke up and pulled out the pin, the loom, and the cloth."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then she said to him, \"How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart isn't with me? This is the third time you've made a fool of me. You still haven't told me what makes you so strong!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"She kept nagging him with her words day after day. She begged him until he was sick of it and wanted to die."},{"verse":17,"text":"Finally Samson told her everything in his heart. He said, \"No razor has ever cut my hair, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, my strength will leave me. I'll become as weak as any other man.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Delilah saw that he had told her everything in his heart. So she sent this message to the rulers of the Philistines: \"Come back one more time. He has told me everything in his heart.\" So the rulers of the Philistines came to her. They brought the money with them."},{"verse":19,"text":"She got him to fall asleep with his head on her lap. Then she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair. In this way she began to overpower him, and his strength left him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then she called out, \"Samson, the Philistines are here!\" Samson woke up from his sleep. He thought, \"I'll get away like before and shake myself free.\" But he did not know that the LORD had left him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the Philistines grabbed him and gouged out his eyes. They took him down to Gaza. There they tied him up with bronze chains. They made him grind grain in the prison."},{"verse":22,"text":"But after his head was shaved, his hair began to grow back."},{"verse":23,"text":"Now the rulers of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They celebrated and said, \"Our god has handed our enemy Samson over to us!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"When the people saw him, they praised their god. They said,\n\"Our god has handed our enemy over to us.\nHe destroyed our land\nand killed so many of us.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"While they were having a good time, they said, \"Bring out Samson so he can entertain us.\" So they brought Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars."},{"verse":26,"text":"Samson said to the young man who was leading him by the hand, \"Let me feel the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to lean against them.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The temple was full of men and women. All the rulers of the Philistines were there. About 3,000 men and women were on the roof. They were watching Samson entertain them."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Samson called out to the LORD. \"Lord GOD, please remember me,\" he said. \"Please, God, make me strong just one more time. Let me get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes with one blow.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Samson reached out for the two middle pillars that held up the temple. He braced himself against them. His right hand was on one pillar, and his left hand was on the other."},{"verse":30,"text":"Samson said, \"Let me die with the Philistines!\" Then he pushed with all his strength. The temple fell on the rulers and on all the people in it. So Samson killed more people when he died than he had killed while he lived."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Samson's brothers and his father's whole family came down. They carried him back and buried him in the tomb of his father Manoah. It was between Zorah and Eshtaol. Samson had led Israel as judge for 20 years."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"There was a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said to his mother, \"Someone took 1,100 shekels of silver from you. I heard you put a curse on the one who took it. Well, I have the silver here with me. I took it.\" Then his mother said, \"May the LORD bless you, my son!\"","note":"1,100 shekels is about 28 pounds."},{"verse":3,"text":"So he gave the 1,100 shekels of silver back to his mother. She said, \"I give this silver fully to the LORD for my son. It will be used to make a carved idol and a metal idol. So now I'll give it back to you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But he gave the silver back to his mother. So she took 200 shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith. He made them into a carved idol and a metal idol. They were put in Micah's house.","note":"200 shekels is about 5 pounds."},{"verse":5,"text":"This man Micah had a shrine for worship. He made an ephod and some household idols. He also chose one of his sons and set him apart to be his priest."},{"verse":6,"text":"In those days Israel had no king. Everyone did whatever seemed right to them."},{"verse":7,"text":"There was a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. He had been living among the clan of Judah."},{"verse":8,"text":"This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah. He was looking for a place to live. As he traveled, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Where are you from?\" Micah asked him. \"I'm a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,\" he answered. \"I'm going to live wherever I can find a place.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Stay with me,\" Micah said to him. \"Be my father and my priest. I'll give you ten shekels of silver a year. I'll also give you clothes and food.\" So the Levite went in.","note":"Ten shekels is about 4 ounces."},{"verse":11,"text":"He agreed to stay with Micah. And the young man became like one of Micah's sons."},{"verse":12,"text":"Micah set the Levite apart, and the young man became his priest. He lived in Micah's house."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Micah said, \"Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become my priest.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days Israel had no king. The tribe of Dan was looking for land of its own to live in. Up to that time, they had not received their share of land among the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the people of Dan sent out five brave men from their clans. They came from Zorah and Eshtaol. They were sent to spy out the land and explore it. \"Go and explore the land,\" they were told. The men went into the hill country of Ephraim. They came to Micah's house and stayed there for the night."},{"verse":3,"text":"While they were near Micah's house, they knew the voice of the young Levite. So they went over and asked him, \"Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"He answered, \"Micah has done this and that for me. He has hired me to be his priest.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then they said to him, \"Please ask God for us. Find out if our trip will go well.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The priest told them, \"Go in peace. The LORD is watching over your trip.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So the five men left and came to Laish. They saw that the people there were living in safety, like the people of Sidon. They were peaceful and did not expect any trouble. The land had everything they needed. There was no harsh ruler. They lived far away from the people of Sidon. And they had no treaty with anyone."},{"verse":8,"text":"The men went back to Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, \"What did you find?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"They answered, \"Come on, let's attack them! We have seen the land, and it's very good. Why are you sitting still? Don't wait to go there and take over the land!"},{"verse":10,"text":"When you get there, you'll find people who don't expect any trouble. The land is wide and open. God has handed it over to you. It's a place that has everything in the world.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So 600 men from the tribe of Dan left Zorah and Eshtaol. They carried weapons for war."},{"verse":12,"text":"They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place west of Kiriath-jearim is still called Mahaneh-dan today.","note":"Mahaneh-dan means \"Dan's camp.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"From there they went on to the hill country of Ephraim. They came to Micah's house."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the five men who had spied out the land of Laish spoke to their relatives. \"Did you know that one of these houses has an ephod and household gods?\" they said. \"It has a carved idol and a metal idol too. Now think about what you should do.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So they turned off the road there. They went to the home of the young Levite at Micah's house and greeted him."},{"verse":16,"text":"The 600 men from Dan stood at the entrance of the gate. They carried their weapons for war."},{"verse":17,"text":"The five men who had spied out the land went inside. They took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol. Meanwhile, the priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the 600 armed men."},{"verse":18,"text":"The men went into Micah's house. They took the carved idol, the ephod, the household idols, and the metal idol. The priest said to them, \"What are you doing?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Be quiet!\" they told him. \"Put your hand over your mouth. Come with us and be our father and priest. Which is better for you? Being a priest for one man's family? Or being a priest for a whole tribe and clan in Israel?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"This made the priest happy. He took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved idol. Then he went along with the people."},{"verse":21,"text":"They put their little children, their animals, and their belongings in front of them. Then they turned and left."},{"verse":22,"text":"They had gone a short way from Micah's house. Then the men who lived near Micah were called together. They caught up with the people of Dan."},{"verse":23,"text":"They shouted after the people of Dan. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, \"What's wrong with you? Why have you called out all these men?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Micah answered, \"You took the gods I made, and my priest, and you left. What do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What's wrong with you?'\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The men of Dan said to him, \"Don't argue with us. If you do, some angry men will attack you. Then you and your family will lose your lives.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So the men of Dan went on their way. Micah saw that they were too strong for him. So he turned around and went back home."},{"verse":27,"text":"So they took the idols Micah had made, and his priest. Then they went to Laish. The people there were peaceful and did not expect any trouble. The men of Dan attacked them with their swords and burned down the city."},{"verse":28,"text":"No one came to rescue them. The city was far from Sidon, and it had no treaty with anyone. It was in a valley near Beth-rehob. The people of Dan rebuilt the city and lived there."},{"verse":29,"text":"They named it Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was a son of Israel. But before that, the city was called Laish."},{"verse":30,"text":"The people of Dan set up the idols for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons served as priests for the tribe of Dan. They did this until the time the people of the land were taken away as captives.","note":"Some manuscripts read \"Manasseh\" instead of \"Moses.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"So they kept Micah's carved idol set up for themselves. It stayed there the whole time the house of God was at Shiloh."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days Israel had no king. A Levite lived far back in the hill country of Ephraim. He took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.","note":"A concubine was a wife of lower rank."},{"verse":2,"text":"But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah. She stayed there four months."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then her husband got up and went after her. He wanted to speak kindly to her and bring her back. He took his servant and two donkeys with him. The young woman brought him into her father's house. When her father saw him, he was glad to welcome him."},{"verse":4,"text":"His father-in-law, the young woman's father, talked him into staying. So he stayed with him three days. They ate and drank, and he slept there."},{"verse":5,"text":"On the fourth day, they got up early in the morning, and the Levite got ready to leave. But the young woman's father said to his son-in-law, \"Have a bite of bread to give you strength. Then you can go.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the two men sat down and ate and drank together. Then the young woman's father said to the man, \"Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The man got up to leave, but his father-in-law talked him into staying. So he stayed there that night too."},{"verse":8,"text":"On the fifth day, he got up early in the morning to leave. But the young woman's father said, \"Please eat something to give you strength.\" So they waited until late in the afternoon, and the two of them ate."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the man got up to leave with his concubine and his servant. But his father-in-law, the young woman's father, said to him, \"Look, it's getting late. Please spend the night. See, the day is almost over. Stay here and enjoy yourself. Then tomorrow you can get up early and start your trip home.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But the man did not want to spend another night. He got up and left. He came to a place across from Jebus, which is Jerusalem. He had his two donkeys with saddles on them, and his concubine was with him."},{"verse":11,"text":"They were near Jebus, and the day was almost over. The servant said to his master, \"Please, let's stop at this city of the Jebusites. Let's spend the night here.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But his master answered, \"We won't stop at a city of foreigners. No Israelites live there. We'll go on to Gibeah.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"He said, \"Come on. Let's try to reach one of these towns. We can spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So they kept going. The sun went down as they came near Gibeah in the land of Benjamin."},{"verse":15,"text":"They turned off the road to go into Gibeah and spend the night. The Levite went in and sat down in the city square. But no one would take them into their home for the night."},{"verse":16,"text":"That evening an old man came in from his work in the field. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah. (The men of that town were from the tribe of Benjamin.)"},{"verse":17,"text":"The old man looked up and saw the traveler in the city square. He asked, \"Where are you going? Where did you come from?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The Levite answered, \"We're traveling from Bethlehem in Judah. We're going to the far hill country of Ephraim, where I'm from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah. Now I'm going to the house of the LORD. But no one has taken me into his home."},{"verse":19,"text":"We have straw and feed for our donkeys. We have bread and wine for me and for the young woman and the young man with me. We, your servants, don't need anything.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Peace to you,\" the old man said. \"Let me give you whatever you need. Just don't spend the night in the square.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So he brought the Levite into his house and fed his donkeys. They washed their feet and ate and drank."},{"verse":22,"text":"While they were having a good time, some wicked men of the city surrounded the house. They pounded on the door. They said to the old man who owned the house, \"Bring out the man who came to your house! We want to have sex with him!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The owner of the house went out to them. He said, \"No, my brothers! Don't do this evil thing! This man is a guest in my house. Don't do this shameful thing."},{"verse":24,"text":"Look, here is my daughter, who is a virgin, and here is this man's concubine. Let me bring them out to you. You can abuse them and do whatever you want with them. But don't do such a disgusting thing to this man.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and pushed her outside to them. They raped her and abused her all night long. Then at dawn they let her go."},{"verse":26,"text":"Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying. She fell down at the door and lay there until it was light."},{"verse":27,"text":"In the morning her master got up. He opened the doors of the house to go on his way. And there was his concubine, lying fallen at the door of the house. Her hands were on the doorway."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Get up,\" he said to her. \"Let's go.\" But she did not answer. So the man put her on his donkey and started for home."},{"verse":29,"text":"When he got home, he took a knife. He took hold of his concubine and cut her body into twelve pieces, limb by limb. Then he sent the pieces all through the land of Israel."},{"verse":30,"text":"Everyone who saw it said, \"Nothing like this has ever been seen or done! Not since the day the Israelites came out of Egypt until today! Think about it! Talk it over! Tell us what to do!\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out. The whole community gathered together as one before the LORD at Mizpah."},{"verse":2,"text":"The leaders of all the people and of all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God's people. There were 400,000 soldiers on foot, armed with swords."},{"verse":3,"text":"(Meanwhile, the people of Benjamin heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah.) The Israelites said, \"Tell us how this evil thing happened.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered. He said, \"My concubine and I came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night."},{"verse":5,"text":"During the night, the men of Gibeah came after me. They surrounded the house. They meant to kill me. Instead they abused my concubine, and she died."},{"verse":6,"text":"So I took my concubine and cut her into pieces. I sent the pieces all through the land that Israel was given. I did this because these men did a shameful, evil thing in Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now, all you Israelites, give your advice. Decide here and now what to do.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then all the people stood up together as one. They said, \"Not one of us will go back to his tent. Not one of us will go home."},{"verse":9,"text":"Here is what we will do to Gibeah. We will cast lots to decide who will attack it."},{"verse":10,"text":"We will take ten men out of every 100 from all the tribes of Israel. We'll take 100 out of every 1,000, and 1,000 out of every 10,000. They will get food for the army. Then the army will go to Gibeah in Benjamin. They will punish the people there for the horrible thing they did in Israel.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So all the men of Israel came together as one. They were united against the city."},{"verse":12,"text":"The tribes of Israel sent men all through the tribe of Benjamin. They said, \"What is this evil thing that has happened among you?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Hand over those wicked men of Gibeah. Then we can put them to death and get rid of this evil in Israel.\" But the people of Benjamin would not listen to their fellow Israelites."},{"verse":14,"text":"Instead, they came from their towns and gathered at Gibeah. They went out to fight against the Israelites."},{"verse":15,"text":"That day the people of Benjamin called up 26,000 soldiers with swords from their towns. They also had 700 chosen men from Gibeah."},{"verse":16,"text":"Among all these soldiers were 700 chosen men who were left-handed. Each of them could throw a stone with a sling at a hair and not miss."},{"verse":17,"text":"The men of Israel, not counting Benjamin, called up 400,000 soldiers with swords. Each one was an experienced fighter."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Israelites went up to Bethel and asked God, \"Which of us should go first to fight against the people of Benjamin?\" The LORD answered, \"Judah will go first.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The next morning the Israelites got up and camped near Gibeah."},{"verse":20,"text":"The men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin. They got into their battle lines at Gibeah."},{"verse":21,"text":"The men of Benjamin came out of Gibeah. That day they killed 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the Israelite army found courage again. They took their battle places again in the same place as on the first day."},{"verse":23,"text":"The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening. They asked him, \"Should we go out again to fight against our brothers from Benjamin?\" The LORD answered, \"Go up against them.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So on the second day the Israelites marched against the people of Benjamin."},{"verse":25,"text":"That day the men of Benjamin came out from Gibeah against them again. They killed 18,000 more Israelites, all of them armed with swords."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then all the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel. They sat there and wept before the LORD. That day they went without food until evening. They brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"The Israelites asked the LORD what to do. (In those days the ark of the covenant of God was there."},{"verse":28,"text":"Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, \"Should we go out again to fight against our brothers from Benjamin? Or should we stop?\" The LORD answered, \"Fight. Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So Israel hid men all around Gibeah to attack by surprise."},{"verse":30,"text":"On the third day the Israelites went up against the people of Benjamin. They got into their battle lines against Gibeah, as they had done before."},{"verse":31,"text":"The men of Benjamin came out to fight them. They were drawn away from the city. They began to attack the Israelites as before. They killed about 30 men of Israel in the fields and on the roads. One road went up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah."},{"verse":32,"text":"The men of Benjamin said, \"We're beating them like before!\" But the Israelites said, \"Let's run back. Let's lead them away from the city onto the roads.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So all the men of Israel left their places and got into battle lines at Baal-tamar. Then the Israelites who were hiding rushed out from their places west of Gibeah."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then 10,000 chosen men from all Israel attacked Gibeah head-on. The fighting was fierce. But the men of Benjamin did not know that disaster was about to strike them."},{"verse":35,"text":"The LORD defeated Benjamin in front of Israel. That day the Israelites killed 25,100 men of Benjamin. All of them were armed with swords."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the people of Benjamin saw that they were beaten. The men of Israel had pulled back from Benjamin. They did this because they were counting on the men hiding near Gibeah."},{"verse":37,"text":"The men who were hiding rushed suddenly into Gibeah. They spread out and killed everyone in the city with their swords."},{"verse":38,"text":"The men of Israel had agreed on a signal with the men who were hiding. The hidden men would send up a big cloud of smoke from the city."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then the men of Israel would turn around in the battle. The men of Benjamin had begun to strike them down. They had killed about 30 men of Israel. They said, \"We're beating them like in the first battle!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"But then the pillar of smoke began to rise from the city. The men of Benjamin looked behind them. They saw smoke rising from the whole city."},{"verse":41,"text":"Then the men of Israel turned around and attacked them. The men of Benjamin were terrified. They saw that disaster had come on them."},{"verse":42,"text":"So they ran from the men of Israel toward the wilderness. But they could not escape the fighting. The men coming out of the towns killed them there."},{"verse":43,"text":"They surrounded the men of Benjamin and chased them. They easily caught them in the area east of Gibeah."},{"verse":44,"text":"18,000 men of Benjamin died. All of them were brave warriors."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then the rest turned and ran toward the wilderness, to the rock of Rimmon. The Israelites killed 5,000 men along the roads. They chased them as far as Gidom and killed 2,000 more."},{"verse":46,"text":"That day 25,000 soldiers of Benjamin who fought with swords died. All of them were brave warriors."},{"verse":47,"text":"But 600 men turned and ran into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. They stayed there four months."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then the men of Israel went back to the rest of the land of Benjamin. They killed everyone in all the towns with their swords. They killed the animals and everything else they found. They burned down every town they came to."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the men of Israel had made a promise at Mizpah. They had sworn, \"None of us will let his daughter marry a man from Benjamin.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So the people went to Bethel. They sat there before God until evening. They cried out loud and wept bitterly."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"LORD, God of Israel,\" they cried, \"why has this happened in Israel? Today one tribe is missing from Israel!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The next day the people got up early and built an altar there. They brought burnt offerings and peace offerings."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the Israelites asked, \"Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come to the meeting before the LORD?\" They had made a serious promise. Anyone who did not come before the LORD at Mizpah must be put to death."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Israelites felt sorry for their brothers, the people of Benjamin. They said, \"Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"How can we get wives for the men who are left? We have promised by the LORD not to let our daughters marry them.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So they asked, \"Which tribe of Israel did not come before the LORD at Mizpah?\" And it turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp for the meeting."},{"verse":9,"text":"When the people were counted, no one from Jabesh-gilead was there."},{"verse":10,"text":"So the community sent 12,000 of their bravest men. They gave them this order: \"Go and kill everyone living in Jabesh-gilead with the sword. Kill the women and children too."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is what you must do. Completely destroy every male. Also destroy every woman who has slept with a man.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Among the people living in Jabesh-gilead, they found 400 young women who had never slept with a man. They brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the whole community sent a message to the men of Benjamin at the rock of Rimmon. They offered them peace."},{"verse":14,"text":"So the men of Benjamin came back at that time. They were given the women of Jabesh-gilead who had been allowed to live. But there were not enough women for all of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"The people felt sorry for Benjamin. The LORD had left a gap in the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the elders of the community said, \"How can we get wives for the men who are left? The women of Benjamin have been destroyed.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"They said, \"The men of Benjamin who lived must have children to carry on. Then a tribe of Israel won't be wiped out."},{"verse":18,"text":"But we can't let our daughters marry them.\" That was because the Israelites had sworn, \"A curse on anyone who gives a wife to a man from Benjamin!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"But look,\" they said. \"Every year there is a feast to the LORD in Shiloh. Shiloh is north of Bethel and south of Lebonah. It is east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So they told the men of Benjamin, \"Go and hide in the vineyards."},{"verse":21,"text":"Watch. The young women of Shiloh will come out to dance. When you see them, come out of the vineyards. Each of you grab a wife for yourself from the young women of Shiloh. Then go back to the land of Benjamin."},{"verse":22,"text":"Their fathers or brothers may come to us to complain. Then we'll tell them, 'Please be kind to these men for our sake. We didn't get a wife for each of them in the war. And you aren't guilty, because you didn't actually give them your daughters.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So the men of Benjamin did this. Each man grabbed one of the dancing women and carried her away as his wife. They took as many as they needed. Then they went back to their own land. They rebuilt their towns and lived in them."},{"verse":24,"text":"At that time the Israelites left that place. Each man went home to his own tribe and clan, to his own land."},{"verse":25,"text":"In those days Israel had no king. Everyone did whatever seemed right to them."}]}]},{"name":"Ruth","slug":"ruth","usfm":"RUT","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This happened back when the judges ruled. There was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live for a while in the land of Moab. He took his wife and his two sons with him."},{"verse":2,"text":"The man's name was Elimelech. His wife's name was Naomi. His two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the land of Moab and settled there."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Naomi's husband Elimelech died. She was left with her two sons."},{"verse":4,"text":"Her sons married women from Moab. One was named Orpah, and the other was named Ruth. They lived in Moab about ten years."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Mahlon and Chilion both died too. Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband."},{"verse":6,"text":"While she was in Moab, Naomi heard that the LORD had come to help his people. He had given them food again. So she and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab."},{"verse":7,"text":"Her two daughters-in-law went with her. She left the place where she had been living. They started down the road that led back to the land of Judah."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, \"Go back. Each of you go home to your mother. You have been kind to your husbands who died, and to me. May the LORD show you faithful love in the same way."},{"verse":9,"text":"May the LORD let each of you find rest in the home of a new husband.\" Then she kissed them goodbye. They cried out loud"},{"verse":10,"text":"and said to her, \"No! We will go back with you to your people.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But Naomi said, \"Go home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Can I still have more sons who could grow up to be your husbands?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Go home, my daughters. Go on. I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to get a husband tonight and to have sons,"},{"verse":13,"text":"would you wait for them to grow up? Would you stay unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is much more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has turned against me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Again they cried out loud. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Ruth held on tight to her."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Look,\" Naomi said. \"Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods. Go back home with her.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But Ruth said, \"Don't beg me to leave you. Don't ask me to stop following you. Where you go, I will go. Where you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."},{"verse":17,"text":"Where you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and punish me hard, if anything but death pulls you and me apart.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her. So she stopped trying to talk her out of it."},{"verse":19,"text":"So the two women traveled on until they came to Bethlehem. When they got there, the whole town was stirred up about them. The women of the town cried out, \"Can this really be Naomi?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Don't call me Naomi,\" she told them. \"Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.","note":"Naomi means \"pleasant.\" Mara means \"bitter.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. So why call me Naomi? The LORD has spoken against me. The Almighty has brought trouble on me.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So Naomi came back from the land of Moab. Her daughter-in-law Ruth, the woman from Moab, came with her. They arrived in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest was starting."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side. He was an important man with a good name. He was from the clan of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz."},{"verse":2,"text":"Ruth, the woman from Moab, said to Naomi, \"Please let me go out to the fields. I will pick up the leftover grain behind someone who is kind to me.\" \"Go ahead, my daughter,\" Naomi said."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Ruth went out into the field. She picked up the leftover grain behind the harvest workers. And it just so happened that she came to a part of the field that belonged to Boaz. He was from the clan of Elimelech."},{"verse":4,"text":"Just then Boaz came out from Bethlehem. He said to the workers, \"The LORD be with you.\" \"The LORD bless you,\" they answered."},{"verse":5,"text":"Boaz asked the man in charge of his workers, \"Who does that young woman belong to?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The man answered, \"She is the woman from Moab. She came back with Naomi from the land of Moab."},{"verse":7,"text":"She asked me, 'Please let me pick up grain among the bundles behind the workers.' So she came out here. She has kept working from morning until now. She only rested a short time in the shelter.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Boaz said to Ruth, \"Listen to me, my daughter. Don't go pick up grain in any other field. Don't leave this place. Stay here close to my servant girls."},{"verse":9,"text":"Watch which field they are harvesting, and follow along behind them. I have told the young men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go get a drink from the jars. The young men have filled them.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Ruth bowed down with her face to the ground. She said to him, \"Why are you so kind to me? Why do you even notice me? I'm a foreigner.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Boaz answered, \"I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband died. I know how you left your father and mother and the land where you were born. You came to live among people you did not know before."},{"verse":12,"text":"May the LORD pay you back for what you have done. May you get a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel. You have come to find safety under his wings.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Sir,\" she said, \"may you keep on being kind to me. For you have comforted me. You have spoken kindly to me, your servant. And I am not even one of your servant girls.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"At mealtime Boaz said to her, \"Come over here. Have some bread, and dip it in the vinegar sauce.\" So she sat down beside the workers. He handed her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full, and she had some left over."},{"verse":15,"text":"When Ruth got up to pick up grain again, Boaz gave orders to his young men. He said, \"Even if she picks up grain among the bundles, don't shame her."},{"verse":16,"text":"Even pull out some stalks from the bundles for her. Leave them for her to pick up. Don't scold her.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Ruth picked up grain in the field until evening. Then she beat out the grain from what she had gathered. It came to about an ephah of barley.","note":"An ephah was about 20 dry quarts (about 22 liters)."},{"verse":18,"text":"She picked up the grain and went back into town. Her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Then Ruth brought out the food she had saved from her meal and gave it to Naomi."},{"verse":19,"text":"Her mother-in-law asked her, \"Where did you pick up grain today? Where did you work? May the man who noticed you be blessed!\" So Ruth told her mother-in-law where she had worked. \"The man I worked with today is named Boaz,\" she said."},{"verse":20,"text":"Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, \"May he be blessed by the LORD! He has not stopped being kind to the living or to the dead.\" Then Naomi said, \"That man is a close relative of ours. He is one of our family redeemers.\"","note":"A family redeemer (kinsman-redeemer) was a close relative who had the duty to help a family in need, such as buying back land or marrying a widow to carry on the family name."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Ruth the woman from Moab said, \"He also told me, 'Stay with my young men until they have finished bringing in all my harvest.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Naomi said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, \"My daughter, it is good for you to go out with his young women. Then no one will hurt you in some other field.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So Ruth stayed close to Boaz's servant girls and picked up grain. She did this until the barley harvest and the wheat harvest were done. And she lived with her mother-in-law."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi said to her, \"My daughter, shouldn't I find a home of rest for you? I want things to go well for you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now Boaz is a relative of ours. You have been working with his servant girls. Tonight he will be separating the barley from the straw on the threshing floor."},{"verse":3,"text":"So wash yourself and put on perfume. Put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor. But don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking."},{"verse":4,"text":"When he lies down, notice the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"I will do everything you say,\" Ruth answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Ruth went down to the threshing floor. She did everything her mother-in-law told her to do."},{"verse":7,"text":"Boaz finished eating and drinking, and he was in a good mood. He went to lie down at the far end of the pile of grain. Then Ruth went over quietly. She uncovered his feet and lay down."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the middle of the night, something startled Boaz. He turned over, and there was a woman lying at his feet!"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Who are you?\" he asked. \"I am Ruth, your servant,\" she said. \"Spread the corner of your robe over me, because you are a family redeemer.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Boaz said, \"May the LORD bless you, my daughter. This kindness is even greater than what you showed before, because you did not go after the younger men, rich or poor."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now don't be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you ask, because all the people in my town know you are a woman of fine character."},{"verse":12,"text":"It is true that I am a family redeemer. But there is another redeemer who is a closer relative than I am."},{"verse":13,"text":"Stay here tonight. In the morning we will see if he wants to redeem you. If he does, good. Let him redeem you. But if he does not want to, then as surely as the LORD lives, I will do it. Now lie here until morning.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Ruth lay at his feet until morning. But she got up before it was light enough for anyone to know who she was. Boaz said, \"Don't let anyone know that a woman came to the threshing floor.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then he said, \"Bring me the shawl you are wearing, and hold it out.\" She held it out. He poured six measures of barley into it and put it on her back. Then he went into the town."},{"verse":16,"text":"Ruth went back to her mother-in-law. Naomi asked her, \"How did it go, my daughter?\" Ruth told her everything Boaz had done for her."},{"verse":17,"text":"She said, \"He gave me these six measures of barley. He told me, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law with empty hands.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Naomi said, \"Wait, my daughter, until you find out how this turns out. That man will not rest until he has settled the matter today.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Meanwhile, Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there. Soon the family redeemer he had talked about came by. Boaz said, \"Come over here, my friend, and sit down.\" So the man came over and sat down."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Boaz got ten of the town's elders. He said, \"Sit down here.\" So they sat down."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Boaz said to the family redeemer, \"Naomi has come back from the land of Moab. She is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech."},{"verse":4,"text":"I thought I should tell you about it. You can buy it back in front of the people sitting here and the elders of my people. If you want to redeem it, do it. But if you won't, tell me so I will know. For no one but you has the right to redeem it, and I am next after you.\" \"I will redeem it,\" the man said."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Boaz said, \"On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the woman from Moab, you must also take the dead man's widow as your wife. This is to keep the dead man's name alive on his land.\"","note":"Some manuscripts read: \"you also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the dead man's widow.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The family redeemer said, \"Then I can't redeem it myself. If I did, I would put my own inheritance in danger. You take my right to redeem it, because I can't do it.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Long ago in Israel, this is how people made a deal final when they redeemed or traded property. One man would take off his sandal and give it to the other man. That was how people in Israel showed a deal was settled."},{"verse":8,"text":"So the family redeemer took off his sandal. He said to Boaz, \"You buy it.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, \"Today you are witnesses. I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon."},{"verse":10,"text":"I am also taking Ruth the woman from Moab, Mahlon's widow, to be my wife. That way the dead man's name will stay with his land. His name will not disappear from his family or from the town gate of his home. Today you are witnesses.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The elders and all the people at the gate said, \"We are witnesses. May the LORD make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah. Together those two built up the family of Israel. May you do well in Ephrathah. May your name be famous in Bethlehem."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD will give you children by this young woman. Through them, may your family become like the family of Perez, the son Tamar had for Judah.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Boaz took Ruth home, and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the LORD let her become pregnant. She had a son."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the women said to Naomi, \"Praise the LORD! Today he has not left you without a family redeemer. May this boy's name become famous in Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"He will give you new life. He will take care of you when you are old. For your daughter-in-law has given birth to him. She loves you, and she is better to you than seven sons.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Naomi took the baby and held him in her lap. She cared for him like a nurse."},{"verse":17,"text":"The women who lived nearby said, \"Naomi has a son!\" They named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David."},{"verse":18,"text":"This is the family line of Perez. Perez was the father of Hezron."},{"verse":19,"text":"Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab."},{"verse":20,"text":"Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon."},{"verse":21,"text":"Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed."},{"verse":22,"text":"Obed was the father of Jesse. And Jesse was the father of David."}]}]},{"name":"1 Samuel","slug":"1-samuel","usfm":"1SA","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"There was a man named Elkanah. He was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph. He was from the tribe of Ephraim."},{"verse":2,"text":"He had two wives. One was named Hannah, and the other was named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none."},{"verse":3,"text":"Every year Elkanah went up from his town to Shiloh. He went to worship the LORD of Hosts and offer sacrifices to him there. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD at Shiloh."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each time Elkanah offered his sacrifice, he gave shares of the meat to his wife Peninnah. He also gave shares to all her sons and daughters."},{"verse":5,"text":"But he gave Hannah a double share, because he loved her. He did this even though the LORD had kept her from having children."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD had kept Hannah from having children. So her rival kept teasing her in cruel ways to upset her."},{"verse":7,"text":"This went on year after year. Every time Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival teased her. Then Hannah would cry and not eat."},{"verse":8,"text":"Her husband Elkanah would ask, \"Hannah, why are you crying? Why won't you eat? Why is your heart so sad? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"One time, after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple."},{"verse":10,"text":"Hannah was very upset and bitter. She prayed to the LORD and cried and cried."},{"verse":11,"text":"She made a vow. She said, \"LORD of Hosts, please look at how your servant is suffering. Remember me! Don't forget me, your servant. Please give me a son. If you do, I will give him to the LORD for his whole life. No razor will ever be used on his head.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Hannah kept praying to the LORD for a long time. Eli watched her mouth."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hannah was praying in her heart. Her lips were moving, but no one could hear her voice. So Eli thought she was drunk."},{"verse":14,"text":"He said to her, \"How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"No, sir,\" Hannah answered. \"I am a woman whose spirit is very troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer. I have been pouring out my soul to the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't think your servant is a wicked woman. For all this time I have been praying out of my deep pain and sorrow.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Eli answered, \"Go in peace. May the God of Israel give you what you have asked him for.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Hannah said, \"May I, your servant, find favor with you.\" Then she went on her way. She began to eat, and her face was no longer sad."},{"verse":19,"text":"Early the next morning they got up and worshiped the LORD. Then they went back home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her."},{"verse":20,"text":"So in time Hannah became pregnant and had a son. She named him Samuel. She said, \"I asked the LORD for him.\"","note":"The name Samuel sounds like the Hebrew words for \"heard by God.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Elkanah and his whole family went up to offer the yearly sacrifice to the LORD. Elkanah also went to keep his promise."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, \"I will wait until the boy no longer needs to nurse. Then I will take him to stand before the LORD. He will stay there for good.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Her husband Elkanah said, \"Do what you think is best. Stay here until he no longer nurses. Only may the LORD keep his word.\" So Hannah stayed home and nursed her son until he was done nursing."},{"verse":24,"text":"When he was done nursing, Hannah took the boy with her. She also took a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. The boy was still young. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.","note":"An ephah was about 20 dry quarts (about 22 liters)."},{"verse":25,"text":"They killed the bull for the sacrifice. Then they brought the boy to Eli."},{"verse":26,"text":"Hannah said, \"Please, sir, as surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you. I was praying to the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"I prayed for this boy. And the LORD has given me what I asked him for."},{"verse":28,"text":"So now I am giving the boy to the LORD. For his whole life he will belong to the LORD.\" And they worshiped the LORD there."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Hannah prayed:\n\"My heart is full of joy in the LORD.\nIn the LORD my horn is lifted high.\nMy mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,\nbecause I am glad you saved me.","note":"A horn stands for strength."},{"verse":2,"text":"No one is holy like the LORD.\nThere is no one but you!\nThere is no Rock like our God."},{"verse":3,"text":"Stop talking so proudly.\nDon't let bragging come out of your mouth.\nFor the LORD is a God who knows.\nHe weighs what people do."},{"verse":4,"text":"The bows of strong soldiers are broken.\nBut those who were weak are given strength."},{"verse":5,"text":"People who were full now work for food.\nBut those who were starving are hungry no more.\nThe woman who had no children has seven.\nBut the woman with many sons wastes away."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD brings death and gives life.\nHe brings people down to the grave and raises them up.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD makes some poor and some rich.\nHe brings people down, and he lifts them up."},{"verse":8,"text":"He lifts the poor up from the dust.\nHe raises the needy from the pile of ashes.\nHe seats them with princes.\nHe gives them a seat of honor.\nFor the pillars of the earth belong to the LORD.\nHe has set the world on them."},{"verse":9,"text":"He guards the steps of his faithful people.\nBut the wicked will perish in darkness.\nFor no one wins by his own strength."},{"verse":10,"text":"Those who fight against the LORD will be broken to pieces.\nHe will thunder against them from heaven.\nThe LORD will judge the ends of the earth.\nHe will give power to his king.\nHe will lift high the horn of his anointed one.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Elkanah went home to Ramah. But the boy began serving the LORD under Eli the priest."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now Eli's sons were wicked men. They did not care about the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"They did not care about the priests' rules for the people either. When anyone offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant came while the meat was boiling. He held a fork with three prongs in his hand."},{"verse":14,"text":"He would stab it into the pan or kettle or big pot or cooking pot. Whatever the fork brought up, the priest kept for himself. They did this to all the Israelites who came to Shiloh."},{"verse":15,"text":"Even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come. He would say to the man offering the sacrifice, \"Give the priest some meat to roast. He won't take boiled meat from you. He only wants it raw.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The man might say to him, \"The fat must be burned first. Then you can take whatever you want.\" But the servant would answer, \"No, give it to me right now. If you don't, I'll take it by force!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So these young men's sin was very great in the LORD's eyes. They were treating the LORD's offering with contempt."},{"verse":18,"text":"But Samuel was serving the LORD. He was a boy wearing a linen ephod.","note":"An ephod was a vest-like garment worn by priests."},{"verse":19,"text":"Every year his mother made him a little robe. She brought it to him when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."},{"verse":20,"text":"Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife. He would say, \"May the LORD give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she gave to the LORD.\" Then they would go home."},{"verse":21,"text":"And the LORD was kind to Hannah. She became pregnant and had three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel. He heard how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":23,"text":"Eli said to his sons, \"Why are you doing these things? I hear from all these people about the evil things you do."},{"verse":24,"text":"No, my sons! The report I hear going around among the LORD's people is not good."},{"verse":25,"text":"If a man sins against another man, God can step in for him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who can step in for him?\" But Eli's sons would not listen to their father, because the LORD had decided to put them to death."},{"verse":26,"text":"And the boy Samuel kept growing taller. He kept growing in favor with the LORD and with people."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then a man of God came to Eli. He told him, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Your father's family lived in Egypt under Pharaoh's rule. Didn't I clearly show myself to them then?"},{"verse":28,"text":"I chose your father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest. He was to offer sacrifices on my altar and burn incense. He was to wear an ephod in front of me. I also gave your father's family all the food offerings of the Israelites."},{"verse":29,"text":"So why do you kick at my sacrifices and offerings? I commanded them for the place where I live. You honor your sons more than me. You make yourselves fat on the best parts of every offering my people Israel bring.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"So the LORD, the God of Israel, says this: 'I did promise that your family would serve me forever. Your father's family would walk before me always. But now the LORD says: Never! For I will honor those who honor me. But those who look down on me will be looked down on."},{"verse":31,"text":"Listen! The time is coming when I will cut off your strength. I will cut off the strength of your father's family. No one in your family will live to be old."},{"verse":32,"text":"You will see trouble in the place where I live. Good things will come to Israel. But no one in your family will ever again live to be old."},{"verse":33,"text":"I will not cut off every one of you from serving at my altar. But those I leave will have eyes that fail and hearts full of sorrow. All your children after you will be killed by the swords of men."},{"verse":34,"text":"Here is a sign for you about your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They will both die on the same day."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will give him a family line that lasts. He will serve before my anointed one for all time."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then everyone left in your family will come and bow down to him. They will beg for a piece of silver or a bit of bread. They will say, \"Please give me some job as a priest so I can have a piece of bread to eat.\"'\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The boy Samuel served the LORD under Eli. In those days the LORD did not speak to people very often. Visions did not come often."},{"verse":2,"text":"One night Eli was lying down in his room. His eyes had grown so weak that he could not see."},{"verse":3,"text":"The lamp of God had not yet gone out. Samuel was lying down in the LORD's temple, where the ark of God was."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD called to Samuel. Samuel answered, \"Here I am.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"He ran to Eli and said, \"Here I am. You called me.\" \"I didn't call you,\" Eli said. \"Go back and lie down.\" So Samuel went and lay down."},{"verse":6,"text":"Again the LORD called, \"Samuel!\" Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, \"Here I am. You called me.\" \"My son, I didn't call you,\" Eli said. \"Go back and lie down.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Samuel did not yet know the LORD. The LORD had not yet given him a message."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD called Samuel a third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli. He said, \"Here I am. You called me.\" Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Eli said to Samuel, \"Go and lie down. If he calls you again, say, 'Speak, LORD. Your servant is listening.'\" So Samuel went and lay down in his place."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD came and stood there. He called as he had before, \"Samuel! Samuel!\" Samuel answered, \"Speak. Your servant is listening.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD said to Samuel, \"Look, I am about to do something in Israel. It will make the ears of everyone who hears about it ring."},{"verse":12,"text":"On that day I will do to Eli everything I said I would do to his family. I will do it all, from beginning to end."},{"verse":13,"text":"I told him I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about. His sons spoke evil against God, and he did not stop them."},{"verse":14,"text":"So I have sworn an oath to Eli's family. I said, 'The sin of Eli's family will never be atoned for by any sacrifice or offering.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Samuel lay there until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD's house. He was afraid to tell Eli about the vision."},{"verse":16,"text":"But Eli called him. He said, \"Samuel, my son.\" Samuel answered, \"Here I am.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Eli asked, \"What did the LORD say to you? Don't hide it from me. May God punish you, and punish you hard, if you hide anything he told you.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Samuel told him everything. He did not hide anything from him. Then Eli said, \"He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is best.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him. The LORD made sure that every word Samuel spoke came true."},{"verse":20,"text":"So all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was truly a prophet of the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD kept appearing at Shiloh, because there he showed himself to Samuel through his word."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So Samuel's words went out to all Israel. Now the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines. Israel camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped at Aphek."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Philistines lined up for battle against Israel. As the fighting spread, the Philistines beat Israel. They killed about four thousand men on the battlefield."},{"verse":3,"text":"The soldiers came back to camp. Then the elders of Israel asked, \"Why did the LORD bring defeat on us in front of the Philistines today? Let's bring the ark of the LORD's covenant here from Shiloh. Then it can go with us and save us from our enemies.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So the people sent men to Shiloh. They brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD of Hosts. He sits on his throne between the cherubim. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of God's covenant."},{"verse":5,"text":"The ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp. Then all the Israelites gave such a loud shout that the ground shook."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Philistines heard the noise of the shouting. They asked, \"What is all this loud shouting in the Hebrews' camp?\" Then they found out that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp."},{"verse":7,"text":"So the Philistines were afraid. \"The gods have come into their camp!\" they said. \"We are in big trouble! Nothing like this has ever happened before."},{"verse":8,"text":"How terrible for us! Who will save us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness."},{"verse":9,"text":"Be brave, Philistines! Be men! If you don't, you will become slaves of the Hebrews, just as they have been your slaves. Be men and fight!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So the Philistines fought, and Israel lost. Every man ran home to his tent. So many were killed! Thirty thousand Israelite foot soldiers died."},{"verse":11,"text":"The ark of God was captured. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed."},{"verse":12,"text":"That same day a man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battle all the way to Shiloh. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head."},{"verse":13,"text":"When he got there, Eli was sitting on his chair by the side of the road. He was watching, because his heart was afraid for the ark of God. The man came into the town and told the news. Then the whole town cried out."},{"verse":14,"text":"Eli heard the crying. He asked, \"What is all this noise?\" So the man hurried over and told Eli."},{"verse":15,"text":"Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set in a stare, because he could not see."},{"verse":16,"text":"The man said to Eli, \"I have just come from the battle. I ran away from it today.\" Eli asked, \"What happened, my son?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The man who brought the news answered, \"Israel ran away from the Philistines. Many of our people have been killed. Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are both dead. And the ark of God has been captured.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"As soon as the man spoke of the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the town gate. He was old and heavy. His neck broke, and he died. Eli had judged Israel for forty years."},{"verse":19,"text":"Eli's daughter-in-law was the wife of Phinehas. She was pregnant, and her baby was almost due. She heard the news that God's ark had been captured. She heard that her father-in-law and her husband were dead. Then her labor pains suddenly came on her. She fell down and gave birth."},{"verse":20,"text":"She was dying. The women helping her said, \"Don't be afraid. You have had a son!\" But she did not answer or pay any attention."},{"verse":21,"text":"She named the boy Ichabod. She said, \"The glory has left Israel.\" She said this because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and husband had been killed.","note":"Ichabod means \"no glory.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"She said, \"The glory has left Israel, because the ark of God has been captured.\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Philistines had captured the ark of God. They took it from Ebenezer to the city of Ashdod."},{"verse":2,"text":"They carried it into the temple of their god Dagon. They set it next to his statue."},{"verse":3,"text":"Early the next morning the people of Ashdod got up. There was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground in front of the ark of the LORD! So they picked Dagon up and put him back in his place."},{"verse":4,"text":"But early the next morning they got up again. There was Dagon, fallen on his face in front of the ark of the LORD again! His head and his hands had broken off. They were lying on the doorway. Only his body was left."},{"verse":5,"text":"That is why, even today, the priests of Dagon do not step on the doorway of Dagon's temple in Ashdod. No one else who goes into the temple does either."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD's hand came down hard on the people of Ashdod and the area around it. He struck them down and made them suffer with tumors."},{"verse":7,"text":"The men of Ashdod saw what was happening. They said, \"The ark of the God of Israel must not stay here with us. His hand is hard on us and on our god Dagon.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines. They asked, \"What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?\" The rulers answered, \"Move it to Gath.\" So they moved the ark of the God of Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"But after they moved the ark to Gath, the LORD's hand was against that city too. The city was thrown into a great panic. He struck the men of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors."},{"verse":10,"text":"So they sent the ark of God on to Ekron. But when it arrived, the people of Ekron cried out. They said, \"They've brought the ark of the God of Israel here to kill us and our people!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So the people of Ekron called together all the Philistine rulers. They said, \"Send away the ark of the God of Israel! Let it go back to its own place, so it won't kill us and our people!\" A deadly panic had spread through the whole city. God's hand was very hard on it."},{"verse":12,"text":"The people who did not die were struck with tumors. The cry of the city went up to heaven."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The ark of the LORD had been in Philistine land for seven months."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the Philistines called for their priests and the men who used magic to learn secrets. They said, \"What should we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"They answered, \"If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it away empty. Be sure to send a guilt offering back with it to him. Then you will be healed. And you will learn why his hand has not left you alone.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The Philistines asked, \"What guilt offering should we send to him?\" They answered, \"Send five gold tumors and five gold rats. That is one for each of the Philistine rulers. You need them because the same plague has struck you and your rulers."},{"verse":5,"text":"Make models of your tumors and of the rats that are destroying the land. Give glory to the God of Israel. Maybe he will lift his hand off you and your gods and your land."},{"verse":6,"text":"Why make your hearts stubborn like the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When God dealt harshly with them, didn't they let the people go on their way?"},{"verse":7,"text":"So now, get one new cart ready. Get two cows that are nursing calves and have never worn a yoke. Hitch the cows to the cart. But take their calves away from them and pen them up."},{"verse":8,"text":"Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart. Put the gold objects in a box beside it. They are the guilt offering you are sending back to him. Then send the ark on its way."},{"verse":9,"text":"But keep watching it. It may go up the road to its own land, toward Beth-shemesh. If it does, then the LORD is the one who brought this terrible trouble on us. But if it doesn't, then we will know his hand did not strike us. It just happened by chance.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So the men did what they were told. They took two cows that were nursing calves. They hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves."},{"verse":11,"text":"They put the ark of the LORD on the cart. They also put on the box with the gold rats and the models of the tumors."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the cows went straight up the road toward Beth-shemesh. They stayed on that one main road, mooing as they went. They never turned to the right or to the left. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh."},{"verse":13,"text":"The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley. They looked up and saw the ark. They were filled with joy when they saw it."},{"verse":14,"text":"The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. It stopped there beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart. They offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Levites lifted down the ark of the LORD. They also took down the box with the gold objects. They set them on the large rock. That day the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"The five Philistine rulers watched all this. Then they went back to Ekron that same day."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Philistines sent back gold tumors as a guilt offering to the LORD. They sent one for each city: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron."},{"verse":18,"text":"The number of gold rats matched the number of Philistine towns that belonged to the five rulers. That included the walled cities and the villages around them. The large rock where they set the ark of the LORD is still there today. It is in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh."},{"verse":19,"text":"But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men. The people mourned because the LORD had struck them so hard.","note":"Most Hebrew manuscripts say 50,070 men."},{"verse":20,"text":"The men of Beth-shemesh asked, \"Who can stand in front of the LORD, this holy God? Where can the ark go from here?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim. They said, \"The Philistines have sent back the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your town.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So the men of Kiriath-jearim came and got the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar as holy to guard the ark of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"The ark stayed at Kiriath-jearim a long time, twenty years in all. And all the people of Israel mourned and longed for the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Samuel spoke to all the people of Israel. He said, \"If you are coming back to the LORD with all your heart, then get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths among you. Set your hearts on the LORD and serve only him. Then he will save you from the power of the Philistines.\"","note":"Ashtoreths were images of a Canaanite goddess."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the Israelites got rid of their Baals and Ashtoreths. They served only the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Samuel said, \"Bring all Israel together at Mizpah. I will pray to the LORD for you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So they gathered at Mizpah. They drew water and poured it out in front of the LORD. That day they went without food. There they confessed, \"We have sinned against the LORD.\" And Samuel judged the Israelites at Mizpah."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah. So their rulers marched up to attack Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid of the Philistines."},{"verse":8,"text":"They said to Samuel, \"Don't stop crying out to the LORD our God for us! Ask him to save us from the power of the Philistines.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Samuel took a young lamb that was still nursing. He offered it whole to the LORD as a burnt offering. He cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him."},{"verse":10,"text":"While Samuel was offering the burnt offering, the Philistines came near to attack Israel. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines. He threw them into such a panic that they ran away from Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah. They chased the Philistines and struck them down along the way. They went all the way to a place below Beth-car."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer. He said, \"The LORD has helped us all the way to here.\"","note":"Ebenezer means \"stone of help.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So the Philistines were beaten. They stopped coming into Israel's land. The LORD's hand was against the Philistines as long as Samuel lived."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Philistines had taken the towns from Ekron to Gath. Now those towns were given back to Israel. Israel also freed the land around them from the Philistines. And there was peace between the Israelites and the Amorites."},{"verse":15,"text":"Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life."},{"verse":16,"text":"Every year he traveled in a circle from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah. He judged Israel in all these places."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he would go back to Ramah, because his home was there. He judged Israel there too. And he built an altar to the LORD there."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges over Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"His oldest son was named Joel. His second son was named Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba."},{"verse":3,"text":"But his sons did not live the way he did. They went after money in dishonest ways. They took bribes and twisted what was fair."},{"verse":4,"text":"So all the elders of Israel got together. They came to Samuel at Ramah."},{"verse":5,"text":"They said to him, \"Look, you are old. Your sons don't live the way you do. So now give us a king to judge us, like all the other nations have.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"They said, \"Give us a king to judge us.\" Samuel was not pleased with what they asked. So he prayed to the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD said to Samuel, \"Listen to the people in all they say to you. For they have not rejected you. They have rejected me as their king."},{"verse":8,"text":"They have done this ever since I brought them up out of Egypt, all the way until today. They have left me and served other gods. Now they are doing the same thing to you."},{"verse":9,"text":"So listen to them. But you must warn them very seriously. Show them how the king who rules over them will treat them.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Samuel told the people everything the LORD had said. These were the people asking him for a king."},{"verse":11,"text":"He said, \"This is how the king who rules over you will treat you. He will take your sons. He will make them work with his chariots and horses. They will run in front of his chariots."},{"verse":12,"text":"He will make some of them leaders over a thousand men and some leaders over fifty. He will make others plow his fields and bring in his harvest. Others will make his weapons for war and parts for his chariots."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will take your daughters. They will make perfume for him, cook for him, and bake for him."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive groves. He will give them to his servants."},{"verse":15,"text":"He will take a tenth of your grain and of your grapes. He will give it to his officials and servants."},{"verse":16,"text":"He will take your men servants and women servants. He will take your best cattle and donkeys. He will put them all to work for himself."},{"verse":17,"text":"He will take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves."},{"verse":18,"text":"When that day comes, you will cry out for help because of the king you chose. But the LORD will not answer you on that day.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But the people would not listen to Samuel. \"No!\" they said. \"We want a king over us."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then we will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us. He will lead us out and fight our battles.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Samuel listened to everything the people said. Then he told it all to the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD said to Samuel, \"Listen to them. Give them a king.\" Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, \"Each of you go back to your own town.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was a powerful man. He was the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, from Benjamin."},{"verse":2,"text":"Kish had a son named Saul. Saul was a fine young man and very handsome. No one in Israel was as good-looking as he was. He stood a head taller than anyone else."},{"verse":3,"text":"One day some donkeys that belonged to Saul's father Kish wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, \"Take one of the servants with you. Go and look for the donkeys.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Saul went through the hill country of Ephraim. Then he went through the land of Shalishah. But they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the area of Shaalim, but the donkeys were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin. Still they did not find them."},{"verse":5,"text":"They came to the land of Zuph. Saul said to his servant, \"Come on, let's go back. If we don't, my father will stop worrying about the donkeys. He'll start worrying about us.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But the servant said, \"Look, there is a man of God in this town. People think highly of him. Everything he says comes true. Let's go there now. Maybe he can tell us which way to go.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Saul said, \"If we go, what can we give the man? The bread in our bags is all gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The servant answered him again. \"Look,\" he said. \"I have a quarter of a shekel of silver here in my hand. I will give it to the man of God. Then he will tell us which way to go.\"","note":"A quarter shekel was about 1/10 of an ounce (3 grams)."},{"verse":9,"text":"(In Israel long ago, if a man went to ask God something, he would say, \"Come, let's go to the seer.\" That's because a prophet today used to be called a seer.)"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Good,\" Saul said to his servant. \"Come on, let's go.\" So they headed for the town where the man of God was."},{"verse":11,"text":"They were walking up the hill to the town. On the way they met some young women coming out to get water. They asked them, \"Is the seer here?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Yes, he is,\" the women answered. \"He's just ahead of you. Hurry! He just came to town today. The people are offering a sacrifice at the high place."},{"verse":13,"text":"As soon as you go into town, you will find him. Catch him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won't eat until he comes. He has to bless the sacrifice first. After that, the guests will eat. Go up right now. You'll find him.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Saul and his servant went up to the town. As they were going in, there was Samuel. He was coming toward them on his way up to the high place."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had told Samuel this:"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel. He will save my people from the power of the Philistines. For I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, \"This is the man I told you about. He will rule over my people.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Saul came up to Samuel in the town gate. He asked, \"Can you please tell me where the seer's house is?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"I am the seer,\" Samuel answered. \"Go up ahead of me to the high place. Today you will eat with me. In the morning I will send you on your way. I will tell you everything that is on your heart."},{"verse":20,"text":"Don't worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They have been found. And who is it that all Israel wants? Isn't it you and your father's whole family?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Saul answered, \"But I'm from the tribe of Benjamin. That is the smallest tribe in Israel. And my clan is the least important of all the clans of Benjamin. So why are you saying this to me?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the big room. He seated them at the head of the table, in the place of honor. About thirty guests had been invited."},{"verse":23,"text":"Samuel said to the cook, \"Bring the piece of meat I gave you. It's the one I told you to put aside.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So the cook brought the leg and what was on it. He set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, \"Here is what was saved. It was set aside for you. Eat it. It was kept for you for this time, ever since I said, 'I have invited the people.'\" So Saul ate with Samuel that day."},{"verse":25,"text":"After they came down from the high place into the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house."},{"verse":26,"text":"They got up early. Just before sunrise Samuel called up to Saul on the roof. He said, \"Get up, and I will send you on your way!\" So Saul got up. Then he and Samuel went outside together."},{"verse":27,"text":"They were walking down to the edge of town. Samuel said to Saul, \"Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. But you stay here for a while. I will tell you a message from God.\" So the servant went on ahead."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Samuel took a small jar of olive oil. He poured it on Saul's head and kissed him. He said, \"The LORD has anointed you to rule over his own people, hasn't he?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb. It is at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you went to look for have been found. Now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys. He is worried about you. He is asking, \"What should I do about my son?\"'"},{"verse":3,"text":"Then you will go on from there until you come to the big oak tree at Tabor. Three men will meet you there. They will be going up to worship God at Bethel. One will be carrying three young goats. Another will be carrying three loaves of bread. The third will be carrying a skin of wine."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will greet you. They will give you two loaves of bread, and you will take the bread from them."},{"verse":5,"text":"After that you will come to Gibeah of God. The Philistines have a camp of soldiers there. As you come near the town, you will meet a group of prophets. They will be coming down from the high place. People playing harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres will be in front of them. And the prophets will be prophesying."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush on you. You will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person."},{"verse":7,"text":"Once these signs happen, do whatever you see needs to be done, because God is with you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will surely come to you there. I will offer burnt offerings and peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come. Then I will show you what to do.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Saul turned to leave Samuel. Then God changed Saul's heart. And all the signs came true that day."},{"verse":10,"text":"Saul and his servant got to Gibeah. A group of prophets came to meet him. Then the Spirit of God rushed on Saul. He began to prophesy with them."},{"verse":11,"text":"All the people who had known Saul before saw him prophesying with the prophets. They asked each other, \"What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the prophets now?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"A man who lived there answered, \"And who is their father?\" So it became a common saying: \"Is Saul one of the prophets now?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"When Saul stopped prophesying, he went up to the high place."},{"verse":14,"text":"Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, \"Where have you been?\" \"Looking for the donkeys,\" Saul said. \"When we saw we couldn't find them, we went to Samuel.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Saul's uncle said, \"Tell me what Samuel said to you.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Saul answered, \"He told us for sure that the donkeys had been found.\" But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about him being king."},{"verse":17,"text":"Later, Samuel called the people together to meet with the LORD at Mizpah."},{"verse":18,"text":"He said to the Israelites, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I saved you from the power of the Egyptians. I saved you from all the kingdoms that were cruel to you.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"But today you have turned away from your God. He is the one who saves you from all your troubles and pain. But you said to him, 'No! Put a king over us.' So now, come stand before the LORD by your tribes and clans.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward. And the tribe of Benjamin was chosen."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward clan by clan. The clan of Matri was chosen. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, they couldn't find him."},{"verse":22,"text":"So they asked the LORD again, \"Has the man come here yet?\" The LORD answered, \"Look, he is hiding among the bags and supplies.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So they ran and brought Saul out. When he stood among the people, he was a head taller than anyone else."},{"verse":24,"text":"Samuel said to all the people, \"Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.\" Then all the people shouted, \"Long live the king!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Samuel explained to the people the rules for how a king should rule. He wrote them on a scroll. He put it in a safe place before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away. Each one went home."},{"verse":26,"text":"Saul also went home to Gibeah. Brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him."},{"verse":27,"text":"But some worthless men said, \"How can this man save us?\" They looked down on him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept quiet about it."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and surrounded the town of Jabesh-gilead with his army. All the men of Jabesh said to him, \"Make a peace treaty with us, and we will serve you.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"But Nahash the Ammonite answered, \"I will make a treaty with you on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you. That way I will bring shame on all Israel.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"The elders of Jabesh said, \"Give us seven days. Let us send messengers all through Israel. If no one comes to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived. They told the people what was happening. Then all the people cried out loud."},{"verse":5,"text":"Just then Saul was coming in from the field behind his oxen. He asked, \"What's wrong with everyone? Why are they crying?\" So they told him what the men from Jabesh had said."},{"verse":6,"text":"When Saul heard their news, the Spirit of God rushed on him. He became very angry."},{"verse":7,"text":"He took two oxen and cut them into pieces. He sent the pieces by messengers all through the land of Israel. The message said, \"This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel into battle.\" Then the fear of the LORD fell on the people. They all came out together as if they were one man."},{"verse":8,"text":"Saul counted them at Bezek. There were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 men from Judah."},{"verse":9,"text":"They told the messengers who had come, \"Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead this: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be rescued.'\" The messengers went and told the men of Jabesh. And they were filled with joy."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, \"Tomorrow we will come out to you. Then you can do whatever you want with us.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The next day Saul split his army into three groups. Before dawn they broke into the Ammonites' camp. They killed them until the hottest part of the day. The ones who lived were scattered so much that no two of them were left together.","note":"Hebrew: during the morning watch, the last part of the night before sunrise."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the people said to Samuel, \"Who said Saul should not be our king? Bring those men here. We will kill them!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Saul gave an order. \"No one will be put to death today,\" he said, \"because today the LORD has saved Israel.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Samuel said to the people, \"Come, let's go to Gilgal. There we will make Saul's kingship new again.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So all the people went to Gilgal. There, in front of the LORD, they made Saul king. They offered peace offerings to the LORD. And Saul and all the Israelites had a very joyful celebration."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Samuel spoke to all Israel. He said, \"I have listened to you. I have done everything you asked me to do. I have put a king over you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now you have a king to lead you. As for me, I am old and gray. My sons are here with you. I have led you from the time I was young until today."},{"verse":3,"text":"Here I am. Speak against me in front of the LORD and in front of his anointed king. Have I taken anyone's ox or donkey? Have I cheated anyone or been cruel to anyone? Have I taken a bribe from anyone to look the other way? If I have, tell me, and I will pay it back.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"They answered, \"You have not cheated us or been cruel to us. You have not taken anything from anyone.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Samuel said to them, \"The LORD is a witness against you today. His anointed king is also a witness. They have seen that you found nothing wrong in my hands.\" \"He is a witness,\" they said."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Samuel said to the people, \"The LORD is the one who chose Moses and Aaron. He brought your people of long ago up out of Egypt."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now, stand here. I am going to face you in front of the LORD. I will tell you all the righteous acts he did for you and your people of long ago."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jacob went down to Egypt. Later your people cried out to the LORD. So he sent Moses and Aaron. They brought your people out of Egypt and settled them in this place."},{"verse":9,"text":"But they forgot the LORD their God. So he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor. He also handed them over to the Philistines and to the king of Moab. These all fought against them."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then they cried out to the LORD. They said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from the enemies all around you. And you lived in safety."},{"verse":12,"text":"But then you saw Nahash king of the Ammonites coming to attack you. So you said to me, 'No, we want a king to rule over us.' But the LORD your God was your king!"},{"verse":13,"text":"So now here is the king you chose. You asked for him. See, the LORD has put a king over you."},{"verse":14,"text":"If you fear the LORD, serve him, and obey him, and if you don't go against his commands, and if you and the king who rules over you both follow the LORD your God, then all will go well."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if you don't obey the LORD, and you go against his commands, his hand will be against you. It will be against you just as it was against your people of long ago."},{"verse":16,"text":"So now stand still and watch this great thing the LORD is about to do right in front of your eyes!"},{"verse":17,"text":"It is wheat harvest time now, isn't it? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see what a great evil you did in the LORD's eyes when you asked for a king.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Samuel called to the LORD. That same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. Then all the people were very afraid of the LORD and of Samuel."},{"verse":19,"text":"They begged Samuel, \"Pray to the LORD your God for us, your servants, so we won't die! We have added one more evil to all our sins. We asked for a king.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Samuel answered, \"Don't be afraid. Yes, you have done all this evil. But don't turn away from following the LORD. Serve the LORD with all your heart."},{"verse":21,"text":"Don't turn away to go after worthless things. They can't help you or save you. They are empty."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD will not leave his people, for the sake of his great name. He will not, because he was pleased to make you his very own people."},{"verse":23,"text":"As for me, I will never sin against the LORD by stopping my prayers for you. I will keep on teaching you the good and right way to live."},{"verse":24,"text":"Most of all, fear the LORD. Serve him faithfully with all your heart. Think about the great things he has done for you."},{"verse":25,"text":"But if you keep on doing evil, you and your king will be swept away.\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Saul was thirty years old when he became king. He ruled over Israel for forty-two years.","note":"The numbers in the Hebrew text of this verse are unclear."},{"verse":2,"text":"Saul chose three thousand men of Israel for himself. Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel. One thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul sent the rest of the men home."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Jonathan attacked the Philistine camp at Geba. The Philistines heard about it. So Saul had the ram's horn blown all through the land. He said, \"Let the Hebrews hear!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"All Israel heard the news. \"Saul has attacked a Philistine camp! Now the Philistines hate Israel like a bad smell!\" Then the people were called to join Saul at Gilgal."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Philistines gathered to fight against Israel. They had three thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen. Their soldiers were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven."},{"verse":6,"text":"The men of Israel saw they were in danger. Their army was in deep trouble. So they hid in caves and in bushes. They hid among the rocks, in holes in the ground, and in pits for water."},{"verse":7,"text":"Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan River into the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal. All the soldiers with him were shaking with fear."},{"verse":8,"text":"Saul waited seven days, the time Samuel had set. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal. And Saul's men began to leave him."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Saul said, \"Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.\" And Saul offered the burnt offering."},{"verse":10,"text":"Just as he finished offering it, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to greet him."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"What have you done?\" Samuel asked. Saul answered, \"I saw that my men were leaving me. You did not come at the time you said. And the Philistines were gathering at Michmash."},{"verse":12,"text":"I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down and attack me at Gilgal. And I have not asked the LORD for his help.' So I felt I had to offer the burnt offering.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"You have been foolish,\" Samuel said. \"You have not obeyed the command the LORD your God gave you. If you had, the LORD would have made your kingdom over Israel last for all time."},{"verse":14,"text":"But now your kingdom will not last. The LORD has looked for a man after his own heart. He has chosen him to rule over his people. That is because you have not obeyed the LORD's command.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul counted the men who were with him. There were about six hundred."},{"verse":16,"text":"Saul, his son Jonathan, and their men were staying in Geba in Benjamin. The Philistines were camped at Michmash."},{"verse":17,"text":"Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three groups. One group went toward Ophrah in the land of Shual."},{"verse":18,"text":"Another went toward Beth-horon. The third went toward the border road. That road looks down over the Valley of Zeboim, facing the wilderness."},{"verse":19,"text":"There was not a single blacksmith in the whole land of Israel. That was because the Philistines had said, \"We can't let the Hebrews make swords or spears.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So all the Israelites had to go down to the Philistines to sharpen their tools. They had to sharpen their plow blades, hoes, axes, and sickles there."},{"verse":21,"text":"It cost a pim to sharpen a plow blade or a hoe. It cost a third of a shekel to sharpen a pitchfork or an axe. It cost a third of a shekel to put a new point on a stick for driving oxen.","note":"A pim was about 1/4 ounce (8 grams) of silver. A third of a shekel was about 1/8 ounce (4 grams)."},{"verse":22,"text":"So on the day of the battle, none of the soldiers with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or a spear. Only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons."},{"verse":23,"text":"A group of Philistine soldiers had gone out to the pass at Michmash."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Jonathan son of Saul spoke to the young man who carried his armor. He said, \"Come on, let's go over to the Philistine camp on the other side.\" But Jonathan did not tell his father."},{"verse":2,"text":"Meanwhile, Saul was staying at the edge of Gibeah. He was under the pomegranate tree in Migron. About six hundred men were with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ahijah was one of them, and he was wearing an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother. Ahitub was the son of Phinehas. Phinehas was the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one knew that Jonathan had left."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jonathan planned to go through a narrow pass to get to the Philistine camp. There was a steep cliff on each side of the pass. One cliff was named Bozez, and the other was named Seneh."},{"verse":5,"text":"One cliff stood on the north side, facing Michmash. The other stood on the south side, facing Geba."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, \"Come on, let's go over to the camp of these men who are not circumcised. Maybe the LORD will act for us. Nothing can stop the LORD from saving. He can save with many or with only a few.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The man who carried his armor said, \"Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead. I am with you all the way.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"All right,\" Jonathan said. \"We'll go over toward those men and let them see us."},{"verse":9,"text":"They might say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you.' If they do, we'll stay where we are. We won't go up to them."},{"verse":10,"text":"But they might say, 'Come up here to us.' If they do, we'll go up. That will be our sign that the LORD has handed them over to us.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So the two of them let the Philistine soldiers see them. The Philistines shouted, \"Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes where they were hiding!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The men of the camp yelled to Jonathan and the man who carried his armor. \"Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!\" they said. Jonathan said to the man with his armor, \"Follow me, because the LORD has handed them over to Israel.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet. The man with his armor was right behind him. The Philistines fell in front of Jonathan. The man with his armor came after him and killed them."},{"verse":14,"text":"In that first attack, Jonathan and the man with his armor killed about twenty men. It happened in an area about half an acre in size."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then terror struck the Philistines. It spread through the camp, the field, and all the people. Even the soldiers in the camps and the raiding parties shook with fear. The ground shook too. It was a panic sent by God."},{"verse":16,"text":"Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin were watching. They saw the Philistine army melting away. Soldiers were running in every direction."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Saul said to the men who were with him, \"Count the men. See who has left us.\" When they counted, they found that Jonathan and the man who carried his armor were missing."},{"verse":18,"text":"Saul said to Ahijah, \"Bring the ark of God here.\" (At that time it was with the Israelites.)","note":"Some ancient copies say \"the ephod\" instead of \"the ark of God.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"While Saul was talking to the priest, the noise and confusion in the Philistine camp kept getting louder. So Saul said to the priest, \"Pull your hand back.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Saul and all his men gathered and went into the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion. They were striking each other with their swords."},{"verse":21,"text":"Before this, some Hebrews had gone over to the Philistine side. They had been in the camps all around. Now they switched sides. They joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan."},{"verse":22,"text":"Other Israelites had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim. They heard that the Philistines were running away. So they joined the battle too and chased right after them."},{"verse":23,"text":"So the LORD saved Israel that day. And the battle moved on past Beth-aven."},{"verse":24,"text":"The men of Israel were in great distress that day. Saul had made them swear an oath. He had said, \"A curse on any man who eats food before evening, before I have paid back my enemies!\" So none of the men tasted any food."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then all the army went into the forest. There was honey on the ground."},{"verse":26,"text":"They went into the forest and saw the honey dripping. But no one put his hand to his mouth, because they were afraid of the oath."},{"verse":27,"text":"But Jonathan had not heard that his father had made the people swear the oath. So he reached out the tip of the stick in his hand. He dipped it into the honeycomb. He put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes lit up."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then one of the soldiers told him, \"Your father made the army swear a serious oath. He said, 'A curse on any man who eats food today!' That's why the men are so weak.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jonathan said, \"My father has brought trouble on the land. Look how my eyes have lit up because I tasted a little of this honey."},{"verse":30,"text":"It would have been much better if the men had eaten freely today. They could have eaten the food they took from their enemies. Then wouldn't we have killed many more Philistines?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"That day the Israelites struck down the Philistines from Michmash all the way to Aijalon. After that, the people were very weak and tired."},{"verse":32,"text":"So they rushed to grab what they had taken from the enemy. They took sheep, cattle, and calves. They killed them right on the ground. Then they ate the meat with the blood still in it."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then someone told Saul, \"Look, the men are sinning against the LORD. They are eating meat with the blood still in it.\" Saul said, \"You have been unfaithful! Roll a big stone over here right now.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Then he said, \"Go out among the men. Tell them, 'Each man must bring me his ox or his sheep. Kill it here, and then eat. Don't sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.'\" So that night every man brought his ox and killed it there."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. It was the first altar he had ever built to the LORD."},{"verse":36,"text":"Saul said, \"Let's go down after the Philistines tonight. We'll take everything they have until morning. Let's not leave even one of them alive!\" The men answered, \"Do whatever you think is best.\" But the priest said, \"Let's ask God about it here first.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"So Saul asked God, \"Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?\" But God did not answer him that day."},{"verse":38,"text":"So Saul said, \"All you leaders of the army, come here. Let's find out what sin was done today."},{"verse":39,"text":"As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!\" But not one of the men said a word."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then Saul said to all Israel, \"You stand on one side. My son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.\" The men answered, \"Do whatever you think is best.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel. \"Why haven't you answered me, your servant, today? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, answer with the Urim. But if the fault is with the men of Israel, answer with the Thummim.\" Jonathan and Saul were chosen by the lot. The people were found not guilty.","note":"The Urim and Thummim were objects the priest used to learn God's answer."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then Saul said, \"Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.\" And Jonathan was chosen."},{"verse":43,"text":"Saul said to Jonathan, \"Tell me what you have done.\" So Jonathan told him. \"I only tasted a little honey,\" he said. \"I used the tip of the stick in my hand. And now I have to die?\""},{"verse":44,"text":"Saul said, \"Jonathan, you must surely die! If you don't, may God punish me, and punish me hard!\""},{"verse":45,"text":"But the people said to Saul, \"Should Jonathan die? He is the one who won this great victory for Israel! Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair on his head will fall to the ground. He did this today with God's help.\" So the people saved Jonathan, and he did not die."},{"verse":46,"text":"Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines. And the Philistines went back to their own land."},{"verse":47,"text":"After Saul became king over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side. He fought the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Everywhere he went, he beat them."},{"verse":48,"text":"He fought bravely and defeated the Amalekites. He saved Israel from the people who had been robbing them."},{"verse":49,"text":"Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. He had two daughters. The older one was named Merab. The younger one was named Michal."},{"verse":50,"text":"Saul's wife was named Ahinoam. She was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul's army was named Abner. He was the son of Ner, Saul's uncle."},{"verse":51,"text":"Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were both sons of Abiel."},{"verse":52,"text":"There was hard fighting with the Philistines as long as Saul lived. So whenever Saul saw a strong or brave man, he made him join his army."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Samuel said to Saul, \"The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. So now, listen to the words of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD of Armies says: 'I saw what the Amalekites did to the Israelites. They fought against them on their way up from Egypt."},{"verse":3,"text":"Now go and attack the Amalekites. Destroy completely all that belongs to them. Do not spare them. Put to death men and women, children and babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'\"","note":"Hebrew: devote to destruction, that is, give it over to God by destroying it. Also in verses 8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Saul called the troops together and counted them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Saul went to the city of Amalek. He hid and waited in the valley."},{"verse":6,"text":"He warned the Kenites, \"You were kind to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt. So go on and get away from the Amalekites. If you don't, I'll sweep you away with them.\" So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur. Shur is east of Egypt."},{"verse":8,"text":"He captured Agag, the king of Amalek, alive. But he destroyed all the others completely with the sword."},{"verse":9,"text":"Saul and his troops spared Agag. They also spared the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They did not want to destroy these. But they did destroy everything that was poor and worthless."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel. It said,"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"I am sorry that I made Saul king. He has turned away from following me. He has not done what I told him.\" Samuel was upset. He cried out to the LORD all that night."},{"verse":12,"text":"Early in the morning Samuel got up to go face Saul. But someone told him, \"Saul went to Carmel. Look, he set up a monument there for himself. Then he turned and went down to Gilgal.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"When Samuel reached him, Saul said, \"May the LORD bless you. I have done what the LORD told me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But Samuel said, \"Then what is this sound of sheep baaing that I hear? And what is this mooing of cattle?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Saul answered, \"The troops brought them from the Amalekites. They spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God. But we destroyed all the rest completely.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Stop!\" Samuel said. \"Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.\" \"Tell me,\" Saul said."},{"verse":17,"text":"Samuel said, \"You once thought of yourself as small. But haven't you become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"And he sent you on a mission. He said, 'Go and destroy those sinful Amalekites completely. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"So why didn't you obey the LORD? Why did you rush to grab the goods you took? Why did you do what was evil in the LORD's eyes?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"But I did obey the LORD,\" Saul said. \"I went on the mission the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag, the king of Amalek. And I destroyed the Amalekites completely."},{"verse":21,"text":"The troops took sheep and cattle from the goods they captured. They took the best of the things that were to be destroyed. They did it to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"But Samuel said,\n\"Does the LORD enjoy burnt offerings and sacrifices\nas much as he enjoys people obeying his voice?\nObeying is better than sacrifice.\nListening is better than the fat of rams."},{"verse":23,"text":"Rebelling is as sinful as trying to tell the future by magic.\nPride is as wicked as worshiping idols.\nYou have rejected the word of the LORD.\nSo he has rejected you as king.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Saul said to Samuel, \"I have sinned. I have broken the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people, so I did what they said."},{"verse":25,"text":"So now, please forgive my sin. Come back with me so I can worship the LORD.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"\"I will not go back with you,\" Samuel said. \"That is because you have rejected the word of the LORD. And he has rejected you as king over Israel.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Samuel turned to leave. Saul grabbed the edge of his robe, and it tore."},{"verse":28,"text":"So Samuel said to him, \"The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today. He has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you."},{"verse":29,"text":"Also, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being, who changes his mind.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"\"I have sinned,\" Saul said. \"But please honor me now in front of the elders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me so I may worship the LORD your God.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then Samuel said, \"Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.\" Agag came to him cheerfully. He thought, \"Surely the bitter danger of death is past.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"But Samuel said, \"Your sword has made women lose their children. So your mother will lose her child too.\" And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Samuel went to Ramah. But Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul."},{"verse":35,"text":"Samuel never went to see Saul again for as long as he lived. But Samuel was sad and mourned for Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD said to Samuel, \"How long will you be sad for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king for me.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How can I go?\" Samuel asked. \"Saul will hear about it and kill me!\" The LORD answered, \"Take a young cow with you. Say, 'I have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came to meet him. They were shaking with fear. They asked, \"Have you come in peace?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Yes, in peace,\" he said. \"I have come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Make yourselves holy and come with me to the sacrifice.\" Then he made Jesse and his sons holy. And he invited them to the sacrifice."},{"verse":6,"text":"When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He said, \"Surely this is the LORD's anointed one standing here before him.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But the LORD said to Samuel, \"Don't look at how he looks or how tall he is. I have rejected him. The LORD does not see the way people see. People look at the outside, but the LORD looks at the heart.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Jesse called Abinadab and brought him to Samuel. But Samuel said, \"The LORD has not chosen this one either.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Next Jesse brought Shammah. But Samuel said, \"The LORD has not chosen this one either.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesse had seven of his sons walk past Samuel. But Samuel told him, \"The LORD has not chosen any of these.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Samuel asked him, \"Are these all the sons you have?\" \"There's still the youngest,\" Jesse said. \"But he's taking care of the sheep.\" \"Send for him,\" Samuel said. \"We won't sit down to eat until he gets here.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He had a healthy, reddish glow. He had beautiful eyes and was handsome. The LORD said, \"Get up and anoint him. He is the one.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Samuel took the horn of oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David with power. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah."},{"verse":14,"text":"Now the Spirit of the LORD left Saul. And a troubling spirit from the LORD began to torment him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Saul's servants said to him, \"A troubling spirit from God is tormenting you."},{"verse":16,"text":"Let our master give an order to us, your servants. We will look for someone who can play the harp well. When the troubling spirit from God comes on you, he will play. Then you will feel well.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Saul ordered his servants, \"Find me someone who plays well. Bring him to me.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"One of the servants answered, \"I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave and mighty man and a warrior. He speaks well and is handsome. And the LORD is with him.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Saul sent messengers to Jesse. He said, \"Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin bag of wine, and one young goat. He sent them to Saul with his son David."},{"verse":21,"text":"David came to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much. David became the one who carried Saul's armor."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Saul sent a message to Jesse. He said, \"Let David stay and serve me. I am pleased with him.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better. And the troubling spirit would leave him."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the Philistines gathered their armies for war at Socoh in Judah. They camped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim."},{"verse":2,"text":"Saul and the men of Israel gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah. They lined up for battle against the Philistines."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Philistines stood on one hill. The Israelites stood on another hill. The valley was between them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then a champion named Goliath came out from the Philistine camp. He was from Gath. He was over nine feet tall.","note":"Hebrew: six cubits and a span."},{"verse":5,"text":"He had a bronze helmet on his head. He wore a coat of bronze armor that weighed about 125 pounds.","note":"Hebrew: 5,000 shekels."},{"verse":6,"text":"He had bronze armor on his legs. A bronze javelin hung across his back between his shoulders."},{"verse":7,"text":"The pole of his spear was as thick as a weaver's beam. Its iron point weighed about 15 pounds. His shield carrier walked in front of him.","note":"Hebrew: 600 shekels."},{"verse":8,"text":"Goliath stood and shouted to the lines of Israel's army. \"Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine? Aren't you servants of Saul? Choose one of your men. Have him come down to fight me."},{"verse":9,"text":"If he can fight me and kill me, we'll be your servants. But if I beat him and kill him, you'll be our servants and work for us.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the Philistine said, \"Today I dare the army of Israel! Give me a man to fight!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Saul and all the Israelites heard what the Philistine said. They lost heart and were terribly afraid."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now David was the son of a man named Jesse. Jesse was an Ephrathite from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons. In the days of Saul, Jesse was old, well along in years."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul into battle. The firstborn was Eliab. The second was Abinadab. The third was Shammah."},{"verse":14,"text":"David was the youngest. The three oldest had followed Saul,"},{"verse":15,"text":"but David went back and forth from Saul's side to take care of his father's sheep in Bethlehem."},{"verse":16,"text":"For forty days the Philistine came out every morning and every evening. He took his stand there."},{"verse":17,"text":"One day Jesse said to his son David, \"Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread. Take them to your brothers. Hurry to their camp.","note":"Hebrew: an ephah, about 20 quarts."},{"verse":18,"text":"Also take these ten pieces of cheese to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are doing. Bring back something to show they are well."},{"verse":19,"text":"They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah. They're fighting against the Philistines.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So David got up early in the morning. He left the flock with someone to watch it. He loaded up and set out, as Jesse had told him. He reached the camp just as the army was marching out to its place. They were shouting the battle cry."},{"verse":21,"text":"Israel and the Philistines lined up facing each other for battle."},{"verse":22,"text":"David left his supplies with the man in charge of supplies. Then he ran to the battle line. When he got there, he asked his brothers how they were doing."},{"verse":23,"text":"As he was talking with them, the champion named Goliath suddenly came forward. He was the Philistine from Gath. He came out from the Philistine lines and shouted his usual words. David heard them too."},{"verse":24,"text":"When all the men of Israel saw Goliath, they ran away from him. They were terribly afraid."},{"verse":25,"text":"The men of Israel had been saying, \"Do you see this man who keeps coming out? He comes out to dare Israel to fight. The king will give great riches to the man who kills him. He'll also give him his daughter to marry. And his father's family won't have to pay taxes in Israel.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"David asked the men standing near him, \"What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine? What will he get for taking away this shame from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine anyway? How dare he insult the armies of the living God?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The people told him about the reward. They said, \"That is what will be done for the man who kills him.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"David's oldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men. He became angry with David. \"Why did you come down here?\" he asked. \"Who's watching those few sheep out in the wilderness? I know how proud you are. I know the evil in your heart. You came down just to watch the battle!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"\"What have I done now?\" David said. \"I was only asking a question!\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then he turned away from him to someone else. He asked about the reward again. The people gave him the same answer as before."},{"verse":31,"text":"Someone heard what David said and told Saul. So Saul sent for him."},{"verse":32,"text":"David said to Saul, \"Don't let anyone lose heart because of this Philistine. I, your servant, will go and fight him!\""},{"verse":33,"text":"But Saul answered, \"You can't go out and fight this Philistine. You're only a boy. He has been a warrior since he was young.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"David said, \"I, your servant, have been taking care of my father's sheep. Sometimes a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then I went after it and struck it down. I saved the lamb from its mouth. If it stood up to attack me, I grabbed it by its fur. I struck it down and killed it."},{"verse":36,"text":"I, your servant, have killed lions and bears. This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has dared to insult the armies of the living God.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"David went on, \"The LORD saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear. He will save me from the hand of this Philistine too.\" \"Go,\" Saul said. \"And may the LORD be with you.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a bronze helmet on his head and dressed him in armor."},{"verse":39,"text":"David strapped Saul's sword over the tunic. He tried to walk, but he wasn't used to them. \"I can't walk in these,\" David said to Saul. \"I'm not used to them.\" So David took them off."},{"verse":40,"text":"David took his staff in his hand. He picked five smooth stones from the stream. He put them in the pocket of his shepherd's bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he went toward the Philistine."},{"verse":41,"text":"The Philistine came closer and closer to David. His shield carrier walked in front of him."},{"verse":42,"text":"The Philistine looked David over. He saw that David was only a boy, healthy and handsome. So he looked down on him."},{"verse":43,"text":"\"Am I a dog,\" he said to David, \"that you come at me with sticks?\" And the Philistine cursed David by the names of his gods."},{"verse":44,"text":"\"Come here,\" he called to David. \"I'll give your body to the birds and the wild animals!\""},{"verse":45,"text":"But David said to the Philistine, \"You come against me with a sword and a spear and a javelin. But I come against you in the name of the LORD of Armies. He is the God of the armies of Israel, and you have insulted him."},{"verse":46,"text":"Today the LORD will hand you over to me. Today I will strike you down and cut off your head. I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel."},{"verse":47,"text":"Everyone gathered here will know that the LORD does not save by sword or spear. For the battle belongs to the LORD. He will hand all of you over to us.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"The Philistine started forward to attack him. David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him."},{"verse":49,"text":"David reached into his bag and took out a stone. He slung it and hit the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead. He fell face down on the ground."},{"verse":50,"text":"So David beat the Philistine with a sling and a stone. He had no sword in his hand, but he struck down the Philistine and killed him."},{"verse":51,"text":"David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine's sword and pulled it out of its sheath. He killed him and cut off his head with the sword. The Philistines saw that their hero was dead. So they turned and ran."},{"verse":52,"text":"Then the men of Israel and Judah rushed forward with a shout. They chased the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the Philistines lay scattered along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron."},{"verse":53,"text":"The Israelites came back from chasing the Philistines. Then they took everything from their camps."},{"verse":54,"text":"David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem. He put Goliath's weapons in his own tent."},{"verse":55,"text":"Saul had watched David going out to face the Philistine. He said to Abner, the commander of the army, \"Abner, whose son is this young man?\" \"As surely as you live, my king,\" Abner said, \"I don't know.\""},{"verse":56,"text":"The king said, \"Find out whose son this young man is!\""},{"verse":57,"text":"David came back from killing the Philistine. He was still holding the Philistine's head in his hand. Then Abner took him and brought him to Saul."},{"verse":58,"text":"\"Whose son are you, young man?\" Saul asked. \"I'm the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem,\" David said."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David finished talking with Saul. Then the hearts of Jonathan and David became joined together as one. Jonathan loved David as he loved himself."},{"verse":2,"text":"From that day on, Saul kept David with him. He did not let him go back to his father's house."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as he loved himself."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt."},{"verse":5,"text":"So David went out and did well in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in charge of the soldiers. This pleased all the people, and Saul's officers too."},{"verse":6,"text":"David had killed the Philistine, and the troops were coming back home. Then the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul. They sang and danced. They sang happy songs and played tambourines and other instruments."},{"verse":7,"text":"As the women danced, they sang,\n\"Saul has killed his thousands,\nand David his tens of thousands.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Saul was very angry. He hated this song. \"They have given David credit for tens of thousands,\" he said. \"But they have given me only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David."},{"verse":10,"text":"The next day a troubling spirit from God came on Saul. He began to rave like a prophet inside his house. David was playing the harp as he usually did. Saul was holding a spear.","note":"Or: he prophesied."},{"verse":11,"text":"Saul threw it. He thought, \"I'll pin David to the wall.\" But David got away from him two times."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Saul sent David away from him. He made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back again."},{"verse":14,"text":"David kept on doing well in everything he did, because the LORD was with him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Saul saw that David was doing very well. So he was afraid of him."},{"verse":16,"text":"But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was the one leading them out to battle and back."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Saul said to David, \"Here is my older daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as your wife. Just be brave for me and fight the LORD's battles.\" But Saul was thinking, \"I don't need to raise my own hand against him. Let the Philistines do it.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But David said to Saul, \"Who am I? What is my family, or my father's clan in Israel? Why should I become the king's son-in-law?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So when the time came for Saul's daughter Merab to be given to David, she was given to Adriel of Meholah as his wife instead."},{"verse":20,"text":"Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. When Saul was told about it, he was pleased."},{"verse":21,"text":"Saul thought, \"I'll give her to David. She can be a trap for him. Then the Philistines can get him.\" So Saul said to David, \"Now you have a second chance to be my son-in-law.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Saul gave his servants an order. \"Speak to David in private,\" he said. \"Tell him, 'Look, the king is pleased with you. All his servants love you. So now, become his son-in-law.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Saul's servants told these words to David. But he said, \"Do you think it's a small thing to become the king's son-in-law? I'm a poor man. People don't think much of me.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The servants told Saul what David had said."},{"verse":25,"text":"Saul answered, \"Tell David this: 'The king doesn't want any other bride price. He only wants a hundred Philistine foreskins. It will be his revenge on his enemies.'\" But Saul planned for David to be killed by the Philistines."},{"verse":26,"text":"The servants told David these terms. He was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. Before the wedding day came,"},{"verse":27,"text":"David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and gave the full number to the king. He did this to become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife."},{"verse":28,"text":"Saul saw clearly that the LORD was with David. He saw that his daughter Michal loved David."},{"verse":29,"text":"So he became even more afraid of David. From then on, Saul was David's enemy."},{"verse":30,"text":"The Philistine commanders kept coming out to fight. Every time they did, David did better than all of Saul's officers. So his name became very famous."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much."},{"verse":2,"text":"So he warned David. \"My father Saul is trying to kill you,\" he said. \"Be careful in the morning. Find a secret place and hide there."},{"verse":3,"text":"I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I'll talk to him about you. If I find out anything, I'll tell you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him, \"The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn't sinned against you. In fact, what he has done has been a great help to you."},{"verse":5,"text":"He put his life in danger when he struck down the Philistine. And the LORD won a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and were glad. So why would you sin by killing an innocent man? Why kill David for no reason?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Saul listened to Jonathan. He made a promise. \"As surely as the LORD lives,\" he said, \"David will not be put to death.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul. And David served Saul as he had before."},{"verse":8,"text":"War broke out again. David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them so hard that they ran away from him."},{"verse":9,"text":"But a troubling spirit from the LORD came on Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp."},{"verse":10,"text":"Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. But David got out of the way, and the spear stuck in the wall. David ran away and escaped that night."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch it. They were to kill him in the morning. But David's wife Michal warned him. \"If you don't run for your life tonight,\" she said, \"tomorrow you'll be dead!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So Michal let David down through the window. He ran away and escaped."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed. She put some goat hair at its head and covered it with a piece of clothing."},{"verse":14,"text":"Saul sent the messengers to capture David. But Michal said, \"He's sick.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David. He told them, \"Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The messengers went in. There in the bed was the idol, with the goat hair at its head."},{"verse":17,"text":"Saul said to Michal, \"Why did you trick me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!\" Michal answered, \"He said to me, 'Help me get away, or I'll kill you!'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So David ran away and escaped. He went to Samuel at Ramah. He told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there."},{"verse":19,"text":"Someone told Saul, \"David is at Naioth in Ramah.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Saul sent messengers to capture him. They saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers, and they began to prophesy too."},{"verse":21,"text":"Saul was told about this. So he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy too. Saul tried again. He sent messengers a third time. And they began to prophesy too."},{"verse":22,"text":"At last Saul himself left for Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu. There he asked, \"Where are Samuel and David?\" Someone told him, \"At Naioth in Ramah.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on Saul. He walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah."},{"verse":24,"text":"Saul took off his robes. He also prophesied in front of Samuel. He fell down and lay there naked all that day and all that night. That is why people say, \"Is Saul also one of the prophets?\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then David ran away from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, \"What have I done? What wrong have I done? How have I sinned against your father? Why is he trying to kill me?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Far from it!\" Jonathan said. \"You won't die. My father doesn't do anything, big or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this from me? It isn't true!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But David made a promise again. \"Your father knows very well that you like me,\" he said. \"And he has said, 'Jonathan must not know about this, or it will hurt him.' But as surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, I am only one step away from death.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jonathan said to David, \"I'll do anything you want me to do for you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So David told him, \"Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast. I'm supposed to eat with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the third day."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your father may notice that I'm gone. If he does, tell him, 'David begged me to let him hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown. His whole clan is offering its yearly sacrifice there.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"If he says, 'Good,' then I, your servant, am safe. But if he gets very angry, you'll know he plans to harm me."},{"verse":8,"text":"So be kind to me, your servant, because you made a covenant with me before the LORD. If I have done wrong, kill me yourself! Why should you hand me over to your father?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Never!\" Jonathan said. \"If I ever found out that my father planned to harm you, wouldn't I tell you?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then David asked Jonathan, \"Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Come,\" Jonathan said. \"Let's go out to the field.\" So the two of them went out into the field."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jonathan said, \"I promise by the LORD, the God of Israel. By this time tomorrow or the next day, I'll find out what my father is thinking. If he feels good toward you, won't I send for you and tell you?"},{"verse":13,"text":"But my father may plan to harm you. If so, and I don't tell you and send you away safely, may the LORD punish me very hard. May the LORD be with you, just as he has been with my father."},{"verse":14,"text":"And as long as I live, show me the LORD's faithful love, so that I won't die."},{"verse":15,"text":"And never stop showing your faithful love to my family. Don't stop even when the LORD wipes out every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Jonathan made a covenant with the family of David. He said, \"May the LORD make David's enemies pay.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Jonathan had David make his promise again, because he loved him. Jonathan loved David as he loved himself."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jonathan said to David, \"Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. People will notice you're gone, because your seat will be empty."},{"verse":19,"text":"After three days, hurry down to the place where you hid when this trouble began. Wait beside the stone Ezel."},{"verse":20,"text":"I'll shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were aiming at a target."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then I'll send a boy and say, 'Go, find the arrows!' I may say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you. Bring them here.' If I say that, then come. As surely as the LORD lives, you'll be safe. There will be no danger."},{"verse":22,"text":"But I may say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are past you.' If I say that, then you must go, because the LORD has sent you away."},{"verse":23,"text":"And remember what you and I have talked about. The LORD is a witness between you and me forever.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So David hid in the field. When the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat."},{"verse":25,"text":"He sat in his usual seat by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner sat next to Saul. But David's seat was empty."},{"verse":26,"text":"Saul didn't say anything that day. He thought, \"Something must have happened to David to make him unclean for the feast. Surely he is unclean.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But the next day, the second day of the month, David's seat was still empty. Saul asked his son Jonathan, \"Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He didn't come yesterday or today.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jonathan answered, \"David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem."},{"verse":29,"text":"He said, 'Please let me go. Our clan is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother told me to be there. So if you are pleased with me, please let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to the king's table.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Saul burned with anger at Jonathan. He said to him, \"You son of a twisted and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse? It brings shame on you. And it brings shame on the mother who gave birth to you!"},{"verse":31,"text":"As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, you and your kingdom will never be secure. Now send for him and bring him to me. He must die!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"\"Why should he be put to death?\" Jonathan asked. \"What has he done?\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father had made up his mind to kill David."},{"verse":34,"text":"Jonathan got up from the table, burning with anger. He didn't eat any food that second day of the month. He was hurt because his father had treated David so shamefully."},{"verse":35,"text":"In the morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David as they had planned. A small boy was with him."},{"verse":36,"text":"He said to the boy, \"Run and find the arrows I shoot.\" As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow past him."},{"verse":37,"text":"The boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had landed. Then Jonathan called out to him, \"Isn't the arrow past you?\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Jonathan shouted, \"Hurry! Go fast! Don't stop!\" So the boy picked up the arrow and came back to his master."},{"verse":39,"text":"The boy didn't know anything about it. Only Jonathan and David knew the plan."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He said, \"Go, take them back to town.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down with his face to the ground three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and cried together. But David cried the most."},{"verse":42,"text":"Jonathan said to David, \"Go in peace. The two of us have made a promise in the name of the LORD. We said, 'May the LORD be a witness between you and me. And may he be a witness between your children and mine forever.'\" Then David got up and left, and Jonathan went back into the town."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. When Ahimelech met David, he was shaking with fear. He asked him, \"Why are you alone? Why isn't anyone with you?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"The king has given me a job to do,\" David answered. \"He said to me, 'No one must know anything about the job I'm sending you to do.' And I have told my young men to meet me at a certain place."},{"verse":3,"text":"So now, what do you have here? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I don't have any ordinary bread here,\" the priest answered. \"But there is some holy bread. You may have it if the young men have kept away from women.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"David answered, \"Yes, we have kept away from women, as we always do when I set out. The young men's bodies are kept holy even on ordinary trips. So they are surely holy today!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the priest gave him the holy bread. There was no other bread there except the Bread of the Presence. It had been taken from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was removed."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now one of Saul's servants was there that day. He was being kept there before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite. He was Saul's head shepherd."},{"verse":8,"text":"David asked Ahimelech, \"Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I didn't bring my sword or any weapons with me. The king's job was urgent.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The priest answered, \"The sword of Goliath the Philistine is here. You killed him in the Valley of Elah. It's wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it. There's no other sword here.\" David said, \"There's none like it. Give it to me.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"That day David ran away from Saul. He went to Achish, the king of Gath."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the servants of Achish said to him, \"Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sang about in their dances? They sang,\n'Saul has killed his thousands,\nand David his tens of thousands.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"David thought hard about these words. He was very afraid of Achish, the king of Gath."},{"verse":13,"text":"So he acted differently in front of them. While they held him, he pretended to be crazy. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate. He let spit run down his beard."},{"verse":14,"text":"Achish said to his servants, \"Look, you can see the man is crazy! Why did you bring him to me?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Do I need more crazy men? Is that why you brought this man to rave in front of me? Must this man come into my house?\""}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and the rest of his father's family heard about it. They went down to him there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Everyone who was in trouble, or in debt, or unhappy gathered around him. He became their leader. About four hundred men were with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"From there David went to Mizpeh in Moab. He said to the king of Moab, \"Please let my father and mother stay with you until I find out what God will do for me.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So he left them with the king of Moab. They stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the prophet Gad said to David, \"Don't stay in the stronghold. Leave and go into the land of Judah.\" So David left and went to the forest of Hereth."},{"verse":6,"text":"Soon Saul heard that David and his men had been found. At that time Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah. He had his spear in his hand. All his servants were standing around him."},{"verse":7,"text":"Saul said to his servants, \"Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you commanders of thousands or hundreds?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Is that why all of you have plotted against me? Not one of you told me that my own son made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you cares about me. No one told me that my son has stirred up my own servant against me. Now he is hiding and waiting to attack me, as he is doing today.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But Doeg the Edomite was standing with Saul's servants. He answered, \"I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob."},{"verse":10,"text":"Ahimelech asked the LORD what David should do. He gave him food. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the king sent messengers to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub. He also called his father's whole family, who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Listen now, son of Ahitub,\" Saul said. \"Yes, my master,\" he answered."},{"verse":13,"text":"Saul asked him, \"Why have you and the son of Jesse plotted against me? You gave him bread and a sword. You asked God what he should do. You did this so he could rise up against me. Now he is hiding and waiting to attack me, as he is doing today.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Ahimelech answered the king, \"Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king's son-in-law. He is the captain of your bodyguard. He is honored in your house."},{"verse":15,"text":"Was that the first time I asked God what he should do? Of course not! Don't let the king blame me, your servant, or anyone in my father's family. I, your servant, knew nothing at all about this whole thing.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But the king said, \"You will surely die, Ahimelech! You and your father's whole family will die!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the king gave an order to the guards next to him. \"Turn and kill the priests of the LORD. They are on David's side too. They knew he was running away, but they didn't tell me.\" But the king's servants refused to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"So the king ordered Doeg, \"You turn and strike down the priests!\" So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod."},{"verse":19,"text":"He also attacked Nob, the town of the priests, with the sword. He killed its men and women, children and babies. He killed its oxen, donkeys, and sheep."},{"verse":20,"text":"But one son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar. He ran away to David."},{"verse":21,"text":"Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then David said to Abiathar, \"That day I knew Doeg the Edomite was there. I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am to blame for the deaths of everyone in your father's family."},{"verse":23,"text":"Stay with me. Don't be afraid. The man who wants to kill you wants to kill me too. You'll be safe with me.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Someone told David, \"Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah. They are robbing the threshing floors.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So David asked the LORD, \"Should I go and attack these Philistines?\" The LORD said to David, \"Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But David's men said to him, \"Look, we're afraid even here in Judah. We'll be even more afraid if we go to Keilah to fight the Philistine armies!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So David asked the LORD again. The LORD answered him, \"Go down to Keilah now. I'm going to hand the Philistines over to you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. They struck them hard and took away their animals. So David saved the people of Keilah."},{"verse":6,"text":"(Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he ran away to David at Keilah.)"},{"verse":7,"text":"Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. He said, \"God has handed him over to me! He has trapped himself by going into a town with gates and bars.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Saul called all his troops to go to war at Keilah. They would surround David and his men."},{"verse":9,"text":"David found out that Saul was planning evil against him. So he said to Abiathar the priest, \"Bring the ephod.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"David said, \"LORD, God of Israel, I, your servant, have heard something. Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me."},{"verse":11,"text":"Will the leaders of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down, as I, your servant, have heard? LORD, God of Israel, please tell your servant.\" The LORD said, \"He will come down.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then David asked, \"Will the leaders of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?\" \"They will,\" the LORD said."},{"verse":13,"text":"So David and his men left Keilah. There were about six hundred of them. They kept moving from place to place. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah. So he did not go there."},{"verse":14,"text":"David stayed in strong hiding places in the wilderness. He stayed in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him. But God did not hand David over to him."},{"verse":15,"text":"David was at Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph. He saw that Saul had come out to kill him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Saul's son Jonathan came to David at Horesh. He helped him find strength in God."},{"verse":17,"text":"He said, \"Don't be afraid. My father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I'll be next to you. Even my father Saul knows this is true.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan went home."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the people of Ziph went up to Saul at Gibeah. They said, \"David is hiding among us! He's in the strong places at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon."},{"verse":20,"text":"Now, our king, come down whenever you want to. We'll make sure to hand him over to you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"May the LORD bless you,\" Saul answered. \"You have shown that you care about me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Please go and get more ready. Find out more. Watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there. I'm told he is very clever."},{"verse":23,"text":"Watch him and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me when you are sure. I'll go with you. If he is in the land, I'll hunt him down among all the clans of Judah.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon. It was in the Arabah, south of Jeshimon."},{"verse":25,"text":"Saul and his men went to look for him. David was told about it. So he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard this, he chased David there."},{"verse":26,"text":"Saul was going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were going along the other side. David was hurrying to get away. But Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then a messenger came to Saul. He said, \"Come quickly! The Philistines have attacked the land!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So Saul stopped chasing David and went to fight the Philistines. That's why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.","note":"Sela-hammahlekoth probably means rock of parting."},{"verse":29,"text":"David went up from there. He lived in the strong hiding places at En-gedi."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Saul came back from chasing the Philistines. Then he was told, \"David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Saul took three thousand of the best men from all Israel. He went to look for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats."},{"verse":3,"text":"Saul came to the sheep pens along the road. A cave was there. Saul went in to go to the bathroom. David and his men were hiding far back in the cave."},{"verse":4,"text":"David's men said to him, \"This is the day the LORD told you about! He said to you, 'I will hand your enemy over to you. You can do to him whatever you want.'\" Then David crept up quietly. He cut off a corner of Saul's robe without being seen."},{"verse":5,"text":"Afterward, David felt guilty in his heart because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said to his men, \"May the LORD keep me from doing such a thing to my master. He is the LORD's anointed king. I must never raise my hand against him. He is the LORD's anointed.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"With these words David held his men back. He did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way."},{"verse":8,"text":"After that, David got up and went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, \"My master, the king!\" Saul looked behind him. David bowed down with his face to the ground to honor him."},{"verse":9,"text":"He said to Saul, \"Why do you listen to people who say, 'Look, David wants to harm you'?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Today you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Some told me to kill you. But I spared you. I said, 'I will not raise my hand against my master. He is the LORD's anointed.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand! I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Now you can know and see that I'm not planning evil or rebellion. I have not sinned against you. But you are hunting me down to kill me."},{"verse":12,"text":"May the LORD judge between you and me. May the LORD pay you back for what you've done to me. But my hand will never be against you."},{"verse":13,"text":"There's an old saying: 'Evil things come from evil people.' But my hand will never be against you."},{"verse":14,"text":"Who has the king of Israel come out against? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A flea?"},{"verse":15,"text":"May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May he see this and stand up for me. May he save me from your hand.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"David finished saying these things. Then Saul called back, \"Is that your voice, David my son?\" And Saul cried out loud."},{"verse":17,"text":"He said to David, \"You are more in the right than I am. You have paid me back with good. But I have paid you back with evil."},{"verse":18,"text":"Today you have told me how well you treated me. The LORD handed me over to you, but you didn't kill me."},{"verse":19,"text":"When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you did for me today."},{"verse":20,"text":"Now I know for sure that you will be king. The kingdom of Israel will be made strong in your hands."},{"verse":21,"text":"So now, make a promise to me by the LORD. Promise that you won't wipe out my children after me. Promise that you won't wipe out my name from my father's family.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So David made the promise to Saul. Then Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the stronghold."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Samuel died. All Israel gathered and mourned for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the Wilderness of Paran."},{"verse":2,"text":"There was a man in Maon who had a business in Carmel. He was very rich. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep. He was cutting the wool from his sheep in Carmel."},{"verse":3,"text":"His name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was wise and beautiful. But her husband was harsh and evil in the way he treated people. He was from the family of Caleb."},{"verse":4,"text":"David was in the wilderness. He heard that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep."},{"verse":5,"text":"So David sent ten young men. He told them, \"Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him for me."},{"verse":6,"text":"Say to him, 'Long life to you! Peace to you and your family! Peace to everything that is yours!"},{"verse":7,"text":"I hear that it's time for cutting the sheep's wool. When your shepherds were with us, we didn't bother them. Nothing of theirs went missing the whole time they were in Carmel."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So please be kind to my young men. We have come on a day of feasting. Please give whatever you can to your servants and to your son David.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"David's young men arrived. They gave Nabal this whole message from David. Then they waited."},{"verse":10,"text":"But Nabal asked them, \"Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? These days many servants are running away from their masters."},{"verse":11,"text":"Why should I take my bread and water and give it to them? Why should I give them the meat I killed for my workers who cut the wool? I don't even know where these men come from!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So David's men turned around and went back. They told him everything Nabal had said."},{"verse":13,"text":"David said to his men, \"Strap on your swords!\" So David and all his men strapped on their swords. About four hundred men went with David. Two hundred stayed with the supplies."},{"verse":14,"text":"Meanwhile, one of Nabal's young men told Nabal's wife Abigail what happened. \"Look,\" he said, \"David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master. But he yelled at them."},{"verse":15,"text":"But these men were very good to us. When we were out in the fields, no one bothered us. Nothing of ours went missing the whole time we lived near them."},{"verse":16,"text":"They were like a wall around us night and day. They protected us the whole time we were taking care of our sheep near them."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now think hard about what you should do. Disaster is about to fall on our master and his whole family. He is such a worthless man that no one can talk to him!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Abigail hurried. She took two hundred loaves of bread and two skin bags of wine. She took five sheep ready to cook and about a bushel of roasted grain. She took a hundred bunches of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys.","note":"Hebrew: five seahs."},{"verse":19,"text":"She said to her young men, \"Go on ahead of me. I'll be right behind you.\" But she didn't tell her husband Nabal."},{"verse":20,"text":"Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain valley. She saw David and his men coming down toward her. And she met them."},{"verse":21,"text":"David had just said, \"It was no use! I guarded everything this man owned in the wilderness. Nothing of his went missing. But he has paid me back evil for good."},{"verse":22,"text":"May God punish me, David, very hard if I let even one male of Nabal's family live until morning!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Abigail saw David. She quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of him with her face to the ground."},{"verse":24,"text":"She fell at his feet and said, \"My master, let the blame be on me alone. But please let me, your servant, speak to you. Listen to what your servant has to say."},{"verse":25,"text":"My master, please pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal. He is just like his name. His name means Fool, and he acts like a fool. And I, your servant, did not see the young men you sent, my master."},{"verse":26,"text":"Now, my master, the LORD has kept you from killing. He has kept you from getting revenge with your own hand. As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, may your enemies be like Nabal. May all who want to harm you, my master, be like him."},{"verse":27,"text":"Here is a gift that I, your servant, have brought to you, my master. Let it be given to the young men who follow you."},{"verse":28,"text":"Please forgive me, your servant, for doing wrong. The LORD will surely give you a family of kings that will last. That's because you fight the LORD's battles, my master. May no evil be found in you as long as you live."},{"verse":29,"text":"If someone chases you and tries to kill you, then your life, my master, will be held safe by the LORD your God, like something tied up in the bundle of the living. But he will throw away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling."},{"verse":30,"text":"The LORD will do for you, my master, all the good he has promised. He will make you ruler over Israel."},{"verse":31,"text":"When that happens, you won't feel sorry or guilty for killing people for no reason or for taking revenge. And when the LORD has been good to you, my master, please remember me, your servant.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"David said to Abigail, \"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! He sent you to meet me today!"},{"verse":33,"text":"May you be blessed for your good sense! And may you be blessed! Today you kept me from killing. You kept me from getting revenge with my own hand."},{"verse":34,"text":"The LORD, the God of Israel, has kept me from harming you. As surely as he lives, if you hadn't come quickly to meet me, not one male of Nabal's family would have been left alive by morning.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then David took from her hand what she had brought him. He said to her, \"Go home in peace. I have listened to you. I will do what you asked.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Abigail went back to Nabal. He was in the house having a feast like a king's feast. He was in a happy mood and very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until morning."},{"verse":37,"text":"In the morning Nabal was sober. Then his wife told him about all these things. His heart failed inside him, and he became like a stone."},{"verse":38,"text":"About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal, and he died."},{"verse":39,"text":"David heard that Nabal was dead. He said, \"Praise the LORD! Nabal insulted me, but the LORD took my side. He kept me, his servant, from doing evil. The LORD brought Nabal's evil back down on his own head.\" Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife."},{"verse":40,"text":"His servants came to Abigail at Carmel. They said to her, \"David has sent us to take you to be his wife.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"She got up and bowed down with her face to the ground. She said, \"I am your servant. I'm ready to serve you. I'll even wash the feet of my master's servants.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Abigail hurried and got on a donkey. Five of her young women went with her. She followed David's messengers and became his wife."},{"verse":43,"text":"David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So both of them were his wives."},{"verse":44,"text":"But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Palti son of Laish. Palti was from Gallim."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The people of Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. They said, \"David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Saul went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. Three thousand of the best men of Israel went with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Saul camped beside the road on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon. But David was staying in the wilderness. He found out that Saul had followed him there."},{"verse":4,"text":"So David sent out spies to make sure Saul had come."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner were lying down. Abner was the commander of Saul's army. Saul was lying in the middle of the camp. The troops were camped around him."},{"verse":6,"text":"David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, \"Who will go down with me into Saul's camp?\" \"I'll go with you,\" Abishai answered."},{"verse":7,"text":"That night David and Abishai came to the troops. Saul was lying there asleep in the middle of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him."},{"verse":8,"text":"Abishai said to David, \"Today God has handed your enemy over to you. So please let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear. I won't need to strike him twice!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But David said to Abishai, \"Don't kill him! No one can raise a hand against the LORD's anointed and not be guilty.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"David went on, \"As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him down. Either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and be killed."},{"verse":11,"text":"But may the LORD keep me from raising my hand against the LORD's anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head. Then let's go.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul's head, and they left. No one saw them. No one knew about it. No one woke up. They all stayed asleep, because the LORD had made them fall into a deep sleep."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then David went across to the other side. He stood on top of the hill far away. There was a wide space between them."},{"verse":14,"text":"David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, \"Won't you answer me, Abner?\" Abner answered, \"Who are you, calling out to the king?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"David said to Abner, \"You're a man, aren't you? Who in Israel is as great as you? Then why didn't you guard your master the king? Someone came to kill your master the king!"},{"verse":16,"text":"What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die. You did not guard your master, the LORD's anointed. Now look around. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were by his head?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Saul knew David's voice. He asked, \"Is that your voice, David my son?\" \"Yes, it's my voice, my master the king,\" David said."},{"verse":18,"text":"David went on, \"Why is my master chasing me, his servant? What have I done? What evil have I done?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Now please, my master the king, listen to what your servant has to say. Maybe the LORD has stirred you up against me. If so, may he accept an offering. But if people have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! Today they have driven me away from my share in the LORD's inheritance. They have said, 'Go, serve other gods.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"So don't let my blood fall to the ground far away from the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea! He's like someone hunting a partridge in the mountains.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Saul said, \"I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I'll never harm you again. Today you treated my life as precious. I have acted like a fool. I have made a terrible mistake!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Here is the king's spear,\" David answered. \"Let one of your young men come over and get it."},{"verse":23,"text":"May the LORD reward every person for doing what is right and for being faithful. The LORD handed you over to me today. But I would not raise my hand against the LORD's anointed."},{"verse":24,"text":"Today I thought your life was precious. In the same way, may the LORD think my life is precious. May he save me from all trouble.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Saul said to him, \"May you be blessed, David my son. You will do great things, and you will surely win.\" So David went on his way, and Saul went back home."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But David thought to himself, \"One of these days Saul will kill me. The best thing I can do is escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel. And I'll get away from him.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So David and his six hundred men set out. They went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath."},{"verse":3,"text":"David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him. David had his two wives with him. They were Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow."},{"verse":4,"text":"Saul was told that David had run away to Gath. So he stopped searching for him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then David said to Achish, \"If you are pleased with me, give me a place in one of the country towns. Let me live there. Why should I, your servant, live in the royal city with you?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So that day Achish gave him the town of Ziklag. It still belongs to the kings of Judah today."},{"verse":7,"text":"David lived in Philistine land for a year and four months."},{"verse":8,"text":"David and his men went up and attacked the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (Since long ago these people had lived in the land that reaches to Shur and Egypt.)"},{"verse":9,"text":"Whenever David attacked an area, he didn't leave any man or woman alive. But he took the sheep and cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he would come back to Achish."},{"verse":10,"text":"Achish would ask him, \"Where did you attack today?\" David would answer, \"The Negev of Judah.\" Or he would say, \"The Negev of Jerahmeel,\" or, \"The Negev of the Kenites.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"David didn't leave any man or woman alive to be brought to Gath. He said, \"If we do, they'll tell on us. They'll say, 'This is what David did.'\" David did this the whole time he lived in Philistine land."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Achish trusted David. He thought, \"David has made his own people Israel hate him completely. So he'll be my servant forever.\""}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days the Philistines gathered their armies to go to war against Israel. So Achish said to David, \"You must know that you and your men will go out to battle with me.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"David answered, \"Then you'll see for yourself what I, your servant, can do.\" \"Very well,\" Achish said. \"I'll make you my bodyguard for life.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"By this time Samuel had died. All Israel had mourned for him. They had buried him in Ramah, his own town. And Saul had driven out of the land the people who talk with the dead and with spirits."},{"verse":4,"text":"The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa."},{"verse":5,"text":"Saul saw the Philistine army. He was afraid, and his heart shook with terror."},{"verse":6,"text":"He asked the LORD what to do. But the LORD did not answer him. He did not answer by dreams or by the Urim or by prophets."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Saul said to his servants, \"Find me a woman who talks with the dead. I'll go and ask her what to do.\" His servants said, \"There's a woman at Endor who talks with the dead.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Saul put on different clothes so no one would know him. He set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night. Saul said, \"Call up a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But the woman said to him, \"Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off from the land those who talk with the dead and with spirits. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Saul made a promise to her by the LORD. \"As surely as the LORD lives,\" he said, \"you won't be punished for this.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The woman asked, \"Who should I bring up for you?\" \"Bring up Samuel,\" he said."},{"verse":12,"text":"When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. She said to Saul, \"Why did you trick me? You are Saul!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The king said to her, \"Don't be afraid. What do you see?\" The woman said, \"I see a god coming up out of the earth.\"","note":"Or: a spirit; Hebrew: elohim."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"What does he look like?\" Saul asked. \"An old man is coming up,\" she said. \"He's wearing a robe.\" Then Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed down with his face to the ground to honor him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Samuel said to Saul, \"Why have you bothered me by bringing me up?\" \"I'm in deep trouble,\" Saul said. \"The Philistines are fighting against me. And God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me anymore, by prophets or by dreams. So I called on you to tell me what to do.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Samuel said, \"Why do you ask me? The LORD has turned away from you. He has become your enemy."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD has done just what he said through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand. He has given it to your neighbor David."},{"verse":18,"text":"You did not obey the LORD. You did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek. That's why the LORD has done this to you today."},{"verse":19,"text":"Also, the LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Right away Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel's words. He had no strength left, because he hadn't eaten anything all that day and all that night."},{"verse":21,"text":"The woman came to Saul. She saw how upset he was. She said to him, \"Look, I, your servant, have obeyed you. I put my life in danger and did what you told me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Now please listen to me, your servant. Let me give you a little bread. Eat it so you'll have the strength to go on your way.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Saul refused. \"I won't eat,\" he said. But his servants and the woman kept begging him. So he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed."},{"verse":24,"text":"The woman had a fat calf at her house. She quickly killed it. She also took flour and made dough. She baked bread without yeast."},{"verse":25,"text":"She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Philistines gathered all their armies at Aphek. Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Philistine rulers marched out with their groups of hundreds and thousands. David and his men marched at the back with Achish."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Philistine commanders asked, \"What are these Hebrews doing here?\" Achish answered, \"Isn't this David? He was a servant of Saul, the king of Israel. He has been with me for a long time, even years. He came over to my side, and since that day I've found nothing wrong with him.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish. They told him, \"Send that man back! Let him go back to the place you gave him. He must not go down with us into battle. He might turn against us during the fight. What better way could he win back his master's favor? He could do it with the heads of our men!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances? They sang,\n'Saul has killed his thousands,\nand David his tens of thousands.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Achish called David. He said to him, \"As surely as the LORD lives, you have been honest. I'd be glad to have you march with me in the army. I haven't found anything wrong with you from the day you came to me until today. But the rulers don't approve of you."},{"verse":7,"text":"So turn back now and go in peace. Don't do anything to upset the Philistine rulers.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"But what have I done?\" David asked. \"What have you found wrong with me, your servant, from the day I came to you until today? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my master the king?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Achish answered, \"I know that you are as pleasing to me as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go into battle with us.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So get up early in the morning, along with your master's servants who came with you. Leave as soon as it's light.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. The Amalekites had attacked the Negev and Ziklag. They had burned Ziklag down."},{"verse":2,"text":"They had taken the women captive, and everyone else there too, both young and old. They hadn't killed anyone. But they had carried them all off as they went on their way."},{"verse":3,"text":"David and his men came to the town. They found it burned down. Their wives and sons and daughters had been taken captive."},{"verse":4,"text":"So David and his troops cried out loud. They cried until they had no strength left to cry."},{"verse":5,"text":"David's two wives had been taken captive too. They were Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel."},{"verse":6,"text":"David was in great trouble, because the people were talking about stoning him. They did this because every man was bitter and sad about his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, \"Bring me the ephod.\" So Abiathar brought it to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"David asked the LORD, \"Should I chase these raiders? Will I catch up with them?\" \"Chase them,\" the LORD answered. \"You'll surely catch up with them. You'll rescue the captives.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor. Some of them stayed behind there."},{"verse":10,"text":"They stayed because two hundred men were too tired to cross the brook. But David and four hundred men kept chasing the raiders."},{"verse":11,"text":"David's men found an Egyptian in a field. They brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat."},{"verse":12,"text":"They gave him part of a fig cake and two bunches of raisins. He ate and got his strength back, because he hadn't had any food or water for three days and three nights."},{"verse":13,"text":"David asked him, \"Who is your master? Where do you come from?\" \"I'm an Egyptian,\" he said. \"I'm the slave of an Amalekite. My master left me behind three days ago because I got sick."},{"verse":14,"text":"We attacked the Negev of the Cherethites. We attacked the land of Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned down Ziklag.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"David asked him, \"Will you lead me to these raiders?\" The man answered, \"Promise me by God that you won't kill me. Promise you won't hand me over to my master. Then I'll lead you to them.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So he led David down to them. There were the Amalekites, spread out over the whole area. They were eating and drinking and partying. They had taken a huge amount of goods from the land of the Philistines and the land of Judah."},{"verse":17,"text":"David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day. Not one man escaped, except four hundred young men. They rode off on camels and got away."},{"verse":18,"text":"So David got back everything the Amalekites had taken. He also rescued his two wives."},{"verse":19,"text":"Nothing was missing, young or old, son or daughter. None of the goods the Amalekites had taken was missing. David brought everything back."},{"verse":20,"text":"He also took all the sheep and cattle. His men drove them in front of the other animals. They shouted, \"This is David's prize!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too tired to follow him. They had been left behind at the Brook of Besor. They came out to meet David and the troops with him. David came near the men and greeted them."},{"verse":22,"text":"But some evil and worthless men had gone with David. They said, \"These men didn't go with us. So we won't share with them the goods we got back. Each man may take his own wife and children and go.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But David said, \"My brothers, you must not do this with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe. He has handed over to us the raiders who came against us."},{"verse":24,"text":"Who will listen to what you're saying? The man who went into battle will get the same share as the man who stayed with the supplies. They'll all share the same.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"It has been that way from that day on. David made it a law and a rule for Israel, and it still is today."},{"verse":26,"text":"David arrived in Ziklag. Then he sent some of the goods to his friends, the elders of Judah. He said, \"Here is a gift for you. It's from the goods taken from the LORD's enemies.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"He sent gifts to the people in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir,"},{"verse":28,"text":"to the people in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa,"},{"verse":29,"text":"to the people in Racal and in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites,"},{"verse":30,"text":"to the people in Hormah, Bor-ashan, and Athach,"},{"verse":31,"text":"and to the people in Hebron. He sent gifts to all the places where David and his men had traveled."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel ran away from them. Many of them were killed on Mount Gilboa."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Philistines chased hard after Saul and his sons. They killed Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua."},{"verse":3,"text":"The fighting grew fierce around Saul. The archers caught up with him and badly wounded him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, \"Pull out your sword and stab me with it. If you don't, these men who are not circumcised will come and stab me and torture me!\" But the armor-bearer was terrified. He would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it."},{"verse":5,"text":"The armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead. Then he also fell on his own sword and died with him."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Saul died that same day. His three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died with him."},{"verse":7,"text":"Some Israelites lived along the valley. Others lived on the other side of the Jordan. They saw that Israel's army had run away. They saw that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in their cities."},{"verse":8,"text":"The next day the Philistines came to strip the dead bodies. They found Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa."},{"verse":9,"text":"They cut off Saul's head and took off his armor. Then they sent messengers all through the land of the Philistines. The messengers told the news in the temples of their idols and to their people."},{"verse":10,"text":"They put Saul's armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths. They hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan."},{"verse":11,"text":"The people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul."},{"verse":12,"text":"So all their brave men set out. They traveled all night. They took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall of Beth-shan. They came to Jabesh and burned the bodies there."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh. And they went without food for seven days."}]}]},{"name":"2 Samuel","slug":"2-samuel","usfm":"2SA","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Saul was now dead. David came back from killing the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days."},{"verse":2,"text":"On the third day a man came from Saul's camp. His clothes were torn, and he had dust on his head. He came to David and bowed down to the ground to honor him."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Where did you come from?\" David asked. \"I got away from Israel's camp,\" the man said."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"What happened?\" David asked. \"Please tell me.\" \"The troops ran away from the battle,\" the man said. \"Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then David spoke to the young man who brought him the news. \"How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?\" he asked."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa,\" he said. \"And there was Saul, leaning on his spear. The chariots and the horsemen were closing in on him."},{"verse":7,"text":"He turned around and saw me. He called out to me. I said, 'Here I am!'"},{"verse":8,"text":"He asked, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I am an Amalekite.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he begged me, 'Stand over me and kill me. I am in terrible pain, but I am still alive.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So I stood over him and killed him. I knew that after he fell he could not live. Then I took the crown that was on his head. I took the band that was on his arm. I have brought them here to you, my lord.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them. All the men with him did the same."},{"verse":12,"text":"They mourned and wept. They went without food until evening. They grieved for Saul and his son Jonathan. They grieved for the LORD's people and the nation of Israel. For they had been killed by the sword."},{"verse":13,"text":"David asked the young man who brought the news, \"Where are you from?\" \"I am the son of a foreigner,\" he said. \"I am an Amalekite.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So David asked him, \"Why were you not afraid to raise your hand to kill the LORD's anointed king?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then David called one of his young men. \"Go and put him to death!\" he said. So the young man struck him down, and he died."},{"verse":16,"text":"For David had said to the Amalekite, \"Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth spoke against you. You said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed king.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then David sang this sad song for Saul and his son Jonathan."},{"verse":18,"text":"He ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Israel, your glory lies dead on your hills.\nHow the mighty have fallen!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Don't tell it in Gath.\nDon't spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon.\nIf you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad.\nThe daughters of those not circumcised will cheer."},{"verse":21,"text":"Mountains of Gilboa, may no dew or rain fall on you.\nMay your fields grow no grain for offerings.\nFor there the shield of the mighty was made dirty.\nIt was the shield of Saul.\nNo one will rub it with oil again."},{"verse":22,"text":"Jonathan's bow did not turn back\nfrom the blood of the dead,\nfrom the fat of the mighty.\nSaul's sword did not come back empty."},{"verse":23,"text":"Saul and Jonathan were loved and lovely in life.\nIn death they were not parted.\nThey were faster than eagles.\nThey were stronger than lions."},{"verse":24,"text":"Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul.\nHe dressed you in fine red cloth.\nHe decked your clothes with gold jewelry."},{"verse":25,"text":"How the mighty have fallen in the middle of the battle!\nJonathan lies dead on your hills."},{"verse":26,"text":"I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.\nYou brought me such joy.\nYour love for me was wonderful.\nIt was greater than the love of women."},{"verse":27,"text":"How the mighty have fallen!\nThe weapons of war are gone!\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, David asked the LORD, \"Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?\" \"Go up,\" the LORD said. Then David asked, \"Where should I go?\" \"To Hebron,\" the LORD said."},{"verse":2,"text":"So David went there with his two wives. They were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail from Carmel. Abigail was the widow of Nabal."},{"verse":3,"text":"David also took the men who were with him. Each man brought his family. They settled in the towns near Hebron."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the men of Judah came to Hebron. There they anointed David king over the people of Judah. They told David, \"The men of Jabesh-gilead are the ones who buried Saul.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead. They told them, \"May the LORD bless you. You showed kindness to Saul your master by burying him."},{"verse":6,"text":"Now may the LORD show you faithful love and be true to you. I will also be kind to you because you did this."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now, be strong and brave. For Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me as their king.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul's army. He took Saul's son Ish-bosheth and moved him to Mahanaim."},{"verse":9,"text":"He made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin. He made him king over all Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"Saul's son Ish-bosheth was 40 years old when he became king over Israel. He ruled for two years. But the people of Judah followed David."},{"verse":11,"text":"David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven years and six months."},{"verse":12,"text":"One day Abner son of Ner marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. The servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went with him."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Joab son of Zeruiah and David's servants marched out too. They met Abner's men by the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down on opposite sides of the pool."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Abner said to Joab, \"Let's have some young men get up and fight in front of us.\" \"Let them get up,\" Joab said."},{"verse":15,"text":"So they got up and were counted off. There were twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul. And there were twelve for David."},{"verse":16,"text":"Each man grabbed the other man by the head. He stabbed his sword into the other man's side. And they all fell down together. So that place in Gibeon is called Helkath-hazzurim.","note":"Helkath-hazzurim probably means \"field of swords\" or \"field of sides.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The fighting that day was fierce. David's servants beat Abner and the men of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"The three sons of Zeruiah were there. They were Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel could run as fast as a wild gazelle."},{"verse":19,"text":"He chased Abner. He did not turn to the right or to the left as he chased him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Abner looked back and said, \"Is that you, Asahel?\" \"It is,\" Asahel said."},{"verse":21,"text":"So Abner told him, \"Turn to your right or your left. Grab one of the young men and take his gear for yourself.\" But Asahel would not stop chasing him."},{"verse":22,"text":"Once more Abner warned Asahel, \"Stop chasing me. Why should I have to strike you down? How could I face your brother Joab then?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Asahel would not turn away. So Abner jabbed him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear came out his back. Asahel fell and died right there. Every man who came to the place where Asahel fell and died stopped and stood still."},{"verse":24,"text":"But Joab and Abishai chased Abner. By sunset they came to the hill of Ammah. It was across from Giah, on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon."},{"verse":25,"text":"The men of Benjamin gathered behind Abner. They formed one group and took their stand on top of a hill."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Abner called out to Joab, \"Must the sword keep killing forever? Don't you see that this will only end in bitterness? How long until you tell your troops to stop chasing their brothers?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Joab answered, \"As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the troops would have kept chasing their brothers until morning.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So Joab blew the ram's horn, and all the troops stopped. They did not chase Israel anymore. And they did not fight anymore."},{"verse":29,"text":"All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan. They marched all morning and came to Mahanaim."},{"verse":30,"text":"Joab came back from chasing Abner and gathered all the troops. Nineteen of David's servants were missing, and Asahel too."},{"verse":31,"text":"But David's servants had killed 360 men of Benjamin who were with Abner."},{"verse":32,"text":"They took Asahel and buried him in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night. They reached Hebron at dawn."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The war between Saul's family and David's family went on for a long time. David grew stronger and stronger. But Saul's family grew weaker and weaker."},{"verse":2,"text":"Sons were born to David in Hebron. His oldest son was Amnon. His mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel."},{"verse":3,"text":"His second son was Chileab. His mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. His third son was Absalom. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur."},{"verse":4,"text":"His fourth son was Adonijah. His mother was Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah. His mother was Abital."},{"verse":5,"text":"His sixth son was Ithream. His mother was David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron."},{"verse":6,"text":"The war between Saul's family and David's family went on. All this time Abner kept making himself stronger in Saul's family."},{"verse":7,"text":"Saul had a concubine named Rizpah. She was the daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth asked Abner, \"Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Abner was very angry at what Ish-bosheth said. \"Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah?\" he asked. \"All this time I have been loyal to your father Saul's family. I have been loyal to his brothers and his friends. I have not handed you over to David. But now you blame me for doing wrong with this woman!"},{"verse":9,"text":"May God punish me, Abner, and punish me terribly, if I don't do for David what the LORD promised him with an oath."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD promised to take the kingdom away from Saul's family. He promised to set up David's throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Ish-bosheth was afraid of Abner. So he did not dare to say another word to him."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Abner sent messengers to David for himself. They said, \"Who does the land belong to? Make a covenant with me. Then I will surely help you. I will bring all Israel over to your side.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Good,\" David said. \"I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I ask of you. Don't come to see me unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal with you.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul. They said, \"Give me back my wife Michal. I paid for her with a hundred Philistine foreskins to make her my bride.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So Ish-bosheth sent men to take Michal from her husband Paltiel son of Laish."},{"verse":16,"text":"Her husband went with her, crying all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, \"Go back.\" So he went back home."},{"verse":17,"text":"Abner talked with the elders of Israel. He said, \"For some time you have wanted David to be your king."},{"verse":18,"text":"Now do it! For the LORD has said to David, 'By my servant David I will save my people Israel. I will save them from the Philistines and from all their enemies.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Abner also talked with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron. He told David everything that Israel and all the tribe of Benjamin wanted to do."},{"verse":20,"text":"Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty of his men. David held a feast for them."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Abner said to David, \"Let me go right away. I will gather all Israel to you, my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you. Then you can rule over all that your heart wants.\" So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace."},{"verse":22,"text":"Just then Joab and David's soldiers came back from a raid. They brought back a large amount of goods they had taken. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron. David had sent him away in peace."},{"verse":23,"text":"Joab and all his troops arrived. Someone told Joab, \"Abner son of Ner came to see the king. And the king sent him away in peace.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So Joab went to the king and said, \"What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you send him away? Now he is getting away!"},{"verse":25,"text":"You know Abner son of Ner! He came to trick you. He came to watch where you go and to learn all that you are doing.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Joab left David. Then he sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know about it."},{"verse":27,"text":"Abner came back to Hebron. Joab took him aside into the gateway as if to talk with him alone. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died. Joab did this because Abner had killed his brother Asahel."},{"verse":28,"text":"Later David heard about this. He said, \"I and my kingdom are forever free of guilt before the LORD for the blood of Abner son of Ner."},{"verse":29,"text":"May the guilt for his blood fall on Joab's head and on his father's whole family. May Joab's family always have someone with a running sore or a skin disease. May it always have someone who must lean on a staff. May it always have someone killed by the sword or someone without food.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)"},{"verse":31,"text":"Then David gave orders to Joab and all the people with him. \"Tear your clothes,\" he said. \"Put on sackcloth. Mourn as you walk in front of Abner.\" King David himself walked behind the stretcher that carried the body."},{"verse":32,"text":"They buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly at Abner's tomb, and all the people cried too."},{"verse":33,"text":"The king sang this sad song for Abner:\n\"Should Abner have died the way a fool dies?"},{"verse":34,"text":"Your hands were not tied.\nYour feet were not in chains.\nYou fell the way a man falls before wicked men.\"\nThen all the people cried over him even more."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then all the people came and begged David to eat something while it was still day. But David made a promise with an oath. He said, \"May God punish me, and punish me terribly, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down!\""},{"verse":36,"text":"All the people noticed this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them."},{"verse":37,"text":"So that day all the troops and all Israel knew that the king had no part in killing Abner son of Ner."},{"verse":38,"text":"Then the king said to his servants, \"Don't you know that a great leader has fallen today in Israel?"},{"verse":39,"text":"I am anointed as king. But today I am weak. These sons of Zeruiah are too fierce for me. May the LORD pay back the evil man for the evil he has done!\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron. Then he lost his courage, and all Israel was afraid."},{"verse":2,"text":"Saul's son had two men who led bands of raiders. One was named Baanah, and the other was Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon from Beeroth. They were from the tribe of Benjamin. Beeroth is counted as part of Benjamin."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is because the people of Beeroth ran away to Gittaim. They have lived there as foreigners to this day."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jonathan son of Saul had a son who could not walk well. His feet were hurt. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and ran. But as she hurried to get away, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth."},{"verse":5,"text":"Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth, set out. They came to Ish-bosheth's house in the heat of the day. The king was taking his nap at noon."},{"verse":6,"text":"They went inside the house as if to get some wheat. Then they stabbed him in the stomach. Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away."},{"verse":7,"text":"They had gone into the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed. They stabbed him and killed him. Then they cut off his head and took it with them. They traveled all night on the road through the Arabah."},{"verse":8,"text":"They brought Ish-bosheth's head to David at Hebron. They said to the king, \"Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul. He was your enemy who tried to kill you. Today the LORD has paid back Saul and his children for you, my lord the king.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon from Beeroth. He said, \"As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every trouble,"},{"verse":10,"text":"a man once told me, 'Look, Saul is dead.' He thought he was bringing good news. But I grabbed him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house, on his own bed. So how much more should I now make you pay for his blood! I will wipe you off the earth!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So David gave an order to his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet. They hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron. But they took Ish-bosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb in Hebron."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron. They said, \"Look, we are your own flesh and blood."},{"verse":2,"text":"In the past, while Saul was our king, you were the one who led Israel out to battle and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be their ruler.'\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. There King David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"David was 30 years old when he became king. He ruled for 40 years."},{"verse":5,"text":"In Hebron he ruled over Judah for seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he ruled over all Israel and Judah for 33 years."},{"verse":6,"text":"The king and his men marched to Jerusalem. They went to fight the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, \"You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame can push you back.\" They thought, \"David can't get in here.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But David captured the fortress of Zion. It is now called the City of David."},{"verse":8,"text":"That day David said, \"Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go up through the water tunnel. Then he can reach those 'lame and blind' people that David hates.\" That is why people say, \"The blind and the lame will never come into the palace.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So David lived in the fortress. He named it the City of David. He built up the city all around it, from the terraces inward.","note":"Hebrew: the Millo, probably stone terraces that held up the city."},{"verse":10,"text":"David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God of Hosts was with him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar logs, carpenters, and stoneworkers. They built a palace for David."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then David knew that the LORD had made him king over Israel to stay. He knew the LORD had made his kingdom great for the good of his people Israel."},{"verse":13,"text":"After David came from Hebron, he took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem. More sons and daughters were born to him."},{"verse":14,"text":"These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,"},{"verse":16,"text":"Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel. So they all went out to hunt for him. But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":19,"text":"So David asked the LORD, \"Should I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?\" The LORD answered, \"Go up. I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So David went to Baal-perazim. There he beat the Philistines. He said, \"The LORD has broken out against my enemies in front of me. He did it like a flood of water breaking through.\" So he named that place Baal-perazim.","note":"Baal-perazim means \"the lord who breaks out.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The Philistines left their idols there. David and his men carried them away."},{"verse":22,"text":"Once more the Philistines came up. They spread out in the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":23,"text":"So David asked the LORD what to do. The LORD answered, \"Don't march straight up. Circle around behind them. Attack them in front of the balsam trees."},{"verse":24,"text":"Listen for the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear it, move quickly. It will mean that the LORD has gone out ahead of you to strike the Philistine army.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So David did what the LORD told him. He struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Once again David gathered the best men of Israel. There were 30,000 in all."},{"verse":2,"text":"He and all his troops set out for Baale in Judah. They went to bring up the ark of God from there. The ark is called by the Name. It is the name of the LORD of Hosts. He sits on his throne between the cherubim that are on the ark."},{"verse":3,"text":"They put the ark of God on a new cart. They brought it from Abinadab's house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart."},{"verse":4,"text":"They were bringing the ark of God on it. Ahio was walking in front of the ark."},{"verse":5,"text":"David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD. They played all kinds of wooden instruments, harps, and lyres. They played tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.","note":"\"Rattles\" are sistrums, a kind of shaker."},{"verse":6,"text":"They came to the threshing floor of Nacon. There the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah. God struck him down right there because he did not show respect. Uzzah died there beside the ark of God."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah. It is still called that today.","note":"Perez-uzzah means \"breaking out against Uzzah.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"That day David was afraid of the LORD. He asked, \"How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So David did not want to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom from Gath."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the ark of the LORD stayed in the house of Obed-edom from Gath for three months. And the LORD blessed him and all his family."},{"verse":12,"text":"Someone told King David, \"The LORD has blessed Obed-edom's family and everything he has. He did it because of the ark of God.\" So David went and brought up the ark of God from Obed-edom's house. He brought it to the City of David with great joy."},{"verse":13,"text":"The men carrying the ark of the LORD took six steps. Then David sacrificed an ox and a fat calf."},{"verse":14,"text":"David was wearing a linen ephod. He danced before the LORD with all his strength."},{"verse":15,"text":"He and all the people of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD. They shouted and blew rams' horns."},{"verse":16,"text":"The ark of the LORD was coming into the City of David. Saul's daughter Michal looked down from a window. She saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD. And she looked down on him in her heart."},{"verse":17,"text":"They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place. It was inside the tent David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"David finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":19,"text":"He gave food to every man and woman in the whole crowd of Israel. Each one got a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home."},{"verse":20,"text":"David went home to bless his own family. Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him. \"How the king of Israel has made himself look great today!\" she said. \"He uncovered himself today in front of his servants' slave girls. He acted like a shameless fool!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But David said to Michal, \"I was dancing before the LORD. He chose me over your father and all his family. He made me ruler over the LORD's people Israel. So I will celebrate before the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will make myself even lower than this. I will be humble in my own eyes. But those slave girls you talked about will honor me.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children as long as she lived."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The king was now settled in his palace. The LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the king said to Nathan the prophet, \"Look, I am living in a house made of cedar. But the ark of God stays in a tent.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Nathan said to the king, \"Go and do all that is in your heart. The LORD is with you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan. He said,"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?"},{"verse":6,"text":"I have not lived in a house since the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt. Not even to this day. I have moved from place to place with a tent as my home."},{"verse":7,"text":"I have gone everywhere with all the Israelites. I chose leaders to care for my people Israel like shepherds. Did I ever ask any of them, \"Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?\"'"},{"verse":8,"text":"So now, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture where you followed the sheep. I made you the ruler over my people Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have wiped out all your enemies in front of you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will give my people Israel a place. I will plant them there so they can live in their own land. They will not be troubled anymore. Wicked people will not crush them anymore, as they did at the start."},{"verse":11,"text":"They have done it ever since I chose judges to lead my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD tells you that he himself will build a house for you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Your life will come to an end, and you will rest with your fathers. Then I will raise up your offspring after you. He will come from your own body. I will make his kingdom strong."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will build a house for my Name. And I will make the throne of his kingdom last forever."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will be his Father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will correct him with a rod used by men. I will punish him with blows that people give."},{"verse":15,"text":"But my faithful love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul. I removed Saul from before you."},{"verse":16,"text":"Your family and your kingdom will last forever before me. Your throne will stand firm forever.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Nathan told David all the words of this whole vision."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD. He said, \"Lord GOD, who am I? What is my family? Why have you brought me this far?"},{"verse":19,"text":"And as if this were a small thing to you, Lord GOD, you have also spoken about the future of your servant's family. Is this how you deal with people, Lord GOD?"},{"verse":20,"text":"What more can I, David, say to you? You know your servant, Lord GOD."},{"verse":21,"text":"You have done this great thing because of your promise. You did it because you wanted to. And you have shown it to your servant."},{"verse":22,"text":"How great you are, Lord GOD! There is no one like you. There is no God but you. We have heard this with our own ears."},{"verse":23,"text":"And who is like your people Israel? They are the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself. He did it to make a name for himself. You did great and amazing wonders. You drove out nations and their gods ahead of your people. You redeemed your people for yourself from Egypt."},{"verse":24,"text":"You have made your people Israel your very own forever. And you, LORD, have become their God."},{"verse":25,"text":"So now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you made about your servant and his family. Do what you said you would do."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then your name will be honored forever. People will say, 'The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.' And the family of your servant David will stand firm before you."},{"verse":27,"text":"LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, you have shown this to your servant. You said, 'I will build a house for you.' So I, your servant, have found the courage to pray this prayer to you."},{"verse":28,"text":"Lord GOD, you are God! Your words are true. You have promised these good things to your servant."},{"verse":29,"text":"So now, please bless the family of your servant. Let it last forever before you. For you, Lord GOD, have spoken. With your blessing the family of your servant will be blessed forever.\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, David beat the Philistines. He brought them under his rule. He took Metheg-ammah from the Philistines."},{"verse":2,"text":"David also beat the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground in rows. Then he measured them with a cord. He measured two cord lengths of men to be put to death. He measured one cord length of men to be spared. So the Moabites came under David's rule and paid him tribute."},{"verse":3,"text":"David also beat Hadadezer son of Rehob. He was the king of Zobah. Hadadezer had gone out to get back his rule along the Euphrates River."},{"verse":4,"text":"David captured 1,000 chariots from him. He also captured 7,000 chariot drivers and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except 100. He kept those for chariots."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah. But David killed 22,000 of their men."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he put groups of soldiers in Aram of Damascus. The Arameans came under David's rule. They paid him tribute. The LORD helped David win everywhere he went."},{"verse":7,"text":"David took the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer's officers. He brought them to Jerusalem."},{"verse":8,"text":"King David also took a large amount of bronze from Betah and Berothai. These were Hadadezer's cities."},{"verse":9,"text":"King Toi of Hamath heard that David had beaten Hadadezer's whole army."},{"verse":10,"text":"So he sent his son Joram to greet King David. Joram came to bless David for his win. David had fought Hadadezer and beaten him. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought things made of silver, gold, and bronze."},{"verse":11,"text":"King David set these apart for the LORD. He also gave the silver and gold he had set apart from all the nations he had brought under his rule."},{"verse":12,"text":"These lands were Edom and Moab. They were the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites. He also gave what he took from Hadadezer son of Rehob, the king of Zobah."},{"verse":13,"text":"David became famous when he came back from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt."},{"verse":14,"text":"He put groups of soldiers all through Edom. All the Edomites came under David's rule. The LORD helped David win everywhere he went."},{"verse":15,"text":"So David ruled over all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people."},{"verse":16,"text":"Joab son of Zeruiah was in charge of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud kept the records."},{"verse":17,"text":"Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was the scribe."},{"verse":18,"text":"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites. And David's sons were priestly leaders.","note":"The Cherethites and Pelethites were the king's bodyguards."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then David asked, \"Is anyone still left from Saul's family? I want to be kind to him because of Jonathan.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"There was a servant from Saul's family named Ziba. They called him to come to David. The king asked him, \"Are you Ziba?\" \"I am your servant,\" he said."},{"verse":3,"text":"So the king asked, \"Is anyone still left from Saul's family? I want to show him God's kindness.\" Ziba answered, \"There is still a son of Jonathan. Both his feet are crippled.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Where is he?\" the king asked. Ziba said, \"He is in Lo-debar. He is at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."},{"verse":6,"text":"Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. He came to David and bowed with his face to the ground to show respect. David said, \"Mephibosheth!\" \"I am your servant,\" he said."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Don't be afraid,\" David said. \"I will surely be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And you will always eat at my table.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Mephibosheth bowed down and said, \"Who is your servant? Why should you care about a dead dog like me?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba. He said to him, \"I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family."},{"verse":10,"text":"You and your sons and your servants must farm the land for him. Bring in the crops so that your master's grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will always eat at my table.\" Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ziba said to the king, \"I am your servant. I will do all that my lord the king has commanded.\" So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's own sons."},{"verse":12,"text":"Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. Everyone who lived in Ziba's house became servants of Mephibosheth."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's table. Both of his feet were crippled."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became king after him."},{"verse":2,"text":"David said, \"I will be kind to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father was kind to me.\" So David sent some of his servants to comfort Hanun about his father's death. David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the Ammonite leaders spoke to Hanun their lord. \"Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending men to comfort you?\" they asked. \"No! David sent his servants to look over the city. He wants to spy it out and destroy it.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Hanun grabbed David's servants. He shaved off half of each man's beard. He cut off their clothes in the middle, at their hips. Then he sent them away."},{"verse":5,"text":"David was told about this. So he sent messengers to meet the men, because they were deeply ashamed. The king told them, \"Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then come home.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The Ammonites saw that they had made David hate them. So they hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah. They also hired 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Tob."},{"verse":7,"text":"David heard about this. So he sent out Joab and the whole army of mighty men."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of their city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves out in the open country."},{"verse":9,"text":"Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of Israel's best men. He lined them up to fight the Arameans."},{"verse":10,"text":"He put the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai. Abishai lined them up to fight the Ammonites."},{"verse":11,"text":"Joab said, \"If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you must come and save me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and save you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Be strong! Let's fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what he thinks is good.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Joab and his troops moved forward to fight the Arameans. And the Arameans ran away from him."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Ammonites saw that the Arameans had run away. So they also ran away from Abishai and went into the city. Then Joab came back from fighting the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Arameans saw that Israel had beaten them. So they gathered together again."},{"verse":16,"text":"Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from the other side of the Euphrates River. They came to Helam. Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, led them."},{"verse":17,"text":"David was told about this. So he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. The Arameans lined up against David and fought him."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the Arameans ran away from Israel. David killed 700 of their chariot drivers and 40,000 foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach, the commander of their army. Shobach died there."},{"verse":19,"text":"All the kings who served Hadadezer saw that Israel had beaten them. So they made peace with Israel and served them. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the spring, kings usually go out to war. At that time David sent out Joab with his servants and the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and surrounded the city of Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"One evening David got up from his bed. He walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman taking a bath. She was very beautiful."},{"verse":3,"text":"So David sent someone to find out about the woman. He was told, \"This is Bathsheba. She is the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had just made herself pure after her monthly time of being unclean.) Then she went back home."},{"verse":5,"text":"The woman became pregnant. She sent word to David. \"I am pregnant,\" she said."},{"verse":6,"text":"So David sent this order to Joab: \"Send me Uriah the Hittite.\" And Joab sent him to David."},{"verse":7,"text":"Uriah came to David. David asked him how Joab and the troops were doing. He asked how the war was going."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then David said to Uriah, \"Go down to your house and wash your feet.\" So Uriah left the palace. A gift from the king was sent after him."},{"verse":9,"text":"But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master's servants. He did not go down to his house."},{"verse":10,"text":"David was told, \"Uriah didn't go home.\" So David asked Uriah, \"Haven't you just come back from a trip? Why didn't you go home?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Uriah answered, \"The ark and the men of Israel and Judah are staying in tents. My master Joab and his soldiers are camping out in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as surely as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Stay here one more day,\" David said to Uriah. \"Tomorrow I will send you back.\" So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him. David got him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat with his master's servants. He still did not go home."},{"verse":14,"text":"The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab. He sent it with Uriah."},{"verse":15,"text":"In the letter he wrote, \"Put Uriah at the front, where the fighting is the worst. Then pull back from him. Then he will be struck down and killed.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Joab had his army all around the city. So he put Uriah in a place where he knew the strongest enemy soldiers were."},{"verse":17,"text":"The men of the city came out and fought against Joab. Some of David's servants were killed. Uriah the Hittite also died."},{"verse":18,"text":"Joab sent David a full report of the battle."},{"verse":19,"text":"He told the messenger, \"You will tell the king all about the battle. When you finish,"},{"verse":20,"text":"if the king gets angry, he may ask you, 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the top of the wall?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Wasn't it a woman? She dropped a big millstone on him from the wall, and he died in Thebez. Why did you go so close to the wall?' If he asks you this, then say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So the messenger left. He came and told David everything Joab had sent him to say."},{"verse":23,"text":"The messenger said to David, \"The men were stronger than we were. They came out to fight us in the open field. But we pushed them back to the entrance of the city gate."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king's servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"David told the messenger, \"Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you. The sword kills one person as well as another. Attack the city harder and tear it down.' Say this to cheer Joab up.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead. She mourned for him."},{"verse":27,"text":"When the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and had a son by him. But what David had done was evil in the LORD's eyes."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. Nathan came to him and said, \"There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and the other was poor."},{"verse":2,"text":"The rich man had a huge number of sheep and cattle."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the poor man had nothing except one little female lamb he had bought. He raised it. It grew up with him and his children. It ate from his food and drank from his cup. It slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then a traveler came to visit the rich man. The rich man did not want to take one of his own sheep or cattle to cook for his visitor. Instead, he took the poor man's lamb. He cooked it for the man who had come to him.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"David burned with anger against the rich man. He said to Nathan, \"As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!"},{"verse":6,"text":"He did this and showed no pity. So he must pay back four lambs for that lamb.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Nathan said to David, \"You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel. I saved you from Saul's power."},{"verse":8,"text":"I gave you your master's house. I put your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the people of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you even more."},{"verse":9,"text":"So why have you looked down on the LORD's command? Why have you done what is evil in his eyes? You killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword. You took his wife to be your own wife. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites."},{"verse":10,"text":"So now the sword will never leave your family. This is because you looked down on me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"This is what the LORD says: 'I will bring trouble on you from your own family. Right in front of you I will take your wives and give them to another man. He will sleep with them in broad daylight."},{"verse":12,"text":"You did your sin in secret. But I will do this in broad daylight in front of all Israel.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then David said to Nathan, \"I have sinned against the LORD.\" Nathan answered, \"The LORD has taken away your sin. You will not die."},{"verse":14,"text":"But by doing this, you have shown total disrespect for the word of the LORD. So the son born to you will surely die.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Nathan went home. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David. And the child became sick."},{"verse":16,"text":"David begged God for the boy. He went without food. He went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground in sackcloth."},{"verse":17,"text":"The older leaders of his household stood beside him. They tried to get him up from the ground. But he would not get up. He would not eat any food with them."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him the child was dead. They said, \"Look, while the child was still alive, we talked to David. But he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even hurt himself.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"David saw his servants whispering to each other. So he knew the child was dead. He asked them, \"Is the child dead?\" \"Yes, he is dead,\" they said."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then David got up from the ground. He washed and put oil on himself. He changed his clothes. He went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house. He asked for food, and they set it before him. And he ate."},{"verse":21,"text":"His servants asked him, \"Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you went without food and cried. But now that he is dead, you get up and eat!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"David answered, \"While the child was alive, I went without food and cried. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be kind to me and let the child live.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"But now he is dead. Why should I go without food? Can I bring him back? I will go to him, but he will not come back to me.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her and slept with her. She had a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child."},{"verse":25,"text":"He sent a message through Nathan the prophet. He said to name the baby Jedidiah, because the LORD loved him.","note":"Jedidiah means \"loved by the LORD.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites. He captured the king's fortress."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Joab sent messengers to David. They said, \"I have fought against Rabbah. I have captured the city's water supply."},{"verse":28,"text":"So now gather the rest of the troops. Surround the city and capture it. If you don't, I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So David gathered all the troops and went to Rabbah. He fought against it and captured it."},{"verse":30,"text":"He took the crown off their king's head. It weighed about 75 pounds of gold, and it was set with precious stones. It was put on David's head. David also took a huge amount of goods from the city.","note":"Hebrew: a talent."},{"verse":31,"text":"David brought out the people who lived there. He put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. He made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops went back to Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, David's son Amnon fell in love with Tamar. She was the beautiful sister of David's son Absalom."},{"verse":2,"text":"Amnon wanted his sister Tamar so badly that he made himself sick. She was a virgin. It seemed impossible for him to do anything to her."},{"verse":3,"text":"Amnon had a friend named Jonadab. He was the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very clever and sly man."},{"verse":4,"text":"He asked Amnon, \"You are the king's son. Why do you look so sad every morning? Won't you tell me?\" Amnon said, \"I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jonadab told him, \"Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. Your father will come to see you. Then say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her make it in front of me. Then I can watch her and eat it from her hand.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. The king came to see him. Amnon said, \"Please let my sister Tamar come. Let her make a couple of cakes in front of me. Then I can eat from her hand.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So David sent a message to Tamar at the palace. \"Please go to your brother Amnon's house,\" he said. \"Make some food for him.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon. He was lying down. She took some dough and kneaded it. She made cakes while he watched, and she baked them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then she took the pan and set the food in front of him. But he would not eat. \"Send everyone out of here!\" Amnon said. So everyone went out."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Amnon said to Tamar, \"Bring the food into my bedroom. Then I can eat it from your hand.\" So Tamar took the cakes she had made. She brought them to her brother Amnon in his bedroom."},{"verse":11,"text":"She brought them close for him to eat. But he grabbed her and said, \"Come to bed with me, my sister!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"No, my brother!\" she cried. \"Don't force me! Such a thing should never be done in Israel. Don't do this shameful thing!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Where could I ever go with my shame? And you would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel! Please talk to the king. He will not keep me from being your wife.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But Amnon would not listen to her. He was stronger than she was. So he forced her and raped her."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Amnon hated Tamar very much. His hate was greater than the love he had felt for her before. \"Get up!\" he said to her. \"Get out!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"No!\" she said. \"Sending me away would be worse than the great wrong you already did to me!\" But he would not listen to her."},{"verse":17,"text":"Instead, he called his servant. He said, \"Throw this woman out of here! Lock the door behind her!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So Amnon's servant threw her out and locked the door behind her. Tamar was wearing a long robe with sleeves. The king's daughters who were virgins wore robes like this.","note":"The meaning of the Hebrew word for this robe is not certain. It may mean a robe of many colors."},{"verse":19,"text":"Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore her robe. She put her hand on her head and went away crying loudly."},{"verse":20,"text":"Her brother Absalom said to her, \"Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Don't let this break your heart.\" So Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house. She was a lonely and sad woman."},{"verse":21,"text":"King David heard about all this. He was very angry."},{"verse":22,"text":"Absalom never said a word to Amnon, good or bad. He hated Amnon because Amnon had raped his sister Tamar."},{"verse":23,"text":"Two years later, Absalom's men were shearing his sheep at Baal-hazor near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king's sons to come."},{"verse":24,"text":"Absalom went to the king and said, \"Your servant has just hired men to shear my sheep. Will the king and his servants please come with me?\""},{"verse":25,"text":"\"No, my son,\" the king answered. \"We should not all go. We would be too much trouble for you.\" Absalom kept urging him. But the king would not go. Instead, he gave Absalom his blessing."},{"verse":26,"text":"\"If you won't come,\" Absalom said, \"then please let my brother Amnon go with us.\" \"Why should he go with you?\" the king asked."},{"verse":27,"text":"But Absalom kept urging him. So the king sent Amnon and all the rest of his sons."},{"verse":28,"text":"Absalom had given orders to his young men. \"Watch Amnon,\" he said. \"Wait until he is happy from drinking wine. Then I will tell you, 'Strike Amnon down.' When I do, kill him. Don't be afraid. I am the one giving you this order! Be strong and brave!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So Absalom's young men did to Amnon just what Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up. Each one got on his mule and ran away."},{"verse":30,"text":"While they were on their way, news came to David. \"Absalom has killed all the king's sons. Not one of them is left!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Then the king stood up and tore his clothes. He lay down on the ground. All his servants stood beside him with their clothes torn."},{"verse":32,"text":"But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, spoke up. \"My lord, don't think they have killed all the king's sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has planned this ever since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar."},{"verse":33,"text":"So now, my lord the king, don't believe the report that all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Meanwhile, Absalom had run away. The young man on watch looked up. He saw many people coming down the road to the west of him, along the side of the hill. The watchman went and told the king, \"I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Jonadab said to the king, \"Look, the king's sons are here! It's just as your servant said.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Just as he finished speaking, the king's sons came in. They were crying loudly. Then the king and all his servants also cried very hard."},{"verse":37,"text":"Absalom ran away. He went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day."},{"verse":38,"text":"After Absalom ran away to Geshur, he stayed there for three years."},{"verse":39,"text":"King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted about Amnon's death."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Joab son of Zeruiah saw that the king's heart longed for Absalom."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, \"Please pretend to be in mourning. Put on clothes for mourning. Don't put any oil on your skin. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead a long time."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then go to the king and say these words to him.\" And Joab told her exactly what to say."},{"verse":4,"text":"The woman from Tekoa went to the king. She bowed with her face to the ground to honor him. She said, \"Help me, my king!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"What is wrong?\" the king asked her. She said, \"I am a widow. My husband is dead."},{"verse":6,"text":"I, your servant, had two sons. They got into a fight out in the field. No one was there to pull them apart. One of them struck the other and killed him."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now the whole family has turned against me, your servant. They say, 'Hand over the one who killed his brother. We will put him to death for killing his brother. We will get rid of the heir too!' They would put out the last spark I have left. My husband would have no name and no family left on the earth.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Go home,\" the king said to the woman. \"I will give orders to help you.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But the woman from Tekoa said to the king, \"My lord the king, let any blame fall on me and my father's family. Let the king and his throne be free of blame.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The king said, \"If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me. He won't bother you again!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"She said, \"Please, let the king call on the LORD your God. Then the relative who wants to get even for the killing won't destroy any more. Then my son won't be killed!\" The king promised, \"As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair of your son's head will fall to the ground.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the woman said, \"Please let your servant say a word to my lord the king.\" \"Go ahead,\" he said."},{"verse":13,"text":"The woman asked, \"Then why have you planned something like this against God's people? By saying this, the king shows that he himself is guilty. For he has not brought back his own son who was sent away."},{"verse":14,"text":"We will all surely die. We are like water spilled on the ground. It can't be gathered up again. But God does not take away life. Instead, he makes ways for the one who was sent away to not stay cut off from him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now I have come to tell this to my lord the king because the people made me afraid. Your servant thought, 'I will speak to the king. Maybe he will do what his servant asks."},{"verse":16,"text":"The king will listen. He will save his servant from the man who wants to cut off both me and my son from God's inheritance.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"And now your servant says, 'May the word of my lord the king give me peace. For my lord the king is like the angel of God. He can tell good from evil. May the LORD your God be with you.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the king said to the woman, \"I am going to ask you something. Don't hide anything from me!\" \"Let my lord the king speak,\" she said."},{"verse":19,"text":"So the king asked, \"Is Joab behind all this?\" The woman answered, \"As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can get around anything you say. Yes, your servant Joab gave me the orders. He told your servant every word to say."},{"verse":20,"text":"Your servant Joab did this to change how things are. But my lord is wise, like the angel of God. He knows everything that happens in the land.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the king said to Joab, \"All right, I will do it. Go and bring back the young man Absalom.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Joab bowed with his face to the ground to honor the king. He blessed the king. Joab said, \"Today your servant knows that you are pleased with me, my lord the king. For the king has done what I asked.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Joab got up and went to Geshur. He brought Absalom back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":24,"text":"But the king said, \"He may go back to his own house. But he must not see my face.\" So Absalom went back to his own house. But he did not see the king's face."},{"verse":25,"text":"In all Israel there was no man as handsome as Absalom. No one was praised as much as he was. From the bottom of his feet to the top of his head, there was nothing wrong with him."},{"verse":26,"text":"He cut his hair once every year, because it got so heavy. When he cut it, he would weigh it. It weighed about five pounds by the royal weights.","note":"Hebrew: 200 shekels."},{"verse":27,"text":"Absalom had three sons and one daughter. His daughter's name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman."},{"verse":28,"text":"Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king's face."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Absalom sent for Joab. He wanted to send Joab to the king. But Joab would not come to him. So Absalom sent for him a second time. But Joab still would not come."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Absalom said to his servants, \"Look, Joab's field is next to mine. He has barley growing there. Go and set it on fire!\" So Absalom's servants set the field on fire."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Joab came to Absalom's house. He asked, \"Why did your servants set my field on fire?\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Absalom said, \"Look, I sent for you. I said, 'Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask him something. Why did I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there.' So now, let me see the king's face. If I am guilty of any sin, let him put me to death.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So Joab went and told the king. Then David called for Absalom. Absalom came to him and bowed with his face to the ground in front of him. Then the king kissed Absalom."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, Absalom got himself a chariot and horses. He also got 50 men to run ahead of him."},{"verse":2,"text":"He would get up early and stand beside the road to the city gate. Sometimes a person had a complaint to bring to the king to be settled. Absalom would call out to him and ask, \"What town are you from?\" The man might answer, \"Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Absalom would say, \"Look, your case is good and right. But the king has no one to listen to you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he would add, \"I wish someone would make me judge in the land! Then anyone with a complaint or a case could come to me. And I would make sure he got justice.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"And when someone came near to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand. He would take hold of the person and kiss him."},{"verse":6,"text":"Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"After four years, Absalom said to the king, \"Please let me go to Hebron. I want to keep a promise I made to the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"While your servant was living in Geshur in Aram, I made a promise. I said, 'If the LORD really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Go in peace,\" the king said. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Absalom sent secret messengers through all the tribes of Israel. They said, \"When you hear the sound of the horn, say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron!'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited as guests. They went along with no idea of what was going on. They knew nothing about the plan."},{"verse":12,"text":"While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel from Giloh. Ahithophel was David's adviser. Absalom called him from his hometown of Giloh. So the plot grew stronger. More and more people followed Absalom."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then a messenger came to David. He said, \"The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then David spoke to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem. \"Get up! We must run away, or none of us will escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly. If we don't, he will soon catch us. He will bring disaster on us and kill the people of the city with the sword.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The king's servants answered, \"We are your servants. We will do whatever our lord the king decides.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So the king set out, and his whole household followed him. But he left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the king set out, and all the people followed him. He stopped at the last house."},{"verse":18,"text":"All his servants marched past him. All the Cherethites and Pelethites went by. So did 600 men from Gath who had followed him from there."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the king said to Ittai from Gath, \"Why should you come with us too? Go back and stay with the new king. You are a foreigner. You are far from your homeland."},{"verse":20,"text":"You came only yesterday. Should I make you wander around with us today? I don't even know where I am going. Go back, and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you faithful love and be true to you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But Ittai answered the king, \"As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as my lord the king lives, I will go wherever my lord the king goes. Whether I live or die, your servant will be there!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"David said to Ittai, \"Go on, then. March ahead.\" So Ittai from Gath marched past with all his men and all the children who were with him."},{"verse":23,"text":"All the people of the land cried loudly as all the people passed by. The king crossed the Kidron Valley. And all the people moved on toward the wilderness."},{"verse":24,"text":"Zadok was there too. All the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God. Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had left the city."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then the king said to Zadok, \"Take the ark of God back to the city. If the LORD is pleased with me, he will bring me back. He will let me see the ark and the place where he lives again."},{"verse":26,"text":"But he may say, 'I am not pleased with you.' If so, then here I am. Let him do to me whatever he thinks is good.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The king also said to Zadok the priest, \"Aren't you a seer? Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz with you. And let Abiathar take his son Jonathan."},{"verse":28,"text":"Look, I will wait at the river crossings near the wilderness. I will stay there until I get word from you.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they stayed there."},{"verse":30,"text":"But David kept going up the Mount of Olives. He cried as he went up. His head was covered, and he walked with bare feet. All the people with him covered their heads too. They cried as they went up."},{"verse":31,"text":"Someone told David, \"Ahithophel is one of the men plotting with Absalom.\" So David prayed, \"LORD, please turn Ahithophel's advice into foolishness!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"David came to the top of the hill, where people used to worship God. Hushai the Archite was there to meet him. His robe was torn, and he had dust on his head."},{"verse":33,"text":"David said to him, \"If you go on with me, you will just be a burden to me."},{"verse":34,"text":"But you can go back to the city. Then you can ruin Ahithophel's advice for me. Say to Absalom, 'My king, I will be your servant. In the past I was your father's servant. But now I will be your servant.'"},{"verse":35,"text":"Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king's palace."},{"verse":36,"text":"Their two sons are there with them too. They are Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar. Send them to me with everything you hear.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"So David's friend Hushai came to Jerusalem just as Absalom was coming into the city."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David went a little past the top of the hill. There Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, came to meet him. He had two donkeys with saddles on them. They were loaded with 200 loaves of bread and 100 bunches of raisins. They also carried 100 summer fruits and a skin bag full of wine."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Why did you bring these?\" the king asked. Ziba answered, \"The donkeys are for the king's family to ride. The bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is to help those who get tired in the wilderness.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Where is your master's grandson?\" the king asked. Ziba answered, \"He is staying in Jerusalem. He said, 'Today the people of Israel will give back to me my grandfather's kingdom.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So the king said to Ziba, \"Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours!\" \"I humbly bow before you,\" Ziba said. \"May you always be pleased with me, my lord the king!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"King David came near Bahurim. A man from Saul's family was just coming out of the town. His name was Shimei son of Gera. As he came near, he kept shouting curses."},{"verse":6,"text":"He threw stones at David and at all the king's servants. He did this even though the troops and all the mighty men were on David's right and left."},{"verse":7,"text":"As Shimei shouted curses, he said, \"Get out, get out, you worthless murderer!"},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD has paid you back for all the blood you spilled from Saul's family. You took Saul's place as king. Now the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are ruined, because you are a murderer!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, \"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over there and cut off his head!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But the king said, \"You sons of Zeruiah, this is none of your business! He may be cursing me because the LORD told him, 'Curse David.' If so, who can ask him, 'Why are you doing this?'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, \"Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. So this man from Benjamin has even more reason to do it! Leave him alone. Let him curse me. The LORD has told him to."},{"verse":12,"text":"Maybe the LORD will see my trouble. Maybe he will give me good things in return for the curses I hear today.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So David and his men kept going along the road. Shimei walked along the hillside across from him. As he went, he shouted curses. He threw stones and tossed dirt at David."},{"verse":14,"text":"At last the king and all the people with him arrived. They were worn out. There David rested and got his strength back."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was with him."},{"verse":16,"text":"David's friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom. He said to him, \"Long live the king! Long live the king!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Absalom answered, \"Is this how loyal you are to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"No,\" Hushai answered. \"I belong to the one chosen by the LORD, by these people, and by all the men of Israel. I will stay with him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Besides, who should I serve? Shouldn't I serve his son? I served your father. In the same way, I will serve you.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, \"Give us your advice. What should we do?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Ahithophel answered, \"Sleep with your father's concubines. He left them to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made your father hate you. And all who are with you will grow bolder.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof. And he slept with his father's concubines while all Israel watched."},{"verse":23,"text":"In those days people trusted Ahithophel's advice like a word from God. That is how both David and Absalom thought of all of Ahithophel's advice."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahithophel also said to Absalom, \"Let me pick twelve thousand men. I will set out tonight and chase David."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will attack him while he is tired and weak. I will scare him, and all the people with him will run away. I will kill only the king."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then I will bring all the people back to you, like a bride coming home to her husband. You only want the life of one man. Then all the people will be at peace.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Absalom said, \"Call Hushai the Archite too. Let's hear what he has to say.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom told him, \"This is Ahithophel's plan. Should we do it? If not, what do you say?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Hushai answered, \"This time Ahithophel's advice is not good.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"He went on, \"You know your father and his men. They are strong fighters. They are as fierce as a wild bear whose cubs have been stolen. Also, your father is a man of war. He won't spend the night with the troops."},{"verse":9,"text":"By now he is surely hiding in a cave or some other place. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears about it will say, 'Absalom's troops have been slaughtered.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Then even the bravest soldier will melt with fear, even one with a heart like a lion. That is because all Israel knows that your father is a strong fighter. They know the men with him are brave."},{"verse":11,"text":"Instead, here is my advice. Gather all Israel to you, from Dan to Beersheba. They are as many as the sand on the seashore. Then lead them into battle yourself."},{"verse":12,"text":"We will attack David wherever we find him. We will fall on him like dew falls on the ground. Not one of the men with him will be left alive."},{"verse":13,"text":"If he pulls back into a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city. We will drag it down into the valley. Not even a pebble will be left there.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, \"Hushai the Archite's advice is better than Ahithophel's.\" This happened because the LORD had planned to block Ahithophel's good advice. He did this so that he could bring ruin on Absalom."},{"verse":15,"text":"So Hushai told the priests Zadok and Abiathar, \"This is what Ahithophel told Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do. And this is what I told them to do."},{"verse":16,"text":"Now send word to David fast. Tell him, 'Don't spend the night at the river crossings in the wilderness. Be sure to cross over. If you don't, the king and all the people with him will be wiped out.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel. A servant girl would come and give them news. Then they would go and tell King David. They did this because they didn't dare to be seen going into the city."},{"verse":18,"text":"But a young man did see them, and he told Absalom. So the two of them left quickly. They came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the man's wife took a cloth and spread it over the top of the well. She scattered grain on it, so no one would know a thing."},{"verse":20,"text":"Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house. They asked, \"Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?\" She answered, \"They crossed over the stream.\" The men searched but didn't find them. So they went back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":21,"text":"After the men left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well. They went to tell King David. They said, \"Get up and cross the river right away! Ahithophel has given this advice against you.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By sunrise, every one of them had crossed the Jordan."},{"verse":23,"text":"Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed. So he saddled his donkey and went home to his own town. He put his things in order, and then he hanged himself. So he died. He was buried in his father's tomb."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then David went to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel."},{"verse":25,"text":"Absalom had put Amasa in charge of the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite. Ithra had married Abigail. She was the daughter of Nahash and the sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother."},{"verse":26,"text":"So the Israelites and Absalom set up camp in the land of Gilead."},{"verse":27,"text":"David came to Mahanaim. There some men came to meet him. Shobi son of Nahash came from Rabbah of the Ammonites. Machir son of Ammiel came from Lo-debar. And Barzillai the Gileadite came from Rogelim."},{"verse":28,"text":"They brought beds, bowls, and clay pots. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,"},{"verse":29,"text":"honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd. It was for David and his people to eat. They said, \"The people are hungry, tired, and thirsty in the wilderness.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then David counted his troops. He put commanders over them. Some led a thousand men, and some led a hundred."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent out the troops in three groups. Joab led one third. Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah led one third. Ittai the Gittite led one third. The king told the troops, \"I will surely march out with you too.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But the people begged him, \"You must not go out! If we have to run away, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It's better if you help us from the city.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The king answered, \"I will do whatever you think is best.\" So he stood beside the gate. All the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands."},{"verse":5,"text":"The king gave an order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. He said, \"Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake.\" All the people heard the king give this order about Absalom to each commander."},{"verse":6,"text":"So David's army marched out into the field to fight Israel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim."},{"verse":7,"text":"There David's servants beat the people of Israel. Many were killed that day. Twenty thousand men died."},{"verse":8,"text":"The fighting spread over the whole countryside. That day the forest killed more people than the sword did."},{"verse":9,"text":"Absalom was riding his mule when he met David's servants. The mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree. Absalom's head got stuck in the tree. The mule under him kept going. So he was left hanging in the air."},{"verse":10,"text":"One of the men saw this and told Joab. He said, \"I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Joab said, \"You saw him! Why didn't you strike him down right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a soldier's belt!\"","note":"Ten shekels was about 4 ounces."},{"verse":12,"text":"The man answered, \"I would not lift my hand against the king's son. I wouldn't do it even for a thousand shekels of silver weighed out into my hands. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai. He said, 'Keep the young man Absalom safe for my sake.'","note":"A thousand shekels was about 25 pounds."},{"verse":13,"text":"If I had put my own life in danger, you would have left me on my own. And nothing is hidden from the king.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But Joab said, \"I'm not going to wait around with you like this!\" He took three spears in his hand. He drove them through Absalom's heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom. They struck him and killed him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Joab blew the ram's horn. The troops stopped chasing Israel, because Joab held them back."},{"verse":17,"text":"They took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest. They piled a huge heap of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites ran away, each to his own home."},{"verse":18,"text":"While Absalom was alive, he had set up a stone pillar for himself in the King's Valley. He had said, \"I have no son to keep my name alive.\" So he named the pillar after himself. To this day it is called Absalom's Monument."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, \"Please let me run and tell the king the good news. The LORD has paid back his enemies for him.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But Joab answered, \"You are not the man to bring good news today. You may do it another day. But you must not do it today, because the king's son is dead.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Joab said to a man from Cush, \"Go and tell the king what you have seen.\" The man bowed to Joab and ran off."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Ahimaaz son of Zadok kept asking. He said to Joab, \"No matter what, please let me run behind the man from Cush too!\" Joab answered, \"My son, why do you want to run? You won't get any reward for it.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"He said, \"No matter what, I want to run!\" Joab told him, \"Then run!\" So Ahimaaz ran by the road through the plain. He passed the man from Cush."},{"verse":24,"text":"David was sitting between the two gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof over the gate, by the wall. He looked out and saw a man running alone."},{"verse":25,"text":"So the watchman called out and told the king. The king said, \"If he is alone, he is bringing good news.\" The first runner came closer and closer."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the watchman saw another man running. He called down to the gatekeeper, \"Look! Another man is running alone!\" The king said, \"This one is bringing good news too.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The watchman said, \"The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.\" The king said, \"He is a good man. He is coming with good news.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, \"All is well!\" He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. He said, \"Praise the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who rose up against my lord the king.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"The king asked, \"Is the young man Absalom safe?\" Ahimaaz answered, \"Joab sent the king's servant and me, your servant. Just then I saw a great uproar. But I don't know what it was.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"The king said, \"Step aside and stand here.\" So he stepped aside."},{"verse":31,"text":"Just then the man from Cush came. He said, \"My lord the king, hear the good news! Today the LORD has paid back everyone who rose up against you!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"The king asked the man from Cush, \"Is the young man Absalom safe?\" The man answered, \"May all the enemies of my lord the king end up like that young man. May all who rise up to hurt you end up like him.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he walked, he cried out, \"O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son!\""}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Joab was told, \"The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So for all the people, that day's win turned into mourning. That was because they heard that day, \"The king is grieving for his son.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So they slipped back into the city quietly that day. They acted like people who sneak away in shame after running from a battle."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the king covered his face. He cried out in a loud voice, \"O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Joab went into the house to the king. He said, \"Today you have shamed all your servants. They saved your life today. They saved the lives of your sons and daughters. They saved your wives and your concubines too."},{"verse":6,"text":"You love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you! Today you have made it clear. Your commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. Now I know this. If Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased!"},{"verse":7,"text":"So get up now! Go out and speak kindly to your servants. I swear by the LORD, if you don't go out, not one man will be left with you tonight. That will be worse for you than all the trouble you've had from your youth until now!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the king got up and sat in the gate. All the people were told, \"Look, the king is sitting in the gate.\" So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had run away, each man to his home."},{"verse":9,"text":"All through the tribes of Israel the people were arguing. They said, \"The king saved us from our enemies. He rescued us from the Philistines. But now he has run away from the land because of Absalom."},{"verse":10,"text":"And Absalom, the man we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So why don't you say anything about bringing the king back?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then King David sent a message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar. He said, \"Say to the leaders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace? After all, the king has heard what all Israel is saying, even where he is staying."},{"verse":12,"text":"You are my brothers. You are my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring the king back?'"},{"verse":13,"text":"And say to Amasa, 'Aren't you my own flesh and blood? From now on you will be the commander of my army in place of Joab. If not, may God punish me, and punish me very hard!'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So he won the hearts of all the men of Judah. They were united as if they were one man. They sent word to the king, \"Come back, you and all your servants.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the king started back and came to the Jordan. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They came to bring him across the Jordan."},{"verse":16,"text":"Shimei son of Gera was a Benjamite from Bahurim. He hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David."},{"verse":17,"text":"A thousand men of Benjamin were with him. Ziba was with him too. Ziba was the servant in charge of Saul's household. His fifteen sons and twenty servants came with him. They rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king."},{"verse":18,"text":"They crossed at the shallow place in the river. They came to carry the king's family across and to do whatever he wanted. Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan. Then he fell down before the king."},{"verse":19,"text":"He said, \"My lord, please don't count me guilty. Don't remember the wrong your servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Please, king, don't keep thinking about it."},{"verse":20,"text":"I, your servant, know that I have sinned. That is why I'm here today. I am the first of all the house of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, \"Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"David answered, \"You sons of Zeruiah, what do I have to do with you? Why should you act like my enemies today? Should anyone in Israel be put to death today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So the king said to Shimei, \"You will not die.\" And the king made a promise to him with an oath."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache. He had not washed his clothes. He had done none of this from the day the king left until the day he came back safely."},{"verse":25,"text":"He came from Jerusalem to meet the king. The king asked him, \"Mephibosheth, why didn't you go with me?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"He answered, \"My lord the king, I am lame. So I said, 'I will have my donkey saddled. Then I can ride it and go with the king.' But my servant Ziba tricked me."},{"verse":27,"text":"And he has told lies about me, your servant, to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God. So do whatever you think is good."},{"verse":28,"text":"My grandfather's whole family deserved death from my lord the king. But you gave me, your servant, a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to keep asking the king for anything more?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"The king answered, \"Why say any more? I have decided. You and Ziba will divide the land.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Mephibosheth said to the king, \"Let Ziba have it all instead! My lord the king has come home safely.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim. He came to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there."},{"verse":32,"text":"Barzillai was very old. He was eighty years old. He was a very rich man, so he had given the king what he needed while the king stayed in Mahanaim."},{"verse":33,"text":"The king said to Barzillai, \"Come across with me. I will take care of you at my side in Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"But Barzillai answered, \"How many more years do I have to live? Why should I go up to Jerusalem with the king?"},{"verse":35,"text":"I am eighty years old now. Can I tell what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voices of men and women singing? Why should your servant be one more load for my lord the king to carry?"},{"verse":36,"text":"I, your servant, will go with the king just a short way past the Jordan. Why should the king pay me back with such a reward?"},{"verse":37,"text":"Please let your servant go back home. Let me die in my own town, near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you think is good.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"The king answered, \"Chimham will cross over with me. I will do for him whatever you think is good. And I will do for you anything you ask of me.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel brought the king across."},{"verse":41,"text":"Soon all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked, \"Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak you away? Why did they bring the king and his family across the Jordan, along with all of David's men?\""},{"verse":42,"text":"All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, \"We did it because the king is our close relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we eaten any of the king's food? Has he given us any gifts?\""},{"verse":43,"text":"The men of Israel answered, \"We have ten shares in the king. So we have more right to David than you do. Why do you look down on us? Weren't we the first to talk about bringing back our king?\" But the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri happened to be there. He was a Benjamite. He blew the ram's horn and shouted, \"We have no share in David! We have no inheritance in Jesse's son! Every man go home to his tent, O Israel!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So all the men of Israel left David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king. They stayed with him all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"David came back to his palace in Jerusalem. He had left ten concubines there to take care of the palace. Now he took them and put them in a house under guard. He gave them what they needed, but he didn't sleep with them anymore. They were shut away until the day they died. They lived like widows."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the king said to Amasa, \"Call the men of Judah to come to me within three days. And be here yourself.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Amasa went to call the men of Judah. But he took longer than the time the king gave him."},{"verse":6,"text":"So David said to Abishai, \"Now Sheba son of Bichri will hurt us more than Absalom did. Take your master's servants and chase him. If you don't, he will find cities with strong walls and get away from us.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Joab's men marched out of Jerusalem to chase Sheba son of Bichri. The Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty warriors went with them."},{"verse":8,"text":"They came to the great stone in Gibeon. There Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing his battle clothes. A dagger was strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger out of its sheath.","note":"Or: the dagger fell out."},{"verse":9,"text":"Joab asked Amasa, \"How are you, my brother?\" Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Amasa didn't watch out for the dagger in Joab's hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and his insides spilled out on the ground. Joab didn't need to strike him again, because Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on chasing Sheba son of Bichri."},{"verse":11,"text":"One of Joab's young men stood by Amasa. He called out, \"Whoever is on Joab's side, and whoever is for David, follow Joab!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But Amasa lay rolling in his blood in the middle of the road. The man saw that all the troops were stopping there. So he dragged the body off the road into a field. He threw a cloak over it."},{"verse":13,"text":"Once Amasa's body was off the road, all the men went on with Joab. They went to chase Sheba son of Bichri."},{"verse":14,"text":"Sheba went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah. He went through the whole area of the Berites. They gathered together and followed him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joab's troops came and surrounded Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah. They built a dirt ramp up against the city's outer wall. All the troops with Joab were pounding the wall to knock it down."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then a wise woman called out from the city, \"Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here. I want to speak with him.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Joab came near her. The woman asked, \"Are you Joab?\" He answered, \"I am.\" She said, \"Listen to what your servant has to say.\" He answered, \"I'm listening.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the woman said, \"Long ago people used to say, 'Go ask for advice at Abel.' That is how they settled arguments."},{"verse":19,"text":"I am one of the peaceful and faithful people in Israel. But you are trying to destroy a city that is like a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD's inheritance?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Joab answered, \"Never! I would never swallow up or destroy!"},{"verse":21,"text":"That isn't what this is about. A man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted his hand against the king. He has turned against David. Hand over just this one man, and I will leave the city.\" The woman said, \"All right. His head will be thrown to you over the wall.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it out to Joab. So Joab blew the ram's horn. His men left the city and went home, each to his own house. And Joab went back to the king in Jerusalem."},{"verse":23,"text":"Joab was over the whole army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites."},{"verse":24,"text":"Adoram was in charge of the forced labor. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud kept the records."},{"verse":25,"text":"Sheva was the scribe. Zadok and Abiathar were priests."},{"verse":26,"text":"And Ira the Jairite was David's priest."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"While David was king, there was a famine for three years in a row. So David asked the LORD about it. The LORD said, \"It is because of the blood that Saul and his family spilled, because he killed the Gibeonites.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So David called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were what was left of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise with an oath to spare them. But Saul tried to kill them because he was so eager to help Israel and Judah.)"},{"verse":3,"text":"David asked the Gibeonites, \"What should I do for you? How can I make up for this wrong, so that you will bless the LORD's inheritance?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The Gibeonites said to him, \"We don't want silver or gold from Saul or his family. And we don't want you to put anyone in Israel to death for us.\" David answered, \"I will do whatever you ask.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"They answered the king, \"There was a man who tried to wipe us out. He made plans against us to destroy us, so we would not be left anywhere in Israel's land."},{"verse":6,"text":"So let seven of his male descendants be handed over to us. We will hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the LORD's chosen one.\" The king said, \"I will give them to you.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. He did this because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth. They were the two sons that Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul. He also took the five sons that Saul's daughter Merab had borne to Adriel. Adriel was the son of Barzillai the Meholathite."},{"verse":9,"text":"He handed them over to the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them died together. They were put to death in the first days of the harvest, when the barley harvest began."},{"verse":10,"text":"Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. She stayed there from the start of the harvest until rain poured down from the sky on the bodies. By day she kept the birds from landing on them. By night she kept the wild animals away."},{"verse":11,"text":"David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul's concubine, had done."},{"verse":12,"text":"So he went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead. Those men had stolen them from the town square of Beth-shan. The Philistines had hung the bodies there after they killed Saul at Gilboa."},{"verse":13,"text":"So David had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there. They also gathered up the bones of the men who had been hanged."},{"verse":14,"text":"They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela, in the land of Benjamin. They put them in the tomb of Saul's father Kish. They did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered their prayers for the land."},{"verse":15,"text":"Once again the Philistines went to war against Israel. David and his servants went down and fought the Philistines. But David became worn out."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Ishbi-benob made up his mind to kill David. He was a descendant of Rapha. His bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels. He was carrying a new sword.","note":"Three hundred shekels was about 7.5 pounds."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to help David. He struck the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men made him promise with an oath. They said, \"You must never go out with us to battle again, so that the lamp of Israel will not go out.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Some time later there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, a descendant of Rapha."},{"verse":19,"text":"There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver's beam.","note":"Hebrew text lacks \"the brother of\"; compare 1 Chronicles 20:5."},{"verse":20,"text":"There was also a battle at Gath. A very large man was there. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. That made twenty-four in all. He too was a descendant of Rapha."},{"verse":21,"text":"He made fun of Israel. So Jonathan killed him. Jonathan was the son of Shimei, David's brother."},{"verse":22,"text":"These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath. They were killed by David and his servants."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David sang this song to the LORD. He sang it on the day the LORD saved him from all his enemies and from Saul."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said:\n\"The LORD is my rock.\nHe is my fortress, and he is the one who saves me."},{"verse":3,"text":"My God is my rock. I run to him to be safe.\nHe is my shield and the horn that saves me.\nHe is my strong tower, my safe place, and my Savior.\nYou save me from violence."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise.\nSo I will be saved from my enemies."},{"verse":5,"text":"For the waves of death rolled over me.\nFloods of chaos swept me away."},{"verse":6,"text":"The ropes of the grave were wrapped around me.\nThe traps of death were set in front of me.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":7,"text":"In my trouble I called on the LORD.\nI cried out to my God.\nFrom his temple he heard my voice.\nMy cry for help reached his ears."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the earth shook and trembled.\nThe foundations of the heavens shook.\nThey shook because he was burning with anger."},{"verse":9,"text":"Smoke rose from his nose.\nFire that burns up everything came from his mouth.\nBurning coals blazed out from him."},{"verse":10,"text":"He split the heavens open and came down.\nDark clouds were under his feet."},{"verse":11,"text":"He rode on a cherub and flew.\nHe soared on the wings of the wind."},{"verse":12,"text":"He made darkness a tent all around him.\nHe wrapped himself in dark rain and thick clouds."},{"verse":13,"text":"Out of the brightness around him,\ncoals of fire blazed out."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD thundered from heaven.\nThe voice of the Most High rang out."},{"verse":15,"text":"He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.\nHe threw lightning and made them run."},{"verse":16,"text":"The bottom of the sea could be seen.\nThe foundations of the world were uncovered.\nThis happened when the LORD spoke sharply,\nwhen the breath blew hard from his nose."},{"verse":17,"text":"He reached down from on high and took hold of me.\nHe pulled me out of deep waters."},{"verse":18,"text":"He saved me from my strong enemy.\nHe saved me from those who hated me.\nThey were too strong for me."},{"verse":19,"text":"They came against me on my day of trouble.\nBut the LORD held me up."},{"verse":20,"text":"He brought me out into a wide open place.\nHe saved me because he was pleased with me."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD has rewarded me for my righteousness.\nHe has paid me back for the cleanness of my hands."},{"verse":22,"text":"For I have kept the ways of the LORD.\nI have not done evil by turning away from my God."},{"verse":23,"text":"For all his laws are in front of me.\nI have not ignored his rules."},{"verse":24,"text":"I have been blameless before him.\nI have kept myself from sin."},{"verse":25,"text":"So the LORD has paid me back for my righteousness,\nfor my cleanness in his sight."},{"verse":26,"text":"To the faithful you show that you are faithful.\nTo the blameless you show that you are blameless."},{"verse":27,"text":"To the pure you show that you are pure.\nBut to the crooked you show that you are clever."},{"verse":28,"text":"You save people who are hurting.\nBut your eyes are on the proud to bring them down."},{"verse":29,"text":"For you, LORD, are my lamp.\nThe LORD lights up my darkness."},{"verse":30,"text":"For in you I can charge at an army.\nWith my God I can climb over a wall."},{"verse":31,"text":"God's way is perfect.\nThe word of the LORD has no flaws.\nHe is a shield to all who run to him to be safe."},{"verse":32,"text":"For who is God except the LORD?\nWho is the Rock except our God?"},{"verse":33,"text":"God is my strong fortress.\nHe makes my path clear."},{"verse":34,"text":"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer.\nHe sets me on the high places."},{"verse":35,"text":"He trains my hands for battle.\nMy arms can bend a bow of bronze."},{"verse":36,"text":"You have given me your shield that saves me.\nYour gentleness makes me great."},{"verse":37,"text":"You make the path under me wide.\nSo my ankles do not turn."},{"verse":38,"text":"I chased my enemies and destroyed them.\nI did not turn back until they were wiped out."},{"verse":39,"text":"I ate them up and crushed them, so they could not get up.\nThey have fallen under my feet."},{"verse":40,"text":"You gave me strength for battle.\nYou made my enemies bow down under me."},{"verse":41,"text":"You made my enemies turn and run from me.\nI destroyed those who hated me."},{"verse":42,"text":"They looked for help, but no one was there to save them.\nThey cried to the LORD, but he did not answer."},{"verse":43,"text":"I ground them up like the dust of the earth.\nI crushed them and stomped on them like mud in the streets."},{"verse":44,"text":"You have saved me from the fighting among my people.\nYou have kept me as the head of nations.\nA people I did not know will serve me."},{"verse":45,"text":"Foreigners bow in fear before me.\nAs soon as they hear me, they obey me."},{"verse":46,"text":"Foreigners lose heart.\nThey come out of their strong places shaking."},{"verse":47,"text":"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!\nMay God be lifted high.\nHe is the Rock who saves me."},{"verse":48,"text":"He is the God who pays back my enemies for me.\nHe brings nations down under me."},{"verse":49,"text":"He sets me free from my enemies.\nYou lift me high above my enemies.\nYou save me from violent men."},{"verse":50,"text":"So I will praise you, LORD, among the nations.\nI will sing praises to your name."},{"verse":51,"text":"He brings great salvation to his king.\nHe shows faithful love to his anointed one,\nto David and his descendants forever.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the last words of David:\n\"This is the message of David son of Jesse.\nIt is the message of the man God lifted up high.\nThe God of Jacob anointed him.\nHe is the sweet songwriter of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me.\nHis word was on my tongue."},{"verse":3,"text":"The God of Israel spoke.\nThe Rock of Israel said to me,\n'A man may rule people fairly.\nHe may rule with the fear of God."},{"verse":4,"text":"He is like the morning light when the sun rises on a day with no clouds.\nHe is like the shine after rain on new grass coming up from the earth.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"Isn't my house right with God?\nFor he has made a covenant with me that lasts forever.\nIt is set in order and made secure in every part.\nWon't he bring about all my salvation?\nWon't he give me all I desire?"},{"verse":6,"text":"But worthless people are all like thorns that are thrown away,\nbecause no one can pick them up by hand."},{"verse":7,"text":"A man who touches them must use iron\nor the handle of a spear.\nThey are burned up with fire right where they lie.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"These are the names of David's mighty warriors. Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was the leader of the Three. He used his spear against eight hundred men. He killed them all at one time."},{"verse":9,"text":"Next was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty warriors. He was with David when they made fun of the Philistines. The Philistines had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel pulled back."},{"verse":10,"text":"But Eleazar stood his ground. He struck down Philistines until his hand was too tired to let go. It stuck to his sword. The LORD won a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to Eleazar, but only to take things from the dead."},{"verse":11,"text":"Next was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered near a field full of lentils. Israel's troops ran away from them."},{"verse":12,"text":"But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He kept the field safe and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD won a great victory."},{"verse":13,"text":"At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David. He was at the cave of Adullam. A group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":14,"text":"At that time David was in the stronghold. Some Philistine soldiers were stationed at Bethlehem."},{"verse":15,"text":"David was very thirsty. He said, \"Oh, I wish someone would get me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine camp. They drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"He said, \"LORD, I would never do this! This water is the blood of the men who risked their lives!\" So he would not drink it. These were the brave deeds of the three mighty warriors."},{"verse":18,"text":"Abishai was the brother of Joab and the son of Zeruiah. He was the leader of the Three. He used his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He won a name for himself along with the Three."},{"verse":19,"text":"Wasn't he honored more than the Three? He became their commander. But he was not one of the Three."},{"verse":20,"text":"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel. He did many great deeds. He struck down two of Moab's best warriors. And on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion."},{"verse":21,"text":"He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand. But Benaiah went against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand. Then he killed him with his own spear."},{"verse":22,"text":"These were the brave deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He won a name for himself along with the three mighty warriors."},{"verse":23,"text":"He was honored more than any of the Thirty. But he was not one of the Three. David put him in charge of his bodyguards."},{"verse":24,"text":"These were among the Thirty: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,"},{"verse":25,"text":"Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,"},{"verse":26,"text":"Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,"},{"verse":28,"text":"Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,"},{"verse":29,"text":"Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the streams of Gaash,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,"},{"verse":32,"text":"Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan"},{"verse":33,"text":"son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,"},{"verse":34,"text":"Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,"},{"verse":36,"text":"Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (he carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah),"},{"verse":38,"text":"Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,"},{"verse":39,"text":"and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Once again the LORD's anger burned against Israel. He stirred up David against them. He said, \"Go and count the people of Israel and Judah.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So the king spoke to Joab, the commander of his army, who was with him. He said, \"Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. Count the fighting men, so I will know how many there are.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Joab answered the king, \"May the LORD your God make the troops a hundred times more than they are now. And may my lord the king live to see it. But why does my lord the king want to do this?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But the king's order was stronger than Joab and the army commanders. So Joab and the army commanders left the king. They went out to count the fighting men of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer. That is south of the town in the middle of the valley. Then they went on toward Gad and Jazer."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then they went to Gilead and the land of Tahtim-hodshi. They went on to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon."},{"verse":7,"text":"They went toward the fortress of Tyre. They went to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. At last they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba."},{"verse":8,"text":"They went through the whole land. After nine months and twenty days, they came back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":9,"text":"Joab told the king the total number of fighting men. In Israel there were 800,000 brave men who could use a sword. In Judah there were 500,000."},{"verse":10,"text":"After David counted the troops, his heart felt guilty. He said to the LORD, \"I have sinned greatly by what I did. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away your servant's sin, because I have been very foolish.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"When David got up in the morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet. Gad was David's seer. The LORD said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three choices. Pick one of them, and I will do it to you.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Gad went to David. He said, \"Choose one. There can be three years of famine in your land. Or you can run from your enemies for three months while they chase you. Or there can be three days of plague in your land. Now think it over. Decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"David answered Gad, \"I am very upset. Please let us fall into the LORD's hands, because his mercy is great. But don't let me fall into the hands of men.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the LORD sent a plague on Israel. It lasted from that morning until the time he had set. Seventy thousand people died, from Dan to Beersheba."},{"verse":16,"text":"The angel reached out his hand to destroy Jerusalem. But the LORD felt sorry about the disaster. He said to the angel who was destroying the people, \"Enough! Pull back your hand now!\" At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."},{"verse":17,"text":"David saw the angel striking down the people. He said to the LORD, \"I, the shepherd, am the one who sinned and did evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand fall on me and my father's family.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"That day Gad came to David. He said, \"Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So David went up, just as Gad told him. He did what the LORD had commanded."},{"verse":20,"text":"Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. So he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground."},{"verse":21,"text":"Araunah said, \"Why has my lord the king come to his servant?\" David answered, \"To buy your threshing floor. I want to build an altar to the LORD there. Then the plague on the people will stop.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Araunah said to David, \"My lord the king, take whatever you think is good and offer it up. Here are oxen for a burnt offering. Here are the threshing sledges and the ox yokes for wood."},{"verse":23,"text":"O king, I, Araunah, give all of this to the king.\" He also said to the king, \"May the LORD your God accept you.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"But the king answered, \"No. I must pay you for it. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.\" So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.","note":"Fifty shekels was about 1.25 pounds."},{"verse":25,"text":"David built an altar to the LORD there. He offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers for the land, and the plague on Israel stopped."}]}]},{"name":"1 Kings","slug":"1-kings","usfm":"1KI","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"King David was now old. He had lived many years. His servants covered him with blankets, but he could not stay warm."},{"verse":2,"text":"So his servants said to him, \"Let's look for a young woman who is a virgin for our lord the king. She can serve the king and take care of him. She can lie by his side to keep our lord the king warm.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So they looked all over Israel for a beautiful girl. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king."},{"verse":4,"text":"The girl was very, very beautiful. She took care of the king and served him. But the king did not have sex with her."},{"verse":5,"text":"At that time Adonijah began to brag and lift himself up. He was David's son by Haggith. He said, \"I will be king!\" He got chariots and horsemen for himself. He also got fifty men to run ahead of him."},{"verse":6,"text":"(His father had never once corrected him. He never asked him, \"Why are you acting this way?\" Adonijah was also very handsome. He was born next after Absalom.)"},{"verse":7,"text":"Adonijah made plans with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They took his side and helped him."},{"verse":8,"text":"But some men would not join Adonijah. They were Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's mighty warriors."},{"verse":9,"text":"Adonijah offered sacrifices of sheep, oxen, and fattened calves. He did this near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons. He also invited all the men of Judah who served the king."},{"verse":10,"text":"But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty warriors, or his brother Solomon."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. He said, \"Haven't you heard? Adonijah son of Haggith has made himself king. And our lord David doesn't know about it!"},{"verse":12,"text":"Now please, let me give you some advice. Then you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon."},{"verse":13,"text":"Go to King David right now. Say to him, 'My lord the king, didn't you make a promise to me, your servant? You swore, \"Your son Solomon will surely be king after me. He will sit on my throne.\" So why has Adonijah become king?'"},{"verse":14,"text":"While you are still there talking with the king, I will come in after you. I will tell him your words are true.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. The king was very old. Abishag the Shunammite was taking care of him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Bathsheba bowed low to honor the king. The king asked, \"What do you want?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"She answered, \"My lord, you yourself made a promise to me, your servant. You swore by the LORD your God. You said, 'Your son Solomon will surely be king after me. He will sit on my throne.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"But now, look! Adonijah has become king. And you, my lord the king, don't know about it."},{"verse":19,"text":"He has sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's other sons. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon."},{"verse":20,"text":"My lord the king, all Israel is watching you. They are waiting for you to tell them who will sit on your throne after you."},{"verse":21,"text":"If you don't, then my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals. That will happen when my lord the king dies and rests with his fathers.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Just then, while Bathsheba was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived."},{"verse":23,"text":"Someone told the king, \"Nathan the prophet is here.\" So Nathan went in. He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground."},{"verse":24,"text":"Nathan said, \"My lord the king, did you say, 'Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne'?"},{"verse":25,"text":"Today he went down and sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep. He invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him. They are shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'"},{"verse":26,"text":"But he did not invite me, your servant. He did not invite Zadok the priest or Benaiah son of Jehoiada. And he did not invite your servant Solomon."},{"verse":27,"text":"Did my lord the king let this happen? Did you do it without telling your servant who should sit on your throne after you?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then King David said, \"Call Bathsheba in to me.\" So she came in and stood in front of the king."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then the king made a promise. He said, \"As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every trouble,"},{"verse":30,"text":"I will do today exactly what I promised you. I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel. I said your son Solomon will surely be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground to honor the king. She said, \"May my lord King David live forever!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Then King David said, \"Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.\" So they came to the king."},{"verse":33,"text":"The king said to them, \"Take my servants with you. Put my son Solomon on my own mule. Take him down to Gihon."},{"verse":34,"text":"There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet must anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the ram's horn and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'"},{"verse":35,"text":"Then go back up with him. He will come and sit on my throne. He will be king in my place. For I have appointed him to rule over Israel and Judah.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, \"Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say the same."},{"verse":37,"text":"The LORD was with my lord the king. In the same way, may he be with Solomon. May he make Solomon's throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!\""},{"verse":38,"text":"So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada went down. The Cherethites and Pelethites went with them. They put Solomon on King David's mule and led him to Gihon."},{"verse":39,"text":"Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle. He anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram's horn. All the people shouted, \"Long live King Solomon!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"All the people followed Solomon. They played flutes and celebrated with great joy. The sound was so loud that the ground split open."},{"verse":41,"text":"Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast. Then they heard the sound of the ram's horn. Joab asked, \"Why is there so much noise in the city?\""},{"verse":42,"text":"While he was still speaking, Jonathan arrived. He was the son of Abiathar the priest. Adonijah said, \"Come in. You are a brave and worthy man. You must have good news.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"\"Not at all!\" Jonathan answered. \"Our lord King David has made Solomon king."},{"verse":44,"text":"The king sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada with Solomon. The Cherethites and Pelethites went too. They put Solomon on the king's own mule."},{"verse":45,"text":"Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon. Then they came up from there, full of joy. The whole city is ringing with it. That's the noise you hear."},{"verse":46,"text":"What's more, Solomon is now sitting on the king's throne."},{"verse":47,"text":"The king's servants have also come to bless our lord King David. They said, 'May your God make Solomon's name even more famous than yours. May he make his throne greater than your throne.' And the king bowed down in worship on his bed."},{"verse":48,"text":"He said, 'Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! Today he has given me someone to sit on my throne. And I have seen it with my own eyes.'\""},{"verse":49,"text":"When they heard this, all of Adonijah's guests jumped up in terror. They all ran off."},{"verse":50,"text":"But Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. So he got up and went and grabbed the horns of the altar."},{"verse":51,"text":"Someone told Solomon, \"Look, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. He is holding on to the horns of the altar. He says, 'First let King Solomon promise me he won't kill his servant with the sword.'\""},{"verse":52,"text":"Solomon answered, \"If he proves to be a good and honest man, not one hair on his head will fall to the ground. But if he is found doing evil, he will die.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"Then King Solomon sent men to bring Adonijah down from the altar. Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon. Solomon said to him, \"Go home.\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The time came near for David to die. So he gave his son Solomon these orders."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said, \"I am about to go the way everyone on earth goes. So be strong, and show that you are a man."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do what the LORD your God requires of you. Walk in his ways. Keep his rules, commands, laws, and decrees, as they are written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you will do well in all you do and wherever you turn."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do it also so that the LORD will keep his promise to me. He said, 'If your descendants are careful to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will always have a man on the throne of Israel.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me. You know what he did to the two commanders of Israel's armies. They were Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. Joab killed them in a time of peace. He did it to pay them back for blood spilled in war. He got that blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet."},{"verse":6,"text":"So use your wisdom. Do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.","note":"The grave: Hebrew, Sheol."},{"verse":7,"text":"But show faithful love to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Let them be among those who eat at your table. Do this because they stood by me when I ran away from your brother Absalom."},{"verse":8,"text":"And watch out for Shimei son of Gera. He is the man from the tribe of Benjamin who lives in Bahurim. He is here with you. He shouted terrible curses at me on the day I went to Mahanaim. But later he came down to meet me at the Jordan River. So I made a promise to him by the LORD. I said, 'I will never kill you with the sword.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"So now, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You will know what to do to him to bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.\"","note":"The grave: Hebrew, Sheol."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then David died and rested with his fathers. He was buried in the City of David."},{"verse":11,"text":"David ruled over Israel for forty years. He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David. His kingdom was strong and secure."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to see Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, \"Have you come in peace?\" He answered, \"Yes, in peace.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then he said, \"I have something to tell you.\" She answered, \"Go ahead.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"He said, \"You know the kingdom was mine. All Israel expected me to be king. But things turned around. The kingdom went to my brother. The LORD gave it to him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Now I have just one thing to ask you. Please don't say no.\" She told him, \"Go on and ask.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Adonijah answered, \"Please speak to King Solomon. He won't say no to you. Ask him to give me Abishag the Shunammite to be my wife.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"All right,\" Bathsheba answered. \"I will speak to the king for you.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king stood up to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for his mother. She sat down at his right side."},{"verse":20,"text":"She said, \"I have one small thing to ask you. Please don't say no.\" The king answered, \"Ask, my mother. I won't say no to you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Bathsheba said, \"Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"King Solomon answered his mother, \"Why do you ask for Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? He is my older brother. You might as well ask for the kingdom for him too! Ask it for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then King Solomon made a promise by the LORD. He said, \"May God punish me, and punish me terribly, if Adonijah doesn't pay for this request with his life!"},{"verse":24,"text":"The LORD has made me secure. He set me on the throne of my father David. He gave me a family line of kings, just as he promised. Now, as surely as the LORD lives, Adonijah will be put to death today!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah struck Adonijah down, and he died."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the king spoke to Abiathar the priest. He said, \"Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die. But I won't put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David. And you went through all the hard times my father went through.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Solomon removed Abiathar from being a priest of the LORD. This made come true what the LORD had said at Shiloh about the family of Eli."},{"verse":28,"text":"Joab heard the news. He had sided with Adonijah, though he had not sided with Absalom. So Joab ran to the tent of the LORD. He grabbed the horns of the altar."},{"verse":29,"text":"Someone told King Solomon, \"Joab has run to the tent of the LORD. He is beside the altar now.\" So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He said, \"Go and strike him down!\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Benaiah went into the tent of the LORD. He said to Joab, \"The king says, 'Come out!'\" But Joab answered, \"No. I will die here.\" So Benaiah took the message back to the king. He said, \"This is how Joab answered me.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The king answered, \"Do what he says. Strike him down and bury him. That will take away from me and from my father's family the guilt of the innocent blood Joab spilled."},{"verse":32,"text":"The LORD will bring the blood he spilled back on his own head. For he struck down two men who were more righteous and better than he was. He killed them with the sword, and my father David did not know about it. One was Abner son of Ner, the commander of Israel's army. The other was Amasa son of Jether, the commander of Judah's army."},{"verse":33,"text":"Their blood will be on the heads of Joab and his children forever. But the LORD will give peace forever to David and his children, his family, and his throne.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck Joab down and killed him. Joab was buried at his own home out in the wilderness."},{"verse":35,"text":"The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab's place. And he put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the king sent for Shimei. He said to him, \"Build a house for yourself in Jerusalem and live there. But don't go anywhere else."},{"verse":37,"text":"On the day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die. Your blood will be on your own head.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Shimei answered, \"That's fair. I am your servant. I will do what my lord the king has said.\" So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time."},{"verse":39,"text":"But three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran away. They went to Achish son of Maacah, the king of Gath. Someone told Shimei, \"Look, your slaves are in Gath.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"So Shimei saddled his donkey. He went to Achish at Gath to look for his slaves. Then he brought them back from Gath."},{"verse":41,"text":"Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had come back."},{"verse":42,"text":"So the king sent for Shimei and said to him, \"Didn't I make you swear by the LORD? Didn't I warn you? I said, 'On the day you leave and go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die.' And you told me, 'That's fair. I will obey.'"},{"verse":43,"text":"So why didn't you keep your promise to the LORD? Why didn't you obey the command I gave you?\""},{"verse":44,"text":"The king also said, \"You know in your heart all the evil you did to my father David. So the LORD will pay you back for your evil."},{"verse":45,"text":"But King Solomon will be blessed. And David's throne will stay secure before the LORD forever.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Benaiah went out and struck Shimei down, and he died. So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon's hands."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Later, Solomon made a treaty with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He did it by marrying Pharaoh's daughter. Solomon brought her to live in the City of David. She stayed there until he finished building his palace, the house of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the people were still offering sacrifices at the high places. That's because a house for the Name of the LORD had not been built yet."},{"verse":3,"text":"Solomon loved the LORD. He followed the rules his father David had lived by. But he still offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places."},{"verse":4,"text":"The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices there. It was the most important high place. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar there."},{"verse":5,"text":"One night at Gibeon, the LORD came to Solomon in a dream. God said, \"Ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Solomon answered, \"You showed great faithful love to your servant, my father David. That's because he lived for you. He was faithful, he did what was right, and his heart was honest. And you have kept on showing him this faithful love. You gave him a son to sit on his throne today."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now, LORD my God, you have made me, your servant, king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child. I don't know how to lead.","note":"Hebrew: how to go out or come in."},{"verse":8,"text":"Your servant is here among the people you have chosen. There are so many of them that no one can count them."},{"verse":9,"text":"So give your servant a heart that understands. Then I can judge your people. I can tell the difference between good and evil. For who is able to rule this great people of yours?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this."},{"verse":11,"text":"So God said to him, \"You did not ask to live a long life. You did not ask to be rich. You did not ask for your enemies to die. Instead, you asked for wisdom to judge fairly."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I will do what you asked. I will give you a heart that is wise and understanding. There has never been anyone like you, and there never will be."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will also give you what you didn't ask for. I will give you both riches and honor. As long as you live, no other king in any kingdom will be equal to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"And if you walk in my ways and keep my rules and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Solomon woke up. He realized it had been a dream. He went back to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the Lord's covenant. There he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his servants."},{"verse":16,"text":"Around that time, two prostitutes came to the king. They stood in front of him."},{"verse":17,"text":"One of the women said, \"Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me."},{"verse":18,"text":"Three days after my baby was born, this woman had a baby too. We were alone. No one else was in the house but the two of us."},{"verse":19,"text":"During the night, this woman's son died. She had rolled over on top of him."},{"verse":20,"text":"So she got up in the middle of the night. She took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She held him close to her. Then she put her dead son next to me."},{"verse":21,"text":"In the morning I got up to feed my son. But I found that he was dead! Then I looked at him closely. I saw that he was not the son I had given birth to.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"No!\" said the other woman. \"The living one is my son. The dead one is yours.\" But the first woman kept saying, \"No! The dead one is yours. The living one is mine.\" And so they argued in front of the king."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the king said, \"This woman says, 'My son is alive, and your son is dead.' And that woman says, 'No! Your son is dead, and mine is alive.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the king said, \"Bring me a sword.\" So they brought him a sword."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then the king gave an order. \"Cut the living child in two. Give half to one woman and half to the other.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The real mother of the living boy was full of love for her son. So she spoke to the king. \"Please, my lord,\" she said, \"give her the living baby! Don't kill him!\" But the other woman said, \"He won't be mine or yours. Cut him in two!\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the king gave his decision. \"Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him! She is his mother.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"All Israel heard about the king's decision. They were filled with awe and respect for him. They saw that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So King Solomon ruled over Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"These were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest."},{"verse":3,"text":"Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, were secretaries. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud kept the royal records."},{"verse":4,"text":"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests."},{"verse":5,"text":"Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors. Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and an adviser to the king."},{"verse":6,"text":"Ahishar was in charge of the palace. And Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor."},{"verse":7,"text":"Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel. They supplied food for the king and his household. Each one supplied the food for one month of the year."},{"verse":8,"text":"These were their names: Ben-hur was over the hill country of Ephraim."},{"verse":9,"text":"Ben-deker was over Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan."},{"verse":10,"text":"Ben-hesed was over Arubboth. Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his too."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ben-abinadab was over Naphath-dor. He was married to Taphath, a daughter of Solomon."},{"verse":12,"text":"Baana son of Ahilud was over Taanach and Megiddo. He was also over all of Beth-shean, next to Zarethan below Jezreel. His land went from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah and on past Jokmeam."},{"verse":13,"text":"Ben-geber was over Ramoth-gilead. The villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his. So was the area of Argob in Bashan. It had sixty large cities with walls and bronze bars on their gates."},{"verse":14,"text":"Ahinadab son of Iddo was over Mahanaim."},{"verse":15,"text":"Ahimaaz was over Naphtali. He had married Basemath, a daughter of Solomon."},{"verse":16,"text":"Baana son of Hushai was over Asher and Aloth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was over Issachar."},{"verse":18,"text":"Shimei son of Ela was over Benjamin."},{"verse":19,"text":"Geber son of Uri was over the land of Gilead. This included the lands of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. There was also one governor over the land of Judah."},{"verse":20,"text":"There were as many people in Judah and Israel as there are grains of sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy."},{"verse":21,"text":"Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines. His rule went as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms brought him payments and served him all his life."},{"verse":22,"text":"Each day Solomon's palace needed about 185 bushels of fine flour and about 375 bushels of meal.","note":"Hebrew: thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal."},{"verse":23,"text":"It also needed ten fat oxen, twenty oxen from the pasture, and a hundred sheep. There were also deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened birds."},{"verse":24,"text":"For Solomon ruled over all the land west of the Euphrates River. He ruled all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza. And he had peace on every side."},{"verse":25,"text":"As long as Solomon lived, Judah and Israel lived safely. From Dan to Beersheba, each man sat under his own grapevine and his own fig tree."},{"verse":26,"text":"Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses. He had 12,000 horses."},{"verse":27,"text":"Each governor took his turn and supplied food for one month. They fed King Solomon and everyone who ate at his table. They made sure nothing was missing."},{"verse":28,"text":"Each one also brought his share of barley and straw. They brought it to the right place for the chariot horses and the other horses."},{"verse":29,"text":"God gave Solomon wisdom and very deep insight. His understanding had no limit. It was as large as the sand on the seashore."},{"verse":30,"text":"Solomon was wiser than all the wise men of the East. He was wiser than all the wise men of Egypt."},{"verse":31,"text":"He was wiser than anyone else. He was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite. He was wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And he became famous in all the nations around him."},{"verse":32,"text":"Solomon wrote three thousand proverbs. He also wrote one thousand and five songs."},{"verse":33,"text":"He talked about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop plant that grows out of walls. He also taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish."},{"verse":34,"text":"People came from every nation to listen to Solomon's wisdom. All the kings of the earth had heard about his wisdom, and they sent them."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hiram was the king of Tyre. He heard that Solomon had been anointed king in his father's place. So he sent messengers to Solomon, because Hiram had always been a friend of David."},{"verse":2,"text":"Solomon sent this message back to Hiram:"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"You know that my father David had to fight wars on every side. So he could not build a house for the Name of the LORD his God. He had to wait until the LORD put his enemies under his feet."},{"verse":4,"text":"But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side. I have no enemies, and there is no trouble."},{"verse":5,"text":"So I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. This is just what the LORD told my father David. He said, 'I will put your son on your throne in your place. He will build the house for my Name.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"So please give orders to cut down cedar trees in Lebanon for me. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your servants whatever you say. You know we don't have anyone who can cut timber as well as the people of Sidon.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Hiram got Solomon's message and was very happy. He said, \"Praise the LORD today! He has given David a wise son to rule over this great people!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Hiram sent an answer to Solomon. He said, \"I got your message. I will do everything you want. I'll send the cedar and cypress logs."},{"verse":9,"text":"My servants will carry the logs down from Lebanon to the sea. I will tie them together into rafts. Then I will float them by sea to any place you choose. There I will take the rafts apart, and you can take the logs. In return, please give food for my household. That will meet my needs.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Hiram gave Solomon all the cedar and cypress logs he wanted."},{"verse":11,"text":"Each year Solomon gave Hiram about 125,000 bushels of wheat to feed his household. He also gave him about 115,000 gallons of pure olive oil.","note":"Hebrew: 20,000 cors of wheat and 20,000 baths of olive oil."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon. The two of them made a treaty."},{"verse":13,"text":"King Solomon forced 30,000 men from all over Israel to work for him."},{"verse":14,"text":"He sent them to Lebanon in groups of 10,000 men each month. They spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor."},{"verse":15,"text":"Solomon also had 70,000 men to carry loads. He had 80,000 men to cut stone in the hills."},{"verse":16,"text":"He also had 3,300 foremen who were in charge of the workers."},{"verse":17,"text":"The king gave orders to dig out large, costly stones. They used these cut and shaped stones to lay the foundation of the temple."},{"verse":18,"text":"Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders worked together with men from Gebal. They cut the stone. They got the logs and the stone ready to build the temple."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Solomon began to build the house of the LORD. It was 480 years after the Israelites came out of Egypt. It was the fourth year that Solomon ruled over Israel. It was in the month of Ziv, the second month."},{"verse":2,"text":"King Solomon built the house for the LORD. It was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.","note":"Hebrew: 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high."},{"verse":3,"text":"There was a porch at the front of the temple's main hall. It was 30 feet long, as wide as the temple. It stuck out 15 feet from the front of the temple.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits long and 10 cubits deep."},{"verse":4,"text":"He also made narrow windows high up in the temple walls."},{"verse":5,"text":"Solomon built a set of rooms against the walls all around the temple. They went around the main hall and the inner room. Inside it he built the side rooms."},{"verse":6,"text":"The bottom floor of rooms was 7 and a half feet wide. The middle floor was 9 feet wide. The third floor was 10 and a half feet wide. He made ledges that stepped in around the outside of the temple wall. That way, no beams had to be put into the temple walls.","note":"Hebrew: 5, 6, and 7 cubits."},{"verse":7,"text":"The temple was built with stones that were cut and shaped at the quarry. So no hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool was heard at the temple while it was being built."},{"verse":8,"text":"The door to the bottom floor was on the south side of the temple. Stairs went up to the middle floor. From there they went up to the third floor."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Solomon built the temple and finished it. He made the roof with beams and boards of cedar."},{"verse":10,"text":"He built the side rooms all along the temple. Each room was 7 and a half feet high. They were joined to the temple with cedar beams.","note":"Hebrew: 5 cubits."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD spoke his word to Solomon. He said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"You are building this temple. Now, if you follow my rules, obey my laws, and keep all my commands by living by them, I will keep my promise through you. It is the promise I made to your father David."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will live among the Israelites. I will not leave my people Israel.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Solomon built the temple and finished it."},{"verse":15,"text":"He covered the inside walls with cedar boards. They went from the floor of the temple up to the ceiling. And he covered the floor with cypress boards."},{"verse":16,"text":"At the back of the temple he walled off a room 30 feet deep. He used cedar boards from the floor to the ceiling. This made an inner room inside the temple. It was the Most Holy Place.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits."},{"verse":17,"text":"The main hall in front of this room was 60 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: 40 cubits."},{"verse":18,"text":"The cedar inside the temple had gourds and open flowers carved into it. Everything was cedar. Not one stone could be seen."},{"verse":19,"text":"Solomon got the inner room of the temple ready. The ark of the LORD's covenant would be placed there."},{"verse":20,"text":"The inner room was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He covered the inside with pure gold. He also covered the cedar altar with gold.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits."},{"verse":21,"text":"Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold. He hung gold chains across the front of the inner room. The inner room was covered with gold too."},{"verse":22,"text":"He covered the whole inside of the temple with gold until it was all finished. He also covered with gold the whole altar that belonged to the inner room."},{"verse":23,"text":"In the inner room he made two cherubim out of olive wood. Each one was 15 feet tall.","note":"Hebrew: 10 cubits."},{"verse":24,"text":"One wing of the first cherub was 7 and a half feet long. Its other wing was 7 and a half feet long too. So its wings were 15 feet from tip to tip.","note":"Hebrew: 5 cubits; 10 cubits."},{"verse":25,"text":"The second cherub also measured 15 feet. Both cherubim were the same size and shape."},{"verse":26,"text":"Each cherub was 15 feet tall."},{"verse":27,"text":"He put the cherubim inside the inner room of the temple. Their wings were spread out. A wing of the first cherub touched one wall. A wing of the second cherub touched the other wall. And their other wings touched each other in the middle of the room."},{"verse":28,"text":"He also covered the cherubim with gold."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then he carved the walls all around the temple. He carved both the inner and outer rooms. He carved pictures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers."},{"verse":30,"text":"He also covered the temple floor with gold in both the inner and outer rooms."},{"verse":31,"text":"Solomon made doors of olive wood for the doorway of the inner room. The frame around the doorway had five sides."},{"verse":32,"text":"The two doors were made of olive wood. He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them. He covered the cherubim and palm trees with gold that was hammered thin."},{"verse":33,"text":"In the same way, he made a doorframe of olive wood for the entrance to the main hall. It had four sides."},{"verse":34,"text":"The two doors were made of cypress wood. Each door had two parts that folded."},{"verse":35,"text":"He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers on them. Then he covered them with gold. He hammered it evenly over the carvings."},{"verse":36,"text":"Solomon built the inner courtyard. Its walls had three layers of cut stone and one layer of cedar beams."},{"verse":37,"text":"The foundation of the house of the LORD was laid in the fourth year Solomon was king. It was in the month of Ziv."},{"verse":38,"text":"The temple was finished in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, the eighth month. Every part was done just as it had been planned. So it took Solomon seven years to build the temple."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But Solomon took thirteen years to finish building his whole palace."},{"verse":2,"text":"He built the House of the Forest of Lebanon. It was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It had four rows of cedar pillars. These held up the cedar beams.","note":"Hebrew: 100 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high."},{"verse":3,"text":"The roof was made of cedar. It lay above the beams that rested on the pillars. There were forty-five beams, fifteen in each row."},{"verse":4,"text":"There were three rows of windows high up. They were set across from each other in three levels."},{"verse":5,"text":"All the doorways had frames with four straight sides. The openings were across from each other in three levels."},{"verse":6,"text":"Solomon made a hall of pillars. It was 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. There was a porch in front of it. In front of the porch were more pillars with a roof over them.","note":"Hebrew: 50 cubits long and 30 cubits wide."},{"verse":7,"text":"He also built a hall for his throne. It was called the Hall of Justice. That is where he would judge cases. It was covered with cedar from the floor to the ceiling."},{"verse":8,"text":"Solomon's own palace was set farther back. It was built in the same way. He also built a palace like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter. She was the woman he had married."},{"verse":9,"text":"All these buildings were made of costly stones. The stones were cut to size and trimmed with saws on the inside and outside. They were used from the foundation to the top of the walls. They were used from the outside all the way to the great courtyard."},{"verse":10,"text":"The foundations were made of large, costly stones. Some were 15 feet long, and some were 12 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: 10 cubits; 8 cubits."},{"verse":11,"text":"On top of these were more costly stones cut to size. There were cedar beams too."},{"verse":12,"text":"The walls around the great courtyard had three layers of cut stone and one layer of cedar beams. The inner courtyard and the porch of the house of the LORD were built the same way."},{"verse":13,"text":"King Solomon sent for a man named Huram. He brought him from Tyre."},{"verse":14,"text":"Huram's mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali. His father was a man from Tyre who worked with bronze. Huram was very skilled. He had understanding and knew how to do every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all the work he was given."},{"verse":15,"text":"He made two bronze pillars in molds. Each one was 27 feet tall and 18 feet around.","note":"Hebrew: 18 cubits tall and 12 cubits around."},{"verse":16,"text":"He also made two tops of cast bronze to set on the pillars. Each top was 7 and a half feet tall.","note":"Hebrew: 5 cubits."},{"verse":17,"text":"For the tops of the pillars, he made a net of crossed bronze strips. It had chains twisted together like wreaths. There were seven for each top."},{"verse":18,"text":"He also made two rows of pomegranates around each net. They covered the tops of the pillars."},{"verse":19,"text":"The tops of the pillars at the porch were shaped like lilies. They were 6 feet tall.","note":"Hebrew: 4 cubits."},{"verse":20,"text":"On the tops of both pillars, there was a rounded part next to the net. Just above it were two hundred pomegranates. They were set in rows all around each top."},{"verse":21,"text":"He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple. He named the pillar on the south side Jachin. He named the pillar on the north side Boaz.","note":"Jachin probably means \"He makes firm.\" Boaz probably means \"In him is strength.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. And so the work on the pillars was finished."},{"verse":23,"text":"He also made the Sea out of melted metal. It was a huge round basin. It was 15 feet across from rim to rim and 7 and a half feet high. It was 45 feet around.","note":"Hebrew: 10 cubits across, 5 cubits high, 30 cubits around."},{"verse":24,"text":"Under the rim were rows of buds for decoration all the way around the Sea. There were ten of them in every 18 inches. They were in two rows. They were made in one piece with the Sea."},{"verse":25,"text":"The Sea stood on the backs of twelve bronze oxen. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The Sea rested on top of them. Their back ends all faced the center."},{"verse":26,"text":"The Sea was about 3 inches thick. Its rim was shaped like the rim of a cup, like a lily flower. It held about 11,500 gallons.","note":"Hebrew: a handbreadth thick; 2,000 baths."},{"verse":27,"text":"He also made ten bronze stands that could be moved. Each one was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 and a half feet high.","note":"Hebrew: 4 cubits long, 4 cubits wide, and 3 cubits high."},{"verse":28,"text":"This is how the stands were made: They had side panels joined to posts at the corners."},{"verse":29,"text":"On the panels between the posts were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the posts there was a base on top. Below the lions and oxen were wreaths that hung down."},{"verse":30,"text":"Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles. Each one had a basin resting on four supports. The supports had wreaths on each side."},{"verse":31,"text":"Inside the top of each stand was an opening 18 inches deep. The opening was round like a base. It was 27 inches across. There were carvings around the opening. But the panels of the stands were square, not round.","note":"Hebrew: 1 cubit; a cubit and a half."},{"verse":32,"text":"There were four wheels under the panels. The axles of the wheels were joined to the stand. Each wheel was 27 inches tall.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit and a half."},{"verse":33,"text":"The wheels were made like chariot wheels. Their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all made of melted metal poured in molds."},{"verse":34,"text":"Each stand had four handles, one at each corner. They stuck out from the stand."},{"verse":35,"text":"At the top of each stand was a round band 9 inches high. The supports and panels were made in one piece with the top of the stand.","note":"Hebrew: half a cubit."},{"verse":36,"text":"He carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the supports and panels. He put them wherever there was room. There were wreaths all around."},{"verse":37,"text":"This is how he made the ten stands. They were all made in the same molds. They were all the same size and shape."},{"verse":38,"text":"He also made ten bronze basins. Each one held about 230 gallons. Each was 6 feet across. There was one basin for each of the ten stands.","note":"Hebrew: 40 baths; 4 cubits."},{"verse":39,"text":"He put five stands on the south side of the temple and five on the north side. He put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner of the temple."},{"verse":40,"text":"Huram also made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished all the work he had agreed to do for King Solomon in the house of the LORD. This is what he made:"},{"verse":41,"text":"the two pillars;\nthe two bowl-shaped tops on the pillars;\nthe two nets that covered the two bowls on top of the pillars;"},{"verse":42,"text":"the four hundred pomegranates for the two nets (two rows of pomegranates for each net that covered the bowl-shaped tops of the pillars);"},{"verse":43,"text":"the ten stands;\nthe ten basins on the stands;"},{"verse":44,"text":"the Sea;\nthe twelve oxen under the Sea;"},{"verse":45,"text":"and the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. Huram made all these things for King Solomon for the house of the LORD. They were all made of shiny, polished bronze."},{"verse":46,"text":"The king had them made in clay molds. This was done on the plain of the Jordan River between Succoth and Zarethan."},{"verse":47,"text":"Solomon did not weigh any of these things because there were so many. No one could figure out how much the bronze weighed."},{"verse":48,"text":"Solomon also made all the things for the house of the LORD. He made the gold altar. He made the gold table that held the Bread of the Presence."},{"verse":49,"text":"He made the lampstands of pure gold in front of the inner room. There were five on the right side and five on the left. He made the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs."},{"verse":50,"text":"He made the basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and incense burners of pure gold. He made gold hinges for the doors of the inner room, the Most Holy Place. He also made gold hinges for the doors of the main hall of the temple."},{"verse":51,"text":"So King Solomon finished all the work for the house of the LORD. Then Solomon brought in the things his father David had set apart for God. He brought the silver, the gold, and the other things. He put them in the treasure rooms of the house of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Solomon called together the elders of Israel in Jerusalem. He called all the leaders of the tribes and the heads of the families of Israel. He wanted them to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from Zion, the City of David."},{"verse":2,"text":"All the men of Israel came together to King Solomon. This was at the feast in the seventh month, the month of Ethanim."},{"verse":3,"text":"All the elders of Israel arrived. Then the priests picked up the ark."},{"verse":4,"text":"They brought up the ark of the LORD and the Tent of Meeting with all its holy things. The priests and the Levites carried them up."},{"verse":5,"text":"King Solomon and all the people of Israel who had gathered with him stood in front of the ark. They sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that no one could count them."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the priests brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its place. They put it in the inner room of the temple, the Most Holy Place. They set it under the wings of the cherubim."},{"verse":7,"text":"The cherubim spread their wings over the place where the ark was. They covered the ark and the poles used to carry it."},{"verse":8,"text":"The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the Holy Place in front of the inner room. But they could not be seen from outside the Holy Place. They are still there today."},{"verse":9,"text":"There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets. Moses had put them there at Horeb. That is where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the priests came out of the Holy Place. And the cloud filled the house of the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"The priests could not stand there to do their work because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Solomon said, \"The LORD has said that he would live in the thick cloud."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have truly built you a great and lofty house. It is a place for you to live forever.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"All the people of Israel were standing there. The king turned around and blessed them all."},{"verse":15,"text":"He said, \"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! He has done with his own hand what he promised with his mouth to my father David. He said,"},{"verse":16,"text":"'I brought my people Israel out of Egypt. Since that day I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel. I have not chosen a place to build a house for my Name to be there. But I have chosen David to rule over my people Israel.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"My father David had it in his heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the LORD said to my father David, 'Since you had it in your heart to build a house for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart."},{"verse":19,"text":"But you are not the one who will build it. Your son, your own child, will build the house for my Name.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"Now the LORD has kept the promise he made. I have become king after my father David. I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. And I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":21,"text":"I have made a place there for the ark. The ark holds the covenant of the LORD. He made it with our fathers when he brought them out of Egypt.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Solomon stood in front of the altar of the LORD. All the people of Israel were watching. He spread out his hands toward heaven."},{"verse":23,"text":"He said, \"LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below. You keep your covenant of faithful love with your servants. You keep it with those who follow you with all their hearts."},{"verse":24,"text":"You have kept your promise to your servant, my father David. You promised it with your mouth. Today you have done it with your hand."},{"verse":25,"text":"So now, LORD, God of Israel, keep what you promised your servant, my father David. You said, 'You will always have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful to live before me as you have done.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"Now, God of Israel, please make your promise come true. It is the promise you made to your servant, my father David."},{"verse":27,"text":"But will God really live on the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot hold you. So this temple I have built surely cannot hold you!"},{"verse":28,"text":"But LORD my God, please pay attention to my prayer. I am your servant, and I am asking for your help. Please hear my cry. Hear the prayer I am praying to you today."},{"verse":29,"text":"May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day. You said about this place, 'My Name will be there.' Then you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place."},{"verse":30,"text":"Hear your servant and your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, the place where you live. And when you hear, forgive."},{"verse":31,"text":"Someone may sin against his neighbor. He may have to make a promise that he is not guilty. He may come and swear to it in front of your altar in this temple."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then hear from heaven and act. Judge between your servants. If one is guilty, bring on his own head what he has done. If one has done right, show that he is not guilty. Reward him for doing what is right."},{"verse":33,"text":"Your people Israel may be beaten by an enemy because they sinned against you. Then they may turn back to you and confess your name. They may pray to you and beg for help in this temple."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land you gave their fathers."},{"verse":35,"text":"The sky may be shut so there is no rain because your people have sinned against you. Then they may pray toward this place and confess your name. They may turn from their sins because you have punished them."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then hear from heaven. Forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, so that you may teach them the good way they should live. And send rain on the land you gave your people to keep."},{"verse":37,"text":"There may be a famine or a deadly sickness in the land. Crops may be ruined by blight or mildew, or eaten by locusts or grasshoppers. An enemy may surround their cities. Any kind of disaster or sickness may come."},{"verse":38,"text":"Then any of your people Israel may pray and ask for help. Each one knows the pain in his own heart. He may spread out his hands toward this temple."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then hear from heaven, the place where you live. Forgive and act. Pay back each person for all he has done, since you know his heart. You alone know what is in every human heart."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then they will fear you as long as they live in the land you gave our fathers."},{"verse":41,"text":"A foreigner who is not one of your people Israel may come from a faraway land. He may come because of your name."},{"verse":42,"text":"People will hear about your great name. They will hear about your mighty hand and your powerful arm. A foreigner may come and pray toward this temple."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then hear from heaven, the place where you live. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you. Then all the peoples of the earth will know your name. They will fear you, just as your people Israel do. And they will know that this house I built is called by your Name."},{"verse":44,"text":"Your people may go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them. They may pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen. They may pray toward the house I have built for your Name."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then hear their prayer from heaven. Hear them when they ask for help. And stand up for them."},{"verse":46,"text":"They may sin against you, for there is no one who does not sin. You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy. The enemy may take them away as prisoners to his own land, far away or near."},{"verse":47,"text":"Then they may come to their senses in the land where they were taken. They may turn back to you and beg you for help in the land of their enemies. They may say, 'We have sinned. We have done wrong. We have done evil.'"},{"verse":48,"text":"They may come back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies. They may pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers. They may pray toward the city you have chosen and the house I have built for your Name."},{"verse":49,"text":"Then hear their prayer from heaven, the place where you live. Hear them when they ask for help. And stand up for them."},{"verse":50,"text":"Forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all the wrongs they have done against you. Make their enemies feel sorry for them and be kind to them."},{"verse":51,"text":"They are your people. They belong to you. You brought them out of Egypt. It was like a hot furnace for melting iron."},{"verse":52,"text":"Keep your eyes open to the prayers of your servant and your people Israel. Listen to them whenever they call to you."},{"verse":53,"text":"Lord GOD, you set them apart from all the peoples of the earth to belong to you. You said so through your servant Moses. You said it when you brought our fathers out of Egypt.\""},{"verse":54,"text":"Solomon finished praying this whole prayer to the LORD. He had been kneeling in front of the altar of the LORD with his hands spread out toward heaven. Now he got up."},{"verse":55,"text":"He stood and blessed all the people of Israel in a loud voice. He said,"},{"verse":56,"text":"\"Praise the LORD! He has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. He made many good promises through his servant Moses. Not one word of them has failed."},{"verse":57,"text":"May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers. May he never leave us or turn away from us."},{"verse":58,"text":"May he turn our hearts toward him. Then we will walk in all his ways. We will keep the commands, rules, and laws he gave our fathers."},{"verse":59,"text":"I have prayed these words to the LORD. May the LORD our God keep them close to him day and night. Then he will stand up for his servant and his people Israel, as each day requires."},{"verse":60,"text":"Then all the peoples of the earth will know that the LORD is God. There is no other God!"},{"verse":61,"text":"So give your hearts fully to the LORD our God, as you are doing today. Live by his rules and keep his commands.\""},{"verse":62,"text":"Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the LORD."},{"verse":63,"text":"Solomon offered peace offerings to the LORD. He offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. In this way the king and all the Israelites set apart the house of the LORD for God."},{"verse":64,"text":"That same day the king made the middle of the courtyard holy. It was the courtyard in front of the house of the LORD. There he offered the burnt offerings and the grain offerings. He also offered the fat of the peace offerings. He did this because the bronze altar in front of the LORD was too small to hold all these offerings."},{"verse":65,"text":"So Solomon and all Israel with him held the feast at that time. It was a huge crowd of people. They came from as far as Lebo-hamath and the Brook of Egypt. They celebrated before the LORD our God for seven days, and then seven more days. That was fourteen days in all."},{"verse":66,"text":"On the fifteenth day Solomon sent the people away. They blessed the king and went home. They were full of joy and glad in their hearts. They were happy for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and for his people Israel."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Solomon finished building the house of the LORD and the king's palace. He had done everything he wanted to do."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the LORD came to him a second time. He came to him as he had at Gibeon."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD said to him, \"I have heard your prayer. I have heard what you asked of me. You built this temple, and I have made it holy. I have put my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."},{"verse":4,"text":"As for you, if you live before me as your father David did, with an honest and upright heart, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep my rules and laws,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I will make your royal throne over Israel last forever. I promised your father David, 'You will always have a man on the throne of Israel.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"But if you or your sons turn away from following me, and do not keep the commands and rules I have given you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods,"},{"verse":7,"text":"then I will remove Israel from the land I gave them. I have made this temple holy for my Name. But I will throw it away from my sight. Then all the peoples will laugh at Israel and make fun of them."},{"verse":8,"text":"This temple will become a pile of ruins. All who pass by will be shocked. They will make fun of it with hissing sounds. They will say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and this temple?'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Others will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt. They have held on to other gods. They worshiped them and served them. That is why the LORD has brought all this disaster on them.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"It took Solomon twenty years to build the two houses. They were the house of the LORD and the king's palace. At the end of that time,"},{"verse":11,"text":"King Solomon gave twenty towns in the land of Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre. Hiram had given him all the cedar and cypress logs and gold he wanted."},{"verse":12,"text":"Hiram came from Tyre to look at the towns Solomon had given him. But he did not like them."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hiram asked, \"My brother, what kind of towns are these you've given me?\" He called them the Land of Cabul. They still have that name today.","note":"Cabul sounds like the Hebrew for \"good for nothing.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Hiram had sent the king about 9,000 pounds of gold.","note":"Hebrew: 120 talents."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is the story of the forced labor King Solomon used. He forced people to work to build the house of the LORD and his own palace. They built the terraces and the wall of Jerusalem. They also built Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer."},{"verse":16,"text":"Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked Gezer and captured it. He burned it down. He killed the Canaanites who lived there. Then he gave the city to his daughter, Solomon's wife, as a wedding gift."},{"verse":17,"text":"So Solomon rebuilt Gezer. He also built Lower Beth-horon,"},{"verse":18,"text":"Baalath, and Tamar in the desert of Judah."},{"verse":19,"text":"He built all the cities where he stored supplies. He built cities for his chariots and horses. He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and all through the land he ruled."},{"verse":20,"text":"There were still some people left in the land who were not Israelites. They were Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Israelites had not been able to destroy them completely. So their children were still in the land. Solomon forced these people to be slave workers. They are still slave workers today."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Solomon did not make any Israelites slaves, because they were his soldiers, his servants, and his officials. They were his captains and the commanders of his chariots and horsemen."},{"verse":23,"text":"They were also the chief officers over Solomon's work. There were 550 of them in charge of the people who did the work."},{"verse":24,"text":"Pharaoh's daughter moved up from the City of David to the palace Solomon had built for her. After that, Solomon built the terraces."},{"verse":25,"text":"Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD. He burned incense with them before the LORD. So he finished the temple."},{"verse":26,"text":"King Solomon also built a group of ships at Ezion-geber. It is near Eloth in Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea."},{"verse":27,"text":"Hiram sent his servants to sail with Solomon's servants. They were sailors who knew the sea."},{"verse":28,"text":"They sailed to Ophir and brought back gold. It weighed about 31,500 pounds. They brought it to Solomon.","note":"Hebrew: 420 talents."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was. She heard how his fame had to do with the name of the LORD. So she came to test him with hard questions."},{"verse":2,"text":"She came to Jerusalem with a very large group of travelers. Her camels carried spices, lots of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and talked with him about everything that was on her mind."},{"verse":3,"text":"Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her."},{"verse":4,"text":"The queen of Sheba saw how wise Solomon was. She saw the palace he had built."},{"verse":5,"text":"She saw the food on his table and the way his officials sat. She saw how his servants served and what they wore. She saw his cupbearers. She saw the burnt offerings he gave at the house of the LORD. It took her breath away."},{"verse":6,"text":"She said to the king, \"In my own country I heard about what you have said and how wise you are. It is all true!"},{"verse":7,"text":"But I didn't believe it until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Really, I wasn't told even half of it! Your wisdom and riches are far greater than what I heard."},{"verse":8,"text":"How happy your men must be! How happy are these servants of yours! They always stand near you and hear your wisdom."},{"verse":9,"text":"Praise the LORD your God! He was pleased with you and put you on the throne of Israel. The LORD loves Israel forever. That's why he made you king, so you would do what is fair and right.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then she gave the king about 9,000 pounds of gold. She gave him lots of spices and precious stones too. No one ever again brought in as many spices as the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.","note":"Hebrew: 120 talents."},{"verse":11,"text":"(Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir. They also brought from Ophir large loads of almug wood and precious stones."},{"verse":12,"text":"The king used the almug wood to make steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's palace. He also made lyres and harps for the singers. No almug wood like that had ever come in before. None like it has been seen again to this day.)"},{"verse":13,"text":"King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted and asked for. This was on top of the gifts he had already given her out of his royal riches. Then she and her servants left and went back to her own country."},{"verse":14,"text":"Each year Solomon received about 50,000 pounds of gold.","note":"Hebrew: 666 talents."},{"verse":15,"text":"This did not count the money from the merchants and traders. It also did not count what came from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land."},{"verse":16,"text":"King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold. Each shield had about 15 pounds of gold in it.","note":"Hebrew: 600 shekels."},{"verse":17,"text":"He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold. Each one had almost 4 pounds of gold in it. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.","note":"Hebrew: 3 minas."},{"verse":18,"text":"The king also made a large throne out of ivory. He covered it with pure gold."},{"verse":19,"text":"The throne had six steps. Its back was rounded at the top. The seat had armrests on both sides. A lion stood beside each armrest."},{"verse":20,"text":"Twelve lions stood on the six steps. There was one at each end of every step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any kingdom."},{"verse":21,"text":"All of King Solomon's cups were made of gold. All the dishes and tools in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. None were made of silver. In Solomon's days, silver was thought to be worth nothing."},{"verse":22,"text":"The king had trading ships at sea, called ships of Tarshish. They sailed with Hiram's ships. Once every three years the ships came back. They carried gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."},{"verse":23,"text":"So King Solomon was richer and wiser than all the other kings of the earth."},{"verse":24,"text":"People from all over the world wanted to meet Solomon. They wanted to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart."},{"verse":25,"text":"Year after year, each one who came brought a gift. They brought things made of silver and gold. They brought clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules."},{"verse":26,"text":"Solomon gathered 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in the chariot cities. He also kept some with him in Jerusalem."},{"verse":27,"text":"The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. Cedar was as common as the sycamore trees in the hills to the west."},{"verse":28,"text":"Solomon's horses were brought in from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue."},{"verse":29,"text":"They could buy a chariot from Egypt for about 15 pounds of silver. A horse cost almost 4 pounds of silver. They also sold them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.","note":"Hebrew: 600 shekels; 150 shekels."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But King Solomon loved many women from other nations. Besides Pharaoh's daughter, he loved women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon. He also loved Hittite women."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD had told the Israelites about these nations. He said, \"You must not marry them. They will surely turn your hearts to follow their gods.\" But Solomon held on to these women and loved them."},{"verse":3,"text":"He had seven hundred wives who were princesses. He also had three hundred concubines. And his wives turned his heart away."},{"verse":4,"text":"For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart to follow other gods. His heart was not fully true to the LORD his God, as his father David's heart had been."},{"verse":5,"text":"Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the people of Sidon. He followed Milcom, the hateful god of the Ammonites."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Solomon did what was evil in the LORD's eyes. He did not follow the LORD completely, as his father David had."},{"verse":7,"text":"At that time Solomon built a high place on a hill east of Jerusalem. It was for Chemosh, the hateful god of Moab. He also built one for Molech, the hateful god of the Ammonites."},{"verse":8,"text":"He did the same for all his foreign wives. They burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel. The LORD had appeared to him two times."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD had clearly warned Solomon not to follow other gods. But Solomon did not obey the LORD's command."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the LORD said to Solomon, \"You have done this. You have not kept my covenant and my rules, which I commanded you. So I will tear the kingdom away from you. I will give it to your servant."},{"verse":12,"text":"But I will not do it while you are alive. I will hold back for the sake of your father David. I will tear it out of your son's hand."},{"verse":13,"text":"But I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give your son one tribe. I will do this for the sake of my servant David. I will also do it for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD raised up an enemy against Solomon. It was Hadad the Edomite, from the royal family of Edom."},{"verse":15,"text":"Years before, David was in Edom. Joab, the commander of the army, went there to bury the dead. He killed every male in Edom."},{"verse":16,"text":"Joab and all the Israelites stayed there six months. They stayed until he had killed every male in Edom."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Hadad ran away to Egypt. He was only a young boy then. Some Edomites who had served his father went with him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Hadad and his men left Midian and went to Paran. They took men from Paran with them. Then they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh the king of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Hadad a house and land. He also gave him food."},{"verse":19,"text":"Pharaoh liked Hadad very much. So he gave Hadad a wife. She was the sister of Pharaoh's own wife, Queen Tahpenes."},{"verse":20,"text":"The sister of Tahpenes had a son with Hadad. His name was Genubath. Tahpenes herself raised him in Pharaoh's palace until he no longer nursed. Genubath lived there with Pharaoh's sons."},{"verse":21,"text":"While Hadad was in Egypt, he heard that David had died and rested with his fathers. He also heard that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, \"Let me go. I want to go back to my own country.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Pharaoh asked him, \"What don't you have here with me? Why do you suddenly want to go back to your own country?\" Hadad answered, \"Nothing. But please let me go.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"God raised up another enemy against Solomon. It was Rezon son of Eliada. He had run away from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah."},{"verse":24,"text":"Rezon gathered a group of men around him. When David killed the men of Zobah, Rezon became the leader of a gang of raiders. They went to Damascus. They settled there and took control of it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Rezon was Israel's enemy as long as Solomon lived. He added to the trouble Hadad caused. So Rezon ruled over Aram, and he hated Israel."},{"verse":26,"text":"Jeroboam son of Nebat was from the tribe of Ephraim. He came from Zeredah. His mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was one of Solomon's officials. But he rebelled against the king."},{"verse":27,"text":"This is the story of how he rebelled against the king. Solomon had built the terraces. He had fixed the gap in the wall of the city of his father David."},{"verse":28,"text":"Jeroboam was a strong and able man. Solomon saw that the young man was a hard worker. So he put him in charge of all the workers from the tribes of Joseph."},{"verse":29,"text":"At that time Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem. The prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him on the road. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the open field."},{"verse":30,"text":"Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing. He tore it into twelve pieces."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then he said to Jeroboam, \"Take ten pieces for yourself. This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Look! I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand. I will give you ten tribes."},{"verse":32,"text":"But Solomon will keep one tribe. This is for the sake of my servant David. It is also for the sake of Jerusalem. I chose that city out of all the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":33,"text":"I will do this because they have left me. They worship Ashtoreth, the goddess of the people of Sidon. They worship Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, and Milcom, the god of the Ammonites. They have not lived in my ways. They have not done what is right in my eyes. They have not kept my rules and laws as Solomon's father David did."},{"verse":34,"text":"But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand, because I have made him ruler for as long as he lives. I am doing this for the sake of my servant David. I chose David because he kept my commands and rules."},{"verse":35,"text":"But I will take ten tribes of the kingdom out of his son's hand. I will give them to you."},{"verse":36,"text":"I will give one tribe to his son. Then my servant David will always have a lamp burning before me in Jerusalem. That is the city where I chose to put my Name."},{"verse":37,"text":"But as for you, I will take you. You will rule over everything your heart wants. You will be king over Israel."},{"verse":38,"text":"If you listen to everything I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my rules and commands as my servant David did, then I will be with you. I will give you a family of kings that will last, as I did for David. I will give Israel to you."},{"verse":39,"text":"Because of this, I will bring David's children down low. But it will not be forever.'\""},{"verse":40,"text":"So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam got up and ran away to Egypt. He went to Shishak king of Egypt. He stayed there until Solomon died."},{"verse":41,"text":"The rest of what Solomon did is written down. Everything he did and his wisdom are written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon."},{"verse":42,"text":"Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then Solomon died and rested with his fathers. He was buried in the city of his father David. And his son Rehoboam became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, because all Israel had gone there to make him king."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this. He was still in Egypt. He had run away there from King Solomon and had lived there ever since."},{"verse":3,"text":"So they sent for Jeroboam. Then he and the whole gathering of Israel came to Rehoboam and said,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Your father put a heavy yoke on us. Now make the hard work your father gave us lighter. Make the heavy yoke he put on us lighter. Then we will serve you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Rehoboam answered, \"Go away for three days. Then come back to me.\" So the people left."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then King Rehoboam asked the elders for advice. They had served his father Solomon while he was alive. \"How do you advise me to answer these people?\" he asked."},{"verse":7,"text":"They said, \"If you will be a servant to these people today and serve them, and if you answer them with kind words, then they will be your servants forever.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But Rehoboam turned down the elders' advice. Instead, he asked the young men for advice. They had grown up with him and now served him."},{"verse":9,"text":"He asked them, \"What answer should we send back to these people? They told me, 'Make the yoke your father put on us lighter.' What do you advise?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The young men who had grown up with him answered, \"These people said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.' Here is how you should answer them. Tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!"},{"verse":11,"text":"My father put a heavy yoke on you, but I will make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.'\"","note":"\"Scorpions\" may mean whips with sharp metal points."},{"verse":12,"text":"After three days, Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam. The king had told them, \"Come back to me on the third day.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The king answered the people harshly. He turned down the advice the elders had given him."},{"verse":14,"text":"He spoke to them the way the young men had advised. He said, \"My father made your yoke heavy, but I will make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the king did not listen to the people. This turn of events came from the LORD. It made the word come true that he had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat. He had spoken it through Ahijah from Shiloh."},{"verse":16,"text":"All Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them. So they answered the king, \"What share do we have in David? What do we get from the son of Jesse? Go to your tents, Israel! Look after your own house now, David!\" So the Israelites went home."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram. He was in charge of the forced labor. But all Israel threw stones at him until he died. King Rehoboam hurried to get into his chariot. He escaped to Jerusalem."},{"verse":19,"text":"So Israel has rebelled against the family of David to this day."},{"verse":20,"text":"All Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back. So they called him to their gathering. They made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah stayed loyal to the family of David."},{"verse":21,"text":"Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem. He called together all the people of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin. They had 180,000 chosen soldiers. They planned to fight against the people of Israel. They wanted to win back the kingdom for Rehoboam son of Solomon."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God. God said,"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, the king of Judah. Speak to all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people."},{"verse":24,"text":"Tell them this is what the LORD says: 'Do not go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must go home. I am the one who made this happen.'\" So they listened to the word of the LORD. They turned back and went home, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Jeroboam built up Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel."},{"verse":26,"text":"Jeroboam thought to himself, \"Now the kingdom might go back to the family of David."},{"verse":27,"text":"If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the LORD's temple in Jerusalem, their hearts will turn back to their master, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So the king asked for advice. Then he made two gold calves. He said to the people, \"It's too hard for you to go up to Jerusalem. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up out of Egypt.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"He set up one calf in Bethel and the other in Dan."},{"verse":30,"text":"This became a sin. The people walked all the way to Dan to worship in front of one of the calves."},{"verse":31,"text":"Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places. He chose priests from all kinds of people. These priests were not Levites."},{"verse":32,"text":"Jeroboam set up a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. It was like the feast held in Judah. He offered sacrifices on the altar. He did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. He also put priests in Bethel to serve at the high places he had set up."},{"verse":33,"text":"Jeroboam chose a month on his own. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built in Bethel. So he set up a feast for the Israelites. He offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense. Suddenly a man of God came from Judah to Bethel. The LORD's word had sent him."},{"verse":2,"text":"By the LORD's word, the man shouted against the altar. He said, \"Altar, altar! This is what the LORD says: 'A son named Josiah will be born into the family of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you. Human bones will be burned on you.'\""},{"verse":3,"text":"That same day the man of God gave a sign. He said, \"Here is the sign the LORD has spoken: 'This altar will surely split apart. The ashes on it will pour out.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"King Jeroboam was at the altar in Bethel. He heard what the man of God shouted against the altar. He stretched out his hand and said, \"Grab him!\" But the hand he pointed at him dried up. He could not pull it back."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the altar split apart, and the ashes poured out. It happened just like the sign the man of God had given by the LORD's word."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the king said to the man of God, \"Ask the LORD your God to be kind to me. Pray for me so my hand will be healed.\" So the man of God prayed to the LORD. Then the king's hand was healed and was just like it was before."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the king said to the man of God, \"Come home with me and have something to eat. I will give you a reward.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But the man of God answered, \"Even if you gave me half of everything you own, I would not go with you. I would not eat bread or drink water in this place."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD's word gave me this command: 'Do not eat bread or drink water. Do not go back the same way you came.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So the man of God went home another way. He did not go back the way he had come to Bethel."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now an old prophet was living in Bethel. His sons came and told him everything the man of God had done in Bethel that day. They also told their father what the man had said to the king."},{"verse":12,"text":"Their father asked, \"Which way did he go?\" His sons showed him the road the man of God from Judah had taken."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the prophet said to his sons, \"Put a saddle on the donkey for me.\" They saddled the donkey for him, and he got on it."},{"verse":14,"text":"He rode after the man of God. He found him sitting under an oak tree. He asked, \"Are you the man of God who came from Judah?\" \"I am,\" he answered."},{"verse":15,"text":"So the prophet said to the man of God, \"Come home with me and eat some bread.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But the man answered, \"I can't go home with you. I won't eat bread or drink water with you in this place."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD's word told me, 'Do not eat bread or drink water there. Do not go back the same way you came.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The old prophet answered, \"I'm a prophet too, just like you. An angel spoke to me by the LORD's word. He said, 'Bring him back with you to your house. Let him eat bread and drink water there.'\" But the old prophet was lying to him."},{"verse":19,"text":"So the man of God went back with him. He ate bread and drank water in his house."},{"verse":20,"text":"While they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back."},{"verse":21,"text":"The prophet cried out to the man of God from Judah, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Because you have gone against the LORD's word, and because you have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you,"},{"verse":22,"text":"and because you came back and ate bread and drank water in the place he told you not to, your body will never be buried in the tomb of your ancestors.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The man of God finished eating and drinking. Then the old prophet who had brought him back saddled the donkey for him."},{"verse":24,"text":"As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him. His body was left lying on the road. The donkey and the lion stood beside it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Some men passed by and saw the body lying on the road. The lion was standing beside it. They went and told about it in the town where the old prophet lived."},{"verse":26,"text":"The prophet who had brought him back from his trip heard about it. He said, \"It's the man of God who disobeyed the LORD's command. So the LORD handed him over to the lion. It attacked him and killed him, just as the LORD's word had told him.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the old prophet told his sons, \"Put a saddle on the donkey for me.\" So they saddled it."},{"verse":28,"text":"He went and found the body lying on the road. The donkey and the lion were standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body or attacked the donkey."},{"verse":29,"text":"So the old prophet picked up the body of the man of God. He laid it on the donkey. He brought it back to his own town to mourn for him and bury him."},{"verse":30,"text":"He laid the body in his own tomb. They cried over him, saying, \"Oh, my brother!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"After he buried him, the prophet said to his sons, \"When I die, bury me in the tomb where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones."},{"verse":32,"text":"This is because the message will surely come true. He shouted it by the LORD's word against the altar in Bethel. He also shouted it against all the shrines on the high places in the towns of Samaria.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Even after all this, Jeroboam did not turn away from his evil ways. Again he chose priests for the high places from all kinds of people. He made anyone who wanted to be a priest of the high places into one."},{"verse":34,"text":"This was the sin of Jeroboam's family. It led to its being wiped out and destroyed from the face of the earth."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam got sick."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Jeroboam said to his wife, \"Get up and put on a disguise. Then no one will know you are my wife. Go to Shiloh. Ahijah the prophet is there. He is the one who told me I would be king over these people."},{"verse":3,"text":"Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes, and a jar of honey. Go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jeroboam's wife did what he said. She got up and went to Shiloh. She came to Ahijah's house. Now Ahijah could not see. His eyes had gone dim because he was old."},{"verse":5,"text":"But the LORD had told Ahijah, \"Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask you about her son, because he is sick. Tell her what I tell you. I am telling you because when she comes, she will be pretending to be someone else.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Ahijah heard the sound of her feet coming in the door. So he said, \"Come in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have been sent to give you bad news."},{"verse":7,"text":"Go and tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I lifted you up from among the people. I made you ruler over my people Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"I tore the kingdom away from David's family and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David. He kept my commands and followed me with all his heart. He did only what was right in my eyes."},{"verse":9,"text":"You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have made other gods for yourself. You made idols out of melted metal to make me angry. You have thrown me behind your back."},{"verse":10,"text":"Because of all this, I am bringing disaster on Jeroboam's family. I will cut off every male in Israel who belongs to Jeroboam, both slave and free. I will burn up Jeroboam's family the way someone burns up dung until it is all gone!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Dogs will eat anyone from Jeroboam's family who dies in the city. Birds will eat anyone who dies in the open country.' The LORD has spoken!"},{"verse":12,"text":"As for you, get up and go home. When your feet step into the city, the child will die."},{"verse":13,"text":"All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one from Jeroboam's family who will be buried properly. That is because the LORD, the God of Israel, has found something good in him. He is the only one in Jeroboam's family like that."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD will also raise up a king over Israel for himself. That king will cut off Jeroboam's family. That day is coming. Yes, it is starting even now!"},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD will strike Israel, and it will shake like a reed in the water. He will pull Israel up by the roots out of this good land. He gave this land to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River. That is because they made their Asherah poles and made the LORD angry."},{"verse":16,"text":"He will give Israel up because of Jeroboam's sins. Jeroboam sinned, and he made Israel sin too.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jeroboam's wife got up and left. She went to Tirzah. As soon as she stepped through the doorway of the house, the boy died."},{"verse":18,"text":"They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him. It happened just as the LORD had said through his servant Ahijah the prophet."},{"verse":19,"text":"The rest of what Jeroboam did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. It tells how he fought wars and how he ruled."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jeroboam ruled for twenty-two years. Then he died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. His son Nadab became king after him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Meanwhile, Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem. That is the city the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. He chose it as the place to put his Name. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah. She was an Ammonite."},{"verse":22,"text":"The people of Judah did evil in the LORD's eyes. Their sins made him jealous and angry. They sinned more than all their ancestors had."},{"verse":23,"text":"They also built high places for themselves. They set up sacred stone pillars and Asherah poles. They put them on every high hill and under every green tree."},{"verse":24,"text":"There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. The people copied all the disgusting things the other nations did. Those were the nations the LORD had driven out ahead of the Israelites."},{"verse":25,"text":"In the fifth year that Rehoboam was king, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem."},{"verse":26,"text":"He took the treasures from the LORD's temple and from the king's palace. He took everything. He even took all the gold shields Solomon had made."},{"verse":27,"text":"So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to take their place. He gave them to the captains of the guard. These men guarded the entrance to the king's palace."},{"verse":28,"text":"Each time the king went into the LORD's temple, the guards carried the shields. Later they took them back to the guardroom."},{"verse":29,"text":"The rest of what Rehoboam did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":30,"text":"There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam the whole time they lived."},{"verse":31,"text":"Rehoboam died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. He was buried with them in the City of David. His mother was Naamah. She was an Ammonite. His son Abijam became king after him."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Abijam became king of Judah in the eighteenth year that Jeroboam son of Nebat was king."},{"verse":2,"text":"He ruled in Jerusalem for three years. His mother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom."},{"verse":3,"text":"Abijam did all the same sins his father had done before him. His heart was not fully given to the LORD his God. It was not like the heart of his ancestor David."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the LORD his God gave Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem because of David. He raised up a son to rule after him. He made Jerusalem strong."},{"verse":5,"text":"That was because David had done what was right in the LORD's eyes. All his life he had not turned away from anything the LORD commanded. The only time he did was with Uriah the Hittite."},{"verse":6,"text":"There was war between the families of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all through Abijam's life."},{"verse":7,"text":"The rest of what Abijam did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. All he did is written there. There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam."},{"verse":8,"text":"Abijam died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. He was buried in the City of David. His son Asa became king after him."},{"verse":9,"text":"Asa became king of Judah in the twentieth year that Jeroboam was king of Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"He ruled in Jerusalem for forty-one years. His grandmother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom."},{"verse":11,"text":"Asa did what was right in the LORD's eyes, just as his ancestor David had done."},{"verse":12,"text":"He sent the male shrine prostitutes out of the land. He got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made."},{"verse":13,"text":"He even took away his grandmother Maacah's place as queen mother. She had made a disgusting Asherah pole. Asa cut the pole down and burned it in the Kidron Valley."},{"verse":14,"text":"The high places were not taken away. But Asa's heart was fully given to the LORD all his life."},{"verse":15,"text":"He brought silver, gold, and other objects into the LORD's temple. He and his father had set these apart for God."},{"verse":16,"text":"There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel the whole time they lived."},{"verse":17,"text":"Baasha king of Israel went to war against Judah. He made the town of Ramah strong with walls. He did this to keep anyone from going in or out of the land of Asa king of Judah."},{"verse":18,"text":"So Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and the king's palace. He gave it to his servants. He sent them to Ben-hadad, the king of Aram, who ruled in Damascus. Ben-hadad was the son of Tabrimmon and grandson of Hezion. Asa sent this message:"},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Let's make a treaty between you and me. Let it be like the one between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel. Then he will pull back and leave me alone.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Ben-hadad agreed with King Asa. He sent the commanders of his armies against the towns of Israel. They took over Ijon, Dan, and Abel-beth-maacah. They took all the land of Naphtali, including the area of Chinnereth."},{"verse":21,"text":"Baasha heard about this. So he stopped building up Ramah and went back to Tirzah."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then King Asa called together all the men of Judah. No one was left out. They carried away the stones and wooden beams Baasha had been using to build Ramah. King Asa used these to build up Geba in Benjamin and also Mizpah."},{"verse":23,"text":"The rest of what Asa did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. It tells about all his power, all he did, and the towns he built. But when he was old, his feet became diseased."},{"verse":24,"text":"Asa died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. He was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat became king after him."},{"verse":25,"text":"Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year that Asa was king of Judah. Nadab ruled for two years."},{"verse":26,"text":"He did evil in the LORD's eyes. He lived the way his father had lived. He did the same sin his father had made Israel do."},{"verse":27,"text":"Baasha son of Ahijah was from the tribe of Issachar. He made a secret plan against Nadab. Nadab and all Israel were surrounding the town of Gibbethon to attack it. It belonged to the Philistines. There Baasha struck Nadab down."},{"verse":28,"text":"Baasha killed Nadab in the third year that Asa was king of Judah. Then Baasha became king in his place."},{"verse":29,"text":"As soon as Baasha became king, he killed Jeroboam's whole family. He did not leave anyone in Jeroboam's family alive. He destroyed them all. It happened just as the LORD had said through his servant Ahijah from Shiloh."},{"verse":30,"text":"It happened because of the sins Jeroboam had done and had made Israel do. He had made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry."},{"verse":31,"text":"The rest of what Nadab did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. All he did is written there."},{"verse":32,"text":"There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel the whole time they lived."},{"verse":33,"text":"Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in the third year that Asa was king of Judah. Baasha ruled in Tirzah for twenty-four years."},{"verse":34,"text":"Baasha did evil in the LORD's eyes. He lived the way Jeroboam had lived. He did the same sin Jeroboam had made Israel do."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu son of Hanani. It was against Baasha. The LORD said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I lifted you up out of the dust. I made you ruler over my people Israel. But you have lived the way Jeroboam lived. You have made my people Israel sin. Their sins have made me angry."},{"verse":3,"text":"So now I will wipe out Baasha and his family. I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat."},{"verse":4,"text":"Dogs will eat anyone from Baasha's family who dies in the city. Birds will eat anyone who dies in the open country.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The rest of what Baasha did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. It tells all he did and about his power."},{"verse":6,"text":"Baasha died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. He was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah became king after him."},{"verse":7,"text":"The word of the LORD also came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. It was against Baasha and his family. That was because of all the evil Baasha had done in the LORD's eyes. He made the LORD angry by what he did with his hands. He became like Jeroboam's family. And he had also killed Jeroboam's family."},{"verse":8,"text":"Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel in the twenty-sixth year that Asa was king of Judah. Elah ruled in Tirzah for two years."},{"verse":9,"text":"Elah had a servant named Zimri. Zimri was in charge of half of Elah's chariots. He made a secret plan against Elah. One day Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk. He was at the house of Arza, the man in charge of his palace there."},{"verse":10,"text":"Zimri went in and struck Elah down and killed him. This was in the twenty-seventh year that Asa was king of Judah. Then Zimri became king in his place."},{"verse":11,"text":"As soon as Zimri began to rule and sat on the throne, he killed Baasha's whole family. He did not leave a single male alive. He killed both relatives and friends."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Zimri destroyed Baasha's whole family. It happened just as the LORD had said against Baasha through Jehu the prophet."},{"verse":13,"text":"This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and his son Elah. They sinned, and they made Israel sin too. They made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry with their worthless idols."},{"verse":14,"text":"The rest of what Elah did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. All he did is written there."},{"verse":15,"text":"Zimri ruled in Tirzah for seven days. This was in the twenty-seventh year that Asa was king of Judah. At that time the army was camped near Gibbethon to attack it. It belonged to the Philistines."},{"verse":16,"text":"The people in the camp heard that Zimri had made a secret plan against the king. They heard he had killed him. So that same day in the camp, all Israel made Omri king over Israel. Omri was the commander of the army."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon. They surrounded Tirzah and attacked it."},{"verse":18,"text":"Zimri saw that the city had been captured. So he went into the strong tower of the king's palace. He set the palace on fire around himself. So he died."},{"verse":19,"text":"He died because of the sins he had done. He did evil in the LORD's eyes. He followed Jeroboam's example. He did the same sin Jeroboam had done and made Israel do."},{"verse":20,"text":"The rest of what Zimri did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. It tells about how he turned against the king."},{"verse":21,"text":"At that time the people of Israel were split into two groups. Half of the people wanted Tibni son of Ginath to be king. The other half wanted Omri."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Omri's followers were stronger than the followers of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king."},{"verse":23,"text":"Omri became king of Israel in the thirty-first year that Asa was king of Judah. Omri ruled for twelve years. Six of those years he ruled in Tirzah."},{"verse":24,"text":"He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. That was about 150 pounds. He built a city on the hill. He named it Samaria after Shemer, who had owned the hill.","note":"Hebrew: two talents."},{"verse":25,"text":"But Omri did evil in the LORD's eyes. He was more wicked than all the kings before him."},{"verse":26,"text":"He lived in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat. He did the same sins Jeroboam had made Israel do. They made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry with their worthless idols."},{"verse":27,"text":"The rest of what Omri did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. It tells all he did and about the power he showed."},{"verse":28,"text":"Omri died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. He was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king after him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel in the thirty-eighth year that Asa was king of Judah. Ahab ruled in Samaria for twenty-two years."},{"verse":30,"text":"But Ahab son of Omri did evil in the LORD's eyes. He did more evil than all the kings before him."},{"verse":31,"text":"He did the same sins as Jeroboam son of Nebat. But that was not enough for him. He even married Jezebel. She was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the people of Sidon. Then Ahab began to serve and worship Baal."},{"verse":32,"text":"First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal. He put it in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then he set up an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to make the LORD, the God of Israel, angry than all the kings of Israel before him."},{"verse":34,"text":"While Ahab was king, Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundation, it cost him the life of Abiram, his oldest son. When he set up its gates, it cost him the life of Segub, his youngest son. It happened just as the LORD had said through Joshua son of Nun."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Elijah was from Tishbe. He lived among the settlers of Gilead. He said to Ahab, \"I serve the LORD, the God of Israel. As surely as he lives, there will be no dew or rain in the next few years unless I say so!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Then a message from the LORD came to Elijah. He said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Leave this place and go east. Hide by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan River."},{"verse":4,"text":"You will drink from the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Elijah did what the LORD told him. He went and lived by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan."},{"verse":6,"text":"The ravens brought him bread and meat every morning and evening. And he drank from the brook."},{"verse":7,"text":"But after a while the brook dried up. There had been no rain in the land."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah. He said,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon. Stay there. Look, I have commanded a widow there to take care of you.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. Elijah called to her, \"Please bring me a little water in a cup so I can drink.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"As she was going to get it, he called to her, \"Please bring me a piece of bread too.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But she answered, \"As surely as the LORD your God lives, I don't have any bread. I only have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I'm gathering a few sticks to take home. I'll make a meal for myself and my son. We'll eat it, and then we'll die.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Elijah said to her, \"Don't be afraid. Go home and do what you said. But first make me a small loaf of bread from what you have. Bring it out to me. After that, make some for yourself and your son."},{"verse":14,"text":"For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up. The jug of oil will not run dry. It will last until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So she went and did what Elijah said. And there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family."},{"verse":16,"text":"The jar of flour was not used up, and the jug of oil did not run dry. It happened just as the LORD had said through Elijah."},{"verse":17,"text":"Later, the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. He got worse and worse. At last he stopped breathing."},{"verse":18,"text":"The woman said to Elijah, \"Man of God, what have you done to me? Did you come here to remind me of my sin? Did you come to make my son die?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But Elijah said to her, \"Give me your son.\" He took the boy from her arms. He carried him up to the upstairs room where he was staying. He laid him on his own bed."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then he cried out to the LORD, \"LORD my God, this widow has opened her home to me. Have you brought trouble on her too by letting her son die?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times. He cried out to the LORD, \"LORD my God, please let this boy's life come back to him!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD heard Elijah's cry. The boy's life came back to him, and he lived."},{"verse":23,"text":"Elijah picked up the boy. He carried him down from the upstairs room into the house. He gave him to his mother. \"Look, your son is alive!\" Elijah said."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the woman said to Elijah, \"Now I know that you are a man of God. I know that the word of the LORD you speak is true.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A long time passed. In the third year with no rain, the word of the LORD came to Elijah. He said, \"Go and show yourself to Ahab. I will send rain on the earth.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was very bad in Samaria."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah deeply feared the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"For when Jezebel was killing the LORD's prophets, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them. He put fifty men in each cave. He gave them food and water.)"},{"verse":5,"text":"Ahab said to Obadiah, \"Go through the land to every spring and every valley. Maybe we can find grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Then we won't have to kill any of our animals.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So they split up the land to search it. Ahab went one way by himself. Obadiah went the other way by himself."},{"verse":7,"text":"As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah suddenly met him. Obadiah knew who he was. He bowed down with his face to the ground. He said, \"Is it really you, my master Elijah?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Yes, it's me,\" he answered. \"Go tell your master, 'Elijah is here!'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But Obadiah said, \"What have I done wrong? Why are you handing me over to Ahab to be killed? I'm your servant."},{"verse":10,"text":"As surely as the LORD your God lives, my master has sent people to look for you in every nation and kingdom. When a nation said, 'He isn't here,' Ahab made them swear an oath. They had to swear they had not found you."},{"verse":11,"text":"And now you say, 'Go tell your master that Elijah is here!'"},{"verse":12,"text":"When I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD may carry you off. I don't know where. Then I'll go tell Ahab, and he won't find you. And he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the LORD since I was young."},{"verse":13,"text":"Didn't anyone tell you what I did when Jezebel was killing the LORD's prophets? I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets in two caves, fifty men in each. I gave them food and water."},{"verse":14,"text":"And now you say, 'Go tell your master that Elijah is here!' He will kill me!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Elijah said, \"I serve the LORD of Hosts. As surely as he lives, I will show myself to Ahab today.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Obadiah went and told Ahab. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah."},{"verse":17,"text":"When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, \"Is that you, the one who brings trouble on Israel?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Elijah answered, \"I haven't brought trouble on Israel. You and your father's family have. That is because you have forsaken the LORD's commands. You have followed the Baals."},{"verse":19,"text":"Now call all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. Bring the 450 prophets of Baal too. And bring the 400 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So Ahab sent for all the Israelites. He gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Elijah stood in front of all the people. He said, \"How long will you go back and forth between two choices? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, follow Baal.\" But the people did not say a word."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Elijah said to the people, \"I am the only prophet of the LORD who is left. But Baal has 450 prophets."},{"verse":23,"text":"Bring us two bulls. Let Baal's prophets choose one bull for themselves. Let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood. But they must not light the fire. I will get the other bull ready. I will put it on the wood, but I won't light the fire."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then you call on the name of your god. And I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers with fire is the true God.\" All the people answered, \"That's a good plan.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, \"There are so many of you. So choose one bull for yourselves and get it ready first. Then call on the name of your god. But don't light the fire.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So they took the bull they were given and got it ready. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon. They shouted, \"Baal, answer us!\" They danced around the altar they had made. But there was no sound. No one answered."},{"verse":27,"text":"At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. He said, \"Shout louder! He's a god, isn't he? Maybe he is deep in thought. Or maybe he's busy, or he's away on a trip. Maybe he's asleep and needs to be woken up!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So they shouted louder. They cut themselves with knives and spears, as they usually did. They kept doing it until blood poured all over them."},{"verse":29,"text":"Noon passed. They kept on raving wildly until the time of the evening sacrifice. But there was no reply. No one answered. No one paid any attention."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Elijah said to all the people, \"Come here to me.\" So all the people came close to him. Then he fixed the LORD's altar, which had been torn down."},{"verse":31,"text":"Elijah took twelve stones. There was one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob. The LORD's word had come to Jacob and said, \"Your name will be Israel.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"With the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. He dug a ditch around the altar. It was big enough to hold about 13 quarts of seed.","note":"Hebrew: two seahs."},{"verse":33,"text":"Next he set the wood in place. He cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then he said, \"Fill four large jars with water. Pour it on the offering and on the wood.\" Then he said, \"Do it again.\" So they did it again. \"Do it a third time,\" he said. And they did it a third time."},{"verse":35,"text":"So the water ran down all around the altar. It even filled the ditch."},{"verse":36,"text":"At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet stepped up to the altar. He prayed, \"LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let everyone know today that you are God in Israel. Let them know that I am your servant. Let them know I have done all these things because you told me to."},{"verse":37,"text":"Answer me, LORD! Answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God. Let them know that you have turned their hearts back again.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Then the fire of the LORD came down. It burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dirt. It even dried up the water in the ditch."},{"verse":39,"text":"All the people saw this. They bowed down with their faces to the ground. They cried, \"The LORD, he is God! The LORD, he is God!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Then Elijah gave them an order. \"Grab the prophets of Baal! Don't let a single one get away!\" So they grabbed them. Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there."},{"verse":41,"text":"Elijah said to Ahab, \"Go up and eat and drink. I hear the sound of a heavy rain coming.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel. He bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees."},{"verse":43,"text":"He said to his servant, \"Go and look toward the sea.\" So the servant went and looked. He said, \"There's nothing there.\" Seven times Elijah told him, \"Go back.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"The seventh time, the servant said, \"I see a small cloud coming up from the sea. It's as small as a man's hand.\" Elijah said, \"Go and tell Ahab, 'Get your chariot ready and go down. Go before the rain stops you.'\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind. A heavy rain began to fall. Ahab rode off and went to Jezreel."},{"verse":46,"text":"The power of the LORD came on Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt. Then he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done. He told her how Elijah had killed all the prophets with the sword."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah. She said, \"By this time tomorrow I will make your life like the lives of the prophets you killed. If I don't, may the gods punish me, and punish me badly!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Elijah was afraid. He ran for his life. He came to Beersheba in Judah and left his servant there."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he went on alone into the wilderness. He walked for a whole day. He sat down under a broom bush and prayed that he would die. \"I've had enough, LORD,\" he said. \"Take my life. I'm no better than my ancestors.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then he lay down under the broom bush and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, \"Get up and eat.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"He looked around. There by his head was a loaf of bread baked on hot coals. There was also a jar of water. So he ate and drank. Then he lay down again."},{"verse":7,"text":"The angel of the LORD came back a second time. He touched him and said, \"Get up and eat. If you don't, the trip will be too hard for you.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So he got up and ate and drank. The food made him strong. He walked forty days and forty nights. At last he came to Horeb, the mountain of God."},{"verse":9,"text":"There Elijah went into a cave and spent the night. Then the word of the LORD came to him. He said, \"What are you doing here, Elijah?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"He answered, \"I have been full of zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts. But the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They have killed your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left. And now they are trying to kill me too.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD said, \"Go out and stand on the mountain in front of the LORD. Look, the LORD is about to pass by.\" Then a huge, powerful wind tore through the mountains. It broke the rocks into pieces in front of the LORD. But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake. But the LORD was not in the earthquake."},{"verse":12,"text":"After the earthquake there was a fire. But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice."},{"verse":13,"text":"When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his cloak. He went out and stood at the opening of the cave. Suddenly a voice spoke to him. It said, \"What are you doing here, Elijah?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"He answered, \"I have been full of zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts. But the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have torn down your altars. They have killed your prophets with the sword. I'm the only one left. And now they are trying to kill me too.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD said to him, \"Go back the way you came. Go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king over Aram."},{"verse":16,"text":"Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah to take your place as prophet."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jehu will kill anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael. And Elisha will kill anyone who escapes the sword of Jehu."},{"verse":18,"text":"But I have kept 7,000 people in Israel. Their knees have not bowed down to Baal. Their mouths have not kissed him.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen. He was with the twelfth pair. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak around him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. He said, \"Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you.\" Elijah answered, \"Go on back. What have I done to you?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Elisha went back. He took his pair of oxen and killed them. He burned the oxen's plowing gear to cook the meat. He gave the meat to the people, and they ate. Then he left to follow Elijah and serve him."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered his whole army. Thirty-two kings came with him, with their horses and chariots. He marched up and surrounded Samaria. He attacked it."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"They said, \"This is what Ben-hadad says: 'Your silver and gold belong to me. Your best wives and children belong to me too!'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The king of Israel answered, \"It's just as you say, my master the king. I belong to you, and so does everything I have.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The messengers came back again. They said, \"This is what Ben-hadad says: 'I sent you a message. I told you to give me your silver and gold, your wives and your children."},{"verse":6,"text":"But about this time tomorrow I will send my servants. They will search your palace and the houses of your servants. They will grab everything you treasure and carry it away.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the king of Israel called together all the elders of the land. He said, \"Look! This man is trying to make trouble. He asked for my wives and children, my silver and gold. And I didn't say no to him.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The elders and all the people said, \"Don't listen to him. Don't agree to what he wants.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Ahab answered Ben-hadad's messengers, \"Tell my master the king this: 'I, your servant, will do everything you asked the first time. But I can't do this.'\" So the messengers left. They took the answer back to Ben-hadad."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Ben-hadad sent Ahab another message. \"There won't be enough dust left of Samaria for each of my men to have a handful. If there is, may the gods punish me, and punish me badly!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The king of Israel answered, \"Tell him this: 'A man who is putting his armor on should not brag like a man who is taking it off.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Ben-hadad got this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents. He said to his men, \"Get ready to attack.\" So they took their places to attack the city."},{"verse":13,"text":"Meanwhile, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Do you see this huge army? Look, today I will hand it over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Ahab asked, \"Who will do it?\" The prophet answered, \"This is what the LORD says: 'The young officers of the area governors will do it.'\" Ahab asked, \"Who will start the battle?\" The prophet answered, \"You will.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So Ahab called together the young officers of the area governors. There were 232 of them. Then he gathered the rest of Israel's soldiers. There were 7,000 in all."},{"verse":16,"text":"They marched out at noon. At that time Ben-hadad and the 32 kings fighting with him were in their tents getting drunk."},{"verse":17,"text":"The young officers of the area governors marched out first. Ben-hadad had sent out scouts. They told him, \"Men are marching out of Samaria.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"He said, \"Maybe they've come out to make peace. If so, take them alive. Maybe they've come out to fight. Even so, take them alive.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The young officers of the area governors marched out of the city. The army followed behind them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Each one of them killed the enemy soldier he fought. So the Arameans ran away, and the Israelites chased them. But Ben-hadad king of Aram got away on a horse with some of his horsemen."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the king of Israel marched out. He attacked the horses and chariots. He killed a great many of the Arameans."},{"verse":22,"text":"After that, the prophet came to the king of Israel. He said, \"Go and make yourself stronger. Think about what you need to do. In the spring the king of Aram will come up to attack you.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram said to him, \"Their gods are gods of the hills. That's why they beat us. Let's fight them on the flat land instead. Then we will surely beat them."},{"verse":24,"text":"So here's what to do. Remove all the kings from their positions. Put other officers in their place."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then build an army like the one you lost. Get a horse for every horse and a chariot for every chariot. Then we can fight the Israelites on the flat land. There we will surely beat them.\" The king agreed with their plan and did what they said."},{"verse":26,"text":"In the spring, Ben-hadad called up the Arameans. He went up to Aphek to fight against Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"The Israelites were also called up and given supplies. They marched out to meet the Arameans. The Israelites camped across from them. They looked like two small flocks of goats. But the Arameans covered the whole countryside."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the man of God came to the king of Israel. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'The Arameans say the LORD is a god of the hills and not of the valleys. So I will hand this whole huge army over to you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\""},{"verse":29,"text":"The two armies camped across from each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began. The Israelites killed 100,000 Aramean foot soldiers in one day."},{"verse":30,"text":"The rest of them ran into the town of Aphek. There the wall fell on 27,000 of the men who were left. Ben-hadad also ran into the town. He hid in an inner room."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Ben-hadad's officials said to him, \"Listen. We've heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let's go out to the king of Israel. We'll wear sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Maybe he will let you live.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads. They went to the king of Israel. They said, \"Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'Please let me live.'\" The king answered, \"Is he still alive? He is my brother.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The men were watching for a sign of hope. They quickly grabbed onto his words. \"Yes, your brother Ben-hadad!\" they said. The king said, \"Go and get him!\" So Ben-hadad came out. Ahab had him come up into his chariot."},{"verse":34,"text":"Ben-hadad said to him, \"I will give back the towns my father took from your father. You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.\" Ahab answered, \"I'll set you free with this treaty.\" So he made a treaty with him and let him go."},{"verse":35,"text":"Meanwhile, a man from the group of prophets spoke by the LORD's word. He said to his friend, \"Please hit me!\" But the man refused to hit him."},{"verse":36,"text":"So the prophet said to him, \"You have not obeyed the voice of the LORD. So as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you.\" The man left, and a lion found him and killed him."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then the prophet found another man. He said, \"Please hit me!\" So the man hit him and hurt him."},{"verse":38,"text":"Then the prophet went and waited by the road for the king. He disguised himself with a cloth over his eyes."},{"verse":39,"text":"As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, \"I, your servant, went into the middle of the battle. Suddenly a man came over to me with a prisoner. He said, 'Guard this man! If he goes missing for any reason, you will pay with your life. Or else you must pay a talent of silver.'","note":"A talent of silver was about 75 pounds, a huge sum."},{"verse":40,"text":"But while I was busy here and there, the man was gone.\" The king of Israel said to him, \"That's your sentence. You have judged yourself.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Then the prophet quickly took the cloth off his eyes. The king of Israel saw that he was one of the prophets."},{"verse":42,"text":"The prophet said to the king, \"This is what the LORD says: 'I had set this man apart to be destroyed. But you let him go free. So your life will be taken for his life. Your people will be taken for his people.'\""},{"verse":43,"text":"The king of Israel went home to Samaria. He was upset and angry."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time after this, there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel. He owned a vineyard in Jezreel. It was next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria."},{"verse":2,"text":"Ahab said to Naboth, \"Give me your vineyard. I want to use it for a vegetable garden, since it's next to my palace. I'll give you a better vineyard for it. Or if you'd like, I'll pay you what it's worth in silver.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Naboth answered, \"The LORD forbid that I should give you the land my ancestors passed down to me.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Ahab went home to his palace upset and angry. Naboth from Jezreel had told him, \"I will not give you the land my ancestors passed down to me.\" Ahab lay down on his bed. He turned his face away and would not eat."},{"verse":5,"text":"Soon his wife Jezebel came in. She asked him, \"Why are you so upset? Why won't you eat?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Ahab answered, \"I talked to Naboth from Jezreel. I told him, 'Sell me your vineyard for silver. Or if you'd like, I'll give you another vineyard for it.' But he said, 'I won't give you my vineyard!'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"His wife Jezebel said to him, \"Aren't you the king of Israel? Get up and eat something. Cheer up! I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Jezebel wrote letters and signed Ahab's name. She stamped them with his seal. She sent them to the elders and leaders who lived in Naboth's town with him."},{"verse":9,"text":"In the letters she wrote, \"Call for a day of fasting. Give Naboth a seat of honor among the people."},{"verse":10,"text":"But seat two worthless men across from him. Have them speak against him and say, 'You have cursed God and the king!' Then take Naboth out and throw stones at him until he dies.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So the elders and leaders who lived in Naboth's town did what Jezebel told them. They followed the orders in the letters she had written to them."},{"verse":12,"text":"They called for a day of fasting. They gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the two worthless men came in and sat across from Naboth. They spoke against him in front of the people. They said, \"Naboth has cursed God and the king!\" So the people took Naboth outside the town. They threw stones at him until he died."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then they sent a message to Jezebel. It said, \"Naboth has been stoned to death.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death. So she said to Ahab, \"Get up and take the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel. He wouldn't sell it to you for silver. But Naboth isn't alive anymore. He's dead.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. So he got up and went down to take Naboth's vineyard for himself."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah from Tishbe. He said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Get up and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel. He rules in Samaria. Look, he is in Naboth's vineyard. He has gone there to take it for himself."},{"verse":19,"text":"Tell him this is what the LORD says: 'Haven't you murdered a man and taken his land?' Then tell him this is also what the LORD says: 'Dogs licked up Naboth's blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, yours!'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"When Elijah got there, Ahab said to him, \"So you've found me, my enemy!\" Elijah answered, \"Yes, I've found you. You have sold yourself to do evil in the LORD's eyes."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is what the LORD says: 'I will bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your family line. I will cut off every male in Israel who belongs to Ahab, both slave and free."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. I will make it like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah. That is because you have made me angry. And you have made Israel sin.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD also speaks about Jezebel. He says, 'Dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"Dogs will eat anyone from Ahab's family who dies in the city. Birds will eat anyone who dies in the open country.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"(There was truly no one like Ahab. He sold himself to do evil in the LORD's eyes. His wife Jezebel urged him on."},{"verse":26,"text":"He did the most disgusting things by following idols. He was just like the Amorites. The LORD had driven them out ahead of the Israelites.)"},{"verse":27,"text":"Ahab heard these words. He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. He fasted. He lay down in sackcloth. He walked around quietly and humbly."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah from Tishbe. He said,"},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? He has humbled himself before me. So I will not bring the disaster while he is alive. I will bring it on his family when his son is king.\""}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then three years went by without war between Aram and Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"But in the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"The king of Israel said to his officials, \"Don't you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us? But we haven't done anything to take it back from the king of Aram.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So he asked Jehoshaphat, \"Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth-gilead?\" Jehoshaphat answered the king of Israel, \"I am with you all the way. My people are your people. My horses are your horses.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, \"First, please ask what the LORD has to say.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the king of Israel gathered the prophets. There were about 400 men. He asked them, \"Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?\" \"Go,\" they answered. \"The Lord will hand it over to the king.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But Jehoshaphat asked, \"Isn't there still a prophet of the LORD here? We could ask him.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The king of Israel answered, \"There is still one man we can ask about the LORD's will. But I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me, only bad. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.\" Jehoshaphat said, \"The king shouldn't say that!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So the king of Israel called one of his officials. He said, \"Bring Micaiah son of Imlah right away.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah wore their royal robes. They were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor near the entrance of Samaria's gate. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made some iron horns. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are all destroyed.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. They said, \"Go up to Ramoth-gilead and win! The LORD will hand it over to the king.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The messenger who had gone to get Micaiah spoke to him. He said, \"Listen. All the other prophets agree. They are telling the king he will win. So please make your words like theirs. Say something good.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But Micaiah said, \"As surely as the LORD lives, I will say whatever the LORD tells me.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, \"Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?\" Micaiah answered, \"Go up and win. The LORD will hand it over to the king.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But the king said to him, \"How many times must I make you swear an oath? Tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Micaiah said, \"I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Didn't I tell you? He never prophesies anything good about me, only bad.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Micaiah went on, \"So listen to the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne. All the armies of heaven were standing around him, on his right and on his left."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD said, 'Who will trick Ahab into going to Ramoth-gilead so he will die there?' One said one thing, and another said something else."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then a spirit came forward and stood in front of the LORD. He said, 'I will trick him.' The LORD asked, 'How?'"},{"verse":22,"text":"He answered, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD said, 'You will trick him, and you will succeed. Go and do it.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has said that disaster will come on you.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah walked up and slapped Micaiah in the face. He asked, \"Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Micaiah answered, \"You will find out on the day you go and hide in an inner room.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the king of Israel ordered, \"Take Micaiah. Send him back to Amon, the ruler of the city, and to Joash, the king's son."},{"verse":27,"text":"Tell them this is what the king says: 'Put this man in prison. Give him nothing but bread and water until I come back safely.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"But Micaiah answered, \"If you ever come back safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me.\" Then he said, \"All you people, remember what I said!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead."},{"verse":30,"text":"The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"I'll go into battle in disguise. But you wear your royal robes.\" So the king of Israel put on a disguise and went into battle."},{"verse":31,"text":"Now the king of Aram had given an order to his 32 chariot commanders. He said, \"Don't fight with anyone, big or small. Fight only with the king of Israel.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"The chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat. They said, \"That must be the king of Israel!\" So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel. So they stopped chasing him."},{"verse":34,"text":"But a soldier shot an arrow without aiming at anyone in particular. It hit the king of Israel between the pieces of his armor. The king said to his chariot driver, \"Turn around and get me out of the battle. I've been badly wounded!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"The battle went on all day long. The king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Arameans. Blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot. That evening he died."},{"verse":36,"text":"As the sun was going down, a shout went through the army: \"Every man go back to his own town! Every man go back to his own land!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"So the king died. He was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there."},{"verse":38,"text":"They washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria, where the prostitutes bathed. And dogs licked up Ahab's blood. It happened just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":39,"text":"The rest of what Ahab did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. It tells all he did. It tells about the palace he built and decorated with ivory. It tells about all the towns he built."},{"verse":40,"text":"Ahab died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. His son Ahaziah became king after him."},{"verse":41,"text":"Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year that Ahab was king of Israel."},{"verse":42,"text":"Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi."},{"verse":43,"text":"Jehoshaphat followed all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn away from them. He did what was right in the LORD's eyes. But the high places were not taken away. The people still offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places."},{"verse":44,"text":"Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel."},{"verse":45,"text":"The rest of what Jehoshaphat did is written in the Book of the History of the Kings of Judah. It tells about the power he showed and how he fought wars."},{"verse":46,"text":"He got rid of the male shrine prostitutes who were still in the land. They had been left over from the time of his father Asa."},{"verse":47,"text":"There was no king in Edom at that time. A deputy ruled as king."},{"verse":48,"text":"Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish to sail to Ophir for gold. But they never set sail. They were wrecked at Ezion-geber."},{"verse":49,"text":"At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, \"Let my men sail with your men.\" But Jehoshaphat said no."},{"verse":50,"text":"Jehoshaphat died and was laid to rest with his ancestors. He was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram became king after him."},{"verse":51,"text":"Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in the seventeenth year that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Ahaziah ruled in Samaria for two years."},{"verse":52,"text":"He did evil in the LORD's eyes. He lived the way his father and mother had lived. He also lived the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin."},{"verse":53,"text":"Ahaziah served and worshiped Baal. He made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry, just as his father had done."}]}]},{"name":"2 Kings","slug":"2-kings","usfm":"2KI","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After Ahab died, the people of Moab rebelled against Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upstairs room in Samaria. He was hurt. So he sent messengers and told them, \"Go ask Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will get well from this injury.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, \"Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria. Ask them, 'Is there no God in Israel? Is that why you are going to ask Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?'"},{"verse":4,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: 'You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. You will surely die.'\" Then Elijah left."},{"verse":5,"text":"The messengers went back to the king. He asked them, \"Why have you come back?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"They answered, \"A man came up to meet us. He said, 'Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him that this is what the LORD says: Is there no God in Israel? Is that why you are sending these men to ask Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? So you will not get up from the bed you are lying on. You will surely die.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The king asked them, \"What kind of man came up to meet you and told you this?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"He was a hairy man,\" they answered. \"He had a leather belt around his waist.\" The king said, \"It was Elijah the Tishbite.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then King Ahaziah sent a captain to Elijah with his group of fifty men. Elijah was sitting on top of a hill. The captain went up to him and said, \"Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Elijah answered the captain, \"If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your fifty men.\" Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his fifty men."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the king sent another captain to Elijah with his fifty men. This captain said to Elijah, \"Man of God, the king says, 'Come down right now!'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Again Elijah answered, \"If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your fifty men.\" Then the fire of God came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his fifty men."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees in front of Elijah. He begged him, \"Man of God, please let my life be precious to you. Let the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious too."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, fire has come down from heaven. It burned up the first two captains and all their fifty men. But now, please let my life be precious to you.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, \"Go down with him. Don't be afraid of him.\" So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king."},{"verse":16,"text":"Elijah said to King Ahaziah, \"This is what the LORD says: Is there really no God in Israel for you to ask for his word? Is that why you sent messengers to ask Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? So you will not get up from the bed you are lying on. You will surely die.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Ahaziah died, just as the LORD had said through Elijah. Ahaziah had no son. So Jehoram became king in his place. This was in the second year that Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah."},{"verse":18,"text":"The rest of what Ahaziah did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Just before this, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal."},{"verse":2,"text":"Elijah said to Elisha, \"Please stay here. The LORD has sent me on to Bethel.\" But Elisha answered, \"As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, I will not leave you.\" So they went down to Bethel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha. They said, \"Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?\" \"Yes, I know,\" he answered. \"Don't talk about it.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Elijah said to Elisha, \"Please stay here. The LORD has sent me on to Jericho.\" But Elisha answered, \"As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, I will not leave you.\" So they went to Jericho."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha. They said, \"Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?\" \"Yes, I know,\" he answered. \"Don't talk about it.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Elijah said to Elisha, \"Please stay here. The LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.\" But Elisha answered, \"As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, I will not leave you.\" So the two of them went on."},{"verse":7,"text":"Fifty of the sons of the prophets went along too. They stood a long way off, facing Elijah and Elisha. The two of them stood by the Jordan."},{"verse":8,"text":"Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up. He hit the water with it. The water split apart to the right and to the left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground."},{"verse":9,"text":"After they crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, \"Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?\" Elisha answered, \"Please let me receive a double share of your spirit.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"You have asked for a hard thing,\" Elijah said. \"But if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. If you don't, it won't be.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"They were walking along and talking together. Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared. They came between the two of them. And Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind."},{"verse":12,"text":"Elisha saw it and cried out, \"My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!\" Then he saw Elijah no more. So Elisha took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two."},{"verse":13,"text":"Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah. He went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan."},{"verse":14,"text":"He took Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him and hit the water with it. \"Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?\" he asked. When he hit the water, it split apart to the right and to the left. And Elisha crossed over."},{"verse":15,"text":"The sons of the prophets from Jericho were watching him. When they saw what happened, they said, \"The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.\" They went to meet him. They bowed down to the ground in front of him."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Listen,\" they said to Elisha. \"We your servants have fifty strong men. Please let them go and look for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on a mountain or in a valley.\" \"Don't send them,\" Elisha answered."},{"verse":17,"text":"But they kept pushing him until he was ashamed to say no. So he said, \"Send them.\" They sent fifty men. The men searched for three days, but they did not find Elijah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Elisha was staying in Jericho. When the men came back to him, he said, \"Didn't I tell you not to go?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the men of the city said to Elisha, \"Our lord, please notice that this city is in a good place, as you can see. But the water is bad, and the land doesn't produce crops.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Bring me a new bowl,\" he answered, \"and put some salt in it.\" So they brought it to him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Elisha went out to the spring and threw the salt into it. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. It will no longer cause death or keep things from bearing fruit.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"And the water there has stayed healthy to this day, just as Elisha said."},{"verse":23,"text":"From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city. They made fun of him. They chanted, \"Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Elisha turned around and looked at them. He called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods. They tore apart forty-two of the boys."},{"verse":25,"text":"Elisha went on to Mount Carmel. From there he went back to Samaria."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jehoram son of Ahab became king of Israel. This was in the eighteenth year that Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah. Jehoram ruled in Samaria for twelve years."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not as much as his father and mother had. He took away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made."},{"verse":3,"text":"But he held on to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. He did not turn away from them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Mesha king of Moab raised sheep. He had to pay the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs. He also had to pay the wool of a hundred thousand rams."},{"verse":5,"text":"But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"So at that time King Jehoram left Samaria. He called up all Israel for war."},{"verse":7,"text":"He sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah. It said, \"The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?\" \"I will go,\" Jehoshaphat answered. \"I am the same as you. My people are your people. My horses are your horses.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Jehoshaphat asked, \"Which way should we go up?\" \"Through the Desert of Edom,\" Joram answered."},{"verse":9,"text":"So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out. They took a long, winding road for seven days. Then they ran out of water for their army and for their animals."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Oh no!\" said the king of Israel. \"The LORD has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But Jehoshaphat asked, \"Isn't there a prophet of the LORD here? Let's ask the LORD through him.\" One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, \"Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on Elijah's hands.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Jehoshaphat said, \"The word of the LORD is with him.\" So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to see him."},{"verse":13,"text":"But Elisha said to the king of Israel, \"What do you and I have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and your mother!\" \"No,\" the king of Israel answered. \"It's the LORD who has called these three kings together to hand them over to Moab.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Elisha said, \"I serve the LORD of Hosts. As surely as he lives, I would not even look at you or notice you if I did not respect Jehoshaphat king of Judah, who is here."},{"verse":15,"text":"But now, bring me a harp player.\" While the harp player was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha."},{"verse":16,"text":"And Elisha said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Dig this valley full of ditches.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"For the LORD says, 'You will not see wind or rain. But this valley will be filled with water. And you will drink, you and your cattle and your animals.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"This is an easy thing for the LORD. He will also hand the Moabites over to you."},{"verse":19,"text":"You will attack every walled city and every important city. You will cut down every good tree. You will block up every spring. And you will ruin every good field with stones.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water suddenly came flowing from the direction of Edom. It filled the land."},{"verse":21,"text":"Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come to fight against them. So everyone who could carry weapons, young and old, was called up. They were placed at the border."},{"verse":22,"text":"The Moabites got up early in the morning. The sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites across the way, the water looked as red as blood."},{"verse":23,"text":"\"This is blood!\" they shouted. \"The kings must have fought and killed each other. Now let's go take what they left, Moab!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"But when the Moabites came to Israel's camp, the Israelites rose up and attacked them. The Moabites ran away from them. So the Israelites went into their land and struck down the Moabites."},{"verse":25,"text":"They destroyed the cities. Each man threw a stone on every good field until it was covered. They blocked up every spring and cut down every good tree. Only Kir-haraseth was left with its stones still in place. But men with slings surrounded it and attacked it too."},{"verse":26,"text":"The king of Moab saw that the battle was too strong for him. So he took seven hundred men with swords. They tried to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the king of Moab took his firstborn son, who would have been king after him. He offered him as a burnt offering on the city wall. And there was great anger against the Israelites. So they pulled back and went home to their own land."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The wife of a man from the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha. She said, \"My husband, your servant, is dead. You know that he feared the LORD. Now the man he owed money to is coming. He wants to take my two children as his slaves!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How can I help you?\" Elisha asked. \"Tell me, what do you have in your house?\" She answered, \"Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Go,\" Elisha said. \"Borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Don't get just a few."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all these jars. Set each full one aside.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So she left him. She shut the door behind her and her sons. They kept bringing jars to her, and she kept pouring."},{"verse":6,"text":"When all the jars were full, she said to her son, \"Bring me another one.\" But he answered, \"There aren't any more jars.\" Then the oil stopped flowing."},{"verse":7,"text":"She went and told the man of God. He said, \"Go sell the oil and pay what you owe. Then you and your sons can live on what is left.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"One day Elisha went to Shunem. An important woman lived there. She talked him into staying for a meal. After that, whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat."},{"verse":9,"text":"The woman said to her husband, \"Listen, now I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God."},{"verse":10,"text":"Please let's make a small room for him upstairs. Let's put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp in it for him. Then he can stay there when he comes to us.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"One day Elisha came by. He went up to his upstairs room to lie down."},{"verse":12,"text":"He said to his servant Gehazi, \"Call the Shunammite woman.\" Gehazi called her, and she stood in front of him."},{"verse":13,"text":"Elisha said to Gehazi, \"Tell her, 'Look, you've gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak to the king for you? Or to the commander of the army?'\" She answered, \"I have a home among my own people.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Elisha asked, \"Then what can be done for her?\" Gehazi answered, \"Well, she has no son. And her husband is old.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Call her,\" Elisha said. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway."},{"verse":16,"text":"Elisha said, \"About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.\" \"No, my lord!\" she said. \"Man of God, don't lie to me, your servant.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But the woman did become pregnant. About that time the next year, she had a son, just as Elisha had told her."},{"verse":18,"text":"The child grew. One day he went out to his father, who was with the workers cutting the grain."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"My head! My head!\" he cried to his father. So his father told a servant, \"Carry him to his mother.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The servant picked him up and carried him to his mother. The boy sat on her lap until noon. Then he died."},{"verse":21,"text":"She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God. Then she shut the door and went out."},{"verse":22,"text":"She called her husband and said, \"Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys. I need to hurry to the man of God and come back.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Why go to him today?\" he asked. \"It isn't a New Moon or a Sabbath.\" \"It's all right,\" she said."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then she saddled the donkey. She told her servant, \"Lead on. Don't slow down for me unless I tell you.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So she set out and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. The man of God saw her far away. He said to his servant Gehazi, \"Look, there's the Shunammite woman."},{"verse":26,"text":"Please run out now to meet her. Ask her, 'Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?'\" She answered, \"Everything is all right.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"She reached the man of God on the mountain and held on to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away. But the man of God said, \"Leave her alone! She is in deep pain. And the LORD has hidden it from me. He hasn't told me.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then she said, \"My lord, did I ask you for a son? Didn't I tell you, 'Don't fool me'?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"So Elisha said to Gehazi, \"Tuck your robe into your belt. Take my staff in your hand and go! If you meet anyone, don't greet him. If anyone greets you, don't answer. Then lay my staff on the boy's face.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"But the boy's mother said, \"As surely as the LORD lives, and as surely as you live, I will not leave you.\" So Elisha got up and followed her."},{"verse":31,"text":"Gehazi went on ahead of them. He laid the staff on the boy's face. But there was no sound and no sign of life. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha. He told him, \"The boy hasn't woken up.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"When Elisha reached the house, he saw the boy lying dead on his bed."},{"verse":33,"text":"So he went in and shut the door on the two of them. Then he prayed to the LORD."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy. He put his mouth on the boy's mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. As he stretched out over him, the boy's body grew warm."},{"verse":35,"text":"Elisha got up and walked back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched out over the boy again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes."},{"verse":36,"text":"Elisha called Gehazi and said, \"Call the Shunammite woman.\" So Gehazi called her, and she came. Elisha said, \"Pick up your son.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"She came in and fell at his feet. She bowed down to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out."},{"verse":38,"text":"Elisha went back to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting at his feet. He said to his helper, \"Put the big pot on the fire. Cook some stew for the sons of the prophets.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"One of them went out to the field to gather plants. He found a wild vine. He picked as many wild gourds from it as his robe could hold. Then he came back and cut them up into the pot of stew. But no one knew what they were."},{"verse":40,"text":"They poured out the stew for the men to eat. But when they tasted it, they cried out, \"Man of God, there's death in the pot!\" And they couldn't eat it."},{"verse":41,"text":"Then Elisha said, \"Bring some flour.\" He threw it into the pot. Then he said, \"Pour it out for the people to eat.\" And there was nothing harmful in the pot."},{"verse":42,"text":"A man came from Baal-shalishah to the man of God. He brought a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of the harvest. \"Give it to the people to eat,\" Elisha said."},{"verse":43,"text":"But his servant asked, \"How can I set twenty loaves in front of a hundred men?\" Elisha said, \"Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.'\""},{"verse":44,"text":"So he set it in front of them. They ate and had some left over, just as the LORD had said."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. His master thought he was a great man and respected him highly. That was because the LORD had used Naaman to give Aram victory. He was a brave and mighty soldier, but he had leprosy."},{"verse":2,"text":"At this time, groups of Aramean raiders had gone out. They had taken a young girl from the land of Israel. She became a servant to Naaman's wife."},{"verse":3,"text":"She said to her mistress, \"I wish my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria! He would heal him of his leprosy.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Go now,\" said the king of Aram. \"I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.\" So Naaman left. He took with him about 750 pounds of silver, about 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothes.","note":"Hebrew: ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold."},{"verse":6,"text":"He brought the letter to the king of Israel. It said, \"With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes. He said, \"Am I God? Can I kill and give life? Why does this man expect me to heal someone of leprosy? You can see he's just trying to start a fight with me!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes. So he sent the king a message. It said, \"Why have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me. Then he will know there is a prophet in Israel.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Naaman came with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha's house."},{"verse":10,"text":"Elisha sent a messenger out to him. The messenger said, \"Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan. Then your skin will be healed, and you will be clean.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But Naaman went away angry. He said, \"I thought he would surely come out to me. I thought he would stand there and call on the name of the LORD his God. I thought he would wave his hand over the spot and heal my leprosy."},{"verse":12,"text":"Aren't the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be made clean?\" So he turned and went away very angry."},{"verse":13,"text":"But Naaman's servants came up to him. They said, \"Father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? So you should surely do it when he simply tells you, 'Wash and be clean'!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had said. Then his skin was healed. It became like the skin of a little child, and he was clean."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Naaman and all his people went back to the man of God. He stood in front of him and said, \"Now I know for sure there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from me, your servant.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But Elisha answered, \"I serve the LORD. As surely as he lives, I will not accept it.\" Naaman pushed him to take it, but he refused."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"If you won't,\" Naaman said, \"then please let me, your servant, have as much soil as two mules can carry. For I, your servant, will never again offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god except the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"But may the LORD forgive me, your servant, for this one thing. My master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there. He leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon. When I do that, may the LORD forgive your servant for it.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Go in peace,\" Elisha said. But after Naaman had gone a short way,"},{"verse":20,"text":"Gehazi spoke up. He was the servant of Elisha the man of God. He said, \"Look, my master let this Aramean, Naaman, off too easy. He didn't take what Naaman brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I'll run after him and get something from him.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Gehazi chased after Naaman. Naaman saw him running toward him. He got down from his chariot to meet him. He asked, \"Is everything all right?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Everything is all right,\" Gehazi answered. \"My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the sons of the prophets just came to me. They came from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothes.'\"","note":"A talent was about 75 pounds."},{"verse":23,"text":"But Naaman said, \"Please, take two talents.\" He kept urging Gehazi to take them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags, along with two sets of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants. They carried them ahead of Gehazi."},{"verse":24,"text":"When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants. He put them away in the house. Then he sent the men away, and they left."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Gehazi went in and stood in front of his master. Elisha asked him, \"Gehazi, where have you been?\" \"Your servant didn't go anywhere,\" he answered."},{"verse":26,"text":"But Elisha said to him, \"Wasn't my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money and clothes? Is it the time for olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and men and women servants?"},{"verse":27,"text":"So Naaman's leprosy will stick to you and your descendants forever!\" Gehazi left Elisha's presence with leprosy. His skin was as white as snow."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, \"Please look. The place where we meet with you is too small for us."},{"verse":2,"text":"Please let us go to the Jordan. Each of us can get a log there. Then we can build a place to live there.\" \"Go,\" Elisha said."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then one of them said, \"Please come with your servants.\" \"I will come,\" he answered."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Elisha went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down trees."},{"verse":5,"text":"One of them was cutting down a tree. The iron ax head fell into the water. \"Oh no, master!\" he cried out. \"It was borrowed!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Where did it fall?\" the man of God asked. The man showed him the place. Then the man of God cut a stick and threw it there. He made the iron float."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Pick it up,\" he said. So the man reached out his hand and took it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. He talked with his officers. Then he said, \"My camp will be at this place.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the man of God sent word to the king of Israel. He said, \"Be careful not to go past this place. The Arameans are going down there.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had pointed out. Elisha warned the king again and again. So the king was on guard in those places."},{"verse":11,"text":"This made the king of Aram very angry. He called his officers and demanded, \"Tell me! Which one of us is on the side of the king of Israel?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"One of his officers answered, \"None of us, my lord the king. It's Elisha, the prophet in Israel. He tells the king of Israel the very words you say in your bedroom.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So the king said, \"Go and find out where he is. Then I can send men to capture him.\" Then the report came back: \"Elisha is in Dothan.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a large army there. They went at night and surrounded the city."},{"verse":15,"text":"Early the next morning, the servant of the man of God got up and went out. And look! An army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, \"Oh no, master! What should we do?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Don't be afraid,\" Elisha answered. \"Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Elisha prayed, \"LORD, please open his eyes so he can see.\" So the LORD opened the young man's eyes. He saw that the hills all around Elisha were full of horses and chariots of fire."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Arameans came down toward him. Elisha prayed to the LORD, \"Please strike these people blind.\" So the LORD struck them blind, just as Elisha asked."},{"verse":19,"text":"Elisha told them, \"This isn't the right road. This isn't the right city. Follow me. I'll take you to the man you're looking for.\" And he led them to Samaria."},{"verse":20,"text":"After they went into Samaria, Elisha said, \"LORD, open these men's eyes so they can see.\" Then the LORD opened their eyes. They looked around and found they were in Samaria."},{"verse":21,"text":"When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, \"My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Don't kill them,\" Elisha answered. \"Would you kill men you had captured with your own sword or bow? Give them food and water. Let them eat and drink. Then let them go back to their master.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So the king made a big feast for them. When they finished eating and drinking, he sent them away. They went back to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again."},{"verse":24,"text":"Some time later, Ben-hadad king of Aram gathered his whole army. He marched up and surrounded Samaria to attack it."},{"verse":25,"text":"So there was a terrible famine in Samaria. The army surrounded the city for so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty shekels of silver. About a cup of dove's dung sold for five shekels of silver.","note":"Eighty shekels was about 2 pounds of silver; five shekels was about 2 ounces. Hebrew: a quarter of a cab."},{"verse":26,"text":"The king of Israel was walking along the top of the city wall. A woman cried out to him, \"Help me, my lord the king!\""},{"verse":27,"text":"He answered, \"If the LORD doesn't help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the king asked her, \"What's wrong?\" She answered, \"This woman said to me, 'Give up your son so we can eat him. Tomorrow we'll eat my son.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"So we boiled my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give up your son so we can eat him.' But she had hidden her son.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"When the king heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes. He was walking along the wall. The people looked and saw that he had sackcloth under his clothes, next to his skin."},{"verse":31,"text":"He said, \"May God punish me, and punish me terribly, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat is still on his shoulders by the end of today!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Elisha was sitting in his house. The elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead. But before he got there, Elisha said to the elders, \"Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door. Keep him out. Isn't that the sound of his master's footsteps behind him?\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Elisha was still talking with them when the messenger came down to him. And the king said, \"This trouble is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Elisha said, \"Listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: 'About this time tomorrow, at the gate of Samaria, seven quarts of fine flour will sell for a shekel. And fourteen quarts of barley will sell for a shekel.'\"","note":"Hebrew: a seah of fine flour, two seahs of barley. A shekel was about 2/5 of an ounce of silver."},{"verse":2,"text":"The king leaned on the arm of one of his officers. That officer answered the man of God, \"Look, even if the LORD made windows in the sky, could this really happen?\" \"You will see it with your own eyes,\" Elisha answered. \"But you won't eat any of it.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, \"Why should we sit here until we die?"},{"verse":4,"text":"If we say, 'Let's go into the city,' we'll die there, because there's a famine in the city. But if we stay here, we'll die too. So come on, let's go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we'll live. If they kill us, we'll die.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So at dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the edge of the camp, no one was there."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Lord had made the Arameans hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army. So they said to each other, \"Look! The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the Egyptians to attack us.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So the Arameans had gotten up and run away at dusk. They left behind their tents, their horses, and their donkeys. The camp was left just as it was. They had run for their lives."},{"verse":8,"text":"The men with leprosy reached the edge of the camp. They went into a tent and ate and drank. Then they carried off silver, gold, and clothes. They went and hid them. Then they came back and went into another tent. They carried off things from there too and hid them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Finally they said to each other, \"What we're doing isn't right. Today is a day of good news. If we keep quiet and wait until morning, our sin will catch up with us. So come on, let's go tell the king's household.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers. They said, \"We went to the Aramean camp, and no one was there. There wasn't a sign of anyone. There were only horses and donkeys tied up, and the tents were left just as they were.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The gatekeepers shouted the news. It was reported inside the king's palace."},{"verse":12,"text":"So the king got up in the night. He said to his officers, \"Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we're starving. So they've left the camp to hide in the fields. They're thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we'll capture them alive. Then we'll go into the city.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But one of his officers answered, \"Please let some men take five of the horses left in the city. They will be no worse off than all the Israelites left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are going to die anyway. So let's send them and find out.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the men took two chariots with horses. The king sent them after the Aramean army. He told them, \"Go and see.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"They followed the Arameans all the way to the Jordan. The whole road was covered with clothes and gear. The Arameans had thrown them away as they ran in a hurry. So the scouts came back and told the king."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the people went out and took everything from the camp of the Arameans. So seven quarts of fine flour sold for a shekel. And fourteen quarts of barley sold for a shekel, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":17,"text":"The king had put the officer he leaned on in charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died. It happened just as the man of God had said when the king came to see him."},{"verse":18,"text":"It happened just as the man of God had told the king. He had said, \"About this time tomorrow, at the gate of Samaria, fourteen quarts of barley will sell for a shekel. And seven quarts of fine flour will sell for a shekel.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"And the officer had answered the man of God, \"Look, even if the LORD made windows in the sky, could this really happen?\" Elisha had answered, \"You will see it with your own eyes, but you won't eat any of it!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"And that is just what happened to him. The people trampled him in the gateway, and he died."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had brought back to life. He had said, \"Get up and go, you and your family. Go live as a foreigner wherever you can. The LORD has ordered a famine to come on the land. It will last seven years.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So the woman did what the man of God told her. She and her family went and lived as foreigners in the land of the Philistines for seven years."},{"verse":3,"text":"At the end of the seven years, the woman came back from the land of the Philistines. She went to the king to ask for her house and her land back."},{"verse":4,"text":"At that time the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God. The king said, \"Please tell me all the great things Elisha has done.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life. Just then, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came in. She came to ask the king for her house and her land. Gehazi said, \"My lord the king, this is the woman! And this is her son that Elisha brought back to life.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The king asked the woman about it, and she told him it was true. So the king put an officer in charge of her case. He said, \"Give back everything that was hers. Also give her all the crops her field has produced from the day she left the country until now.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Elisha went to Damascus. Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick. Someone told the king, \"The man of God has come here.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the king said to Hazael, \"Take a gift with you. Go meet the man of God. Ask the LORD through him, 'Will I get well from this sickness?'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Hazael went to meet Elisha. He took a gift with him. It was forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. He went in and stood in front of Elisha. He said, \"Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me. He asks, 'Will I get well from this sickness?'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Elisha answered, \"Go and tell him, 'You will surely get well.' But the LORD has shown me that he will really die.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Elisha stared at Hazael without looking away until Hazael felt ashamed. Then the man of God began to cry."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Why is my lord crying?\" Hazael asked. \"Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,\" Elisha answered. \"You will set their forts on fire. You will kill their young men with the sword. You will smash their little children to pieces. And you will rip open their pregnant women.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Hazael said, \"But how could I, your servant, do such a terrible thing? I'm just a dog!\" Elisha answered, \"The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Hazael left Elisha and went back to his master. Ben-hadad asked him, \"What did Elisha say to you?\" Hazael answered, \"He told me you would surely get well.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But the next day Hazael took a thick cloth. He dipped it in water and spread it over the king's face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael became king in his place."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah after his father. This was in the fifth year that Joram son of Ahab ruled over Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jehoram followed the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the family of Ahab had done. He had married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"But the LORD did not want to destroy Judah. He held back for the sake of his servant David. He had promised to keep a lamp burning for David and his descendants forever."},{"verse":20,"text":"While Jehoram was king, Edom rebelled against Judah's rule. They chose their own king."},{"verse":21,"text":"So Jehoram went over to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders. But he got up at night and attacked. His soldiers, however, ran away to their homes."},{"verse":22,"text":"So Edom has been in rebellion against Judah's rule to this day. Libnah also rebelled at the same time."},{"verse":23,"text":"The rest of what Jehoram did, and all he achieved, is written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":24,"text":"Jehoram died and joined his ancestors. He was buried with them in the City of David. His son Ahaziah became king in his place."},{"verse":25,"text":"Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. This was in the twelfth year that Joram son of Ahab ruled over Israel."},{"verse":26,"text":"Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother's name was Athaliah. She was the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"Ahaziah followed the ways of Ahab's family. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as Ahab's family did. That was because he was related to Ahab's family by marriage."},{"verse":28,"text":"Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram."},{"verse":29,"text":"So King Joram went back to Jezreel to heal. He had been wounded by the Arameans at Ramah when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel. He went to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets. He said to him, \"Tuck your cloak into your belt. Take this flask of oil and go to Ramoth-gilead."},{"verse":2,"text":"When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go in and get him away from his friends. Take him into an inner room."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head. Say, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run. Don't wait!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So the young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead."},{"verse":5,"text":"When he got there, the army commanders were sitting together. \"I have a message for you, commander,\" he said. \"For which one of us?\" Jehu asked. \"For you, commander,\" he answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Jehu got up and went into the house. The young prophet poured the oil on his head. He said, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king over the LORD's people Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"You are to strike down the family of your master Ahab. In this way I will pay back Jezebel for the blood of my servants the prophets. I will pay her back for the blood of all the LORD's servants that she spilled."},{"verse":8,"text":"The whole family of Ahab will die. I will cut off every male in Israel from Ahab's family, both slave and free."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will make Ahab's family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. I will make it like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah."},{"verse":10,"text":"As for Jezebel, the dogs will eat her on the piece of land at Jezreel. No one will bury her.'\" Then the young prophet opened the door and ran."},{"verse":11,"text":"Jehu went back out to his master's officers. They asked him, \"Is everything all right? Why did this crazy man come to you?\" \"You know that kind of man and the way they babble,\" he answered."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"That's a lie!\" they said. \"Tell us now!\" So Jehu answered, \"He told me this and that. He said, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Right away, each man took off his cloak and spread it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram's horn and shouted, \"Jehu is king!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, made a secret plan against Joram. (Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram."},{"verse":15,"text":"But King Joram had gone back to Jezreel to heal. The Arameans had wounded him in the battle against Hazael their king.) Jehu said, \"If you commanders want me to be king, don't let anyone slip out of the city. Don't let anyone go and tell about this in Jezreel.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Jehu got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel. Joram was lying there hurt. And Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him."},{"verse":17,"text":"A watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu's troops coming. He called out, \"I see a group of soldiers!\" Joram ordered, \"Choose a rider. Send him out to meet them. Have him ask, 'Do you come in peace?'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So a horseman rode out to meet Jehu. He said, \"The king asks, 'Do you come in peace?'\" \"What do you have to do with peace?\" Jehu answered. \"Get in line behind me.\" The watchman reported, \"The messenger reached them, but he isn't coming back.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So the king sent out a second horseman. He went to them and said, \"The king asks, 'Do you come in peace?'\" \"What do you have to do with peace?\" Jehu answered. \"Get in line behind me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Again the watchman reported, \"He reached them, but he isn't coming back. And the man driving the chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi. He drives like a madman!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Get my chariot ready!\" Joram shouted. So they got his chariot ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his own chariot. They met Jehu at the land that had belonged to Naboth from Jezreel."},{"verse":22,"text":"When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, \"Do you come in peace, Jehu?\" Jehu answered, \"How can there be peace? Your mother Jezebel's idol worship and witchcraft are everywhere!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Joram turned his chariot around and ran away. He called out to Ahaziah, \"It's a trap, Ahaziah!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Jehu pulled back his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow went through his heart. He fell down in his chariot."},{"verse":25,"text":"Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, \"Pick him up. Throw him into the field of Naboth from Jezreel. Remember when you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab? Back then the LORD spoke this message of judgment against him:"},{"verse":26,"text":"'Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD. And as surely as I saw it, I will pay you back on this piece of land, declares the LORD.' So now, pick him up and throw him on that piece of land, just as the LORD said.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he ran away up the road toward Beth-haggan. Jehu chased him. He shouted, \"Shoot him too!\" So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the road up to Gur, near Ibleam. He escaped to Megiddo and died there."},{"verse":28,"text":"His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of David."},{"verse":29,"text":"(Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab.)"},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Jehu came to Jezreel. Jezebel heard about it. So she painted her eyes and fixed her hair. Then she looked down from a window."},{"verse":31,"text":"As Jehu came through the gate, she asked, \"Do you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Jehu looked up at the window and called out, \"Who is on my side? Who?\" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him."},{"verse":33,"text":"\"Throw her down!\" Jehu shouted. So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed on the wall and on the horses. And the horses trampled her."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. He said, \"Take care of this cursed woman. Bury her, because she was a king's daughter.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"But when they went out to bury her, they found only her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands."},{"verse":36,"text":"So they went back and told Jehu. He said, \"This is what the LORD said through his servant Elijah the Tishbite. He said, 'On the piece of land at Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel's body."},{"verse":37,"text":"Jezebel's body will be like dung on the field at Jezreel. No one will be able to say, This is Jezebel.'\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria. He sent them to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the men who raised Ahab's sons. The letters said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Your master's sons are with you. You have chariots and horses. You have a walled city and weapons. So when this letter reaches you,"},{"verse":3,"text":"choose the best and most fit of your master's sons. Put him on his father's throne. Then fight for your master's family.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But they were terrified. They said, \"If two kings couldn't stand against him, how can we?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So the man in charge of the palace, the governor of the city, the elders, and the men who raised the sons sent a message to Jehu. It said, \"We are your servants. We'll do whatever you say. We won't make anyone king. Do whatever you think is best.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Jehu wrote them a second letter. It said, \"If you're on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring me the heads of your master's sons. Bring them to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.\" The king's sons, seventy of them, were being raised by the leading men of the city."},{"verse":7,"text":"When the letter came, these men took the king's sons and killed all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets. They sent them to Jehu at Jezreel."},{"verse":8,"text":"A messenger came and told Jehu, \"They've brought the heads of the king's sons.\" Jehu ordered, \"Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate. Leave them there until morning.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The next morning Jehu went out. He stood in front of all the people and said, \"You are innocent. I'm the one who plotted against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?"},{"verse":10,"text":"So you know that every word the LORD spoke against Ahab's family will come true. Not one will fail. The LORD has done what he promised through his servant Elijah.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who was left from Ahab's family. He also killed all Ahab's important men, his close friends, and his priests. He left no one alive."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jehu set out for Samaria. On the way, at Beth-eked of the Shepherds,"},{"verse":13,"text":"Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. He asked, \"Who are you?\" \"We're relatives of Ahaziah,\" they answered. \"We've come down to visit the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Jehu ordered, \"Take them alive!\" So his men took them alive. Then they killed them at the well of Beth-eked. There were forty-two men. Jehu didn't leave any of them alive."},{"verse":15,"text":"When Jehu left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rechab. Jehonadab was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, \"Is your heart loyal to me, as my heart is loyal to you?\" \"It is!\" Jehonadab answered. \"If it is,\" Jehu said, \"give me your hand.\" So he gave him his hand. Jehu helped him up into his chariot."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jehu said, \"Come with me. See my zeal for the LORD!\" So Jehu had him ride along in his chariot."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jehu came to Samaria. There he killed everyone left from Ahab's family. He wiped them all out, just as the LORD had told Elijah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jehu brought all the people together. He said, \"Ahab served Baal a little. But Jehu will serve him a lot."},{"verse":19,"text":"So call all the prophets of Baal to me. Call all who serve him and all his priests. Make sure no one is missing. I'm going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who is missing will not live.\" But Jehu was tricking them. He planned to destroy those who served Baal."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jehu ordered, \"Call a holy gathering for Baal.\" So they announced it."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Jehu sent word all through Israel. All who served Baal came. Not one man stayed away. They went into the temple of Baal. It was filled from one end to the other."},{"verse":22,"text":"Jehu said to the man in charge of the robes, \"Bring out robes for all who serve Baal.\" So he brought out robes for them."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab went into the temple of Baal. Jehu said to those who served Baal, \"Look around. Make sure no one here serves the LORD. Only those who serve Baal should be here.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu had placed eighty men outside. He had warned them, \"I'm handing these men over to you. If anyone lets one of them escape, he will pay with his own life.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"As soon as Jehu finished offering the burnt offering, he spoke to the guards and officers. \"Go in and kill them,\" he said. \"Don't let anyone get out.\" So the guards and officers killed them with the sword. They threw the bodies out. Then they went into the inner room of the temple of Baal."},{"verse":26,"text":"They brought out the sacred pillar from the temple of Baal and burned it."},{"verse":27,"text":"They also smashed the sacred pillar of Baal. They tore down the temple of Baal. They made it into a toilet. It is still used that way today."},{"verse":28,"text":"So Jehu wiped out the worship of Baal from Israel."},{"verse":29,"text":"But he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. He kept the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan."},{"verse":30,"text":"Still, the LORD said to Jehu, \"You have done well. You have done what is right in my eyes. You have done to Ahab's family all that I had planned. So four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"But Jehu was not careful to follow the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit."},{"verse":32,"text":"In those days the LORD began to make Israel smaller. Hazael defeated the Israelites in all their land."},{"verse":33,"text":"He took the land east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead. That was the land of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh. He took land from Aroer by the Arnon Valley, through Gilead, all the way to Bashan."},{"verse":34,"text":"The rest of what Jehu did, all he achieved, and all his power, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jehu died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king in his place."},{"verse":36,"text":"Jehu ruled over Israel in Samaria for twenty-eight years."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah. When she saw that her son was dead, she set out to kill the whole royal family."},{"verse":2,"text":"But Jehosheba was King Joram's daughter and Ahaziah's sister. She took Joash son of Ahaziah. She secretly took him away from the king's sons who were about to be murdered. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom to keep him from Athaliah. So he was not killed."},{"verse":3,"text":"Joash stayed hidden with his nurse at the house of the LORD for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled the land."},{"verse":4,"text":"In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards. He had them brought to him at the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them. He made them take an oath. Then he showed them the king's son."},{"verse":5,"text":"He gave them orders. \"Here is what you must do,\" he said. \"Some of you come on duty on the Sabbath. One third of you will guard the royal palace."},{"verse":6,"text":"One third will be at the Sur Gate. And one third will be at the gate behind the guards. You will take turns guarding the temple."},{"verse":7,"text":"The two groups that would go off duty on the Sabbath must guard the house of the LORD for the king."},{"verse":8,"text":"Stand all around the king with your weapons in your hands. Anyone who comes near your lines must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So the commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men, both those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty. They came to Jehoiada the priest."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that had belonged to King David. They were kept in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"The guards stood with weapons in their hands all around the king. They stood near the altar and the temple, from the south side of the temple to the north side."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son. He put the crown on him and gave him a copy of the Testimony. They made him king and anointed him. The people clapped their hands and shouted, \"Long live the king!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people. So she went out to the people at the house of the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"She looked and saw the king. He was standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpet players were beside the king. All the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes. She screamed, \"Treason! Treason!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Jehoiada the priest gave orders to the commanders of hundreds who led the army. \"Bring her out between the lines of soldiers,\" he said. \"Kill with the sword anyone who follows her.\" The priest had said, \"She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So they grabbed Athaliah as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds. There she was put to death."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people. They promised to be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and idols to pieces. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest put guards in charge of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land. They brought the king down from the house of the LORD. They went into the royal palace through the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash sat down on the royal throne."},{"verse":20,"text":"All the people of the land celebrated. And the city was calm, because Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the royal palace."},{"verse":21,"text":"Joash was seven years old when he became king."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Joash became king in the seventh year of Jehu. He ruled in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother's name was Zibiah. She was from Beersheba."},{"verse":2,"text":"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He did so all the years that Jehoiada the priest taught him."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the high places were not taken away. The people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Joash said to the priests, \"Collect all the money brought as holy gifts to the house of the LORD. This includes the money from the census, the money from vows, and the money people give freely to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Let each priest receive it from the people he serves. Then use it to fix any damage found in the temple.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But by the twenty-third year that Joash was king, the priests still had not fixed the damage to the temple."},{"verse":7,"text":"So King Joash called for Jehoiada and the other priests. He said, \"Why haven't you fixed the damage to the temple? Don't take any more money from the people you serve. Hand it over to fix the temple.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the priests agreed not to take any more money from the people. They also agreed not to fix the temple themselves."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and drilled a hole in its lid. He set it beside the altar, on the right side as you go into the house of the LORD. The priests who guarded the doorway put into it all the money brought to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"They would watch until there was a lot of money in the chest. Then the royal scribe and the high priest would come up. They counted the money brought to the house of the LORD. Then they tied it up in bags."},{"verse":11,"text":"They gave the counted money to the men in charge of the work on the house of the LORD. These men paid the workers. They paid the carpenters and builders,"},{"verse":12,"text":"the masons, and the stonecutters. They also bought wood and cut stone to fix the damage to the house of the LORD. And they paid for everything else needed to repair the temple."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the money brought to the house of the LORD was not used to make silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, or trumpets. It was not used for any gold or silver objects for the house of the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"Instead, it was paid to the workers. They used it to repair the house of the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"No one asked the men in charge to report how they spent the money they paid to the workers. That's because they were honest."},{"verse":16,"text":"The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought to the house of the LORD. It belonged to the priests."},{"verse":17,"text":"At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and attacked Gath. He captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem."},{"verse":18,"text":"So King Joash of Judah took all the holy things his fathers had set apart for God. His fathers were Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah. He took his own holy gifts too. He also took all the gold found in the treasure rooms of the house of the LORD and of the royal palace. He sent all of it to Hazael king of Aram. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem."},{"verse":19,"text":"The rest of what Joash did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":20,"text":"Joash's officials made a secret plan against him. They killed him at Beth-millo, on the road that goes down to Silla."},{"verse":21,"text":"His officials Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. He was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Amaziah became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel. This was in the twenty-third year that Joash son of Ahaziah ruled over Judah. Jehoahaz ruled in Samaria for seventeen years."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. He did not turn away from them."},{"verse":3,"text":"So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Again and again he handed them over to Hazael king of Aram and to his son Ben-hadad."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Jehoahaz begged the LORD for help. The LORD listened to him. He saw how cruelly the king of Aram was treating Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the LORD gave Israel someone to rescue them. They escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes, as they had before."},{"verse":6,"text":"But they did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam's family had led Israel to commit. They kept on living in them. The Asherah pole even stayed standing in Samaria."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jehoahaz had almost no army left. He had only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers. The king of Aram had destroyed the rest. He had made them like dust blown away at threshing time."},{"verse":8,"text":"The rest of what Jehoahaz did, all he achieved, and his power, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jehoahaz died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoash became king in his place."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria. This was in the thirty-seventh year that Joash ruled over Judah. Jehoash ruled for sixteen years."},{"verse":11,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. He kept on living in them."},{"verse":12,"text":"The rest of what Jehoash did, all he achieved, and his power, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. That includes his war against Amaziah king of Judah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jehoash died and joined his ancestors. Jeroboam became king after him. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel."},{"verse":14,"text":"Elisha had become sick with the illness that he would die from. Jehoash king of Israel came down to see him. He cried over him. He said, \"My father, my father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Elisha told him, \"Get a bow and some arrows.\" So Jehoash got a bow and some arrows."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, \"Put your hand on the bow.\" So the king put his hand on the bow. Elisha put his hands on the king's hands."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Open the east window,\" Elisha said. So he opened it. \"Shoot!\" Elisha said. So he shot. Then Elisha said, \"This is the LORD's arrow of victory. It is the arrow of victory over Aram! You will strike the Arameans at Aphek until you have wiped them out.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Elisha said, \"Pick up the arrows.\" So the king picked them up. Elisha said to the king of Israel, \"Hit the ground with them!\" He hit the ground three times and stopped."},{"verse":19,"text":"The man of God was angry with him. He said, \"You should have hit the ground five or six times! Then you would have struck down Aram until you wiped it out. But now you will defeat Aram only three times.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to come into the land every spring."},{"verse":21,"text":"One time some Israelites were burying a man. Suddenly they saw a group of raiders. So they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. As soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came back to life. He stood up on his feet."},{"verse":22,"text":"Hazael king of Aram was cruel to Israel the whole time Jehoahaz was king."},{"verse":23,"text":"But the LORD was kind to Israel. He had pity on them. He turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To this day the LORD has not wanted to destroy them. He has not thrown them away from his presence."},{"verse":24,"text":"Hazael king of Aram died. His son Ben-hadad became king in his place."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back some cities from Ben-hadad son of Hazael. Hazael had taken these cities in war from Jehoash's father Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad three times. So he got back the cities of Israel."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah. This was in the second year that Jehoash son of Jehoahaz ruled over Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddan. She was from Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not like his father David. He did everything his father Joash had done."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the high places were not taken away. The people still offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places."},{"verse":5,"text":"As soon as Amaziah had firm control of the kingdom, he put to death the officials who had murdered his father the king."},{"verse":6,"text":"But he did not put the murderers' sons to death. He obeyed what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses. There the LORD commanded, \"Fathers must not be put to death for their children. Children must not be put to death for their fathers. Each one is to die for his own sin.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He captured Sela in battle. He named it Joktheel. That is still its name today."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Amaziah sent messengers to the king of Israel, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. He said, \"Come, let's meet face to face.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But Jehoash king of Israel answered Amaziah king of Judah. \"A thornbush in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree in Lebanon. It said, 'Give your daughter to my son as his wife.' Then a wild animal in Lebanon came by. It trampled the thornbush."},{"verse":10,"text":"Yes, you have defeated Edom, and now you are proud. Enjoy your fame, but stay at home! Why stir up trouble that will make you fall, you and Judah with you?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel marched out. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other in battle at Beth-shemesh in Judah."},{"verse":12,"text":"Israel badly defeated Judah. Every man of Judah ran away to his home."},{"verse":13,"text":"There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah. Amaziah was the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. That part of the wall was about 600 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: four hundred cubits."},{"verse":14,"text":"He took all the gold and silver. He took all the objects found in the house of the LORD and in the treasure rooms of the royal palace. He also took some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria."},{"verse":15,"text":"The rest of what Jehoash did, all he achieved, and his power, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. So is how he fought against Amaziah king of Judah."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jehoash died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam became king in his place."},{"verse":17,"text":"Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel died."},{"verse":18,"text":"The rest of what Amaziah did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Some people in Jerusalem made a secret plan against Amaziah. He ran away to Lachish. But they sent men after him to Lachish. They killed him there."},{"verse":20,"text":"They brought his body back on horses. He was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old. They made him king in place of his father Amaziah."},{"verse":22,"text":"After King Amaziah died and joined his ancestors, Azariah rebuilt Elath. He made it part of Judah again."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel. This was in the fifteenth year that Amaziah son of Joash ruled over Judah. Jeroboam ruled in Samaria for forty-one years."},{"verse":24,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit."},{"verse":25,"text":"This Jeroboam won back Israel's borders. He took back the land from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah. This was just what the LORD, the God of Israel, had said through his servant Jonah son of Amittai. Jonah was the prophet from Gath-hepher."},{"verse":26,"text":"The LORD saw that the Israelites were suffering terribly, both slave and free. There was no one to help Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"And the LORD had said he would not wipe out the name of Israel from under heaven. So he saved them through Jeroboam son of Jehoash."},{"verse":28,"text":"The rest of what Jeroboam did, all he achieved, and his power, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. It tells how he fought in war. It tells how he won back both Damascus and Hamath for Israel from Judah."},{"verse":29,"text":"Jeroboam died and joined his ancestors, the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Azariah son of Amaziah became king of Judah. This was in the twenty-seventh year that Jeroboam ruled over Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Azariah was sixteen years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah. She was from Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the high places were not taken away. The people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD struck the king with leprosy until the day he died. So he lived in a separate house. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace. Jotham ruled the people of the land."},{"verse":6,"text":"The rest of what Azariah did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":7,"text":"Azariah died and joined his ancestors. He was buried near them in the City of David. His son Jotham became king in his place."},{"verse":8,"text":"Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel. This was in the thirty-eighth year that Azariah ruled over Judah. Zechariah ruled in Samaria for six months."},{"verse":9,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit."},{"verse":10,"text":"Shallum son of Jabesh plotted against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people and killed him. Then Shallum became king in his place."},{"verse":11,"text":"The rest of what Zechariah did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":12,"text":"So what the LORD had told Jehu came true. He had said, \"Four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year that Uzziah ruled over Judah. Shallum ruled in Samaria for one month."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh and killed him. Then Menahem became king in his place."},{"verse":15,"text":"The rest of what Shallum did, and his plot, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":16,"text":"At that time Menahem set out from Tirzah. He attacked Tiphsah and everyone near it. That was because they would not open their gates to him. So he attacked Tiphsah. He ripped open all the pregnant women."},{"verse":17,"text":"Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel. This was in the thirty-ninth year that Azariah ruled over Judah. Menahem ruled in Samaria for ten years."},{"verse":18,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. All the time he was king, he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Pul king of Assyria invaded the land. Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver. He wanted Pul to help him. He wanted to make his own hold on the kingdom stronger.","note":"A thousand talents was about 37 tons."},{"verse":20,"text":"Menahem took this money from the rich men of Israel. Each one had to pay fifty shekels of silver. It was to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria pulled back. He did not stay in the land.","note":"Fifty shekels was about 1 1/4 pounds."},{"verse":21,"text":"The rest of what Menahem did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"Menahem died and joined his ancestors. His son Pekahiah became king in his place."},{"verse":23,"text":"Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel. This was in the fiftieth year that Azariah ruled over Judah. Pekahiah ruled in Samaria for two years."},{"verse":24,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Pekah son of Remaliah, one of his officers, plotted against him. Argob, Arieh, and fifty men from Gilead joined him. Pekah attacked Pekahiah at the king's palace in Samaria. It was in the strong tower. He killed him and became king in his place."},{"verse":26,"text":"The rest of what Pekahiah did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel. This was in the fifty-second year that Azariah ruled over Judah. Pekah ruled in Samaria for twenty years."},{"verse":28,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit."},{"verse":29,"text":"While Pekah was king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came. He captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee. He took all the land of Naphtali. He carried the people away as prisoners to Assyria."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Hoshea son of Elah plotted against Pekah son of Remaliah. Hoshea attacked Pekah and killed him. Then Hoshea became king in his place. This was in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah."},{"verse":31,"text":"The rest of what Pekah did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":32,"text":"Jotham son of Uzziah became king of Judah. This was in the second year that Pekah son of Remaliah ruled over Israel."},{"verse":33,"text":"Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha. She was the daughter of Zadok."},{"verse":34,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done."},{"verse":35,"text":"But the high places were not taken away. The people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":36,"text":"The rest of what Jotham did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":37,"text":"(In those days the LORD began to send Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.)"},{"verse":38,"text":"Jotham died and joined his ancestors. He was buried with them in the City of David, his ancestor. His son Ahaz became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah. This was in the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for sixteen years. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had done."},{"verse":3,"text":"Instead, he followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He even sacrificed his son in the fire. He copied the disgusting practices of the nations that the LORD had driven out ahead of the Israelites."},{"verse":4,"text":"He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to make war on Jerusalem. They surrounded Ahaz and attacked, but they could not defeat him."},{"verse":6,"text":"At that time Rezin king of Aram took back Elath for Aram. He drove out the men of Judah. He sent the Edomites into Elath. They still live there today."},{"verse":7,"text":"So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. He said, \"I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the kings of Aram and Israel. They are attacking me.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasure rooms of the king's palace. He sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria."},{"verse":9,"text":"So the king of Assyria did what Ahaz asked. He marched up to Damascus and captured it. He carried its people away to Kir as prisoners. And he put Rezin to death."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. There King Ahaz saw an altar. He sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar. He also sent full plans for building it."},{"verse":11,"text":"So Uriah the priest built an altar. He followed all the plans King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. He finished it before King Ahaz came back."},{"verse":12,"text":"When the king came back from Damascus, he saw the altar. He went up to it and offered gifts on it."},{"verse":13,"text":"He offered his burnt offering and his grain offering. He poured out his drink offering. He splashed the blood of his peace offerings on the altar."},{"verse":14,"text":"The bronze altar that stood before the LORD was in front of the temple. It stood between the new altar and the house of the LORD. Ahaz moved it and put it on the north side of the new altar."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then King Ahaz gave orders to Uriah the priest. \"Use the great altar to offer the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering,\" he said. \"Offer the king's burnt offering and grain offering on it. Offer the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings of all the people of the land on it too. Splash all the blood of the burnt offerings and sacrifices on this altar. But I will use the bronze altar to ask for guidance.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Uriah the priest did just what King Ahaz ordered."},{"verse":17,"text":"King Ahaz also cut off the side panels of the bronze stands on wheels. He removed the bronze basin from each one. He took down the Sea from the bronze oxen that held it up. He set it on a stone base."},{"verse":18,"text":"Because of the king of Assyria, he also took away the covered place for the Sabbath that had been built in the temple. And he closed the king's outside entrance to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"The rest of what Ahaz did, and all he achieved, is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah."},{"verse":20,"text":"Ahaz died and joined his ancestors. He was buried with them in the City of David. His son Hezekiah became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahaz had been king of Judah for 12 years. That year Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel. He ruled in Samaria for nine years."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hoshea did evil in the eyes of the LORD. But he was not as bad as the kings of Israel who came before him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him. So Hoshea became his servant king and paid him tribute money."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the king of Assyria found out that Hoshea had made a secret plan. Hoshea had sent messengers to So, the king of Egypt. He had also stopped paying tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done each year before. So the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land. He marched up to Samaria and surrounded it with his army for three years."},{"verse":6,"text":"In Hoshea's ninth year as king, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. He carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He made them live in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes."},{"verse":7,"text":"All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God. He was the one who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. He had set them free from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. But they had worshiped other gods."},{"verse":8,"text":"They followed the ways of the nations that the LORD had driven out ahead of the Israelites. They also followed the practices that the kings of Israel had started."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. They built high places in all their towns, from the smallest watchtower to the biggest walled city."},{"verse":10,"text":"They set up sacred stone pillars and Asherah poles for themselves. They put them on every high hill and under every green tree."},{"verse":11,"text":"They burned incense on all the high places, just like the nations the LORD had driven out ahead of them. They did wicked things, and this made the LORD angry."},{"verse":12,"text":"They served idols, even though the LORD had told them, \"You must not do this.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Still, the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers. He said, \"Turn away from your wicked ways. Keep my commands and my rules. Obey the whole Law that I commanded your ancestors. I gave it to you through my servants the prophets.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But they would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors, who did not believe the LORD their God."},{"verse":15,"text":"They rejected his rules. They rejected the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the warnings he had given them. They chased after worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They copied the nations around them, even though the LORD had commanded them not to be like them."},{"verse":16,"text":"They turned away from all the commands of the LORD their God. They made two metal idols shaped like calves. They also made an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and they served Baal."},{"verse":17,"text":"They burned their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices. They tried to learn the future by magic and omens. They gave themselves over to doing evil in the eyes of the LORD, and this made him angry."},{"verse":18,"text":"So the LORD was very angry with Israel. He sent them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left."},{"verse":19,"text":"But even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They lived by the customs that Israel had started."},{"verse":20,"text":"So the LORD rejected all the people of Israel. He punished them and handed them over to robbers. In the end he threw them out of his presence."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD had torn Israel away from the family of David. Then the Israelites made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD. He caused them to commit a great sin."},{"verse":22,"text":"The Israelites kept on doing all the sins that Jeroboam had done. They did not turn away from them."},{"verse":23,"text":"At last the LORD sent Israel away from his presence. He had said he would do this through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their own land as captives to Assyria. They are still there to this day."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim. He made them live in the towns of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns."},{"verse":25,"text":"When these people first lived there, they did not worship the LORD. So he sent lions among them, and the lions killed some of them."},{"verse":26,"text":"So a message was sent to the king of Assyria. It said, \"You moved some peoples and placed them in the towns of Samaria. But they don't know what the God of that land requires. Because of this, he has sent lions among them. The lions are killing them.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the king of Assyria gave an order. \"Send back one of the priests you took away from Samaria. Let him go back and live there. Have him teach the people what the God of the land requires.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So one of the priests they had taken away came and lived in Bethel. He began to teach the people how they should worship the LORD."},{"verse":29,"text":"But the people from each nation still made their own gods in the towns where they lived. They set them up in the shrines on the high places that the people of Samaria had built."},{"verse":30,"text":"The men from Babylon made the god Succoth-benoth. The men from Cuth made Nergal. The men from Hamath made Ashima."},{"verse":31,"text":"The Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim."},{"verse":32,"text":"So the new people worshiped the LORD. But they also chose all kinds of people from among themselves to be priests. These priests served in the shrines on the high places."},{"verse":33,"text":"They worshiped the LORD. But they also served their own gods, following the customs of the nations they had been taken from."},{"verse":34,"text":"To this day they still follow their old customs. None of them worship the LORD. They do not obey the rules, laws, teachings, and commands that the LORD gave to the children of Jacob. Jacob was the one whom the LORD gave the name Israel."},{"verse":35,"text":"The LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites. He had commanded them, \"Do not worship other gods or bow down to them. Do not serve them or offer sacrifices to them."},{"verse":36,"text":"Instead, worship the LORD. He brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty arm. Bow down to him and offer sacrifices to him."},{"verse":37,"text":"Always be careful to obey the rules, laws, teachings, and commands he wrote down for you. Do not worship other gods."},{"verse":38,"text":"Do not forget the covenant I have made with you. Do not worship other gods."},{"verse":39,"text":"Instead, worship the LORD your God. He will save you from the power of all your enemies.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"But they would not listen. They kept on following their old customs."},{"verse":41,"text":"So these nations worshiped the LORD, but they also served their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren keep doing what their parents did."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hoshea son of Elah had been king of Israel for three years. That year Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"He was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother's name was Abi. She was the daughter of Zechariah."},{"verse":3,"text":"Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He did just as his ancestor David had done."},{"verse":4,"text":"He removed the high places. He smashed the sacred stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. He also broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made. It was called Nehushtan. Up until that time, the Israelites had been burning incense to it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no other king of Judah like him, before him or after him."},{"verse":6,"text":"He stayed faithful to the LORD and never stopped following him. He kept the commands that the LORD had given Moses."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD was with Hezekiah, and he did well in everything he did. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him."},{"verse":8,"text":"He defeated the Philistines all the way to Gaza and the land around it. He beat them everywhere, from the smallest watchtower to the biggest walled city."},{"verse":9,"text":"Hezekiah had been king for four years. It was also Hoshea's seventh year as king of Israel. That year Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and surrounded it with his army."},{"verse":10,"text":"After three years, the Assyrians captured it. So Samaria fell in Hezekiah's sixth year as king. It was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"The king of Assyria took the Israelites away as captives to Assyria. He made them live in Halah, in Gozan by the Habor River, and in the cities of the Medes."},{"verse":12,"text":"This happened because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD their God. They broke his covenant. They broke all that Moses, the LORD's servant, had commanded. They would not listen, and they would not obey."},{"verse":13,"text":"In Hezekiah's fourteenth year as king, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked. He captured all the walled cities of Judah."},{"verse":14,"text":"So Hezekiah king of Judah sent a message to the king of Assyria at Lachish. He said, \"I have done wrong. Pull your army back from me. I will pay whatever you ask.\" So the king of Assyria made Hezekiah king of Judah pay 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold.","note":"About 11 tons of silver and about 1 ton of gold."},{"verse":15,"text":"Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD. He also gave him all the silver in the treasure rooms of the royal palace."},{"verse":16,"text":"At that time Hezekiah stripped off the gold he had used to cover the doors and doorposts of the LORD's temple. He gave it to the king of Assyria."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the king of Assyria still sent his top commander, his chief officer, and his field commander from Lachish. They came with a large army to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They marched up to Jerusalem. They stopped by the water channel of the upper pool. It was on the road to the field where cloth was washed.","note":"Hebrew: the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh, which are titles of high Assyrian officers."},{"verse":18,"text":"They called for the king. So three men went out to them. They were Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records."},{"verse":19,"text":"The field commander said to them, \"Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What are you trusting in? Why are you so sure of yourself?"},{"verse":20,"text":"You say you have a plan and the strength for war. But those are just empty words. Who are you trusting in now, that you have rebelled against me?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Look! You are trusting in Egypt. Egypt is like a cracked reed used as a walking stick. If you lean on it, it will stab your hand. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is like to all who trust in him."},{"verse":22,"text":"But if you say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God,' isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has torn down? Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"So now, make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses, if you can find enough riders to put on them!"},{"verse":24,"text":"You depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen. So how can you push back even one officer, the least of my master's servants?"},{"verse":25,"text":"And do you think I came to attack and destroy this place without the LORD? The LORD himself told me, 'Go up against this land and destroy it.'\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebnah, and Joah said to the field commander, \"Please speak to us your servants in Aramaic. We understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew. The people on the wall can hear you.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But the field commander answered, \"Did my master send me to say these things only to you and your master? No! He sent me to the men sitting on the wall too. Like you, they will soon have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the field commander stood and shouted in Hebrew, \"Listen to the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!"},{"verse":29,"text":"This is what the king says: Don't let Hezekiah fool you. He can't save you from my power."},{"verse":30,"text":"Don't let Hezekiah talk you into trusting in the LORD. He says, 'The LORD will surely save us. This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"Don't listen to Hezekiah! This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat from your own grapevine and your own fig tree. Each of you will drink water from your own well."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then I will come and take you away to a land like your own. It is a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. It is a land of olive trees and honey. Then you will live and not die. But don't listen to Hezekiah. He is fooling you when he says, 'The LORD will save us.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"Has the god of any nation ever saved its land from the power of the king of Assyria?"},{"verse":34,"text":"Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did they save Samaria from my power?"},{"verse":35,"text":"Which of all the gods of these lands has saved its land from my power? So how can the LORD save Jerusalem from my power?\""},{"verse":36,"text":"But the people stayed quiet. They did not answer a word, because Hezekiah had commanded them, \"Do not answer him.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, went to Hezekiah. Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records, went too. Their clothes were torn. They told Hezekiah what the field commander had said."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"King Hezekiah heard this report. He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. Then he went into the house of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the scribe to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. He also sent the leaders of the priests. All of them were wearing sackcloth."},{"verse":3,"text":"They told Isaiah, \"This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, of correction, and of shame. It is like when a baby is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to give birth."},{"verse":4,"text":"The king of Assyria sent his field commander to make fun of the living God. Maybe the LORD your God will hear all the words he said. Maybe the LORD your God will punish him for the words he has heard. So please pray for the few people who are still left alive.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So King Hezekiah's servants went to Isaiah."},{"verse":6,"text":"Isaiah answered them, \"Tell your master this is what the LORD says: 'Do not be afraid of the words you have heard. The servants of the king of Assyria have spoken against me with those words."},{"verse":7,"text":"Listen! I will put a spirit in him. He will hear a rumor and go back to his own land. And there I will make him die by the sword.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The field commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. So he went back and found the king fighting against the town of Libnah."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now Sennacherib had heard a report about Tirhakah king of Cush. It said, \"Look! He has set out to fight against you.\" So Sennacherib sent messengers to Hezekiah again. He told them,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: 'Your God, the one you trust, says that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. Don't let him fool you."},{"verse":11,"text":"You have surely heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries. They destroyed them completely. So do you think you will be saved?"},{"verse":12,"text":"My ancestors destroyed many nations. Did the gods of those nations save them? Did the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph save them? Did the gods of the people of Eden in Telassar save them?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Where is the king of Hamath? Where are the kings of Arpad, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house of the LORD. He spread the letter out in front of the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD. \"O LORD, God of Israel, you sit on your throne between the cherubim. You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"Turn your ear to me, O LORD, and hear. Open your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to make fun of the living God."},{"verse":17,"text":"It is true, O LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed these nations and their lands."},{"verse":18,"text":"They have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and destroyed them. They could do this because those were not really gods. They were only wood and stone made by human hands."},{"verse":19,"text":"Now, O LORD our God, please save us from his power. Do this so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O LORD, are God.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah. \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer about Sennacherib king of Assyria."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is the word the LORD has spoken against him:\n'The Virgin Daughter of Zion\nlooks down on you and laughs at you.\nThe Daughter of Jerusalem\nshakes her head behind your back."},{"verse":22,"text":"Who have you made fun of and spoken against?\nWho have you yelled at?\nWho have you looked at with proud eyes?\nIt was the Holy One of Israel!"},{"verse":23,"text":"You sent your messengers to make fun of the Lord.\nYou said, \"I have many chariots.\nWith them I have gone up to the tops of the mountains.\nI have climbed the farthest peaks of Lebanon.\nI have cut down its tallest cedar trees\nand its best cypress trees.\nI have reached its farthest places,\nits thickest forests."},{"verse":24,"text":"I have dug wells\nand drunk water in foreign lands.\nWith the bottoms of my feet\nI have dried up all the streams of Egypt.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Haven't you heard?\nI decided this long ago.\nI planned it in days of old.\nNow I have made it happen.\nI let you crush walled cities\ninto piles of broken stone."},{"verse":26,"text":"That is why the people who live there have no power.\nThey are afraid and ashamed.\nThey are like plants in the field,\nlike tender green shoots.\nThey are like grass on the rooftops\nthat dries up before it can grow."},{"verse":27,"text":"But I know when you sit down.\nI know when you go out and when you come in.\nI know how angry you are with me."},{"verse":28,"text":"You have been angry and proud against me,\nand I have heard it.\nSo I will put my hook in your nose\nand my bit in your mouth.\nI will make you go back\nthe same way you came.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"Hezekiah, this will be a sign for you:\nThis year you will eat what grows by itself.\nNext year you will eat what grows from that.\nBut in the third year you will plant seeds and harvest crops.\nYou will plant vineyards and eat their fruit."},{"verse":30,"text":"The few people of Judah who are left\nwill once again send roots down\nand grow fruit up above."},{"verse":31,"text":"Some people will be left alive and go out from Jerusalem.\nSome will escape from Mount Zion.\nThe strong zeal of the LORD of Hosts\nwill make this happen."},{"verse":32,"text":"So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria:\n'He will not come into this city.\nHe will not even shoot an arrow here.\nHe will not come near it with a shield.\nHe will not build a dirt ramp against its walls to attack it."},{"verse":33,"text":"He will go back the same way he came.\nHe will not come into this city,\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":34,"text":"I will guard this city and save it.\nI will do it for my own sake\nand for the sake of my servant David.'\""},{"verse":35,"text":"That very night the angel of the LORD went out. He killed 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning, there were dead bodies everywhere!"},{"verse":36,"text":"So Sennacherib king of Assyria packed up his camp and left. He went back home to Nineveh and stayed there."},{"verse":37,"text":"One day he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch. His sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword. Then they escaped to the land of Ararat. And his son Esar-haddon became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days Hezekiah got sick, and he was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Get everything in your house ready. You are going to die. You will not get well.'\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall. He prayed to the LORD,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Please, O LORD, remember how I have lived faithfully before you. I have served you with all my heart. I have done what is good in your eyes.\" And Hezekiah cried very hard."},{"verse":4,"text":"Isaiah had not yet left the middle courtyard when the word of the LORD came to him. The LORD said,"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Go back and speak to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him this is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: 'I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. Three days from now you will go up to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will add 15 years to your life. I will save you and this city from the power of the king of Assyria. I will guard this city for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Isaiah said, \"Make a paste out of figs.\" So they brought it and put it on Hezekiah's boil. And he got well."},{"verse":8,"text":"Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, \"What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me? How will I know that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Isaiah had answered, \"Here is the sign from the LORD that he will do what he promised. Do you want the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"It's easy for the shadow to go forward ten steps,\" Hezekiah answered. \"But it's not easy for it to go back ten steps.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD. And the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps. It went back down the stairway of Ahaz the same ten steps it had already gone."},{"verse":12,"text":"At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan was king of Babylon. He had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. So he sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hezekiah welcomed the messengers. He showed them everything in his treasure house. He showed them the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oil. He showed them his armory and everything in his storerooms. There was nothing in his palace or in his whole kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah. He asked, \"Where did those men come from? What did they say to you?\" \"They came from a land far away,\" Hezekiah answered. \"They came from Babylon.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"What have they seen in your palace?\" Isaiah asked. \"They have seen everything in my palace,\" Hezekiah answered. \"There is nothing among my treasures that I didn't show them.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, \"Listen to the word of the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"The time will surely come when everything in your palace will be carried off to Babylon. Everything your ancestors have saved up until today will be taken. Nothing will be left, says the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"Some of your descendants, your very own children, will be taken away. They will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"The word of the LORD you have spoken is good.\" He was thinking, \"At least there will be peace and safety while I am alive.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The rest of what Hezekiah did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. It tells about all his power. It tells how he built the pool and the tunnel that brought water into the city."},{"verse":21,"text":"Hezekiah died and joined his ancestors. His son Manasseh became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Manasseh was 12 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 55 years. His mother's name was Hephzibah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Manasseh did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He copied the disgusting practices of the nations that the LORD had driven out ahead of the Israelites."},{"verse":3,"text":"He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He set up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and served them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD. This was the place the LORD had spoken about when he said, \"I will put my Name in Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"He built altars to all the stars in the sky. He put them in both courtyards of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"He burned his own son in the fire as a sacrifice. He practiced magic and tried to learn the future by omens. He asked mediums and spiritists for advice. He did great evil in the eyes of the LORD, and this made the LORD angry."},{"verse":7,"text":"Manasseh even took the carved Asherah pole he had made and set it up in the temple. The LORD had spoken about this temple to David and his son Solomon. He had said, \"I have chosen Jerusalem out of all the tribes of Israel. In this temple and in Jerusalem, I will put my Name forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will never again make the Israelites wander away from the land I gave their ancestors. But this is only if they are careful to do everything I have commanded them. That means the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them."},{"verse":9,"text":"But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them down the wrong path. They did even more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed ahead of the Israelites."},{"verse":10,"text":"So the LORD spoke through his servants the prophets. He said,"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Manasseh king of Judah has done all these disgusting things. He has been more wicked than the Amorites who lived here before him. With his idols he has led Judah into sin."},{"verse":12,"text":"So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring terrible trouble on Jerusalem and Judah. It will be so bad that the ears of everyone who hears about it will ring."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will stretch out over Jerusalem the same measuring line I used against Samaria. I will use the same plumb line I used against the family of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem clean, the way a person wipes out a bowl. He wipes it and turns it upside down."},{"verse":14,"text":"So I will forsake the rest of my people, who belong to me. I will hand them over to their enemies. All their enemies will rob them and take everything they have."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is because they have done evil in my eyes. They have made me angry from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until today.'\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Manasseh also killed so many innocent people that Jerusalem was filled with their blood from one end to the other. This was in addition to the sin he led Judah into, so that they did evil in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"The rest of what Manasseh did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. It tells about all he did and the sin he committed."},{"verse":18,"text":"Manasseh died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzza. His son Amon became king in his place."},{"verse":19,"text":"Amon was 22 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for two years. His mother's name was Meshullemeth. She was the daughter of Haruz, and she came from Jotbah."},{"verse":20,"text":"Amon did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Manasseh had done."},{"verse":21,"text":"He lived just like his father in every way. He served and worshiped the idols his father had served."},{"verse":22,"text":"He turned away from the LORD, the God of his ancestors. He did not live the way the LORD wanted."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Amon's servants made a secret plan against him. They killed the king in his palace."},{"verse":24,"text":"But the people of the land killed all those who had plotted against King Amon. Then they made his son Josiah king in his place."},{"verse":25,"text":"The rest of what Amon did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. It tells about all he did."},{"verse":26,"text":"Amon was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza. His son Josiah became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 31 years. His mother's name was Jedidah. She was the daughter of Adaiah, and she came from Bozkath."},{"verse":2,"text":"Josiah did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He lived the way his ancestor David had lived. He did not turn away to the right or to the left."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the eighteenth year that Josiah was king, he sent the scribe Shaphan to the house of the LORD. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah and the grandson of Meshullam. King Josiah told him,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest. Have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD. The doorkeepers have collected it from the people."},{"verse":5,"text":"Have them give the money to the men in charge of the work on the house of the LORD. Then those men should pay the workers who are fixing the damage to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"They should pay the carpenters, the builders, and the stoneworkers. They should also buy wood and cut stone to repair the temple."},{"verse":7,"text":"But they don't need to report how they spend the money given to them, because they are honest workers.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, \"I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!\" He gave it to Shaphan, and Shaphan read it."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Shaphan the scribe went to the king. He reported, \"Your servants have paid out the money that was found in the temple. They have given it to the workers and the men in charge of the house of the LORD.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, \"Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.\" And Shaphan read it out loud to the king."},{"verse":11,"text":"The king heard the words of the Book of the Law. Then he tore his clothes."},{"verse":12,"text":"He gave an order to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant."},{"verse":13,"text":"He said, \"Go and ask the LORD about the words in this book that was found. Ask for me, for the people, and for all of Judah. The LORD's anger is burning hot against us. It is because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book. They did not do all that it says we must do.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to speak to Huldah the prophetess. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas. Shallum was in charge of the royal robes. Huldah lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District."},{"verse":15,"text":"Huldah said to them, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you"},{"verse":16,"text":"that this is what the LORD says: I am going to bring terrible trouble on this place and its people. Everything written in the book the king of Judah has read will happen."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is because they have turned away from me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have made me angry with all the idols their hands have made. My anger will burn like a fire against this place, and it will not be put out.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"But the king of Judah sent you to ask the LORD. Tell him this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the words you heard:"},{"verse":19,"text":"'I spoke against this place and its people. I said they would become an empty ruin and a curse. When you heard this, your heart was tender. You made yourself humble before the LORD. You tore your clothes and cried in front of me. So I have heard you, says the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"So I will let you die and join your ancestors. You will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the trouble I will bring on this place.'\" So the men took her answer back to the king."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"He went up to the house of the LORD. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. The priests and the prophets went too. All the people were there, from the least important to the most important. The king read to them all the words of the Book of the Covenant. It had been found in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"The king stood by the pillar. He made a covenant in front of the LORD. He promised to follow the LORD and keep his commands, laws, and rules with all his heart and soul. He promised to do what the covenant said, as it was written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the king gave orders to Hilkiah the high priest, the priests next in rank, and the doorkeepers. He told them to take out of the LORD's temple all the things made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the stars in the sky. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron. Then he carried their ashes to Bethel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Josiah also got rid of the priests who served idols. The kings of Judah had chosen them to burn incense on the high places in the towns of Judah and all around Jerusalem. These priests had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the groups of stars, and to all the stars in the sky."},{"verse":6,"text":"He took the Asherah pole out of the house of the LORD. He carried it to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem. There he burned it and ground it into powder. Then he threw the dust on the graves of the common people."},{"verse":7,"text":"He also tore down the rooms of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD. Women wove hangings for Asherah there."},{"verse":8,"text":"Josiah brought all the priests in from the towns of Judah. He made the high places unclean, from Geba to Beersheba. Those were the places where the priests had burned incense. He tore down the high places at the gates. One was at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua, the city governor. It was on the left side of the city gate."},{"verse":9,"text":"The priests of the high places did not go up to serve at the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem. But they did eat bread made without yeast with the other priests."},{"verse":10,"text":"Josiah also made Topheth unclean. It was in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He did this so that no one could ever burn his son or daughter there in the fire as a sacrifice to Molech."},{"verse":11,"text":"The kings of Judah had given horses to honor the sun. Josiah took them away from the entrance to the house of the LORD. They had been kept in the courtyard near the room of an official named Nathan-melech. Josiah also burned the chariots that were given to the sun."},{"verse":12,"text":"The kings of Judah had set up altars on the roof near the upstairs room of Ahaz. Manasseh had set up altars in the two courtyards of the house of the LORD. King Josiah pulled down all these altars. He smashed them to pieces right there. Then he threw their dust into the Kidron Valley."},{"verse":13,"text":"The king also made the high places east of Jerusalem unclean. They were south of the Mount of Corruption. King Solomon of Israel had built them for three disgusting gods. He built them for Ashtoreth of the Sidonians, Chemosh of the Moabites, and Milcom of the Ammonites."},{"verse":14,"text":"Josiah smashed the sacred stone pillars to pieces. He cut down the Asherah poles. He covered the places where they had stood with human bones."},{"verse":15,"text":"He even pulled down the altar at Bethel. It was the high place that Jeroboam son of Nebat had set up. Jeroboam was the one who had led Israel into sin. Josiah burned the high place and ground it into powder. He also burned the Asherah pole."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Josiah turned and saw the tombs there on the hillside. He sent men to take the bones out of the tombs. He burned the bones on the altar to make it unclean. This happened just as the LORD had said through the man of God. That man had told about these things long before."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the king asked, \"What is this grave marker I see?\" The men of the city answered, \"It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah. He told about the very things you have done to the altar at Bethel.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Leave it alone,\" Josiah said. \"Don't let anyone move his bones.\" So they did not touch his bones. They also left the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria."},{"verse":19,"text":"Josiah did the same thing in the towns of Samaria that he had done at Bethel. He removed all the shrines on the high places there. The kings of Israel had built them, and they had made the LORD angry."},{"verse":20,"text":"Josiah killed all the priests of the high places on their own altars. He burned human bones on the altars. Then he went back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":21,"text":"The king gave an order to all the people. \"Celebrate the Passover to honor the LORD your God. Do it as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"No Passover like this one had been celebrated since the days of the judges who led Israel. None like it was held in all the years of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah."},{"verse":23,"text":"But in the eighteenth year that Josiah was king, this Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem to honor the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"Josiah also got rid of the mediums and spiritists. He got rid of the household gods, the idols, and all the disgusting things seen in Judah and Jerusalem. He did this to obey the words of the law. They were written in the book Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"There was never a king like Josiah, before him or after him. He turned to the LORD with all his heart, all his soul, and all his strength. He obeyed all the Law of Moses."},{"verse":26,"text":"But the LORD still did not turn away from his great, burning anger. His anger burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to make him angry."},{"verse":27,"text":"This was because the LORD had said, \"I will remove Judah from my sight, just as I removed Israel. I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose. I will reject the temple I spoke about when I said, 'My Name will be there.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"The rest of what Josiah did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. It tells about all he did."},{"verse":29,"text":"While Josiah was king, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to the Euphrates River. He went to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah went out to fight him. But Neco met him at Megiddo and killed him."},{"verse":30,"text":"Josiah's servants put his body in a chariot and carried it from Megiddo to Jerusalem. They buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Josiah's son Jehoahaz. They poured oil on him and made him king in his father's place."},{"verse":31,"text":"Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months. His mother's name was Hamutal. She was the daughter of Jeremiah, and she came from Libnah."},{"verse":32,"text":"Jehoahaz did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his ancestors had done."},{"verse":33,"text":"Pharaoh Neco put Jehoahaz in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath. That way he could not rule in Jerusalem. Neco made Judah pay 100 talents of silver and one talent of gold.","note":"About 3¾ tons of silver and about 75 pounds of gold."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Pharaoh Neco made Josiah's son Eliakim king in place of his father Josiah. He changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, and Jehoahaz died there."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh Neco. But to pay what Pharaoh asked, he taxed the land. He made the people pay the silver and gold. Each person paid based on how rich he was."},{"verse":36,"text":"Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years. His mother's name was Zebidah. She was the daughter of Pedaiah, and she came from Rumah."},{"verse":37,"text":"Jehoiakim did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as his ancestors had done."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"While Jehoiakim was king, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came and attacked. So Jehoiakim had to serve him. He did this for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the LORD sent raiders against Jehoiakim. They came to destroy Judah. They were from Chaldea, Aram, Moab, and Ammon. The LORD had said this would happen. He spoke it through his servants the prophets."},{"verse":3,"text":"This surely happened to Judah at the LORD's command. He did it to send them away from his presence. It was because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done."},{"verse":4,"text":"It was also because Manasseh had killed people who did no wrong. He filled Jerusalem with their blood. And the LORD would not forgive."},{"verse":5,"text":"The rest of what Jehoiakim did is written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. It tells about all he did."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jehoiakim died and joined his ancestors. His son Jehoiachin became king in his place."},{"verse":7,"text":"The king of Egypt did not march out of his land again. The king of Babylon had taken all of his land. He took it all, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months. His mother's name was Nehushta. She was the daughter of Elnathan, and she came from Jerusalem."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jehoiachin did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did just as his father had done."},{"verse":10,"text":"At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem. Their army closed in all around the city."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city himself. His officers were all around it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jehoiachin king of Judah gave up to the king of Babylon. His mother gave up too. So did his servants, his leaders, and his officials. The king of Babylon took Jehoiachin as a prisoner. It was the eighth year that the king of Babylon ruled."},{"verse":13,"text":"The king of Babylon took all the treasures from the house of the LORD. He took all the treasures from the king's palace too. The LORD had said this would happen. Solomon king of Israel had made gold things for the LORD's temple. He cut them all into pieces."},{"verse":14,"text":"He took all of Jerusalem away as captives. He took all the leaders and brave soldiers. He took all the skilled workers and metal workers. In all, he took 10,000 people. Only the poorest people of the land were left."},{"verse":15,"text":"The king of Babylon took Jehoiachin away to Babylon. He took the king's mother and wives too. He took his officials and the leaders of the land. He took them all from Jerusalem to Babylon."},{"verse":16,"text":"The king of Babylon also took all 7,000 brave soldiers to Babylon. He took 1,000 skilled workers and metal workers too. All of them were strong and ready to fight."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah king in Jehoiachin's place. Mattaniah was Jehoiachin's uncle. The king of Babylon gave him a new name, Zedekiah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years. His mother's name was Hamutal. She was the daughter of Jeremiah, and she came from Libnah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Zedekiah did evil in the eyes of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done."},{"verse":20,"text":"All this happened to Jerusalem and Judah because the LORD was angry. In the end he sent them away from his presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. This was in the ninth year that Zedekiah was king, on the tenth day of the tenth month. They set up camp outside the city. They built a siege wall all around it.","note":"Or siege ramps."},{"verse":2,"text":"The army kept the city surrounded until King Zedekiah's eleventh year."},{"verse":3,"text":"By the ninth day of the fourth month, the hunger in the city was very bad. The people had no food left."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the enemy broke through the city wall. The Chaldeans were all around the city. But all the soldiers ran away at night. They went out through the gate between the two walls near the king's garden. They headed toward the Arabah."},{"verse":5,"text":"But the Chaldean army chased the king. They caught up with him on the plains near Jericho. All of his soldiers left him and ran away."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Chaldeans grabbed the king. They brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah. There they decided how to punish him."},{"verse":7,"text":"They killed Zedekiah's sons while he watched. Then they put out his eyes. They tied him up with bronze chains and took him to Babylon."},{"verse":8,"text":"Nebuzaradan came to Jerusalem on the seventh day of the fifth month. It was the nineteenth year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. Nebuzaradan was the captain of the guard. He served the king of Babylon."},{"verse":9,"text":"He burned down the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He burned all the houses of Jerusalem. He burned every important building."},{"verse":10,"text":"The whole Chaldean army was under the captain of the guard. They tore down the walls all around Jerusalem."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took away the people who were still left in the city. He took them as captives. He also took the people who had gone over to the side of the king of Babylon. And he took the rest of the people."},{"verse":12,"text":"But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land. They were left to take care of the vineyards and fields."},{"verse":13,"text":"The Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars in the house of the LORD. They broke up the stands and the huge bronze bowl called the Sea. Then they carried the bronze away to Babylon."},{"verse":14,"text":"They also took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, and dishes. They took all the bronze things used for serving in the temple."},{"verse":15,"text":"The captain of the guard also took the incense burners and the sprinkling bowls. He took everything made of pure gold or fine silver."},{"verse":16,"text":"Solomon had made the two pillars, the Sea, and the stands that could be moved for the house of the LORD. There was so much bronze in all these things that no one could weigh it."},{"verse":17,"text":"Each pillar was 27 feet tall. The bronze top on each pillar was 4½ feet high. It had a net of bronze pomegranates all around it. The second pillar and its net were the same.","note":"Hebrew: 18 cubits; 3 cubits."},{"verse":18,"text":"The captain of the guard also took Seraiah the chief priest as a prisoner. He took Zephaniah, the priest next in rank, and the three doorkeepers."},{"verse":19,"text":"He took some people who were still in the city. He took an official who had been in charge of the soldiers. He took five of the king's advisers. He took the scribe of the army commander, who signed up the people of the land for the army. And he took 60 men who were found in the city."},{"verse":20,"text":"Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took them all. He brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah."},{"verse":21,"text":"There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them struck down and killed. So the people of Judah were taken away as captives from their own land."},{"verse":22,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon put Gedaliah in charge of the people he had left in the land of Judah. Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam and the grandson of Shaphan."},{"verse":23,"text":"All the army commanders and their men heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor. So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. Their men came with them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Gedaliah made a promise to them and their men. He said, \"Don't be afraid of the Chaldean officials. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"But in the seventh month, Ishmael came with ten men. He was the son of Nethaniah and the grandson of Elishama, and he was from the royal family. They attacked and killed Gedaliah. They also killed the men of Judah and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then all the people, from the least important to the most important, ran away to Egypt. The army commanders went with them. They were afraid of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":27,"text":"Jehoiachin king of Judah had been a captive for 37 years. In that year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon. On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, he let King Jehoiachin of Judah out of prison."},{"verse":28,"text":"He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin. He gave him a seat of honor above the other kings who were with him in Babylon."},{"verse":29,"text":"So Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes. For the rest of his life, he ate his meals at the king's table."},{"verse":30,"text":"Every day the king gave Jehoiachin what he needed. He did this for the rest of Jehoiachin's life."}]}]},{"name":"1 Chronicles","slug":"1-chronicles","usfm":"1CH","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Adam, Seth, Enosh,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,"},{"verse":3,"text":"Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah."},{"verse":4,"text":"Noah's sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth."},{"verse":5,"text":"Japheth's sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras."},{"verse":6,"text":"Gomer's sons were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah."},{"verse":7,"text":"Javan's sons were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ham's sons were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan."},{"verse":9,"text":"Cush's sons were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah's sons were Sheba and Dedan."},{"verse":10,"text":"Cush was the father of Nimrod. Nimrod grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth."},{"verse":11,"text":"Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites,"},{"verse":12,"text":"the Pathrusites, the Casluhites, and the Caphtorites. The Philistines came from the Casluhites."},{"verse":13,"text":"Canaan was the father of Sidon, his firstborn son. He was also the father of the Hittites,"},{"verse":14,"text":"the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,"},{"verse":15,"text":"the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,"},{"verse":16,"text":"the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites."},{"verse":17,"text":"Shem's sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. Aram's sons were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech."},{"verse":18,"text":"Arphaxad was the father of Shelah. Shelah was the father of Eber."},{"verse":19,"text":"Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg, because the earth was divided in his days. His brother was named Joktan.","note":"Peleg sounds like the Hebrew word for divided."},{"verse":20,"text":"Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,"},{"verse":22,"text":"Obal, Abimael, Sheba,"},{"verse":23,"text":"Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All of these were Joktan's sons."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the family line from Shem went to Arphaxad, Shelah,"},{"verse":25,"text":"Eber, Peleg, Reu,"},{"verse":26,"text":"Serug, Nahor, Terah,"},{"verse":27,"text":"and Abram. Abram is the same man as Abraham."},{"verse":28,"text":"Abraham's sons were Isaac and Ishmael."},{"verse":29,"text":"Here are their family lines. Ishmael's firstborn son was Nebaioth. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were Ishmael's sons."},{"verse":32,"text":"Keturah was Abraham's concubine. Her sons were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan's sons were Sheba and Dedan."},{"verse":33,"text":"Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these came from Keturah."},{"verse":34,"text":"Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac's sons were Esau and Israel."},{"verse":35,"text":"Esau's sons were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah."},{"verse":36,"text":"Eliphaz's sons were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. By Timna he also had Amalek."},{"verse":37,"text":"Reuel's sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah."},{"verse":38,"text":"Seir's sons were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan."},{"verse":39,"text":"Lotan's sons were Hori and Homam. Lotan's sister was Timna."},{"verse":40,"text":"Shobal's sons were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. Zibeon's sons were Aiah and Anah."},{"verse":41,"text":"Anah's son was Dishon. Dishon's sons were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran."},{"verse":42,"text":"Ezer's sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. Dishan's sons were Uz and Aran."},{"verse":43,"text":"These are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites. First was Bela son of Beor. His city was named Dinhabah."},{"verse":44,"text":"When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah became king after him. Jobab was from Bozrah."},{"verse":45,"text":"When Jobab died, Husham became king after him. Husham was from the land of the Temanites."},{"verse":46,"text":"When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king after him. Hadad beat Midian in the land of Moab. His city was named Avith."},{"verse":47,"text":"When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah became king after him."},{"verse":48,"text":"When Samlah died, Shaul became king after him. Shaul was from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River."},{"verse":49,"text":"When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor became king after him."},{"verse":50,"text":"When Baal-hanan died, Hadad became king after him. His city was named Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel. She was the daughter of Matred, and Matred was the daughter of Me-zahab."},{"verse":51,"text":"Then Hadad died. These were the chiefs of Edom: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,"},{"verse":52,"text":"Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,"},{"verse":53,"text":"Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,"},{"verse":54,"text":"Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher."},{"verse":3,"text":"Judah's sons were Er, Onan, and Shelah. Their mother was Bath-shua, a Canaanite woman. Er was Judah's firstborn son. He was wicked in the LORD's eyes. So the LORD put him to death."},{"verse":4,"text":"Tamar was Judah's daughter-in-law. She had two sons by Judah, Perez and Zerah. So Judah had five sons in all."},{"verse":5,"text":"Perez's sons were Hezron and Hamul."},{"verse":6,"text":"Zerah's sons were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara. There were five in all."},{"verse":7,"text":"Carmi's son was Achar. He brought trouble on Israel. He took things that were set apart for God to destroy.","note":"Achar means trouble. He is called Achan in Joshua 7."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ethan's son was Azariah."},{"verse":9,"text":"Hezron's sons were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb."},{"verse":10,"text":"Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was a leader of the people of Judah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz."},{"verse":12,"text":"Boaz was the father of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesse's firstborn son was Eliab. Abinadab was born second. Shimea was third,"},{"verse":14,"text":"Nethanel was fourth, Raddai was fifth,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Ozem was sixth, and David was seventh."},{"verse":16,"text":"Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah had three sons. They were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Abigail was the mother of Amasa. Amasa's father was Jether the Ishmaelite."},{"verse":18,"text":"Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. Azubah's sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon."},{"verse":19,"text":"When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath. She had a son by him named Hur."},{"verse":20,"text":"Hur was the father of Uri. Uri was the father of Bezalel."},{"verse":21,"text":"Later Hezron slept with the daughter of Machir. Machir was the father of Gilead. Hezron married her when he was sixty years old. She had a son by him named Segub."},{"verse":22,"text":"Segub was the father of Jair. Jair had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead."},{"verse":23,"text":"But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair. They also took Kenath and the sixty villages around it. All these people came from Machir, the father of Gilead."},{"verse":24,"text":"Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah. After that, his wife Abijah had a son by him named Ashhur. Ashhur was the father of Tekoa."},{"verse":25,"text":"Jerahmeel was Hezron's firstborn son. Jerahmeel's sons were Ram, his firstborn, then Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah."},{"verse":26,"text":"Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah. She was the mother of Onam."},{"verse":27,"text":"Ram was Jerahmeel's firstborn son. Ram's sons were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker."},{"verse":28,"text":"Onam's sons were Shammai and Jada. Shammai's sons were Nadab and Abishur."},{"verse":29,"text":"Abishur's wife was named Abihail. She had two sons by him, Ahban and Molid."},{"verse":30,"text":"Nadab's sons were Seled and Appaim. Seled died without having children."},{"verse":31,"text":"Appaim's son was Ishi. Ishi's son was Sheshan. Sheshan's son was Ahlai."},{"verse":32,"text":"Jada was Shammai's brother. Jada's sons were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without having children."},{"verse":33,"text":"Jonathan's sons were Peleth and Zaza. These were the people who came from Jerahmeel."},{"verse":34,"text":"Sheshan had no sons. He had only daughters. He also had a servant from Egypt named Jarha."},{"verse":35,"text":"Sheshan let his servant Jarha marry one of his daughters. She had a son by Jarha named Attai."},{"verse":36,"text":"Attai was the father of Nathan. Nathan was the father of Zabad."},{"verse":37,"text":"Zabad was the father of Ephlal. Ephlal was the father of Obed."},{"verse":38,"text":"Obed was the father of Jehu. Jehu was the father of Azariah."},{"verse":39,"text":"Azariah was the father of Helez. Helez was the father of Elasah."},{"verse":40,"text":"Elasah was the father of Sismai. Sismai was the father of Shallum."},{"verse":41,"text":"Shallum was the father of Jekamiah. Jekamiah was the father of Elishama."},{"verse":42,"text":"Caleb was Jerahmeel's brother. Caleb's firstborn son was Mesha, the father of Ziph. His second son was Mareshah, the father of Hebron."},{"verse":43,"text":"Hebron's sons were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema."},{"verse":44,"text":"Shema was the father of Raham, and Raham was the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai."},{"verse":45,"text":"Shammai's son was Maon. Maon was the father of Beth-zur."},{"verse":46,"text":"Ephah was Caleb's concubine. She was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez."},{"verse":47,"text":"Jahdai's sons were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph."},{"verse":48,"text":"Maacah was another of Caleb's concubines. She was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah."},{"verse":49,"text":"She was also the mother of Shaaph, the father of Madmannah. And she was the mother of Sheva, the father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb's daughter was Acsah."},{"verse":50,"text":"These were the people who came from Caleb. Hur was the firstborn son of Ephrathah. Hur's sons were Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim,"},{"verse":51,"text":"Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader."},{"verse":52,"text":"Shobal was the father of Kiriath-jearim. These came from him: Haroeh and half of the Manahathites,"},{"verse":53,"text":"and the clans of Kiriath-jearim. These clans were the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. The Zorathites and the Eshtaolites came from them."},{"verse":54,"text":"These came from Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, half of the Manahathites, the Zorites,"},{"verse":55,"text":"and the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez. They were the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath. He was the father of the family of Rechab."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These were David's sons who were born to him in Hebron. The firstborn was Amnon. His mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel. The second was Daniel. His mother was Abigail from Carmel."},{"verse":2,"text":"The third was Absalom. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah. His mother was Haggith."},{"verse":3,"text":"The fifth was Shephatiah. His mother was Abital. The sixth was Ithream. His mother was David's wife Eglah."},{"verse":4,"text":"These six sons were born to David in Hebron. He ruled there for seven years and six months. Then David ruled in Jerusalem for thirty-three years."},{"verse":5,"text":"These sons were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Their mother was Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel. She had these four sons by David."},{"verse":6,"text":"David's other sons were Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet,"},{"verse":7,"text":"Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,"},{"verse":8,"text":"Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. There were nine in all."},{"verse":9,"text":"These were all of David's sons. He also had sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister."},{"verse":10,"text":"Solomon's son was Rehoboam. Rehoboam's son was Abijah. Abijah's son was Asa. Asa's son was Jehoshaphat."},{"verse":11,"text":"Jehoshaphat's son was Joram. Joram's son was Ahaziah. Ahaziah's son was Joash."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joash's son was Amaziah. Amaziah's son was Azariah. Azariah's son was Jotham."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jotham's son was Ahaz. Ahaz's son was Hezekiah. Hezekiah's son was Manasseh."},{"verse":14,"text":"Manasseh's son was Amon. Amon's son was Josiah."},{"verse":15,"text":"Josiah's sons were these. Johanan was the firstborn. Jehoiakim was second. Zedekiah was third. Shallum was fourth."},{"verse":16,"text":"After Jehoiakim came his son Jeconiah. Then came Zedekiah."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jeconiah was taken away as a captive. His sons were Shealtiel,"},{"verse":18,"text":"Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Pedaiah's sons were Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel's children were Meshullam and Hananiah, and their sister Shelomith."},{"verse":20,"text":"He had five other sons too. They were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed."},{"verse":21,"text":"Hananiah's family included Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. It also included the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah."},{"verse":22,"text":"Shecaniah's family had six men. There was Shemaiah, and Shemaiah's sons were Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat."},{"verse":23,"text":"Neariah's sons were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam. There were three in all."},{"verse":24,"text":"Elioenai's sons were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani. There were seven in all."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These came from Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal."},{"verse":2,"text":"Shobal's son Reaiah was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites."},{"verse":3,"text":"These were Etam's sons: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi."},{"verse":4,"text":"Penuel was the father of Gedor. Ezer was the father of Hushah. These came from Hur. Hur was the firstborn son of Ephrathah. He was the father of Bethlehem."},{"verse":5,"text":"Ashhur was the father of Tekoa. He had two wives, Helah and Naarah."},{"verse":6,"text":"Naarah had these sons by him: Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were Naarah's children."},{"verse":7,"text":"Helah's sons were Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan,"},{"verse":8,"text":"and Koz. Koz was the father of Anub and Zobebah. He was also the father of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez. She said, \"Because I gave birth to him in pain.\"","note":"Jabez sounds like the Hebrew word for pain."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel. He prayed, \"Please bless me and make my land bigger! Let your hand be with me. Keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.\" And God gave Jabez what he asked for."},{"verse":11,"text":"Chelub was Shuhah's brother. Chelub was the father of Mehir. Mehir was the father of Eshton."},{"verse":12,"text":"Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash. These were the men of Recah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Kenaz's sons were Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel's sons were Hathath and Meonothai."},{"verse":14,"text":"Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab. Joab was the father of the people who lived in Ge-harashim. It got that name because its people were craftsmen.","note":"Ge-harashim means Valley of Craftsmen."},{"verse":15,"text":"Caleb son of Jephunneh had these sons: Iru, Elah, and Naam. Elah's son was Kenaz."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jehallelel's sons were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Ezrah's sons were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's wife Bithiah gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah. Ishbah was the father of Eshtemoa."},{"verse":18,"text":"These were the children of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh. Mered also married a woman from Judah. She gave birth to Jered, the father of Gedor. She also had Heber, the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel, the father of Zanoah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Hodiah's wife was the sister of Naham. Her sons were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and of Eshtemoa the Maacathite."},{"verse":20,"text":"Shimon's sons were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. Ishi's family included Zoheth and Ben-zoheth."},{"verse":21,"text":"Shelah was Judah's son. Shelah's sons were Er, the father of Lecah, and Laadah, the father of Mareshah. Shelah's family also included the clans of linen workers at Beth-ashbea,"},{"verse":22,"text":"Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph. Joash and Saraph ruled in Moab and Jashubi-lehem. These names come from very old records."},{"verse":23,"text":"They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They lived there and worked for the king."},{"verse":24,"text":"These came from Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul."},{"verse":25,"text":"Shaul's sons were Shallum, Mibsam, and Mishma."},{"verse":26,"text":"Mishma's sons were Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei."},{"verse":27,"text":"Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. But his brothers did not have many children. So their whole clan did not grow as large as the people of Judah."},{"verse":28,"text":"They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,"},{"verse":29,"text":"Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David became king."},{"verse":32,"text":"Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan. That makes five towns."},{"verse":33,"text":"They also had all the villages around these towns as far as Baal. These were the places where they lived. And they kept a written record of their families."},{"verse":34,"text":"Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah (the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel),"},{"verse":36,"text":"Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,"},{"verse":37,"text":"and Ziza son of Shiphi (the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah)."},{"verse":38,"text":"These men listed by name were the leaders of their clans. Their families grew very large."},{"verse":39,"text":"So they traveled to the edge of Gedor, to the east side of the valley. They were looking for grassland for their flocks."},{"verse":40,"text":"There they found rich, good grassland. The land was wide open, peaceful, and quiet. That was because some people from Ham's family had lived there before."},{"verse":41,"text":"These men whose names are listed came there when Hezekiah was king of Judah. They attacked the people of Ham in their homes. They also attacked the Meunites who were there. They destroyed them completely, as things set apart for God, and they are gone to this day. Then the men settled there in their place, because there was grassland for their flocks."},{"verse":42,"text":"Five hundred of these men from Simeon went to Mount Seir. They were led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi."},{"verse":43,"text":"They killed the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. And they have lived there to this day."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These were the sons of Reuben. Reuben was Israel's firstborn son. But he slept with one of his father's wives. So his rights as the firstborn son were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel. That is why Reuben is not listed as the firstborn."},{"verse":2,"text":"Judah became stronger than his brothers, and a ruler came from him. But the firstborn's rights belonged to Joseph."},{"verse":3,"text":"Reuben was Israel's firstborn son. Reuben's sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi."},{"verse":4,"text":"Joel's family line went to Shemaiah his son, then Gog, then Shimei,"},{"verse":5,"text":"then Micah, then Reaiah, then Baal,"},{"verse":6,"text":"and then Beerah. Each one was the son of the one before. Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria took Beerah away as a captive. Beerah was a leader of the people of Reuben."},{"verse":7,"text":"His relatives are listed by their clans in their family records. Jeiel was the chief. Then came Zechariah,"},{"verse":8,"text":"and Bela son of Azaz. Azaz was the son of Shema, and Shema was the son of Joel. They lived in Aroer and in the land as far as Nebo and Baal-meon."},{"verse":9,"text":"They also lived to the east, as far as the edge of the desert. That desert stretches to the Euphrates River. They lived there because their herds had grown large in the land of Gilead."},{"verse":10,"text":"When Saul was king, they went to war against the Hagrites. They beat them. Then they took over the homes of the Hagrites in all the land east of Gilead."},{"verse":11,"text":"The people of Gad lived next to the people of Reuben. They lived in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joel was the chief. Shapham was second. Then came Jaanai and Shaphat. They lived in Bashan."},{"verse":13,"text":"Their relatives by families were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. There were seven in all."},{"verse":14,"text":"These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri. Huri was the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz."},{"verse":15,"text":"Ahi son of Abdiel was the head of their family. Abdiel was the son of Guni."},{"verse":16,"text":"They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and in all the grasslands of Sharon."},{"verse":17,"text":"All of them were written in the family records. This was done when Jotham was king of Judah and Jeroboam was king of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"The people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 fighting men. They were brave men who carried shields and swords. They shot with bows. They were trained for battle."},{"verse":19,"text":"They went to war against the Hagrites. They also fought Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab."},{"verse":20,"text":"They cried out to God during the battle. So they got help against their enemies. The Hagrites and all who fought with them were handed over to them. God answered their prayers because they trusted in him."},{"verse":21,"text":"They took the Hagrites' animals. They took 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 people as captives."},{"verse":22,"text":"Many others were killed, because the battle was God's. And they lived in that land until they were taken away into exile."},{"verse":23,"text":"The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were many. They lived in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon. That is Senir, which is also called Mount Hermon."},{"verse":24,"text":"These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were brave and mighty warriors. They were famous men and heads of their families."},{"verse":25,"text":"But they were not faithful to the God of their fathers. They chased after the gods of the people of the land like a prostitute. Yet God had destroyed those people in front of them."},{"verse":26,"text":"So the God of Israel stirred up the heart of Pul king of Assyria. Pul is the same as Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. God moved him to take the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh away into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan. They are still there to this day."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."},{"verse":2,"text":"Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Amram's children were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. Aaron's sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."},{"verse":4,"text":"Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua."},{"verse":5,"text":"Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi."},{"verse":6,"text":"Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth."},{"verse":7,"text":"Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz."},{"verse":9,"text":"Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan."},{"verse":10,"text":"Johanan was the father of Azariah. This Azariah served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem."},{"verse":11,"text":"Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub."},{"verse":12,"text":"Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum."},{"verse":13,"text":"Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah."},{"verse":14,"text":"Azariah was the father of Seraiah. Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak."},{"verse":15,"text":"Jehozadak was taken away as a captive. This happened when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile. He used Nebuchadnezzar to do it."},{"verse":16,"text":"Levi's sons were Gershom, Kohath, and Merari."},{"verse":17,"text":"These are the names of Gershom's sons: Libni and Shimei."},{"verse":18,"text":"Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel."},{"verse":19,"text":"Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, listed by their fathers."},{"verse":20,"text":"Gershom's family line went to Libni his son, then Jahath, then Zimmah,"},{"verse":21,"text":"then Joah, then Iddo, then Zerah, and then Jeatherai. Each one was the son of the one before."},{"verse":22,"text":"Kohath's family line went to Amminadab his son, then Korah, then Assir,"},{"verse":23,"text":"then Elkanah, then Ebiasaph, then Assir,"},{"verse":24,"text":"then Tahath, then Uriel, then Uzziah, and then Shaul. Each one was the son of the one before."},{"verse":25,"text":"Elkanah's family line went to Amasai and Ahimoth,"},{"verse":26,"text":"then Elkanah his son, then Zophai, then Nahath,"},{"verse":27,"text":"then Eliab, then Jeroham, and then Elkanah. Each one was the son of the one before."},{"verse":28,"text":"Samuel's sons were Joel, his firstborn, and Abijah, his second son."},{"verse":29,"text":"Merari's family line went to Mahli, then Libni his son, then Shimei, then Uzzah,"},{"verse":30,"text":"then Shimea, then Haggiah, and then Asaiah. Each one was the son of the one before."},{"verse":31,"text":"These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD. He did this after the ark came to rest there."},{"verse":32,"text":"They served by singing in front of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. They did this until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. They did their work by the rules they were given."},{"verse":33,"text":"These are the men who served, along with their sons. From the Kohathites there was Heman the singer. He was the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,"},{"verse":34,"text":"the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,"},{"verse":35,"text":"the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,"},{"verse":36,"text":"the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,"},{"verse":37,"text":"the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,"},{"verse":38,"text":"the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel."},{"verse":39,"text":"Heman's relative Asaph served at his right side. Asaph was the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,"},{"verse":40,"text":"the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,"},{"verse":41,"text":"the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,"},{"verse":42,"text":"the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,"},{"verse":43,"text":"the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi."},{"verse":44,"text":"On Heman's left side were their relatives, the sons of Merari. There was Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,"},{"verse":45,"text":"the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,"},{"verse":46,"text":"the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,"},{"verse":47,"text":"the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi."},{"verse":48,"text":"The other Levites were given all the other work of the tabernacle, the house of God."},{"verse":49,"text":"But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense. They did this to make atonement for Israel. They did everything that Moses the servant of God had commanded."},{"verse":50,"text":"These came from Aaron. Aaron's son was Eleazar. Eleazar's son was Phinehas. Phinehas's son was Abishua."},{"verse":51,"text":"Abishua's son was Bukki. Bukki's son was Uzzi. Uzzi's son was Zerahiah."},{"verse":52,"text":"Zerahiah's son was Meraioth. Meraioth's son was Amariah. Amariah's son was Ahitub."},{"verse":53,"text":"Ahitub's son was Zadok. Zadok's son was Ahimaaz."},{"verse":54,"text":"These were the places given to Aaron's family from the clan of Kohath to live in. They were given these places because the first lot fell to them."},{"verse":55,"text":"They were given Hebron in the land of Judah. They also got the grasslands around it."},{"verse":56,"text":"But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh."},{"verse":57,"text":"So Aaron's family was given Hebron, a city of refuge. They were also given Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,"},{"verse":58,"text":"Hilen, Debir,"},{"verse":59,"text":"Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh. They got the grasslands around each town too."},{"verse":60,"text":"From the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth, with their grasslands. So their families had thirteen cities in all."},{"verse":61,"text":"The rest of the Kohathites were given ten cities from the half-tribe of Manasseh."},{"verse":62,"text":"The Gershomites were given thirteen cities, clan by clan. These came from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, and from Manasseh in Bashan."},{"verse":63,"text":"The Merarites were given twelve cities, clan by clan. These came from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun."},{"verse":64,"text":"So the Israelites gave these cities and their grasslands to the Levites."},{"verse":65,"text":"They cast lots to give out the cities named above. These cities came from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin."},{"verse":66,"text":"Some of the Kohathite clans were given cities from the tribe of Ephraim as their land."},{"verse":67,"text":"They were given Shechem, a city of refuge in the hill country of Ephraim, with its grasslands. They were also given Gezer,"},{"verse":68,"text":"Jokmeam, Beth-horon,"},{"verse":69,"text":"Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon. They got the grasslands around each town too."},{"verse":70,"text":"The rest of the Kohathite clans were given Aner and Bileam from the half-tribe of Manasseh. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":71,"text":"The Gershomites got these towns. From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were given Golan in Bashan and Ashtaroth. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":72,"text":"From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh, Daberath,"},{"verse":73,"text":"Ramoth, and Anem. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":74,"text":"From the tribe of Asher they were given Mashal, Abdon,"},{"verse":75,"text":"Hukok, and Rehob. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":76,"text":"From the tribe of Naphtali they were given Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":77,"text":"The Merarites were the rest of the Levites. They got these towns. From the tribe of Zebulun they were given Rimmono and Tabor. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":78,"text":"From the tribe of Reuben they were given Bezer in the wilderness and Jahzah. These were east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho."},{"verse":79,"text":"They were also given Kedemoth and Mephaath. They got the grasslands around them too."},{"verse":80,"text":"From the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,"},{"verse":81,"text":"Heshbon, and Jazer. They got the grasslands around them too."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Issachar's sons were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. There were four in all."},{"verse":2,"text":"Tola's sons were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. They were the heads of their families. In David's time, 22,600 men from Tola's family were counted in the family records. They were brave and mighty warriors."},{"verse":3,"text":"Uzzi's son was Izrahiah. Izrahiah's sons were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs."},{"verse":4,"text":"Their family records show they also had 36,000 soldiers ready for battle. That was because they had many wives and children."},{"verse":5,"text":"Their relatives from all the families of Issachar were brave and mighty warriors. In all, 87,000 were listed in their family records."},{"verse":6,"text":"Benjamin had three sons. They were Bela, Becher, and Jediael."},{"verse":7,"text":"Bela's sons were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were heads of their families. There were five in all. Their family records listed 22,034 brave and mighty warriors."},{"verse":8,"text":"Becher's sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All of these were Becher's sons."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their family records were listed by the heads of their families. They had 20,200 brave and mighty warriors."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jediael's son was Bilhan. Bilhan's sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar."},{"verse":11,"text":"All these sons of Jediael were heads of their families. They were brave and mighty warriors. They had 17,200 men ready for battle."},{"verse":12,"text":"The Shuppites and Huppites came from Ir. The Hushites came from Aher."},{"verse":13,"text":"Naphtali's sons were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. They came from Bilhah."},{"verse":14,"text":"These came from Manasseh. Asriel was born to Manasseh by his concubine from Aram. She also gave birth to Machir, the father of Gilead."},{"verse":15,"text":"Machir took a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites. His sister's name was Maacah. Another man in the family was Zelophehad. He had only daughters."},{"verse":16,"text":"Machir's wife Maacah had a son. She named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh. Sheresh's sons were Ulam and Rekem."},{"verse":17,"text":"Ulam's son was Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, the son of Manasseh."},{"verse":18,"text":"His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Shemida's sons were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam."},{"verse":20,"text":"Ephraim's family line went to Shuthelah. Shuthelah's son was Bered. Bered's son was Tahath. Tahath's son was Eleadah. Eleadah's son was Tahath."},{"verse":21,"text":"Tahath's son was Zabad. Zabad's son was Shuthelah. Ezer and Elead went down to steal livestock from the men of Gath, who were born in that land. So the men of Gath killed them."},{"verse":22,"text":"Their father Ephraim mourned for them for many days. His relatives came to comfort him."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then he slept with his wife again. She became pregnant and had a son. Ephraim named him Beriah, because trouble had come upon his family.","note":"Beriah sounds like the Hebrew words for in trouble."},{"verse":24,"text":"Ephraim's daughter was Sheerah. She built Lower Beth-horon and Upper Beth-horon. She also built Uzzen-sheerah."},{"verse":25,"text":"Rephah was also his son. Rephah's son was Resheph. Resheph's son was Telah. Telah's son was Tahan."},{"verse":26,"text":"Tahan's son was Ladan. Ladan's son was Ammihud. Ammihud's son was Elishama."},{"verse":27,"text":"Elishama's son was Nun. Nun's son was Joshua."},{"verse":28,"text":"Their lands and towns included Bethel and its villages. To the east was Naaran. To the west was Gezer and its villages. They also had Shechem and its villages, as far as Ayyah and its villages."},{"verse":29,"text":"Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth-shean, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, with their villages. The people of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns."},{"verse":30,"text":"Asher's children were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah."},{"verse":31,"text":"Beriah's sons were Heber and Malchiel. Malchiel was the father of Birzaith."},{"verse":32,"text":"Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, and Hotham, and of their sister Shua."},{"verse":33,"text":"Japhlet's sons were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's sons."},{"verse":34,"text":"Shemer's sons were Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram."},{"verse":35,"text":"His brother Helem's sons were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal."},{"verse":36,"text":"Zophah's sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera."},{"verse":38,"text":"Jether's sons were Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara."},{"verse":39,"text":"Ulla's sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia."},{"verse":40,"text":"All of these came from Asher. They were heads of their families. They were the best of the brave and mighty men. They were chiefs among the leaders. Their family records listed 26,000 men ready for battle."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Benjamin's firstborn son was Bela. Ashbel was second, Aharah was third,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Nohah was fourth, and Rapha was fifth."},{"verse":3,"text":"Bela's sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud,"},{"verse":4,"text":"Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram."},{"verse":6,"text":"These came from Ehud. They were the heads of the families who lived in Geba. They were forced to move to Manahath."},{"verse":7,"text":"They were Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera was the one who led them away. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud."},{"verse":8,"text":"Shaharaim had sons in the land of Moab. This was after he had sent away his wives Hushim and Baara."},{"verse":9,"text":"His sons by his wife Hodesh were Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,"},{"verse":10,"text":"Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons. They were heads of families."},{"verse":11,"text":"He also had sons by Hushim. They were Abitub and Elpaal."},{"verse":12,"text":"Elpaal's sons were Eber, Misham, and Shemed. Shemed built Ono and Lod and its villages."},{"verse":13,"text":"Beriah and Shema were also his sons. They were heads of the families living in Aijalon. They drove out the people who lived in Gath."},{"verse":14,"text":"Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,"},{"verse":16,"text":"Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were Beriah's sons."},{"verse":17,"text":"Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,"},{"verse":18,"text":"Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were Elpaal's sons."},{"verse":19,"text":"Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,"},{"verse":20,"text":"Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were Shimei's sons."},{"verse":22,"text":"Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,"},{"verse":23,"text":"Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,"},{"verse":24,"text":"Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,"},{"verse":25,"text":"Iphdeiah, and Penuel were Shashak's sons."},{"verse":26,"text":"Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were Jeroham's sons."},{"verse":28,"text":"All of these were heads of families. They were chiefs, as listed in their family records. They lived in Jerusalem."},{"verse":29,"text":"Jeiel, the father of Gibeon, lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah."},{"verse":30,"text":"Abdon was his firstborn son. Then came Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,"},{"verse":32,"text":"and Mikloth. Mikloth was the father of Shimeah. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem."},{"verse":33,"text":"Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal."},{"verse":34,"text":"Jonathan's son was Merib-baal. Merib-baal was the father of Micah."},{"verse":35,"text":"Micah's sons were Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz."},{"verse":36,"text":"Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza."},{"verse":37,"text":"Moza was the father of Binea. Binea's son was Raphah. Raphah's son was Eleasah, and Eleasah's son was Azel."},{"verse":38,"text":"Azel had six sons. These were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All of these were Azel's sons."},{"verse":39,"text":"His brother Eshek had these sons: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third."},{"verse":40,"text":"Ulam's sons were brave and mighty warriors. They were archers. They had many sons and grandsons, 150 in all. All of these came from Benjamin."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So all Israel was listed in the family records. These are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But the people of Judah were taken away to Babylon as captives because they were not faithful."},{"verse":2,"text":"The first people to move back to their own land in their cities were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants."},{"verse":3,"text":"Some people from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"There was Uthai son of Ammihud. Ammihud was the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani. Bani came from Perez son of Judah."},{"verse":5,"text":"From the Shilonites there was Asaiah the firstborn and his sons."},{"verse":6,"text":"From the Zerahites there was Jeuel and 690 relatives."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the people of Benjamin there was Sallu son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah."},{"verse":8,"text":"There was Ibneiah son of Jeroham. There was Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Michri. And there was Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah."},{"verse":9,"text":"There were also 956 of their relatives, as listed in their family records. All these men were heads of their families."},{"verse":10,"text":"From the priests there were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jachin."},{"verse":11,"text":"There was Azariah son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub. Azariah was the chief officer of God's temple."},{"verse":12,"text":"There was Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah. There was Maasai son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah. Jahzerah was the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer."},{"verse":13,"text":"There were also 1,760 of their relatives. They were heads of their families. They were able men who did the work of serving in the house of God."},{"verse":14,"text":"From the Levites there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub. Hasshub was the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah. They came from Merari."},{"verse":15,"text":"There were Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph."},{"verse":16,"text":"There was Obadiah son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. And there was Berechiah son of Asa, the son of Elkanah. Berechiah lived in the villages of the Netophathites."},{"verse":17,"text":"These were the gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their chief."},{"verse":18,"text":"Before this, he had been posted at the King's Gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the Levites."},{"verse":19,"text":"Shallum was the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah. Shallum and his relatives from Korah's family were given the job of guarding the doorways of the Tent. Their fathers had guarded the entrance to the LORD's dwelling place in the same way."},{"verse":20,"text":"Long before, Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of the gatekeepers. And the LORD was with him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the gatekeeper at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."},{"verse":22,"text":"In all, 212 men were chosen to be gatekeepers at the doorways. They were listed by family in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had put them in these trusted jobs."},{"verse":23,"text":"So they and their sons were given the job of guarding the gates of the LORD's house. That house was called the Tent."},{"verse":24,"text":"The gatekeepers stood guard on all four sides: east, west, north, and south."},{"verse":25,"text":"Their relatives came in from their villages at set times. They came to serve with them for seven days at a time."},{"verse":26,"text":"But the four chief gatekeepers were Levites. They were trusted to take care of the rooms and the treasure rooms in the house of God."},{"verse":27,"text":"They would stay all night at their posts around the house of God. They did this because it was their job to guard it and to open it every morning."},{"verse":28,"text":"Some of them were in charge of the things used in worship. They counted them each time they were brought in or taken out."},{"verse":29,"text":"Others were put in charge of the furniture and the other things in the holy place. They also took care of the fine flour, wine, oil, frankincense, and spices."},{"verse":30,"text":"Some of the priests' sons mixed the spices."},{"verse":31,"text":"A Levite named Mattithiah was trusted with baking the bread. He was the firstborn son of Shallum, from Korah's family."},{"verse":32,"text":"Some of their relatives from Kohath's family had a job every Sabbath. They set out the rows of holy bread that were placed before God."},{"verse":33,"text":"Some were musicians and heads of Levite families. They stayed in the rooms of the temple. They did not have to do other work, because they were on duty day and night."},{"verse":34,"text":"All of these were heads of Levite families. They were chiefs, as listed in their family records. They lived in Jerusalem."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jeiel, the father of Gibeon, lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah."},{"verse":36,"text":"Abdon was his firstborn son. Then came Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth."},{"verse":38,"text":"Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem."},{"verse":39,"text":"Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal."},{"verse":40,"text":"Jonathan's son was Merib-baal. Merib-baal was the father of Micah."},{"verse":41,"text":"Micah's sons were Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz."},{"verse":42,"text":"Ahaz was the father of Jarah. Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza."},{"verse":43,"text":"Moza was the father of Binea. Binea's son was Rephaiah. Rephaiah's son was Elasah, and Elasah's son was Azel."},{"verse":44,"text":"Azel had six sons. These were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were Azel's sons."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel ran away from them. Many of them were killed on Mount Gilboa."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Philistines chased hard after Saul and his sons. They killed Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua."},{"verse":3,"text":"The fighting grew fierce around Saul. The archers caught up with him and wounded him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Saul said to the man who carried his armor, \"Pull out your sword and stab me with it! If you don't, these men who are not circumcised will come and torture me.\" But the armor-bearer was terrified. He would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it."},{"verse":5,"text":"The armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead. Then he also fell on his own sword and died."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Saul died, and his three sons died with him. His whole family died together."},{"verse":7,"text":"All the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had run away. They saw that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in their cities."},{"verse":8,"text":"The next day the Philistines came to strip the dead bodies. They found Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa."},{"verse":9,"text":"They stripped Saul's body. They cut off his head and took his armor. Then they sent messengers all through the land of the Philistines. The messengers told the news in the temple of their idols and to their people."},{"verse":10,"text":"They put Saul's armor in the temple of their gods. They hung his head in the temple of Dagon."},{"verse":11,"text":"All the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul."},{"verse":12,"text":"So all their brave men set out. They took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak tree in Jabesh. Then they fasted for seven days."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Saul died because he was not faithful to the LORD. He did not obey the word of the LORD. He even went to a medium to ask for advice."},{"verse":14,"text":"He did not ask the LORD for help. So the LORD put him to death. Then he gave the kingdom to David son of Jesse."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron. They said, \"Look, we are your own flesh and blood."},{"verse":2,"text":"Even in the past, when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And the LORD your God said to you, 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be their ruler.'\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. There David made a covenant with them before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. This was just what the LORD had said through Samuel."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem. It was also called Jebus. The Jebusites lived in the land there."},{"verse":5,"text":"The people of Jebus said to David, \"You'll never get in here.\" But David captured the fortress of Zion. It is also called the City of David."},{"verse":6,"text":"David had said, \"The first man to kill a Jebusite will be the chief commander.\" Joab son of Zeruiah went up first. So he became the chief."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then David made his home in the fortress. That's why it was called the City of David."},{"verse":8,"text":"David built up the city around it, from the terraces to the wall around it. Joab repaired the rest of the city."},{"verse":9,"text":"David grew more and more great, because the LORD of Hosts was with him."},{"verse":10,"text":"These were the chiefs of David's mighty men. They and all Israel helped make his kingdom strong. This was just what the LORD had said about Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"Here is the list of David's mighty men. Jashobeam son of Hachmoni was chief of the officers. He used his spear against 300 men and killed them all at one time."},{"verse":12,"text":"Next in rank was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three mighty men."},{"verse":13,"text":"He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a field full of barley there. The troops ran away from the Philistines."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Eleazar and David took their stand in the middle of the field and defended it. They struck down the Philistines. And the LORD gave them a great victory."},{"verse":15,"text":"Three of the thirty chief men went down to David. They went to the rock by the cave of Adullam. At that time a group of Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":16,"text":"David was in his stronghold then. And a band of Philistine troops was in Bethlehem."},{"verse":17,"text":"David wished for water. He said, \"Oh, if only someone would bring me a drink of water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So the Three broke through the Philistine camp. They drew water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem and brought it back to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"He said, \"My God, I could never do this! How can I drink the blood of these men who put their lives in danger?\" They had risked their lives to bring it, so David would not drink it. These were the brave deeds of the three mighty men."},{"verse":20,"text":"Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three. He used his spear against 300 men and killed them. He became as famous as the Three."},{"verse":21,"text":"He was given twice as much honor as the Three, and he became their commander. But he was not one of the Three."},{"verse":22,"text":"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave man from Kabzeel. He did many bold deeds. He struck down two of Moab's best warriors. And on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion."},{"verse":23,"text":"He also struck down an Egyptian, a huge man about seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand as thick as a weaver's beam. But Benaiah went against him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.","note":"Hebrew: five cubits."},{"verse":24,"text":"These were the brave deeds of Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He became as famous as the three mighty men."},{"verse":25,"text":"He was the most honored of the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. David put him in charge of his guard."},{"verse":26,"text":"These were the mighty men: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,"},{"verse":28,"text":"Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,"},{"verse":29,"text":"Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,"},{"verse":31,"text":"Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,"},{"verse":32,"text":"Hurai from the streams of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,"},{"verse":33,"text":"Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,"},{"verse":34,"text":"the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,"},{"verse":36,"text":"Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,"},{"verse":38,"text":"Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,"},{"verse":39,"text":"Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, who carried the armor of Joab son of Zeruiah,"},{"verse":40,"text":"Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,"},{"verse":41,"text":"Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,"},{"verse":42,"text":"Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,"},{"verse":43,"text":"Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,"},{"verse":44,"text":"Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,"},{"verse":45,"text":"Jediael son of Shimri and his brother Joha the Tizite,"},{"verse":46,"text":"Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,"},{"verse":47,"text":"Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These were the men who came to David at Ziklag. At that time he was still hiding from Saul son of Kish. These men were among the mighty men who helped David in battle."},{"verse":2,"text":"They were archers. They could use both the right hand and the left hand to sling stones and shoot arrows. They were Saul's relatives from the tribe of Benjamin."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ahiezer was their chief. Then came Joash. They were the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite. There were also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth. There were Beracah and Jehu the Anathothite."},{"verse":4,"text":"There was Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty. There were Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite."},{"verse":5,"text":"There were Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite."},{"verse":6,"text":"There were Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam. They were Korahites."},{"verse":7,"text":"And there were Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor."},{"verse":8,"text":"Some men from Gad left Saul and joined David at his stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty, brave men trained for battle. They were experts with the shield and spear. Their faces were like the faces of lions. They were as fast as gazelles on the mountains."},{"verse":9,"text":"Ezer was the chief, Obadiah was second in command, and Eliab was third."},{"verse":10,"text":"Mishmannah was fourth, and Jeremiah was fifth."},{"verse":11,"text":"Attai was sixth, and Eliel was seventh."},{"verse":12,"text":"Johanan was eighth, and Elzabad was ninth."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jeremiah was tenth, and Machbanai was eleventh."},{"verse":14,"text":"These men from Gad were army commanders. The weakest of them could match 100 men. The strongest could match 1,000."},{"verse":15,"text":"They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was flooding all its banks. They chased away everyone living in the valleys, both to the east and to the west."},{"verse":16,"text":"Other men from Benjamin and some men from Judah also came to David at his stronghold."},{"verse":17,"text":"David went out to meet them. He said, \"If you have come in peace to help me, then my heart will be joined with yours. But maybe you have come to hand me over to my enemies, even though I have done nothing violent. If so, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the Spirit came on Amasai, the chief of the Thirty. He said, \"We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you. And peace to those who help you, for your God helps you.\" So David welcomed them. He made them leaders of his troops."},{"verse":19,"text":"Some men from Manasseh left Saul and joined David. This was when David went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But they did not help the Philistines, because the Philistine rulers talked it over and sent David away. They said, \"It will cost us our heads if he goes back over to his master Saul.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"When David went to Ziklag, these men from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. They were commanders of thousands in Manasseh."},{"verse":21,"text":"They helped David fight against the raiders, because all of them were mighty, brave men and commanders in the army."},{"verse":22,"text":"For in those days men came to David day after day to help him. At last he had a great army, like the army of God."},{"verse":23,"text":"Here are the numbers of armed men who came to David at Hebron. They came to give Saul's kingdom to him, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":24,"text":"From Judah: 6,800 armed troops carrying shields and spears."},{"verse":25,"text":"From Simeon: 7,100 mighty, brave men, ready for battle."},{"verse":26,"text":"From Levi: 4,600,"},{"verse":27,"text":"including Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, with 3,700 men,"},{"verse":28,"text":"and Zadok, a brave young warrior, with 22 commanders from his own family."},{"verse":29,"text":"From Benjamin, Saul's relatives: 3,000. Most of them had stayed loyal to Saul's family until then."},{"verse":30,"text":"From Ephraim: 20,800 mighty, brave men. They were famous in their own clans."},{"verse":31,"text":"From the half-tribe of Manasseh: 18,000. They were chosen by name to come and make David king."},{"verse":32,"text":"From Issachar: 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command. These men understood the times. They knew what Israel should do."},{"verse":33,"text":"From Zebulun: 50,000 men ready to serve. They were trained for battle with every kind of weapon. They were loyal to David with one heart."},{"verse":34,"text":"From Naphtali: 1,000 commanders, with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears."},{"verse":35,"text":"From Dan: 28,600 ready for battle."},{"verse":36,"text":"From Asher: 40,000 men ready to serve and ready for battle."},{"verse":37,"text":"And from the east side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh there: 120,000 men armed with every kind of weapon."},{"verse":38,"text":"All these fighting men came to Hebron lined up for battle. They were fully set on making David king over all Israel. And all the rest of the Israelites agreed to make David king."},{"verse":39,"text":"They stayed there with David for three days, eating and drinking, because their relatives had given them food."},{"verse":40,"text":"Their neighbors came from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. They brought plenty of flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep. There was great joy in Israel."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then David talked with all his leaders. These were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then he said to the whole gathering of Israel, \"If you think it is good, and if it is from the LORD our God, let's send word everywhere. Let's call the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel. Let's also call the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Then they can join us."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then let's bring back the ark of our God, because we did not seek him in the days of Saul.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"All the people thought this plan was right. So the whole gathering agreed to do it."},{"verse":5,"text":"So David gathered all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo-hamath. They came to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim."},{"verse":6,"text":"David and all Israel went up to Baalah in Judah, which is Kiriath-jearim. They went to bring up the ark of God from there. It is the ark of the LORD, who sits on his throne between the cherubim. The ark is called by his Name."},{"verse":7,"text":"They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart."},{"verse":8,"text":"David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their strength. They sang songs and played harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets."},{"verse":9,"text":"They came to the threshing floor of Chidon. There Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah. He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So Uzzah died there before God."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then David became angry because the LORD had burst out against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah. It is still called that today.","note":"Perez-uzzah means \"bursting out against Uzzah.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"That day David was afraid of God. He asked, \"How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So David did not take the ark with him to the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite."},{"verse":14,"text":"The ark of God stayed with Obed-edom's family in his house for three months. And the LORD blessed his family and everything he owned."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David. He also sent cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then David knew that the LORD had made him king over Israel and set him firmly in place. He knew the LORD had made his kingdom very great for the sake of his people Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"In Jerusalem David married more wives. He became the father of more sons and daughters."},{"verse":4,"text":"These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,"},{"verse":6,"text":"Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,"},{"verse":7,"text":"Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel. So they all went out to look for him. But David heard about it and went out to face them."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":10,"text":"So David asked God, \"Should I go up and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?\" The LORD answered, \"Go. I will hand them over to you.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim. There he defeated the Philistines. He said, \"God has burst out against my enemies by my hand, like a flood bursting through.\" So that place was named Baal-perazim.","note":"Baal-perazim means \"the Lord who bursts out.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The Philistines left their gods behind there. David gave orders to burn them in the fire."},{"verse":13,"text":"Once again the Philistines raided the valley."},{"verse":14,"text":"So David asked God again. God answered him, \"Don't go straight up after them. Circle around behind them. Attack them in front of the balsam trees."},{"verse":15,"text":"Listen for the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear it, go out to battle. Do this because it will mean that God has gone out ahead of you to strike the Philistine army.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So David did what God commanded him. They struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer."},{"verse":17,"text":"And David became famous in every land. And the LORD made all the nations afraid of him."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David built houses for himself in the City of David. He also got a place ready for the ark of God and set up a tent for it."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then David said, \"No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry his ark. He chose them to serve him forever.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"David gathered all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD. They would bring it to the place he had made ready for it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he called together the sons of Aaron and the Levites."},{"verse":5,"text":"From the Kohathites came Uriel the chief and 120 of his relatives."},{"verse":6,"text":"From the Merarites came Asaiah the chief and 220 of his relatives."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the Gershomites came Joel the chief and 130 of his relatives."},{"verse":8,"text":"From the Elizaphanites came Shemaiah the chief and 200 of his relatives."},{"verse":9,"text":"From the Hebronites came Eliel the chief and 80 of his relatives."},{"verse":10,"text":"And from the Uzzielites came Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives."},{"verse":11,"text":"David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests. He also called the Levites. These were Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab."},{"verse":12,"text":"He said to them, \"You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must make yourselves holy. Then you can bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have made ready for it."},{"verse":13,"text":"The first time, you Levites were not with us. That is why the LORD our God burst out in anger at us. For we did not ask him the right way to do it.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the priests and Levites made themselves holy. Then they could bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles. That is what Moses had commanded, just as the LORD had said."},{"verse":16,"text":"David also spoke to the leaders of the Levites. He told them to choose some of their relatives as singers. They were to sing loud and with joy. They were to play harps, lyres, and cymbals."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the Levites chose Heman son of Joel. From his relatives they chose Asaph son of Berechiah. And from their relatives the Merarites, they chose Ethan son of Kushaiah."},{"verse":18,"text":"With them were their relatives of the next rank. These were Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah. There were also the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel."},{"verse":19,"text":"Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were the singers. They were to play the bronze cymbals."},{"verse":20,"text":"Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to Alamoth.","note":"Alamoth is probably a music term. Its meaning is not certain."},{"verse":21,"text":"Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead the music with lyres according to Sheminith.","note":"Sheminith is probably a music term. Its meaning is not certain."},{"verse":22,"text":"Chenaniah, the head Levite, was in charge of the music, because he was very good at it."},{"verse":23,"text":"Berechiah and Elkanah were to guard the ark."},{"verse":24,"text":"Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer were priests. They were to blow the trumpets in front of the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah were also to guard the ark."},{"verse":25,"text":"So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with joy. They went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It was at the house of Obed-edom."},{"verse":26,"text":"God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. So they killed seven bulls and seven rams as sacrifices."},{"verse":27,"text":"David wore a robe of fine linen. So did all the Levites who carried the ark. So did the singers and Chenaniah, who led the singers' music. David also wore a linen ephod."},{"verse":28,"text":"So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD. They shouted and blew rams' horns and trumpets. They played cymbals, harps, and lyres."},{"verse":29,"text":"The ark of the covenant of the LORD was coming into the City of David. Saul's daughter Michal looked down from a window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. And in her heart she looked down on him with scorn."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"They brought in the ark of God. They set it inside the tent David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God."},{"verse":2,"text":"David finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he blessed the people in the name of the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then he gave every man and woman in Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake."},{"verse":4,"text":"David chose some of the Levites to serve in front of the ark of the LORD. They were to celebrate, give thanks, and praise the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Asaph was the chief, and Zechariah was second. Then came Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres. Asaph was to play the cymbals."},{"verse":6,"text":"And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets. They did this at set times in front of the ark of the covenant of God."},{"verse":7,"text":"That day David first gave Asaph and his helpers this song of thanks to the LORD:"},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name.\nTell the nations what he has done."},{"verse":9,"text":"Sing to him. Sing praises to him.\nTell about all his wonders."},{"verse":10,"text":"Be proud of his holy name.\nLet the hearts of those who seek the LORD be glad."},{"verse":11,"text":"Look to the LORD and his strength.\nSeek his face always."},{"verse":12,"text":"Remember the wonders he has done.\nRemember his amazing works and the judgments he spoke,"},{"verse":13,"text":"you children of his servant Israel,\nyou sons of Jacob, his chosen ones."},{"verse":14,"text":"He is the LORD our God.\nHis judgments reach all over the earth."},{"verse":15,"text":"Remember his covenant forever.\nRemember the promise he gave for a thousand generations."},{"verse":16,"text":"It is the covenant he made with Abraham.\nIt is the oath he swore to Isaac."},{"verse":17,"text":"He made it firm for Jacob as a law.\nHe made it for Israel as a covenant that lasts forever."},{"verse":18,"text":"He said, 'I will give you the land of Canaan.\nIt will be your share to own.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"At that time they were few in number,\nvery few, and strangers in the land."},{"verse":20,"text":"They wandered from nation to nation,\nfrom one kingdom to another."},{"verse":21,"text":"He let no one treat them badly.\nHe scolded kings for their sake."},{"verse":22,"text":"He said, 'Do not touch my anointed ones!\nDo not harm my prophets!'"},{"verse":23,"text":"Sing to the LORD, all the earth.\nTell of his saving power day after day."},{"verse":24,"text":"Tell the nations about his glory.\nTell all peoples about his wonders."},{"verse":25,"text":"For the LORD is great. He is worthy of great praise.\nHe should be feared above all gods."},{"verse":26,"text":"For all the gods of the nations are idols.\nBut the LORD made the heavens."},{"verse":27,"text":"Splendor and majesty are before him.\nStrength and joy fill the place where he lives."},{"verse":28,"text":"Give to the LORD, you families of the nations.\nGive to the LORD glory and strength."},{"verse":29,"text":"Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves.\nBring an offering and come before him.\nWorship the LORD in the beauty of his holiness."},{"verse":30,"text":"Tremble before him, all the earth.\nThe world stands firm. It cannot be moved."},{"verse":31,"text":"Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth be happy.\nLet them say among the nations, 'The LORD rules!'"},{"verse":32,"text":"Let the sea roar, and everything in it.\nLet the fields be full of joy, and everything in them."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD.\nFor he is coming to judge the earth."},{"verse":34,"text":"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then cry out, 'Save us, God our Savior!\nGather us and rescue us from the nations.\nThen we will give thanks to your holy name.\nThen we will be proud to praise you.'"},{"verse":36,"text":"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel,\nfrom forever ago to forever more.\"\nThen all the people said, \"Amen!\" and \"Praise the LORD!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"So David left Asaph and his helpers there in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. They were to serve there every day, doing what each day required."},{"verse":38,"text":"Obed-edom and his 68 relatives served with them. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers."},{"verse":39,"text":"David left Zadok the priest and the priests with him in front of the tabernacle of the LORD. It was at the high place in Gibeon."},{"verse":40,"text":"They were to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering. They did this regularly, morning and evening. They followed everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had commanded Israel to keep."},{"verse":41,"text":"With them were Heman and Jeduthun. The rest of those chosen by name were also with them. Their job was to give thanks to the LORD, saying, \"His faithful love lasts forever.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals for the music. They also had instruments for the songs of God. The sons of Jeduthun were placed at the gate."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then all the people went home. And David went home to bless his family."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David had settled into his palace. Then he said to Nathan the prophet, \"Look, I am living in a house made of cedar. But the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Nathan answered David, \"Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But that night the word of God came to Nathan. God said,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: You are not the one who will build me a house to live in."},{"verse":5,"text":"For I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt until today. I have moved from tent to tent and from one home to another."},{"verse":6,"text":"I have traveled with all the Israelites. I chose leaders to be shepherds of my people. Did I ever ask any of them, \"Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?\"'"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Now tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, where you followed the flock. I made you ruler over my people Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I have cut off all your enemies in front of you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will give my people Israel a place. I will plant them there so they can live in their own place. They will not be troubled anymore. Wicked people will not crush them anymore, as they did at the beginning."},{"verse":10,"text":"They have done it ever since I chose judges to lead my people Israel. I will defeat all your enemies. And I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you."},{"verse":11,"text":"Your life will come to an end, and you will go to be with your fathers. Then I will raise up your descendant after you. He will be one of your own sons. And I will make his kingdom strong."},{"verse":12,"text":"He will build a house for me. And I will make his throne last forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will be his Father, and he will be my son. I will never take my faithful love away from him, as I took it away from the king before you."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will put him over my house and my kingdom forever. His throne will last forever.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So Nathan told David everything God had said and shown him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD. He said, \"Lord GOD, who am I? And what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"},{"verse":17,"text":"And as if this were a small thing to you, God, you have spoken about the future of your servant's family. Lord GOD, you have treated me like a very important man."},{"verse":18,"text":"What more can I, David, say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant,"},{"verse":19,"text":"LORD. You have done this great thing for your servant's sake and because it was in your heart. You have made all these great promises known."},{"verse":20,"text":"LORD, there is no one like you. There is no God but you. Everything we have heard with our own ears shows this."},{"verse":21,"text":"Who is like your people Israel? They are the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as his own people. You made your name known by great and amazing wonders. You drove out nations in front of your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt."},{"verse":22,"text":"For you have made your people Israel your very own forever. And you, LORD, have become their God."},{"verse":23,"text":"So now, LORD, let the promise you made about your servant and his family stand forever. Do what you have promised."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then your name will stand firm and be great forever. People will say, 'The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, is God over Israel.' And may the family of your servant David stand firm before you."},{"verse":25,"text":"My God, you have told your servant that you will build a house for him. That is why your servant has found the courage to pray to you."},{"verse":26,"text":"And now, LORD, you are God! You have promised this good thing to your servant."},{"verse":27,"text":"Now you have been pleased to bless your servant's family, so that it may go on forever before you. For you, LORD, have blessed it. And it will be blessed forever.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, David beat the Philistines. He made them serve him. He took Gath and its towns from them."},{"verse":2,"text":"David also beat the Moabites. They had to serve David. They brought him tribute."},{"verse":3,"text":"David also beat King Hadadezer of Zobah. He beat him as far as Hamath. Hadadezer had gone out to set up his rule by the Euphrates River."},{"verse":4,"text":"David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 7,000 chariot drivers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except 100. He kept those for chariots."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah. But David killed 22,000 of their men."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he put troops in Aram of Damascus. The Arameans had to serve David. They brought him tribute. So the LORD gave David victory everywhere he went."},{"verse":7,"text":"Hadadezer's officers had gold shields. David took them and brought them to Jerusalem."},{"verse":8,"text":"Tibhath and Cun were cities of Hadadezer. David took a lot of bronze from them. Later Solomon used it to make the bronze Sea, the pillars, and many bronze things."},{"verse":9,"text":"Tou was king of Hamath. He heard that David had beaten the whole army of Hadadezer king of Zobah."},{"verse":10,"text":"So he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and to bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of objects made of gold, silver, and bronze."},{"verse":11,"text":"King David set these apart for the LORD. He did the same with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations. He had taken it from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites."},{"verse":12,"text":"Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt."},{"verse":13,"text":"He put troops in Edom. All the people of Edom had to serve David. So the LORD gave David victory everywhere he went."},{"verse":14,"text":"So David ruled over all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud kept the records."},{"verse":16,"text":"Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Shavsha was the scribe."},{"verse":17,"text":"Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites. And David's sons were the top officials at the king's side."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died. His son became king after him."},{"verse":2,"text":"David said, \"I will be kind to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father was kind to me.\" So David sent messengers to comfort Hanun about his father's death. David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites to comfort him."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the Ammonite princes said to Hanun, \"David has sent men to comfort you. Do you really think he is honoring your father? No! His servants have come to look over the land. They came to spy on it and destroy it.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off their beards. He cut off their clothes at the hips. Then he sent them away."},{"verse":5,"text":"Someone came and told David what had happened to his men. The men were deeply shamed. So David sent messengers to meet them. The king told them, \"Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then come home.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The Ammonites saw that David now hated them. So Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen. They hired them from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.","note":"1,000 talents is about 37 tons."},{"verse":7,"text":"They hired 32,000 chariots. They also hired the king of Maacah and his troops. These came and camped near Medeba. The Ammonites were also called together from their cities, and they marched out for battle."},{"verse":8,"text":"David heard about this. So he sent Joab and the whole army of mighty men."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Ammonites marched out and lined up for battle at the entrance to their city. The kings who had come stayed by themselves out in the open country."},{"verse":10,"text":"Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of Israel's best men. He lined them up against the Arameans."},{"verse":11,"text":"He put the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai. Abishai lined them up against the Ammonites."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joab said, \"If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you will come and rescue me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and rescue you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be strong! Let's fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what he thinks is good.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Joab and his troops went forward to fight the Arameans. And the Arameans ran away from him."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Ammonites saw that the Arameans had run away. So they also ran away from Joab's brother Abishai and went into their city. Then Joab went back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":16,"text":"The Arameans saw that Israel had beaten them. So they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, led them."},{"verse":17,"text":"David was told about this. So he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan River. He went toward the Arameans and lined up for battle against them. When David lined up to fight them, they fought against him."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the Arameans ran away from Israel. David killed 7,000 of their chariot drivers and 40,000 of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach, the commander of their army."},{"verse":19,"text":"Hadadezer's servants saw that Israel had beaten them. So they made peace with David and became his servants. After that, the Arameans would not help the Ammonites anymore."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the spring, kings go out to war. At that time Joab led out the army and destroyed the land of the Ammonites. He came to Rabbah and surrounded it. But David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and tore it down."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then David took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones. It was placed on David's head. David also took a great amount of goods from the city.","note":"A talent is about 75 pounds."},{"verse":3,"text":"David brought out the people who lived there. He put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops went back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim. And the Philistines were defeated."},{"verse":5,"text":"There was another battle with the Philistines. Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath the Gittite. Lahmi's spear had a shaft as thick as a weaver's beam."},{"verse":6,"text":"There was also a battle at Gath. A very tall man was there. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, 24 in all. He was also a descendant of Rapha."},{"verse":7,"text":"He made fun of Israel. So Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shimei, killed him."},{"verse":8,"text":"These descendants of Rapha in Gath were killed by David and his servants."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Satan rose up against Israel. He stirred up David to count the people of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"So David said to Joab and the army commanders, \"Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then bring me a report so I will know how many there are.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Joab answered, \"May the LORD make his troops 100 times as many as they are! My lord the king, aren't they all your servants? Why do you want to do this? Why should you bring guilt on Israel?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But the king's command won out over Joab. So Joab left and went all through Israel. Then he came back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":5,"text":"Joab gave David the total number of fighting men. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who could use a sword. This included 470,000 in Judah."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Joab did not count Levi and Benjamin, because he hated the king's command."},{"verse":7,"text":"God also saw this command as evil. So he struck Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then David said to God, \"I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now I beg you, take away your servant's sin, for I have been very foolish.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer. He said,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three choices. Choose one of them, and I will do it to you.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Gad went to David and said to him, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Choose one of these.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"'Three years of famine. Or three months of being swept away by your enemies while their swords catch you. Or three days of the sword of the LORD. Those would be days of plague in the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying every part of Israel.' Now decide what answer I should take back to the one who sent me.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"David said to Gad, \"I am in deep trouble. Please let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great. But don't let me fall into the hands of men.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the LORD sent a plague on Israel. And 70,000 men of Israel died."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing it, the LORD saw it and changed his mind about the disaster. He said to the angel who was destroying the people, \"Enough! Pull back your hand now!\" At that moment the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."},{"verse":16,"text":"David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth. The angel held a drawn sword in his hand. It was stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, dressed in sackcloth, fell with their faces to the ground."},{"verse":17,"text":"David said to God, \"Wasn't I the one who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. But these are like sheep. What have they done? LORD my God, please let your hand strike me and my father's family. But don't let this plague stay on your people.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD told Gad to tell David something. David was to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."},{"verse":19,"text":"So David went up. He obeyed the word Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel. His four sons who were with him hid."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then David came to Ornan. Ornan looked out and saw David. So he left the threshing floor and bowed down to David with his face to the ground."},{"verse":22,"text":"David said to Ornan, \"Let me have the land where this threshing floor is. I want to build an altar to the LORD here. Sell it to me for the full price. Then the plague on the people will stop.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Ornan said to David, \"Take it! May my lord the king do whatever he thinks is good. Look, I will give you the oxen for the burnt offerings. I will give the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give it all.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"But King David answered, \"No. I must pay the full price. For I will not take what is yours and give it to the LORD. I will not offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold for the land.","note":"About 15 pounds of gold."},{"verse":26,"text":"David built an altar to the LORD there. He offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called on the LORD. And the LORD answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the LORD spoke to the angel. And the angel put his sword back into its sheath."},{"verse":28,"text":"At that time David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. So he offered sacrifices there."},{"verse":29,"text":"For the tabernacle of the LORD that Moses had made in the wilderness was at the high place in Gibeon at that time. The altar of burnt offering was there too."},{"verse":30,"text":"But David could not go there to ask God for help, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then David said, \"The house of the Lord GOD will be here. And the altar of burnt offering for Israel will be here too.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So David gave orders to gather the foreigners living in the land of Israel. He chose some of them to cut stones. They were to shape the stones for building the house of God."},{"verse":3,"text":"David supplied a large amount of iron. It was for making nails for the doors of the gates and for the clamps. He also supplied more bronze than could be weighed."},{"verse":4,"text":"He also supplied more cedar logs than anyone could count, because the people of Sidon and Tyre had brought David a large amount of cedar logs."},{"verse":5,"text":"David said, \"My son Solomon is young and has little experience. But the house to be built for the LORD must be very grand. It must be famous and glorious in all lands. So I must get things ready for it.\" So David got a huge amount ready before he died."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then David called for his son Solomon. He told him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"David said to Solomon, \"My son, I wanted in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the LORD spoke this word to me: 'You have shed much blood. You have fought great wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed so much blood on the ground in front of me."},{"verse":9,"text":"But you will have a son who will be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his enemies all around him. For his name will be Solomon. I will give Israel peace and quiet while he is king.","note":"The name Solomon sounds like the Hebrew word for peace."},{"verse":10,"text":"He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his Father. And I will make the throne of his kingdom over Israel last forever.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Now, my son, may the LORD be with you. May you succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, just as he said you would."},{"verse":12,"text":"Most of all, may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding when he puts you in charge of Israel. Then you can keep the Law of the LORD your God."},{"verse":13,"text":"You will succeed if you carefully obey the laws and rules the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or lose heart."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, I have worked hard to supply the house of the LORD. I have 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver. I have so much bronze and iron that it can't be weighed. I have also supplied wood and stone. And you may add to them.","note":"A talent is about 75 pounds. This is about 3,750 tons of gold and 37,500 tons of silver."},{"verse":15,"text":"You also have many workers. You have stonecutters, stone builders, and carpenters. You have men skilled in every kind of work,"},{"verse":16,"text":"in gold and silver, bronze and iron. There are more craftsmen than anyone can count. Now start the work, and may the LORD be with you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon."},{"verse":18,"text":"He said, \"The LORD your God is with you, isn't he? He has given you rest on every side, hasn't he? For he has handed the people of the land over to me. The land is now under the control of the LORD and his people."},{"verse":19,"text":"Now give your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Start building the holy place of the Lord GOD. Then you can bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy objects of God into the temple. It will be built for the Name of the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David was old and had lived a full life. He made his son Solomon king over Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then he gathered all the leaders of Israel. He also gathered the priests and Levites."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Levites who were 30 years old or older were counted. There were 38,000 men in all."},{"verse":4,"text":"David said, \"Of these, 24,000 will be in charge of the work of the house of the LORD. And 6,000 will be officers and judges."},{"verse":5,"text":"4,000 will be gatekeepers. And 4,000 will praise the LORD with the instruments I have made for praise.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then David divided the Levites into groups by the sons of Levi. These were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Gershonites were Ladan and Shimei."},{"verse":8,"text":"The sons of Ladan were Jehiel the first, Zetham, and Joel. There were three in all."},{"verse":9,"text":"The sons of Shimei were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. There were three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan."},{"verse":10,"text":"And the sons of Shimei were Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were the four sons of Shimei."},{"verse":11,"text":"Jahath was the first, and Zizah was the second. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons. So they were counted as one family and given one job."},{"verse":12,"text":"The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. There were four in all."},{"verse":13,"text":"The sons of Amram were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever. They were to make the most holy things holy. They were to burn incense before the LORD and serve him. And they were to give blessings in his name forever."},{"verse":14,"text":"Moses was the man of God. His sons were counted as part of the tribe of Levi."},{"verse":15,"text":"The sons of Moses were Gershom and Eliezer."},{"verse":16,"text":"Among the descendants of Gershom, Shebuel was the first."},{"verse":17,"text":"Among the descendants of Eliezer, Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons. But Rehabiah had very many sons."},{"verse":18,"text":"Among the sons of Izhar, Shelomith was the first."},{"verse":19,"text":"The sons of Hebron were Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth."},{"verse":20,"text":"The sons of Uzziel were Micah the first and Isshiah the second."},{"verse":21,"text":"The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were Eleazar and Kish."},{"verse":22,"text":"Eleazar died without having sons. He had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them."},{"verse":23,"text":"The sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth. There were three in all."},{"verse":24,"text":"These were the descendants of Levi by their families. They were the heads of families, each listed by name. They were 20 years old or older. They worked in the service of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"For David had said, \"The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people. He has come to live in Jerusalem forever."},{"verse":26,"text":"So now the Levites don't need to carry the tabernacle anymore. They don't need to carry any of the objects used in its service.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"David's last instructions said to count the Levites who were 20 years old or older."},{"verse":28,"text":"But their job was to help the descendants of Aaron serve in the house of the LORD. They were in charge of the courtyards and the rooms. They made all the holy things pure. They did the work of serving in the house of God."},{"verse":29,"text":"They were also in charge of the rows of the bread of the Presence. They took care of the fine flour for the grain offering and the thin wafers made without yeast. They did the baking and the mixing. They took care of all the measuring of amounts and sizes."},{"verse":30,"text":"They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same every evening."},{"verse":31,"text":"Burnt offerings were given to the LORD on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons, and at the set feasts. At those times the Levites were to serve before the LORD regularly. They served in the numbers set for them."},{"verse":32,"text":"So the Levites were to take care of the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place. They also helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the house of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These were the groups of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."},{"verse":2,"text":"But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests."},{"verse":3,"text":"David divided the priests into groups for their duties. Zadok helped him. He was from Eleazar's family. Ahimelech helped too. He was from Ithamar's family."},{"verse":4,"text":"There were more leaders among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's. So they were divided that way. There were 16 family heads from Eleazar's descendants. There were 8 from Ithamar's descendants."},{"verse":5,"text":"So they divided them by casting lots, because there were officers of the holy place and officers of God among both Eleazar's and Ithamar's descendants."},{"verse":6,"text":"The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names. He did it in front of the king and the officers. These were Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family heads of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar."},{"verse":7,"text":"The first lot fell to Jehoiarib. The second fell to Jedaiah."},{"verse":8,"text":"The third fell to Harim. The fourth fell to Seorim."},{"verse":9,"text":"The fifth fell to Malchijah. The sixth fell to Mijamin."},{"verse":10,"text":"The seventh fell to Hakkoz. The eighth fell to Abijah."},{"verse":11,"text":"The ninth fell to Jeshua. The tenth fell to Shecaniah."},{"verse":12,"text":"The eleventh fell to Eliashib. The twelfth fell to Jakim."},{"verse":13,"text":"The thirteenth fell to Huppah. The fourteenth fell to Jeshebeab."},{"verse":14,"text":"The fifteenth fell to Bilgah. The sixteenth fell to Immer."},{"verse":15,"text":"The seventeenth fell to Hezir. The eighteenth fell to Happizzez."},{"verse":16,"text":"The nineteenth fell to Pethahiah. The twentieth fell to Jehezkel."},{"verse":17,"text":"The twenty-first fell to Jachin. The twenty-second fell to Gamul."},{"verse":18,"text":"The twenty-third fell to Delaiah. The twenty-fourth fell to Maaziah."},{"verse":19,"text":"This was the order in which they served when they came into the house of the LORD. They followed the rules their ancestor Aaron had given them. The LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded Aaron to give these rules."},{"verse":20,"text":"These were the rest of the descendants of Levi. From the sons of Amram came Shubael. From the sons of Shubael came Jehdeiah."},{"verse":21,"text":"From the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah was the first."},{"verse":22,"text":"From the Izharites came Shelomoth. From the sons of Shelomoth came Jahath."},{"verse":23,"text":"From the sons of Hebron, Jeriah was the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth."},{"verse":24,"text":"From the sons of Uzziel came Micah. From the sons of Micah came Shamir."},{"verse":25,"text":"Micah's brother was Isshiah. From the sons of Isshiah came Zechariah."},{"verse":26,"text":"The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah was Beno."},{"verse":27,"text":"The descendants of Merari through Jaaziah were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri."},{"verse":28,"text":"From Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons."},{"verse":29,"text":"From Kish came Jerahmeel, the son of Kish."},{"verse":30,"text":"And the sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families."},{"verse":31,"text":"They also cast lots, just as their relatives the descendants of Aaron did. They did it in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family heads of the priests and Levites. The family heads and their younger brothers were treated the same."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David and the army commanders also set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun. They were to prophesy while playing lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who did this work."},{"verse":2,"text":"From the sons of Asaph came Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. These sons of Asaph worked under Asaph. And Asaph prophesied under the king's direction."},{"verse":3,"text":"From the sons of Jeduthun came Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. There were six in all. They worked under their father Jeduthun. He prophesied with the harp as he thanked and praised the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"From the sons of Heman came Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth."},{"verse":5,"text":"All these were sons of Heman, the king's seer. God gave them to him through his promises to honor Heman. For God had given Heman 14 sons and 3 daughters."},{"verse":6,"text":"All these men worked under their fathers. They made the music in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres. This was for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman worked under the king."},{"verse":7,"text":"They and their relatives were all trained and skilled in songs for the LORD. There were 288 of them."},{"verse":8,"text":"They cast lots for their duties. Young and old were treated the same. So were teachers and students."},{"verse":9,"text":"The first lot was for Asaph's family. It fell to Joseph, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all. The second fell to Gedaliah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":10,"text":"The third fell to Zaccur, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":11,"text":"The fourth fell to Izri, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":12,"text":"The fifth fell to Nethaniah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":13,"text":"The sixth fell to Bukkiah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":14,"text":"The seventh fell to Jesarelah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":15,"text":"The eighth fell to Jeshaiah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":16,"text":"The ninth fell to Mattaniah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":17,"text":"The tenth fell to Shimei, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":18,"text":"The eleventh fell to Azarel, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":19,"text":"The twelfth fell to Hashabiah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":20,"text":"The thirteenth fell to Shubael, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":21,"text":"The fourteenth fell to Mattithiah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":22,"text":"The fifteenth fell to Jeremoth, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":23,"text":"The sixteenth fell to Hananiah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":24,"text":"The seventeenth fell to Joshbekashah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":25,"text":"The eighteenth fell to Hanani, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":26,"text":"The nineteenth fell to Mallothi, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":27,"text":"The twentieth fell to Eliathah, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":28,"text":"The twenty-first fell to Hothir, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":29,"text":"The twenty-second fell to Giddalti, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":30,"text":"The twenty-third fell to Mahazioth, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."},{"verse":31,"text":"And the twenty-fourth fell to Romamti-ezer, his sons, and his brothers, 12 in all."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These were the groups of the gatekeepers. From the Korahites came Meshelemiah son of Kore. He was one of the sons of Asaph."},{"verse":2,"text":"Meshelemiah had sons. Zechariah was the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, and Jathniel the fourth."},{"verse":3,"text":"Elam was the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh."},{"verse":4,"text":"Obed-edom also had sons. Shemaiah was the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth."},{"verse":5,"text":"Ammiel was the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth. For God had blessed Obed-edom."},{"verse":6,"text":"His son Shemaiah also had sons. They were leaders in their families, because they were strong and able men."},{"verse":7,"text":"Shemaiah's sons were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives Elihu and Semachiah were also able men."},{"verse":8,"text":"All these were descendants of Obed-edom. They and their sons and relatives were able men, strong enough to do the work. There were 62 in all from Obed-edom."},{"verse":9,"text":"Meshelemiah also had sons and relatives who were able men. There were 18 in all."},{"verse":10,"text":"Hosah the Merarite also had sons. Shimri was the first. He was not the firstborn, but his father made him the first."},{"verse":11,"text":"Hilkiah was the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. Hosah's sons and relatives were 13 in all."},{"verse":12,"text":"These were the groups of the gatekeepers, led by their chief men. They had duties serving in the house of the LORD, just like their relatives."},{"verse":13,"text":"They cast lots for each gate by their families. Young and old were treated the same."},{"verse":14,"text":"The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser. The lot for the North Gate fell to him."},{"verse":15,"text":"The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-edom. The lot for the storehouses fell to his sons."},{"verse":16,"text":"The lots for the West Gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah. Guards stood at every watch."},{"verse":17,"text":"Each day there were six Levites on the east side and four on the north. There were four on the south and two pairs at the storehouse."},{"verse":18,"text":"At the courtyard on the west, there were four at the road and two at the courtyard."},{"verse":19,"text":"These were the groups of the gatekeepers. They were descendants of Korah and Merari."},{"verse":20,"text":"Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God. They were also in charge of the treasuries for the gifts set apart for God."},{"verse":21,"text":"Some came from the descendants of Ladan. They were Gershonites through Ladan. They were heads of the families of Ladan the Gershonite. Among them was Jehieli."},{"verse":22,"text":"There were also the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"Some came from the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites."},{"verse":24,"text":"Shebuel was the officer in charge of the treasuries. He was a descendant of Gershom son of Moses."},{"verse":25,"text":"His relatives through Eliezer were Eliezer's son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomith."},{"verse":26,"text":"This Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of gifts set apart for God. King David had given these gifts. So had the family heads who were commanders of thousands and of hundreds. So had the army commanders."},{"verse":27,"text":"They had set apart some of the goods they took in battle. These were for repairing the house of the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"Samuel the seer had set apart gifts. So had Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah. All these gifts, and every other gift set apart for God, were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives."},{"verse":29,"text":"From the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons had duties outside the temple. They were officers and judges over Israel."},{"verse":30,"text":"From the Hebronites came Hashabiah and his relatives. There were 1,700 able men. They were in charge of Israel west of the Jordan River. They handled all the work of the LORD and the service of the king."},{"verse":31,"text":"Jerijah was the chief of the Hebronites, as listed in his family records. In the fortieth year of David's rule, the records were searched. Strong, able men were found among the Hebronites at Jazer in Gilead."},{"verse":32,"text":"Jerijah had 2,700 relatives who were able men and family heads. King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They handled every matter that had to do with God and with the king."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the list of the Israelites who served the king. It names the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers. They served the king in every matter about the army divisions. Each division took its turn on duty for one month of the year. There were 24,000 men in each division."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division. It served in the first month. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":3,"text":"He came from the family line of Perez. He was chief of all the army commanders for the first month."},{"verse":4,"text":"Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division for the second month. Mikloth was its leader. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":5,"text":"The third army commander was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. He was chief for the third month. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":6,"text":"This was the Benaiah who was a mighty warrior among the Thirty. He was also over the Thirty. His son Ammizabad was in charge of his division."},{"verse":7,"text":"The fourth commander, for the fourth month, was Asahel, Joab's brother. His son Zebadiah was commander after him. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":8,"text":"The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth the Izrahite. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":9,"text":"The sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":10,"text":"The seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite. He was from the tribe of Ephraim. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":11,"text":"The eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite. He was from the clan of Zerah. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":12,"text":"The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":13,"text":"The tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite. He was from the clan of Zerah. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":14,"text":"The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite. He was from the tribe of Ephraim. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":15,"text":"The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite. He was from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division."},{"verse":16,"text":"These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel. Eliezer son of Zichri was over the tribe of Reuben. Shephatiah son of Maacah was over the tribe of Simeon."},{"verse":17,"text":"Hashabiah son of Kemuel was over Levi. Zadok was over the family of Aaron."},{"verse":18,"text":"Elihu, one of David's brothers, was over Judah. Omri son of Michael was over Issachar."},{"verse":19,"text":"Ishmaiah son of Obadiah was over Zebulun. Jerimoth son of Azriel was over Naphtali."},{"verse":20,"text":"Hoshea son of Azaziah was over the tribe of Ephraim. Joel son of Pedaiah was over one of the half-tribes of Manasseh."},{"verse":21,"text":"Iddo son of Zechariah was over the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead. Jaasiel son of Abner was over Benjamin."},{"verse":22,"text":"And Azarel son of Jeroham was over Dan. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":23,"text":"David did not count the men who were twenty years old or younger. This was because the LORD had said he would make Israel as many as the stars in the sky."},{"verse":24,"text":"Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men, but he did not finish. Anger came on Israel because of this count. And the number was not written in the Book of the Chronicles of King David."},{"verse":25,"text":"Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's storehouses. Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses out in the country. He was over the ones in the cities, the villages, and the forts."},{"verse":26,"text":"Ezri son of Chelub was in charge of the field workers who plowed the soil."},{"verse":27,"text":"Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards. Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the grapes from the vineyards for the wine vats."},{"verse":28,"text":"Baal-hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive trees and sycamore trees in the foothills. Joash was in charge of the supplies of olive oil."},{"verse":29,"text":"Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds that grazed in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys."},{"verse":30,"text":"Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys."},{"verse":31,"text":"Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these officials were in charge of what King David owned."},{"verse":32,"text":"David's uncle Jonathan was an adviser. He was a wise man and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni took care of the king's sons."},{"verse":33,"text":"Ahithophel was the king's adviser. Hushai the Archite was the king's friend."},{"verse":34,"text":"After Ahithophel, Jehoiada son of Benaiah took his place, and then Abiathar. Joab was the commander of the king's army."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"David called all the leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem. He called the leaders of the tribes and the leaders of the divisions that served the king. He called the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He called the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons. The palace officials and the mighty men came too, every brave warrior."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then King David stood up and said, \"Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It would be a footstool for our God. I had gotten things ready to build it."},{"verse":3,"text":"But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name. You are a man of war, and you have spilled blood.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father's family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah to be the leader. From the tribe of Judah he chose my father's family. And from my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD has given me many sons. And of all my sons, he has chosen my son Solomon. Solomon will sit on the throne of the LORD's kingdom over Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said to me, 'Your son Solomon is the one who will build my house and my courtyards. I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his Father."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will make his kingdom last forever if he keeps firmly obeying my commands and laws, as he is doing today.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"So now I speak in front of all Israel, the LORD's assembly, and our God is listening. Keep all the commands of the LORD your God, and seek to follow them. Do this so that you may own this good land and pass it on to your children after you forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father. Serve him with all your heart and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart. He understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you turn away from him, he will reject you forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"Think about this now. The LORD has chosen you to build a house to be his holy place. Be strong and do it.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the temple. There were plans for its front porch, its buildings, and its storerooms. There were plans for its upstairs rooms, its inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat."},{"verse":12,"text":"The plans had everything David had in mind for the courtyards of the LORD's house and all the rooms around them. They were for the treasure rooms of God's house and for the rooms for the gifts set apart for God."},{"verse":13,"text":"The plans were for the groups of priests and Levites, for all the work of serving in the LORD's house, and for all the items used in the LORD's house."},{"verse":14,"text":"David gave the weight of gold for all the gold items used in every kind of service. He gave the weight of silver for all the silver items used in every kind of service."},{"verse":15,"text":"He gave the weight of the gold lampstands and their lamps. He gave the weight for each lampstand and its lamps. He gave the weight of each silver lampstand and its lamps, based on how each lampstand would be used."},{"verse":16,"text":"He gave the weight of gold for each table for the showbread. He gave the weight of silver for the silver tables."},{"verse":17,"text":"He gave the weight of pure gold for the forks, the sprinkling bowls, and the pitchers. He gave the weight of each gold dish and of each silver bowl."},{"verse":18,"text":"He gave the weight of refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave the plan for the chariot of the gold cherubim. Their wings spread out and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"The LORD made all of this clear to me,\" David said. \"His hand was on me, and he made all the details of this plan clear in writing.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"David also said to his son Solomon, \"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or lose heart, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or leave you. He will stay with you until all the work for the service of the LORD's house is finished."},{"verse":21,"text":"The groups of priests and Levites are ready for all the service of God's house. Every willing man with every kind of skill will help you with the work. The officials and all the people will do whatever you command.\""}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then King David said to the whole assembly, \"God has chosen my son Solomon. But he is young and has little experience. The task is great, because this palace is not for people. It is for the LORD God."},{"verse":2,"text":"I have worked as hard as I can to supply things for the house of my God. I have given gold for the gold items, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood. I have also given onyx stones for settings, turquoise, stones of many colors, and all kinds of precious stones. I have given blocks of marble too. There is plenty of it all."},{"verse":3,"text":"Also, I love the house of my God. So now I am giving my own treasures of gold and silver for it. This is more than all I have already supplied for this holy temple."},{"verse":4,"text":"I am giving three thousand talents of gold, gold from Ophir. I am giving seven thousand talents of refined silver. It will cover the walls of the buildings.","note":"A talent was about 75 pounds. So this was about 110 tons of gold and 260 tons of silver."},{"verse":5,"text":"It will be for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work the craftsmen will do. Now, who is willing to give himself to the LORD today?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the leaders gave willingly. These were the family leaders and the officers of the tribes of Israel. They were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and the officials over the king's work."},{"verse":7,"text":"For the work on God's house, they gave 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold. They gave 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron.","note":"A talent was about 75 pounds. A daric was a gold coin."},{"verse":8,"text":"Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the LORD's house. Jehiel the Gershonite took care of them."},{"verse":9,"text":"The people were filled with joy because their leaders had given so willingly. They had given to the LORD freely and with all their hearts. King David was also filled with great joy."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then David praised the LORD in front of the whole assembly. He said, \"May you be praised, O LORD, God of our father Israel, forever and ever."},{"verse":11,"text":"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power. Yours is the glory, the splendor, and the majesty. Everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom. You are lifted high as head over all."},{"verse":12,"text":"Riches and honor both come from you. You rule over all. Power and strength are in your hands. You can lift up anyone and give strength to all."},{"verse":13,"text":"So now, our God, we give you thanks. We praise your glorious name."},{"verse":14,"text":"But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give so much as this? For everything comes from you. We have only given you what came from your own hand."},{"verse":15,"text":"We are foreigners and strangers before you, just as all our ancestors were. Our days on earth are like a shadow, with no hope."},{"verse":16,"text":"O LORD our God, all this wealth we have gathered to build you a house for your holy Name comes from your hand. All of it belongs to you."},{"verse":17,"text":"My God, I know that you test the heart. You are pleased with what is right. I have given all these things willingly, with an honest heart. And now I have seen your people here giving to you with joy and willing hearts."},{"verse":18,"text":"O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever. Keep their hearts turned toward you."},{"verse":19,"text":"Give my son Solomon a heart that is fully yours. Help him keep and obey all your commands, laws, and rules. Help him build the palace I have gathered supplies for.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then David said to the whole assembly, \"Praise the LORD your God.\" So the whole assembly praised the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and gave honor to the LORD and to the king."},{"verse":21,"text":"The next day they offered sacrifices to the LORD and gave burnt offerings to him. They offered a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings. They also offered many other sacrifices for all Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"That day they ate and drank with great joy in the LORD's presence. Then they made David's son Solomon king a second time. They anointed him before the LORD to be the ruler, and they anointed Zadok to be the priest."},{"verse":23,"text":"So Solomon sat on the LORD's throne as king in place of his father David. He did well, and all Israel obeyed him."},{"verse":24,"text":"All the officials and mighty men promised to be loyal to King Solomon. All of King David's sons did too."},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD made Solomon very great in the eyes of all Israel. He gave him royal glory that no king in Israel before him had ever had."},{"verse":26,"text":"David son of Jesse was king over all Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"David ruled over Israel for forty years. He ruled seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem."},{"verse":28,"text":"He died at a good old age, after a long life full of riches and honor. His son Solomon became king in his place."},{"verse":29,"text":"The acts of King David, from first to last, are written down. They are in the Chronicles of Samuel the Seer, the Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet, and the Chronicles of Gad the Seer."},{"verse":30,"text":"They tell all about his reign and his power. They tell what happened to him and to Israel and to all the kingdoms of the lands."}]}]},{"name":"2 Chronicles","slug":"2-chronicles","usfm":"2CH","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Solomon son of David made himself strong and secure over his kingdom. The LORD his God was with him and made him very great."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Solomon spoke to all Israel. He spoke to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the families."},{"verse":3,"text":"Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, because God's Tent of Meeting was there. Moses the LORD's servant had made it in the wilderness."},{"verse":4,"text":"David had already brought the ark of God up from Kiriath-jearim. He brought it to the place he had made ready for it, because he had set up a tent for it in Jerusalem."},{"verse":5,"text":"But the bronze altar was in Gibeon in front of the LORD's tabernacle. Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made it. So Solomon and the assembly went there to seek the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"There Solomon offered sacrifices before the LORD on the bronze altar at the Tent of Meeting. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on it."},{"verse":7,"text":"That night God appeared to Solomon. He said, \"Ask for whatever you want, and I will give it to you!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Solomon answered God, \"You showed great faithful love to my father David. And you have made me king in his place."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now, O LORD God, let your promise to my father David come true. You have made me king over a people as many as the dust of the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"Now give me wisdom and knowledge so that I can lead this people. Who is able to rule this great people of yours?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"God said to Solomon, \"This is what you wanted in your heart. You did not ask for riches, wealth, or honor for yourself. You did not ask for your enemies to die. You did not even ask for a long life. Instead, you asked for wisdom and knowledge to rule my people, over whom I made you king."},{"verse":12,"text":"So wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor. No king before you or after you has had anything like it.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Solomon left the high place at Gibeon, in front of the Tent of Meeting, and went to Jerusalem. And he ruled over Israel."},{"verse":14,"text":"Solomon gathered 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem."},{"verse":15,"text":"The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore trees in the foothills."},{"verse":16,"text":"Solomon's horses were brought in from Egypt and Kue. The king's traders bought them from Kue."},{"verse":17,"text":"A chariot from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver. A horse cost a hundred and fifty. The traders also sold them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.","note":"600 shekels was about 15 pounds of silver; 150 shekels was almost 4 pounds."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Solomon planned to build a house for the Name of the LORD. He also planned a royal palace for himself."},{"verse":2,"text":"So he forced 70,000 men to carry loads. He forced 80,000 men to cut stone in the mountains. And he put 3,600 men over them as bosses."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Solomon sent a message to Hiram king of Tyre. He said, \"Do for me what you did for my father David. You sent him cedar logs to build a house to live in."},{"verse":4,"text":"Now I am about to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. I will set it apart for him. There we will burn sweet incense before him. We will always set out the showbread. We will give burnt offerings every morning and evening. We will give them on the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God. This is a law for Israel forever."},{"verse":5,"text":"The house I am building will be great, because our God is greater than all gods."},{"verse":6,"text":"But who can build a house for him? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot hold him. So who am I to build a house for him? It can only be a place to burn sacrifices before him."},{"verse":7,"text":"So send me a man who is skilled at engraving. He must know how to work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, and purple, red, and blue yarn. He will work with my skilled workers in Judah and Jerusalem. My father David provided them."},{"verse":8,"text":"Also send me cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon. I know your servants are skilled at cutting wood there. My servants will work with yours"},{"verse":9,"text":"to get plenty of lumber ready for me, because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will pay your servants who cut the wood. I will give them 20,000 cors of ground wheat and 20,000 cors of barley. I will give them 20,000 baths of wine and 20,000 baths of olive oil.\"","note":"A cor was about 6 bushels. A bath was about 6 gallons."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Hiram king of Tyre wrote a letter back to Solomon. He said, \"The LORD loves his people, so he has made you king over them.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Hiram also said, \"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who made the heavens and the earth! He has given King David a wise son. This son has good sense and understanding. He will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself."},{"verse":13,"text":"So now I am sending you Huram-abi. He is a skilled man, gifted with great ability."},{"verse":14,"text":"His mother was from the tribe of Dan, and his father was a man from Tyre. He is skilled at working with gold and silver, bronze and iron, and stone and wood. He can work with purple, blue, and red yarn and with fine linen. He knows every kind of engraving. He can make any design that is given to him. He will work with your skilled workers and with those of my lord, your father David."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now let my lord send his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he promised."},{"verse":16,"text":"We will cut as many logs from Lebanon as you need. We will tie them into rafts and float them by sea to Joppa. Then you can take them up to Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Solomon counted all the foreigners living in the land of Israel. This followed the count his father David had made. There were 153,600 in all."},{"verse":18,"text":"Solomon made 70,000 of them carry loads and 80,000 cut stone in the mountains. He made 3,600 of them bosses over the workers."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Solomon began to build the LORD's house in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. That was where the LORD had appeared to his father David. It was the place David had made ready on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."},{"verse":2,"text":"Solomon began building on the second day of the second month. It was the fourth year of his rule."},{"verse":3,"text":"The base Solomon laid for God's house was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. This used the old length of the cubit.","note":"Hebrew: 60 cubits long and 20 cubits wide."},{"verse":4,"text":"The porch in front ran across the width of the temple. It was 30 feet long and 30 feet high. He covered the inside with pure gold.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits."},{"verse":5,"text":"He lined the main hall with cypress wood. He covered it with fine gold. Then he decorated it with palm trees and chains."},{"verse":6,"text":"He decorated the temple with precious stones to make it beautiful. Its gold came from Parvaim."},{"verse":7,"text":"He covered the temple's beams, door sills, walls, and doors with gold. He carved cherubim on the walls."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he made the Most Holy Place. Its length matched the width of the temple. It was 30 feet long and 30 feet wide. He covered the inside with six hundred talents of fine gold.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits. Six hundred talents was about 23 tons."},{"verse":9,"text":"The gold nails weighed fifty shekels. He also covered the upstairs rooms with gold.","note":"Fifty shekels was about 1 1/4 pounds."},{"verse":10,"text":"In the Most Holy Place he made two carved cherubim. He covered them with gold."},{"verse":11,"text":"The wings of the cherubim spread 30 feet wide in all. One wing of the first cherub was 7 1/2 feet long. It touched the temple wall. Its other wing was also 7 1/2 feet long. It touched a wing of the other cherub.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits; 5 cubits."},{"verse":12,"text":"One wing of the second cherub was also 7 1/2 feet long. It touched the temple wall. Its other wing was 7 1/2 feet long too. It touched a wing of the first cherub."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the wings of these cherubim spread 30 feet in all. The cherubim stood on their feet. They faced the main hall."},{"verse":14,"text":"He made the curtain of blue, purple, and red yarn and fine linen. He had cherubim woven into it."},{"verse":15,"text":"In front of the temple he made two pillars. Together they were about 52 feet high. Each had a top piece that was 7 1/2 feet tall.","note":"Hebrew: 35 cubits; 5 cubits."},{"verse":16,"text":"He made chains woven together and put them on top of the pillars. He made a hundred pomegranates and attached them to the chains."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he set up the pillars in front of the temple. One stood on the south side and one on the north. He named the south pillar Jachin. He named the north pillar Boaz."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"He made a bronze altar 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high.","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 10 cubits high."},{"verse":2,"text":"He also made the Sea out of melted metal. It was round. It was 15 feet across from rim to rim and 7 1/2 feet high. It was 45 feet around.","note":"The Sea was a huge bronze water tank. Hebrew: 10 cubits; 5 cubits; 30 cubits."},{"verse":3,"text":"Below the rim, shapes of oxen went all the way around it. There were ten for every 18 inches all around the Sea. They were cast in two rows as part of the Sea.","note":"Hebrew: ten per cubit."},{"verse":4,"text":"The Sea stood on twelve oxen. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The Sea rested on top of them. Their back ends all pointed toward the center."},{"verse":5,"text":"It was about 3 inches thick. Its rim was shaped like the rim of a cup, like a lily flower. It could hold three thousand baths.","note":"Hebrew: a handbreadth. Three thousand baths was about 18,000 gallons."},{"verse":6,"text":"He also made ten basins for washing. He put five on the south side and five on the north. The parts of the burnt offerings were rinsed in them. But the priests used the Sea for washing."},{"verse":7,"text":"He made ten gold lampstands as they were supposed to be made. He put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north."},{"verse":8,"text":"He also made ten tables and put them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. He also made a hundred gold bowls."},{"verse":9,"text":"He made the courtyard of the priests and the large courtyard with its doors. He covered the doors with bronze."},{"verse":10,"text":"He put the Sea on the south side, at the southeast corner."},{"verse":11,"text":"Huram also made the pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. So Huram finished the work he had taken on for King Solomon in the house of God. Here is what he made:"},{"verse":12,"text":"There were the two pillars and the two bowl-shaped tops on the pillars. There were the two sets of netting that covered the two bowls on top of the pillars."},{"verse":13,"text":"There were the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of netting. There were two rows of pomegranates for each net that covered the bowl-shaped tops on the pillars."},{"verse":14,"text":"There were the stands and the basins on the stands."},{"verse":15,"text":"There was the Sea and the twelve oxen under it."},{"verse":16,"text":"And there were the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other items. Huram-abi made all these things for King Solomon for the LORD's house. They were made of polished bronze."},{"verse":17,"text":"The king had them cast in clay molds on the plain of the Jordan. This was between Succoth and Zeredah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Solomon made so many of these items that no one could find out the weight of the bronze."},{"verse":19,"text":"Solomon also made all the furnishings for God's house. He made the gold altar and the tables that held the Bread of the Presence."},{"verse":20,"text":"He made the lampstands of pure gold and their lamps. They were to burn in front of the inner room, as the law said."},{"verse":21,"text":"He made the gold flowers, lamps, and tongs. They were made of the purest gold."},{"verse":22,"text":"He made the wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, ladles, and incense burners of pure gold. He made the gold doors of the temple. These were the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the main hall."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So all the work Solomon did for the LORD's house was finished. Then Solomon brought in the things his father David had set apart for God. He brought the silver, the gold, and all the furnishings. He put them in the treasure rooms of God's house."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Solomon called the elders of Israel together in Jerusalem. He called all the heads of the tribes and the family leaders of the Israelites. They came to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Zion, the City of David."},{"verse":3,"text":"So all the men of Israel came together to the king at the feast in the seventh month."},{"verse":4,"text":"When all the elders of Israel had come, the Levites picked up the ark."},{"verse":5,"text":"They brought up the ark and the Tent of Meeting with all its holy furnishings. The priests, who were Levites, carried them up."},{"verse":6,"text":"King Solomon and the whole community of Israel gathered with him in front of the ark. They sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that no one could count them or keep a record."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place. They put it in the inner room of the temple, the Most Holy Place. It sat under the wings of the cherubim."},{"verse":8,"text":"The cherubim spread their wings over the place where the ark was. They covered the ark and its poles."},{"verse":9,"text":"The poles of the ark were so long that their ends could be seen from in front of the inner room. But they could not be seen from outside the Holy Place. They are still there to this day."},{"verse":10,"text":"There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets. Moses had put them there at Horeb. That was where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt."},{"verse":11,"text":"All the priests who were there had made themselves holy, no matter what group they served in. When the priests came out of the Holy Place,"},{"verse":12,"text":"all the Levite singers stood on the east side of the altar. These were Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives. They wore fine linen and played cymbals, harps, and lyres. With them were 120 priests blowing trumpets."},{"verse":13,"text":"The trumpeters and singers joined together. With one voice they praised and thanked the LORD. They raised their voices with trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments to praise the LORD. They sang, \"For he is good; his faithful love lasts forever.\" Then the temple, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud."},{"verse":14,"text":"The priests could not stand there to serve because of the cloud. For the glory of the LORD filled the house of God."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Solomon said, \"The LORD has said that he would live in the thick cloud."},{"verse":2,"text":"But I have built you a grand house. It is a place for you to live forever.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"The whole assembly of Israel was standing there. The king turned around and blessed them all."},{"verse":4,"text":"He said, \"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel! With his own hand he has done what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. He said,"},{"verse":5,"text":"'Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to build a house for my Name to be there. And I have not chosen anyone to rule over my people Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"But now I have chosen Jerusalem for my Name to be there. And I have chosen David to rule over my people Israel.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"My father David wanted in his heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the LORD said to my father David, 'You wanted in your heart to build a house for my Name. You did well to want this."},{"verse":9,"text":"But you are not the one to build it. Your son, your own child, will build the house for my Name.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Now the LORD has kept the promise he made. I have taken the place of my father David. I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised. And I have built the house for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"I have put the ark there. Inside it is the covenant the LORD made with the people of Israel.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Solomon stood in front of the LORD's altar before the whole assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands."},{"verse":13,"text":"Solomon had made a bronze platform 7 1/2 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high. He had put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it and then knelt down in front of the whole assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward heaven","note":"Hebrew: 5 cubits long, 5 cubits wide, and 3 cubits high."},{"verse":14,"text":"and said, \"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth. You keep your covenant of faithful love with your servants who follow you with all their hearts."},{"verse":15,"text":"You have kept your promise to your servant, my father David. What you said with your mouth, you have done with your hand today."},{"verse":16,"text":"So now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep your promise to your servant, my father David. You told him, 'You will always have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants watch how they live and follow my law, as you have lived before me.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"Now, O LORD, God of Israel, please make your promise to your servant David come true."},{"verse":18,"text":"But will God really live with people on earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot hold you. How much less can this temple I have built!"},{"verse":19,"text":"Yet please listen to your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer your servant is praying to you."},{"verse":20,"text":"May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night. This is the place where you said you would put your Name. May they be open so that you may hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place."},{"verse":21,"text":"Hear the requests of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, the place where you live. And when you hear, forgive."},{"verse":22,"text":"Suppose a man sins against his neighbor and has to make a promise under oath. He comes and takes the oath in front of your altar in this temple."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then hear from heaven and act. Judge your servants. Punish the guilty man by bringing on his own head what he has done. Declare that the one who did right is innocent. Reward him for the right things he has done."},{"verse":24,"text":"Suppose your people Israel are beaten by an enemy because they sinned against you. Then they come back to you and honor your name. They pray and beg you for help in this temple."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel. Bring them back to the land you gave to them and their fathers."},{"verse":26,"text":"Suppose the skies are shut and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you. Then they pray toward this place and honor your name. They turn from their sins because you have made them suffer."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, so that you may teach them the good way they should live. And send rain on the land you gave your people as their inheritance."},{"verse":28,"text":"Suppose there is famine or plague in the land, or crop disease or mold, or locusts or grasshoppers. Or suppose their enemies surround them and attack their cities. Whatever plague or sickness may come,"},{"verse":29,"text":"then listen to any prayer or plea your people Israel make. Each of them knows his own troubles and pain. Each one spreads out his hands toward this temple."},{"verse":30,"text":"Hear them from heaven, the place where you live. Forgive, and repay each person for all that he does, since you know his heart. You alone know the hearts of people."},{"verse":31,"text":"Do this so that they will fear you and follow your ways all the days they live in the land you gave our fathers."},{"verse":32,"text":"And what about the foreigner who is not one of your people Israel? He has come from a faraway land because of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm. When he comes and prays toward this temple,"},{"verse":33,"text":"then hear from heaven, the place where you live. Do all that the foreigner asks of you. Then all the peoples of the earth will know your name and fear you, just like your people Israel do. And they will know that this house I have built is called by your Name."},{"verse":34,"text":"Suppose your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them. And suppose they pray to you facing this city you have chosen and the house I have built for your Name."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then hear their prayer and their plea from heaven, and stand up for their cause."},{"verse":36,"text":"Suppose they sin against you, for there is no one who does not sin. And you become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy. The enemy takes them away as prisoners to a land far away or near."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then suppose they come to their senses in the land where they were taken. They turn back to you and beg you in the land of their captors. They say, 'We have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly.'"},{"verse":38,"text":"And suppose they come back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of the enemies who took them away. They pray facing the land you gave their fathers, the city you have chosen, and the house I have built for your Name."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then hear from heaven, the place where you live. Hear their prayer and pleas, and stand up for their cause. Forgive your people who have sinned against you."},{"verse":40,"text":"Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears listen to the prayers prayed in this place."},{"verse":41,"text":"So now rise up, O LORD God, and come to your resting place. Come, you and the ark of your power. O LORD God, may your priests be dressed in salvation. May your faithful people be glad in what is good."},{"verse":42,"text":"O LORD God, do not turn away from your anointed one. Remember your faithful love to your servant David.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven. It burned up the burnt offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the temple."},{"verse":2,"text":"The priests could not go into the LORD's house, because the glory of the LORD had filled it."},{"verse":3,"text":"All the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple. They bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground. They worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD. They said, \"For he is good; his faithful love lasts forever.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"King Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated God's house."},{"verse":6,"text":"The priests stood at their posts. The Levites stood there too with the LORD's musical instruments. King David had made these to give thanks to the LORD. David had used them to praise him, saying, \"His faithful love lasts forever.\" Across from the Levites, the priests blew trumpets. And all the Israelites were standing."},{"verse":7,"text":"Solomon set apart as holy the middle of the courtyard in front of the LORD's house. There he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings. He did this because the bronze altar he had made could not hold all these offerings."},{"verse":8,"text":"So at that time Solomon kept the feast for seven days. All Israel was with him. It was a very large crowd from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt."},{"verse":9,"text":"On the eighth day they held a holy gathering. For they had kept the dedication of the altar for seven days and the feast for seven more days."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people home. They were joyful and glad in their hearts. They were happy for the good things the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for his people Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"Solomon finished the LORD's house and the royal palace. He did well in all he had planned in his heart to do for the LORD's house and for his own palace."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD appeared to him at night. He said to him, \"I have heard your prayer. I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice."},{"verse":13,"text":"If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command locusts to eat up the land, or if I send a plague among my people,"},{"verse":14,"text":"and if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin and heal their land."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now my eyes will be open and my ears will listen to the prayers prayed in this place."},{"verse":16,"text":"I have now chosen this temple and made it holy, so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."},{"verse":17,"text":"As for you, if you walk with me as your father David did, and do all I have commanded you, and if you keep my laws and rules,"},{"verse":18,"text":"then I will make your royal throne secure. This is what I promised in my covenant with your father David when I said, 'You will always have a man to rule over Israel.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"But if you turn away and leave the laws and commands I have given you, and if you go off to serve and worship other gods,"},{"verse":20,"text":"then I will pull Israel up by the roots from the land I gave them. I will throw out of my sight this temple I made holy for my Name. I will make it something all the peoples mock and laugh at."},{"verse":21,"text":"This temple will become a pile of ruins. Everyone who passes by will be shocked. They will say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?'"},{"verse":22,"text":"Others will answer, 'It is because they left the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They held on to other gods and worshiped and served them. That is why he has brought all this disaster on them.'\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It took Solomon twenty years to build the LORD's house and his own palace. At the end of that time,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Solomon rebuilt the cities Hiram had given him. He had Israelites settle there."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Solomon went to Hamath-zobah and captured it."},{"verse":4,"text":"He built Tadmor in the wilderness. He also built all the store cities in Hamath."},{"verse":5,"text":"He rebuilt Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon. He made them strong cities with walls, gates, and bars."},{"verse":6,"text":"He also built Baalath and all of Solomon's store cities. He built all the cities for his chariots and horses. He built whatever he wanted to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and all through the land he ruled."},{"verse":7,"text":"There were still people left from the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These people were not Israelites."},{"verse":8,"text":"Their descendants were still in the land. The Israelites had not destroyed them. Solomon forced these people to be slave workers, as they still are today."},{"verse":9,"text":"But Solomon did not make any Israelites slave workers. They were his soldiers, the leaders of his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and horsemen."},{"verse":10,"text":"They were also King Solomon's chief officers. There were 250 who were in charge of the people."},{"verse":11,"text":"Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her. He said, \"My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because the places where the ark of the LORD has been are holy.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the LORD on the LORD's altar. He had built it in front of the porch."},{"verse":13,"text":"He followed the daily rule for offerings that Moses commanded. He gave offerings on the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the three yearly feasts. These were the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles."},{"verse":14,"text":"Solomon followed the rules of his father David. He appointed the groups of priests for their service. He appointed the Levites for their duties. They were to lead praise and to help the priests, as each day required. He also appointed gatekeepers by their groups for each gate. David the man of God had commanded this."},{"verse":15,"text":"They did not turn away from what the king had commanded about the priests or the Levites in any matter. This included the treasure rooms."},{"verse":16,"text":"So all of Solomon's work was done, from the day the base of the LORD's house was laid until it was finished. So the LORD's house was completed."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Eloth on the coast of Edom."},{"verse":18,"text":"Hiram sent him ships led by his own servants, along with crews of skilled sailors. They went with Solomon's servants to Ophir. They got 450 talents of gold from there and brought it to King Solomon.","note":"About 17 tons."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was. So she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very large group of travelers. Her camels carried spices, lots of gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon and talked with him about everything on her mind."},{"verse":2,"text":"Solomon answered all her questions. Nothing was too hard for him to explain."},{"verse":3,"text":"The queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom and the palace he had built."},{"verse":4,"text":"She saw the food on his table and how his servants were seated. She saw how his helpers served and what they wore. She saw his cupbearers and their clothes. She saw the burnt offerings he gave at the LORD's house. It took her breath away."},{"verse":5,"text":"She said to the king, \"What I heard in my own country about your words and your wisdom is true."},{"verse":6,"text":"But I did not believe it until I came and saw it with my own eyes. Truly, I was not told even half of how great your wisdom is. You are far greater than what I heard."},{"verse":7,"text":"How happy your men must be! How happy are these servants of yours who always stand before you and hear your wisdom!"},{"verse":8,"text":"Praise the LORD your God! He was pleased with you and put you on his throne to be king for the LORD your God. Your God loved Israel and wanted to make them strong forever. So he made you king over them to do what is fair and right.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a large amount of spices, and precious stones. There had never been spices like the ones the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon.","note":"120 talents was about 4 1/2 tons."},{"verse":10,"text":"(Hiram's servants and Solomon's servants brought gold from Ophir. They also brought algum wood and precious stones."},{"verse":11,"text":"The king used the algum wood to make steps for the LORD's house and for the king's palace. He also made lyres and harps for the singers. Nothing like them had ever been seen before in the land of Judah.)"},{"verse":12,"text":"King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she wanted, whatever she asked for. It was far more than she had brought to the king. Then she and her servants left and went back to her own country."},{"verse":13,"text":"Each year Solomon received 666 talents of gold.","note":"About 25 tons."},{"verse":14,"text":"This did not count the money from the merchants and traders. All the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon."},{"verse":15,"text":"King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold. Each shield used six hundred shekels of hammered gold.","note":"About 15 pounds."},{"verse":16,"text":"He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold. Each shield used three hundred shekels of gold. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.","note":"About 7 1/2 pounds."},{"verse":17,"text":"The king also made a great throne out of ivory. He covered it with pure gold."},{"verse":18,"text":"The throne had six steps, and a gold footstool was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat. A lion stood beside each armrest."},{"verse":19,"text":"Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at each end of every step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any kingdom."},{"verse":20,"text":"All of King Solomon's cups were gold. All the dishes in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because silver was thought to be worth nothing in Solomon's day."},{"verse":21,"text":"The king had ships of Tarshish that sailed with Hiram's servants. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish came back. They brought gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks."},{"verse":22,"text":"So King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom."},{"verse":23,"text":"All the kings of the earth wanted to meet Solomon. They wanted to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart."},{"verse":24,"text":"Year after year, each visitor brought a gift. They brought things made of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules."},{"verse":25,"text":"Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horses. He kept them in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem."},{"verse":26,"text":"He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt."},{"verse":27,"text":"The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones. He made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore trees in the foothills."},{"verse":28,"text":"Solomon's horses were brought in from Egypt and from all the other lands."},{"verse":29,"text":"The rest of what Solomon did, from beginning to end, is written down. It is in the Records of Nathan the Prophet. It is in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite. It is also in the Visions of Iddo the Seer about Jeroboam son of Nebat."},{"verse":30,"text":"Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Solomon died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Rehoboam went to Shechem. All Israel had gone there to make him king."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this. He had run away to Egypt to escape from King Solomon. Now he came back from Egypt."},{"verse":3,"text":"So they sent for Jeroboam. Then he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now make the hard work your father forced on us lighter. Make lighter the heavy yoke he put on us. Then we will serve you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Rehoboam answered, \"Come back to me in three days.\" So the people left."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then King Rehoboam asked for advice from the elders. They had served his father Solomon while he was alive. He asked, \"What do you advise me to say to these people?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"They answered, \"If you will be kind to these people and please them, and speak kind words to them, then they will be your servants forever.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him. Instead, he asked the young men who had grown up with him and served him."},{"verse":9,"text":"He asked them, \"What do you advise? How should we answer these people? They said to me, 'Make the yoke your father put on us lighter.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The young men who had grown up with him answered, \"Here is how to answer these people. They said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.' Tell them this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist!"},{"verse":11,"text":"My father put a heavy yoke on you, but I will make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"After three days, Jeroboam and all the people came back to Rehoboam. The king had told them, \"Come back to me on the third day.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders."},{"verse":14,"text":"He spoke to them the way the young men had advised. He said, \"My father made your yoke heavy, but I will make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the king did not listen to the people. This turn of events came from God. The LORD made it happen to keep the promise he had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat. He had spoken it through Ahijah the Shilonite."},{"verse":16,"text":"All Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them. So they answered the king, \"What share do we have in David? What part do we have in the son of Jesse? Go to your tents, O Israel! Now look after your own house, O David!\" So all the Israelites went home."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then King Rehoboam sent out Hadoram, who was in charge of the forced workers. But the Israelites threw stones at him until he died. King Rehoboam quickly got into his chariot and ran away to Jerusalem."},{"verse":19,"text":"So Israel has rebelled against the house of David to this day."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Rehoboam came to Jerusalem. He called together the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen fighting men. They were to fight against Israel and win the kingdom back for Rehoboam."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God. He said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah. Speak to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin."},{"verse":4,"text":"Tell them this is what the LORD says: 'Do not go up and fight against your brothers. Every one of you must go home, for I have made this happen.'\" So they obeyed the words of the LORD. They turned back and did not go against Jeroboam."},{"verse":5,"text":"Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem. He built up cities in Judah to defend the land."},{"verse":6,"text":"He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,"},{"verse":7,"text":"Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,"},{"verse":8,"text":"Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,"},{"verse":9,"text":"Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,"},{"verse":10,"text":"Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the strong cities in Judah and Benjamin."},{"verse":11,"text":"He made their defenses strong and put officers in them. He stored food, oil, and wine there."},{"verse":12,"text":"He also put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him."},{"verse":13,"text":"The priests and Levites from all their areas in Israel also took Rehoboam's side."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Levites left their pasturelands and their property. They went to Judah and Jerusalem. This was because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"Jeroboam chose his own priests for the high places. They served the goat demons and the calf idols he had made."},{"verse":16,"text":"Some people from every tribe of Israel had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God. They followed the Levites to Jerusalem. There they offered sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers."},{"verse":17,"text":"So they made the kingdom of Judah strong. They supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because for three years they followed the ways of David and Solomon."},{"verse":18,"text":"Rehoboam married Mahalath. She was the daughter of Jerimoth, David's son. Her mother was Abihail, daughter of Eliab, Jesse's son."},{"verse":19,"text":"She had sons by him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham."},{"verse":20,"text":"After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom. She had these children by him: Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith."},{"verse":21,"text":"Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. He had twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters."},{"verse":22,"text":"Rehoboam made Abijah son of Maacah the chief prince among his brothers. He planned to make him king."},{"verse":23,"text":"Rehoboam also acted wisely. He sent some of his sons out to all the areas of Judah and Benjamin and to all the strong cities. He gave them plenty of supplies and found many wives for them."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Rehoboam's rule became firm and his royal power grew strong. Then he and all Israel with him turned away from the Law of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"They had been unfaithful to the LORD. So in the fifth year of Rehoboam's rule, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"He came with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. Countless troops came with him out of Egypt. There were Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites."},{"verse":4,"text":"He captured the strong cities of Judah and came all the way to Jerusalem."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah. They had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah said to them, \"This is what the LORD says: 'You have left me. So now I have left you and handed you over to Shishak.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves. They said, \"The LORD is righteous.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD saw that they had humbled themselves. Then the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah. He said, \"They have humbled themselves, so I will not destroy them. I will soon rescue them. I will not pour out my anger on Jerusalem through Shishak."},{"verse":8,"text":"But they will become his servants, so that they may learn how serving me is different from serving the kings of other lands.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He took away the treasures of the LORD's house and of the royal palace. He took everything, even the gold shields Solomon had made."},{"verse":10,"text":"So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to take their place. He gave them to the captains of the guard. These guards kept watch at the door of the royal palace."},{"verse":11,"text":"Whenever the king went into the LORD's house, the guards went with him carrying the shields. Later they brought them back to the guardroom."},{"verse":12,"text":"Rehoboam humbled himself, so the LORD's anger turned away from him. The LORD did not destroy him completely. In fact, things were good in Judah."},{"verse":13,"text":"So King Rehoboam made himself strong in Jerusalem and ruled there. He was forty-one years old when he became king. He ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem. That was the city the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his Name there. Rehoboam's mother was Naamah the Ammonite."},{"verse":14,"text":"Rehoboam did evil, because he did not set his heart on seeking the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"The acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are written down. They are in the records of Shemaiah the Prophet and of Iddo the Seer that deal with family lines. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were at war with each other the whole time."},{"verse":16,"text":"Rehoboam died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah became king in his place."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Abijah became king of Judah in the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's rule."},{"verse":2,"text":"He ruled in Jerusalem for three years. His mother's name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel. She was from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam."},{"verse":3,"text":"Abijah went into battle with an army of 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam lined up against him with 800,000 chosen men. They were strong, brave warriors."},{"verse":4,"text":"Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim. He shouted, \"Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Don't you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, gave the right to rule Israel to David and his descendants forever? He made a covenant of salt.","note":"A covenant of salt was a lasting agreement that could not be broken."},{"verse":6,"text":"Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat rose up and rebelled against his master. He was a servant of Solomon son of David."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him. They stood against Rehoboam son of Solomon. Rehoboam was young and had little experience. He was not strong enough to stand against them."},{"verse":8,"text":"And now you think you can stand against the kingdom of the LORD. That kingdom is in the hands of David's descendants. It's true that you have a huge army. And you have with you the gold calves Jeroboam made for you as gods."},{"verse":9,"text":"But didn't you drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? Didn't you make your own priests, as the peoples of other lands do? Now anyone can come with a young bull and seven rams to set himself apart. Then he can become a priest of things that are not gods."},{"verse":10,"text":"But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not left him. The priests who serve the LORD are sons of Aaron. The Levites do their work."},{"verse":11,"text":"Every morning and every evening they offer burnt offerings and sweet incense to the LORD. They set out the rows of showbread on the table that is clean for worship. Every evening they light the lamps on the gold lampstand. We are doing what the LORD our God requires. But you have left him."},{"verse":12,"text":"Look! God himself is with us as our leader. His priests are ready with their trumpets to sound the battle call against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers. You will not win.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Jeroboam had sent troops around behind Judah to ambush them. So Jeroboam's army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them."},{"verse":14,"text":"The men of Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked from the front and the back. They cried out to the LORD. Then the priests blew the trumpets."},{"verse":15,"text":"The men of Judah raised the battle cry. And when they shouted, God beat Jeroboam and all Israel in front of Abijah and Judah."},{"verse":16,"text":"So the Israelites ran away from Judah, and God handed them over to Judah."},{"verse":17,"text":"Abijah and his army struck them down badly. Five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel were killed."},{"verse":18,"text":"So the Israelites were beaten at that time. The men of Judah won because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their fathers."},{"verse":19,"text":"Abijah chased Jeroboam and took some towns from him. He took Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, along with their villages."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jeroboam never got his power back while Abijah lived. Then the LORD struck him, and he died."},{"verse":21,"text":"But Abijah grew strong. He married fourteen wives and had twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters."},{"verse":22,"text":"The rest of what Abijah did, along with his ways and his words, is written in the Writings of the Prophet Iddo."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Abijah died and joined his ancestors. He was buried in the City of David. His son Asa became king in his place. While Asa was king, the land had peace for ten years."},{"verse":2,"text":"Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God."},{"verse":3,"text":"He took away the altars to foreign gods and the high places. He smashed the sacred stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles."},{"verse":4,"text":"He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers. He told them to obey the law and the commands."},{"verse":5,"text":"He also took away the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had peace while he ruled."},{"verse":6,"text":"The land had peace, so Asa built strong cities in Judah. No one fought a war with him in those years, because the LORD had given him rest."},{"verse":7,"text":"So he said to the people of Judah, \"Let's build up these cities. Let's put walls and towers around them, with gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God. We sought him, and he has given us rest all around.\" So they built and did well."},{"verse":8,"text":"Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah. They carried large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin. They carried small shields and shot bows. All of them were brave warriors."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Zerah the Cushite marched out against them. He had an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah."},{"verse":10,"text":"So Asa went out to fight him. His army lined up for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God. He said, \"O LORD, no one but you can help the weak against the strong. Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you. In your name we have come against this huge army. O LORD, you are our God. Do not let a mere human win against you.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So the LORD struck down the Cushites in front of Asa and Judah. The Cushites ran away."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover. They were crushed before the LORD and his army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of loot."},{"verse":14,"text":"They attacked all the towns around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen on them. They took loot from all the towns, since there was a lot of loot there."},{"verse":15,"text":"They also attacked the camps of the herdsmen and took many sheep and camels. Then they went back to Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded."},{"verse":2,"text":"So he went out to meet Asa. He said to him, \"Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you leave him, he will leave you."},{"verse":3,"text":"For a long time Israel was without the true God. They had no priest to teach them, and they had no law."},{"verse":4,"text":"But in their trouble they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel. They looked for him, and they found him."},{"verse":5,"text":"In those days it was not safe to travel, because the people who lived in the lands had a lot of fighting."},{"verse":6,"text":"One nation crushed another, and one city crushed another, for God troubled them with all kinds of hard times."},{"verse":7,"text":"But as for you, be strong. Do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Asa heard these words and the message from Azariah son of Oded the prophet. Then he took courage. He got rid of the disgusting idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin. He also got rid of them from the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. Then he repaired the LORD's altar in front of the porch of the LORD's temple."},{"verse":9,"text":"He gathered all the people of Judah and Benjamin. He also gathered people from the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who lived among them. For large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him."},{"verse":10,"text":"So they gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's rule."},{"verse":11,"text":"At that time they sacrificed seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep to the LORD. These animals came from the loot they had brought back."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then they made a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul."},{"verse":13,"text":"Anyone who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, would be put to death. This was true for young or old, man or woman."},{"verse":14,"text":"They made a promise to the LORD with a loud voice. They shouted and blew trumpets and rams' horns."},{"verse":15,"text":"All Judah was glad about the promise, because they had made it with all their heart. They had looked for God with all their might, and they found him. So the LORD gave them rest all around."},{"verse":16,"text":"King Asa also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother. She had made a disgusting Asherah pole. Asa cut down the pole, crushed it, and burned it in the Kidron Valley."},{"verse":17,"text":"The high places were not removed from Israel. But Asa's heart was fully true to the LORD all his life."},{"verse":18,"text":"He brought into God's house the silver and gold and the other items that he and his father had set apart for God."},{"verse":19,"text":"There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's rule."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's rule, Baasha king of Israel attacked Judah. He built up the town of Ramah with strong walls. He did this to stop anyone from going out of or coming into the land of Asa king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Asa took the silver and gold from the treasure rooms of the LORD's house and the royal palace. He sent it to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who ruled in Damascus. He sent this message with it:"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Let there be a treaty between you and me, like the one between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel. Then he will pull back from me.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Ben-hadad agreed with King Asa. He sent the commanders of his armies against the towns of Israel. They took over Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali."},{"verse":5,"text":"When Baasha heard about this, he stopped building up Ramah. He left his work there."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah. They carried away the stones and wood that Baasha had been using to build Ramah. Asa used these to build up Geba and Mizpah."},{"verse":7,"text":"At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah. He told him, \"You trusted in the king of Aram and not in the LORD your God. Because of this, the army of the king of Aram has gotten away from you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Weren't the Cushites and Libyans a huge army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet you trusted in the LORD, so he handed them over to you."},{"verse":9,"text":"For the eyes of the LORD look all over the whole earth. He wants to show his strength to help those whose hearts are fully true to him. You have done a foolish thing. So from now on you will have wars.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Asa was angry with the seer. He was so furious about this that he put the man in prison. At that same time Asa was cruel to some of the people."},{"verse":11,"text":"The acts of Asa, from beginning to end, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel."},{"verse":12,"text":"In the thirty-ninth year of his rule, Asa got a disease in his feet. His disease became very bad. Yet even when he was sick, he did not seek help from the LORD. He only went to the doctors."},{"verse":13,"text":"So in the forty-first year of his rule, Asa died and joined his ancestors."},{"verse":14,"text":"He was buried in the tomb he had cut out for himself in the City of David. They laid him on a bed that was filled with spices and many kinds of mixed perfumes. Then they made a huge fire to honor him."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Asa's son Jehoshaphat became king in his place. He made himself strong against Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"He placed troops in all the strong cities of Judah. He put groups of soldiers in the land of Judah. He also put them in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the early ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals."},{"verse":4,"text":"Instead, he sought the God of his father and obeyed his commands. He did not follow the ways of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the LORD made the kingdom firm in Jehoshaphat's hands. All Judah brought him gifts. So he had great riches and honor."},{"verse":6,"text":"His heart was glad to follow the ways of the LORD. He also removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah."},{"verse":7,"text":"In the third year of his rule, Jehoshaphat sent out his officials to teach in the towns of Judah. They were Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah."},{"verse":8,"text":"Some Levites went with them. They were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah. The priests Elishama and Jehoram also went with them."},{"verse":9,"text":"They taught all through Judah. They took with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went to all the towns of Judah and taught the people."},{"verse":10,"text":"The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah. So they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat."},{"verse":11,"text":"Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built forts and store cities in Judah."},{"verse":13,"text":"He kept large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also had brave, mighty warriors in Jerusalem."},{"verse":14,"text":"Here is how many there were, listed by their family groups. From Judah, these were the commanders of thousands: Adnah was the commander, with 300,000 brave warriors."},{"verse":15,"text":"Next was Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000."},{"verse":16,"text":"Next was Amasiah son of Zichri, who offered himself to serve the LORD. He had 200,000 brave warriors."},{"verse":17,"text":"From Benjamin there was Eliada, a brave warrior. He had 200,000 men armed with bows and shields."},{"verse":18,"text":"Next was Jehozabad, with 180,000 men ready for battle."},{"verse":19,"text":"These were the men who served the king. This did not count those he placed in the strong cities all through Judah."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor. He joined himself to Ahab through a marriage."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some years later, he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab killed many sheep and cattle as a sacrifice for him and the people with him. And Ahab urged him to march up against Ramoth-gilead."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, \"Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?\" Jehoshaphat answered, \"I am as you are. My people are your people. We will join you in the war.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, \"Please ask first what the LORD says.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So the king of Israel called the prophets together. There were four hundred men. He asked them, \"Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?\" \"Go up,\" they said. \"God will hand it over to the king.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But Jehoshaphat asked, \"Isn't there still a prophet of the LORD here we can ask?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The king of Israel answered, \"There is still one man we can ask the LORD through. But I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me, only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.\" \"The king should not say that!\" Jehoshaphat replied."},{"verse":8,"text":"So the king of Israel called one of his officials. He said, \"Bring Micaiah son of Imlah right away.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah wore their royal robes. They sat on their thrones at the threshing floor by the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying in front of them."},{"verse":10,"text":"Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are wiped out.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"All the prophets were saying the same thing. They said, \"Go up to Ramoth-gilead and win. The LORD will hand it over to the king.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The messenger who had gone to get Micaiah told him, \"Look, the prophets all agree. They are saying good things to the king. So please make your words like theirs. Say something good.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Micaiah said, \"As surely as the LORD lives, I will say whatever my God tells me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"When Micaiah came, the king asked him, \"Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?\" \"Go up and win,\" Micaiah answered. \"They will be handed over to you.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But the king said to him, \"How many times must I make you swear to tell me only the truth in the name of the LORD?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So Micaiah said, \"I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep with no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good for me, only bad?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Micaiah went on, \"So hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne. All the armies of heaven were standing on his right and on his left."},{"verse":19,"text":"And the LORD said, 'Who will trick Ahab king of Israel into marching up to Ramoth-gilead so he will fall there?' One said this, and another said that."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD. He said, 'I will trick him.' 'How?' the LORD asked."},{"verse":21,"text":"He answered, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD said, 'You will trick him, and you will win. Go and do it.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours. The LORD has said that disaster will come on you.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah walked up and hit Micaiah in the face. He said, \"Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when he left me to speak to you?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Micaiah answered, \"You will soon find out. You'll see on the day you go and hide in an inner room.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The king of Israel said, \"Take Micaiah. Send him back to Amon, the ruler of the city, and to Joash, the king's son."},{"verse":26,"text":"Tell them the king says, 'Put this man in prison. Give him only bread and water until I come back safe.'\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But Micaiah said, \"If you ever come back safe, then the LORD has not spoken through me.\" Then he added, \"Listen, all you people!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead."},{"verse":29,"text":"The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"I will dress so no one knows me and go into battle. But you wear your royal robes.\" So the king of Israel hid who he was and went into battle."},{"verse":30,"text":"Now the king of Aram had given orders to his chariot leaders. He said, \"Do not fight anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The chariot leaders saw Jehoshaphat. They said, \"This is the king of Israel!\" So they turned to attack him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God pulled them away from him."},{"verse":32,"text":"The chariot leaders saw that he was not the king of Israel. So they stopped chasing him."},{"verse":33,"text":"But a man pulled back his bow and shot without aiming at anyone. The arrow hit the king of Israel between the parts of his armor. So the king said to his chariot driver, \"Turn around and get me out of the battle. I am badly hurt!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"The battle went on hard all that day. The king of Israel stayed propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then at sunset he died."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jehoshaphat king of Judah came home safely to Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to face him. He said to King Jehoshaphat, \"Should you help the wicked? Should you love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the LORD is angry with you."},{"verse":3,"text":"But some good is found in you. You have taken the Asherah poles out of the land. And you have set your heart on seeking God.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. Then he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim. He turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers."},{"verse":5,"text":"He chose judges in the land. He put them in each of the walled cities of Judah."},{"verse":6,"text":"He told the judges, \"Think hard about what you do. You are not judging for man, but for the LORD. He is with you when you make a ruling."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Be careful what you do. With the LORD our God there is nothing unfair. He does not take sides, and he does not take bribes.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Jehoshaphat also chose some Levites, priests, and heads of Israelite families in Jerusalem. They were to judge for the LORD and settle fights. And they lived in Jerusalem."},{"verse":9,"text":"He gave them orders. He said, \"You must serve faithfully with your whole heart in the fear of the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"Your brothers who live in their cities will bring cases to you. A case may be about killing. Or it may be about some other law, command, rule, or decree. In every case, you must warn them. Then they will not become guilty before the LORD. And wrath will not come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty."},{"verse":11,"text":"See, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all matters of the LORD. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in all matters of the king. The Levites will serve as officers for you. Be strong and act. May the LORD be with those who do right!\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this, the Moabites and Ammonites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some of the Meunites came with them."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, \"A huge army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. They are already in Hazazon-tamar.\" (That is En-gedi.)"},{"verse":3,"text":"Jehoshaphat was afraid. He set his mind to seek the LORD. He called for a fast all over Judah."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the people of Judah came together to seek the LORD. They came from every city of Judah to seek him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jehoshaphat stood up among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. They were gathered at the house of the LORD, in front of the new courtyard."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said, \"O LORD, God of our fathers, aren't you the God in heaven? Don't you rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and strength are in your hand. No one can stand against you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Our God, didn't you drive out the people of this land in front of your people Israel? Didn't you give it forever to the children of Abraham your friend?"},{"verse":8,"text":"They have lived in the land. They built a holy place in it for your Name. They said,"},{"verse":9,"text":"'If disaster comes on us, whether sword or judgment, sickness or hunger, we will stand in front of this temple and before you. For your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to you in our trouble, and you will hear us and save us.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Now here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. When Israel came out of Egypt, you did not let them invade these lands. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them."},{"verse":11,"text":"See how they are paying us back! They are coming to drive us out of the land you gave us to own."},{"verse":12,"text":"Our God, won't you judge them? We have no power against this huge army that is coming against us. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"All the men of Judah were standing before the LORD. Their wives and children and little ones were there too."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel as he stood among the people. Jahaziel was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah. He was a Levite from the family of Asaph."},{"verse":15,"text":"He said, \"Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: 'Do not be afraid or lose heart because of this huge army. The battle is not yours. It is God's."},{"verse":16,"text":"Tomorrow, march down against them. You will see them coming up the Pass of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, facing the Wilderness of Jeruel."},{"verse":17,"text":"You will not need to fight this battle. Take your places. Stand firm. Watch the LORD save you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or lose heart. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up. They praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout."},{"verse":20,"text":"Early in the morning they got up and went out to the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they left, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, \"Listen to me, people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will stand firm. Believe his prophets, and you will win.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Jehoshaphat talked with the people. Then he chose singers to sing to the LORD. They were to praise the beauty of his holiness. They went out ahead of the army, singing, \"Give thanks to the LORD, for his faithful love lasts forever.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"As soon as they began to shout and praise, the LORD set traps against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. These men had come to attack Judah. And they were beaten."},{"verse":23,"text":"The men of Ammon and Moab turned on the people of Mount Seir. They set them apart to be destroyed. When they had wiped out the people of Seir, they helped destroy each other."},{"verse":24,"text":"The men of Judah came to a place that looked out over the wilderness. They looked for the huge army. But they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground. No one had escaped."},{"verse":25,"text":"So Jehoshaphat and his people went to take what was left behind. Among the bodies they found lots of goods and valuable things. It was more than they could carry away. It took them three days to gather it all because there was so much."},{"verse":26,"text":"On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Beracah. There they blessed the LORD. That is why the place is still called the Valley of Beracah today.","note":"Beracah means \"blessing.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem went back to Jerusalem full of joy. Jehoshaphat led them. They were glad because the LORD had given them joy over their enemies."},{"verse":28,"text":"They came into Jerusalem and went to the house of the LORD. They played harps, lyres, and trumpets."},{"verse":29,"text":"All the kingdoms of the lands heard that the LORD had fought against Israel's enemies. And the fear of God came on them."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Jehoshaphat's kingdom had peace, because his God had given him rest on every side."},{"verse":31,"text":"So Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi."},{"verse":32,"text":"Jehoshaphat lived the way his father Asa did and did not turn from it. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"But the high places were not taken away. The people had still not set their hearts on the God of their fathers."},{"verse":34,"text":"The rest of what Jehoshaphat did, from first to last, is written down. It is in the records of Jehu son of Hanani. These are part of the Book of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":35,"text":"Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel. Ahaziah was a wicked king."},{"verse":36,"text":"They agreed to make ships to sail to Tarshish. The ships were built in Ezion-geber."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah spoke as a prophet against Jehoshaphat. He said, \"You have joined with Ahaziah. So the LORD has destroyed what you made.\" So the ships were wrecked and could not sail to Tarshish."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jehoshaphat died and joined his fathers. He was buried with them in the City of David. His son Jehoram became king after him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jehoram's brothers were the sons of Jehoshaphat. They were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and costly things. He also gave them walled cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jehoram took firm control of his father's kingdom. Then he made himself strong by killing all his brothers with the sword. He also killed some of the princes of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem eight years."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jehoram lived the way the kings of Israel did, just as the family of Ahab had done. This was because he had married a daughter of Ahab. And he did evil in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the LORD did not want to destroy the family of David. That was because of the covenant he had made with David. He had promised to keep a lamp burning for David and his children forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"While Jehoram was king, Edom rebelled against Judah's rule. They chose their own king."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot leaders. But he got up and attacked at night."},{"verse":10,"text":"So Edom has been rebelling against Judah's rule to this day. At that same time, the town of Libnah also rebelled against his rule. This was because Jehoram had turned away from the LORD, the God of his fathers."},{"verse":11,"text":"Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah. He had caused the people of Jerusalem to act like prostitutes. He had led Judah the wrong way."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet. It said, \"This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: 'You have not lived the way your father Jehoshaphat did. You have not lived like Asa king of Judah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Instead, you have lived like the kings of Israel. You have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to act like prostitutes, just as Ahab's family did. You have also killed your brothers, your own father's family. They were better men than you."},{"verse":14,"text":"So listen. The LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and everything you own with a heavy blow."},{"verse":15,"text":"And you yourself will be very sick day after day. You will have a disease of the bowels. In the end, it will cause your bowels to come out.'\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the LORD stirred up the Philistines against Jehoram. He also stirred up the Arabs who lived near the Cushites."},{"verse":17,"text":"They went to war against Judah and invaded it. They carried off everything in the king's palace. They took his sons and wives too. Not one son was left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest."},{"verse":18,"text":"After all this, the LORD struck Jehoram with a disease of the bowels that could not be cured."},{"verse":19,"text":"It went on day after day for two whole years. At last, his bowels came out because of the disease. He died in terrible pain. His people did not light a fire to honor him, as they had done for his fathers."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem eight years. When he died, no one was sorry. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah king after his father. He was Jehoram's youngest son. They did this because raiders had come into the camp with the Arabs and killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem one year. His mother's name was Athaliah. She was the granddaughter of Omri."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ahaziah also lived the way Ahab's family did, because his mother gave him advice to do wicked things."},{"verse":4,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as Ahab's family had done. That was because they became his advisers after his father died. And that led to his ruin."},{"verse":5,"text":"Ahaziah followed their advice. He went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to fight Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. But the Arameans wounded Joram."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Joram went back to Jezreel to heal. He had been wounded at Ramah when he fought Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel. He went to visit Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded."},{"verse":7,"text":"God made Ahaziah's visit to Joram the cause of his downfall. When Ahaziah got there, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi. The LORD had anointed Jehu to destroy the family of Ahab."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jehu was carrying out judgment on Ahab's family. While he did, he found the leaders of Judah. He also found the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah. And he killed them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jehu looked for Ahaziah. Jehu's soldiers caught him hiding in Samaria. They brought Ahaziah to Jehu, and he was put to death. They buried him, because they said, \"He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.\" So no one in Ahaziah's family was strong enough to rule the kingdom."},{"verse":10,"text":"Athaliah was Ahaziah's mother. When she saw that her son was dead, she set out to kill everyone in the royal family of Judah."},{"verse":11,"text":"But Jehoshabeath, King Jehoram's daughter, took Joash son of Ahaziah. She stole him away from the king's sons who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Jehoshabeath was King Jehoram's daughter. She was the wife of Jehoiada the priest. And she was Ahaziah's sister. So she hid Joash from Athaliah, and Athaliah could not kill him."},{"verse":12,"text":"Joash stayed hidden with them in the house of God for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled the land."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada took courage. He made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds. They were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri."},{"verse":2,"text":"They went all through Judah. They gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the families of Israel. Then they came to Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"The whole group made a covenant with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said, \"Look, here is the king's son! He must rule, just as the LORD promised about David's children."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what you must do. You priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you will guard the doors."},{"verse":5,"text":"One third will be at the royal palace. One third will be at the Foundation Gate. All the others will be in the courtyards of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"No one may go into the house of the LORD except the priests and the Levites who serve. They may go in because they are set apart as holy. But all the people must obey the LORD's command."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Levites must stand around the king with their weapons in their hands. Anyone who comes into the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The Levites and all Judah did everything Jehoiada the priest had told them. Each one took his men. Some were coming on duty on the Sabbath, and some were going off duty. This was because Jehoiada the priest had not let any of the groups go home."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jehoiada the priest gave spears and large and small shields to the commanders of hundreds. These had belonged to King David and were kept in the house of God."},{"verse":10,"text":"He placed all the men around the king with weapons in hand. They stood near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king's son. They put the crown on him and gave him the Testimony. They declared him king. They anointed him and shouted, \"Long live the king!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering for the king. So she went out to them at the house of the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"She looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpet players were beside the king. All the people of the land were filled with joy and blowing trumpets. The singers with musical instruments were leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, \"Treason! Treason!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds who led the army. He said, \"Bring her out between the rows of soldiers. Kill with the sword anyone who follows her.\" He said this because the priest had said, \"She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So they grabbed Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate by the palace. There they put her to death."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the king, and the people. They promised that they would be the LORD's people."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jehoiada also put the Levitical priests in charge of the house of the LORD. David had appointed them over the house of the LORD. They were to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, as written in the Law of Moses. They were to do it with joy and singing, as David had ordered."},{"verse":19,"text":"He placed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD. That way, no one who was unclean in any way could come in."},{"verse":20,"text":"He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land. They brought the king down from the house of the LORD. They went into the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne."},{"verse":21,"text":"All the people of the land were filled with joy. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been killed with the sword."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Joash was seven years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem forty years. His mother's name was Zibiah. She was from Beersheba."},{"verse":2,"text":"Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD as long as Jehoiada the priest lived."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jehoiada chose two wives for him. He had sons and daughters."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some time later, Joash made up his mind to repair the house of the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"He called together the priests and Levites. He told them, \"Go out to the cities of Judah. Collect the money that all Israel owes each year. Use it to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.\" But the Levites did not hurry."},{"verse":6,"text":"So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest. He said, \"Why haven't you made the Levites bring in the tax from Judah and Jerusalem? Moses the servant of the LORD and the people of Israel set this tax for the Tent of the Testimony.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God. They had even used the holy things of the house of the LORD for the Baals."},{"verse":8,"text":"At the king's command, a chest was made. It was placed outside, at the gate of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then word went out in Judah and Jerusalem. The people were to bring the tax to the LORD. Moses the servant of God had set this tax on Israel in the wilderness."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the officers and all the people were glad. They brought their gifts and dropped them into the chest until it was full."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Levites would bring the chest to the king's officials. When they saw there was a lot of money, the royal scribe and the high priest's officer would come. They would empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this every day and gathered a lot of money."},{"verse":12,"text":"The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the men in charge of the work on the house of the LORD. They hired stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD. They also hired workers in iron and bronze to repair it."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the workers worked hard, and the repairs moved ahead under their hands. They rebuilt the house of God the way it was planned. And they made it strong."},{"verse":14,"text":"When they were done, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. With it they made things for the house of the LORD. They made tools for the service and for the burnt offerings. They made dishes and other things of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were given in the house of the LORD all the time."},{"verse":15,"text":"Jehoiada grew old and lived a long, full life. Then he died at the age of 130."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done good in Israel for God and his temple."},{"verse":17,"text":"But after Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them."},{"verse":18,"text":"They left the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers. They served the Asherah poles and idols. So wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem because of their guilt."},{"verse":19,"text":"Still, the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but the people would not listen."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up in front of the people and said, \"This is what God says: 'Why do you break the LORD's commands, so that you cannot do well? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But they made a plot against Zechariah. The king gave the order, and they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah's father Jehoiada had shown him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada's son. As Zechariah lay dying, he said, \"May the LORD see this and make you pay.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"In the spring, the army of Aram came to fight Joash. They came into Judah and Jerusalem. They killed all the leaders of the people. They sent everything they took to their king in Damascus."},{"verse":24,"text":"The army of Aram had come with only a few men. But the LORD handed a very large army over to them. Judah had turned away from the LORD, the God of their fathers. So judgment was carried out on Joash."},{"verse":25,"text":"The Arameans left Joash badly wounded. Then his own servants made a plot against him, because he had killed the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him on his bed. So he died. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."},{"verse":26,"text":"These were the men who plotted against Joash: Zabad son of Shimeath, a woman from Ammon, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith, a woman from Moab."},{"verse":27,"text":"The story of Joash's sons is written down. So are the many messages about him and the story of how the house of God was repaired. They are in the Notes on the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah became king after him."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddan. She was from Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not with his whole heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"As soon as Amaziah had the kingdom firmly in his hands, he put to death the servants who had murdered his father the king."},{"verse":4,"text":"But he did not kill their sons. He obeyed what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses. There the LORD commanded, \"Fathers must not be put to death for their children. Children must not be put to death for their fathers. Each one is to die for his own sin.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Amaziah gathered the people of Judah. He put them in groups by families, under commanders of thousands and of hundreds. He counted the men of Judah and Benjamin who were twenty years old or older. He found 300,000 chosen men who could serve in the army. They could carry the spear and shield."},{"verse":6,"text":"He also hired 100,000 brave fighting men from Israel. He paid a hundred talents of silver for them.","note":"A hundred talents was about 3.75 tons."},{"verse":7,"text":"But a man of God came to him. He said, \"O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you. The LORD is not with Israel. He is not with any of the people of Ephraim."},{"verse":8,"text":"Even if you go and fight bravely, God will throw you down in front of the enemy. God has power to help, and he has power to throw down.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Amaziah asked the man of God, \"But what about the hundred talents I paid to the army of Israel?\" The man of God answered, \"The LORD can give you much more than that.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So Amaziah sent away the soldiers who had come to him from Ephraim. He sent them home. They were very angry with Judah. They went home in a rage."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Amaziah took courage and led his army to the Valley of Salt. There he killed 10,000 men of Seir."},{"verse":12,"text":"The army of Judah also caught 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them off. All of them were smashed to pieces."},{"verse":13,"text":"Meanwhile, the soldiers Amaziah had sent home attacked the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon. They killed 3,000 people and took a lot of goods."},{"verse":14,"text":"Amaziah came back from killing the Edomites. He brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods. He bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them."},{"verse":15,"text":"So the LORD's anger burned against Amaziah. He sent a prophet to him, who said, \"Why have you turned to these people's gods? They could not even save their own people from you!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"While he was still talking, the king said, \"Did we make you the king's adviser? Stop! Why should you be killed?\" So the prophet stopped. But he said, \"I know that God has decided to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Amaziah king of Judah got advice. He sent a message to Jehoash king of Israel, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. He said, \"Come, let's meet face to face.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But Jehoash king of Israel answered Amaziah king of Judah, \"A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar tree in Lebanon. It said, 'Give your daughter to my son as his wife.' Then a wild animal in Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle."},{"verse":19,"text":"You have said, 'Look, I have beaten Edom.' Now your heart has become proud, and you brag. Stay at home now. Why ask for trouble, so that you fall, you and Judah with you?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But Amaziah would not listen, because this had come from God. God meant to hand them over to Jehoash, because they had turned to the gods of Edom."},{"verse":21,"text":"So Jehoash king of Israel marched out. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah."},{"verse":22,"text":"Israel beat Judah badly, and every man ran away to his own home."},{"verse":23,"text":"There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah. Amaziah was the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. That part of the wall was about 600 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: 400 cubits."},{"verse":24,"text":"He took all the gold and silver. He took all the things found in the house of God that Obed-edom took care of. He took the treasures of the royal palace. He also took some people as hostages. Then he went back to Samaria."},{"verse":25,"text":"Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived fifteen years after Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel died."},{"verse":26,"text":"The rest of what Amaziah did, from first to last, is written down. It is in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"Amaziah turned away from following the LORD. From that time on, some people in Jerusalem made a plot against him. He ran away to Lachish. But they sent men after him to Lachish, and they killed him there."},{"verse":28,"text":"They carried him back on horses. They buried him with his fathers in the City of Judah."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old. They made him king in place of his father Amaziah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Uzziah was the one who rebuilt Eloth and gave it back to Judah. He did this after King Amaziah died and joined his fathers."},{"verse":3,"text":"Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother's name was Jecoliah. She was from Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done."},{"verse":5,"text":"He sought God as long as Zechariah lived. Zechariah taught him to fear God. As long as Uzziah sought the LORD, God gave him success."},{"verse":6,"text":"Uzziah went out to fight the Philistines. He tore down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Then he built cities near Ashdod and in other parts of Philistine land."},{"verse":7,"text":"God helped him fight the Philistines. He helped him against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah. His fame spread all the way to the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful."},{"verse":9,"text":"Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the corner of the wall. He made them strong."},{"verse":10,"text":"He had many animals in the foothills and on the plain. So he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. He loved the land. So he had farmers and vineyard workers in the hill country and in the rich fields."},{"verse":11,"text":"Uzziah had an army ready for battle. It went out to war in groups. Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer counted them. Hananiah, one of the king's officers, was over them."},{"verse":12,"text":"There were 2,600 family leaders over the brave fighting men."},{"verse":13,"text":"Under them was an army of 307,500 men trained for war. It was a strong army to help the king against his enemies."},{"verse":14,"text":"Uzziah gave the whole army shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and stones for slings."},{"verse":15,"text":"In Jerusalem he made machines invented by skilled men. They were put on the towers and corners of the walls. They could shoot arrows and throw large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, because he was helped greatly until he became strong."},{"verse":16,"text":"But when Uzziah became strong, his pride led to his ruin. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, because he went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Azariah the priest went in after him. Eighty brave priests of the LORD went with him."},{"verse":18,"text":"They stood up against King Uzziah. They said, \"Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense to the LORD. Only the priests can do that. They are Aaron's children, and they are set apart to burn incense. Leave the holy place. You have been unfaithful. The LORD God will not honor you for this.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Uzziah had a pan in his hand for burning incense. He became very angry. He raged at the priests right there in the house of the LORD, in front of the altar of incense. As he did, leprosy broke out on his forehead in front of them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him. They saw leprosy on his forehead. So they rushed him out. He himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him."},{"verse":21,"text":"So King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a house by himself. He had leprosy and was shut out of the house of the LORD. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace. He ruled the people of the land."},{"verse":22,"text":"The rest of what Uzziah did, from first to last, was written down by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz."},{"verse":23,"text":"Uzziah died and joined his fathers. He was buried near them in a burial field that belonged to the kings, because the people said, \"He had leprosy.\" And his son Jotham became king after him."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. He also did not go into the temple of the LORD. Still, the people kept on doing wrong."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD. He did a lot of work on the wall at the hill of Ophel."},{"verse":4,"text":"He also built cities in the hill country of Judah. He built forts and towers in the forests."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jotham went to war against the king of the Ammonites and beat them. That year the Ammonites gave him a hundred talents of silver. They also gave him ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand cors of barley. They paid him the same amount in the second and third years.","note":"About 3.75 tons of silver and about 62,000 bushels each of wheat and barley."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Jotham grew strong, because he lived the right way before the LORD his God."},{"verse":7,"text":"The rest of what Jotham did, all his wars and the way he lived, is written down. It is in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah."},{"verse":8,"text":"He was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem sixteen years."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jotham died and joined his fathers. He was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became king after him."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem sixteen years. He was not like his father David. He did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"Instead, he lived the way the kings of Israel did. He even made metal idols of the Baals."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ahaz also burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He burned his sons in the fire as sacrifices. He did the disgusting things of the nations the LORD had driven out in front of the Israelites."},{"verse":4,"text":"He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places. He did it on the hills and under every green tree."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the LORD his God handed Ahaz over to the king of Aram. The king of Aram beat him and took many people as captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel. That king beat him badly."},{"verse":6,"text":"In one day, Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 brave men in Judah. This happened because they had turned away from the LORD, the God of their fathers."},{"verse":7,"text":"Zichri was a mighty warrior from Ephraim. He killed Maaseiah the king's son. He killed Azrikam, who was in charge of the palace. And he killed Elkanah, who was second to the king."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Israelites took 200,000 of their own relatives as captives. They took women, sons, and daughters. They also took a lot of goods and brought them to Samaria."},{"verse":9,"text":"But a prophet of the LORD named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army as it came back to Samaria. He said to them, \"Look! The LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah. So he handed them over to you. But you have killed them in a rage that reaches up to heaven."},{"verse":10,"text":"And now you plan to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren't you guilty too, before the LORD your God?"},{"verse":11,"text":"So listen to me now. Send back the captives you took from your own relatives, because the LORD's fierce anger is on you.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then some of the leaders of Ephraim stood up against those coming back from the war. They were Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai."},{"verse":13,"text":"They said, \"You must not bring the captives here. You want to bring guilt on us before the LORD. You want to add to our sins and our guilt. Our guilt is already great, and fierce anger is on Israel.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the soldiers left the captives and the goods in front of the leaders and all the people."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the men who had been named got up and took charge of the captives. From the goods they had taken, they gave clothes to those who had none. They dressed them and gave them sandals. They gave them food and drink. They put oil on their wounds. They put all the weak ones on donkeys. They took them to their relatives in Jericho, the City of Palm Trees. Then they went back to Samaria."},{"verse":16,"text":"At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Edomites had come again and attacked Judah. They had carried people away as captives."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Philistines had also attacked the towns in the foothills and in the Negev of Judah. They captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth and settled there. They also took Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo, and the villages around them."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel. Ahaz had let Judah run wild. He had been very unfaithful to the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came to Ahaz. But he gave him trouble instead of help."},{"verse":21,"text":"Ahaz took some things from the house of the LORD, from the royal palace, and from the princes. He gave them to the king of Assyria. But it did not help him."},{"verse":22,"text":"In his time of trouble, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had beaten him. He said, \"The gods of the kings of Aram have helped them. So I will sacrifice to them, so they will help me.\" But these gods led to the ruin of Ahaz and of all Israel."},{"verse":24,"text":"Ahaz gathered up the things in the house of God and cut them to pieces. He shut the doors of the house of the LORD. He set up altars for himself on every street corner in Jerusalem."},{"verse":25,"text":"In every city of Judah he built high places to burn incense to other gods. So he made the LORD, the God of his fathers, angry."},{"verse":26,"text":"The rest of what Ahaz did and all the ways he lived, from first to last, are written down. They are in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"Ahaz died and joined his fathers. He was buried in the city of Jerusalem. But he was not put in the tombs of the kings of Israel. And his son Hezekiah became king after him."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah. She was the daughter of Zechariah."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the first month of his first year as king, Hezekiah opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He also repaired them."},{"verse":4,"text":"He brought in the priests and Levites. He gathered them in the open square on the east side."},{"verse":5,"text":"He said, \"Listen to me, you Levites! Make yourselves holy now. Make the house of the LORD holy too. He is the God of your fathers. Take every unclean thing out of the Holy Place."},{"verse":6,"text":"Our fathers were unfaithful. They did evil in the eyes of the LORD our God. They left him. They turned their faces away from the place where the LORD lives. They turned their backs on him."},{"verse":7,"text":"They also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or give burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"So the LORD's anger has come on Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them something people fear, are shocked by, and make fun of. You can see this with your own eyes."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look, this is why our fathers have been killed by the sword. It is why our sons, daughters, and wives have been taken captive."},{"verse":10,"text":"Now I have it in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel. Then his fierce anger will turn away from us."},{"verse":11,"text":"My sons, do not be lazy now. The LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him. You are to serve him and burn incense.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the Levites got to work. From the Kohathites there were Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah. From the Merarites there were Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel. From the Gershonites there were Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah."},{"verse":13,"text":"From the Elizaphanites there were Shimri and Jeuel. From the Asaphites there were Zechariah and Mattaniah."},{"verse":14,"text":"From the Hemanites there were Jehiel and Shimei. And from the Jeduthunites there were Shemaiah and Uzziel."},{"verse":15,"text":"They gathered their brothers and made themselves holy. Then they went in to clean the house of the LORD. The king had commanded it, by the words of the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"The priests went inside the house of the LORD to clean it. They brought out to the courtyard all the unclean things they found in the temple of the LORD. Then the Levites took these things and carried them out to the Kidron Valley."},{"verse":17,"text":"They began to make it holy on the first day of the first month. On the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of the LORD. For eight more days they made the house of the LORD itself holy. They finished on the sixteenth day of the first month."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then they went in to King Hezekiah. They told him, \"We have cleaned the whole house of the LORD. We cleaned the altar of burnt offering and all its tools. We cleaned the table for the holy bread and all its tools."},{"verse":19,"text":"King Ahaz was unfaithful while he ruled, and he threw some things away. We have gotten all of them ready and made them holy. They are now in front of the LORD's altar.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials. They went up to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats. These were a sin offering for the kingdom, for the holy place, and for Judah. The king told the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the LORD's altar."},{"verse":22,"text":"So they killed the bulls. The priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They killed the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. They killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then they brought the goats for the sin offering in front of the king and the people. They put their hands on the goats."},{"verse":24,"text":"The priests killed the goats. They put the blood on the altar as a sin offering, to make atonement for all Israel. They did this because the king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel."},{"verse":25,"text":"Hezekiah placed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres. He did what David had commanded, and what Gad the king's seer and Nathan the prophet had commanded. This command came from the LORD through his prophets."},{"verse":26,"text":"The Levites stood ready with David's instruments. The priests stood ready with the trumpets."},{"verse":27,"text":"Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. As the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began too. The trumpets played, along with the instruments of David king of Israel."},{"verse":28,"text":"All the people were worshiping. The singers were singing, and the trumpet players were playing. All this went on until the burnt offering was finished."},{"verse":29,"text":"When the offerings were done, the king and everyone with him bowed down and worshiped."},{"verse":30,"text":"King Hezekiah and his officials told the Levites to sing praises to the LORD. They used the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy. They bowed down and worshiped."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Hezekiah said, \"Now you have set yourselves apart to the LORD. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.\" So the people brought sacrifices and thank offerings. And all who were willing in their hearts brought burnt offerings."},{"verse":32,"text":"The people brought seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs. All of these were burnt offerings to the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"The animals set apart as holy offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep."},{"verse":34,"text":"But there were not enough priests to skin all the burnt offerings. So their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was done. They helped until the priests had made themselves holy. The Levites had been more careful to make themselves holy than the priests had been."},{"verse":35,"text":"There were many burnt offerings. There was also the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings that went with the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was set up again."},{"verse":36,"text":"Hezekiah and all the people were full of joy at what God had done for the people, because it had all happened so quickly."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah. He also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh. He asked them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. They were to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"The king, his officials, and all the people in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month."},{"verse":3,"text":"That was because they had not been able to keep it at the usual time. Not enough priests had made themselves holy, and the people had not gathered in Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"This plan seemed right to the king and to all the people."},{"verse":5,"text":"So they decided to send out word all through Israel, from Beersheba to Dan. The people were to come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. For they had not kept it with large crowds, the way it was written."},{"verse":6,"text":"At the king's command, runners went all through Israel and Judah. They carried letters from the king and his officials. The letters said, \"People of Israel, come back to the LORD. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. Then he will come back to those of you who are left. You are the ones who escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not be like your fathers and brothers. They were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their fathers. So he made them something people are shocked to see, as you can see."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not be stubborn as your fathers were. Give yourselves to the LORD. Come to his holy place, which he has made holy forever. Serve the LORD your God. Then his fierce anger will turn away from you."},{"verse":9,"text":"If you come back to the LORD, the people who captured your brothers and sons will show them mercy. They will come back to this land. The LORD your God is kind and full of mercy. He will not turn his face away from you if you come back to him.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The runners went from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun. But the people laughed at them and made fun of them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Still, some people from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves. They came to Jerusalem."},{"verse":12,"text":"Also, the power of God was on the people in Judah. He made them all of one heart to obey the king and his officials. They did what the LORD had said."},{"verse":13,"text":"In the second month, a very large crowd gathered in Jerusalem. They came to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread."},{"verse":14,"text":"They began by removing the altars in Jerusalem. They took away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley."},{"verse":15,"text":"On the fourteenth day of the second month they killed the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed. So they made themselves holy and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"They stood at their places as the Law of Moses the man of God said. The Levites handed the blood to the priests, and the priests sprinkled it."},{"verse":17,"text":"Many people in the crowd had not made themselves holy. So the Levites were in charge of killing the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean. They set the lambs apart as holy to the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"Many of the people had not made themselves clean. Many of them were from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun. Yet they ate the Passover, which was against what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them. He said, \"May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone"},{"verse":19,"text":"who sets his heart on seeking God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even if he is not clean by the rules of the holy place.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD heard Hezekiah, and he healed the people."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Israelites who were in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Every day the Levites and priests praised the LORD. They played loud instruments of praise to the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"Hezekiah spoke kind words to all the Levites who served the LORD with skill. For seven days they ate their share of the feast. They offered peace offerings and gave thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then all the people agreed to keep the feast seven more days. So they kept it seven more days with joy."},{"verse":24,"text":"Hezekiah king of Judah gave a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the people. The officials gave a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep for the people. And many priests made themselves holy."},{"verse":25,"text":"All the people of Judah were full of joy. So were the priests and Levites, and all the people who had come from Israel. So were the foreigners who had come from Israel and those who lived in Judah."},{"verse":26,"text":"There was great joy in Jerusalem. Nothing like this had happened there since the days of Solomon son of David king of Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the priests and the Levites stood up to bless the people. God heard them. Their prayer reached his holy home in heaven."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When all this was over, the Israelites who were there went out to the cities of Judah. They smashed the sacred stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. They tore down the high places and the altars all through Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh. They kept going until they had destroyed them all. Then all the Israelites went back to their own cities, each to his own land."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hezekiah set up the groups of priests and Levites again. Each one had his own work as a priest or a Levite. They offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. They served, gave thanks, and sang praises at the gates of the LORD's house."},{"verse":3,"text":"The king gave from his own things for the burnt offerings. These were the morning and evening offerings. They were also the offerings for the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts. This was what was written in the Law of the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"He also commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give a share to the priests and Levites. Then they could give all their time to the Law of the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"As soon as the order went out, the Israelites gave freely. They gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, oil, and honey. They gave from all the crops of the field. They brought in a large amount, a tenth of everything."},{"verse":6,"text":"Some people of Israel and Judah lived in the cities of Judah. They also brought a tenth of their cattle and sheep. They brought a tenth of the holy things set apart for the LORD their God. They put them in large piles."},{"verse":7,"text":"They began making the piles in the third month. They finished in the seventh month."},{"verse":8,"text":"Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the piles. Then they blessed the LORD and his people Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the piles."},{"verse":10,"text":"Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok, answered him. He said, \"The people began to bring their gifts to the house of the LORD. Since then, we have had enough to eat, with plenty left over, because the LORD has blessed his people. This huge amount is what is left over.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Hezekiah told them to get storerooms ready in the house of the LORD. And they did."},{"verse":12,"text":"They faithfully brought in the gifts, the tenths, and the things set apart for God. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them. His brother Shimei was next in charge."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers. They worked under Conaniah and his brother Shimei. King Hezekiah chose them. So did Azariah, the chief officer of the house of God."},{"verse":14,"text":"Kore son of Imnah the Levite was the guard of the East Gate. He was in charge of the gifts people chose to give to God. He handed out the gifts given to the LORD and the holy gifts."},{"verse":15,"text":"Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah worked under him. In the towns of the priests, they faithfully gave shares to the other priests by their groups. They gave to old and young alike."},{"verse":16,"text":"They also gave shares to the males three years old or older whose names were in the family records. These were all who would go into the house of the LORD to do their daily work. They served in their groups and did their jobs."},{"verse":17,"text":"They gave shares to the priests listed by their families in the records. They also gave to the Levites twenty years old or older, by their jobs and their groups."},{"verse":18,"text":"The family records listed all the little ones, wives, sons, and daughters of the whole group. This was because they had been faithful to keep themselves holy."},{"verse":19,"text":"Some of the priests, the sons of Aaron, lived on the farmland around their towns. Some lived in other towns. In each place, men were named to hand out shares. They gave a share to every male among the priests. They gave a share to every Levite listed in the family records."},{"verse":20,"text":"This is what Hezekiah did all through Judah. He did what was good, right, and true before the LORD his God."},{"verse":21,"text":"In every work he began, he served with all his heart. He worked for the house of God and kept the law and the commands. He did it all to seek his God. And so he did well."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After Hezekiah had done all these faithful things, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He surrounded the walled cities. He planned to take them for himself."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come. He saw that he planned to make war on Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"So he talked with his leaders and his strong soldiers. They planned to block up the water from the springs outside the city. And they helped him do it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Many people came together. They blocked up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. They said, \"Why should the kings of Assyria come and find lots of water?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Hezekiah worked hard to rebuild all the broken parts of the wall. He built towers on it. He also built another wall outside it. He made the terraces of the City of David stronger. And he made many weapons and shields."},{"verse":6,"text":"Hezekiah put army commanders over the people. He gathered the people in the open square at the city gate. Then he gave them courage. He said,"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or lose heart because of the king of Assyria and his huge army. There is One with us who is greater than the one with him."},{"verse":8,"text":"He only has human strength. But we have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.\" So the people took courage from what Hezekiah king of Judah said.","note":"Hebrew: an arm of flesh."},{"verse":9,"text":"Later, Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his army were attacking Lachish. He sent his servants to Jerusalem. They had a message for King Hezekiah of Judah and for all the people of Judah in Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in? Why do you stay in Jerusalem while it is surrounded?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the king of Assyria.' Isn't he fooling you? He is leading you to die from hunger and thirst."},{"verse":12,"text":"Didn't Hezekiah himself take away this God's high places and altars? Didn't he tell Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship at one altar and burn your sacrifices on it'?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Don't you know what my fathers and I have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to save their land from me?"},{"verse":14,"text":"My fathers set those nations apart for destruction. Which of all their gods could save his people from me? So how can your God save you from me?"},{"verse":15,"text":"So don't let Hezekiah trick you. Don't let him fool you like this. Don't believe him. No god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from me or from my fathers. Your God surely can't save you from me!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Sennacherib's servants said even more against the LORD God and against his servant Hezekiah."},{"verse":17,"text":"Sennacherib also wrote letters that made fun of the LORD, the God of Israel. He spoke against him. He wrote, \"The gods of the other nations did not save their people from me. In the same way, Hezekiah's God will not save his people from me.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the Assyrians shouted loudly in Hebrew to the people of Jerusalem on the wall. They wanted to scare them and fill them with fear. Then they could capture the city."},{"verse":19,"text":"They talked about the God of Jerusalem the same way they talked about the gods of the other peoples of the earth. Those gods were made by human hands."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out to heaven in prayer."},{"verse":21,"text":"And the LORD sent an angel. The angel wiped out every brave fighting man, every leader, and every commander in the camp of the king of Assyria. So the king went back to his own land in shame. He went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons killed him with the sword."},{"verse":22,"text":"So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria. He saved them from everyone else too. He gave them rest on every side."},{"verse":23,"text":"Many people brought offerings to Jerusalem for the LORD. They brought costly gifts for Hezekiah king of Judah. From then on, all the nations looked up to him."},{"verse":24,"text":"In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to the LORD. The LORD spoke to him and gave him a sign."},{"verse":25,"text":"But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not give back thanks for the kindness shown to him. So wrath came on him and on Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Hezekiah humbled his proud heart. The people of Jerusalem humbled themselves too. So the LORD's anger did not come on them while Hezekiah lived."},{"verse":27,"text":"Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He made treasure rooms for his silver and gold. He made them for his gems, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuable things."},{"verse":28,"text":"He also built storehouses for grain, new wine, and oil. He built stalls for all kinds of cattle and pens for the sheep."},{"verse":29,"text":"He built cities for himself. He had many herds of sheep and cattle, because God had given him very great wealth."},{"verse":30,"text":"Hezekiah was the one who blocked the upper outlet of the Spring of Gihon. He sent the water down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah did well in everything he did."},{"verse":31,"text":"The rulers of Babylon sent men to him. They came to ask about the wonder that had happened in the land. Then God left him alone to test him. God wanted to know everything that was in Hezekiah's heart."},{"verse":32,"text":"The rest of what Hezekiah did, and his acts of faithful love, are written down. They are in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. That is in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel."},{"verse":33,"text":"Hezekiah died and joined his fathers. He was buried in the upper tombs of David's sons. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And his son Manasseh became king after him."}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem fifty-five years."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did the disgusting things of the nations that the LORD had driven out in front of the Israelites."},{"verse":3,"text":"He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had torn down. He set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and served them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD. This was the place the LORD had spoken of when he said, \"My Name will stay in Jerusalem forever.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the stars in the sky."},{"verse":6,"text":"He burned his sons in the fire as sacrifices in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced magic, fortune-telling, and witchcraft. He asked for help from people who talk to the dead and to spirits. He did great evil in the eyes of the LORD and made him angry."},{"verse":7,"text":"Manasseh even took the carved idol he had made and set it up in the house of God. God had spoken about this house to David and his son Solomon. He had said, \"I have chosen Jerusalem out of all the tribes of Israel. I will put my Name in this temple and in Jerusalem forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will never again make the Israelites leave the land I gave to your fathers, if only they are careful to do all I have commanded them through Moses. That means all the laws, rules, and decrees.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem the wrong way. They did even more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed in front of the Israelites."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the LORD brought the army commanders of the king of Assyria against them. They captured Manasseh and put a hook in his nose. They tied him up with bronze chains and took him to Babylon."},{"verse":12,"text":"In his trouble, Manasseh begged the LORD his God for help. He deeply humbled himself before the God of his fathers."},{"verse":13,"text":"He prayed to God, and the LORD was moved by his prayer. He heard his cry for help. So he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God."},{"verse":14,"text":"After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David. It went from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate. He built it around the hill of Ophel and made it much higher. He also put army commanders in all the walled cities of Judah."},{"verse":15,"text":"He took the foreign gods and the idol out of the house of the LORD. He also took away all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem. He threw them out of the city."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then he fixed the altar of the LORD. He offered peace offerings and thank offerings on it. He told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the people still offered sacrifices at the high places. They offered them only to the LORD their God."},{"verse":18,"text":"The rest of what Manasseh did is written down. So is his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. They are in the Records of the Kings of Israel."},{"verse":19,"text":"His prayer is written down, and how God was moved by it. So are all his sins and how unfaithful he was. So are the places where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself. All this is written in the Records of the Seers."},{"verse":20,"text":"Manasseh died and joined his fathers. He was buried at his palace. And his son Amon became king after him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem two years."},{"verse":22,"text":"He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon served all the idols his father Manasseh had made. He offered sacrifices to them."},{"verse":23,"text":"But he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done. Instead, Amon kept adding to his guilt."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Amon's servants made a plot against him. They killed him in his palace."},{"verse":25,"text":"But the people of the land killed all those who had plotted against King Amon. They made his son Josiah king in his place."}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Josiah was eight years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem thirty-one years."},{"verse":2,"text":"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. He lived the way his father David did. He did not turn away to the right or to the left."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the eighth year that he was king, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David. He was still young. In the twelfth year he began to clean out Judah and Jerusalem. He got rid of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the metal idols."},{"verse":4,"text":"While he watched, the altars of the Baals were torn down. He cut to pieces the incense altars that stood above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the metal idols. He crushed them to dust. He scattered the dust over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to them."},{"verse":5,"text":"He burned the bones of their priests on their own altars. So he made Judah and Jerusalem clean."},{"verse":6,"text":"Josiah did the same in the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, all the way to Naphtali. He did it in the ruins around them too."},{"verse":7,"text":"He tore down the altars and the Asherah poles. He crushed the idols into powder. He cut to pieces all the incense altars all through the land of Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the eighteenth year that Josiah was king, he wanted to make the land and the temple clean. So he sent three men to repair the house of the LORD his God. They were Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the ruler of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, who kept the records."},{"verse":9,"text":"They went to Hilkiah the high priest. They gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God. The Levites who guarded the doors had collected it. They got it from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the rest of Israel. They got it from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"They gave the money to the men in charge of the work on the house of the LORD. These men paid the workers who were fixing and repairing the house of the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"They also gave money to the carpenters and builders. They used it to buy cut stone. They bought wood for joining pieces and for beams. These were for the buildings the kings of Judah had let fall apart."},{"verse":12,"text":"The men did the work faithfully. The Levites in charge of them were Jahath and Obadiah, from the family of Merari. There were also Zechariah and Meshullam, from the family of Kohath. Other Levites were there too. All of them were skilled at playing musical instruments."},{"verse":13,"text":"They were over the workers who carried loads. They watched over everyone who did the work, job by job. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers."},{"verse":14,"text":"They were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD. Then Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD. It was the Law given through Moses."},{"verse":15,"text":"Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, \"I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!\" He gave it to Shaphan."},{"verse":16,"text":"Shaphan took the book to the king. He told him, \"Your servants are doing everything you gave them to do."},{"verse":17,"text":"They have paid out the money that was found in the house of the LORD. They gave it to the men in charge and to the workers.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, \"Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.\" And Shaphan read it out loud to the king."},{"verse":19,"text":"The king heard the words of the Law. Then he tore his clothes."},{"verse":20,"text":"He gave orders to Hilkiah, to Ahikam son of Shaphan, to Abdon son of Micah, to Shaphan the scribe, and to Asaiah the king's servant. He said,"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Go and ask the LORD about the words in this book that was found. Ask for me and for the people left in Israel and Judah. For the LORD's anger that has been poured out on us is great. That is because our fathers did not keep the word of the LORD. They did not do all that is written in this book.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So Hilkiah and the men the king had sent went to Huldah the prophetess. She was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah. Shallum took care of the royal clothes. Huldah lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District."},{"verse":23,"text":"Huldah said to them, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me"},{"verse":24,"text":"that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its people. I will bring all the curses written in the book that was read to the king of Judah."},{"verse":25,"text":"This is because they have left me and burned incense to other gods. They have made me angry by all the things their hands have made. So my anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be put out.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"But the king of Judah sent you to ask the LORD. Tell him this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the words you heard:"},{"verse":27,"text":"'Your heart was soft. You humbled yourself before God when you heard what he said against this place and its people. You humbled yourself before me. You tore your clothes and cried in front of me. So I have heard you,' says the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"'Now I will bring you to be with your fathers. You will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I will bring on this place and its people.'\" So they took her answer back to the king."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":30,"text":"He went up to the house of the LORD. All the people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. So did the priests and the Levites. All the people came, from the least to the greatest. He read out loud to them all the words of the Book of the Covenant. It had been found in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"The king stood by the pillar. He made a covenant before the LORD. He promised to follow the LORD and keep his commands, laws, and rules with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey the words of the covenant written in this book."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin promise to keep it. So all the people of Jerusalem kept the covenant of God, the God of their fathers."},{"verse":33,"text":"Josiah took away all the disgusting idols from all the lands that belonged to the Israelites. He made everyone in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers."}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Josiah held the Passover for the LORD in Jerusalem. The Passover lamb was killed on the fourteenth day of the first month."},{"verse":2,"text":"He gave the priests their jobs. He cheered them on as they served in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Levites taught all Israel and were set apart to the LORD. Josiah said to them, \"Put the holy ark in the temple that Solomon built. He was the son of David king of Israel. You don't need to carry the ark on your shoulders anymore. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"Get ready by your families in your groups. Follow what David king of Israel wrote down. Follow what his son Solomon wrote too."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also, stand in the Holy Place in groups. Match the family groups of your relatives, the common people. Have a group of Levite families for each of them."},{"verse":6,"text":"Kill the Passover lambs. Make yourselves holy. Get things ready for your fellow Israelites. Do what the LORD said through Moses.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Josiah gave 30,000 lambs and young goats from his own flocks. He also gave 3,000 bulls from his own herds. They were for the Passover offerings for all the people who were there."},{"verse":8,"text":"His officials also gave gladly to the people, the priests, and the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel were the chief officials of God's house. They gave the priests 2,600 Passover animals and 300 bulls."},{"verse":9,"text":"Some leaders of the Levites gave too. They were Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and also Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad. They gave the Levites 5,000 Passover animals and 500 bulls."},{"verse":10,"text":"So everything was ready for the service. The priests stood in their places. The Levites stood in their groups, just as the king had ordered."},{"verse":11,"text":"They killed the Passover lambs. The Levites handed the blood to the priests, and the priests splashed it. The Levites skinned the animals."},{"verse":12,"text":"They set aside the burnt offerings. They gave them to the family groups of the people to offer to the LORD. This is what was written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the bulls."},{"verse":13,"text":"They roasted the Passover animals over the fire, just as the rules said. They boiled the other holy offerings in pots, kettles, and pans. Then they quickly served them to all the people."},{"verse":14,"text":"After that, the Levites got things ready for themselves and for the priests. This was because the priests, who came from Aaron, were busy offering burnt offerings and fat until night. So the Levites got things ready for themselves and for the priests, Aaron's sons."},{"verse":15,"text":"The singers came from Asaph's family. They were at their places, as David had ordered. Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer had ordered it too. The gatekeepers at each gate did not have to leave their posts. That was because their fellow Levites got things ready for them."},{"verse":16,"text":"So on that day all the service of the LORD was done. They held the Passover. They offered burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD. It was all done as King Josiah had ordered."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Israelites who were there held the Passover at that time. They also held the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days."},{"verse":18,"text":"There had not been a Passover like it in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever held a Passover like this one. Josiah held it with the priests and the Levites. All Judah was there, and so were the Israelites who came and the people of Jerusalem."},{"verse":19,"text":"This Passover was held in the eighteenth year that Josiah was king."},{"verse":20,"text":"After all this, Josiah had put the temple in order. Then Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates River. Josiah went out to face him in battle."},{"verse":21,"text":"But Neco sent messengers to him. They said, \"What do you have against me, king of Judah? I have not come to fight you today. I am fighting another royal family. God has told me to hurry. So stop fighting God, who is with me. If you don't, he will destroy you!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"But Josiah would not turn away from him. He dressed up so no one would know him, so he could fight Neco. He did not listen to what Neco said, though it came from God. He went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo."},{"verse":23,"text":"There the archers shot King Josiah. He said to his servants, \"Take me away. I am badly hurt!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So his servants took him out of his chariot. They put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. There he died. Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him."},{"verse":25,"text":"Jeremiah sang sad songs for Josiah. To this day, all the men and women singers still sing sad songs about Josiah. These songs became a rule in Israel. They are written in the Book of Laments."},{"verse":26,"text":"The rest of what Josiah did is written down. So are his acts of faithful love, which followed what is written in the Law of the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"All he did, from start to finish, is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah."}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah. They made him king in Jerusalem in his father's place."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jehoahaz was 23 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the king of Egypt took his throne away from him in Jerusalem. He made Judah pay a tax of about 3 3/4 tons of silver and about 75 pounds of gold.","note":"Hebrew: 100 talents of silver and 1 talent of gold."},{"verse":4,"text":"Neco king of Egypt made Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem. Eliakim was the brother of Jehoahaz. Neco changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Eliakim's brother Jehoahaz away to Egypt."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD his God."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to attack Jehoiakim. He tied him up with bronze chains to take him to Babylon."},{"verse":7,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar also took some of the things from the house of the LORD to Babylon. He put them in his temple there."},{"verse":8,"text":"The rest of what Jehoiakim did is written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. So are the hateful things he did and all the wrong found against him. His son Jehoiachin became king in his place."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for Jehoiachin. He brought him to Babylon. He also took the valuable things from the house of the LORD. He made Jehoiachin's relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":11,"text":"Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years."},{"verse":12,"text":"He did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD his God. Jeremiah the prophet spoke for the LORD. But Zedekiah would not humble himself before him."},{"verse":13,"text":"He also turned against King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar had made him make a promise in God's name. But Zedekiah was stubborn. He hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":14,"text":"Also, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They copied all the hateful things the nations did. They made the house of the LORD unclean. The LORD had set it apart as holy in Jerusalem."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to his people again and again. He sent it through his messengers. He did this because he cared for his people and for the place where he lived."},{"verse":16,"text":"But they made fun of God's messengers. They hated his words and laughed at his prophets. At last the LORD's anger rose up against his people. Nothing could stop it."},{"verse":17,"text":"So he brought the king of the Chaldeans against them. He killed their young men with the sword in the holy place. He did not spare young men or young women. He did not spare the old or the weak. God handed them all over to Nebuchadnezzar."},{"verse":18,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar carried everything off to Babylon. He took all the things from God's house, both large and small. He took the treasures of the LORD's house. He took the treasures of the king and his officials."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the Chaldeans set God's house on fire. They broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces. They destroyed everything of value."},{"verse":20,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar took the people who lived through the killing away to Babylon. They became servants to him and his sons. This lasted until the kingdom of Persia came to power."},{"verse":21,"text":"So the land got to rest on its Sabbaths. It rested all the time it lay empty, until seventy years were over. This came true just as the LORD had said through Jeremiah."},{"verse":22,"text":"It was the first year of Cyrus king of Persia. The LORD wanted to make his word through Jeremiah come true. So the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. Cyrus sent a message through his whole kingdom. He also put it in writing. It said:"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has chosen me to build a house for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of you who are his people may go up there. May the LORD your God be with you.'\""}]}]},{"name":"Ezra","slug":"ezra","usfm":"EZR","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the first year of Cyrus king of Persia. The LORD wanted to make his word through Jeremiah come true. So the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia. Cyrus sent a message through his whole kingdom. He also put it in writing. It said:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has chosen me to build a house for him at Jerusalem in Judah."},{"verse":3,"text":"Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah. May your God be with you. Go and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"Wherever any survivor lives, let the people of that place help him. Let them give silver, gold, goods, and animals. Let them also give a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin got ready to go. The priests and Levites did too. Everyone whose heart God had moved got ready. They planned to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem again."},{"verse":6,"text":"All their neighbors helped them. They gave them things made of silver and gold. They gave them goods, animals, and valuable gifts. This was on top of all the freewill offerings."},{"verse":7,"text":"King Cyrus also brought out the things that belonged to the house of the LORD. Nebuchadnezzar had carried them away from Jerusalem. He had put them in the temple of his gods."},{"verse":8,"text":"Cyrus king of Persia had Mithredath the treasurer bring them out. Mithredath counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah."},{"verse":9,"text":"Here is the list: 30 gold dishes, 1,000 silver dishes, 29 silver tools,"},{"verse":10,"text":"30 gold bowls, 410 matching silver bowls, and 1,000 other things."},{"verse":11,"text":"In all, there were 5,400 things made of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of them along. He brought them when the exiles went up from Babylon to Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the people of the province who came back from exile. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried them away to Babylon as captives. Now they came back to Jerusalem and Judah. Each one went to his own town."},{"verse":2,"text":"They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. Here is the count of the men of Israel:"},{"verse":3,"text":"the family of Parosh, 2,172;"},{"verse":4,"text":"the family of Shephatiah, 372;"},{"verse":5,"text":"the family of Arah, 775;"},{"verse":6,"text":"the family of Pahath-moab (through Jeshua and Joab), 2,812;"},{"verse":7,"text":"the family of Elam, 1,254;"},{"verse":8,"text":"the family of Zattu, 945;"},{"verse":9,"text":"the family of Zaccai, 760;"},{"verse":10,"text":"the family of Bani, 642;"},{"verse":11,"text":"the family of Bebai, 623;"},{"verse":12,"text":"the family of Azgad, 1,222;"},{"verse":13,"text":"the family of Adonikam, 666;"},{"verse":14,"text":"the family of Bigvai, 2,056;"},{"verse":15,"text":"the family of Adin, 454;"},{"verse":16,"text":"the family of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;"},{"verse":17,"text":"the family of Bezai, 323;"},{"verse":18,"text":"the family of Jorah, 112;"},{"verse":19,"text":"the family of Hashum, 223;"},{"verse":20,"text":"the family of Gibbar, 95;"},{"verse":21,"text":"the men of Bethlehem, 123;"},{"verse":22,"text":"the men of Netophah, 56;"},{"verse":23,"text":"the men of Anathoth, 128;"},{"verse":24,"text":"the family of Azmaveth, 42;"},{"verse":25,"text":"the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;"},{"verse":26,"text":"the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;"},{"verse":27,"text":"the men of Michmash, 122;"},{"verse":28,"text":"the men of Bethel and Ai, 223;"},{"verse":29,"text":"the family of Nebo, 52;"},{"verse":30,"text":"the family of Magbish, 156;"},{"verse":31,"text":"the family of the other Elam, 1,254;"},{"verse":32,"text":"the family of Harim, 320;"},{"verse":33,"text":"the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725;"},{"verse":34,"text":"the men of Jericho, 345;"},{"verse":35,"text":"and the family of Senaah, 3,630."},{"verse":36,"text":"The priests: the family of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua), 973;"},{"verse":37,"text":"the family of Immer, 1,052;"},{"verse":38,"text":"the family of Pashhur, 1,247;"},{"verse":39,"text":"and the family of Harim, 1,017."},{"verse":40,"text":"The Levites: the family of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through Hodaviah), 74."},{"verse":41,"text":"The singers: the family of Asaph, 128."},{"verse":42,"text":"The gatekeepers: the families of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai. There were 139 in all."},{"verse":43,"text":"The temple servants: the families of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,"},{"verse":44,"text":"Keros, Siaha, Padon,"},{"verse":45,"text":"Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,"},{"verse":46,"text":"Hagab, Shalmai, Hanan,"},{"verse":47,"text":"Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,"},{"verse":48,"text":"Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,"},{"verse":49,"text":"Uzza, Paseah, Besai,"},{"verse":50,"text":"Asnah, Meunim, Nephusim,"},{"verse":51,"text":"Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,"},{"verse":52,"text":"Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,"},{"verse":53,"text":"Barkos, Sisera, Temah,"},{"verse":54,"text":"Neziah, and Hatipha."},{"verse":55,"text":"The families of Solomon's servants: the families of Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,"},{"verse":56,"text":"Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,"},{"verse":57,"text":"Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ami."},{"verse":58,"text":"The temple servants and the families of Solomon's servants came to 392 in all."},{"verse":59,"text":"Some people came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer. But they could not prove that their families came from Israel. Here they are:"},{"verse":60,"text":"the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. There were 652 in all."},{"verse":61,"text":"Some came from among the priests: the families of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai. Barzillai had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite. He was called by that family's name."},{"verse":62,"text":"These men looked for their family records. But they could not find them. So they were not allowed to serve as priests. They were treated as unclean."},{"verse":63,"text":"The governor told them not to eat the most holy food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could ask God by using the Urim and Thummim."},{"verse":64,"text":"The whole group added up to 42,360."},{"verse":65,"text":"This did not count their 7,337 male and female servants. There were also 200 men and women singers."},{"verse":66,"text":"They had 736 horses, 245 mules,"},{"verse":67,"text":"435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys."},{"verse":68,"text":"They came to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. Then some of the family leaders gave freewill offerings. The gifts were to build the house of God again on the same spot."},{"verse":69,"text":"Each gave as much as he could to pay for the work. They gave 61,000 gold coins and about 3 tons of silver. They also gave 100 robes for the priests.","note":"Hebrew: 61,000 darics (about 1,100 pounds of gold) and 5,000 minas of silver."},{"verse":70,"text":"So the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants settled in their own towns. Some of the other people did too. All the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns. Then the people came together in Jerusalem as if they were one man."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests began to build the altar of the God of Israel. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his helpers joined them. They wanted to offer burnt offerings on it. This is what is written in the Law of Moses, the man of God."},{"verse":3,"text":"They were afraid of the people of the land. Even so, they set up the altar on its base. They offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD. They offered the morning and evening burnt offerings."},{"verse":4,"text":"They also held the Feast of Tabernacles, just as it is written. Each day they offered the number of burnt offerings the law called for that day."},{"verse":5,"text":"After that, they gave the regular burnt offerings. They gave the offerings for New Moons. They gave the offerings for all the holy feasts the LORD had set. They also gave all the freewill offerings people brought to the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the base of the LORD's temple had not been laid yet."},{"verse":7,"text":"They gave money to the stone workers and the carpenters. They gave food, drink, and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre. In return, these people would bring cedar logs from Lebanon by sea to Joppa. Cyrus king of Persia had given them permission for this."},{"verse":8,"text":"The work began in the second month of the second year after they came to God's house in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak began it. So did the rest of their people. That included the priests, the Levites, and all who had come back to Jerusalem from captivity. They chose Levites who were 20 years old or older. These Levites would be in charge of building the house of the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Jeshua and his sons and brothers joined together. So did Kadmiel and his sons, who came from Yehudah. So did the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers. All of them were Levites. They were in charge of the workers on God's house."},{"verse":10,"text":"The builders laid the base of the LORD's temple. Then the priests in their robes took their places with trumpets. The Levites, the sons of Asaph, took their places with cymbals. They praised the LORD, just as David king of Israel had ordered."},{"verse":11,"text":"They took turns singing praise and thanks to the LORD: \"He is good. His faithful love for Israel lasts forever.\" Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD. They shouted because the base of the LORD's house had been laid."},{"verse":12,"text":"But many of the older priests, Levites, and family leaders cried out loud. They had seen the first temple. Now they saw the base of this temple, and they wept. Still, many others shouted for joy."},{"verse":13,"text":"No one could tell the shouts of joy from the sound of crying. That was because the people were making so much noise. The sound was heard far away."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple. It was for the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"So they came to Zerubbabel and the family leaders. They said, \"Let us build with you. We worship your God just like you do. We have been offering sacrifices to him since the time of Esar-haddon king of Assyria. He is the one who brought us here.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other family leaders of Israel answered, \"You have no part with us in building a house for our God. We alone must build it for the LORD, the God of Israel. That is what Cyrus king of Persia ordered us to do.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the people of the land tried to make the people of Judah lose heart. They tried to scare them so they would stop building."},{"verse":5,"text":"They paid advisers to work against them and ruin their plans. They did this the whole time Cyrus was king of Persia. They kept it up until Darius became king of Persia."},{"verse":6,"text":"When Xerxes began to rule, people wrote a charge against the people of Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":7,"text":"Later, when Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their group wrote a letter to him. It was written in Aramaic and then translated."},{"verse":8,"text":"Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem. They sent it to King Artaxerxes. It said:"},{"verse":9,"text":"From Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe. It is also from the rest of their group. They are the judges and officials over Tripolis, Persia, Erech, and Babylon. They are also the Elamites of Susa"},{"verse":10,"text":"and the other peoples. The great and noble Ashurbanipal moved these peoples from their homes. He settled them in the cities of Samaria and in other places west of the Euphrates River."},{"verse":11,"text":"(Here is a copy of the letter they sent him.) To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the men west of the Euphrates:"},{"verse":12,"text":"The king should know this. The Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are building that rebellious and evil city again. They are rebuilding its walls and fixing its foundations."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now the king should know this too. If that city is built and its walls are finished, they will stop paying tribute, taxes, and tolls. Then the king's treasury will lose money."},{"verse":14,"text":"We serve the palace. It would not be right for us to let the king be shamed. So we are sending this message to tell the king."},{"verse":15,"text":"We ask that a search be made in the record books of the kings before you. In those books you will find proof. This city has always rebelled. It has caused trouble for kings and lands. It has stirred up revolts since long ago. That is why this city was destroyed."},{"verse":16,"text":"We want the king to know this. If this city is built and its walls are finished, you will lose control of the land west of the Euphrates."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the king sent this answer: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your group living in Samaria and in other places west of the Euphrates: Greetings."},{"verse":18,"text":"The letter you sent us has been translated and read to me."},{"verse":19,"text":"I gave an order, and a search was made. We found that this city has turned against kings since long ago. It has been a place of rebellion and revolt."},{"verse":20,"text":"Strong kings have ruled over Jerusalem. They ruled over the whole land west of the Euphrates. People paid them tribute, taxes, and tolls."},{"verse":21,"text":"So now give an order to make these men stop. This city must not be built again until I give the order."},{"verse":22,"text":"Be careful not to ignore this. Why let this danger grow and hurt the king?"},{"verse":23,"text":"The letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their group. Right away they went to the Jews in Jerusalem. They used force to make them stop."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the work on God's house in Jerusalem stopped. It stayed stopped until the second year that Darius was king of Persia."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Later, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo spoke God's message to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They spoke in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak got up and began to build God's house in Jerusalem again. The prophets of God were with them and helped them."},{"verse":3,"text":"At that time, Tattenai came to the Jews. He was the governor of the land west of the Euphrates. Shethar-bozenai and their helpers came too. They asked, \"Who gave you permission to build this temple again and finish this building?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"They also asked, \"What are the names of the men who are putting up this building?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But their God was watching over the elders of the Jews. So no one stopped them while a report was sent to Darius. They kept working until a written answer about it came back."},{"verse":6,"text":"Here is a copy of the letter sent to King Darius. Tattenai, the governor of the land west of the Euphrates, sent it. So did Shethar-bozenai and their helpers, the officials in that land."},{"verse":7,"text":"Here is the report they sent him: To King Darius: May you have all peace."},{"verse":8,"text":"The king should know that we went to the province of Judah. We went to the house of the great God. The people are building it again with large stones. They are putting wooden beams in the walls. They are working hard, and the work is going well in their hands."},{"verse":9,"text":"So we asked the elders, \"Who gave you permission to build this temple again and finish this building?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"We also asked for their names. We wanted to write down the names of their leaders for you to know."},{"verse":11,"text":"Here is the answer they gave us: \"We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are building again the temple that was built many years ago. A great king of Israel built it and finished it."},{"verse":12,"text":"But our fathers made the God of heaven angry. So he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean. He destroyed this temple. He carried the people away to Babylon."},{"verse":13,"text":"But in the first year that Cyrus was king of Babylon, he gave an order. He ordered this house of God to be built again."},{"verse":14,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar had taken the gold and silver things from God's house in Jerusalem. He had carried them to the temple in Babylon. King Cyrus took them out of the temple in Babylon. He gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he made governor."},{"verse":15,"text":"Cyrus told him, 'Take these things and put them in the temple in Jerusalem. Let God's house be built again on the same spot.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundation of God's house in Jerusalem. It has been under construction from then until now. But it is not finished yet.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So now, if the king wishes, let a search be made in the king's records in Babylon. See if King Cyrus really gave an order to build God's house in Jerusalem again. Then let the king send us his decision about this."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So King Darius gave an order. They searched the records kept in the treasury rooms of Babylon."},{"verse":2,"text":"A scroll was found in the fortress of Ecbatana in the province of Media. This is what was written on it: A record:"},{"verse":3,"text":"In King Cyrus's first year, he gave an order about God's house in Jerusalem: Let the house be built again as a place to offer sacrifices. Let its foundations be laid firmly. It is to be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide.","note":"Aramaic: 60 cubits."},{"verse":4,"text":"It is to have three layers of cut stone and one layer of wood. The costs will be paid from the king's treasury."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also, the gold and silver things from God's house must be given back. Nebuchadnezzar took them from the temple in Jerusalem and carried them to Babylon. They must go back to the temple in Jerusalem. Put them in God's house."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Darius gave this order: To Tattenai, governor of the land west of the Euphrates, to Shethar-bozenai, and to your helpers, the officials in that land: Stay away from that place!"},{"verse":7,"text":"Leave the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor and elders of the Jews build this house of God again on the same spot."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am also ordering what you must do for these elders of the Jews as they build this house of God. Pay these men in full from the king's treasury. Use the taxes from the lands west of the Euphrates. Then the work will not be held up."},{"verse":9,"text":"Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever they need. They may need young bulls, rams, and lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven. They may need wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil. Give them what they ask for every day. Do not fail to do it."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then they can offer sacrifices that smell sweet to the God of heaven. They can pray for the life of the king and his sons."},{"verse":11,"text":"I also order this. If any man goes against this order, pull a beam from his house. Set it up and impale him on it. Turn his house into a pile of rubble for this crime."},{"verse":12,"text":"God has made his Name live there. May he destroy any king or people who try to change this order. May he destroy anyone who tries to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given the order. Let it be done with care."},{"verse":13,"text":"So Tattenai, the governor of the land west of the Euphrates, obeyed. Shethar-bozenai and their helpers did too. They carefully did what King Darius had ordered."},{"verse":14,"text":"So the Jewish elders kept building, and the work went well. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo spoke God's word to them. They finished building, as the God of Israel had commanded. They also did what Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia, had ordered."},{"verse":15,"text":"The temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar. This was in the sixth year that King Darius ruled."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the people of Israel held a joyful service to give God's house to God. The priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles took part."},{"verse":17,"text":"To give God's house to God, they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs. They also offered 12 male goats as a sin offering for all Israel. There was one goat for each tribe of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"They also set up the priests in their groups and the Levites in their teams. They were to serve God in Jerusalem. This followed what is written in the Book of Moses."},{"verse":19,"text":"On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles held the Passover."},{"verse":20,"text":"All the priests and Levites had made themselves pure. They were clean by the law. The Levites killed the Passover lamb for all the exiles. They killed it for their brothers the priests and for themselves."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Israelites who had come back from exile ate it. Others ate with them. These people had turned away from the unclean ways of the nations in the land. They wanted to seek the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"For seven days they joyfully held the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They did this because the LORD had filled them with joy. He had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them. He did it to make them strong in their work on the house of the God of Israel."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Many years later, Artaxerxes was king of Persia. In those days there was a man named Ezra. He was the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,"},{"verse":2,"text":"the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,"},{"verse":3,"text":"the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,"},{"verse":4,"text":"the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,"},{"verse":5,"text":"the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest."},{"verse":6,"text":"This Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe who knew the Law of Moses well. The LORD, the God of Israel, had given that Law. The king gave Ezra everything he asked for, because the hand of the LORD his God was on him."},{"verse":7,"text":"So in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra went up to Jerusalem. Some of the Israelites went with him. They included priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple servants."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the king's seventh year."},{"verse":9,"text":"He had left Babylon on the first day of the first month. He came to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the kind hand of his God was on him."},{"verse":10,"text":"This was because Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD. He set his heart to obey it. He set his heart to teach its rules and laws in Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"Here is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra. Ezra was a priest and scribe. He knew the LORD's commands and rules for Israel very well."},{"verse":12,"text":"From Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings."},{"verse":13,"text":"I now give this order. Any Israelites in my kingdom who want to go with you to Jerusalem may go. This includes the priests and Levites."},{"verse":14,"text":"The king and his seven advisers are sending you. Find out how things are in Judah and Jerusalem. Measure them by the Law of your God, which is in your hand."},{"verse":15,"text":"Also, take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given. It is for the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem."},{"verse":16,"text":"Take all the silver and gold you can find in the whole province of Babylon. Take the freewill offerings of the people and priests too. They are for the house of their God in Jerusalem."},{"verse":17,"text":"Use this money to buy as many bulls, rams, and lambs as you need. Buy the grain offerings and drink offerings that go with them. Offer them on the altar at the house of your God in Jerusalem."},{"verse":18,"text":"You and your brothers may do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold. Do it the way your God wants."},{"verse":19,"text":"Some things were given to you for the service of the house of your God. Hand all of them over to the God of Jerusalem."},{"verse":20,"text":"You may need to supply other things for the house of your God. If so, you may pay for them from the king's treasury."},{"verse":21,"text":"I, King Artaxerxes, give this order to all the treasurers west of the Euphrates. Ezra the priest is the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Whatever he asks of you, give it to him right away."},{"verse":22,"text":"Give him up to 3 3/4 tons of silver, 600 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, and 600 gallons of olive oil. Give him as much salt as he needs.","note":"Aramaic: 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whatever the God of heaven commands for his house must be done with care. Why should his anger fall on the king's land and on his sons?"},{"verse":24,"text":"Also know this. You have no right to make any of these people pay tribute, taxes, or tolls: the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or other workers at this house of God."},{"verse":25,"text":"And you, Ezra, have wisdom from your God. Use it to choose officials and judges. They will judge all the people west of the Euphrates who know the laws of your God. And you must teach these laws to anyone who does not know them."},{"verse":26,"text":"If anyone does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, he must be punished strictly. He may be put to death or sent away. His things may be taken, or he may be put in prison."},{"verse":27,"text":"Praise the LORD, the God of our fathers! He put it into the king's heart to honor the house of the LORD in Jerusalem like this."},{"verse":28,"text":"He has shown me kindness in front of the king and his advisers. He has shown it before all the king's powerful officials. The hand of the LORD my God was on me. So I took courage. I gathered leaders from Israel to go back with me."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Here are the family leaders and the family records of those who came back with me from Babylon. We came while Artaxerxes was king:"},{"verse":2,"text":"from the family of Phinehas, Gershom; from the family of Ithamar, Daniel; from the family of David, Hattush"},{"verse":3,"text":"of the family of Shecaniah; from the family of Parosh, Zechariah, and 150 men listed with him;"},{"verse":4,"text":"from the family of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and 200 men with him;"},{"verse":5,"text":"from the family of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and 300 men with him;"},{"verse":6,"text":"from the family of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and 50 men with him;"},{"verse":7,"text":"from the family of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and 70 men with him;"},{"verse":8,"text":"from the family of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and 80 men with him;"},{"verse":9,"text":"from the family of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and 218 men with him;"},{"verse":10,"text":"from the family of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and 160 men with him;"},{"verse":11,"text":"from the family of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and 28 men with him;"},{"verse":12,"text":"from the family of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and 110 men with him;"},{"verse":13,"text":"from the last sons of the family of Adonikam, whose names were Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and 60 men with them;"},{"verse":14,"text":"and from the family of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and 70 men with them."},{"verse":15,"text":"I gathered these exiles at the canal that flows toward Ahava. We camped there for three days. I looked over the people and the priests. But I found no Levites there."},{"verse":16,"text":"So I sent for the leaders Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam. I also sent for the teachers Joiarib and Elnathan."},{"verse":17,"text":"I sent them to Iddo, the leader at Casiphia. I gave them a message for Iddo and his relatives, the temple servants at Casiphia. The message asked them to send us men to serve in the house of our God."},{"verse":18,"text":"The kind hand of our God was on us. So they brought us Sherebiah, a man with good sense. He was from the family of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel. His sons and brothers came with him. There were 18 men."},{"verse":19,"text":"They also brought Hashabiah and Jeshaiah from the family of Merari. Their brothers and their sons came too. There were 20 men."},{"verse":20,"text":"They also brought 220 of the temple servants. Each one was listed by name. David and his officials had set up this group to help the Levites."},{"verse":21,"text":"There by the Ahava Canal I called for a fast. I did this so that we would humble ourselves before our God. We would ask him for a safe trip for us and our children and all we owned."},{"verse":22,"text":"I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to guard us from enemies on the road. We had told the king, \"The hand of our God is kind to all who seek him. But his great anger is against all who turn away from him.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So we went without food and prayed to our God about this. And he answered our prayer."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then I chose twelve of the leading priests. I also chose Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers."},{"verse":25,"text":"I weighed out to them the gift of silver and gold and the other things. The king, his advisers, and his leaders had given them. All the Israelites there had given too. The gifts were for the house of our God."},{"verse":26,"text":"I weighed out into their hands about 24 tons of silver. I gave them silver things weighing about 3 3/4 tons. I gave them about 3 3/4 tons of gold.","note":"Hebrew: 650 talents of silver, silver articles of 100 talents, 100 talents of gold."},{"verse":27,"text":"I gave them 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 gold coins. I also gave them two things made of fine shiny bronze. They were as precious as gold.","note":"Hebrew: 1,000 darics."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then I told them, \"You are set apart to the LORD. These things are set apart too. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers."},{"verse":29,"text":"Guard them with care. Then weigh them out in the rooms of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. Do it in front of the leading priests, the Levites, and the family leaders of Israel.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So the priests and Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the holy things. These had been weighed out to be taken to the house of our God in Jerusalem."},{"verse":31,"text":"On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us. He kept us safe from enemies and robbers along the way."},{"verse":32,"text":"So we came to Jerusalem. We rested there for three days."},{"verse":33,"text":"On the fourth day, in the house of our God, we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the holy things. We handed them to Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest. Eleazar son of Phinehas was with him. The Levites Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui were there too."},{"verse":34,"text":"Everything was counted and weighed. The total weight was written down at that time."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then the exiles who had come back from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They offered 12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, and 77 lambs. They also offered 12 male goats as a sin offering. All of this was a burnt offering to the LORD."},{"verse":36,"text":"They also gave the king's orders to the king's satraps and to the governors west of the Euphrates. Then these leaders helped the people and the house of God."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After these things were done, the leaders came to me. They said, \"The people of Israel have not kept themselves apart from the peoples around them. Even the priests and Levites have not. These peoples do hateful things like the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons. So the holy people have mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithful act!\"","note":"Hebrew: the holy seed."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I heard this, I tore my tunic and my cloak. I pulled out some hair from my head and my beard. I sat down in shock."},{"verse":4,"text":"Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me. They came because the exiles had been unfaithful. I sat there in shock until the evening offering."},{"verse":5,"text":"At the time of the evening offering, I got up from my shame. My tunic and cloak were still torn. I fell on my knees. I spread out my hands to the LORD my God."},{"verse":6,"text":"I prayed, \"O my God, I am too ashamed to lift up my face to you, my God. That is because our sins are piled higher than our heads. Our guilt has reached up to the heavens."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the days of our fathers until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and priests have been handed over to the kings of the earth. We have faced the sword and captivity. We have been robbed and shamed, as we are today."},{"verse":8,"text":"But now, for a short time, the LORD our God has shown us grace. He has let a few of us stay alive. He has given us a firm place in his holy place. Our God has given light to our eyes. He has given us new life even while we are slaves.","note":"Hebrew: a tent peg in his holy place."},{"verse":9,"text":"We are slaves, but our God has not left us alone as slaves. He has shown us grace in front of the kings of Persia. He has given us new life to build again the house of our God and fix its ruins. He has given us a wall to keep us safe in Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"And now, our God, what can we say after this? We have turned away from your commands."},{"verse":11,"text":"You gave them through your servants the prophets. They said, 'You are going into the land to take it over. But that land is dirty. Its peoples have made it unclean. They have filled it from end to end with hateful things."},{"verse":12,"text":"So do not let your daughters marry their sons. Do not let your sons marry their daughters. Never try to help them have peace or riches. Then you will be strong. You will eat the good things of the land. And you will leave it to your children as their own forever.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"All this has happened to us because of our evil acts and our great guilt. Yet you, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve. You have let some of us live, like those who are here."},{"verse":14,"text":"So should we break your commands again? Should we marry the peoples who do these hateful things? Wouldn't you be so angry with us that you would wipe us out? Then not one of us would be left alive."},{"verse":15,"text":"O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous! Only a few of us are left today. Here we are before you in our guilt. Because of it, no one can stand before you.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ezra was praying and confessing. He was crying and lying face down in front of God's house. While he did this, a very large crowd of Israelites gathered around him. There were men, women, and children. The people also wept bitterly."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the family of Elam, spoke to Ezra. He said, \"We have been unfaithful to our God. We have married foreign women from the peoples of the land. But even so, there is still hope for Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"So now let's make a covenant before our God. We will send away all the foreign wives and their children. This is the advice of my lord and of those who tremble at our God's command. Let it be done by the Law."},{"verse":4,"text":"Get up! This is your job, and we will stand with you. Be strong and do it!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Ezra got up. He made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel make a promise to do what had been said. And they made the promise."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Ezra left the front of God's house. He went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he stayed there, he ate no food and drank no water. He was mourning because the exiles had been unfaithful."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then word was sent all through Judah and Jerusalem. All the exiles were told to gather in Jerusalem."},{"verse":8,"text":"The leaders and elders had decided this. Anyone who did not come within three days would lose everything he owned. He would also be put out of the group of exiles."},{"verse":9,"text":"So within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the people sat in the open square at God's house. They were shaking because of this matter and because of the heavy rain."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, \"You have been unfaithful. You have married foreign women. You have added to Israel's guilt."},{"verse":11,"text":"So now confess your sin to the LORD, the God of your fathers. Do what he wants. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from your foreign wives.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The whole crowd answered with a loud voice, \"Yes! We must do as you say!"},{"verse":13,"text":"But there are many people here. It is the rainy season. We can't stay out here in the open. And this job can't be done in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this matter."},{"verse":14,"text":"Let our leaders act for the whole group. Then everyone in our towns who married a foreign woman can come at a set time. The elders and judges of each town can come with them. Let's do this until our God's fierce anger about this is turned away from us.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"(Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were against this plan. Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite took their side.)"},{"verse":16,"text":"So the exiles did what was planned. Ezra the priest chose men who were family leaders. Each was named, and each spoke for his family. On the first day of the tenth month, they sat down to look into each case."},{"verse":17,"text":"By the first day of the first month, they had finished with all the men who had married foreign women."},{"verse":18,"text":"Some from the families of the priests had married foreign women. These were from the family of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah."},{"verse":19,"text":"They gave their word to send their wives away. For their guilt, each gave a ram from the flock as a guilt offering."},{"verse":20,"text":"From the family of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah."},{"verse":21,"text":"From the family of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah."},{"verse":22,"text":"From the family of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah."},{"verse":23,"text":"From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer."},{"verse":24,"text":"From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri."},{"verse":25,"text":"And from the rest of Israel, from the family of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah."},{"verse":26,"text":"From the family of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah."},{"verse":27,"text":"From the family of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza."},{"verse":28,"text":"From the family of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai."},{"verse":29,"text":"From the family of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth."},{"verse":30,"text":"From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh."},{"verse":31,"text":"From the family of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,"},{"verse":32,"text":"Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah."},{"verse":33,"text":"From the family of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei."},{"verse":34,"text":"From the family of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,"},{"verse":36,"text":"Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,"},{"verse":37,"text":"Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu."},{"verse":38,"text":"From the family of Binnui: Shimei,"},{"verse":39,"text":"Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,"},{"verse":40,"text":"Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,"},{"verse":41,"text":"Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,"},{"verse":42,"text":"Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph."},{"verse":43,"text":"And from the family of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah."},{"verse":44,"text":"All these men had married foreign women. Some of them had children by these wives."}]}]},{"name":"Nehemiah","slug":"nehemiah","usfm":"NEH","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. It was the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year. I was in the fortress of Susa."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hanani, one of my brothers, came with some men from Judah. So I asked them about the Jews who were left. These were the ones who had lived through the exile. I also asked them about Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"They told me, \"The people who lived through the exile are back in the province. But they are in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"When I heard this, I sat down and cried. For days I was full of sorrow. I went without food and prayed to the God of heaven."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I said, \"O LORD, God of heaven, you are the great and awesome God. You keep your covenant of faithful love with those who love you and obey your commands."},{"verse":6,"text":"Please let your eyes be open and your ears listen. Hear the prayer that I, your servant, pray to you day and night. I pray for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites have done against you. I and my father's family have sinned too."},{"verse":7,"text":"We have acted very wickedly against you. We have not obeyed the commands, laws, and rules you gave your servant Moses."},{"verse":8,"text":"Please remember what you told your servant Moses. You said, 'If you are not faithful, I will scatter you among the nations."},{"verse":9,"text":"But if you return to me and obey my commands and do them, then I will gather your exiles. Even if they were sent away to the farthest edge of the sky, I will gather them from there. I will bring them to the place I chose as a home for my Name.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and your strong hand."},{"verse":11,"text":"O Lord, please listen to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of your servants who love to honor your name. Please let your servant do well today. Let this man show me mercy.\" (At that time I was the king's cupbearer.)"}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then came the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes. Wine was set before the king. I picked up the wine and gave it to him. I had never been sad in front of him before."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the king asked me, \"Why do you look so sad? You are not sick. This must be sadness of the heart.\" I was very afraid."},{"verse":3,"text":"I said to the king, \"May the king live forever! Why shouldn't I be sad? The city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins. Its gates have been burned with fire.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The king said, \"What do you want?\" So I prayed to the God of heaven."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I answered the king, \"If it pleases the king, and if you are pleased with your servant, please send me to Judah. Send me to the city where my fathers are buried, so I can rebuild it.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The queen was sitting beside the king. He asked me, \"How long will your trip take? When will you come back?\" The king was pleased to send me. So I told him a time."},{"verse":7,"text":"I also said to him, \"If it pleases the king, please give me letters for the governors west of the Euphrates River. Then they will let me pass safely until I reach Judah."},{"verse":8,"text":"And please give me a letter to Asaph, who takes care of the king's forest. Then he will give me wood to make beams. I need beams for the gates of the fortress by the temple. I need them for the city wall and for the house I will live in.\" My God's kind hand was on me. So the king gave me what I asked for."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates. I gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and horsemen with me."},{"verse":10,"text":"Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this. They were very upset that someone had come to help the people of Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"I went to Jerusalem. After I had been there three days,"},{"verse":12,"text":"I set out at night with a few men. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal with me was the one I was riding."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I went out at night through the Valley Gate. I went toward the Well of the Serpent and the Dung Gate. I looked closely at the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down. I looked at the gates, which had been burned with fire."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool. But there was no room for my animal to get through."},{"verse":15,"text":"So I went up the valley in the dark and looked at the wall. Then I turned back and came in again through the Valley Gate."},{"verse":16,"text":"The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing. I had not yet told the Jews about it. I had not told the priests, the nobles, the officials, or any of the other workers."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then I said to them, \"You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins. Its gates have been burned down. Come, let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Then we will no longer be a shame.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"I also told them how my God's kind hand had been on me. I told them what the king had said to me. They answered, \"Let's start building!\" So they got ready to do this good work."},{"verse":19,"text":"Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this. They made fun of us and laughed at us. They said, \"What are you doing? Are you turning against the king?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"I answered them, \"The God of heaven will give us success. We are his servants, and we will start building. But you have no share in Jerusalem. You have no right to it and no claim on it.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Eliashib the high priest and the other priests began to rebuild at the Sheep Gate. They set it apart to God and put up its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. Then they set apart that part of the wall to God."},{"verse":2,"text":"The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib. Zaccur son of Imri built next to them."},{"verse":3,"text":"The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt the Fish Gate. They put in its beams. They hung its doors and put in its bolts and bars."},{"verse":4,"text":"Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs next to them. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs too."},{"verse":5,"text":"The men of Tekoa made repairs next to him. But their nobles would not bend their backs to work for their leaders."},{"verse":6,"text":"Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Jeshanah Gate. They put in its beams. They hung its doors and put in its bolts and bars."},{"verse":7,"text":"Next to them, repairs were made by Melatiah from Gibeon and Jadon from Meronoth. The men of Gibeon and Mizpah worked too. These places were under the governor of the land west of the Euphrates."},{"verse":8,"text":"Uzziel son of Harhaiah made repairs next to them. He was one of the goldsmiths. Hananiah made repairs next to him. He was one of the perfume makers. They made Jerusalem strong as far as the Broad Wall."},{"verse":9,"text":"Rephaiah son of Hur made repairs next to them. He ruled half of the district of Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs next to him, across from his own house. Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another part. They also repaired the Tower of the Ovens."},{"verse":12,"text":"Shallum son of Hallohesh made repairs next to them. He ruled the other half of the district of Jerusalem. His daughters helped him."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hanun and the people of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it. They hung its doors and put in its bolts and bars. They also repaired 1,500 feet of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.","note":"Hebrew: a thousand cubits."},{"verse":14,"text":"Malchijah son of Rechab repaired the Dung Gate. He ruled the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt the gate. He hung its doors and put in its bolts and bars."},{"verse":15,"text":"Shallun son of Col-hozeh repaired the Fountain Gate. He ruled the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt the gate and put a roof on it. He hung its doors and put in its bolts and bars. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the king's garden. He worked as far as the steps that go down from the City of David."},{"verse":16,"text":"Nehemiah son of Azbuk worked past him. He ruled half of the district of Beth-zur. He made repairs up to a spot across from the tombs of David. He worked as far as the man-made pool and the House of the Mighty Men."},{"verse":17,"text":"Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani. Next to them, Hashabiah made repairs for his district. He ruled half of the district of Keilah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Next to him, their fellow Jews made repairs under Binnui son of Henadad. He ruled the other half of the district of Keilah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another part. It was across from the slope up to the armory, near the corner of the wall."},{"verse":20,"text":"Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai worked hard to repair another part. It went from the corner to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest."},{"verse":21,"text":"Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another part. It went from the door of Eliashib's house to the end of the house."},{"verse":22,"text":"Next to him, the priests from the area around the city made repairs."},{"verse":23,"text":"Past them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house. Next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house."},{"verse":24,"text":"After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another part. It went from Azariah's house to the bend and the corner."},{"verse":25,"text":"Palal son of Uzai made repairs across from the bend. He worked by the tower that sticks out from the king's upper palace. It was near the courtyard of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh"},{"verse":26,"text":"and the temple servants who lived on the hill of Ophel made repairs. They worked across from the Water Gate on the east side and the tower that sticks out."},{"verse":27,"text":"Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another part. It went from across the great tower that sticks out to the wall of Ophel."},{"verse":28,"text":"Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs. Each one worked in front of his own house."},{"verse":29,"text":"Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah made repairs. He was the guard of the East Gate."},{"verse":30,"text":"Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another part. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs across from the rooms where he lived."},{"verse":31,"text":"Next to him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. He worked as far as the house of the temple servants and the traders. It was across from the Inspection Gate. He worked as far as the upper room at the corner."},{"verse":32,"text":"The goldsmiths and traders made repairs between the upper room at the corner and the Sheep Gate."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall. He became very angry and upset. He made fun of the Jews"},{"verse":2,"text":"in front of his friends and the army of Samaria. He said, \"What are these weak Jews doing? Can they fix the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish it in a day? Can they bring these burned stones back to life from the piles of rubble?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him. He said, \"Even if a fox climbed up on what they are building, it would break down their stone wall!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Hear us, O God, for people hate us. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Let them be carried off as loot to a land where they are captives."},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not cover up their wrongs. Do not wipe their sin away from your sight. For they have insulted the builders.","note":"Or: they have made you angry in front of the builders."},{"verse":6,"text":"So we rebuilt the wall. All of it was joined together up to half its height. For the people had a heart to work."},{"verse":7,"text":"Sanballat and Tobiah heard that the work on the walls of Jerusalem was going forward. So did the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod. They heard that the gaps were being closed. And they were very angry."},{"verse":8,"text":"All of them made a secret plan to come and fight against Jerusalem and cause trouble."},{"verse":9,"text":"So we prayed to our God. We set a guard to watch for them day and night."},{"verse":10,"text":"Meanwhile, the people of Judah said, \"The workers are running out of strength. There is so much rubble. We will never be able to rebuild the wall.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"And our enemies said, \"They won't know or see a thing until we are right among them. We will kill them and stop the work.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times, \"From every side, they will attack us.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So I placed men behind the lowest parts of the wall, where it was weak. I placed them by families. They had their swords, spears, and bows."},{"verse":14,"text":"I looked things over. Then I stood up and spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people. I said, \"Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome. Fight for your brothers, your sons and daughters, your wives, and your homes.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Our enemies heard that we knew about their plan. They heard that God had ruined it. Then each of us went back to his own work on the wall."},{"verse":16,"text":"From that day on, half of my servants did the work. The other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stood behind all the people of Judah"},{"verse":17,"text":"who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who carried loads worked with one hand. They held a weapon in the other."},{"verse":18,"text":"Each of the builders worked with his sword tied at his side. But the man who blew the trumpet stayed beside me."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then I spoke to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people. I said, \"The work is big and spread out. We are far apart from each other along the wall."},{"verse":20,"text":"Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, come to us there. Our God will fight for us!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So we kept on working. Half of the men held spears from the first light of dawn until the stars came out."},{"verse":22,"text":"At that time I also told the people, \"Every man and his servant must spend the night in Jerusalem. Then they can stand guard at night and work during the day.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So none of us took off our clothes. Not I, not my brothers, not my servants, and not the guards with me. Each of us carried his weapon, even when he went for water."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"About that time the people and their wives cried out loudly. They complained against their fellow Jews."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some were saying, \"We have many sons and daughters. We must get grain so we can eat and stay alive.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Others were saying, \"We are putting up our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to pay for grain. We need grain because of the famine.\"","note":"Or: We are mortgaging our fields."},{"verse":4,"text":"Still others were saying, \"We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards."},{"verse":5,"text":"We and our children are just like our fellow Jews and their children. Yet we are having to sell our sons and daughters as slaves. Some of our daughters are slaves already. But we have no power to buy them back. Our fields and vineyards belong to other people now.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"I heard them crying out and complaining like this. Then I became very angry."},{"verse":7,"text":"I thought it over carefully. Then I scolded the nobles and officials. I said, \"You are charging interest to your own brothers!\" So I called a large meeting against them."},{"verse":8,"text":"I said, \"We have done all we can to buy back our Jewish brothers. They had been sold to foreigners. But now you are selling your own brothers, so they can be sold back to us!\" They said nothing. They could not think of anything to say."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I went on, \"What you are doing is not right. You should live in the fear of our God. Then our foreign enemies won't have a reason to mock us."},{"verse":10,"text":"My brothers, my servants, and I have also been lending the people money and grain. Please, let's stop charging this interest."},{"verse":11,"text":"Please give back to them right away their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses. Also give back the part you have been charging them. That means the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.\"","note":"Hebrew: the hundredth part, probably one percent a month."},{"verse":12,"text":"They answered, \"We will give it back. We won't ask them for anything more. We will do as you say.\" Then I called the priests. I made the nobles and officials take an oath. They swore to do what they had promised."},{"verse":13,"text":"I also shook out the folds of my robe. I said, \"May God shake out every man who does not keep this promise. May he shake him out of his house and all he owns, just like this. May that man be shaken out and left with nothing!\" The whole crowd said, \"Amen.\" And they praised the LORD. And the people did what they had promised."},{"verse":14,"text":"King Artaxerxes made me governor of the people in the land of Judah. I served from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year. That was twelve years in all. During that time, my brothers and I did not eat the food given to the governor."},{"verse":15,"text":"The governors before me had put heavy loads on the people. They took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also treated the people harshly. But I did not do this, because I feared God.","note":"Forty shekels is about 1 pound of silver."},{"verse":16,"text":"Instead, I gave myself to building the wall. All my servants gathered there to work. We did not buy any land."},{"verse":17,"text":"There were 150 Jews and officials who ate at my table. Besides them, there were guests from the nations around us."},{"verse":18,"text":"Each day one ox, six of the best sheep, and some birds were cooked for me. And every ten days, plenty of all kinds of wine was brought in. But I did not ask for the food given to the governor, because the load on the people was so heavy."},{"verse":19,"text":"Remember me with kindness, O my God, for all I have done for these people."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall. They heard that not one gap was left. But at that time I had not yet hung the doors in the gates."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: \"Come, let's meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.\" But they were planning to hurt me."},{"verse":3,"text":"So I sent messengers to them with this answer: \"I am doing a great work, and I can't come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"They sent me the same message four times. Each time I gave them the same answer."},{"verse":5,"text":"The fifth time, Sanballat sent his young servant to me with the same message. In his hand was a letter that was not sealed."},{"verse":6,"text":"It said, \"People among the nations are saying that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. Geshem says it's true. That is why you are building the wall. These reports say you plan to become their king."},{"verse":7,"text":"They say you have even chosen prophets in Jerusalem to announce about you, 'There is a king in Judah!' Soon the king will hear these reports. So come, let's talk this over together.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then I sent him this answer: \"Nothing you are saying is true. You are making it all up in your own mind.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"They were all trying to scare us. They thought, \"Their hands will get too weak to work. The wall will never be finished.\" But now, my God, make my hands strong."},{"verse":10,"text":"Later I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. He was shut in at his house. He said, \"Let's meet at the house of God, inside the temple. Let's shut the temple doors. They are coming to kill you. They are coming at night to kill you!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But I answered, \"Should a man like me run away? Should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I won't go!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"I understood that God had not sent him. He had spoken this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had paid him."},{"verse":13,"text":"They had paid him to scare me. They wanted me to sin by doing what he said. Then they could give me a bad name and shame me."},{"verse":14,"text":"O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done. Also remember Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets. They tried to scare me."},{"verse":15,"text":"So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. It took fifty-two days."},{"verse":16,"text":"All our enemies heard about this. All the nations around us were afraid and lost heart. They knew that this work had been done by our God."},{"verse":17,"text":"In those days the nobles of Judah also sent many letters to Tobiah. And Tobiah's letters kept coming back to them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Many people in Judah had made a promise with an oath to stand with him. He was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah. And his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah."},{"verse":19,"text":"These nobles also kept telling me about the good things Tobiah had done. Then they carried my words back to him. And Tobiah sent letters to scare me."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The wall was rebuilt, and I had hung the doors in place. Then the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were given their jobs."},{"verse":2,"text":"I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah, the commander of the fortress, was in charge with him, because Hananiah was a faithful man. He feared God more than most people did."},{"verse":3,"text":"I told them, \"Don't open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are still on duty, shut the doors and lock them tight. Choose people who live in Jerusalem to be guards. Put some at their posts and some in front of their own homes.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The city was large, with lots of room. But few people lived in it, and the houses had not been rebuilt yet."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then my God put an idea in my heart. I gathered the nobles, the officials, and the people to be listed by their family lines. I found the family record of the people who had come back first. This is what I found written in it:"},{"verse":6,"text":"These are the people of the province who came back from captivity. They were among the exiles that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. They came back to Jerusalem and Judah. Each one went to his own town."},{"verse":7,"text":"They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. This is the number of the men of Israel:"},{"verse":8,"text":"the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;"},{"verse":9,"text":"the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;"},{"verse":10,"text":"the descendants of Arah, 652;"},{"verse":11,"text":"the descendants of Pahath-moab (through the family of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;"},{"verse":12,"text":"the descendants of Elam, 1,254;"},{"verse":13,"text":"the descendants of Zattu, 845;"},{"verse":14,"text":"the descendants of Zaccai, 760;"},{"verse":15,"text":"the descendants of Binnui, 648;"},{"verse":16,"text":"the descendants of Bebai, 628;"},{"verse":17,"text":"the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;"},{"verse":18,"text":"the descendants of Adonikam, 667;"},{"verse":19,"text":"the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;"},{"verse":20,"text":"the descendants of Adin, 655;"},{"verse":21,"text":"the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;"},{"verse":22,"text":"the descendants of Hashum, 328;"},{"verse":23,"text":"the descendants of Bezai, 324;"},{"verse":24,"text":"the descendants of Hariph, 112;"},{"verse":25,"text":"the descendants of Gibeon, 95;"},{"verse":26,"text":"the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;"},{"verse":27,"text":"the men of Anathoth, 128;"},{"verse":28,"text":"the men of Beth-azmaveth, 42;"},{"verse":29,"text":"the men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743;"},{"verse":30,"text":"the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;"},{"verse":31,"text":"the men of Michmash, 122;"},{"verse":32,"text":"the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;"},{"verse":33,"text":"the men of the other Nebo, 52;"},{"verse":34,"text":"the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;"},{"verse":35,"text":"the descendants of Harim, 320;"},{"verse":36,"text":"the men of Jericho, 345;"},{"verse":37,"text":"the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;"},{"verse":38,"text":"and the descendants of Senaah, 3,930."},{"verse":39,"text":"These were the priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua), 973;"},{"verse":40,"text":"the descendants of Immer, 1,052;"},{"verse":41,"text":"the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;"},{"verse":42,"text":"and the descendants of Harim, 1,017."},{"verse":43,"text":"These were the Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the family of Hodevah), 74."},{"verse":44,"text":"These were the singers: the descendants of Asaph, 148."},{"verse":45,"text":"These were the gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai. There were 138 in all."},{"verse":46,"text":"These were the temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,"},{"verse":47,"text":"Keros, Sia, Padon,"},{"verse":48,"text":"Lebanah, Hagabah, Shalmai,"},{"verse":49,"text":"Hanan, Giddel, Gahar,"},{"verse":50,"text":"Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda,"},{"verse":51,"text":"Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah,"},{"verse":52,"text":"Besai, Meunim, Nephushesim,"},{"verse":53,"text":"Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,"},{"verse":54,"text":"Bazlith, Mehida, Harsha,"},{"verse":55,"text":"Barkos, Sisera, Temah,"},{"verse":56,"text":"Neziah, and Hatipha."},{"verse":57,"text":"These were the descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,"},{"verse":58,"text":"Jaala, Darkon, Giddel,"},{"verse":59,"text":"Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Amon."},{"verse":60,"text":"The temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants were 392 in all."},{"verse":61,"text":"Some people came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not prove that their families came from Israel."},{"verse":62,"text":"They were the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda. There were 642 in all."},{"verse":63,"text":"Some priests could not prove it either. They were the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai. (Barzillai had married a daughter of Barzillai from Gilead. He was called by that family's name.)"},{"verse":64,"text":"These men looked for their family records, but they could not find them. So they were not allowed to serve as priests. They were treated as unclean."},{"verse":65,"text":"The governor told them not to eat the most holy food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could ask God by using the Urim and Thummim."},{"verse":66,"text":"The whole group added up to 42,360."},{"verse":67,"text":"Besides them, there were 7,337 male and female servants. There were also 245 men and women who sang."},{"verse":68,"text":"They had 736 horses, 245 mules,"},{"verse":69,"text":"435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys."},{"verse":70,"text":"Some of the family leaders gave gifts for the work. The governor gave 1,000 gold darics to the treasury. He also gave 50 bowls and 530 robes for the priests.","note":"A daric was a gold coin. 1,000 darics weighed about 19 pounds."},{"verse":71,"text":"Some of the family leaders gave 20,000 gold darics to the treasury for the work. They also gave 2,200 minas of silver.","note":"20,000 darics weighed about 370 pounds. 2,200 minas is about 2,750 pounds."},{"verse":72,"text":"The rest of the people gave a total of 20,000 gold darics and 2,000 minas of silver. They also gave 67 robes for the priests.","note":"20,000 darics weighed about 370 pounds. 2,000 minas is about 2,500 pounds."},{"verse":73,"text":"So the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants settled in their own towns. Some of the people and the rest of the Israelites did too. By the seventh month, the Israelites had settled in their towns."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time all the people gathered together in the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. This was the Law the LORD had given to Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law out to the crowd. Men and women were there, and all who were old enough to listen and understand."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ezra faced the square in front of the Water Gate. He read the Law out loud from early morning until noon. The men and women and all who could understand were there. And all the people listened closely to the Book of the Law."},{"verse":4,"text":"Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden stand that had been built for this day. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. At his left side stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam."},{"verse":5,"text":"Ezra opened the book where all the people could see it. He was standing up above them all. As he opened it, all the people stood up."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Ezra praised the LORD, the great God. All the people lifted their hands and said, \"Amen! Amen!\" Then they bowed down low with their faces to the ground. They worshiped the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"The people stayed standing in their places. And the Levites taught them the Law. These Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah."},{"verse":8,"text":"They read from the Book of the Law of God. They explained it and made the meaning clear, so that the people could understand what was being read."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Nehemiah the governor spoke to all the people. So did Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching them. They said, \"This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not be sad or cry.\" For all the people were crying as they heard the words of the Law."},{"verse":10,"text":"Nehemiah told them, \"Go and eat rich food and drink sweet drinks. Send some to people who have nothing ready. Today is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The Levites calmed all the people down. They said, \"Be still, for today is holy. Do not be sad.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then all the people went off to eat and drink. They sent food to others, and they had a great celebration. For now they understood the words that had been explained to them."},{"verse":13,"text":"On the second day of the month, the leaders of all the families gathered around Ezra the scribe. The priests and Levites came too. They wanted to study the words of the Law."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD had given the Law through Moses. In it they found what was written about the feast of the seventh month. The Israelites were to live in shelters during the feast."},{"verse":15,"text":"They were also to send out this message in all their towns and in Jerusalem: \"Go out to the hill country. Bring back branches from olive trees, wild olive trees, myrtle trees, palm trees, and other leafy trees. Use them to make shelters, as it is written.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So the people went out and brought back branches. They made shelters on their own roofs and in their courtyards. They made them in the courtyards of the house of God. They made them in the square by the Water Gate and in the square by the Gate of Ephraim."},{"verse":17,"text":"The whole group that had come back from exile made shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun. And there was great joy."},{"verse":18,"text":"Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God every day, from the first day to the last. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days. On the eighth day they held a special gathering, as the Law said to do."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On the twenty-fourth day of that same month, the Israelites gathered together. They went without food and wore sackcloth. They had dust on their heads."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people who came from Israel's families separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins. They also confessed the wrongs of their fathers."},{"verse":3,"text":"They stood where they were. For a fourth of the day they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God. For another fourth of the day they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God.","note":"About three hours each."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some Levites stood on the raised stage. They cried out loudly to the LORD their God. They were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the Levites Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah spoke. They said, \"Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who lives forever and ever! May your glorious name be praised. May it be lifted high, above all blessing and praise."},{"verse":6,"text":"You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens and all their stars. You made the earth and everything on it. You made the seas and everything in them. You give life to all things. And the armies of heaven worship you.","note":"Hebrew: host, which can mean the stars or the angels."},{"verse":7,"text":"You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram. You brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans. You gave him the name Abraham."},{"verse":8,"text":"You saw that his heart was faithful to you. You made a covenant with him. You promised to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites and Hittites. It was the land of the Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You have kept your promise, because you are righteous."},{"verse":9,"text":"You saw how our fathers suffered in Egypt. You heard them cry out at the Red Sea."},{"verse":10,"text":"You did signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land. You knew how proudly they had treated our fathers. You made a name for yourself that lasts to this day."},{"verse":11,"text":"You split the sea in front of them. They walked through it on dry ground. But you threw the men chasing them into the deep water. They sank like a stone in wild waves."},{"verse":12,"text":"You led them with a pillar of cloud by day. You led them with a pillar of fire by night. It lit up the way they should go."},{"verse":13,"text":"You came down on Mount Sinai. You spoke with them from heaven. You gave them fair rules and true laws. You gave them good orders and commands."},{"verse":14,"text":"You showed them your holy Sabbath. You gave them commands, orders, and laws through your servant Moses."},{"verse":15,"text":"When they were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you brought water out of the rock for them. You told them to go in and take the land. You had sworn to give it to them."},{"verse":16,"text":"But they and our fathers became proud and stubborn. They did not obey your commands.","note":"Or: But they, our fathers."},{"verse":17,"text":"They would not listen. They forgot the wonders you had done among them. They became stubborn. They chose a leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt. But you are a God who forgives. You are kind and full of mercy. You are slow to get angry and rich in faithful love. You did not leave them."},{"verse":18,"text":"They even melted metal and made a statue of a calf for themselves. They said, 'This is your god who brought you up out of Egypt.' They spoke terrible things against you."},{"verse":19,"text":"Even so, in your great mercy you did not leave them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never stopped leading them on their path. By night the pillar of fire lit up the way they should go."},{"verse":20,"text":"You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You did not hold back your manna from their mouths. You gave them water when they were thirsty."},{"verse":21,"text":"For forty years you took care of them in the wilderness. They had everything they needed. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell."},{"verse":22,"text":"You gave them kingdoms and nations. You gave them every corner of the land. So they took over the land of Sihon king of Heshbon. They took the land of Og king of Bashan."},{"verse":23,"text":"You made their children as many as the stars in the sky. You brought them into the land. You had told their fathers to go in and take it."},{"verse":24,"text":"So their children went in and took the land. You beat down the Canaanites who lived in the land in front of them. You handed over to them the kings and peoples of the land. They could do with them whatever they wanted."},{"verse":25,"text":"They captured strong cities with walls and rich land. They took houses full of all kinds of good things. They took wells that were already dug. They took vineyards, olive groves, and lots of fruit trees. So they ate until they were full, and they grew fat. They enjoyed your great goodness."},{"verse":26,"text":"But they did not obey you. They rebelled against you. They threw your law behind their backs. They killed your prophets, who had warned them to come back to you. They spoke terrible things against you."},{"verse":27,"text":"So you handed them over to their enemies, who were cruel to them. In their time of trouble they cried out to you. You heard them from heaven. In your great mercy you gave them rescuers. These rescuers saved them from the power of their enemies."},{"verse":28,"text":"But as soon as they had rest, they did evil in your sight again. So you left them in the power of their enemies. Their enemies ruled over them. Then they cried out to you again. You heard them from heaven. In your mercy you rescued them many times."},{"verse":29,"text":"You warned them to come back to your law. But they were proud and did not obey your commands. They sinned against your rules. A person who keeps these rules will live by them. But they turned their backs and became stubborn. They would not obey."},{"verse":30,"text":"You were patient with them for many years. Your Spirit warned them through your prophets. But they would not listen. So you handed them over to the nations around them."},{"verse":31,"text":"But in your great mercy you did not wipe them out. You did not leave them. For you are a God who is kind and full of mercy."},{"verse":32,"text":"So now, our God, you are the great and mighty and awesome God. You keep your covenant of faithful love. Do not think that all our hardship is a small thing. It has come on us and our kings and leaders. It has come on our priests and prophets, our ancestors, and all your people. It has lasted from the days of the kings of Assyria until today.","note":"Or: your covenant and your faithful love."},{"verse":33,"text":"You have been fair in everything that has happened to us. You have been faithful, but we have done evil."},{"verse":34,"text":"Our kings, leaders, priests, and fathers did not obey your law. They did not listen to the commands and warnings you gave them."},{"verse":35,"text":"They had their own kingdom. They had the great good things you had given them. They had the wide, rich land you had set before them. But even then, they would not serve you. They would not turn from their evil ways."},{"verse":36,"text":"So look at us today. We are slaves! You gave this land to our fathers so they could enjoy its fruit and good things. But here we are as slaves in it!"},{"verse":37,"text":"Its large harvest goes to the kings you have put over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our animals however they want. We are in great trouble."},{"verse":38,"text":"Because of all this, we are making a firm agreement. We are writing it down. Our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their names on it and sealing it.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the men who put their seal on the agreement: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and also Zedekiah,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,"},{"verse":3,"text":"Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,"},{"verse":4,"text":"Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,"},{"verse":6,"text":"Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,"},{"verse":7,"text":"Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,"},{"verse":8,"text":"Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests."},{"verse":9,"text":"These were the Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui from the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel,"},{"verse":10,"text":"and the Levites who worked with them: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,"},{"verse":11,"text":"Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,"},{"verse":12,"text":"Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,"},{"verse":13,"text":"Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu."},{"verse":14,"text":"These were the leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,"},{"verse":16,"text":"Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,"},{"verse":17,"text":"Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,"},{"verse":18,"text":"Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,"},{"verse":19,"text":"Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,"},{"verse":20,"text":"Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,"},{"verse":22,"text":"Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,"},{"verse":23,"text":"Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,"},{"verse":24,"text":"Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,"},{"verse":25,"text":"Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,"},{"verse":26,"text":"Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,"},{"verse":27,"text":"Malluch, Harim, and Baanah."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Now here are the rest of the people: the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants. They include all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the land to obey the Law of God. They also include their wives and all their sons and daughters who are old enough to understand."},{"verse":29,"text":"All of them now join their brothers, the nobles. They swear an oath and promise to follow the Law of God that he gave through his servant Moses. They promise to carefully obey all the commands, rules, and laws of the LORD our Lord."},{"verse":30,"text":"We will not let our daughters marry the peoples of the land. We will not take their daughters as wives for our sons."},{"verse":31,"text":"If the peoples of the land bring goods or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields rest and not plant them. And we will cancel every debt."},{"verse":32,"text":"We also promise to give a third of a shekel each year. It will pay for the work of the house of our God.","note":"About 1/8 ounce of silver."},{"verse":33,"text":"It will pay for the bread set out before God. It will pay for the daily grain offerings and burnt offerings. It will pay for the Sabbath offerings, the New Moon offerings, and the offerings at the set feasts. It will pay for the holy offerings and the sin offerings that make atonement for Israel. It will pay for all the work of the house of our God."},{"verse":34,"text":"We have cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people. The lots decide when each family will bring wood at the set times each year. They must bring it to the house of our God. It will burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law."},{"verse":35,"text":"Every year we will also bring the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":36,"text":"We will bring our firstborn sons and the firstborn of our animals, as it is written in the Law. We will bring the firstborn of our cattle and our flocks to the house of our God. We will bring them to the priests who serve there."},{"verse":37,"text":"We will also bring the first of our dough and our grain offerings to the priests. We will bring the first of the fruit of all our trees, our new wine, and our olive oil. We will bring them to the storerooms of the house of our God. A tenth of our crops belongs to the Levites. So the Levites will collect these tenths in all the towns where we work."},{"verse":38,"text":"A priest from Aaron's family must go with the Levites when they collect the tenth. Then the Levites must bring a tenth of what they collect to the house of our God. They will put it in the storerooms of the treasury."},{"verse":39,"text":"For the Israelites and the Levites must bring their gifts of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the storerooms. That is where the things used in the holy place are kept. It is also where the priests who serve, the gatekeepers, and the singers stay. So we will not neglect the house of our God.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots. One out of every ten people would live in Jerusalem, the holy city. The other nine would live in their own towns."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people blessed all the men who offered to live in Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"These are the leaders of the province who settled in Jerusalem. (But in the villages of Judah, each person lived on his own land in their towns. This included the Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some people from the families of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem.) From the families of Judah there was Athaiah son of Uzziah. Uzziah was the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel. He came from the family of Perez."},{"verse":5,"text":"There was also Maaseiah son of Baruch. Baruch was the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah. He came from the family of Shelah."},{"verse":6,"text":"The descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 brave men in all."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the families of Benjamin there was Sallu son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah."},{"verse":8,"text":"After him came Gabbai and Sallai. There were 928 men in all."},{"verse":9,"text":"Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them. Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city."},{"verse":10,"text":"From the priests there were Jedaiah son of Joiarib, and Jachin."},{"verse":11,"text":"There was Seraiah son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub. Seraiah was the chief officer of the house of God."},{"verse":12,"text":"There were also the other priests who did the work at the temple. There were 822 men. There was Adaiah son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah."},{"verse":13,"text":"There were also the men who worked with Adaiah, who were heads of families. There were 242 men. There was Amashai son of Azarel. Azarel was the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer."},{"verse":14,"text":"There were also the men who worked with Amashai. They were 128 brave, strong men. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was in charge of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"From the Levites there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub. Hasshub was the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni."},{"verse":16,"text":"There were Shabbethai and Jozabad. They were two leaders of the Levites. They were in charge of the work outside the house of God."},{"verse":17,"text":"There was Mattaniah son of Mica. Mica was the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph. Mattaniah led the people in giving thanks and in prayer. Bakbukiah was second in charge under him. There was also Abda son of Shammua. Shammua was the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun."},{"verse":18,"text":"There were 284 Levites in all in the holy city."},{"verse":19,"text":"The gatekeepers were Akkub, Talmon, and the men who worked with them. They kept watch at the gates. There were 172 men."},{"verse":20,"text":"The rest of the Israelites lived in all the towns of Judah. So did the other priests and Levites. Each one lived on his own family land."},{"verse":21,"text":"The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel. Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them."},{"verse":22,"text":"The leader of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani. Bani was the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. Uzzi came from the family of Asaph. They were the singers in charge of the worship at the house of God."},{"verse":23,"text":"For the king had given an order about the singers. It set out what they should do each day."},{"verse":24,"text":"Pethahiah son of Meshezabel came from the family of Zerah son of Judah. He spoke for the king in everything that had to do with the people."},{"verse":25,"text":"Some of the people of Judah lived out in the towns with their fields. They lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages."},{"verse":26,"text":"They lived in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet."},{"verse":27,"text":"They lived in Hazar-shual, and in Beersheba and its villages."},{"verse":28,"text":"They lived in Ziklag, and in Meconah and its villages."},{"verse":29,"text":"They lived in En-rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth,"},{"verse":30,"text":"Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages. They lived in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. So they settled all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom."},{"verse":31,"text":"The people of Benjamin from Geba lived in Michmash, Aija, and Bethel with its villages."},{"verse":32,"text":"They lived in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,"},{"verse":33,"text":"Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,"},{"verse":34,"text":"Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,"},{"verse":35,"text":"Lod, and Ono. They also lived in the Valley of the Craftsmen."},{"verse":36,"text":"Some groups of the Levites who had lived in Judah settled in Benjamin."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the priests and Levites who came back with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,"},{"verse":2,"text":"Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,"},{"verse":3,"text":"Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,"},{"verse":4,"text":"Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,"},{"verse":6,"text":"Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,"},{"verse":7,"text":"Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and the priests who worked with them in the days of Jeshua."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. Mattaniah and the men with him led the songs of thanks."},{"verse":9,"text":"Bakbukiah and Unni helped them. They stood across from them when they all sang."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jeshua was the father of Joiakim. Joiakim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of Joiada."},{"verse":11,"text":"Joiada was the father of Jonathan. Jonathan was the father of Jaddua."},{"verse":12,"text":"In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priests' families: Meraiah led the family of Seraiah. Hananiah led the family of Jeremiah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Meshullam led the family of Ezra. Jehohanan led the family of Amariah."},{"verse":14,"text":"Jonathan led the family of Malluchi. Joseph led the family of Shebaniah."},{"verse":15,"text":"Adna led the family of Harim. Helkai led the family of Meraioth."},{"verse":16,"text":"Zechariah led the family of Iddo. Meshullam led the family of Ginnethon."},{"verse":17,"text":"Zichri led the family of Abijah. Piltai led the families of Miniamin and Moadiah."},{"verse":18,"text":"Shammua led the family of Bilgah. Jonathan led the family of Shemaiah."},{"verse":19,"text":"Mattenai led the family of Joiarib. Uzzi led the family of Jedaiah."},{"verse":20,"text":"Kallai led the family of Sallai. Eber led the family of Amok."},{"verse":21,"text":"Hashabiah led the family of Hilkiah. Nethanel led the family of Jedaiah."},{"verse":22,"text":"The heads of the families of the Levites and priests were written down. This was done in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. It was while Darius the Persian was king."},{"verse":23,"text":"The heads of the families of Levi were written down in the Book of the Chronicles. The list goes up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib."},{"verse":24,"text":"The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel. The men who worked with them stood across from them. They gave praise and thanks, one group answering the other. This is what David the man of God had ordered."},{"verse":25,"text":"Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers. They guarded the storerooms at the gates."},{"verse":26,"text":"They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak. They also served in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the wall of Jerusalem was set apart to God. For this, the Levites were looked for in all the places where they lived. They were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate with joy. They gave thanks and sang songs. They played cymbals, harps, and lyres."},{"verse":28,"text":"The singers also came in from the land around Jerusalem. They came from the towns of the Netophathites,"},{"verse":29,"text":"from Beth-gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built towns for themselves all around Jerusalem."},{"verse":30,"text":"The priests and Levites made themselves pure. Then they made the people, the gates, and the wall pure."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall. I chose two large choirs to give thanks. One choir was to walk along the top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate."},{"verse":32,"text":"Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah went after them."},{"verse":33,"text":"So did Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,"},{"verse":34,"text":"Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,"},{"verse":35,"text":"and some of the priests with trumpets. Zechariah son of Jonathan went too. Jonathan was the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph."},{"verse":36,"text":"The men who worked with Zechariah went too. They were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani. They played the kinds of instruments David the man of God had ordered. Ezra the scribe walked in front of them."},{"verse":37,"text":"At the Fountain Gate they went straight up the steps of the City of David. They went up the slope to the wall. They passed above the house of David. Then they went on to the Water Gate on the east side."},{"verse":38,"text":"The second choir went to the left. I followed it with half of the people along the top of the wall. We went past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall."},{"verse":39,"text":"We went over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, and the Fish Gate. We passed the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. Then they stopped at the Gate of the Guard."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then the two choirs took their places in the house of God. So did I, and half of the officials who were with me."},{"verse":41,"text":"So did the priests with their trumpets. They were Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah."},{"verse":42,"text":"Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer were there too. Then the choirs sang out loudly. Jezrahiah led them."},{"verse":43,"text":"That day they offered many sacrifices. They were full of joy, because God had given them great joy. The women and children were glad too. The joyful sound in Jerusalem could be heard far away."},{"verse":44,"text":"That same day, men were put in charge of the storerooms. These rooms held the supplies, the gifts, the firstfruits, and the tenths. The Law said what part should go to the priests and Levites. Those parts were brought into the storerooms from the fields around the towns. For the people of Judah were glad for the priests and Levites who served."},{"verse":45,"text":"The priests and Levites did the work of their God. They did the work of making things pure. The singers and gatekeepers served too. They did it all the way David and his son Solomon had ordered."},{"verse":46,"text":"For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were leaders for the singers. They also led the songs of praise and thanks to God."},{"verse":47,"text":"So in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all Israel gave a share each day to the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside a share for the Levites. And the Levites set aside a share for the descendants of Aaron."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time the Book of Moses was read out loud for the people to hear. In it they found a law that said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God."},{"verse":2,"text":"This was because they had not met the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they had paid Balaam to put a curse on them. (But our God turned the curse into a blessing.)"},{"verse":3,"text":"When the people heard this law, they removed from Israel everyone who came from foreign families."},{"verse":4,"text":"Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Eliashib had made a large room ready for Tobiah. That room had been used to store the grain offerings, the frankincense, and the temple tools. It had also held the tenths of grain, new wine, and olive oil. These were set aside by law for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. The gifts for the priests were kept there too."},{"verse":6,"text":"While all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem. In the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. Some time later I asked the king to let me leave."},{"verse":7,"text":"I came back to Jerusalem. Then I found out about the evil thing Eliashib had done for Tobiah. He had given Tobiah a room in the courtyards of the house of God."},{"verse":8,"text":"I was very upset. I threw all of Tobiah's household things out of the room."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I ordered that the rooms be made pure. I had the things of the house of God put back in them. I also put back the grain offerings and the frankincense."},{"verse":10,"text":"I also found out that the Levites had not been given their share. So all the Levites and singers who did the work had gone back to their own fields."},{"verse":11,"text":"So I scolded the officials. I asked, \"Why has the house of God been neglected?\" Then I brought the Levites and singers back together. I put them back at their posts."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then all the people of Judah brought a tenth of their grain, new wine, and olive oil into the storerooms."},{"verse":13,"text":"I put men in charge of the storerooms. They were Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah, one of the Levites. Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, helped them. I chose them because they were known to be honest. Their job was to hand out the supplies to their fellow Levites."},{"verse":14,"text":"Remember me for this, O my God. Do not wipe out the acts of faithful love I have done for the house of my God and for its worship."},{"verse":15,"text":"In those days I saw people in Judah crushing grapes in winepresses on the Sabbath. They were bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys. They loaded wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of goods too. They brought it all into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them not to sell food on that day."},{"verse":16,"text":"Men from Tyre were living in Jerusalem too. They brought in fish and all kinds of goods. They sold them to the people of Judah in Jerusalem on the Sabbath."},{"verse":17,"text":"So I scolded the nobles of Judah. I said to them, \"What is this evil thing you are doing? You are treating the Sabbath day as if it were not holy!"},{"verse":18,"text":"Didn't your fathers do the same things? That is why our God brought all this trouble on us and on this city! And now you are making God's anger burn even more against Israel. You are treating the Sabbath as if it were not holy!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath. Then I ordered the gates to be shut. They were not to be opened until the Sabbath was over. I put some of my servants at the gates. That way no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day."},{"verse":20,"text":"Once or twice the traders and sellers of all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem for the night."},{"verse":21,"text":"But I warned them, \"Why are you camping by the wall? If you do this again, I will use force against you.\" From then on, they did not come on the Sabbath."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then I told the Levites to make themselves pure. I told them to come and guard the gates, so the Sabbath day would be kept holy. Remember me for this too, O my God. Show me mercy because your faithful love is so great."},{"verse":23,"text":"In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab."},{"verse":24,"text":"Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other nations. They could not speak the language of Judah."},{"verse":25,"text":"I scolded them and called down curses on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them swear an oath before God. I said, \"You must not let your daughters marry their sons. And you must not take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!"},{"verse":26,"text":"Isn't this the kind of thing that made King Solomon of Israel sin? Among many nations there was no king like him. His God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by foreign women."},{"verse":27,"text":"Now must we hear that you are doing this terrible evil too? You are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"One of the sons of Jehoiada had married the daughter of Sanballat the Horonite. Jehoiada was the son of Eliashib the high priest. So I chased that man away from me."},{"verse":29,"text":"Remember them, O my God, because they have made the priesthood unclean. They have also made unclean the covenant of the priests and the Levites."},{"verse":30,"text":"So I made the priests and Levites pure from everything foreign. I gave each of the priests and Levites a job to do."},{"verse":31,"text":"I also set times for people to bring gifts of wood. And I made plans for the firstfruits. Remember me with kindness, O my God."}]}]},{"name":"Esther","slug":"esther","usfm":"EST","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what happened in the days of Xerxes. He ruled over 127 provinces, from India to Cush."},{"verse":2,"text":"In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the fortress city of Susa."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the third year of his rule, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The army leaders of Persia and Media were there. The nobles and princes of the provinces were there too."},{"verse":4,"text":"For a full 180 days he showed off the great riches of his kingdom. He showed the shining glory of his greatness."},{"verse":5,"text":"When that time was over, the king held a feast that lasted seven days. It was in the garden court of the royal palace. It was for all the people in the fortress city of Susa, from the least to the greatest."},{"verse":6,"text":"White and blue linen curtains hung there. They were tied with cords of fine white and purple cloth to silver rings on marble pillars. Couches of gold and silver stood on a floor made of costly stones. The stones were red porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other rich stones set in a pattern."},{"verse":7,"text":"Drinks were served in gold cups. Each cup had a different design. The king's wine flowed freely, as only a rich king could give."},{"verse":8,"text":"The king gave an order that there was no limit on drinking. Every servant in his palace was to serve each man whatever he wanted."},{"verse":9,"text":"Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in King Xerxes' royal palace."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the seventh day, the king was in high spirits from the wine. He gave an order to the seven eunuchs who served him. They were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas."},{"verse":11,"text":"He told them to bring Queen Vashti to him wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show the people and officials how beautiful she was. For she was very lovely to look at."},{"verse":12,"text":"But Queen Vashti would not come when the eunuchs brought the king's order. The king became furious. His anger burned inside him."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the king spoke with the wise men who understood the times. It was his habit to ask advice from those who knew law and justice."},{"verse":14,"text":"His closest advisers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven princes of Persia and Media. They could go to see the king in person. They held the highest rank in the kingdom."},{"verse":15,"text":"The king asked, \"What does the law say we should do with Queen Vashti? She did not obey King Xerxes' order that the eunuchs brought to her.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Memucan answered in front of the king and his princes. \"Queen Vashti has done wrong to the king,\" he said. \"But she has also done wrong to all the princes. She has wronged all the peoples in all of King Xerxes' provinces."},{"verse":17,"text":"For all the women will hear what the queen did. Then they will look down on their husbands. They will say, 'King Xerxes told Queen Vashti to come to him, but she would not come.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"This very day the noble women of Persia and Media have heard what the queen did. They will say the same thing to all the king's officials. There will be no end of scorn and anger."},{"verse":19,"text":"So if it pleases the king, let him send out a royal order. Let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, so it can never be changed. Let it say that Vashti may never again come before King Xerxes. Let the king give her place as queen to another woman who is better than she is."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the king's order will be heard all through his huge kingdom. And all the women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The king and his princes liked this advice. So the king did what Memucan said."},{"verse":22,"text":"He sent letters to all the provinces of his kingdom. He wrote to each province in its own kind of writing. He wrote to each people in their own language. The letters said that every man should be the master of his own home."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later, King Xerxes' anger cooled down. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. He remembered the order that had been made against her."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the king's servants who waited on him said, \"Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king."},{"verse":3,"text":"Let the king choose men in each province of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young women. Let them bring the women to the harem in the fortress city of Susa. Let them be put in the care of Hegai. He is the king's eunuch who is in charge of the women. Let them be given beauty treatments."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then let the young woman who pleases the king be made queen in place of Vashti.\" The king liked this idea, and he did it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Now there was a Jewish man in the fortress city of Susa named Mordecai. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish."},{"verse":6,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried him away from Jerusalem as a captive. He was taken along with Jeconiah king of Judah and the others who were captured."},{"verse":7,"text":"Mordecai had raised Hadassah, who was also called Esther. She was the daughter of his uncle. He raised her because she had no father or mother. The young woman had a lovely figure and was beautiful to look at. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter."},{"verse":8,"text":"The king's order and law were announced. Then many young women were gathered in the fortress city of Susa. They were put in the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace. She was put in the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women."},{"verse":9,"text":"The young woman pleased Hegai, and he was kind to her. So he quickly gave her beauty treatments and special food. He gave her seven chosen servant girls from the palace. He moved her and her servant girls to the best place in the harem."},{"verse":10,"text":"Esther did not tell anyone who her people or family were, because Mordecai had told her not to tell."},{"verse":11,"text":"Every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem. He wanted to find out how Esther was doing and what was happening to her."},{"verse":12,"text":"Before each young woman's turn to go to King Xerxes, she had to have twelve months of beauty care. That was the rule of the harem. For six months she was treated with oil of myrrh. For six more months she was treated with perfumes and lotions."},{"verse":13,"text":"When a young woman went to the king, she could take anything she asked for. She could take it with her from the harem to the king's palace."},{"verse":14,"text":"She would go there in the evening. In the morning she would go back to a second harem. It was in the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go to the king again unless he was pleased with her and called for her by name."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, Mordecai's uncle. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter. When it was her turn to go to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai advised. Hegai was the king's trusted eunuch in charge of the harem. And everyone who saw Esther liked her."},{"verse":16,"text":"Esther was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace. It was in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth. It was the seventh year of his rule."},{"verse":17,"text":"The king loved Esther more than all the other women. She won his kindness and favor more than all the other virgins. So he put the royal crown on her head. He made her queen in place of Vashti."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the king held a great feast for all his officials and servants. It was called Esther's feast. He gave the provinces a break from paying taxes. He gave gifts as only a rich king could give."},{"verse":19,"text":"The virgins were gathered a second time. At that time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate."},{"verse":20,"text":"Esther still had not told anyone who her family or her people were. Mordecai had told her not to. She obeyed Mordecai, just as she did when he was raising her."},{"verse":21,"text":"In those days Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. Two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, grew angry. They guarded the door to the king. They made a secret plan to kill King Xerxes."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Mordecai found out about the plot. He told Queen Esther. Then she told the king, and she said Mordecai was the one who found it out."},{"verse":23,"text":"The report was looked into and found to be true. So both men were hanged on a pole. All this was written down in the Book of the Chronicles while the king watched."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After these things, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. He raised him to a place above all the other princes who served him."},{"verse":2,"text":"All the king's servants at the king's gate bowed down to Haman. They showed him honor because the king had told them to. But Mordecai would not bow down or honor him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the king's servants at the gate asked Mordecai, \"Why do you disobey the king's order?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Day after day they warned him, but he would not obey. So they told Haman about it. They wanted to see if Haman would let Mordecai get away with it. For Mordecai had told them he was a Jew."},{"verse":5,"text":"Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or honor him. Then Haman was filled with rage."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he found out who Mordecai's people were. So he thought it was too small a thing to hurt only Mordecai. Instead, he planned to wipe out all of Mordecai's people, the Jews. He wanted to destroy them in the whole kingdom of Xerxes."},{"verse":7,"text":"It was the twelfth year of King Xerxes. In the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the Pur in front of Haman. (Pur means \"the lot.\") They did this to choose a day and a month. The lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Haman said to King Xerxes, \"There is a certain people spread out among the peoples in every province of your kingdom. Their laws are not like anyone else's laws. And they do not obey the king's laws. So it is not good for the king to put up with them."},{"verse":9,"text":"If it pleases the king, let an order be sent out to destroy them. I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasury. It will pay the men who do this work.\"","note":"Ten thousand talents was a huge sum, about 375 tons of silver."},{"verse":10,"text":"So the king took his signet ring off his finger. He gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Keep your money,\" the king said to Haman. \"And the people are yours. Do with them whatever you want.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king's scribes were called in. They wrote down every order Haman gave. The orders went to the king's satraps, to the governors of each province, and to the leaders of each people. They were written in the writing of each province and in the language of each people. They were written in the name of King Xerxes. They were sealed with the king's signet ring."},{"verse":13,"text":"Riders took the letters to all the king's provinces. The letters gave the order to destroy, kill, and wipe out all the Jews. That meant young and old, women and children. It was to be done on one day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month. The letters also said to take everything the Jews owned."},{"verse":14,"text":"A copy of the order was to be given out as law in every province. It was to be read to all the people, so they would be ready for that day."},{"verse":15,"text":"The king's order made the riders hurry out. The order was also given in the fortress city of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink. But the city of Susa was confused and upset."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Mordecai found out about all that had happened. He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the middle of the city. He cried out loudly and bitterly."},{"verse":2,"text":"But he went only as far as the king's gate. The law said no one wearing sackcloth could go through that gate."},{"verse":3,"text":"The king's order and law came to every province. And in every one, the Jews mourned greatly. They fasted, wept, and wailed. Many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes."},{"verse":4,"text":"Esther's servant girls and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai. The queen was very upset. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth. But he would not take them."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Esther called for Hathach. He was one of the king's eunuchs who had been chosen to serve her. She sent him to Mordecai to find out what was wrong and why."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Hathach went out to Mordecai. Mordecai was in the city square in front of the king's gate."},{"verse":7,"text":"Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him. He told him the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury. Haman would pay it to have the Jews destroyed."},{"verse":8,"text":"Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written order to destroy the Jews. It had been sent out in Susa. He told Hathach to show it to Esther and explain it to her. He told him to urge her to go to the king. She should beg the king for mercy and plead with him for her people."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Hathach went back and told Esther what Mordecai had said."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Esther spoke to Hathach. She told him to say this to Mordecai:"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"All the king's officials and the people of his provinces know this law. Any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being called must be put to death. There is only one way that person can live. The king must hold out his gold scepter to them. And the king has not called me to come to him for thirty days.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Esther's words were told to Mordecai."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he sent back this answer to her: \"Don't think that you alone of all the Jews will escape just because you live in the king's palace."},{"verse":14,"text":"For if you keep quiet at this time, help and rescue for the Jews will come from somewhere else. But you and your father's family will perish. And who knows? Maybe you have become queen for just such a time as this."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai:"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Go and gather all the Jews you can find in Susa. Fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My servant girls and I will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had told him to do."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes. She stood in the inner court of the palace, across from the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room. He was facing the door."},{"verse":2,"text":"The king saw Queen Esther standing in the court. Right away he was pleased with her. He held out the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther. So she came near and touched the tip of the scepter."},{"verse":3,"text":"The king asked her, \"What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I will give it to you, even up to half of my kingdom.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Esther answered, \"If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come today to the feast I have made for the king.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Hurry and bring Haman,\" the king ordered. \"Then we can do what Esther has asked.\" So the king and Haman went to the feast Esther had made."},{"verse":6,"text":"While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, \"What do you wish for? It will be given to you. What do you want? I will do it, even up to half of my kingdom.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Esther answered, \"This is my wish and my request:"},{"verse":8,"text":"If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to give me my wish and do what I ask, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the feast I will make for them. Then I will answer the king's question.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"That day Haman went out happy and glad in his heart. But he saw Mordecai at the king's gate. Mordecai did not stand up for him or shake with fear in front of him. So Haman was filled with rage at Mordecai."},{"verse":10,"text":"But Haman held himself back and went home. He called for his friends and his wife Zeresh."},{"verse":11,"text":"Haman bragged to them about how very rich he was. He told them about his many sons. He told them all the ways the king had honored him. He told how the king had raised him above the other officials and servants."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"And there's more,\" Haman said. \"Queen Esther asked no one but me to come with the king to the feast she made. And she asked me to come back tomorrow with the king."},{"verse":13,"text":"But none of this makes me happy as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, \"Have a pole set up that is 75 feet high. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the feast and enjoy yourself.\" Haman liked this idea, so he had the pole set up.","note":"Hebrew: 50 cubits."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"That night the king could not sleep. So he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in. He had it read out loud to him."},{"verse":2,"text":"It was found written there that Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh. They were two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the door. They had made a plan to kill King Xerxes."},{"verse":3,"text":"The king asked, \"What honor or reward has Mordecai been given for this?\" \"Nothing has been done for him,\" the king's servants answered."},{"verse":4,"text":"The king asked, \"Who is in the court?\" Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the palace. He had come to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the king's servants answered him, \"Haman is standing in the court.\" \"Bring him in,\" the king ordered."},{"verse":6,"text":"Haman came in. The king asked him, \"What should be done for the man the king is pleased to honor?\" Haman thought to himself, \"Who would the king be pleased to honor more than me?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Haman said to the king, \"Here is what to do for the man the king is pleased to honor."},{"verse":8,"text":"Have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn. Bring a horse that the king himself has ridden, one with a royal crest on its head."},{"verse":9,"text":"Let the robe and the horse be handed to one of the king's highest princes. Let them dress the man the king wants to honor. Let them lead him on the horse through the city square. Let them call out in front of him, 'This is what is done for the man the king is pleased to honor!'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Hurry,\" the king said to Haman. \"Do just what you said. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew. He is sitting at the king's gate. Don't leave out anything you have said.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Haman took the robe and the horse. He dressed Mordecai in the robe. He led him on the horse through the city square. He called out in front of him, \"This is what is done for the man the king is pleased to honor!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried home. He covered his head in grief."},{"verse":13,"text":"Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His wise advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, \"Your fall has begun in front of Mordecai. And he is a Jew. So you will not win against him. You will surely fall in front of him.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"They were still talking with Haman when the king's eunuchs came. They hurried Haman off to the feast Esther had made."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So the king and Haman went to eat with Queen Esther."},{"verse":2,"text":"On that second day, while they were drinking wine, the king asked again. \"Queen Esther, what do you wish for? It will be given to you. What do you want? I will do it, even up to half of my kingdom.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Queen Esther answered, \"My king, if I have found favor with you, and if it pleases the king, here is my wish. Let me live. And here is what I ask. Let my people live too."},{"verse":4,"text":"For my people and I have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and wiped out. If we had only been sold as slaves, I would have kept quiet. That trouble would not be worth bothering the king about.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, \"Who is this? Where is the man who would dare to plan such a thing?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Esther answered, \"The enemy who is against us is this evil man, Haman!\" Then Haman was filled with terror in front of the king and queen."},{"verse":7,"text":"The king was furious. He got up from his wine and went out to the palace garden. But Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. He could see that the king had decided to do something terrible to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"The king came back from the palace garden to the feast hall. Just then Haman was falling onto the couch where Esther was lying. The king cried out, \"Will he even attack the queen while I am in the palace?\" As soon as the king said this, they covered Haman's face."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Harbonah spoke up. He was one of the eunuchs who served the king. He said, \"There is a pole 75 feet high at Haman's house. He had it set up for Mordecai. Mordecai is the one who spoke up and saved the king.\" \"Hang Haman on it!\" the king said.","note":"Hebrew: 50 cubits."},{"verse":10,"text":"So they hanged Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king's anger calmed down."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther all of Haman's property. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came in to see the king. For Esther had told the king how Mordecai was related to her."},{"verse":2,"text":"The king had taken back his signet ring from Haman. Now he took it off and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of Haman's property."},{"verse":3,"text":"Once again Esther spoke to the king. She fell at his feet and cried. She begged him to stop the evil plan of Haman the Agagite. Haman had made this plan against the Jews."},{"verse":4,"text":"The king held out the gold scepter toward Esther. So she got up and stood in front of the king."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"If it pleases the king,\" she said, \"and if he is kind to me, please do this. If the king thinks it is right, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written. Let it cancel the letters that Haman wrote with his evil plan. Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote them to destroy the Jews in all the king's provinces."},{"verse":6,"text":"For how can I stand to watch the disaster that would come on my people? How can I stand to see my family destroyed?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So King Xerxes spoke to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew. \"Look,\" he said, \"I have given Haman's property to Esther. And Haman has been hanged on the pole because he attacked the Jews."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now you may write whatever you want about the Jews in the king's name. Seal it with the king's signet ring. For an order written in the king's name and sealed with his signet ring cannot be canceled.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Right away the king's scribes were called in. It was the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote down all of Mordecai's orders. The orders went to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush. They wrote to each province in its own writing. They wrote to each people in their own language. They wrote to the Jews in their own writing and language."},{"verse":10,"text":"Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes. He sealed the letters with the king's signet ring. He sent them by riders on fast horses. The horses came from the king's own herds."},{"verse":11,"text":"In these letters the king gave the Jews in every city the right to gather and defend themselves. They could destroy, kill, and wipe out any army of any people or province that attacked them. That included their women and children. And they could take what their enemies owned."},{"verse":12,"text":"One day was set for this in all of King Xerxes' provinces. It was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar."},{"verse":13,"text":"A copy of the order was to be given out as law in every province. It was to be read to all the people. Then the Jews would be ready on that day to pay back their enemies."},{"verse":14,"text":"The riders rushed out on the king's horses. The king's order made them hurry. And the order was also given in the fortress city of Susa."},{"verse":15,"text":"Mordecai left the king wearing royal clothes of blue and white. He wore a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted for joy."},{"verse":16,"text":"For the Jews it was a time of light and gladness, of joy and honor."},{"verse":17,"text":"The king's order and law reached every province and every city. Wherever it came, the Jews were glad and full of joy. They held feasts and celebrated. And many people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews had come on them."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The king's order and law were to be carried out on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. On that day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to defeat them. But things were turned around. The Jews defeated those who hated them."},{"verse":2,"text":"In all of King Xerxes' provinces, the Jews gathered in their cities. They gathered to attack those who wanted to harm them. No one could stand against them. For all the peoples were afraid of them."},{"verse":3,"text":"All the leaders of the provinces helped the Jews. The satraps, the governors, and the king's officials helped them. They did this because they were afraid of Mordecai."},{"verse":4,"text":"For Mordecai had great power in the palace. People in all the provinces heard about him. He became more and more powerful."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword. They killed them and destroyed them. They did whatever they wanted to those who hated them."},{"verse":6,"text":"In the fortress city of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men."},{"verse":7,"text":"They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,"},{"verse":8,"text":"Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,"},{"verse":9,"text":"Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha."},{"verse":10,"text":"These were the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. The Jews killed them. But they did not touch the things they could have taken."},{"verse":11,"text":"That same day the king was told how many had been killed in the fortress city of Susa."},{"verse":12,"text":"The king said to Queen Esther, \"In the fortress city of Susa, the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men. They also killed Haman's ten sons. What have they done in the rest of my provinces? Now what do you wish for? It will be given to you. What else do you want? It will be done.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Esther answered, \"If it pleases the king, let the Jews in Susa also do tomorrow what today's order allows. And let the bodies of Haman's ten sons be hung on the pole.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the king ordered it to be done. An order was given in Susa. And they hung up the bodies of Haman's ten sons."},{"verse":15,"text":"On the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews in Susa gathered again. They killed three hundred men there. But they did not touch the things they could have taken."},{"verse":16,"text":"The rest of the Jews in the king's provinces also gathered. They defended themselves and got rid of their enemies. They killed 75,000 people who hated them. But they did not touch the things they could have taken."},{"verse":17,"text":"This was done on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. On the fourteenth day they rested. They made it a day of feasting and joy."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the Jews in Susa had gathered on both the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the month. So they rested on the fifteenth day. They made that a day of feasting and joy."},{"verse":19,"text":"That is why the Jews who live in the country villages keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar. It is a day of joy and feasting. It is a holiday when they send gifts of food to each other."},{"verse":20,"text":"Mordecai wrote down these events. He sent letters to all the Jews in all of King Xerxes' provinces, both near and far."},{"verse":21,"text":"He told them to celebrate every year on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar."},{"verse":22,"text":"These were the days when the Jews got rest from their enemies. It was the month when their sadness turned into joy. Their mourning turned into a holiday. He wrote that these should be days of feasting and joy. They should send gifts of food to each other and give gifts to the poor."},{"verse":23,"text":"So the Jews agreed to keep on with what they had begun to do. They did what Mordecai had written to them."},{"verse":24,"text":"For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had made a plan against the Jews to destroy them. He had cast the Pur, which means the lot. He did it to crush them and destroy them."},{"verse":25,"text":"But when the matter came to the king, he sent out written orders. The evil plan Haman had made against the Jews would fall back on Haman's own head. He and his sons would be hanged on the pole."},{"verse":26,"text":"So these days are called Purim, from the word Pur. This was because of everything written in this letter. It was also because of all they had seen and gone through."},{"verse":27,"text":"So the Jews made it a rule for themselves. They and their children's children, and all who joined them, must always keep these two days. They must keep them at the right time every year, in the way that was written."},{"verse":28,"text":"These days should be remembered and kept in every generation. Every family, province, and city should keep them. These days of Purim should never stop being kept among the Jews. Their children's children should never forget them."},{"verse":29,"text":"So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote a second letter about Purim. They wrote with full power to make it firm."},{"verse":30,"text":"Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes. The letters had words of peace and truth."},{"verse":31,"text":"The letters set the days of Purim at their right time. Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had set these days. They had also set times of fasting and mourning for themselves and their children's children."},{"verse":32,"text":"So Esther's order made these rules about Purim firm. They were written down in the record."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"King Xerxes made the whole land pay taxes, even out to the far coasts."},{"verse":2,"text":"All of Mordecai's mighty and great deeds are written down. So is the full story of how high the king raised him. Aren't they written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?"},{"verse":3,"text":"For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes. He was great among the Jews. His many relatives liked him very much. He worked for the good of his people. He spoke up for the peace of all his people."}]}]},{"name":"Job","slug":"job","usfm":"JOB","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"There was a man in the land of Uz named Job. He was without blame and lived an honest life. He feared God and stayed away from evil."},{"verse":2,"text":"He had seven sons and three daughters."},{"verse":3,"text":"He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had a great many servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East."},{"verse":4,"text":"Job's sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes. They would ask their three sisters to come and eat and drink with them."},{"verse":5,"text":"When the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to make them pure. He would get up early in the morning. He would offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job thought, \"Maybe my children have sinned. Maybe they have cursed God in their hearts.\" Job always did this."},{"verse":6,"text":"One day the sons of God came to stand before the LORD. Satan also came with them.","note":"\"Sons of God\" here means heavenly beings. \"Satan\" means \"the accuser.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD said to Satan, \"Where have you come from?\" Satan answered, \"From roaming around the earth. I've been walking back and forth on it.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD said to Satan, \"Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is without blame and lives an honest life. He fears God and stays away from evil.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Satan answered the LORD, \"Does Job fear God for nothing?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Haven't you put a hedge all around him? You protect him and his family and all he owns. You have blessed the work of his hands. What he owns has grown and spread across the land."},{"verse":11,"text":"But reach out your hand and strike everything he has. Then he will surely curse you to your face.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"All right,\" the LORD said to Satan. \"Everything he has is in your power. But you must not lay a hand on the man himself.\" Then Satan went out from the LORD's presence."},{"verse":13,"text":"One day Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother's house."},{"verse":14,"text":"A messenger came to Job and said, \"The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were eating grass nearby."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the Sabeans attacked and took them away. They killed the servants with the sword. I am the only one who got away to tell you!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"While he was still talking, another messenger came. He said, \"The fire of God fell from the sky. It burned up the sheep and the servants. I am the only one who got away to tell you!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"While he was still talking, another messenger came. He said, \"The Chaldeans made three groups. They raided the camels and took them away. They killed the servants with the sword. I am the only one who got away to tell you!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"While he was still talking, another messenger came. He said, \"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother's house."},{"verse":19,"text":"Suddenly a strong wind blew in from the desert. It hit the four corners of the house. The house fell on the young people, and they are dead. I am the only one who got away to tell you!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Job got up. He tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped."},{"verse":21,"text":"He said, \"Naked I came from my mother's womb,\nand naked I will return.\nThe LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away.\nBlessed be the name of the LORD.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"In all this, Job did not sin. He did not blame God for doing wrong."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On another day the sons of God came to stand before the LORD. Satan also came with them to stand before him."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to Satan, \"Where have you come from?\" Satan answered, \"From roaming around the earth. I've been walking back and forth on it.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the LORD said to Satan, \"Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him. He is without blame and lives an honest life. He fears God and stays away from evil. He still holds on to his faithfulness. He does, even though you got me to act against him. You got me to ruin him for no reason.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Skin for skin!\" Satan answered. \"A man will give up all he has to save his life."},{"verse":5,"text":"But reach out your hand and strike his flesh and bones. Then he will surely curse you to your face.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"All right,\" the LORD said to Satan. \"He is in your power. But you must spare his life.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Satan went out from the LORD's presence. He struck Job with terrible sores. They covered him from the bottoms of his feet to the top of his head."},{"verse":8,"text":"Job sat among the ashes. He took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Job's wife said to him, \"Are you still holding on to your faithfulness? Curse God and die!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Job answered her, \"You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we take only good things from God and not trouble?\" In all this, Job did not sin by what he said."},{"verse":11,"text":"Job had three friends. They were Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuah, and Zophar from Naamah. They heard about all the trouble that had come on Job. So each of them left his home. They met together and went to show Job they cared and to comfort him."},{"verse":12,"text":"They saw him from far away. They could hardly tell it was Job. They began to cry out loud. Each man tore his robe. They threw dust into the air and onto their heads."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him. They could see how great his suffering was."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this, Job opened his mouth. He cursed the day he was born."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what he said:"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Let the day I was born be wiped out.\nLet the night be wiped out when someone said, 'A boy is on the way.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"I wish that day had turned dark!\nMay God up above not care about it.\nMay no light shine on it."},{"verse":5,"text":"May darkness and deep gloom take it back.\nMay a cloud sit over it.\nMay blackness fill that day with fear."},{"verse":6,"text":"I wish darkness had taken that night away!\nMay it not be counted with the days of the year.\nMay it not be part of any month."},{"verse":7,"text":"Yes, may that night have no children born in it.\nMay no happy shout be heard in it."},{"verse":8,"text":"May those who curse days put a curse on it.\nThey are the ones ready to wake up Leviathan."},{"verse":9,"text":"May its morning stars go dark.\nMay it wait for daylight, but get none.\nMay it never see the first light of dawn."},{"verse":10,"text":"For that night did not shut my mother's womb.\nIt did not hide trouble from my eyes."},{"verse":11,"text":"Why didn't I die at birth?\nWhy didn't I die as I came out of the womb?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Why were there knees to hold me?\nWhy were there breasts to feed me?"},{"verse":13,"text":"For now I would be lying down in peace.\nI would be asleep and at rest."},{"verse":14,"text":"I would be with kings and advisers of the earth.\nThey built cities for themselves that now lie in ruins."},{"verse":15,"text":"I would be with princes who had gold.\nThey filled their houses with silver."},{"verse":16,"text":"Or why wasn't I buried like a baby born dead?\nWhy wasn't I like a baby who never saw the light?"},{"verse":17,"text":"In the grave, wicked people stop their raging.\nThere, tired people find rest."},{"verse":18,"text":"Prisoners rest easy together.\nThey no longer hear the shout of the slave driver."},{"verse":19,"text":"Small and great people are both there.\nAnd the slave is free from his master."},{"verse":20,"text":"Why is light given to those who suffer?\nWhy is life given to those who are bitter inside?"},{"verse":21,"text":"They long for death, but it does not come.\nThey search for it more than for hidden treasure."},{"verse":22,"text":"They are filled with joy.\nThey are very glad when they reach the grave."},{"verse":23,"text":"Why is life given to a man who cannot see his way?\nGod has fenced him in."},{"verse":24,"text":"I groan when food is put in front of me.\nMy moans pour out like water."},{"verse":25,"text":"For the thing I feared has caught up with me.\nWhat I was afraid of has happened to me."},{"verse":26,"text":"I have no peace or quiet.\nI have no rest, for trouble has come.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Eliphaz from Teman answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"If someone tries to say a word to you, will it wear you out?\nBut who can keep from speaking?"},{"verse":3,"text":"You have taught many people.\nYou have made weak hands strong."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your words have held up those who tripped.\nYou have made weak knees strong."},{"verse":5,"text":"But now trouble has come to you, and you are worn out.\nIt hits you, and you are upset."},{"verse":6,"text":"Shouldn't your fear of God give you trust?\nShouldn't your honest life give you hope?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Think about it, please.\nWho that was innocent ever perished?\nWhere were honest people ever wiped out?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Here is what I have seen.\nThose who plow evil and plant trouble\nget a harvest of the same."},{"verse":9,"text":"They die at the breath of God.\nThey are burned up by the blast of his anger."},{"verse":10,"text":"The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl.\nBut the teeth of the young lions are broken."},{"verse":11,"text":"The old lion dies because he has nothing to hunt.\nAnd the cubs of the mother lion are scattered."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now a word came to me in secret.\nMy ears heard a soft whisper of it."},{"verse":13,"text":"It came in upsetting visions in the night,\nwhen people are in deep sleep."},{"verse":14,"text":"Fear and trembling came over me.\nThey made all my bones shake."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then a spirit slid past my face.\nThe hair on my body stood up."},{"verse":16,"text":"It stood still, but I could not tell what it looked like.\nA shape stood in front of my eyes.\nThen I heard a voice whisper:"},{"verse":17,"text":"'Can a human be more right than God?\nCan a man be more pure than the one who made him?"},{"verse":18,"text":"If God does not trust his servants,\nand if he blames his angels for their mistakes,"},{"verse":19,"text":"how much less will he trust those who live in houses of clay!\nThey stand on dust.\nThey can be crushed like a moth!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Between morning and evening they are broken to pieces.\nNo one notices, and they are gone forever."},{"verse":21,"text":"Aren't the ropes of their tents pulled up?\nSo they die without wisdom.'"}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Call out if you want, but who will answer you?\nWhich of the holy ones will you turn to?"},{"verse":2,"text":"For bitter anger kills a fool.\nJealousy kills a foolish person."},{"verse":3,"text":"I have seen a fool put down roots.\nBut all at once a curse came on his home."},{"verse":4,"text":"His sons are far from safety.\nThey are crushed in court with no one to defend them."},{"verse":5,"text":"Hungry people eat up his harvest.\nThey take it even from among the thorns.\nThirsty people long for his riches."},{"verse":6,"text":"For pain does not grow out of the dust.\nTrouble does not sprout from the ground."},{"verse":7,"text":"But people are born to have trouble,\nas surely as sparks fly up."},{"verse":8,"text":"But if I were you, I would call out to God.\nI would bring my case to him."},{"verse":9,"text":"He does great things that no one can understand.\nHe does more wonders than anyone can count."},{"verse":10,"text":"He gives rain to the earth.\nHe sends water on the fields."},{"verse":11,"text":"He lifts up those who are low.\nHe lifts those who mourn to a safe place."},{"verse":12,"text":"He ruins the plans of tricky people.\nSo their hands cannot succeed."},{"verse":13,"text":"He catches the wise in their own tricks.\nHe sweeps away the plans of sly people."},{"verse":14,"text":"They run into darkness in the daytime.\nAt noon they feel their way as if it were night."},{"verse":15,"text":"He saves the needy from the sword in their mouths.\nHe saves them from the grip of the powerful."},{"verse":16,"text":"So the poor have hope.\nAnd wrong has to shut its mouth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Truly blessed is the man God corrects.\nSo don't hate the discipline of the Almighty."},{"verse":18,"text":"For he hurts, but he also bandages.\nHe strikes, but his hands also heal."},{"verse":19,"text":"He will save you from six disasters.\nIn seven, no harm will touch you."},{"verse":20,"text":"In a famine he will redeem you from death.\nIn battle he will redeem you from the blow of the sword."},{"verse":21,"text":"You will be hidden from the whip of the tongue.\nYou will not be afraid when ruin comes."},{"verse":22,"text":"You will laugh at ruin and hunger.\nYou won't need to fear the wild animals of the earth."},{"verse":23,"text":"For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field.\nThe wild animals will be at peace with you."},{"verse":24,"text":"You will know that your tent is safe.\nYou will check your home and find nothing missing."},{"verse":25,"text":"You will know that you will have many children.\nYour family line will be like the grass of the earth."},{"verse":26,"text":"You will come to the grave still strong,\nlike a bundle of grain gathered at the right time."},{"verse":27,"text":"Look, we have studied this, and it is true!\nSo listen to it and know it for yourself.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I wish my grief could be weighed.\nI wish my disaster could be put on the scales with it."},{"verse":3,"text":"For then it would weigh more than the sand of the seas.\nNo wonder my words have been wild."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the arrows of the Almighty have stuck into me.\nMy spirit drinks in their poison.\nThe terrors of God are lined up against me."},{"verse":5,"text":"Does a wild donkey bray when it has fresh grass?\nDoes an ox moo when it has food?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Can food with no taste be eaten without salt?\nIs there any flavor in the white of an egg?"},{"verse":7,"text":"I won't touch such things.\nThey are like sickening food to me."},{"verse":8,"text":"I wish I could have what I ask for.\nI wish God would give me what I hope for."},{"verse":9,"text":"I wish God would be willing to crush me.\nI wish he would reach out his hand and cut off my life!"},{"verse":10,"text":"It still gives me comfort,\nand joy in pain that never lets up,\nthat I have not turned away from the words of the Holy One."},{"verse":11,"text":"What strength do I have, that I should keep hoping?\nWhat future do I have, that I should be patient?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Is my strength like the strength of stone?\nIs my body made of bronze?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Is there any help left inside me?\nAll my success has been driven away."},{"verse":14,"text":"A man without hope should have kindness from his friend,\neven if he stops fearing the Almighty."},{"verse":15,"text":"But my brothers can't be trusted, like streams in a dry valley.\nThey are like streams that flood only in some seasons."},{"verse":16,"text":"They are dark because of the ice.\nThey fill up with melting snow."},{"verse":17,"text":"But they stop flowing in the dry season.\nIn the heat they disappear from their beds."},{"verse":18,"text":"Groups of traders turn off their paths.\nThey go out into the desert and die."},{"verse":19,"text":"The traders of Tema look for water.\nThe travelers of Sheba hope to find it."},{"verse":20,"text":"They are upset because they had hoped.\nWhen they get there, they are let down."},{"verse":21,"text":"For now you are no help to me.\nYou see something terrible, and you are afraid."},{"verse":22,"text":"Have I ever said, 'Give me something'?\nHave I said, 'Pay a bribe for me from your riches'?"},{"verse":23,"text":"Have I said, 'Save me from the hand of my enemy'?\nHave I said, 'Redeem me from the grip of cruel people'?"},{"verse":24,"text":"Teach me, and I will be quiet.\nShow me how I have gone wrong."},{"verse":25,"text":"Honest words can hurt so much!\nBut what do your arguments prove?"},{"verse":26,"text":"Do you mean to correct my words?\nDo you treat my cry of pain like wind?"},{"verse":27,"text":"You would even cast lots for an orphan.\nYou would trade away your own friend."},{"verse":28,"text":"But now, please look at me.\nWould I lie to your face?"},{"verse":29,"text":"Think again. Don't be unfair.\nThink again, for my righteousness is on the line."},{"verse":30,"text":"Is there anything evil on my tongue?\nCan't my mouth taste what is wrong?\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Doesn't a man have hard work to do on earth?\nAren't his days like the days of a hired worker?"},{"verse":2,"text":"He is like a slave who longs for shade.\nHe is like a hired worker waiting for his pay."},{"verse":3,"text":"So I have been given months of emptiness.\nNights of misery have been handed to me."},{"verse":4,"text":"When I lie down, I think, 'When will I get up?'\nBut the night drags on.\nI toss and turn until dawn."},{"verse":5,"text":"My body is covered with worms and crusty dirt.\nMy skin is cracked and oozing."},{"verse":6,"text":"My days go by faster than a weaver's shuttle.\nThey come to an end without hope."},{"verse":7,"text":"Remember that my life is only a breath.\nMy eyes will never see happy times again."},{"verse":8,"text":"The eye that sees me now will not see me anymore.\nYou will look for me, but I will be gone."},{"verse":9,"text":"A cloud fades away and is gone.\nIn the same way, a man who goes down to the grave does not come back up.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":10,"text":"He never comes back to his house.\nHis home does not remember him anymore."},{"verse":11,"text":"So I will not hold my tongue.\nI will speak out of the pain in my spirit.\nI will complain out of the bitterness of my soul."},{"verse":12,"text":"Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep?\nIs that why you must keep me under guard?"},{"verse":13,"text":"When I think my bed will comfort me,\nwhen I think my couch will ease my complaint,"},{"verse":14,"text":"then you scare me with dreams.\nYou fill me with terror through visions."},{"verse":15,"text":"So I would rather be choked to death.\nI would rather die than live in this body."},{"verse":16,"text":"I hate my life! I don't want to live forever.\nLeave me alone, for my days are only a breath."},{"verse":17,"text":"What is man, that you make so much of him?\nWhy do you pay so much attention to him?"},{"verse":18,"text":"You check on him every morning.\nYou test him every moment."},{"verse":19,"text":"Will you never look away from me?\nWon't you leave me alone long enough to swallow?"},{"verse":20,"text":"If I have sinned, what have I done to you,\nO watcher of mankind?\nWhy have you made me your target?\nWhy have I become a burden to you?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Why don't you forgive my wrongs?\nWhy don't you take away my sin?\nFor soon I will lie down in the dust.\nYou will look for me, but I will be gone.\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Bildad from Shuah answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How long will you keep saying such things?\nThe words of your mouth are just a blowing wind."},{"verse":3,"text":"Does God twist justice?\nDoes the Almighty twist what is right?"},{"verse":4,"text":"When your children sinned against him,\nhe gave them over to their rebellion."},{"verse":5,"text":"But if you will seek God with all your heart,\nand ask the Almighty for mercy,"},{"verse":6,"text":"if you are pure and honest,\neven now he will rise up to help you.\nHe will give you back your home, the home of a righteous man."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your start may have been small.\nBut your later days will be very rich."},{"verse":8,"text":"Please ask the people who lived long ago.\nThink about what their fathers learned."},{"verse":9,"text":"For we were born only yesterday, and we know nothing.\nOur days on earth are only a shadow."},{"verse":10,"text":"Won't they teach you and tell you?\nWon't they speak from what they understand?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Can papyrus grow where there is no swamp?\nCan reeds grow tall without water?"},{"verse":12,"text":"While they are still green and not yet cut,\nthey dry up faster than grass."},{"verse":13,"text":"That is what happens to all who forget God.\nThe hope of the godless will perish."},{"verse":14,"text":"What he trusts in breaks easily.\nWhat he leans on is a spider's web."},{"verse":15,"text":"He leans on his web, but it gives way.\nHe holds on tight, but it does not last."},{"verse":16,"text":"He is like a plant with plenty of water in the sun.\nIt spreads its shoots all over the garden."},{"verse":17,"text":"Its roots wrap around a pile of rocks.\nIt looks for a home among the stones."},{"verse":18,"text":"But if it is pulled up from its place,\nthat place will act like it never knew it.\nIt will say, 'I never saw you.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"Yes, that is all the joy his way brings.\nAnd other plants will spring up from the dust."},{"verse":20,"text":"Know this: God does not turn away a man without blame.\nAnd he will not give strength to those who do evil."},{"verse":21,"text":"He will still fill your mouth with laughing.\nHe will fill your lips with shouts of joy."},{"verse":22,"text":"Those who hate you will be dressed in shame.\nThe tent of the wicked will be gone.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Yes, I know that this is true.\nBut how can a human be right before God?"},{"verse":3,"text":"If someone wanted to argue with God,\nhe could not answer him once in a thousand times."},{"verse":4,"text":"God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.\nWho has fought against him and come out well?"},{"verse":5,"text":"He moves mountains before they know it.\nHe turns them over in his anger."},{"verse":6,"text":"He shakes the earth out of its place.\nHe makes its pillars tremble."},{"verse":7,"text":"He tells the sun not to shine.\nHe shuts away the stars."},{"verse":8,"text":"He alone spreads out the skies.\nHe walks on the waves of the sea."},{"verse":9,"text":"He made the Bear and Orion.\nHe made the Pleiades and the star groups of the south."},{"verse":10,"text":"He does great things that no one can figure out.\nHe does more wonders than anyone can count."},{"verse":11,"text":"If he passed by me, I would not see him.\nIf he moved along, I would not know it was him."},{"verse":12,"text":"If he takes something away, who can stop him?\nWho would dare ask him, 'What are you doing?'"},{"verse":13,"text":"God does not hold back his anger.\nEven the helpers of Rahab bow down in fear under him.","note":"Rahab here is a sea monster that stands for chaos, not the woman in Joshua."},{"verse":14,"text":"So how can I answer him?\nHow can I choose words to argue with him?"},{"verse":15,"text":"For even if I were in the right, I could not answer him.\nI could only beg my Judge for mercy."},{"verse":16,"text":"Suppose I called him to court and he answered me.\nI still don't believe he would listen to me."},{"verse":17,"text":"For he would crush me with a storm.\nHe would add to my wounds for no reason."},{"verse":18,"text":"He does not let me catch my breath.\nHe fills me with bitter pain."},{"verse":19,"text":"If it is a contest of strength, he is truly mighty!\nIf it is a matter of justice, who can call him to court?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Even if I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me.\nIf I were without blame, it would say I was guilty."},{"verse":21,"text":"I am without blame, but I don't care about myself.\nI hate my own life."},{"verse":22,"text":"It is all the same. So I say,\n'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"When a plague brings sudden death,\nhe laughs at the despair of the innocent."},{"verse":24,"text":"The earth is handed over to the wicked.\nHe covers the eyes of its judges.\nIf he is not the one doing it, then who is?"},{"verse":25,"text":"My days go by faster than a runner.\nThey fly away without seeing anything good."},{"verse":26,"text":"They glide by like boats made of papyrus.\nThey are like an eagle diving down on its prey."},{"verse":27,"text":"If I say, 'I will forget my complaint.\nI will change the look on my face and smile,'"},{"verse":28,"text":"I would still be afraid of all my suffering.\nI know you will not find me innocent."},{"verse":29,"text":"I am already found guilty.\nSo why should I work so hard for nothing?"},{"verse":30,"text":"If I washed myself with snow\nand cleaned my hands with strong soap,"},{"verse":31,"text":"then you would throw me into the pit.\nEven my own clothes would hate me."},{"verse":32,"text":"For God is not a man like me, so that I could answer him.\nWe can't go to court together."},{"verse":33,"text":"There is no mediator to stand between us.\nThere is no one to put his hand on us both."},{"verse":34,"text":"Let God take his rod away from me.\nThen his terror will no longer scare me."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then I would speak without being afraid of him.\nBut as things are now, I am on my own.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"I hate my own life.\nI will let my complaint pour out.\nI will speak from the bitterness of my soul."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will say to God: Do not condemn me!\nTell me why you bring charges against me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Does it make you happy to crush me?\nDo you turn away from what your own hands made?\nDo you smile on the plans of the wicked?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Do you have human eyes?\nDo you see the way people see?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Are your days like the days of a human?\nAre your years like a man's years?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Is that why you look for my wrongs?\nIs that why you search for my sin?"},{"verse":7,"text":"You do this even though you know I am not guilty.\nAnd no one can save me from your hand."},{"verse":8,"text":"Your hands shaped me and made me.\nWill you now turn around and destroy me?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Please remember that you shaped me like clay.\nWill you now turn me back into dust?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Didn't you pour me out like milk?\nDidn't you make me thick like cheese?"},{"verse":11,"text":"You covered me with skin and flesh.\nYou knit me together with bones and muscles."},{"verse":12,"text":"You gave me life and faithful love.\nYour care has kept my spirit alive."},{"verse":13,"text":"But you hid these things in your heart.\nAnd I know that this was in your mind:"},{"verse":14,"text":"If I sinned, you would be watching me.\nYou would not let me go free from my wrong."},{"verse":15,"text":"If I am guilty, how terrible for me!\nEven if I am righteous, I can't lift up my head.\nI am full of shame, and I see my misery."},{"verse":16,"text":"If I held my head up high, you would hunt me like a lion.\nYou would show your power against me again."},{"verse":17,"text":"You bring new witnesses against me.\nYou make your anger toward me grow.\nTroubles attack me again and again, like waves."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then why did you bring me out of the womb?\nI wish I had died before any eye saw me!"},{"verse":19,"text":"I wish I had never lived.\nI wish I had been carried from the womb straight to the grave."},{"verse":20,"text":"Aren't my days few?\nTurn away from me so I can have a little comfort."},{"verse":21,"text":"Let me have it before I go to a land of darkness and gloom.\nI will never come back from there."},{"verse":22,"text":"It is a land of deepest darkness.\nIt is a place of deep shadow and confusion.\nThere even the light is like darkness.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Zophar from Naamah answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Should all these words go without an answer?\nShould a man who talks so much be proved right?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Should your empty talk make others be quiet?\nWill you make fun of others and not be corrected?"},{"verse":4,"text":"You have said, 'What I believe is right.\nI am pure in your sight.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"But I wish God would speak.\nI wish he would open his lips against you."},{"verse":6,"text":"I wish he would show you the secrets of wisdom.\nFor true wisdom has two sides.\nKnow this: God is asking less of you than your sin deserves."},{"verse":7,"text":"Can you understand the deep things of God?\nCan you find the limits of the Almighty?"},{"verse":8,"text":"They are higher than the heavens. What can you do?\nThey are deeper than the grave. What can you know?","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":9,"text":"They reach farther than the earth.\nThey are wider than the sea."},{"verse":10,"text":"If God comes by and locks you up,\nor if he calls a court together, who can stop him?"},{"verse":11,"text":"He surely knows when people lie.\nWhen he sees sin, doesn't he take note of it?"},{"verse":12,"text":"But a foolish man can't become wise,\nany more than a wild donkey's colt can be born a man!"},{"verse":13,"text":"As for you, if you set your heart on God\nand lift up your hands to him,"},{"verse":14,"text":"if you put away the sin that is in your hand,\nand let nothing wrong live in your tents,"},{"verse":15,"text":"Then you will lift up your face with no shame.\nYou will stand strong and not be afraid."},{"verse":16,"text":"For you will forget your misery.\nYou will remember it only like water that has flowed away."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your life will be brighter than the noon sun.\nIts darkness will be like the morning."},{"verse":18,"text":"You will feel safe, because there is hope.\nYou will look around and lie down in safety."},{"verse":19,"text":"You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid.\nMany people will try to win your favor."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the eyes of the wicked will fail.\nThey will find no way to escape.\nTheir only hope will be to breathe their last.\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"No doubt you are the only wise people!\nWhen you die, wisdom will die with you!"},{"verse":3,"text":"But I have a mind too.\nI am not below you.\nWho doesn't know things like these?"},{"verse":4,"text":"My friends laugh at me.\nYet I called on God, and he answered me.\nA man who is right and honest is laughed at."},{"verse":5,"text":"A person who is at ease looks down on trouble.\nHe thinks it is for those whose feet are slipping."},{"verse":6,"text":"The tents of robbers are safe.\nThose who make God angry are secure.\nThey carry their god in their hands."},{"verse":7,"text":"But ask the animals, and they will teach you.\nAsk the birds in the sky, and they will tell you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you.\nLet the fish of the sea tell you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Which one of these doesn't know\nthat the hand of the LORD has done this?"},{"verse":10,"text":"The life of every living thing is in his hand.\nThe breath of all people is in his hand too."},{"verse":11,"text":"The tongue tastes its food.\nDoesn't the ear test words in the same way?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Wisdom is found with older people.\nUnderstanding comes with a long life."},{"verse":13,"text":"Wisdom and strength belong to God.\nGood advice and understanding are his."},{"verse":14,"text":"What he tears down can't be built again.\nThe man he locks up can't be set free."},{"verse":15,"text":"If he holds back the waters, they dry up.\nIf he lets them go, they flood the land."},{"verse":16,"text":"True wisdom and power belong to him.\nThe one who is fooled and the one who fools others are both his."},{"verse":17,"text":"He leads advisers away barefoot.\nHe makes fools of judges."},{"verse":18,"text":"He loosens the chains that kings put on others.\nThen he ties a belt around their waists."},{"verse":19,"text":"He leads priests away barefoot.\nHe brings down those who are firmly in power."},{"verse":20,"text":"He takes away the speech of trusted men.\nHe takes away the good sense of the elders."},{"verse":21,"text":"He pours shame on nobles.\nHe takes the weapons away from the mighty."},{"verse":22,"text":"He shows the deep things hidden in darkness.\nHe brings the deepest shadows into the light."},{"verse":23,"text":"He makes nations great, and he destroys them.\nHe makes nations grow, then scatters them."},{"verse":24,"text":"He takes away the good sense of the earth's leaders.\nHe makes them wander in a wasteland with no path."},{"verse":25,"text":"They feel their way in the dark with no light.\nHe makes them stagger like drunk men."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Yes, my eyes have seen all this.\nMy ears have heard it and understood it."},{"verse":2,"text":"What you know, I know too.\nI am not below you."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I want to speak to the Almighty.\nI want to argue my case with God."},{"verse":4,"text":"But you cover things over with lies.\nYou are all doctors who can't heal anyone."},{"verse":5,"text":"If only you would stay quiet!\nThat would show your wisdom."},{"verse":6,"text":"Now hear my argument.\nListen to what my lips are pleading."},{"verse":7,"text":"Will you speak evil things for God?\nWill you tell lies for him?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Will you take his side unfairly?\nWill you argue to defend him?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Would it go well for you if he looked closely at you?\nCould you fool him the way you would fool a man?"},{"verse":10,"text":"He would surely scold you\nif you secretly took sides unfairly."},{"verse":11,"text":"Wouldn't his greatness terrify you?\nWouldn't fear of him fall on you?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Your wise sayings are as useless as ashes.\nYour defenses are as weak as clay."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be quiet, and let me speak.\nThen let whatever happens to me happen."},{"verse":14,"text":"Why do I put myself in danger?\nWhy do I take my life in my own hands?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Even if he kills me, I will hope in him.\nI will still defend my ways to his face."},{"verse":16,"text":"Also, this will be what saves me,\nbecause no godless man can come before him."},{"verse":17,"text":"Listen closely to my words.\nLet what I say ring in your ears."},{"verse":18,"text":"Look, I have my case ready.\nI know that I will be shown to be in the right."},{"verse":19,"text":"Can anyone bring a charge against me?\nIf so, I will be quiet and die."},{"verse":20,"text":"God, only give me these two things.\nThen I won't need to hide from you:"},{"verse":21,"text":"Take your hand away from me.\nDon't let your terror frighten me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then call me, and I will answer.\nOr let me speak, and you can answer me."},{"verse":23,"text":"How many wrongs and sins have I done?\nShow me my wrong and my sin."},{"verse":24,"text":"Why do you hide your face from me?\nWhy do you treat me as your enemy?"},{"verse":25,"text":"Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind?\nWould you chase dry chaff?"},{"verse":26,"text":"You write down bitter charges against me.\nYou make me pay for the sins I did when I was young."},{"verse":27,"text":"You lock my feet in the stocks.\nYou keep watch on every path I take.\nYou mark a line around the soles of my feet."},{"verse":28,"text":"So a man wastes away like something rotten.\nHe is like clothing eaten by moths."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"A man born from a woman\nlives only a few days, and they are full of trouble."},{"verse":2,"text":"He springs up like a flower, then dries up.\nHe is like a shadow that passes by.\nHe doesn't last."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do you keep your eyes on someone like this?\nWill you bring him to be judged by you?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Who can bring something clean out of something unclean?\nNo one!"},{"verse":5,"text":"His days are already decided.\nYou know the number of his months.\nYou have set limits he can't go past."},{"verse":6,"text":"So look away from him and let him rest.\nThen he can enjoy his day like a hired worker."},{"verse":7,"text":"There is hope for a tree.\nIf it is cut down, it will sprout again.\nIts new shoots will keep coming."},{"verse":8,"text":"Even if its roots grow old in the ground,\nand its stump dies in the dirt,"},{"verse":9,"text":"at the smell of water it will bud.\nIt will put out twigs like a young plant."},{"verse":10,"text":"But a man dies and is laid low.\nHe breathes his last breath, and where is he?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Water disappears from a lake.\nA river dries up and is gone."},{"verse":12,"text":"In the same way, a man lies down and doesn't get up.\nUntil the heavens are gone, he won't wake up.\nNo one will rouse him from his sleep."},{"verse":13,"text":"If only you would hide me in the grave!\nIf only you would keep me hidden there until your anger is over!\nIf only you would set a time for me and then remember me!","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":14,"text":"When a man dies, will he live again?\nI will wait all the days of my hard service\nuntil my renewal comes."},{"verse":15,"text":"You will call, and I will answer.\nYou will long for the one your hands made."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then you would count my steps.\nBut you would not keep track of my sin."},{"verse":17,"text":"My wrongs would be sealed up in a bag.\nYou would cover over my sin."},{"verse":18,"text":"But a mountain wears away and crumbles.\nA rock is moved from its place."},{"verse":19,"text":"Water wears away the stones.\nFloods wash away the soil.\nIn the same way, you destroy a man's hope."},{"verse":20,"text":"You overpower him forever, and he passes away.\nYou change how his face looks and send him away."},{"verse":21,"text":"If his sons are honored, he doesn't know it.\nIf they are brought low, he doesn't see it."},{"verse":22,"text":"He feels only the pain of his own body.\nHe mourns only for himself.\""}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Would a wise man answer with empty advice?\nWould he fill his stomach with the hot east wind?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Should he argue with useless words?\nShould he give speeches that do no good?"},{"verse":4,"text":"But you even weaken the fear of God.\nYou get in the way of quiet thinking before him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your sin teaches your mouth what to say.\nYou choose to talk like a tricky person."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your own mouth condemns you, not mine.\nYour own lips speak against you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Were you the first man ever born?\nWere you made before the hills?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Do you listen in on God's council?\nDo you keep wisdom all to yourself?"},{"verse":9,"text":"What do you know that we don't know?\nWhat do you understand that isn't clear to us?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Gray-haired and old men are on our side.\nThey are much older than your father."},{"verse":11,"text":"Isn't God's comfort enough for you?\nIsn't it enough when words are spoken gently to you?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Why has your heart carried you away?\nWhy do your eyes flash?"},{"verse":13,"text":"so that you turn your spirit against God\nand pour such words out of your mouth?"},{"verse":14,"text":"What is man, that he could be pure?\nWhat is someone born from a woman, that he could be righteous?"},{"verse":15,"text":"If God doesn't trust even his holy ones,\nif even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,"},{"verse":16,"text":"how much less a man, who is disgusting and rotten,\nwho drinks up evil like water!"},{"verse":17,"text":"Listen to me, and I will tell you.\nI will describe what I have seen."},{"verse":18,"text":"It is what wise men have told.\nTheir fathers did not hide it from them."},{"verse":19,"text":"The land was given to their fathers alone.\nNo foreigner passed among them then."},{"verse":20,"text":"A wicked man twists in pain all his life.\nOnly a few years are stored up for the cruel man."},{"verse":21,"text":"Terrible sounds fill his ears.\nWhen things are going well, the destroyer attacks him."},{"verse":22,"text":"He has no hope of coming back from the darkness.\nHe is marked for the sword."},{"verse":23,"text":"He wanders around as food for vultures.\nHe knows the day of darkness is near."},{"verse":24,"text":"Trouble and pain terrify him.\nThey overpower him like a king ready to attack."},{"verse":25,"text":"This is because he raised his fist against God.\nHe proudly set himself against the Almighty."},{"verse":26,"text":"He rushed straight at God\nwith a thick shield covered with metal knobs."},{"verse":27,"text":"His face may be covered with fat.\nHis waist may bulge with flesh."},{"verse":28,"text":"But he will live in ruined towns.\nHe will live in empty houses that will soon be piles of rubble."},{"verse":29,"text":"He won't be rich anymore.\nHis wealth won't last.\nHis belongings won't spread over the land."},{"verse":30,"text":"He won't escape from the darkness.\nA flame will dry up his young branches.\nThe breath of God's mouth will carry him away."},{"verse":31,"text":"Let him not fool himself by trusting in what is empty,\nbecause emptiness will be his reward."},{"verse":32,"text":"It will be paid in full before his time.\nHis branch will not grow green."},{"verse":33,"text":"He will be like a vine that loses its unripe grapes.\nHe will be like an olive tree that drops its flowers."},{"verse":34,"text":"The group of godless people will have no children.\nFire will burn up the tents of those who take bribes."},{"verse":35,"text":"They plan trouble and give birth to evil.\nTheir insides are full of lies.\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I have heard many things like these.\nYou are all miserable comforters!"},{"verse":3,"text":"Will your long speeches never end?\nWhat makes you keep on arguing?"},{"verse":4,"text":"I could talk like you if you were in my place.\nI could pile up words against you.\nI could shake my head at you."},{"verse":5,"text":"But I would encourage you with my words.\nThe comfort from my lips would ease your pain."},{"verse":6,"text":"Even if I speak, my pain doesn't get better.\nAnd if I keep quiet, how will it go away?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Surely God has now worn me out.\nGod, you have wiped out my whole family."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have tied me up, and that has become a witness against me.\nMy weak body stands up and speaks against me."},{"verse":9,"text":"His anger has torn me apart and fought against me.\nHe grinds his teeth at me.\nMy enemy stabs me with his eyes."},{"verse":10,"text":"People open their mouths wide against me.\nThey slap my cheeks to shame me.\nThey join together against me."},{"verse":11,"text":"God has handed me over to unfair men.\nHe has thrown me into the hands of the wicked."},{"verse":12,"text":"I was at peace, but he smashed me.\nHe grabbed me by the neck and crushed me.\nHe has set me up as his target."},{"verse":13,"text":"His archers surround me.\nHe stabs my kidneys and shows no mercy.\nHe spills my gall on the ground."},{"verse":14,"text":"He breaks me with one wound after another.\nHe rushes at me like a mighty warrior."},{"verse":15,"text":"I have sewn sackcloth over my skin.\nI have buried my horn in the dust.","note":"The horn was a sign of strength and honor."},{"verse":16,"text":"My face is red from crying.\nDark shadows circle my eyes."},{"verse":17,"text":"Yet my hands have done nothing violent.\nMy prayer is pure."},{"verse":18,"text":"Earth, don't cover up my blood!\nMay my cry for help never be silenced."},{"verse":19,"text":"Even now my witness is in heaven.\nThe one who speaks up for me is on high."},{"verse":20,"text":"My friends make fun of me,\nwhile my eyes pour out tears to God."},{"verse":21,"text":"Oh, I wish a man could plead with God\nthe way a man pleads with his neighbor!"},{"verse":22,"text":"In only a few years\nI will go on the road from which no one returns."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"My spirit is broken.\nMy days are snuffed out.\nThe grave is waiting for me."},{"verse":2,"text":"Surely people who mock me are all around me.\nMy eyes must keep looking at their rebellion."},{"verse":3,"text":"Please give me the promise you ask for.\nWho else will stand up to pay for me?"},{"verse":4,"text":"You have closed their minds so they can't understand.\nSo you won't lift them up."},{"verse":5,"text":"If a man turns in his friends for money,\nthe eyes of his children will fail."},{"verse":6,"text":"God has made me a joke among the people.\nI am a man whose face they spit in."},{"verse":7,"text":"My eyes have grown weak from sorrow.\nMy whole body is just a shadow."},{"verse":8,"text":"Honest people are shocked by this.\nInnocent people are stirred up against the godless."},{"verse":9,"text":"Yet a righteous person holds to his path.\nThe one with clean hands grows stronger."},{"verse":10,"text":"But all of you, come back and try again.\nI won't find a wise man among you."},{"verse":11,"text":"My days are over.\nMy plans are broken off.\nEven the wishes of my heart are gone."},{"verse":12,"text":"These men turn night into day.\nThey say light is near when it is dark."},{"verse":13,"text":"If I look to the grave as my home,\nif I make my bed in the dark,","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":14,"text":"and say to the rotting pit, 'You are my father,'\nand to the worm, 'My mother' or 'My sister,'"},{"verse":15,"text":"where then is my hope?\nWho can see any hope for me?"},{"verse":16,"text":"Will my hope go down to the gates of the grave?\nWill we go down into the dust together?\"","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How long until you stop these speeches?\nUse some sense, and then we can talk."},{"verse":3,"text":"Why do you think of us as cattle?\nWhy do we seem stupid to you?"},{"verse":4,"text":"You tear yourself apart in your anger.\nShould the earth be left empty just for you?\nShould the rocks be moved from their place?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Yes, the lamp of the wicked man is put out.\nThe flame of his fire stops glowing."},{"verse":6,"text":"The light in his tent grows dark.\nThe lamp beside him goes out."},{"verse":7,"text":"His strong steps grow short.\nHis own plans trip him up."},{"verse":8,"text":"His own feet lead him into a net.\nHe wanders into its web of ropes."},{"verse":9,"text":"A trap catches him by the heel.\nA snare holds him tight."},{"verse":10,"text":"A rope loop is hidden in the ground for him.\nA trap lies in his path."},{"verse":11,"text":"Terrors frighten him on every side.\nThey chase him at every step."},{"verse":12,"text":"His strength is used up.\nDisaster is ready at his side."},{"verse":13,"text":"It eats away patches of his skin.\nDeath's firstborn eats up his arms and legs."},{"verse":14,"text":"He is torn from the safety of his tent.\nHe is marched off to the king of terrors."},{"verse":15,"text":"Fire lives in his tent.\nBurning sulfur rains down on his home."},{"verse":16,"text":"His roots below him dry up.\nHis branches above him wither."},{"verse":17,"text":"The memory of him dies from the earth.\nNo one in the land knows his name."},{"verse":18,"text":"He is driven from light into darkness.\nHe is chased out of the world where people live."},{"verse":19,"text":"He has no children or grandchildren among his people.\nNo one is left alive where he once lived."},{"verse":20,"text":"People in the west are shocked at what happens to him.\nPeople in the east shake with horror."},{"verse":21,"text":"Surely this is what happens to the home of the wicked.\nThis is the place of the one who doesn't know God.\""}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How long will you hurt me?\nHow long will you crush me with your words?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Ten times now you have put me to shame.\nYou treat me badly and aren't even ashamed."},{"verse":4,"text":"Even if I really have gone the wrong way,\nmy mistake is my own business."},{"verse":5,"text":"If you really want to lift yourselves above me\nand use my shame against me,"},{"verse":6,"text":"then understand this: God is the one who has wronged me.\nHe has pulled his net around me."},{"verse":7,"text":"I cry out, 'Violence!' but I get no answer.\nI call for help, but there is no justice."},{"verse":8,"text":"He has blocked my way so I can't get through.\nHe has covered my paths with darkness."},{"verse":9,"text":"He has stripped away my honor.\nHe has taken the crown off my head."},{"verse":10,"text":"He tears me down on every side until I am gone.\nHe pulls up my hope like a tree."},{"verse":11,"text":"His anger burns against me.\nHe counts me as one of his enemies."},{"verse":12,"text":"His troops march forward together.\nThey build a ramp to attack me.\nThey camp around my tent."},{"verse":13,"text":"He has taken my brothers far away from me.\nPeople I know have left me."},{"verse":14,"text":"My relatives have let me down.\nMy friends have forgotten me."},{"verse":15,"text":"My guests and my female servants think of me as a stranger.\nTo them I am a foreigner."},{"verse":16,"text":"I call my servant, but he doesn't answer.\nI even have to beg him with my own mouth."},{"verse":17,"text":"My breath is sickening to my wife.\nMy own family finds me disgusting."},{"verse":18,"text":"Even little boys look down on me.\nWhen I show up, they make fun of me."},{"verse":19,"text":"All my closest friends hate me.\nThe people I love have turned against me."},{"verse":20,"text":"My skin and flesh cling to my bones.\nI have escaped by the skin of my teeth."},{"verse":21,"text":"Have pity on me, my friends! Have pity!\nFor the hand of God has struck me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Why do you chase after me like God does?\nWill you never get enough of my flesh?"},{"verse":23,"text":"I wish my words were written down!\nI wish they were written in a book!"},{"verse":24,"text":"I wish they were cut into lead with an iron tool,\nor carved in stone forever!"},{"verse":25,"text":"But I know that my Redeemer lives.\nIn the end he will stand on the earth."},{"verse":26,"text":"Even after my skin has been destroyed,\nyet in my flesh I will see God."},{"verse":27,"text":"I will see him for myself.\nMy own eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger.\nHow my heart longs for that inside me!"},{"verse":28,"text":"If you say, 'Let's keep chasing after him,\nsince the root of the trouble is in him,'"},{"verse":29,"text":"then you should be afraid of the sword yourselves.\nFor anger brings punishment by the sword,\nso that you may know there is a judgment.\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"My troubled thoughts make me answer you,\nbecause I am stirred up inside."},{"verse":3,"text":"I have heard you scold me, and it insults me.\nMy understanding pushes me to reply."},{"verse":4,"text":"Don't you know how it has been from long ago?\nEver since man was put on the earth,"},{"verse":5,"text":"the wicked man's success has been short.\nThe joy of the godless lasts only a moment."},{"verse":6,"text":"His pride may reach up to the heavens.\nHis head may touch the clouds."},{"verse":7,"text":"But he will perish forever, like his own dung.\nThose who saw him will ask, 'Where is he?'"},{"verse":8,"text":"He will fly away like a dream and never be found.\nHe will be chased away like a vision in the night."},{"verse":9,"text":"The eye that saw him won't see him again.\nHis home won't see him anymore."},{"verse":10,"text":"His sons will have to beg the poor for help,\nbecause his own hands must give back his wealth."},{"verse":11,"text":"His bones are full of young strength.\nBut it will lie down with him in the dust."},{"verse":12,"text":"Evil may taste sweet in his mouth.\nHe may hide it under his tongue."},{"verse":13,"text":"He may not be able to let it go.\nHe may keep it in his mouth."},{"verse":14,"text":"Yet his food turns sour in his stomach.\nIt becomes like cobra poison inside him."},{"verse":15,"text":"He swallows riches, but he throws them up again.\nGod will force them out of his stomach."},{"verse":16,"text":"He will suck the poison of cobras.\nThe fangs of a snake will kill him."},{"verse":17,"text":"He won't enjoy the streams,\nthe rivers flowing with honey and cream."},{"verse":18,"text":"He must give back what he worked for without eating it.\nHe can't enjoy the money he made from trading."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is because he crushed the poor and left them with nothing.\nHe took houses he didn't build."},{"verse":20,"text":"His hunger for more is never satisfied.\nSo he can't escape with his treasure."},{"verse":21,"text":"Nothing is left for him to eat up.\nSo his good times won't last."},{"verse":22,"text":"While he has plenty, he will be in trouble.\nThe full force of misery will come on him."},{"verse":23,"text":"When he has filled his stomach,\nGod will pour out his burning anger on him.\nHe will rain it down on him while he eats."},{"verse":24,"text":"He may run from an iron weapon.\nBut an arrow with a bronze tip will stab him."},{"verse":25,"text":"It is pulled out of his back.\nThe shining point comes out of his liver.\nTerrors come over him."},{"verse":26,"text":"Total darkness is waiting for his treasures.\nA fire no one fans will burn him up.\nIt will eat up what is left in his tent."},{"verse":27,"text":"The heavens will show his sin.\nThe earth will rise up against him."},{"verse":28,"text":"The things in his house will be carried off.\nThey will flow away on the day of God's anger."},{"verse":29,"text":"This is what God gives the wicked man.\nIt is the share God has set for him.\""}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Listen closely to my words.\nLet that be the comfort you give me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Put up with me while I speak.\nAfter I have spoken, you can go on mocking."},{"verse":4,"text":"Is my complaint against a man?\nThen why shouldn't I be impatient?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Look at me and be shocked.\nPut your hand over your mouth."},{"verse":6,"text":"When I think about it, terror grabs me.\nMy body shakes with horror."},{"verse":7,"text":"Why do the wicked go on living?\nWhy do they grow old and become more powerful?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Their children are settled around them.\nThey see their families grow before their eyes."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their homes are safe and free from fear.\nGod's rod of punishment isn't on them."},{"verse":10,"text":"Their bulls always breed.\nTheir cows have calves and don't lose them."},{"verse":11,"text":"They send out their little ones like a flock.\nTheir children skip and dance around."},{"verse":12,"text":"They sing to the tambourine and lyre.\nThey have fun at the sound of the flute."},{"verse":13,"text":"They spend their days doing well.\nThen they go down to the grave in peace.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":14,"text":"Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone!\nWe don't want to know your ways."},{"verse":15,"text":"Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him?\nWhat would we gain if we prayed to him?'"},{"verse":16,"text":"Still, their success is not in their own hands.\nSo I stay far away from the advice of the wicked."},{"verse":17,"text":"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out?\nHow often does disaster come on them?\nDoes God in his anger hand out ruin to them?"},{"verse":18,"text":"Are they like straw blown by the wind?\nAre they like chaff swept away by a storm?"},{"verse":19,"text":"People say God saves up a man's punishment for his children.\nBut let God pay back the man himself,\nso that he will know it."},{"verse":20,"text":"Let his own eyes see his ruin.\nLet him drink the anger of the Almighty himself."},{"verse":21,"text":"What does he care about his family after he is gone,\nwhen his months have run out?"},{"verse":22,"text":"Can anyone teach God anything,\nsince he judges those who are on high?"},{"verse":23,"text":"One man dies full of strength.\nHe is completely safe and at ease."},{"verse":24,"text":"His body is well fed.\nHis bones are full of marrow."},{"verse":25,"text":"Another man dies with a bitter soul.\nHe never once enjoyed good times."},{"verse":26,"text":"But they both lie down together in the dust.\nWorms cover them both."},{"verse":27,"text":"Look, I know just what you are thinking.\nI know the plans you have to wrong me."},{"verse":28,"text":"You say, 'Where is the great man's house now?\nWhere are the tents where the wicked lived?'"},{"verse":29,"text":"Have you never asked people who travel the roads?\nDon't you believe what they tell you?"},{"verse":30,"text":"The evil man is spared on the day of disaster.\nHe is rescued on the day of anger."},{"verse":31,"text":"Who speaks against what he does to his face?\nWho pays him back for what he has done?"},{"verse":32,"text":"He is carried to the grave.\nPeople keep watch over his tomb."},{"verse":33,"text":"The dirt of the valley is sweet to him.\nEveryone follows behind him.\nThose who went before him can't be counted."},{"verse":34,"text":"So how can you comfort me with empty words?\nYour answers are still full of lies.\""}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Can a man be useful to God?\nCan even a wise man help him?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Does it please the Almighty if you are righteous?\nDoes he gain anything if your ways are without blame?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Is it because you honor him that he scolds you?\nIs that why he brings you to court?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Isn't your evil great?\nDon't your sins go on without end?"},{"verse":6,"text":"For no reason you made your brothers give you things to hold for their debts.\nYou took clothes from people and left them naked."},{"verse":7,"text":"You gave no water to tired people.\nYou kept food from hungry people."},{"verse":8,"text":"All the while, the land belonged to a powerful man.\nA man with honor lived on it."},{"verse":9,"text":"You sent widows away with nothing.\nThe strength of children with no fathers was crushed."},{"verse":10,"text":"That is why traps are all around you.\nSudden danger terrifies you."},{"verse":11,"text":"It is so dark you can't see.\nA flood of water covers you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Isn't God as high as the heavens?\nLook at the highest stars. See how high they are!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Yet you say, 'What does God know?\nCan he judge through thick darkness?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Thick clouds hide him, so he can't see us\nas he walks across the dome of the sky.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"Will you stay on the old path\nthat wicked men have walked?"},{"verse":16,"text":"They were snatched away before their time.\nA flood washed away their foundations."},{"verse":17,"text":"They said to God, 'Go away from us!\nWhat can the Almighty do to us?'"},{"verse":18,"text":"But he was the one who filled their houses with good things.\nSo I stay far away from the advice of the wicked."},{"verse":19,"text":"Righteous people see it and are glad.\nInnocent people make fun of the wicked and say,"},{"verse":20,"text":"'Surely our enemies are destroyed.\nFire has burned up all their riches.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"Make things right with God now and be at peace with him.\nThen good things will come to you."},{"verse":22,"text":"Accept the teaching from his mouth.\nStore up his words in your heart."},{"verse":23,"text":"If you come back to the Almighty, you will be built up again.\nIf you put wrongdoing far from your tents,"},{"verse":24,"text":"and throw your gold down in the dust,\nand the gold of Ophir among the rocks in the valleys,"},{"verse":25,"text":"then the Almighty will be your gold.\nHe will be your finest silver."},{"verse":26,"text":"Surely then you will find joy in the Almighty.\nYou will lift up your face to God."},{"verse":27,"text":"You will pray to him, and he will hear you.\nYou will keep your promises to him."},{"verse":28,"text":"What you decide will be done.\nLight will shine on your paths."},{"verse":29,"text":"When people are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!'\nthen God will save the humble."},{"verse":30,"text":"He will rescue even someone who is not innocent.\nHe will save him because your hands are clean.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Even today my complaint is bitter.\nGod's hand is heavy on me, even though I groan."},{"verse":3,"text":"If only I knew where to find him!\nThen I could go to the place where he sits."},{"verse":4,"text":"I would lay out my case before him.\nI would fill my mouth with arguments."},{"verse":5,"text":"I would learn how he would answer me.\nI would think about what he would say."},{"verse":6,"text":"Would he fight against me with his great power?\nNo, he would surely pay attention to me."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then an honest man could reason with him.\nAnd I would be set free forever from my Judge."},{"verse":8,"text":"If I go east, he isn't there.\nIf I go west, I can't find him."},{"verse":9,"text":"When he is at work in the north, I can't see him.\nWhen he turns to the south, I can't see him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Yet he knows the way I have taken.\nWhen he has tested me, I will come out as gold."},{"verse":11,"text":"My feet have followed in his steps.\nI have kept to his way and not turned aside."},{"verse":12,"text":"I have not turned away from the commands of his lips.\nI have treasured the words of his mouth\nmore than my daily bread."},{"verse":13,"text":"But he never changes. Who can stand against him?\nHe does whatever he wants."},{"verse":14,"text":"For he carries out what he has decided against me.\nAnd he has many plans like this."},{"verse":15,"text":"That is why I am terrified when I am near him.\nWhen I think about this, I am afraid of him."},{"verse":16,"text":"God has made my heart weak.\nThe Almighty has terrified me."},{"verse":17,"text":"Yet the darkness has not made me be quiet.\nNot even the thick darkness that covers my face."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Why doesn't the Almighty set times for judging?\nWhy do those who know him never see those days?"},{"verse":2,"text":"People move the stones that mark land lines.\nThey steal flocks and feed them as their own."},{"verse":3,"text":"They drive away the donkey of children with no fathers.\nThey take a widow's ox to hold for her debt."},{"verse":4,"text":"They push needy people off the road.\nThey force all the poor of the land to hide."},{"verse":5,"text":"The poor are like wild donkeys in the desert.\nThey go to work searching for food.\nThe wasteland gives food for their children."},{"verse":6,"text":"They gather animal feed in the fields.\nThey pick up leftover grapes in the vineyards of the wicked."},{"verse":7,"text":"They have no clothes, so they spend the night naked.\nThey have nothing to cover them in the cold."},{"verse":8,"text":"They are soaked by mountain rains.\nThey have no shelter, so they huddle against the rocks."},{"verse":9,"text":"A baby with no father is grabbed from his mother's breast.\nThe nursing baby of the poor is taken for a debt."},{"verse":10,"text":"They have no clothes, so they wander around naked.\nThey carry bundles of grain, but they still go hungry."},{"verse":11,"text":"They crush olives inside their walls.\nThey stomp grapes in the winepresses, but they are still thirsty."},{"verse":12,"text":"In the city, men groan.\nThe wounded cry out from deep inside.\nYet God doesn't charge anyone with doing wrong."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then there are those who fight against the light.\nThey don't know its ways.\nThey don't stay on its paths."},{"verse":14,"text":"When daylight is gone, the murderer gets up.\nHe kills the poor and needy.\nAt night he is like a thief."},{"verse":15,"text":"The man who commits adultery waits for the evening.\nHe thinks, 'No eye will see me.'\nSo he covers his face."},{"verse":16,"text":"In the dark, they dig through the walls of houses.\nBy day they shut themselves in.\nThey never know the light."},{"verse":17,"text":"For them, deep darkness is their morning.\nThey are surely friends with the terrors of the dark!"},{"verse":18,"text":"They are only foam on top of the water.\nTheir share of the land is cursed.\nSo no one goes toward their vineyards."},{"verse":19,"text":"Dry weather and heat take away melting snow.\nIn the same way, the grave takes away those who have sinned.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":20,"text":"The mother who bore them forgets them.\nThe worm feeds on them.\nNo one remembers them anymore.\nSo wrongdoing is broken like a tree."},{"verse":21,"text":"They take advantage of women who have no children.\nThey show no kindness to the widow."},{"verse":22,"text":"Yet God drags away the mighty by his power.\nEven when they rise up, they aren't sure they will live."},{"verse":23,"text":"He lets them feel safe.\nBut his eyes are on everything they do."},{"verse":24,"text":"They are lifted up for a moment, and then they are gone.\nThey are brought low and gathered up like everyone else.\nThey are cut off like heads of grain."},{"verse":25,"text":"If this isn't so, who can prove I'm lying?\nWho can show that my words are worth nothing?\""}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Rule and fear-filled wonder belong to God.\nHe makes peace in the heights of heaven."},{"verse":3,"text":"Can anyone count his armies?\nOn whom does his light not rise?"},{"verse":4,"text":"So how can a man be right before God?\nHow can someone born from a woman be pure?"},{"verse":5,"text":"If even the moon isn't bright to him,\nand the stars aren't pure in his eyes,"},{"verse":6,"text":"how much less man, who is only a maggot!\nHow much less a son of man, who is only a worm!\""}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How you have helped the weak!\nHow you have saved the arm that has no strength!"},{"verse":3,"text":"What great advice you have given to the one without wisdom!\nWhat wise insight you have given so freely!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Who did you say these words to?\nWhose spirit spoke through you?"},{"verse":5,"text":"The dead tremble,\nthose under the waters and those who live in them."},{"verse":6,"text":"The grave lies open before God.\nThe place of destruction has no covering.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol ... Abaddon"},{"verse":7,"text":"He stretches out the northern sky over empty space.\nHe hangs the earth on nothing."},{"verse":8,"text":"He wraps up the waters in his clouds.\nYet the clouds don't burst under their weight."},{"verse":9,"text":"He covers the face of the full moon.\nHe spreads his cloud over it."},{"verse":10,"text":"He has marked out the horizon on the face of the waters.\nIt is the line between light and darkness."},{"verse":11,"text":"The pillars that hold up the sky shake.\nThey are amazed when he scolds them."},{"verse":12,"text":"By his power he stirred up the sea.\nBy his understanding he smashed Rahab.","note":"Rahab here is a sea monster that stood for chaos."},{"verse":13,"text":"By his breath the skies were made clear.\nHis hand stabbed the snake that was running away."},{"verse":14,"text":"These are only the edges of his ways.\nWe hear only a soft whisper of him!\nThen who can understand the thunder of his power?\""}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Job went on speaking:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"As surely as God lives, who has taken away my right to justice,\nand the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,"},{"verse":3,"text":"as long as I still have breath in me,\nand the breath of God is still in my nose,"},{"verse":4,"text":"my lips won't speak evil.\nMy tongue won't tell lies."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will never say that you men are right.\nI will hold on to my integrity until I die."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will hold tight to my righteousness and never let it go.\nAs long as I live, my conscience will not blame me."},{"verse":7,"text":"May my enemy be treated like the wicked.\nMay the one against me be treated like the unjust."},{"verse":8,"text":"What hope does the godless man have when he is cut off?\nWhat hope does he have when God takes away his life?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Will God hear his cry\nwhen trouble comes on him?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Will he find joy in the Almighty?\nWill he call on God at all times?"},{"verse":11,"text":"I will teach you about the power of God.\nI won't hide the ways of the Almighty."},{"verse":12,"text":"Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves.\nSo why do you keep up this empty talk?"},{"verse":13,"text":"This is what God gives the wicked man.\nIt is what cruel people receive from the Almighty."},{"verse":14,"text":"He may have many sons, but they will die by the sword.\nHis children will never have enough food."},{"verse":15,"text":"Those who live after him will be buried by disease.\nTheir widows won't weep for them."},{"verse":16,"text":"He may pile up silver like dust.\nHe may pile up clothes like clay."},{"verse":17,"text":"But righteous people will wear what he stores up.\nInnocent people will divide up his silver."},{"verse":18,"text":"The house he built is like a moth's cocoon.\nIt is like a shelter put up by a guard in a field."},{"verse":19,"text":"He lies down rich, but he will never do it again.\nWhen he opens his eyes, everything is gone."},{"verse":20,"text":"Terrors sweep over him like a flood.\nA storm carries him away in the night."},{"verse":21,"text":"The east wind picks him up, and he is gone.\nIt sweeps him out of his place."},{"verse":22,"text":"It throws itself against him without mercy.\nHe runs as fast as he can from its power."},{"verse":23,"text":"It claps its hands at him.\nIt hisses at him and drives him from his place."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Surely there is a mine for silver.\nThere is a place where gold is made pure."},{"verse":2,"text":"Iron is taken from the earth.\nCopper is melted out of rock."},{"verse":3,"text":"Man puts an end to the darkness.\nHe searches the farthest places for ore,\ndeep in the darkest dark."},{"verse":4,"text":"Far from where people live, he cuts a deep shaft.\nNo human foot has walked in those forgotten places.\nFar from other people, he hangs and swings on ropes."},{"verse":5,"text":"Food may grow out of the earth.\nBut down below, the earth is changed as if by fire."},{"verse":6,"text":"Its rocks are where sapphires come from.\nThey have bits of gold in them."},{"verse":7,"text":"No hunting bird knows that path.\nNo falcon's eye has seen it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Proud wild animals have never walked on it.\nNo lion has ever prowled there."},{"verse":9,"text":"The miner strikes the hard rock.\nHe turns mountains over at their roots."},{"verse":10,"text":"He cuts tunnels through the rocks.\nHis eyes spot every treasure."},{"verse":11,"text":"He dams up the springs of the streams.\nHe brings what is hidden into the light."},{"verse":12,"text":"But where can wisdom be found?\nWhere does understanding live?"},{"verse":13,"text":"No man knows how much it is worth.\nIt isn't found in the land of the living."},{"verse":14,"text":"The deep ocean says, 'It isn't in me.'\nThe sea says, 'It isn't with me.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"It can't be bought with gold.\nIts price can't be weighed out in silver."},{"verse":16,"text":"It can't be bought with the gold of Ophir.\nIt can't be bought with costly onyx or sapphire."},{"verse":17,"text":"Gold and crystal can't compare with it.\nJewels of fine gold can't be traded for it."},{"verse":18,"text":"Coral and quartz aren't even worth mentioning.\nThe price of wisdom is higher than rubies."},{"verse":19,"text":"Topaz from Cush can't compare with it.\nIt can't be bought with pure gold."},{"verse":20,"text":"So where does wisdom come from?\nWhere does understanding live?"},{"verse":21,"text":"It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing.\nIt is kept hidden even from the birds in the sky."},{"verse":22,"text":"Destruction and Death say,\n'We have only heard rumors about it.'","note":"Hebrew: Abaddon"},{"verse":23,"text":"But God understands the way to it.\nHe knows where it lives."},{"verse":24,"text":"He looks to the ends of the earth.\nHe sees everything under the heavens."},{"verse":25,"text":"God set the weight of the wind.\nHe measured out the waters."},{"verse":26,"text":"He set a limit for the rain.\nHe made a path for the lightning."},{"verse":27,"text":"At that time he looked at wisdom and judged its worth.\nHe set it in place and searched it out."},{"verse":28,"text":"And he said to man,\n'Look, the fear of the Lord is wisdom.\nAnd to turn away from evil is understanding.'\""}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Job went on speaking:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How I long for the months that are gone!\nI long for the days when God watched over me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Back then his lamp shone above my head.\nBy his light I walked through the darkness."},{"verse":4,"text":"Back then I was in the best years of my life.\nGod's friendship rested on my tent."},{"verse":5,"text":"Back then the Almighty was still with me.\nMy children were all around me."},{"verse":6,"text":"My steps were washed in cream.\nThe rock poured out streams of olive oil for me!"},{"verse":7,"text":"I would go out to the city gate.\nI would take my seat in the public square."},{"verse":8,"text":"The young men saw me and stepped aside.\nThe old men stood up."},{"verse":9,"text":"The princes stopped talking.\nThey covered their mouths with their hands."},{"verse":10,"text":"The voices of the nobles went quiet.\nTheir tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths."},{"verse":11,"text":"Those who heard me called me blessed.\nThose who saw me praised me."},{"verse":12,"text":"This was because I rescued the poor who cried out.\nI rescued the child with no father and no one to help him."},{"verse":13,"text":"The dying man blessed me.\nI made the widow's heart sing for joy."},{"verse":14,"text":"I put on righteousness, and it covered me like clothes.\nJustice was my robe and my turban."},{"verse":15,"text":"I was eyes for the blind.\nI was feet for those who couldn't walk."},{"verse":16,"text":"I was a father to needy people.\nI took up the case of the stranger."},{"verse":17,"text":"I broke the fangs of the unjust.\nI grabbed his victims out of his teeth."},{"verse":18,"text":"So I thought, 'I will die in my own nest.\nMy days will be as many as the grains of sand."},{"verse":19,"text":"My roots will spread out to the waters.\nThe dew will rest on my branches every night."},{"verse":20,"text":"My honor will always be fresh in me.\nMy bow will stay new in my hand.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"People listened to me with hope.\nThey waited quietly for my advice."},{"verse":22,"text":"After I spoke, they didn't say any more.\nMy words fell on them softly like dew."},{"verse":23,"text":"They waited for me as they would wait for rain.\nThey drank in my words like spring showers."},{"verse":24,"text":"When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it.\nThe light of my face was precious to them."},{"verse":25,"text":"I chose the way for them and sat as their chief.\nI lived like a king among his troops.\nI was like someone who comforts those who mourn."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"But now they make fun of me,\nmen who are younger than I am.\nI would not have let their fathers\nwork with my sheep dogs."},{"verse":2,"text":"What good was the strength of their hands to me?\nTheir strength had left them."},{"verse":3,"text":"They were thin from being poor and hungry.\nThey chewed on the dry ground\nand on the empty wasteland at night."},{"verse":4,"text":"They picked salty plants among the bushes.\nThe roots of the broom tree were their food."},{"verse":5,"text":"They were driven away from other people.\nPeople shouted at them as if they were thieves."},{"verse":6,"text":"So they lived on the sides of dry streambeds.\nThey lived among the rocks and in holes in the ground."},{"verse":7,"text":"They cried out among the bushes.\nThey huddled together under the thorny weeds."},{"verse":8,"text":"They were a foolish crowd with no names.\nThey were chased out of the land."},{"verse":9,"text":"And now they sing songs to make fun of me.\nMy name has become a joke to them."},{"verse":10,"text":"They hate me and stay far away from me.\nThey don't stop themselves from spitting in my face."},{"verse":11,"text":"God has cut the string of my bow.\nHe has made me suffer.\nSo they do whatever they want in front of me."},{"verse":12,"text":"A wild crowd rises up on my right side.\nThey set traps for my feet.\nThey build ramps to attack me."},{"verse":13,"text":"They tear up my path.\nThey gain from my ruin,\nand no one stops them."},{"verse":14,"text":"They come at me as if through a wide hole in a wall.\nThey keep rolling in through the broken stones."},{"verse":15,"text":"Terrors are set loose against me.\nThey blow away my honor like the wind.\nMy good life has passed away like a cloud."},{"verse":16,"text":"And now my life is draining out of me.\nDays of suffering hold me tight."},{"verse":17,"text":"At night pain stabs my bones.\nMy aching pains never rest."},{"verse":18,"text":"With great force God grabs my clothes.\nHe takes hold of me by the collar of my tunic."},{"verse":19,"text":"He throws me into the mud.\nI have become like dust and ashes."},{"verse":20,"text":"I cry out to you for help, but you do not answer.\nWhen I stand up, you just look at me."},{"verse":21,"text":"You have turned on me without mercy.\nYou fight against me with your strong hand."},{"verse":22,"text":"You snatch me up into the wind and drive me along.\nYou toss me around in the storm."},{"verse":23,"text":"Yes, I know you will bring me down to death.\nYou will bring me to the place set for everyone who lives."},{"verse":24,"text":"Yet no one strikes a ruined man\nwhen he cries for help in his trouble."},{"verse":25,"text":"Didn't I cry for people who were in trouble?\nDidn't my heart grieve for the needy?"},{"verse":26,"text":"But when I hoped for good, evil came.\nWhen I looked for light, darkness came."},{"verse":27,"text":"My insides churn, and I can't rest.\nDays of suffering face me."},{"verse":28,"text":"I walk around with dark skin, but not from the sun.\nI stand up in the crowd and cry for help."},{"verse":29,"text":"I have become a brother to jackals.\nI have become a friend to ostriches."},{"verse":30,"text":"My skin turns black and peels off.\nMy bones burn with fever."},{"verse":31,"text":"My harp plays sad songs.\nMy flute plays the sound of weeping."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"I have made a covenant with my eyes.\nSo how could I look with desire at a young woman?"},{"verse":2,"text":"For what share comes from God above?\nWhat gift to own comes from the Almighty on high?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Doesn't disaster come to people who are not fair?\nDoesn't trouble come to those who do wrong?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Doesn't God see the way I live?\nDoesn't he count every step I take?"},{"verse":5,"text":"If I have lived a lie,\nor if my feet have hurried to trick others,"},{"verse":6,"text":"then let God weigh me on honest scales.\nThen he will know that I am innocent."},{"verse":7,"text":"If my steps have turned away from the path,\nif my heart has followed what my eyes wanted,\nor if anything unclean has stuck to my hands,"},{"verse":8,"text":"then let someone else eat what I have planted.\nLet my crops be pulled up by the roots."},{"verse":9,"text":"If my heart has been drawn to my neighbor's wife,\nor if I have waited at his door,"},{"verse":10,"text":"then let my own wife grind grain for another man.\nLet other men sleep with her."},{"verse":11,"text":"For that would be a terrible crime.\nIt would be a sin that must be judged."},{"verse":12,"text":"For it is a fire that burns all the way down to Abaddon.\nIt would wipe out my whole harvest.","note":"Abaddon means \"destruction\"; it is a name for the place of the dead."},{"verse":13,"text":"If I have refused to be fair to my male or female servant\nwhen they brought a complaint against me,"},{"verse":14,"text":"then what will I do when God rises up to judge?\nWhat will I say when he asks me to explain?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Didn't the God who made me in my mother's womb make them too?\nDidn't the same God form all of us in the womb?"},{"verse":16,"text":"If I have said no to what the poor wanted,\nor let a widow's eyes grow tired from waiting,"},{"verse":17,"text":"if I have eaten my bread by myself\nand not shared it with the orphan-"},{"verse":18,"text":"even though from the time I was young, I raised the orphan like a father would,\nand from my birth I guided the widow-"},{"verse":19,"text":"if I have seen anyone dying because he had no clothes,\nor a needy man with no coat,"},{"verse":20,"text":"if his heart has not blessed me\nfor warming him with wool from my sheep,"},{"verse":21,"text":"if I have raised my hand against the orphan\nbecause I saw that I had support at the city gate,"},{"verse":22,"text":"then let my arm fall off my shoulder.\nLet it be torn from its joint."},{"verse":23,"text":"For I am terrified of disaster from God.\nI could never stand against his glory."},{"verse":24,"text":"If I have put my trust in gold,\nor said to pure gold, 'You keep me safe,'"},{"verse":25,"text":"if I have been glad because I was very rich,\nbecause my hand had gained so much,"},{"verse":26,"text":"if I have looked at the sun as it shined\nor at the moon as it moved in its beauty,"},{"verse":27,"text":"so that my heart was secretly drawn away\nand my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,"},{"verse":28,"text":"this would also be a sin that must be judged,\nfor I would have denied God on high."},{"verse":29,"text":"If I have been happy when my enemy was ruined,\nor glad when trouble came to him-"},{"verse":30,"text":"No, I have not let my mouth sin\nby putting a curse on his life."},{"verse":31,"text":"if the men of my house have not said,\n'Is there anyone who has not eaten all he wants?'-"},{"verse":32,"text":"No stranger ever had to sleep in the street.\nMy door was always open to travelers."},{"verse":33,"text":"if I have hidden my sins like Adam\nby hiding my guilt in my heart"},{"verse":34,"text":"because I was very afraid of the crowds,\nand the families looking down on me scared me,\nso that I kept quiet and would not go outside-"},{"verse":35,"text":"(Oh, if only I had someone to hear me!\nHere is my signature.\nLet the Almighty answer me.\nLet the one who accuses me write down his charges."},{"verse":36,"text":"I would surely carry them on my shoulder.\nI would wear them like a crown."},{"verse":37,"text":"I would tell God about every step I have taken.\nI would come near him like a prince.)"},{"verse":38,"text":"If my land cries out against me\nand its plowed rows weep together,"},{"verse":39,"text":"if I have eaten its crops without paying for them,\nor crushed the spirit of the people who farm it,"},{"verse":40,"text":"then let thorns grow instead of wheat.\nLet stinking weeds grow instead of barley.\"\nThis is the end of the words of Job."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So these three men stopped answering Job, because Job thought he was right in his own eyes."},{"verse":2,"text":"This made Elihu very angry. He was the son of Barachel the Buzite, from the family of Ram. He burned with anger at Job, because Job said he was right instead of saying God was right."},{"verse":3,"text":"He also burned with anger at Job's three friends. They had not been able to prove Job wrong, but they still said he was guilty."},{"verse":4,"text":"Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the others were older than he was."},{"verse":5,"text":"But he saw that the three men had nothing more to say. Then he became angry."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite said,\n\"I am young, and you are old.\nThat is why I was shy.\nI was afraid to tell you what I know."},{"verse":7,"text":"I thought, 'Older people should speak.\nThose who have lived many years should teach wisdom.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"But there is a spirit in a person.\nThe breath of the Almighty gives him understanding."},{"verse":9,"text":"It is not only old people who are wise.\nIt is not only the aged who understand what is fair."},{"verse":10,"text":"So I say, 'Listen to me.\nI will also tell you what I know.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"I waited while you spoke.\nI listened to your reasons\nwhile you looked for words to say."},{"verse":12,"text":"I paid close attention to you.\nBut none of you proved Job wrong.\nNot one of you answered what he said."},{"verse":13,"text":"So don't say, 'We have found wisdom.\nLet God prove him wrong, not man.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"Job has not aimed his words at me.\nAnd I will not answer him the way you did."},{"verse":15,"text":"Job's friends are upset and have nothing more to say.\nThey have run out of words."},{"verse":16,"text":"Must I keep waiting now that they are quiet?\nThey just stand there and don't answer anymore."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will also give my answer.\nYes, I will tell what I know."},{"verse":18,"text":"I am full of words.\nThe spirit inside me pushes me to speak."},{"verse":19,"text":"Inside, I am like wine that has no air hole.\nI am about to burst like a new wineskin."},{"verse":20,"text":"I must speak so I can feel better.\nI must open my mouth and answer."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will not take anyone's side.\nI will not say nice things to please anyone."},{"verse":22,"text":"I don't know how to flatter people.\nIf I did, my Maker would quickly take me away."}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"But now, Job, hear what I have to say.\nListen to all my words."},{"verse":2,"text":"Look, I am about to open my mouth.\nMy words are on the tip of my tongue."},{"verse":3,"text":"My words come from an honest heart.\nMy lips will truly say what I know."},{"verse":4,"text":"The Spirit of God has made me.\nThe breath of the Almighty gives me life."},{"verse":5,"text":"Answer me if you can.\nGet your case ready and stand up to me."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am just like you in God's eyes.\nI was also shaped from clay."},{"verse":7,"text":"Surely you don't need to be afraid of me.\nI will not press down hard on you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have spoken while I was listening.\nI heard you say these very words:"},{"verse":9,"text":"'I am pure and have done no wrong.\nI am clean, and there is no sin in me."},{"verse":10,"text":"But God looks for reasons to blame me.\nHe treats me like his enemy."},{"verse":11,"text":"He locks my feet in wooden blocks.\nHe watches every path I take.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"But listen, you are not right about this.\nI will answer you, because God is greater than any man."},{"verse":13,"text":"Why do you complain to God\nthat he doesn't answer anything people ask?"},{"verse":14,"text":"God speaks in one way and then in another.\nBut no one notices."},{"verse":15,"text":"He speaks in a dream, in a vision at night,\nwhen deep sleep comes on people\nas they sleep in their beds."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then he opens their ears.\nHe frightens them with warnings."},{"verse":17,"text":"He does this to turn a person away from doing wrong\nand to keep him from pride."},{"verse":18,"text":"He does it to save his soul from the Pit\nand to keep his life from perishing by the sword."},{"verse":19,"text":"Or a person is corrected on his bed with pain.\nHis bones ache all the time."},{"verse":20,"text":"So he hates the sight of bread.\nHe can't stand even his favorite food."},{"verse":21,"text":"His body wastes away until you can hardly see it.\nHis bones, once hidden, now stick out."},{"verse":22,"text":"He comes close to the Pit.\nHis life comes close to the messengers of death."},{"verse":23,"text":"But if there is a messenger on his side,\none go-between out of a thousand,\nto tell the man what is right for him,"},{"verse":24,"text":"to be kind to him and say,\n'Save him from going down to the Pit.\nI have found a ransom for him.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"Then his body becomes fresh like a child's.\nHe becomes young again."},{"verse":26,"text":"He prays to God, and God is pleased with him.\nHe sees God's face and shouts for joy.\nGod makes that man right with him again."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then he sings in front of people and says,\n'I sinned and twisted what was right.\nBut I did not get the punishment I deserved."},{"verse":28,"text":"God redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit.\nI will live and see the light.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"Yes, God does all these things for a person,\ntwo or even three times."},{"verse":30,"text":"He does it to bring his soul back from the Pit,\nso the light of life can shine on him."},{"verse":31,"text":"Pay attention, Job, and listen to me.\nBe quiet, and I will speak."},{"verse":32,"text":"But if you have something to say, answer me.\nSpeak up, because I want to show that you are in the right."},{"verse":33,"text":"If not, then listen to me.\nBe quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Elihu kept on speaking. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Hear my words, you wise men.\nListen to me, you who know a lot."},{"verse":3,"text":"The ear tests words\nlike the mouth tastes food."},{"verse":4,"text":"Let's choose for ourselves what is right.\nLet's learn together what is good."},{"verse":5,"text":"For Job has said, 'I am righteous.\nBut God has not treated me fairly."},{"verse":6,"text":"Should I lie about my case?\nMy wound can't be healed,\neven though I have done no wrong.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"Is there any man like Job?\nHe drinks up insults like water."},{"verse":8,"text":"He spends time with people who do evil.\nHe walks with wicked men."},{"verse":9,"text":"For he has said, 'It does a man no good\nto take delight in God.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So listen to me, you men who understand.\nGod would never do evil.\nThe Almighty would never do what is wrong."},{"verse":11,"text":"He pays a person back for what he has done.\nHe gives a person what his ways deserve."},{"verse":12,"text":"It is true that God does not do evil.\nThe Almighty does not twist what is fair."},{"verse":13,"text":"Who put God in charge of the earth?\nWho made him ruler over the whole world?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Suppose he made up his mind\nto take back his Spirit and his breath."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then every living thing would die together.\nPeople would go back to the dust."},{"verse":16,"text":"If you understand, hear this.\nListen to what I say."},{"verse":17,"text":"Could someone who hates justice rule?\nWill you say that the fair and mighty God is guilty?"},{"verse":18,"text":"He is the one who says to kings, 'You are worthless!'\nHe says to nobles, 'You are wicked.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"He does not take the side of princes.\nHe does not favor the rich over the poor.\nAll of them are the work of his hands."},{"verse":20,"text":"They die in a moment, in the middle of the night.\nThe people shake and pass away.\nThe mighty are taken away, but not by a human hand."},{"verse":21,"text":"God's eyes watch the ways of a person.\nHe sees every step he takes."},{"verse":22,"text":"There is no darkness or deep shadow\nwhere those who do evil can hide."},{"verse":23,"text":"God does not need to look at a person any longer\nor bring him in to be judged."},{"verse":24,"text":"He breaks the mighty without asking any questions.\nHe puts others in their place."},{"verse":25,"text":"He knows what they have done.\nSo he throws them down in the night, and they are crushed."},{"verse":26,"text":"He strikes them down for their evil\nwhere everyone can see."},{"verse":27,"text":"He does this because they turned away from him.\nThey did not care about any of his ways."},{"verse":28,"text":"They made the poor cry out to God.\nAnd he heard the cries of those who suffer."},{"verse":29,"text":"But if God stays quiet, who can blame him?\nIf he hides his face, who can see him?\nYet he watches over both people and nations."},{"verse":30,"text":"He does this so that godless men will not rule\nor set traps for the people."},{"verse":31,"text":"Suppose someone says to God,\n'I have taken my punishment.\nI will not do wrong anymore."},{"verse":32,"text":"Teach me what I can't see.\nIf I have done wrong, I won't do it again.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"Should God pay you back the way you want,\nwhen you have turned away from him?\nYou must choose, not me.\nSo tell me what you know."},{"verse":34,"text":"Men who understand will speak to me.\nWise men who hear me will say,"},{"verse":35,"text":"'Job speaks without knowing what he is talking about.\nHis words don't make sense.'"},{"verse":36,"text":"I wish Job would be tested to the very end,\nbecause he answers like a wicked man."},{"verse":37,"text":"For he adds rebellion to his sin.\nHe claps his hands among us.\nHe piles up his words against God.\""}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Elihu went on and said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Do you think this is fair?\nYou say, 'I am more right than God.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"You ask, 'What good is it to me?\nWhat do I gain by not sinning?'"},{"verse":4,"text":"I will answer you\nand your friends too."},{"verse":5,"text":"Look up at the sky and see.\nLook at the clouds high above you."},{"verse":6,"text":"If you sin, how does that hurt God?\nIf you do wrong again and again, what does it do to him?"},{"verse":7,"text":"If you do what is right, what do you give him?\nWhat does he get from your hand?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Your evil only hurts a person like you.\nThe good you do only helps another human being."},{"verse":9,"text":"People cry out when they are treated very cruelly.\nThey beg for help from the power of the mighty."},{"verse":10,"text":"But no one asks, 'Where is God my Maker?\nHe gives us songs in the night."},{"verse":11,"text":"He teaches us more than the animals of the earth.\nHe makes us wiser than the birds of the sky.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"They cry out there, but God does not answer,\nbecause evil people are proud."},{"verse":13,"text":"God surely does not listen to empty begging.\nThe Almighty pays no attention to it."},{"verse":14,"text":"So he will listen even less when you say you don't see him.\nYou say your case is in front of him,\nand you must wait for him."},{"verse":15,"text":"You also say that he has not punished anyone in his anger.\nYou say he does not pay much attention to foolish acts!"},{"verse":16,"text":"So Job opens his mouth for nothing.\nHe piles up words without knowledge.\""}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Elihu kept speaking. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Be patient with me a little longer.\nI will show you there is more to say for God."},{"verse":3,"text":"I get my knowledge from far away.\nI will show that my Maker is fair."},{"verse":4,"text":"My words are truly not false.\nOne who knows things perfectly is with you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Yes, God is mighty, but he does not hate anyone.\nHe is mighty and strong in understanding."},{"verse":6,"text":"He does not let the wicked go on living.\nBut he gives justice to those who suffer."},{"verse":7,"text":"He does not take his eyes off people who do right.\nHe seats them on thrones with kings.\nHe lifts them up forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"But suppose people are tied up in chains.\nSuppose they are caught in ropes of suffering."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then God tells them what they have done.\nHe shows them how proudly they have sinned."},{"verse":10,"text":"He opens their ears to hear his correction.\nHe commands them to turn away from sin."},{"verse":11,"text":"If they obey and serve him,\nthey will spend the rest of their days doing well.\nThey will spend their years being happy."},{"verse":12,"text":"But if they do not obey,\nthey will perish by the sword.\nThey will die without knowing better."},{"verse":13,"text":"People with godless hearts hold on to anger.\nEven when God ties them up, they don't cry for help."},{"verse":14,"text":"They die while they are young.\nThey die among the male shrine prostitutes."},{"verse":15,"text":"God saves those who suffer through their suffering.\nHe opens their ears when they are treated cruelly."},{"verse":16,"text":"Yes, he pulled you out of the jaws of trouble\ninto a wide, open place.\nHe set a table for you full of rich food."},{"verse":17,"text":"But now you are loaded down with the judgment that wicked people deserve.\nJudgment and justice have taken hold of you."},{"verse":18,"text":"Be careful that no one tempts you with riches.\nDon't let a big bribe lead you the wrong way."},{"verse":19,"text":"Can your riches keep you out of trouble?\nCan all your mighty efforts do it?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Don't wish for the night to come,\nwhen people disappear from their homes."},{"verse":21,"text":"Be careful not to turn to sin,\nfor you have chosen sin instead of suffering."},{"verse":22,"text":"Look, God is lifted high in his power.\nWho is a teacher like him?"},{"verse":23,"text":"Who has told him which way to go?\nWho has said to him, 'You have done wrong'?"},{"verse":24,"text":"Remember to praise his work.\nPeople have praised it in songs."},{"verse":25,"text":"All people have seen it.\nThey look at it from far away."},{"verse":26,"text":"Yes, God is great, more than we can know.\nNo one can count the number of his years."},{"verse":27,"text":"He pulls up drops of water.\nThey turn into rain from the mist."},{"verse":28,"text":"The clouds pour down the rain.\nThey shower lots of rain on people."},{"verse":29,"text":"Who can understand how the clouds spread out?\nWho knows how the thunder roars from his tent?"},{"verse":30,"text":"See how he spreads his lightning around him.\nHe covers the bottom of the sea."},{"verse":31,"text":"This is how he judges the nations.\nThis is how he gives plenty of food."},{"verse":32,"text":"He fills his hands with lightning.\nHe commands it to hit its target."},{"verse":33,"text":"The thunder tells that he is near.\nEven the cattle know the storm is coming."}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"This makes my heart pound too.\nIt jumps out of its place."},{"verse":2,"text":"Listen closely to the thunder of his voice.\nListen to the rumbling that comes from his mouth."},{"verse":3,"text":"He sets his lightning loose under the whole sky.\nHe sends it to the ends of the earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then a roaring sound comes.\nHe thunders with his great voice.\nWhen his voice sounds, he does not hold back the lightning."},{"verse":5,"text":"God's voice thunders in wonderful ways.\nHe does great things we can't understand."},{"verse":6,"text":"He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth.'\nHe says to the light rain, 'Pour down hard.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"He stops every person from working with his hands,\nso that all people may know his work."},{"verse":8,"text":"The wild animals go into their hiding places.\nThey settle down in their dens."},{"verse":9,"text":"The storm comes out of its room.\nThe cold comes from the strong north winds."},{"verse":10,"text":"The breath of God makes ice.\nThe wide waters freeze."},{"verse":11,"text":"He fills the clouds with water.\nHe scatters his lightning through them."},{"verse":12,"text":"They swirl around and turn where he leads them.\nThey do all that he commands\nover the face of the whole earth."},{"verse":13,"text":"He makes this happen to punish people\nor for the good of his land.\nHe does it in his faithful love."},{"verse":14,"text":"Listen to this, Job.\nStand still and think about the wonders of God."},{"verse":15,"text":"Do you know how God sends out the clouds?\nDo you know how he makes the lightning flash?"},{"verse":16,"text":"Do you understand how the clouds float?\nThey are the wonders of the one who knows everything perfectly."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your clothes get hot\nwhen the land is still under the south wind."},{"verse":18,"text":"Can you spread out the skies like God does?\nThey are as hard as a bronze mirror."},{"verse":19,"text":"Teach us what we should say to God.\nWe can't put our case together because we are in the dark."},{"verse":20,"text":"Should God be told that I want to speak?\nWould anyone ask to be swallowed up?"},{"verse":21,"text":"No one can look at the sun when it is bright in the sky,\nafter the wind has swept the sky clean."},{"verse":22,"text":"God comes out of the north in golden glory.\nAwesome majesty is all around him."},{"verse":23,"text":"We cannot reach the Almighty.\nHe is lifted high in power!\nHe is fair and very righteous.\nHe does not treat people cruelly."},{"verse":24,"text":"That is why people fear him.\nHe does not pay attention to those who think they are wise.\""}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Who is this who darkens my plans\nwith words that have no knowledge?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Now get ready like a man.\nI will ask you questions, and you will answer me."},{"verse":4,"text":"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?\nTell me, if you understand."},{"verse":5,"text":"Who decided how big it would be? Surely you know!\nWho stretched a measuring line across it?"},{"verse":6,"text":"What were its foundations set on?\nWho laid its cornerstone"},{"verse":7,"text":"while the morning stars sang together\nand all the sons of God shouted for joy?","note":"\"Sons of God\" here likely means angels."},{"verse":8,"text":"Who shut the sea behind doors\nwhen it burst out of the womb,"},{"verse":9,"text":"when I made the clouds its clothing\nand thick darkness its blanket,"},{"verse":10,"text":"when I set its borders\nand put its bars and doors in place,"},{"verse":11,"text":"and I said, 'You may come this far, but no farther.\nHere your proud waves must stop'?"},{"verse":12,"text":"In your life, have you ever given orders to the morning,\nor shown the dawn its place,"},{"verse":13,"text":"so that it might spread to the ends of the earth\nand shake the wicked out of it?"},{"verse":14,"text":"The earth takes shape like clay pressed by a seal.\nIts hills stand out like the folds of a robe."},{"verse":15,"text":"Light is kept from the wicked.\nTheir arm that is raised to strike is broken."},{"verse":16,"text":"Have you traveled to the springs at the bottom of the sea?\nHave you walked in the deep valleys of the ocean?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Have the gates of death been shown to you?\nHave you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?"},{"verse":18,"text":"Do you know how big the earth is?\nTell me, if you know all this."},{"verse":19,"text":"What is the way to the home of light?\nWhere does darkness live?"},{"verse":20,"text":"so you can lead it back to its border?\nDo you know the paths to its home?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Surely you know, because you were already born!\nYou have lived so many years!"},{"verse":22,"text":"Have you gone into the storerooms of snow?\nHave you seen the storerooms of hail?"},{"verse":23,"text":"I keep them ready for times of trouble,\nfor days of war and battle."},{"verse":24,"text":"Which way does the lightning spread out?\nWhere does the east wind blow across the earth?"},{"verse":25,"text":"Who cuts a ditch for the flood\nor clears a path for the thunderbolt"},{"verse":26,"text":"to bring rain on land where nothing grows,\non a desert where no one lives,"},{"verse":27,"text":"to water the dry wasteland\nand make soft grass grow there?"},{"verse":28,"text":"Does the rain have a father?\nWho is the father of the drops of dew?"},{"verse":29,"text":"Whose womb does the ice come from?\nWho gives birth to the frost from the sky"},{"verse":30,"text":"when the waters become as hard as stone\nand the top of the deep sea freezes?"},{"verse":31,"text":"Can you tie up the chains of the Pleiades?\nCan you loosen the belt of Orion?","note":"The Pleiades and Orion are groups of stars."},{"verse":32,"text":"Can you bring out the star groups in their seasons?\nCan you lead out the Bear and her cubs?"},{"verse":33,"text":"Do you know the laws of the skies?\nCan you set up their rule over the earth?"},{"verse":34,"text":"Can you shout orders to the clouds\nso that a flood of water covers you?"},{"verse":35,"text":"Can you send the lightning bolts on their way?\nDo they come to you and say, 'Here we are'?"},{"verse":36,"text":"Who put wisdom in the heart?\nWho gave understanding to the mind?"},{"verse":37,"text":"Who is wise enough to count the clouds?\nWho can tip over the water jars of the sky"},{"verse":38,"text":"when the dust turns hard\nand the clumps of dirt stick together?"},{"verse":39,"text":"Can you hunt food for a lioness?\nCan you fill up the hungry young lions"},{"verse":40,"text":"when they crouch in their dens\nand wait in the bushes to attack?"},{"verse":41,"text":"Who gives food to the raven\nwhen its young cry out to God\nand wander around with nothing to eat?"}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Do you know when mountain goats give birth?\nHave you watched the deer have her fawn?"},{"verse":2,"text":"Can you count the months until they give birth?\nDo you know the time when they have their babies?"},{"verse":3,"text":"They crouch down and have their young.\nTheir babies are born."},{"verse":4,"text":"Their young ones grow strong in the open field.\nThey leave and don't come back."},{"verse":5,"text":"Who let the wild donkey go free?\nWho untied the ropes of the fast donkey?"},{"verse":6,"text":"I made the wilderness his home.\nI gave him the salt flats as his place to live."},{"verse":7,"text":"He laughs at the noise of the city.\nHe never hears a driver shouting at him."},{"verse":8,"text":"He wanders the mountains to find grass.\nHe looks for anything green."},{"verse":9,"text":"Will the wild ox agree to serve you?\nWill he stay by your feeding trough at night?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Can you tie him with a rope to plow a row?\nWill he plow the valleys behind you?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Can you count on him because he is so strong?\nWill you leave your hard work to him?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Can you trust him to bring in your grain\nand gather it to your threshing floor?"},{"verse":13,"text":"The ostrich flaps her wings with joy.\nBut her wings and feathers can't compare to the stork's."},{"verse":14,"text":"She lays her eggs on the ground.\nShe lets them warm in the sand."},{"verse":15,"text":"She forgets that a foot may crush them.\nShe forgets that a wild animal may step on them."},{"verse":16,"text":"She is harsh with her young, as if they were not hers.\nShe doesn't care that her work might be wasted."},{"verse":17,"text":"For God did not give her wisdom.\nHe did not give her understanding."},{"verse":18,"text":"But when she proudly spreads her wings,\nshe laughs at the horse and its rider."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do you give the horse his strength?\nDo you cover his neck with a flowing mane?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Do you make him jump like a locust?\nHis proud snorting is terrifying."},{"verse":21,"text":"He paws the ground in the valley.\nHe is happy in his strength.\nHe charges into battle."},{"verse":22,"text":"He laughs at fear and is afraid of nothing.\nHe does not turn back from the sword."},{"verse":23,"text":"A quiver of arrows rattles at his side.\nA spear and a lance flash there too."},{"verse":24,"text":"He shakes with excitement and races across the ground.\nHe can't stand still when the ram's horn blows."},{"verse":25,"text":"When the horn blows, he snorts with eagerness.\nHe smells the battle from far away.\nHe hears the shouts of the captains and the cry of war."},{"verse":26,"text":"Does the hawk fly because you are wise?\nDoes he spread his wings toward the south because of you?"},{"verse":27,"text":"Does the eagle soar because you tell it to?\nDoes it build its nest up high because of you?"},{"verse":28,"text":"He lives on a cliff and stays there at night.\nHis fortress is on a rocky peak."},{"verse":29,"text":"From there he looks for food.\nHis eyes see it from far away."},{"verse":30,"text":"His young ones feed on blood.\nWherever the dead bodies are, there he is.\""}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"And the LORD said to Job,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Will the one who finds fault argue with the Almighty?\nLet the one who argues with God give an answer.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Job answered the LORD. He said,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Look, I am not important.\nHow can I answer you?\nI put my hand over my mouth."},{"verse":5,"text":"I spoke once, but I have no answer.\nI spoke twice, but I have nothing more to say.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind. He said,"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Now get ready like a man.\nI will ask you questions, and you will answer me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Would you really say I am not fair?\nWould you say I am guilty so you can look right?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Do you have an arm like God's?\nCan your voice thunder like his?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Then dress yourself in majesty and glory.\nPut on honor and splendor like clothes."},{"verse":11,"text":"Let your great anger loose.\nLook at every proud man and bring him down."},{"verse":12,"text":"Look at every proud man and make him humble.\nCrush the wicked right where they stand."},{"verse":13,"text":"Bury them all together in the dust.\nLock them up in the grave."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then I will admit to you\nthat your own right hand can save you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Look at Behemoth.\nI made him, just as I made you.\nHe eats grass like an ox."},{"verse":16,"text":"See how strong his hips are.\nSee the power in the muscles of his belly."},{"verse":17,"text":"His tail sways like a cedar tree.\nThe muscles of his thighs are tightly woven together."},{"verse":18,"text":"His bones are like pipes of bronze.\nHis legs are like bars of iron."},{"verse":19,"text":"He is first among the things God made.\nOnly his Maker can come at him with a sword."},{"verse":20,"text":"The hills give him their food,\nwhile all the wild animals play nearby."},{"verse":21,"text":"He lies under the lotus plants.\nHe hides among the reeds in the swamp."},{"verse":22,"text":"The lotus plants hide him in their shade.\nThe willow trees by the stream are all around him."},{"verse":23,"text":"When the river rages, Behemoth is not afraid.\nHe stays calm and safe,\neven when the Jordan rushes up to his mouth."},{"verse":24,"text":"Can anyone catch him while he is watching?\nCan anyone trap him and put a hook through his nose?"}]},{"chapter":41,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook?\nCan you tie down his tongue with a rope?"},{"verse":2,"text":"Can you put a rope through his nose?\nCan you stick a hook through his jaw?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Will he beg you for mercy?\nWill he speak gently to you?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Will he make a covenant with you\nso you can keep him as your slave for life?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Can you play with him like a pet bird?\nCan you put him on a leash for your young girls?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Will traders bargain for him?\nWill they cut him up and share him among the merchants?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Can you fill his skin with harpoons?\nCan you fill his head with fishing spears?"},{"verse":8,"text":"If you put your hand on him,\nyou will remember the fight.\nYou will never do it again!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Any hope of beating him is false.\nJust seeing him is too much for anyone!"},{"verse":10,"text":"No one is brave enough to wake Leviathan.\nThen who can stand up against me?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Who has given me anything that I must pay back?\nEverything under heaven belongs to me."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will not keep quiet about his legs.\nI will speak about his power and his fine shape."},{"verse":13,"text":"Who can strip off his outer coat?\nWho can come near him with a bridle?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Who can open his mouth?\nIt is circled by his scary teeth."},{"verse":15,"text":"His rows of scales are his pride.\nThey are sealed tightly together."},{"verse":16,"text":"Each scale is so close to the next\nthat no air can get between them."},{"verse":17,"text":"They are joined to each other.\nThey hold on tight and can't be pulled apart."},{"verse":18,"text":"When he snorts, light flashes.\nHis eyes are like the rays of the sunrise."},{"verse":19,"text":"Burning torches stream out of his mouth.\nSparks of fire shoot out!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Smoke pours out of his nose,\nlike smoke from a boiling pot over burning reeds."},{"verse":21,"text":"His breath sets coals on fire.\nFlames pour out of his mouth."},{"verse":22,"text":"His neck is full of strength.\nFear jumps ahead of him."},{"verse":23,"text":"The folds of his skin are tightly joined.\nThey are firm and can't be moved."},{"verse":24,"text":"His chest is as hard as a rock.\nIt is as hard as a bottom millstone!"},{"verse":25,"text":"When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified.\nThey back away when he thrashes."},{"verse":26,"text":"A sword that hits him does nothing.\nA spear, a dart, or an arrow does nothing either."},{"verse":27,"text":"To him, iron is like straw.\nBronze is like rotten wood."},{"verse":28,"text":"Arrows can't make him run away.\nStones from a sling are like chaff to him."},{"verse":29,"text":"To him, a club is like straw.\nHe laughs at the sound of the lance."},{"verse":30,"text":"His underside is like sharp pieces of broken pottery.\nHe leaves marks in the mud like a threshing sledge."},{"verse":31,"text":"He makes the deep water boil like a pot.\nHe stirs up the sea like a jar of ointment."},{"verse":32,"text":"He leaves a shining trail behind him.\nYou would think the deep sea had white hair!"},{"verse":33,"text":"Nothing on earth is equal to him.\nHe is a creature with no fear!"},{"verse":34,"text":"He looks down on all the proud.\nHe is king over all who are proud.\""}]},{"chapter":42,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Job answered the LORD. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I know that you can do all things.\nNo plan of yours can be stopped."},{"verse":3,"text":"You asked, 'Who is this who hides my plans without knowledge?'\nI surely spoke about things I did not understand.\nThey were too wonderful for me to know."},{"verse":4,"text":"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak.\nI will ask you questions, and you will answer me.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"My ears had heard about you.\nBut now my eyes have seen you."},{"verse":6,"text":"So I hate myself.\nI repent in dust and ashes.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"After the LORD had said these things to Job, he spoke to Eliphaz the Temanite. He said, \"I am very angry with you and your two friends. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has."},{"verse":8,"text":"So now, take seven bulls and seven rams. Go to my servant Job. Offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then my servant Job will pray for you. I will accept his prayer and not treat you as your foolishness deserves. For you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD told them. And the LORD accepted Job's prayer."},{"verse":10,"text":"After Job prayed for his friends, the LORD gave back his wealth. He gave Job twice as much as he had before."},{"verse":11,"text":"All of Job's brothers and sisters came to his house. So did everyone who had known him before. They ate with him there. They comforted him and showed him kindness for all the trouble the LORD had brought on him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring."},{"verse":12,"text":"So the LORD blessed the last part of Job's life more than the first. Job owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 pairs of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys."},{"verse":13,"text":"He also had seven sons and three daughters."},{"verse":14,"text":"He named his first daughter Jemimah. He named his second daughter Keziah. He named his third daughter Keren-happuch."},{"verse":15,"text":"In all the land, there were no women as beautiful as Job's daughters. Their father gave them a share of his property along with their brothers."},{"verse":16,"text":"After this, Job lived 140 years. He saw his children and their children, all the way to the fourth generation."},{"verse":17,"text":"And so Job died. He was old and had lived a full life."}]}]},{"name":"Psalms","slug":"psalms","usfm":"PSA","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Blessed is the man who does not walk by the advice of the wicked.\nHe does not stand on the path of sinners.\nHe does not sit in the seat of those who mock."},{"verse":2,"text":"Instead, he delights in the Law of the LORD.\nHe thinks about his law day and night."},{"verse":3,"text":"He is like a tree planted by streams of water.\nIt gives its fruit at the right time.\nIts leaf does not dry up.\nHe does well in all he does."},{"verse":4,"text":"The wicked are not like that!\nThey are like chaff that the wind blows away."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the wicked will not stand when God judges.\nSinners will not stand in the gathering of those who are right with God."},{"verse":6,"text":"For the LORD guards the path of those who are right with him.\nBut the way of the wicked will perish."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Why are the nations so angry?\nWhy do the peoples make plans that will fail?"},{"verse":2,"text":"The kings of the earth take their stand.\nThe rulers gather together.\nThey stand against the LORD and against his Anointed One."},{"verse":3,"text":"They say, \"Let's break their chains.\nLet's throw off their ropes.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The One who sits on his throne in heaven laughs.\nThe Lord makes fun of them."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then he scolds them in his anger.\nHe fills them with fear in his great rage."},{"verse":6,"text":"He says, \"I have set my King on Zion,\non my holy mountain.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"I will announce what the LORD has said to me.\nHe said, \"You are my Son.\nToday I have become your Father."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your share.\nThe ends of the earth will be yours."},{"verse":9,"text":"You will break them with an iron scepter.\nYou will smash them like clay pots.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So be wise, you kings.\nBe warned, you judges of the earth."},{"verse":11,"text":"Serve the LORD with fear.\nBe glad, and tremble too."},{"verse":12,"text":"Kiss the Son, or he will be angry,\nand you will perish in your rebellion,\nwhen his anger flares up in a moment.\nBlessed are all who run to him to be safe."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David. He wrote it when he ran away from his son Absalom.\nLORD, I have so many enemies!\nSo many people rise up against me!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Many people say about me,\n\"God will not save him.\"\nSelah"},{"verse":3,"text":"But you, LORD, are a shield all around me.\nYou are my glory.\nYou are the One who lifts up my head."},{"verse":4,"text":"I cry out loud to the LORD.\nHe answers me from his holy mountain.\nSelah"},{"verse":5,"text":"I lie down and sleep.\nI wake up again, for the LORD keeps me going."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will not be afraid of the many thousands\nwho are set against me on every side."},{"verse":7,"text":"Get up, LORD! Save me, my God!\nHit all my enemies on the jaw.\nBreak the teeth of the wicked."},{"verse":8,"text":"Salvation belongs to the LORD.\nMay your blessing be on your people.\nSelah"}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To be played on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.\nAnswer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!\nYou have set me free when I was in trouble.\nShow me grace and hear my prayer."},{"verse":2,"text":"You men, how long will you insult my honor?\nHow long will you love what is empty and chase after lies?\nSelah"},{"verse":3,"text":"Know this: the LORD has set apart for himself those who are faithful to him.\nThe LORD hears me when I call to him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Be angry, but do not sin.\nWhen you are on your bed, look deep into your heart and be still.\nSelah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Offer the sacrifices of those who do what is right.\nTrust in the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Many people ask, \"Who can show us anything good?\"\nLORD, let the light of your face shine on us."},{"verse":7,"text":"You have filled my heart with joy.\nIt is more joy than people have when they have lots of grain and new wine."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will lie down and sleep in peace.\nFor you alone, LORD, keep me safe."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To be played with flutes. A psalm of David.\nLORD, listen to my words.\nThink about my groaning."},{"verse":2,"text":"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God.\nFor I pray to you."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice.\nAt sunrise I bring my request to you.\nThen I wait and watch for your answer."},{"verse":4,"text":"For you are not a God who is pleased with evil.\nNo evil can live with you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Proud people cannot stand before you.\nYou hate all who do wrong."},{"verse":6,"text":"You destroy those who tell lies.\nThe LORD hates a man who kills and tricks people."},{"verse":7,"text":"But because of your great and faithful love,\nI will come into your house.\nWith deep respect I will bow down toward your holy temple."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD, lead me in your righteousness,\nbecause I have enemies.\nMake your way straight in front of me."},{"verse":9,"text":"For not one word they say can be trusted.\nThey are full of plans to destroy.\nTheir throats are open graves.\nTheir tongues tell lies."},{"verse":10,"text":"God, declare them guilty.\nLet them fall because of their own plans.\nDrive them out for their many sins,\nfor they have turned against you."},{"verse":11,"text":"But let all who run to you to be safe be glad.\nLet them always shout for joy.\nCover them with your care,\nso those who love your name may be glad in you."},{"verse":12,"text":"For you surely bless those who are right with you, LORD.\nYour kindness is like a shield all around them."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To be played on stringed instruments, by the Sheminith. A psalm of David.\nLORD, do not scold me in your anger.\nDo not punish me in your great anger.","note":"Sheminith is a music term; it may mean \"the eighth,\" perhaps an eight-string harp or a low pitch."},{"verse":2,"text":"Be kind to me, LORD, for I am weak.\nHeal me, LORD, for my bones are in great pain."},{"verse":3,"text":"My soul is very upset.\nHow long, LORD? How long?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Turn to me, LORD, and rescue my soul.\nSave me because of your faithful love."},{"verse":5,"text":"For no one remembers you when they are dead.\nWho can praise you from the grave?","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am worn out from groaning.\nAll night long I flood my bed with crying.\nI soak my couch with tears."},{"verse":7,"text":"My eyes are weak from sadness.\nThey grow dim because of all my enemies."},{"verse":8,"text":"Get away from me, all you who do evil!\nFor the LORD has heard me crying."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD has heard me beg for mercy.\nThe LORD accepts my prayer."},{"verse":10,"text":"All my enemies will be ashamed and full of fear.\nThey will turn back in sudden shame."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A Shiggaion of David. He sang it to the LORD about what Cush, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, said.\nLORD my God, I run to you to be safe.\nSave me and rescue me from all who chase me.","note":"Shiggaion is a music term; its meaning is uncertain."},{"verse":2,"text":"If you don't, they will rip me apart like a lion.\nThey will tear me to pieces, and no one will rescue me."},{"verse":3,"text":"LORD my God, if I have done this,\nif my hands have done wrong,"},{"verse":4,"text":"if I have paid back my friend with evil,\nif I have robbed my enemy for no reason,"},{"verse":5,"text":"then let my enemy chase me and catch me.\nLet him stomp me into the ground.\nLet him leave my honor in the dust.\nSelah"},{"verse":6,"text":"Get up, LORD, in your anger.\nRise up against the rage of my enemies.\nWake up, my God, and order that justice be done."},{"verse":7,"text":"Let the peoples gather all around you.\nSit on your throne high above them."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD judges the peoples.\nLORD, judge me and show that I am right,\nbecause I have done right and kept my heart pure."},{"verse":9,"text":"Put an end to the evil of the wicked.\nBut make those who are right with you stand firm,\nO righteous God,\nyou who look deep into hearts and minds."},{"verse":10,"text":"God is my shield.\nHe saves those whose hearts are honest."},{"verse":11,"text":"God is a righteous judge.\nHe is a God who is angry at evil every day."},{"verse":12,"text":"If a person does not turn back to God, God will sharpen his sword.\nHe has bent his bow and put on the string."},{"verse":13,"text":"He has made his deadly weapons ready.\nHe makes his arrows into flaming arrows."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, the wicked man is full of evil, like a woman in labor.\nHe becomes pregnant with trouble.\nHe gives birth to lies."},{"verse":15,"text":"He has dug a hole and made it deep.\nThen he has fallen into the pit he made."},{"verse":16,"text":"The trouble he causes comes back on him.\nHis violence falls on his own head."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will thank the LORD because he is righteous.\nI will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. By the Gittith. A psalm of David.\nLORD, our Lord, how great is your name in all the earth!\nYou have set your glory above the heavens.","note":"Gittith is a music term; its meaning is uncertain."},{"verse":2,"text":"You have made children and babies speak your praise.\nYou did it because of your enemies,\nto silence the enemy and the one who wants revenge."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I look at your heavens, which your fingers made,\nthe moon and the stars, which you set in place,"},{"verse":4,"text":"what is man that you think about him?\nWhat is the son of man that you care for him?"},{"verse":5,"text":"You made him a little lower than the angels.\nYou put glory and honor on him like a crown."},{"verse":6,"text":"You made him ruler over what your hands made.\nYou put everything under his feet:"},{"verse":7,"text":"all sheep and cattle,\nand even the wild animals,"},{"verse":8,"text":"the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea,\nall that swim the paths of the seas."},{"verse":9,"text":"LORD, our Lord,\nhow great is your name in all the earth!"}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To the tune of \"The Death of the Son.\" A psalm of David.\nI will thank the LORD with all my heart.\nI will tell about all the amazing things you have done."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will be glad and full of joy in you.\nI will sing praise to your name, O Most High."},{"verse":3,"text":"When my enemies turn back,\nthey trip and perish before you."},{"verse":4,"text":"For you have stood up for me when I was in the right.\nYou sit on your throne and judge fairly."},{"verse":5,"text":"You have scolded the nations.\nYou have destroyed the wicked.\nYou have wiped out their name forever and ever."},{"verse":6,"text":"The enemy is ruined forever.\nYou have pulled up their cities by the roots.\nEven the memory of them is gone."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the LORD rules forever.\nHe has set up his throne to judge."},{"verse":8,"text":"He judges the world with justice.\nHe rules the people fairly."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD is a safe place for those who are treated badly.\nHe is a strong tower in times of trouble."},{"verse":10,"text":"Those who know your name trust in you.\nFor you, LORD, have not forsaken those who look for you."},{"verse":11,"text":"Sing praises to the LORD, who lives in Zion.\nTell the nations what he has done."},{"verse":12,"text":"For the God who pays back murder remembers.\nHe does not ignore the cry of those who suffer."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be kind to me, LORD.\nSee how my enemies hurt me!\nLift me up from the gates of death,"},{"verse":14,"text":"so that I may tell all your praises,\nso that inside the gates of Daughter Zion\nI may be glad that you saved me."},{"verse":15,"text":"The nations have fallen into the pit they dug.\nTheir feet are caught in the net they hid."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD is known by the justice he brings.\nThe wicked are trapped by what their own hands have done.\nHiggaion. Selah","note":"Higgaion is a music term; it may mean a quiet tune or time to think."},{"verse":17,"text":"The wicked will go back to the grave.\nSo will all the nations that forget God.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":18,"text":"For the needy will not always be forgotten.\nThe hope of the poor will not be crushed forever."},{"verse":19,"text":"Get up, LORD! Do not let man win.\nLet the nations be judged in front of you."},{"verse":20,"text":"Fill them with terror, LORD.\nLet the nations know they are only men.\nSelah"}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"LORD, why do you stand so far away?\nWhy do you hide in times of trouble?"},{"verse":2,"text":"The wicked are proud, and they chase the needy.\nLet them be caught in the evil plans they make."},{"verse":3,"text":"For the wicked man brags about what his heart wants.\nHe blesses greedy people and insults the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"The wicked man is proud, so he does not look for God.\nIn all his plans, there is no God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Things always go well for him.\nYour judgments are high above him, far out of his sight.\nHe sneers at all his enemies."},{"verse":6,"text":"He says to himself, \"Nothing will shake me.\nI will never have trouble, year after year.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"His mouth is full of curses, lies, and violence.\nTrouble and evil are under his tongue."},{"verse":8,"text":"He hides and waits near the villages.\nFrom his hiding place he kills people who did no wrong.\nHis eyes secretly watch for those who are helpless."},{"verse":9,"text":"He waits in hiding like a lion in the bushes.\nHe waits to grab the poor.\nHe catches the weak in his net."},{"verse":10,"text":"They are crushed and beaten down.\nThe helpless fall under his strength."},{"verse":11,"text":"He says to himself, \"God has forgotten.\nHe hides his face and never sees.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Get up, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God!\nDo not forget the helpless."},{"verse":13,"text":"Why does the wicked man turn his back on God?\nHe says to himself, \"You will never make me answer for what I do.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But you have seen the trouble and the sadness.\nYou watch so you can pay it back with your hand.\nThe one who is hurt trusts himself to you.\nYou help children who have no father."},{"verse":15,"text":"Break the arm of the wicked and evil man.\nMake him answer for his evil\nuntil there is none of it left to find."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD is King forever and ever.\nThe nations perish from his land."},{"verse":17,"text":"LORD, you have heard what the humble want.\nYou will make their hearts strong.\nYou will turn your ear to listen,"},{"verse":18,"text":"to stand up for children with no father and for those treated badly.\nThen people of the earth will not scare others anymore."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. Of David.\nI run to the LORD to be safe.\nSo how can you say to me,\n\"Fly away like a bird to your mountain!"},{"verse":2,"text":"For look, the wicked bend their bows.\nThey put their arrows on the string.\nThey shoot from the shadows at people whose hearts are honest."},{"verse":3,"text":"If the foundations are destroyed,\nwhat can the righteous do?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD is in his holy temple.\nThe LORD is on his throne in heaven.\nHis eyes watch closely.\nHe looks carefully at all people."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD tests those who do right and those who are wicked.\nHe hates with all his soul the one who loves violence."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will rain down burning coals and sulfur on the wicked.\nA burning wind will be what they get."},{"verse":7,"text":"For the LORD is righteous.\nHe loves justice.\nHonest people will see his face."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. By the Sheminith. A psalm of David.\nHelp, LORD, for the godly are gone!\nThe faithful have disappeared from among people."},{"verse":2,"text":"They lie to each other.\nThey use sweet talk to fool people.\nThey say one thing but mean another."},{"verse":3,"text":"May the LORD cut off all lips that use sweet talk to fool people.\nMay he cut off every tongue that brags."},{"verse":4,"text":"They say, \"Our tongues will make us win.\nOur lips belong to us. Who can be our master?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD says, \"The poor are treated badly.\nThe needy groan.\nSo now I will get up.\nI will keep safe the one who longs for help.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The words of the LORD are perfect.\nThey are like silver made pure in a furnace.\nThey are like gold made pure seven times."},{"verse":7,"text":"LORD, you will keep us safe.\nYou will guard us from these people forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"The wicked walk around freely.\nAnd people praise what is evil."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David.\nHow long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?\nHow long will you hide your face from me?"},{"verse":2,"text":"How long must I fight with my thoughts?\nHow long must I have sadness in my heart every day?\nHow long will my enemy win over me?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Look at me and answer me, LORD my God.\nGive light to my eyes,\nor I will sleep in death."},{"verse":4,"text":"or my enemy will say, \"I have beaten him,\"\nand my enemies will be glad when I fall."},{"verse":5,"text":"But I have trusted in your faithful love.\nMy heart will be glad because you save me."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will sing to the LORD,\nfor he has been good to me."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. Of David.\nThe fool says in his heart, \"There is no God.\"\nThey are rotten. The things they do are evil.\nThere is no one who does good."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD looks down from heaven at all people.\nHe looks to see if anyone understands.\nHe looks to see if anyone seeks God."},{"verse":3,"text":"All have turned away.\nThey have all become rotten together.\nThere is no one who does good, not even one."},{"verse":4,"text":"Will these evil people never learn?\nThey eat up my people as if they were eating bread.\nThey will not call on the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Look at them there, filled with terror!\nFor God is with the people who are right with him."},{"verse":6,"text":"You sinners spoil the plans of the poor.\nBut the LORD keeps them safe."},{"verse":7,"text":"Oh, I wish that Israel's saving help would come from Zion!\nWhen the LORD brings his captured people home,\nlet Jacob be full of joy! Let Israel be glad!"}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nLORD, who may stay in your tent?\nWho may live on your holy mountain?"},{"verse":2,"text":"It is the one who lives an honest life\nand does what is right.\nHe speaks the truth from his heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"He does not tell lies about others.\nHe does not hurt his neighbor.\nHe does not put down his friend."},{"verse":4,"text":"He hates what is evil.\nBut he honors those who fear the LORD.\nHe keeps his promise even when it costs him a lot."},{"verse":5,"text":"He lends his money without charging interest.\nHe will not take a bribe to hurt someone who did no wrong.\nThe one who does these things will never be shaken."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A Miktam of David.\nKeep me safe, O God,\nfor I run to you to be safe.","note":"Miktam is a music or poetry term; its meaning is uncertain."},{"verse":2,"text":"I said to the LORD, \"You are my Lord.\nWithout you I have nothing good.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"As for God's people in the land,\nthey are the great ones.\nAll my joy is in them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Those who run after other gods will have more and more sorrow.\nI will not pour out their offerings of blood.\nI will not even say the names of their gods."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD is my chosen share and my cup.\nYou keep safe what is mine."},{"verse":6,"text":"The lines of my land have fallen in pleasant places.\nThe land I received is truly wonderful."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will praise the LORD, who gives me advice.\nEven at night my heart teaches me."},{"verse":8,"text":"I always keep the LORD in front of me.\nHe is at my right hand,\nso I will not be shaken."},{"verse":9,"text":"So my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts for joy.\nMy body also will rest safely."},{"verse":10,"text":"For you will not leave my soul in the grave.\nYou will not let your Holy One rot away.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":11,"text":"You have shown me the path of life.\nYou will fill me with joy when I am with you.\nAt your right hand are pleasures that last forever."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A prayer of David.\nLORD, hear my honest plea.\nListen to my cry.\nHear my prayer.\nIt comes from lips that do not lie."},{"verse":2,"text":"May the proof that I am in the right come from you.\nMay your eyes see what is right."},{"verse":3,"text":"You have tested my heart.\nYou have come to me in the night.\nYou have tested me and found no evil.\nI have decided that my mouth will not sin."},{"verse":4,"text":"People do all kinds of things.\nBut because of what you said,\nI have kept away from the ways of violent people."},{"verse":5,"text":"My steps have stayed on your paths.\nMy feet have not slipped."},{"verse":6,"text":"I call to you, O God, for you will answer me.\nTurn your ear to me. Hear what I say."},{"verse":7,"text":"Show the wonders of your faithful love.\nWith your right hand you save\nthose who run to you to be safe from their enemies."},{"verse":8,"text":"Guard me as the apple of your eye.\nHide me in the shadow of your wings"},{"verse":9,"text":"from the wicked who attack me,\nfrom my deadly enemies who surround me."},{"verse":10,"text":"Their hearts are hard and closed.\nTheir mouths speak proud words."},{"verse":11,"text":"They have tracked us down, and now they surround us.\nThey watch for a chance to throw us to the ground."},{"verse":12,"text":"They are like a lion hungry for its prey.\nThey are like a young lion hiding and waiting to attack."},{"verse":13,"text":"Get up, LORD! Face them!\nMake them fall to their knees.\nWith your sword, rescue me from the wicked."},{"verse":14,"text":"LORD, by your hand, save me from such men.\nThey are people of this world.\nAll they get is in this life.\nBut fill the stomachs of those you treasure.\nLet their sons have plenty too.\nThen they will leave what is left to their children."},{"verse":15,"text":"As for me, I will see your face in righteousness.\nWhen I wake up, I will be satisfied to be with you."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. Of David, the servant of the LORD. He sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD saved him from all his enemies and from Saul. He said:\nI love you, LORD. You are my strength."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD is my rock, my fort, and the One who saves me.\nMy God is my rock. I run to him to be safe.\nHe is my shield and the horn that saves me.\nHe is my strong tower."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will call on the LORD, who is worthy of praise.\nThen I will be saved from my enemies."},{"verse":4,"text":"The ropes of death wrapped around me.\nWild floods of trouble swept over me."},{"verse":5,"text":"The ropes of the grave tangled around me.\nThe traps of death were in front of me.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":6,"text":"In my trouble I called to the LORD.\nI cried to my God for help.\nFrom his temple he heard my voice.\nMy cry for help reached his ears."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the earth shook and rocked.\nThe roots of the mountains trembled.\nThey shook because he was burning with anger."},{"verse":8,"text":"Smoke came up from his nose.\nFire that burns everything came from his mouth.\nRed-hot coals flamed out."},{"verse":9,"text":"He opened the heavens and came down.\nDark clouds were under his feet."},{"verse":10,"text":"He rode on a cherub and flew.\nHe soared on the wings of the wind."},{"verse":11,"text":"He made the darkness his hiding place.\nHe put storm clouds around him like a tent."},{"verse":12,"text":"His clouds came out from the brightness around him.\nHail and coals of fire came with them."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD thundered from heaven.\nThe voice of the Most High rang out.\nHail and coals of fire came down."},{"verse":14,"text":"He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies.\nHe threw lightning and made them run away."},{"verse":15,"text":"The bottom of the sea could be seen.\nThe foundations of the world were uncovered.\nThis happened when you scolded, LORD,\nat the blast of breath from your nose."},{"verse":16,"text":"He reached down from high above and took hold of me.\nHe pulled me out of deep waters."},{"verse":17,"text":"He rescued me from my powerful enemy.\nHe saved me from enemies who were too strong for me."},{"verse":18,"text":"They came at me on the day I was in trouble.\nBut the LORD held me up."},{"verse":19,"text":"He brought me out into an open place.\nHe rescued me because he was pleased with me."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD has rewarded me because I did what was right.\nHe has paid me back because my hands were clean."},{"verse":21,"text":"For I have kept the ways of the LORD.\nI have not done evil by turning away from my God."},{"verse":22,"text":"All his laws are in front of me.\nI have not ignored his rules."},{"verse":23,"text":"I have been without blame before him.\nI have kept myself from sin."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the LORD has paid me back because I did what was right,\nbecause my hands were clean in his sight."},{"verse":25,"text":"To the faithful, you show that you are faithful.\nTo those without blame, you show that you are without blame."},{"verse":26,"text":"To the pure, you show that you are pure.\nBut to the crooked, you show that you are clever."},{"verse":27,"text":"For you save people who are hurting.\nBut you bring down those with proud eyes."},{"verse":28,"text":"For you, LORD, light my lamp.\nMy God turns my darkness into light."},{"verse":29,"text":"For with your help I can attack an army.\nWith my God I can climb over a wall."},{"verse":30,"text":"As for God, his way is perfect.\nThe word of the LORD has no flaws.\nHe is a shield to all who run to him to be safe."},{"verse":31,"text":"For who is God except the LORD?\nWho is the Rock except our God?"},{"verse":32,"text":"It is God who gives me strength like armor.\nHe makes my way clear."},{"verse":33,"text":"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer.\nHe sets me up on the high places."},{"verse":34,"text":"He trains my hands for battle.\nMy arms can bend a bow of bronze."},{"verse":35,"text":"You have given me your shield that saves me.\nYour right hand holds me up.\nYour gentleness makes me great."},{"verse":36,"text":"You make a wide path for my feet,\nso my ankles do not turn."},{"verse":37,"text":"I chased my enemies and caught them.\nI did not turn back until they were wiped out."},{"verse":38,"text":"I crushed them so they could not get up.\nThey have fallen under my feet."},{"verse":39,"text":"You gave me strength for battle.\nYou made my enemies bow down under me."},{"verse":40,"text":"You made my enemies turn and run from me.\nI destroyed those who hated me."},{"verse":41,"text":"They cried for help, but no one saved them.\nThey cried to the LORD, but he did not answer."},{"verse":42,"text":"I beat them as fine as dust blown by the wind.\nI stomped on them like mud in the streets."},{"verse":43,"text":"You have saved me from the people who fought against me.\nYou have made me the head of nations.\nA people I did not know will serve me."},{"verse":44,"text":"As soon as they hear me, they obey me.\nForeigners bow down in fear before me."},{"verse":45,"text":"Foreigners lose heart.\nThey come out trembling from their strong forts."},{"verse":46,"text":"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!\nMay the God who saves me be honored as great."},{"verse":47,"text":"He is the God who pays back my enemies for me.\nHe makes nations bow down under me."},{"verse":48,"text":"He saves me from my enemies.\nYou lift me up above my enemies.\nYou rescue me from violent men."},{"verse":49,"text":"So I will praise you, LORD, among the nations.\nI will sing praises to your name."},{"verse":50,"text":"He gives his king great victories.\nHe shows faithful love to his anointed one,\nto David and his children forever."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David.\nThe heavens tell about the glory of God.\nThe skies show what his hands have made."},{"verse":2,"text":"Day after day they pour out speech.\nNight after night they show what they know."},{"verse":3,"text":"They have no speech or words.\nNo sound is heard from them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Yet their voice has gone out into all the earth.\nTheir words have gone to the ends of the world.\nIn the heavens God has set up a tent for the sun."},{"verse":5,"text":"The sun is like a groom coming out of his room.\nIt is like a strong runner who is glad to run his race."},{"verse":6,"text":"It rises at one end of the heavens.\nIt travels all the way to the other end.\nNothing is hidden from its heat."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Law of the LORD is perfect.\nIt gives new life to the soul.\nWhat the LORD says can be trusted.\nIt makes simple people wise."},{"verse":8,"text":"The rules of the LORD are right.\nThey bring joy to the heart.\nThe commands of the LORD shine bright.\nThey give light to the eyes."},{"verse":9,"text":"The fear of the LORD is pure.\nIt lasts forever.\nThe judgments of the LORD are true.\nThey are all completely right."},{"verse":10,"text":"They are worth more than gold,\neven lots of pure gold.\nThey are sweeter than honey,\neven honey straight from the comb."},{"verse":11,"text":"Your servant is warned by them.\nThere is a great reward for keeping them."},{"verse":12,"text":"Who can see his own mistakes?\nMake me clean from my hidden faults."},{"verse":13,"text":"Keep your servant from sins I choose to do.\nDo not let them rule over me.\nThen I will be without blame.\nI will be clean from great sin."},{"verse":14,"text":"May the words of my mouth\nand the thoughts of my heart please you,\nLORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David.\nMay the LORD answer you when you are in trouble.\nMay the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe."},{"verse":2,"text":"May he send you help from his holy place.\nMay he give you strength from Zion."},{"verse":3,"text":"May he remember all your gifts.\nMay he be pleased with your burnt offerings.\nSelah"},{"verse":4,"text":"May he give you what your heart wants.\nMay he make all your plans work out."},{"verse":5,"text":"May we shout for joy when you win.\nMay we raise a flag in the name of our God.\nMay the LORD give you all you ask for."},{"verse":6,"text":"Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed king.\nHe answers him from his holy heaven.\nHis right hand has power to save."},{"verse":7,"text":"Some trust in chariots, and some trust in horses.\nBut we trust in the name of the LORD our God."},{"verse":8,"text":"They fall down flat.\nBut we get up and stand strong."},{"verse":9,"text":"LORD, save the king!\nAnswer us when we call."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David.\nLORD, the king is glad because you are strong.\nHe is so full of joy because you saved him!"},{"verse":2,"text":"You have given him what his heart wanted.\nYou have not held back what he asked for.\nSelah"},{"verse":3,"text":"You came to meet him with rich blessings.\nYou put a crown of pure gold on his head."},{"verse":4,"text":"He asked you for life, and you gave it to him.\nYou gave him long life, forever and ever."},{"verse":5,"text":"He has great glory because you saved him.\nYou give him honor and greatness."},{"verse":6,"text":"For you give him blessings forever.\nYou make him glad with the joy of being with you."},{"verse":7,"text":"For the king trusts in the LORD.\nThe Most High's faithful love will keep him from being shaken."},{"verse":8,"text":"Your hand will catch all your enemies.\nYour right hand will grab those who hate you."},{"verse":9,"text":"When you appear, you will put them in a burning furnace.\nIn his anger the LORD will swallow them up.\nThe fire will burn them up."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will wipe their children off the earth.\nYou will remove their families from among people."},{"verse":11,"text":"They plan to hurt you.\nBut the evil plans they make will not work."},{"verse":12,"text":"For you will make them turn and run\nwhen you aim your bow at them."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be honored as great, LORD, in your strength.\nWe will sing and praise your power."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To the tune of \"The Doe of the Dawn.\" A psalm of David.\nMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\nWhy are you so far from saving me,\nso far from my words of groaning?"},{"verse":2,"text":"My God, I cry out in the daytime, but you do not answer.\nI cry out at night, but I find no rest."},{"verse":3,"text":"Yet you are holy.\nYou sit on your throne, and Israel's praises surround you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Our fathers trusted in you.\nThey trusted, and you saved them."},{"verse":5,"text":"They cried out to you and were set free.\nThey trusted in you and were not let down."},{"verse":6,"text":"But I am a worm and not a man.\nPeople laugh at me and look down on me."},{"verse":7,"text":"All who see me make fun of me.\nThey sneer and shake their heads."},{"verse":8,"text":"They say, \"He trusts in the LORD.\nLet the LORD save him.\nLet the LORD rescue him, since he is pleased with him.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Yet you brought me out of my mother's womb.\nYou kept me safe when I nursed at my mother's breast."},{"verse":10,"text":"From the time I was born, I was placed in your care.\nYou have been my God since I was in my mother's womb."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do not be far from me,\nfor trouble is near,\nand there is no one to help."},{"verse":12,"text":"Many bulls surround me.\nStrong bulls from Bashan circle around me."},{"verse":13,"text":"They open their mouths wide against me,\nlike lions that roar and rip their prey."},{"verse":14,"text":"I am poured out like water.\nAll my bones are out of joint.\nMy heart is like wax.\nIt melts away inside me."},{"verse":15,"text":"My strength is dried up like a broken piece of pottery.\nMy tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.\nYou lay me down in the dust of death."},{"verse":16,"text":"For dogs surround me.\nA gang of evil men circles around me.\nThey have pierced my hands and feet."},{"verse":17,"text":"I can count all my bones.\nPeople stare at me and are glad to see me suffer."},{"verse":18,"text":"They divide my clothes among them.\nThey cast lots for my clothing."},{"verse":19,"text":"But you, LORD, do not be far away.\nYou are my strength. Come quickly to help me."},{"verse":20,"text":"Save my soul from the sword.\nSave my precious life from the power of wild dogs."},{"verse":21,"text":"Save me from the mouth of the lion.\nYou have answered me from the horns of the wild oxen!"},{"verse":22,"text":"I will tell my brothers about your name.\nI will praise you when your people meet together."},{"verse":23,"text":"You who fear the LORD, praise him!\nAll you children of Jacob, honor him!\nAll you children of Israel, stand in awe of him!"},{"verse":24,"text":"For he has not looked down on or hated the pain of the one who suffers.\nHe has not hidden his face from him.\nHe has listened to his cry for help."},{"verse":25,"text":"My praise for you rings out in the great meeting of your people.\nI will keep my promises in front of those who fear you."},{"verse":26,"text":"The poor will eat and be full.\nThose who seek the LORD will praise him.\nMay your hearts live forever!"},{"verse":27,"text":"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD.\nAll the families of the nations will bow down before him."},{"verse":28,"text":"For the right to rule belongs to the LORD.\nHe rules over the nations."},{"verse":29,"text":"All the rich people of the earth will feast and worship.\nAll who go down to the dust will kneel before him.\nEven those who cannot keep themselves alive will kneel."},{"verse":30,"text":"Their children will serve him.\nThey will tell the next generation about the Lord."},{"verse":31,"text":"They will come and tell how righteous he is.\nThey will tell people not yet born\nall that he has done."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nThe LORD is my shepherd.\nI have everything I need."},{"verse":2,"text":"He lets me lie down in green fields.\nHe leads me beside quiet waters."},{"verse":3,"text":"He makes my soul new again.\nHe guides me on the right paths\nfor the honor of his name."},{"verse":4,"text":"Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,\nI will not be afraid of any evil,\nfor you are with me.\nYour rod and your staff comfort me."},{"verse":5,"text":"You set a table for me\nright in front of my enemies.\nYou pour oil on my head.\nMy cup overflows."},{"verse":6,"text":"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me\nall the days of my life.\nAnd I will live in the house of the LORD forever."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nThe earth belongs to the LORD, and everything in it.\nThe world and all who live in it are his."},{"verse":2,"text":"For he built it on the seas.\nHe set it firmly on the waters."},{"verse":3,"text":"Who may go up the hill of the LORD?\nWho may stand in his holy place?"},{"verse":4,"text":"The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.\nHe does not give his soul to an idol.\nHe does not make promises he means to break."},{"verse":5,"text":"He will receive a blessing from the LORD.\nThe God who saves him will show that he is in the right."},{"verse":6,"text":"These are the kind of people who look for him.\nThey seek your face, O God of Jacob.\nSelah"},{"verse":7,"text":"Lift up your heads, you gates!\nBe lifted up, you ancient doors,\nso the King of Glory may come in!"},{"verse":8,"text":"Who is this King of Glory?\nThe LORD, strong and mighty.\nThe LORD, mighty in battle."},{"verse":9,"text":"Lift up your heads, you gates!\nBe lifted up, you ancient doors,\nso the King of Glory may come in!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Who is he, this King of Glory?\nThe LORD of Hosts.\nHe is the King of Glory.\nSelah","note":"\"LORD of Hosts\" means the LORD who commands the armies of heaven."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David.\nLORD, I lift up my soul to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"My God, I trust in you.\nDo not let me be put to shame.\nDo not let my enemies brag over me."},{"verse":3,"text":"No one who waits for you will ever be put to shame.\nBut those who turn against others for no reason will be put to shame."},{"verse":4,"text":"LORD, show me your ways.\nTeach me your paths."},{"verse":5,"text":"Guide me in your truth and teach me.\nFor you are the God who saves me.\nI wait for you all day long."},{"verse":6,"text":"LORD, remember your kindness and your faithful love.\nThey have been there from long ago."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not remember the sins I did when I was young.\nDo not remember the times I rebelled.\nRemember me because of your faithful love,\nbecause you are good, LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD is good and does what is right.\nSo he shows sinners the way to go."},{"verse":9,"text":"He guides humble people in what is right.\nHe teaches them his way."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful\nto those who keep his covenant and his laws."},{"verse":11,"text":"LORD, for the honor of your name,\nforgive my sin, for it is great."},{"verse":12,"text":"Who is the man who fears the LORD?\nThe LORD will teach him the path he should choose."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will live a good life.\nHis children will receive the land."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD shares his secrets with those who fear him.\nHe makes his covenant known to them."},{"verse":15,"text":"My eyes are always on the LORD.\nFor he will free my feet from the net."},{"verse":16,"text":"Turn to me and be kind to me.\nFor I am lonely and hurting."},{"verse":17,"text":"The troubles of my heart keep growing.\nSet me free from my pain."},{"verse":18,"text":"Look at my suffering and trouble.\nTake away all my sins."},{"verse":19,"text":"See how many enemies I have.\nSee how much they hate me with a cruel hate."},{"verse":20,"text":"Guard my soul and rescue me.\nDo not let me be put to shame,\nfor I run to you to be safe."},{"verse":21,"text":"May being honest and doing right keep me safe,\nbecause I wait for you."},{"verse":22,"text":"O God, redeem Israel\nfrom all its troubles."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David.\nLORD, show that I am in the right!\nFor I have lived an honest life.\nI have trusted in the LORD without doubting."},{"verse":2,"text":"Test me, LORD, and try me.\nLook closely at my heart and mind."},{"verse":3,"text":"For I keep your faithful love in front of my eyes.\nI have lived by your truth."},{"verse":4,"text":"I do not sit with liars.\nI do not spend time with fakes."},{"verse":5,"text":"I hate the crowd of people who do evil.\nI will not sit with the wicked."},{"verse":6,"text":"I wash my hands to show I have done no wrong.\nThen I can walk around your altar, LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"I lift my voice to give thanks.\nI tell about all the wonderful things you have done."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD, I love the house where you live,\nthe place where your glory stays."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not take my soul away with sinners.\nDo not take my life along with murderers."},{"verse":10,"text":"Their hands are full of evil plans.\nTheir right hands are full of bribes."},{"verse":11,"text":"But I will live an honest life.\nRedeem me and be kind to me."},{"verse":12,"text":"My feet stand on level ground.\nWhen God's people gather, I will praise the LORD."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David.\nThe LORD is my light and the One who saves me.\nWho should I be afraid of?\nThe LORD is the strong fort of my life.\nWho should I fear?"},{"verse":2,"text":"Evil people came at me to eat me alive.\nBut my enemies tripped and fell."},{"verse":3,"text":"An army may camp around me,\nbut my heart will not be afraid.\nA war may break out against me,\nbut I will keep trusting."},{"verse":4,"text":"I have asked the LORD for one thing.\nThis is what I want:\nI want to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.\nI want to look at the beauty of the LORD.\nI want to seek him in his temple."},{"verse":5,"text":"For when trouble comes, he will hide me in his shelter.\nHe will hide me in his tent.\nHe will set me high on a rock."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I will hold my head high above my enemies all around me.\nAt his tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy.\nI will sing and make music to the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"Hear my voice when I call, LORD.\nBe kind to me and answer me."},{"verse":8,"text":"My heart said, \"Seek his face.\"\nLORD, I will seek your face."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not hide your face from me.\nDo not turn your servant away in anger.\nYou have been my helper.\nDo not leave me or forsake me,\nO God who saves me."},{"verse":10,"text":"Even if my father and mother forsake me,\nthe LORD will take me in."},{"verse":11,"text":"Teach me your way, LORD.\nLead me on a smooth path,\nbecause I have enemies who treat me badly."},{"verse":12,"text":"Do not hand me over to what my enemies want.\nFor people who lie about me stand up against me.\nThey breathe out violence."},{"verse":13,"text":"Still, I am sure that I will see the goodness of the LORD\nin the land of the living."},{"verse":14,"text":"Wait patiently for the LORD.\nBe strong and courageous.\nWait patiently for the LORD!"}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David.\nLORD, I call to you.\nYou are my Rock. Do not close your ears to me.\nFor if you stay silent,\nI will be like those who go down to the Pit."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hear me as I beg for mercy.\nHear me when I call to you for help,\nwhen I lift up my hands toward your holy place."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not drag me away with the wicked,\nwith those who do evil.\nThey speak kindly to their neighbors,\nbut they have evil in their hearts."},{"verse":4,"text":"Pay them back for what they have done,\nfor the evil things they do.\nPay them back for the work of their hands.\nGive them what they deserve."},{"verse":5,"text":"They do not care about the works of the LORD\nor what his hands have done.\nSo he will tear them down and never build them up again."},{"verse":6,"text":"Praise be to the LORD,\nfor he has heard me beg for mercy."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD is my strength and my shield.\nMy heart trusts in him, and he helps me.\nSo my heart is full of joy.\nI thank him with my song."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD is the strength of his people.\nHe is a strong fort that saves his anointed one."},{"verse":9,"text":"Save your people and bless those who belong to you.\nBe their shepherd and carry them forever."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nGive to the LORD, you heavenly beings.\nGive to the LORD glory and strength."},{"verse":2,"text":"Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves.\nWorship the LORD in the beauty of his holiness."},{"verse":3,"text":"The voice of the LORD is over the waters.\nThe God of glory thunders.\nThe LORD is heard over the mighty waters."},{"verse":4,"text":"The voice of the LORD is powerful.\nThe voice of the LORD is full of greatness."},{"verse":5,"text":"The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees.\nThe LORD smashes the cedars of Lebanon."},{"verse":6,"text":"He makes Lebanon jump like a calf.\nHe makes Sirion jump like a young wild ox."},{"verse":7,"text":"The voice of the LORD strikes\nwith flashes of fire."},{"verse":8,"text":"The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness.\nThe LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh."},{"verse":9,"text":"The voice of the LORD twists the oak trees.\nIt strips the forests bare.\nAnd in his temple everyone shouts, \"Glory!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD sits on his throne over the flood.\nThe LORD sits on his throne as King forever."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD gives his people strength.\nThe LORD blesses his people with peace."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm. A song for the dedication of the temple. Of David.\nI will praise you as great, LORD.\nFor you have lifted me up.\nYou have not let my enemies be glad over me."},{"verse":2,"text":"LORD my God, I cried to you for help,\nand you healed me."},{"verse":3,"text":"LORD, you pulled me up from the grave.\nYou kept me from going down into the Pit.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":4,"text":"Sing to the LORD, all you his people.\nPraise his holy name."},{"verse":5,"text":"For his anger lasts only a moment.\nBut his kindness lasts a lifetime.\nCrying may last through the night,\nbut joy comes in the morning."},{"verse":6,"text":"When things were going well, I said,\n\"Nothing will ever shake me.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"LORD, you were kind to me.\nYou made my mountain stand strong.\nBut when you hid your face, I was terrified."},{"verse":8,"text":"I called to you, LORD.\nI begged my Lord for mercy."},{"verse":9,"text":"I said, \"What good will come if I die,\nif I go down into the Pit?\nWill the dust praise you?\nWill it tell how faithful you are?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Hear me, LORD, and be kind to me.\nLORD, be my helper.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"You turned my crying into dancing.\nYou took off my sackcloth and dressed me with joy,"},{"verse":12,"text":"so that my heart may sing your praises and not be quiet.\nLORD my God, I will thank you forever."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David.\nLORD, I have run to you to be safe.\nNever let me be put to shame.\nSave me because you are righteous."},{"verse":2,"text":"Turn your ear to me.\nHurry and rescue me.\nBe my rock where I am safe,\na strong fort that saves me."},{"verse":3,"text":"For you are my rock and my fort.\nLead me and guide me for the honor of your name."},{"verse":4,"text":"You free me from the net that was set for me,\nfor you are my safe place."},{"verse":5,"text":"Into your hands I give my spirit.\nYou have redeemed me, LORD, God of truth."},{"verse":6,"text":"I hate those who hold on to worthless idols.\nBut I trust in the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will be glad and full of joy in your faithful love.\nFor you have seen my suffering.\nYou have known the deep pain of my soul."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have not handed me over to my enemy.\nYou have set my feet in an open place."},{"verse":9,"text":"Be kind to me, LORD, for I am in trouble.\nMy eyes are weak from sadness.\nMy soul and body are weak too."},{"verse":10,"text":"For my life is used up by sadness.\nMy years are used up by groaning.\nMy sin has drained my strength.\nMy bones are wasting away."},{"verse":11,"text":"All my enemies treat me with shame.\nMy neighbors treat me even worse.\nMy friends are afraid of me.\nThey run away when they see me on the street."},{"verse":12,"text":"I am forgotten like a dead man.\nNo one thinks of me.\nI am like a broken pot."},{"verse":13,"text":"For I hear many people telling lies about me.\nThere is terror all around me.\nThey make plans together against me.\nThey plot to kill me."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I trust in you, LORD.\nI say, \"You are my God.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"My times are in your hands.\nRescue me from my enemies,\nfrom those who chase me."},{"verse":16,"text":"Let your face shine on your servant.\nSave me because of your faithful love."},{"verse":17,"text":"LORD, do not let me be put to shame,\nfor I have called on you.\nLet the wicked be put to shame.\nLet them lie silent in the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":18,"text":"Make their lying lips be quiet.\nThose lips speak proudly against people who do right.\nThey are full of pride and hate."},{"verse":19,"text":"Your goodness is so great!\nYou have stored it up for those who fear you.\nYou give it to those who run to you to be safe,\nand everyone can see it."},{"verse":20,"text":"You hide them in the secret place where you are,\nsafe from the evil plans of people.\nYou keep them hidden in your shelter,\nsafe from tongues that blame them."},{"verse":21,"text":"Praise be to the LORD!\nFor he showed me his faithful love\nwhen I was in a city under attack."},{"verse":22,"text":"I was afraid, and I said,\n\"I am cut off from your sight!\"\nBut you heard me beg for mercy\nwhen I called to you for help."},{"verse":23,"text":"Love the LORD, all his people!\nThe LORD keeps the faithful safe.\nBut he pays back the proud in full."},{"verse":24,"text":"Be strong and courageous,\nall you who hope in the LORD."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David. A Maskil.\nBlessed is the one whose wrongs are forgiven,\nwhose sins are covered.","note":"Maskil is a music or poetry term; it may mean a song that teaches."},{"verse":2,"text":"Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him,\nwhose spirit does not try to fool anyone."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I kept silent,\nmy bones became weak from my groaning all day long."},{"verse":4,"text":"For day and night your hand pressed down on me.\nMy strength dried up like in the summer heat.\nSelah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I told you about my sin.\nI did not hide my wrong.\nI said, \"I will confess my sins to the LORD.\"\nAnd you forgave the guilt of my sin.\nSelah"},{"verse":6,"text":"So let all who are faithful to you pray to you\nwhile you may still be found.\nSurely when great floods rise up,\nthey will not reach them."},{"verse":7,"text":"You are my hiding place.\nYou keep me safe from trouble.\nYou surround me with songs about how you save.\nSelah"},{"verse":8,"text":"I will teach you and show you the way you should go.\nI will give you advice and watch over you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not be like the horse or the mule.\nThey do not understand.\nThey must be controlled with a bit and bridle\nto make them come to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"The wicked have many sorrows.\nBut faithful love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"Be glad in the LORD and full of joy, you who do right!\nShout for joy, all you whose hearts are honest!"}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Shout for joy to the LORD, you who do right!\nIt is good for honest people to praise him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Praise the LORD with the harp.\nMake music to him on a harp with ten strings."},{"verse":3,"text":"Sing to him a new song.\nPlay well, and shout for joy."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the word of the LORD is right and true.\nEverything he does can be trusted."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD loves what is right and fair.\nThe earth is full of his faithful love."},{"verse":6,"text":"The heavens were made by the word of the LORD.\nAll the stars were made by the breath of his mouth."},{"verse":7,"text":"He piles up the waters of the sea.\nHe puts the deep waters into storerooms."},{"verse":8,"text":"Let all the earth fear the LORD.\nLet all the people of the world stand in awe of him."},{"verse":9,"text":"For he spoke, and it came to be.\nHe gave the command, and it stood firm."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD ruins the plans of the nations.\nHe stops the plans of the peoples."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the plans of the LORD stand forever.\nThe purposes of his heart last for all generations."},{"verse":12,"text":"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,\nthe people he chose to be his own!"},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD looks down from heaven.\nHe sees all people."},{"verse":14,"text":"From the place where he lives\nhe watches all who live on the earth."},{"verse":15,"text":"He shapes the heart of each one.\nHe notices everything they do."},{"verse":16,"text":"No king is saved by his huge army.\nNo soldier is rescued by his great strength."},{"verse":17,"text":"It is useless to hope a horse will save you.\nEven its great strength cannot save."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him.\nThey are on those who hope in his faithful love."},{"verse":19,"text":"He watches them to save them from death\nand keep them alive when there is no food."},{"verse":20,"text":"Our souls wait for the LORD.\nHe is our help and our shield."},{"verse":21,"text":"For our hearts are full of joy in him,\nsince we trust in his holy name."},{"verse":22,"text":"LORD, may your faithful love rest on us,\nas we put our hope in you."}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David. He wrote it when he acted like he was insane in front of Abimelech. So the king drove him away.\nI will bless the LORD at all times.\nMy lips will always praise him."},{"verse":2,"text":"My soul brags about the LORD.\nLet those who are crushed down hear it and be glad."},{"verse":3,"text":"Come, tell how great the LORD is with me.\nLet's lift up his name together."},{"verse":4,"text":"I looked for the LORD, and he answered me.\nHe set me free from all my fears."},{"verse":5,"text":"Those who look to him shine with joy.\nTheir faces will never be put to shame."},{"verse":6,"text":"This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him.\nHe saved him from all his troubles."},{"verse":7,"text":"The angel of the LORD camps all around those who fear the LORD.\nAnd he rescues them."},{"verse":8,"text":"Taste and see that the LORD is good.\nBlessed is the man who runs to him to be safe!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Fear the LORD, you his holy people.\nFor those who fear him do not lack anything."},{"verse":10,"text":"Young lions may go without and be hungry.\nBut those who seek the LORD lack no good thing."},{"verse":11,"text":"Come, children, listen to me.\nI will teach you the fear of the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Who is the man who loves life?\nWho wants to see good days?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Keep your tongue from evil.\nKeep your lips from telling lies."},{"verse":14,"text":"Turn away from evil and do good.\nLook for peace and go after it."},{"verse":15,"text":"The eyes of the LORD are on those who do right.\nHis ears are turned to hear their cry."},{"verse":16,"text":"But the LORD sets his face against those who do evil.\nHe will wipe out all memory of them from the earth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Those who do right cry out, and the LORD hears.\nHe rescues them from all their troubles."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD is near to those whose hearts are broken.\nHe saves those whose spirits are crushed and sorry."},{"verse":19,"text":"The one who does right has many troubles.\nBut the LORD rescues him from them all."},{"verse":20,"text":"He keeps all his bones safe.\nNot one of them will be broken."},{"verse":21,"text":"Evil will kill the wicked.\nThose who hate the one who does right will be judged guilty."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD redeems his servants.\nNo one who runs to him to be safe will be judged guilty."}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nLORD, fight my case against those who oppose me.\nFight against those who fight against me."},{"verse":2,"text":"Pick up your shield, both large and small.\nGet up and come to help me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Draw your spear and javelin against those who chase me.\nSay to my soul, \"I am the one who saves you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"May those who want to kill me be put to shame and disgraced.\nMay those who plan to hurt me be driven back and confused."},{"verse":5,"text":"May they be like chaff blown by the wind,\nas the angel of the LORD drives them away."},{"verse":6,"text":"May their path be dark and slippery,\nas the angel of the LORD chases them."},{"verse":7,"text":"For they set their net for me for no reason.\nThey dug a pit to trap me for no reason."},{"verse":8,"text":"May ruin come on them by surprise.\nMay the net they hid catch them.\nMay they fall into the trap they made."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then my soul will be glad in the LORD.\nI will be full of joy because he saves me."},{"verse":10,"text":"All my bones will shout,\n\"LORD, who is like you?\nYou rescue the weak from those who are too strong for them.\nYou rescue the poor and needy from those who rob them.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Cruel witnesses step up.\nThey blame me for things I know nothing about."},{"verse":12,"text":"They pay me back with evil for the good I did.\nIt leaves my soul feeling all alone, like someone in grief."},{"verse":13,"text":"But when they were sick, I put on sackcloth.\nI made myself low by fasting.\nBut my prayers came back to me with no answer."},{"verse":14,"text":"I walked around in grief as if for my friend or brother.\nI was bent over with sorrow,\nlike someone crying for his mother."},{"verse":15,"text":"But when I tripped, they gathered with glee.\nThey came together against me.\nAttackers I did not know told lies about me without stopping."},{"verse":16,"text":"Like godless people mocking at a feast,\nthey ground their teeth at me."},{"verse":17,"text":"Lord, how long will you just watch?\nRescue my soul from their attacks.\nSave my precious life from these lions."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then I will thank you in the great gathering.\nI will praise you among many people."},{"verse":19,"text":"Don't let my enemies laugh at me for no reason.\nDon't let those who hate me without cause wink at me with hate."},{"verse":20,"text":"For they don't speak words of peace.\nThey make up lies and plans\nagainst quiet people in the land."},{"verse":21,"text":"They open their mouths wide at me.\nThey say, \"Aha, aha! We saw it with our own eyes!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"LORD, you have seen it. Do not be silent.\nLord, do not be far from me."},{"verse":23,"text":"Wake up! Get up and defend me!\nFight for my cause, my God and my Lord!"},{"verse":24,"text":"LORD my God, show that I am in the right, because you are righteous.\nDon't let them laugh at me."},{"verse":25,"text":"Don't let them say in their hearts, \"Aha, just what we wanted!\"\nDon't let them say, \"We have swallowed him up!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"May those who are glad about my pain be put to shame and confused.\nMay those who lift themselves up over me\nbe dressed in shame and disgrace."},{"verse":27,"text":"May those who want me to be proved right shout for joy and be glad.\nMay they always say, \"The LORD is great!\nHe is happy when his servant is doing well.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then my tongue will tell how righteous you are.\nI will praise you all day long."}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of David, the servant of the LORD.\nA message is in my heart about the sin of the wicked man.\nHe has no fear of God before his eyes."},{"verse":2,"text":"For his eyes are too full of pride.\nHe can't see his own sin or hate it."},{"verse":3,"text":"The words of his mouth are wicked and full of lies.\nHe has stopped being wise and doing good."},{"verse":4,"text":"Even on his bed he plans evil.\nHe sets himself on a path that is not good.\nHe does not say no to evil."},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD, your faithful love reaches to the heavens.\nYour faithfulness reaches to the clouds."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your righteousness is like the highest mountains.\nYour judgments are like the deepest sea.\nLORD, you keep both people and animals alive."},{"verse":7,"text":"God, how precious is your faithful love!\nPeople find safety in the shadow of your wings."},{"verse":8,"text":"They feast on all the good things in your house.\nYou give them drink from your river of joys."},{"verse":9,"text":"For you have the fountain of life.\nIn your light we see light."},{"verse":10,"text":"Keep showing your faithful love to those who know you.\nKeep showing your righteousness to those whose hearts are honest."},{"verse":11,"text":"Don't let the foot of the proud come against me.\nDon't let the hand of the wicked drive me away."},{"verse":12,"text":"There the evildoers lie fallen.\nThey are thrown down and can't get up."}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nDon't be upset because of those who do evil.\nDon't be jealous of those who do wrong."},{"verse":2,"text":"For they will dry up fast like grass.\nThey will droop like young plants."},{"verse":3,"text":"Trust in the LORD and do good.\nLive in the land and grow in faithfulness."},{"verse":4,"text":"Delight yourself in the LORD.\nAnd he will give you the desires of your heart."},{"verse":5,"text":"Commit your way to the LORD.\nTrust in him, and he will do it."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will make your right ways shine like the dawn.\nHe will make your just cause shine like the sun at noon."},{"verse":7,"text":"Be still before the LORD and wait for him with patience.\nDon't be upset when people do well in their ways,\nwhen they carry out their evil plans."},{"verse":8,"text":"Stop being angry and let go of rage.\nDon't be upset. It only leads to harm."},{"verse":9,"text":"For those who do evil will be cut off.\nBut those who hope in the LORD will receive the land."},{"verse":10,"text":"In just a little while, the wicked will be gone.\nYou may look for them, but they won't be found."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the humble will receive the land.\nThey will enjoy great peace and plenty."},{"verse":12,"text":"The wicked make plans against those who do right.\nThey grind their teeth at them."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the Lord laughs at the wicked.\nHe sees that their day is coming."},{"verse":14,"text":"The wicked have pulled out the sword and bent the bow.\nThey want to bring down the poor and needy.\nThey want to kill those whose ways are honest."},{"verse":15,"text":"But their swords will stab their own hearts.\nAnd their bows will be broken."},{"verse":16,"text":"The little that a good person has is better\nthan the riches of many wicked people."},{"verse":17,"text":"For the arms of the wicked will be broken.\nBut the LORD holds up those who do right."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD knows the days of those who are without blame.\nWhat they receive from him will last forever."},{"verse":19,"text":"In evil times they will not be put to shame.\nWhen there is no food in the land, they will have plenty."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the wicked and the enemies of the LORD will die,\nlike the beauty of the fields.\nThey will vanish. Like smoke, they will fade away."},{"verse":21,"text":"The wicked borrow and don't pay back.\nBut those who do right are kind and give freely."},{"verse":22,"text":"Those the LORD blesses will receive the land.\nBut those he curses will be destroyed."},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD guides a man's steps.\nHe is pleased with the way he goes."},{"verse":24,"text":"He may fall, but he will not be crushed.\nFor the LORD is holding his hand."},{"verse":25,"text":"I was young, and now I am old.\nYet I have never seen good people abandoned.\nI have never seen their children begging for bread."},{"verse":26,"text":"They always give freely and are quick to lend.\nAnd their children are a blessing."},{"verse":27,"text":"Turn away from evil and do good,\nso that you will remain forever."},{"verse":28,"text":"For the LORD loves justice.\nHe will not leave his holy people.\nThey are kept safe forever.\nBut the children of the wicked will be cut off."},{"verse":29,"text":"Those who do right will receive the land.\nThey will live in it forever."},{"verse":30,"text":"The mouth of a good man speaks wisdom.\nHis tongue says what is fair."},{"verse":31,"text":"The law of his God is in his heart.\nHis steps do not slip."},{"verse":32,"text":"The wicked hide and wait for those who do right.\nThey try to kill them."},{"verse":33,"text":"But the LORD will not leave them in their power.\nHe will not let them be found guilty when they are judged."},{"verse":34,"text":"Wait for the LORD and keep to his way.\nHe will lift you up to receive the land.\nWhen the wicked are cut off, you will see it."},{"verse":35,"text":"I have seen a wicked and cruel man.\nHe was growing strong like a tree with deep roots in its own soil."},{"verse":36,"text":"But he passed away and was gone.\nI looked for him, but he could not be found."},{"verse":37,"text":"Look at the person who is without blame.\nWatch the one who is honest.\nFor the man of peace will have a future."},{"verse":38,"text":"But all who rebel will be destroyed.\nThe future of the wicked will be cut off."},{"verse":39,"text":"The LORD saves those who do right.\nHe is their strong fort in times of trouble."},{"verse":40,"text":"The LORD helps them and rescues them.\nHe rescues them from the wicked and saves them,\nbecause they run to him to be safe."}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David, to help remember.\nLORD, don't scold me when you are angry.\nDon't punish me in your great anger."},{"verse":2,"text":"For your arrows have gone deep into me.\nYour hand has pressed down on me."},{"verse":3,"text":"My body is not healthy because of your anger.\nMy bones have no rest because of my sin."},{"verse":4,"text":"For my sins are like a flood over my head.\nThey are a load too heavy to carry."},{"verse":5,"text":"My wounds stink and are full of pus\nbecause of my foolish sin."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am bent over and brought low.\nAll day long I walk around in sorrow."},{"verse":7,"text":"For my back and sides are full of burning pain.\nNo part of my body is healthy."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am numb and badly crushed.\nMy heart is in pain, and I groan."},{"verse":9,"text":"Lord, you know everything I long for.\nMy groaning is not hidden from you."},{"verse":10,"text":"My heart is pounding. My strength is gone.\nEven the light of my eyes has faded."},{"verse":11,"text":"My loved ones and friends stay away because of my sickness.\nMy relatives stand far off."},{"verse":12,"text":"Those who want to kill me set traps.\nThose who want to hurt me talk about ruining me.\nAll day long they plan lies."},{"verse":13,"text":"But I am like a deaf man who does not hear.\nI am like a man who can't speak and does not open his mouth."},{"verse":14,"text":"I am like a man who can't hear.\nHis mouth gives no answer."},{"verse":15,"text":"LORD, I wait for you.\nYou will answer, Lord my God."},{"verse":16,"text":"For I said, \"Don't let them laugh at me.\nThey make fun of me when my foot slips.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"For I am about to fall.\nMy pain is always with me."},{"verse":18,"text":"Yes, I admit my sin.\nMy sin troubles me."},{"verse":19,"text":"I have many enemies for no reason.\nMany hate me without a cause."},{"verse":20,"text":"They pay me back with evil for the good I do.\nThey attack me because I go after what is good."},{"verse":21,"text":"LORD, do not leave me.\nMy God, do not be far from me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Come quickly to help me,\nLord, my Savior."}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.\nI said, \"I will watch how I live,\nso that I won't sin with my tongue.\nI will cover my mouth like a muzzle\nas long as wicked people are near.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"I kept quiet and still.\nI said nothing, not even good things.\nAnd my sorrow grew stronger."},{"verse":3,"text":"My heart grew hot inside me.\nAs I thought, the fire burned.\nThen I spoke out loud:"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"LORD, show me my end.\nShow me how many days I have.\nLet me know how short my life is."},{"verse":5,"text":"You have made my days only a few inches long.\nMy whole life is like nothing to you.\nEach person, even at his best, is only a breath. Selah","note":"Hebrew: handbreadths, the width of a hand."},{"verse":6,"text":"Each person walks around like a shadow.\nHe rushes around for nothing.\nHe piles up riches.\nBut he does not know who will carry them off."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now, Lord, what am I waiting for?\nMy hope is in you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Save me from all my sins.\nDon't let fools make fun of me."},{"verse":9,"text":"I have gone quiet.\nI do not open my mouth,\nbecause you are the one who did this."},{"verse":10,"text":"Take your whip away from me.\nI am dying from the blows of your hand."},{"verse":11,"text":"You correct and punish a person for his sin.\nLike a moth, you eat away what he loves.\nEach person is only a puff of air. Selah"},{"verse":12,"text":"LORD, hear my prayer.\nListen to my cry for help.\nDon't close your ears to my tears.\nFor I am a foreigner living with you.\nI am a stranger, like all my fathers were."},{"verse":13,"text":"Look away from me,\nso I can be happy again\nbefore I leave and am gone.\""}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of David.\nI waited with patience for the LORD.\nHe turned to me and heard my cry."},{"verse":2,"text":"He lifted me up out of the pit of despair,\nout of the muddy clay.\nHe set my feet on a rock.\nHe made my steps firm."},{"verse":3,"text":"He put a new song in my mouth,\na song of praise to our God.\nMany will see it and fear.\nThey will put their trust in the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.\nHe has not turned to the proud.\nHe has not turned to those who go after lies."},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD my God, you have done many wonders.\nYou have many plans for us.\nNo one can compare to you!\nIf I tried to tell about them all,\nthere would be too many to count."},{"verse":6,"text":"You did not want sacrifices and offerings.\nBut you have opened my ears.\nYou did not ask for burnt offerings and sin offerings."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then I said, \"Here I am. I have come.\nIt is written about me in the scroll:"},{"verse":8,"text":"I love to do what you want, my God.\nYour law is in my heart.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"I tell about what is right in the great gathering.\nLook, I do not keep my lips shut.\nLORD, you know this."},{"verse":10,"text":"I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart.\nI have told about your faithfulness and how you save.\nI have not kept your faithful love and truth\nhidden from the great gathering."},{"verse":11,"text":"LORD, do not hold back your mercy from me.\nYour faithful love and truth will always keep me safe."},{"verse":12,"text":"For troubles too many to count are all around me.\nMy sins have caught up with me, so I can't see.\nThey are more than the hairs on my head.\nMy heart has given up inside me."},{"verse":13,"text":"LORD, please be willing to save me.\nLORD, hurry to help me."},{"verse":14,"text":"May those who want to kill me be put to shame and confused.\nMay those who want to hurt me be turned back and disgraced."},{"verse":15,"text":"Some say to me, \"Aha, aha!\"\nMay they be shocked by their own shame."},{"verse":16,"text":"May all who look for you be full of joy and glad in you.\nMay those who love how you save always say,\n\"The LORD is great!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But I am poor and needy.\nMay the Lord think about me.\nYou are my helper and the one who rescues me.\nMy God, do not wait."}]},{"chapter":41,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of David.\nBlessed is the one who cares for the poor.\nThe LORD will rescue him in times of trouble."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD will guard him and keep him alive.\nHe will bless him in the land.\nHe will not hand him over to what his enemies want."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD will hold him up when he lies sick in bed.\nHe will make him well again from his sickbed."},{"verse":4,"text":"I said, \"LORD, be kind to me.\nHeal me, for I have sinned against you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"My enemies say cruel things about me:\n\"When will he die and be forgotten?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"When someone comes to see me, he tells lies.\nHe collects bad stories in his heart.\nThen he goes out and spreads them."},{"verse":7,"text":"All who hate me whisper about me.\nThey think the worst will happen to me:"},{"verse":8,"text":"\"A terrible sickness has been poured into him.\nHe will never get up from where he lies!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Even my close friend turned against me.\nI trusted him. He ate my bread.\nBut he has lifted up his heel against me."},{"verse":10,"text":"But you, LORD, be kind to me.\nRaise me up, so I can pay them back."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is how I know you are pleased with me:\nmy enemy does not win over me."},{"verse":12,"text":"You hold me up because I am honest.\nYou set me in your presence forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,\nfrom forever to forever.\nAmen and Amen."}]},{"chapter":42,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A maskil of the sons of Korah.\nA deer pants for streams of water.\nIn the same way, my soul longs for you, God.","note":"A maskil may be a kind of teaching song."},{"verse":2,"text":"My soul is thirsty for God, the living God.\nWhen can I go and stand before God?"},{"verse":3,"text":"My tears have been my food day and night.\nAll day long people ask me, \"Where is your God?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"I remember these things as I pour out my soul.\nI walked with the crowd.\nI led the happy parade to the house of God.\nWe shouted for joy and praised him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Why are you so sad, my soul?\nWhy are you so upset inside me?\nPut your hope in God.\nI will still praise him, because he is with me and saves me."},{"verse":6,"text":"My God, my soul is so sad inside me.\nSo I remember you from the land of the Jordan,\nfrom the peaks of Hermon, even from Mount Mizar."},{"verse":7,"text":"Deep waters call to deep waters\nin the roar of your waterfalls.\nAll your breaking waves have rolled over me."},{"verse":8,"text":"By day the LORD sends out his faithful love.\nAt night his song is with me.\nIt is a prayer to the God of my life."},{"verse":9,"text":"I say to God, my Rock,\n\"Why have you forgotten me?\nWhy must I walk around so sad?\nWhy must the enemy crush me?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"My enemies make fun of me.\nIt feels like my bones are being crushed.\nAll day long they say to me, \"Where is your God?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Why are you so sad, my soul?\nWhy are you so upset inside me?\nPut your hope in God.\nI will still praise him, my Savior and my God."}]},{"chapter":43,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"God, show that I am in the right.\nArgue my case against a nation that does not love you.\nSave me from lying and unfair people."},{"verse":2,"text":"For you are the God who keeps me safe.\nWhy have you turned me away?\nWhy must I walk around so sad?\nWhy must the enemy crush me?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Send out your light and your truth.\nLet them lead me.\nLet them bring me to your holy mountain,\nto the place where you live."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I will go to the altar of God,\nto God, my greatest joy.\nI will praise you with the harp,\nGod, my God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Why are you so sad, my soul?\nWhy are you so upset inside me?\nPut your hope in God.\nI will still praise him, my Savior and my God."}]},{"chapter":44,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A maskil of the sons of Korah.\nGod, we have heard it with our ears.\nOur fathers have told us what you did in their days,\nin the days long ago."},{"verse":2,"text":"With your hand you drove out the nations.\nThen you planted our fathers in the land.\nYou crushed the peoples and threw them out."},{"verse":3,"text":"For they did not take the land with their own sword.\nTheir own arm did not win for them.\nIt was your right hand and your arm.\nIt was the light of your face, because you loved them."},{"verse":4,"text":"God, you are my King.\nYou command victories for Jacob."},{"verse":5,"text":"With your help we push back our enemies.\nIn your name we stomp on our enemies."},{"verse":6,"text":"For I do not trust in my bow.\nMy sword does not save me."},{"verse":7,"text":"For you save us from our enemies.\nYou put those who hate us to shame."},{"verse":8,"text":"We have bragged about God all day long.\nWe will praise your name forever. Selah"},{"verse":9,"text":"But you have turned us away and brought us low.\nYou no longer go out with our armies."},{"verse":10,"text":"You made us run back from the enemy.\nThose who hate us have robbed us."},{"verse":11,"text":"You gave us up like sheep to be eaten.\nYou scattered us among the nations."},{"verse":12,"text":"You sell your people for nothing.\nYou make no money from selling them."},{"verse":13,"text":"You made our neighbors look down on us.\nThose around us mock us and laugh at us."},{"verse":14,"text":"You made us a joke among the nations.\nThe peoples laugh at us."},{"verse":15,"text":"All day long my shame is in front of me.\nMy face is covered with shame,"},{"verse":16,"text":"because of the voice of those who mock me and insult me,\nbecause of the enemy who wants to get even."},{"verse":17,"text":"All this has happened to us,\neven though we have not forgotten you.\nWe have not been false to your covenant."},{"verse":18,"text":"Our hearts have not turned back.\nOur steps have not wandered from your path."},{"verse":19,"text":"But you crushed us in the place where jackals live.\nYou covered us with the deepest darkness."},{"verse":20,"text":"If we had forgotten the name of our God,\nor lifted our hands to a foreign god,"},{"verse":21,"text":"wouldn't God have found it out?\nFor he knows the secrets of the heart."},{"verse":22,"text":"Yet because of you we face death all day long.\nWe are thought of as sheep to be killed."},{"verse":23,"text":"Wake up, Lord! Why are you sleeping?\nGet up! Do not turn us away forever."},{"verse":24,"text":"Why do you hide your face?\nWhy do you forget our pain and how we are crushed?"},{"verse":25,"text":"For our soul has sunk down to the dust.\nOur bodies lie flat on the ground."},{"verse":26,"text":"Get up and help us!\nRedeem us because of your faithful love."}]},{"chapter":45,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. To the tune of \"The Lilies.\" A maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.\nMy heart is stirred by a noble subject.\nI say my poem to the king.\nMy tongue is like the pen of a skilled writer."},{"verse":2,"text":"You are the most handsome of men.\nYour lips are full of grace.\nSo God has blessed you forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"Strap your sword to your side, mighty warrior.\nShow your majesty and glory."},{"verse":4,"text":"In your glory, ride out to win!\nRide for truth and humility and justice.\nMay your right hand do amazing things."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your arrows go into the hearts of the king's enemies.\nThe nations fall under your feet."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your throne, O God, lasts forever and ever.\nJustice is the scepter of your kingdom."},{"verse":7,"text":"You have loved what is right and hated what is wicked.\nSo God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy,\nmore than your companions."},{"verse":8,"text":"All your robes smell sweet with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.\nFrom palaces made of ivory,\nthe music of harps makes you glad."},{"verse":9,"text":"Daughters of kings are among the women you honor.\nThe queen stands at your right hand.\nShe wears jewelry of gold from Ophir."},{"verse":10,"text":"Listen, daughter! Think about this and pay attention.\nForget your people and your father's house."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the king will want your beauty.\nBow down to him, for he is your lord."},{"verse":12,"text":"The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift.\nRich men will try to win your favor."},{"verse":13,"text":"The princess is all glorious in her room.\nHer gown is sewn with gold."},{"verse":14,"text":"She is led to the king in colorful clothes.\nThe young women with her are brought to you."},{"verse":15,"text":"They are led in with joy and gladness.\nThey go into the palace of the king."},{"verse":16,"text":"Your sons will take the place of your fathers.\nYou will make them princes in all the land."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will make your name remembered for all time to come.\nSo the nations will praise you forever and ever."}]},{"chapter":46,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. Of the sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.\nGod is our safe place and our strength.\nHe is always there to help in times of trouble.","note":"Alamoth may be a musical term, possibly for high voices."},{"verse":2,"text":"So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is changed,\neven if the mountains fall into the bottom of the seas,"},{"verse":3,"text":"even if their waters roar and foam,\nand the mountains shake as the waters rise. Selah"},{"verse":4,"text":"There is a river whose streams bring joy to the city of God.\nIt is the holy place where the Most High lives."},{"verse":5,"text":"God is inside the city. It will not be shaken.\nGod will help it when the morning comes."},{"verse":6,"text":"Nations rage. Kingdoms fall apart.\nThe earth melts when he raises his voice."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD of Hosts is with us.\nThe God of Jacob is our strong fort. Selah"},{"verse":8,"text":"Come and see what the LORD has done.\nHe brings ruin on the earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"He makes wars stop all over the earth.\nHe breaks the bow and smashes the spear.\nHe burns the shields in the fire."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Be still, and know that I am God.\nI will be honored among the nations.\nI will be honored over the earth.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD of Hosts is with us.\nThe God of Jacob is our strong fort. Selah"}]},{"chapter":47,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of the sons of Korah.\nClap your hands, all you peoples.\nShout to God with a voice of victory."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD Most High is so awesome!\nHe is the great King over all the earth."},{"verse":3,"text":"He brings nations under us.\nHe puts peoples under our feet."},{"verse":4,"text":"He chooses our land for us to own.\nIt is the pride of Jacob, whom he loves. Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"God has gone up while people shout for joy.\nThe LORD has gone up to the sound of the horn."},{"verse":6,"text":"Sing praises to God, sing praises!\nSing praises to our King, sing praises!"},{"verse":7,"text":"For God is King of all the earth.\nSing a psalm of praise to him."},{"verse":8,"text":"God rules over the nations.\nGod sits on his holy throne."},{"verse":9,"text":"The leaders of the nations have come together\nas the people of the God of Abraham.\nFor the shields of the earth belong to God.\nHe is lifted up high."}]},{"chapter":48,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah.\nThe LORD is great!\nHe should be praised greatly in the city of our God,\non his holy mountain."},{"verse":2,"text":"Mount Zion is high and beautiful.\nIt is the joy of all the earth.\nIt is like the peaks of Zaphon.\nIt is the city of the great King."},{"verse":3,"text":"God is in her strong towers.\nHe has shown that he is a strong fort."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look, the kings gathered together.\nThey all marched forward together."},{"verse":5,"text":"They saw it and were amazed.\nThey ran away in terror."},{"verse":6,"text":"They began to shake there.\nThey were in pain like a woman giving birth."},{"verse":7,"text":"With a wind from the east,\nyou wrecked the ships of Tarshish."},{"verse":8,"text":"We have heard about it, and now we have seen it\nin the city of the LORD of Hosts, in the city of our God.\nGod will make her stand firm forever. Selah"},{"verse":9,"text":"God, in your temple\nwe think about your faithful love."},{"verse":10,"text":"God, your name reaches to the ends of the earth.\nSo does your praise.\nYour right hand is full of what is right."},{"verse":11,"text":"Mount Zion is glad.\nThe daughters of Judah are full of joy\nbecause of your judgments."},{"verse":12,"text":"Walk around Zion. Go all the way around her.\nCount her towers."},{"verse":13,"text":"Look closely at her walls.\nGo through her strong towers.\nThen you can tell the next generation."},{"verse":14,"text":"For this God is our God forever and ever.\nHe will be our guide even until death."}]},{"chapter":49,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of the sons of Korah.\nHear this, all you peoples.\nListen, all who live in the world,"},{"verse":2,"text":"both low and high,\nrich and poor alike."},{"verse":3,"text":"My mouth will speak wisdom.\nThe thoughts of my heart will give understanding."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will turn my ear to a wise saying.\nI will explain my riddle with the harp:"},{"verse":5,"text":"Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,\nwhen wicked people who cheat surround me?"},{"verse":6,"text":"They trust in their money.\nThey brag about how rich they are."},{"verse":7,"text":"No man can ever redeem his brother.\nHe can't pay God a ransom for him."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the price to redeem a soul is too high.\nNo payment will ever be enough"},{"verse":9,"text":"for him to live on forever\nand never see his body rot."},{"verse":10,"text":"For it is plain to see that wise men die.\nFoolish and senseless people both perish.\nThey leave their riches to others."},{"verse":11,"text":"Their graves are their homes forever.\nThey are where they will live for all time to come.\nThis is true even though they named lands after themselves."},{"verse":12,"text":"But a man can't last, even with his riches.\nHe is like the animals that perish."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is what happens to foolish people.\nIt happens to those who follow them and agree with what they say. Selah"},{"verse":14,"text":"Like sheep, they are headed for the grave.\nDeath will be their shepherd.\nIn the morning, honest people will rule over them.\nTheir bodies will rot in the grave,\nfar from their fine homes.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol (twice in this verse)."},{"verse":15,"text":"But God will redeem my life from the grave.\nFor he will surely take me to himself. Selah","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't be afraid when a man gets rich,\nwhen his house grows more and more grand."},{"verse":17,"text":"For when he dies, he will take nothing with him.\nHis riches will not go down with him."},{"verse":18,"text":"While he lives, he tells himself he is blessed.\nAnd people praise you when you do well."},{"verse":19,"text":"But he will join his fathers who died before him.\nThey will never see the light of day."},{"verse":20,"text":"A man who is rich but does not understand\nis like the animals that perish."}]},{"chapter":50,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of Asaph.\nThe Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks.\nHe calls the earth\nfrom where the sun rises to where it sets."},{"verse":2,"text":"God shines out from Zion,\nthe city that is perfect in beauty."},{"verse":3,"text":"Our God is coming, and he will not be silent!\nA fire that burns up everything goes in front of him.\nA great storm rages around him."},{"verse":4,"text":"He calls to the heavens above and to the earth,\nso that he can judge his people:"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Gather my holy people to me.\nThey made a covenant with me by sacrifice.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"And the heavens tell how righteous he is,\nfor God himself is the Judge. Selah"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Listen, my people, and I will speak.\nIsrael, I will be a witness against you.\nI am God, your God."},{"verse":8,"text":"I do not scold you for your sacrifices.\nYour burnt offerings are always in front of me."},{"verse":9,"text":"I do not need a bull from your barn\nor goats from your pens."},{"verse":10,"text":"For every animal of the forest is mine.\nSo are the cattle on a thousand hills."},{"verse":11,"text":"I know every bird in the mountains.\nThe creatures of the field are mine."},{"verse":12,"text":"If I were hungry, I would not tell you.\nFor the world is mine, and everything in it."},{"verse":13,"text":"Do I eat the meat of bulls?\nDo I drink the blood of goats?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Bring God a thank offering.\nKeep your promises to the Most High."},{"verse":15,"text":"Call on me when trouble comes.\nI will rescue you, and you will honor me.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But God says to the wicked person,\n\"What right do you have to recite my laws?\nWhy do you talk about my covenant?"},{"verse":17,"text":"For you hate my teaching.\nYou throw my words behind you."},{"verse":18,"text":"When you see a thief, you make friends with him.\nYou join in with people who commit adultery."},{"verse":19,"text":"You let your mouth loose to say evil things.\nYou use your tongue to tell lies."},{"verse":20,"text":"You sit and speak against your brother.\nYou tell lies about your own mother's son."},{"verse":21,"text":"You did these things, and I kept quiet.\nYou thought I was just like you.\nBut now I will scold you.\nI will blame you to your face."},{"verse":22,"text":"Now think about this, you who forget God.\nIf you don't, I will tear you to pieces,\nand no one will save you."},{"verse":23,"text":"The one who brings a thank offering honors me.\nTo the one who lives the right way,\nI will show how God saves.\""}]},{"chapter":51,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of David. He wrote it when Nathan the prophet came to him after David committed adultery with Bathsheba.\nGod, have mercy on me because of your faithful love.\nBecause your kindness is so great, wipe out my sins."},{"verse":2,"text":"Wash away all my guilt.\nMake me clean from my sin."},{"verse":3,"text":"For I know the wrong things I have done.\nMy sin is always in front of me."},{"verse":4,"text":"I have sinned against you, only you.\nI have done what is evil in your eyes.\nSo you are proved right when you speak,\nand blameless when you judge."},{"verse":5,"text":"I was a sinner when I was born.\nI was sinful from the time my mother became pregnant with me."},{"verse":6,"text":"You want truth deep inside me.\nYou teach me wisdom in the secret place of my heart."},{"verse":7,"text":"Make me pure with hyssop, and I will be clean.\nWash me, and I will be whiter than snow."},{"verse":8,"text":"Let me hear joy and gladness.\nLet the bones you have crushed be glad."},{"verse":9,"text":"Turn your face away from my sins.\nWipe out all my guilt."},{"verse":10,"text":"Create in me a clean heart, O God.\nGive me a new and right spirit inside me."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do not send me away from you.\nDo not take your Holy Spirit from me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Give me back the joy of being saved by you.\nGive me a willing spirit to hold me up."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong.\nAnd sinners will come back to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"God, you are the God who saves me.\nSave me from the guilt of spilling blood.\nThen my tongue will sing about how righteous you are."},{"verse":15,"text":"Lord, open my lips.\nThen my mouth will tell your praise."},{"verse":16,"text":"For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it.\nYou are not pleased with burnt offerings."},{"verse":17,"text":"The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.\nGod, you will not turn away\na heart that is broken and sorry for sin."},{"verse":18,"text":"Be good to Zion, as it pleases you.\nBuild up the walls of Jerusalem."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then you will delight in right sacrifices,\nin whole burnt offerings.\nThen bulls will be offered on your altar."}]},{"chapter":52,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A maskil of David. He wrote it after Doeg the Edomite went to Saul. Doeg told him, \"David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.\"\nWhy do you brag about evil, you mighty man?\nThe faithful love of God lasts all day long."},{"verse":2,"text":"Your tongue plans to destroy.\nIt is like a sharp razor, you liar."},{"verse":3,"text":"You love evil more than good.\nYou love lies more than telling the truth. Selah"},{"verse":4,"text":"You love every word that hurts and destroys,\nyou lying tongue."},{"verse":5,"text":"Surely God will bring you down to ruin forever.\nHe will grab you and pull you out of your tent.\nHe will pull you up by the roots from the land of the living. Selah"},{"verse":6,"text":"Those who do right will see it and fear.\nThey will laugh at the evil man and say,"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Look at the man who did not make God his safe place.\nHe trusted in his great riches.\nHe made himself strong by destroying others.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But I am like an olive tree growing well in the house of God.\nI trust in the faithful love of God forever and ever."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will praise you forever, because you have done it.\nI will wait on your name, for it is good.\nI will do this in front of your holy people."}]},{"chapter":53,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. According to mahalath. A maskil of David.\nThe fool says in his heart, \"There is no God.\"\nThey are corrupt. Their ways are disgusting.\nThere is no one who does good.","note":"Mahalath may be a tune or a musical term."},{"verse":2,"text":"God looks down from heaven on all people.\nHe looks to see if anyone understands,\nif anyone looks for God."},{"verse":3,"text":"All have turned away.\nTogether they have become corrupt.\nThere is no one who does good, not even one."},{"verse":4,"text":"Will those who do evil never learn?\nThey eat up my people like bread.\nThey will not call on God."},{"verse":5,"text":"There they are, filled with terror,\nwhere there was nothing to fear.\nFor God has scattered the bones of those who attacked you.\nYou put them to shame, for God has rejected them."},{"verse":6,"text":"Oh, I wish the saving of Israel would come from Zion!\nWhen God brings back his captured people,\nlet Jacob be full of joy! Let Israel be glad!"}]},{"chapter":54,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. He wrote it when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, \"Isn't David hiding among us?\"\nGod, save me by your name.\nShow that I am in the right by your power!"},{"verse":2,"text":"God, hear my prayer.\nListen to the words of my mouth."},{"verse":3,"text":"For strangers rise up against me.\nCruel men want to kill me.\nThey do not care about God. Selah"},{"verse":4,"text":"God is surely my helper.\nThe Lord is the one who keeps my soul going."},{"verse":5,"text":"He will pay my enemies back with evil.\nBecause you are faithful, destroy them."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will gladly bring a sacrifice to you.\nLORD, I will praise your name, for it is good."},{"verse":7,"text":"For he has rescued me from every trouble.\nMy eyes have looked down on my enemies in victory."}]},{"chapter":55,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David.\nGod, listen to my prayer.\nDo not ignore my cry for help."},{"verse":2,"text":"Pay attention to me and answer me.\nI can't rest as I tell you my trouble.\nI am so upset"},{"verse":3,"text":"because of the voice of the enemy,\nbecause the wicked press hard on me.\nThey bring trouble down on me.\nThey are angry and hold a grudge against me."},{"verse":4,"text":"My heart pounds inside me.\nThe terrors of death attack me."},{"verse":5,"text":"Fear and shaking take hold of me.\nHorror has swept over me."},{"verse":6,"text":"I said, \"Oh, I wish I had wings like a dove!\nI would fly away and find rest."},{"verse":7,"text":"I would run far away!\nI would stay in the wilderness. Selah"},{"verse":8,"text":"I would hurry to my hiding place,\nfar from this wild storm.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Lord, mix up their words and confuse them.\nFor I see violence and fighting in the city."},{"verse":10,"text":"Day and night they go around on its walls.\nEvil and trouble are inside it."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ruin is inside the city.\nCruelty and lies never leave its streets."},{"verse":12,"text":"For it is not an enemy who insults me.\nI could put up with that.\nIt is not someone who hates me who rises against me.\nI could hide from him."},{"verse":13,"text":"But it is you, a man like me,\nmy partner and close friend."},{"verse":14,"text":"We used to share sweet friendship.\nWe walked with the crowd into the house of God."},{"verse":15,"text":"Let death grab them by surprise.\nLet them go down to the grave alive,\nfor evil lives with them in their homes.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":16,"text":"But I call to God,\nand the LORD saves me."},{"verse":17,"text":"Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my trouble.\nAnd he hears my voice."},{"verse":18,"text":"He redeems my soul and keeps it in peace\nfrom the battle against me,\neven though many fight against me."},{"verse":19,"text":"God, who has ruled from his throne forever,\nwill hear and bring them low. Selah\nThis is because they never change.\nThey have no fear of God."},{"verse":20,"text":"My friend attacks his own friends.\nHe breaks his covenant."},{"verse":21,"text":"His talk is smooth like butter,\nbut war is in his heart.\nHis words are softer than oil,\nbut they are swords pulled out to strike."},{"verse":22,"text":"Throw your heavy load on the LORD, and he will hold you up.\nHe will never let those who do right be shaken."},{"verse":23,"text":"But you, God, will bring them down to the Pit where they will be destroyed.\nMen who kill and lie will not live out half their days.\nBut I will trust in you."}]},{"chapter":56,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. To the tune of \"A Dove on Distant Oaks.\" A miktam of David. He wrote it when the Philistines grabbed him in Gath.\nGod, be kind to me, for men are chasing me.\nAll day long they keep attacking.","note":"Miktam is a Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain."},{"verse":2,"text":"My enemies chase me all day long.\nMany proud people attack me."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I am afraid,\nI put my trust in you."},{"verse":4,"text":"I praise God's word.\nI trust in God. I will not be afraid.\nWhat can man do to me?"},{"verse":5,"text":"All day long they twist my words.\nAll they think about is how to ruin me."},{"verse":6,"text":"They plot together. They hide.\nThey watch my steps.\nThey wait for a chance to kill me."},{"verse":7,"text":"They sin like this. Will they get away?\nGod, in your anger, throw down the nations."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have kept track of all my wanderings.\nPut my tears in your bottle.\nAren't they written in your book?"},{"verse":9,"text":"On the day I cry for help, my enemies will turn back.\nThis is how I will know that God is on my side."},{"verse":10,"text":"In God, whose word I praise,\nin the LORD, whose word I praise,"},{"verse":11,"text":"in God I trust. I will not be afraid.\nWhat can man do to me?"},{"verse":12,"text":"God, I must keep the promises I made to you.\nI will bring you thank offerings."},{"verse":13,"text":"For you have saved my soul from death.\nYou have kept my feet from tripping,\nso that I may walk before God in the light of life."}]},{"chapter":57,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. To the tune of \"Do Not Destroy.\" A miktam of David. He wrote it when he ran away from Saul into the cave.\nHave mercy on me, God, have mercy!\nFor my soul runs to you to be safe.\nI will hide in the shadow of your wings\nuntil the danger has passed."},{"verse":2,"text":"I cry out to God Most High,\nto God who carries out his plan for me."},{"verse":3,"text":"He reaches down from heaven and saves me.\nHe scolds those who stomp on me. Selah\nGod sends out his faithful love and his truth."},{"verse":4,"text":"My soul is among lions.\nI lie down among hungry wild animals.\nThey are men whose teeth are spears and arrows.\nTheir tongues are sharp swords."},{"verse":5,"text":"God, be lifted up above the heavens.\nMay your glory cover all the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"They spread a net to catch my feet.\nMy soul was bowed down.\nThey dug a pit in front of me,\nbut they fell into it themselves! Selah"},{"verse":7,"text":"My heart is firm, God.\nMy heart is firm.\nI will sing and make music."},{"verse":8,"text":"Wake up, my glory!\nWake up, harp and lyre!\nI will wake up the dawn."},{"verse":9,"text":"Lord, I will praise you among the nations.\nI will sing your praises among the peoples."},{"verse":10,"text":"For your faithful love reaches to the heavens.\nYour faithfulness reaches to the clouds."},{"verse":11,"text":"God, be lifted up above the heavens.\nMay your glory cover all the earth."}]},{"chapter":58,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. To the tune of \"Do Not Destroy.\" A miktam of David.\nRulers, do you really speak what is fair?\nDo you judge people in the right way?","note":"Or: you gods; or: you mighty ones."},{"verse":2,"text":"No! In your hearts you plan what is unfair.\nWith your hands you hand out violence on the earth."},{"verse":3,"text":"The wicked go wrong from the time they are in the womb.\nLiars wander off from the day they are born."},{"verse":4,"text":"Their poison is like the poison of a snake.\nThey are like a cobra that stops up its ears."},{"verse":5,"text":"It will not listen to the tune of the snake charmer,\nno matter how skilled he is with his magic."},{"verse":6,"text":"God, break the teeth in their mouths.\nLORD, tear out the fangs of the lions."},{"verse":7,"text":"May they disappear like water that runs off.\nWhen they pull back the bow,\nmay their arrows be made dull."},{"verse":8,"text":"May they be like a slug that melts in its slime.\nMay they be like a woman's baby born dead,\nwho never sees the sun."},{"verse":9,"text":"Your pots will not even feel the heat of the burning thorns,\nwhether green or dry,\nbefore he sweeps them away."},{"verse":10,"text":"Those who do right will be glad\nwhen they see the wicked paid back.\nThey will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then people will say,\n\"There really is a reward for those who do right!\nThere really is a God who judges the earth!\""}]},{"chapter":59,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. To the tune of \"Do Not Destroy.\" A miktam of David. He wrote it when Saul sent men to watch David's house so they could kill him.\nMy God, save me from my enemies.\nKeep me safe from those who rise against me."},{"verse":2,"text":"Save me from those who do evil.\nRescue me from men who kill."},{"verse":3,"text":"Look, they hide and wait for me.\nFierce men plot against me, LORD.\nBut it is not because of any wrong or sin of mine."},{"verse":4,"text":"I have done nothing wrong,\nyet they rush to attack me.\nGet up and help me! Look at what is happening!"},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD God of Hosts, God of Israel,\nwake up and punish all the nations.\nShow no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah"},{"verse":6,"text":"They come back in the evening,\ngrowling like dogs.\nThey sneak around the city."},{"verse":7,"text":"Look at what pours out of their mouths!\nSharp words come from their lips.\nThey say, \"Who can hear us?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But you, LORD, laugh at them.\nYou make fun of all the nations."},{"verse":9,"text":"You are my strength. I will watch for you,\nbecause you, God, are my strong fort."},{"verse":10,"text":"My God of faithful love will come to meet me.\nGod will let me look down on my enemies."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do not kill them, or my people will forget.\nScatter them by your power.\nBring them down, Lord, our shield."},{"verse":12,"text":"Their mouths sin. Their lips speak evil words.\nLet them be caught in their pride,\nin the curses and lies they speak."},{"verse":13,"text":"Burn them up in your anger.\nBurn them up until they are gone.\nThen all the ends of the earth will know\nthat God rules over Jacob. Selah"},{"verse":14,"text":"They come back in the evening,\ngrowling like dogs.\nThey sneak around the city."},{"verse":15,"text":"They hunt for food.\nThey growl if they don't get enough."},{"verse":16,"text":"But I will sing about your strength.\nIn the morning I will tell of your faithful love.\nFor you are my strong fort.\nYou are my safe place in times of trouble."},{"verse":17,"text":"You are my strength. I sing praises to you.\nFor you, God, are my strong fort,\nmy God of faithful love."}]},{"chapter":60,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. To the tune of \"The Lily of the Covenant.\" A miktam of David for teaching. He wrote it when he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah. Joab came back and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.\nGod, you have turned us away.\nYou have broken us.\nYou have been angry. Restore us!"},{"verse":2,"text":"You have shaken the land and torn it open.\nFix its cracks, for it is shaking."},{"verse":3,"text":"You have made your people go through hard times.\nWe stagger from the wine you made us drink."},{"verse":4,"text":"You have raised a flag for those who fear you,\nso they can run away from the bow. Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Answer us and save us with your right hand,\nso the people you love may be rescued."},{"verse":6,"text":"God has spoken from his holy place:\n\"I will win!\nI will divide up Shechem.\nI will measure out the Valley of Succoth."},{"verse":7,"text":"Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine.\nEphraim is my helmet.\nJudah is my scepter."},{"verse":8,"text":"Moab is my washbasin.\nI throw my sandal on Edom.\nI shout in victory over Philistia.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Who will bring me to the city with strong walls?\nWho will lead me to Edom?"},{"verse":10,"text":"God, haven't you turned us away?\nGod, won't you march out with our armies anymore?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Help us against the enemy.\nFor the help of man is worth nothing."},{"verse":12,"text":"With God we will fight bravely.\nAnd he will stomp on our enemies."}]},{"chapter":61,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. With stringed instruments. Of David.\nGod, hear my cry.\nListen to my prayer."},{"verse":2,"text":"From the ends of the earth I call out to you\nwhenever my heart is weak.\nLead me to the rock that is higher than I am."},{"verse":3,"text":"For you have been my safe place.\nYou are a strong tower against the enemy."},{"verse":4,"text":"Let me live in your tent forever.\nLet me find safety under the cover of your wings. Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"For you have heard my promises, God.\nYou have given me the share you keep\nfor those who fear your name."},{"verse":6,"text":"Add many days to the king's life.\nMay his years go on for many generations."},{"verse":7,"text":"May he sit on his throne before God forever.\nSend your faithful love and truth to guard him."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then I will always sing praise to your name.\nI will keep my promises day after day."}]},{"chapter":62,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. According to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.\nMy soul finds rest in God alone.\nMy rescue comes from him."},{"verse":2,"text":"He alone is my rock and the one who saves me.\nHe is my fort.\nI will never be shaken."},{"verse":3,"text":"How long will you threaten a man?\nWill all of you throw him down,\nlike a leaning wall or a shaky fence?"},{"verse":4,"text":"They fully plan to throw him down from his high place.\nThey love lies.\nWith their mouths they bless,\nbut in their hearts they curse. Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Rest in God alone, my soul.\nMy hope comes from him."},{"verse":6,"text":"He alone is my rock and the one who saves me.\nHe is my fort.\nI will not be shaken."},{"verse":7,"text":"My rescue and my honor depend on God.\nHe is my strong rock.\nGod is my safe place."},{"verse":8,"text":"Trust in him at all times, you people.\nPour out your hearts to him.\nGod is our safe place. Selah"},{"verse":9,"text":"Common people are only a breath.\nImportant people are only a lie.\nPut them on a scale, and they go up.\nAll together, they are only a breath."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not trust in forcing money from others.\nDo not put false hope in stolen things.\nIf you get richer,\ndo not set your heart on your riches."},{"verse":11,"text":"God has spoken one time.\nI have heard it two times:\nPower belongs to God,"},{"verse":12,"text":"and faithful love belongs to you, Lord.\nYou will pay back each person\nfor what he has done."}]},{"chapter":63,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David, when he was in the desert of Judah.\nGod, you are my God.\nI look for you with all my heart.\nMy soul is thirsty for you.\nMy body longs for you\nin a dry and tired land with no water."},{"verse":2,"text":"So I have seen you in your holy place.\nI have seen your power and your glory."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your faithful love is better than life.\nSo my lips will praise you."},{"verse":4,"text":"So I will bless you as long as I live.\nI will lift up my hands in your name."},{"verse":5,"text":"My soul is full, as if I ate the richest food.\nMy mouth will praise you with happy lips."},{"verse":6,"text":"When I remember you on my bed,\nI think of you all through the night."},{"verse":7,"text":"For you are my help.\nI will sing for joy in the shadow of your wings."},{"verse":8,"text":"My soul holds on to you.\nYour right hand holds me up."},{"verse":9,"text":"But some people want to kill me.\nThey will go down into the deep places of the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will be killed by the sword.\nThey will become food for foxes."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the king will be glad in God.\nAll who make promises in his name will cheer,\nfor the mouths of liars will be shut."}]},{"chapter":64,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David.\nGod, hear my voice as I complain.\nKeep my life safe from fear of the enemy."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hide me from the secret plans of evil people.\nHide me from the crowd of people who do wrong."},{"verse":3,"text":"They sharpen their tongues like swords.\nThey aim their bitter words like arrows."},{"verse":4,"text":"They hide and wait to attack people who have done no wrong.\nThey shoot all of a sudden, and they are not afraid."},{"verse":5,"text":"They hold on tight to their evil plans.\nThey talk about hiding their traps.\nThey say, \"Who will see them?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"They plan to do wrong.\nThey say, \"We have made a perfect secret plan!\"\nFor the inner thoughts and heart of a person are a mystery."},{"verse":7,"text":"But God will shoot them with arrows.\nAll of a sudden they will be hurt."},{"verse":8,"text":"They will be made to trip.\nTheir own tongues will be turned against them.\nAll who see them will shake their heads."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then all people will be afraid.\nThey will tell about the work of God.\nThey will think about what he has done."},{"verse":10,"text":"Let those who are right with God be glad in the LORD.\nLet them find safety in him.\nLet all whose hearts are honest cheer."}]},{"chapter":65,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David. A song.\nGod, praise waits for you in Zion.\nWe will keep our promises to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"You listen to prayer.\nAll people will come to you."},{"verse":3,"text":"When my sins are too strong for me,\nyou atone for our wrongs.","note":"To atone means to cover over sin and make peace with God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Happy is the one you choose!\nYou bring him near to live in your courtyards.\nWe are filled with the good things of your house,\nthe holy things of your temple."},{"verse":5,"text":"God who saves us,\nyou answer us with amazing deeds of righteousness.\nYou are the hope of all the ends of the earth\nand of the farthest seas."},{"verse":6,"text":"You made the mountains by your power.\nYou dressed yourself with strength."},{"verse":7,"text":"You calmed the roaring seas\nand the pounding waves.\nYou calmed the noisy nations too."},{"verse":8,"text":"People who live far away fear your wonders.\nYou make the morning and the evening shout for joy."},{"verse":9,"text":"You take care of the earth and water it.\nYou make it very rich.\nThe streams of God are full of water,\nfor you get our grain ready by caring for the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"You soak its rows of plowed ground.\nYou smooth out its ridges.\nYou soften it with showers.\nYou bless what grows there."},{"verse":11,"text":"You crown the year with your good gifts.\nYour paths spill over with plenty."},{"verse":12,"text":"The grasslands in the wilderness spill over.\nThe hills are dressed with joy."},{"verse":13,"text":"The fields are covered with flocks.\nThe valleys are covered with grain.\nThey shout for joy.\nYes, they sing."}]},{"chapter":66,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A song. A psalm.\nShout for joy to God, all the earth!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Sing about the glory of his name.\nMake his praise glorious."},{"verse":3,"text":"Say to God, \"How amazing are the things you do!\nYour power is so great\nthat your enemies bow down in fear before you."},{"verse":4,"text":"All the earth bows down to you.\nThey sing praise to you.\nThey sing praise to your name.\" Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Come and see what God has done.\nHis deeds for people are amazing."},{"verse":6,"text":"He turned the sea into dry land.\nThey walked through the waters on foot.\nThere we were glad in him."},{"verse":7,"text":"He rules forever by his power.\nHis eyes watch the nations.\nDo not let those who rebel lift themselves up. Selah"},{"verse":8,"text":"Bless our God, you peoples.\nLet the sound of his praise be heard."},{"verse":9,"text":"He keeps us alive.\nHe keeps our feet from slipping."},{"verse":10,"text":"God, you have tested us.\nYou have made us pure like silver in a fire."},{"verse":11,"text":"You led us into the net.\nYou put heavy loads on our backs."},{"verse":12,"text":"You let men ride over our heads.\nWe went through fire and water.\nBut you brought us to a place with plenty."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will come into your house with burnt offerings.\nI will keep my promises to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"These are the promises my lips made.\nMy mouth spoke them when I was in trouble."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will offer you fat animals as burnt offerings.\nI will offer the sweet-smelling smoke of rams.\nI will offer bulls and goats. Selah"},{"verse":16,"text":"Come and listen, all you who fear God.\nI will tell you what he has done for me."},{"verse":17,"text":"I cried out to him with my mouth.\nI praised him with my tongue."},{"verse":18,"text":"If I had held on to sin in my heart,\nthe Lord would not have listened."},{"verse":19,"text":"But God has surely heard.\nHe has paid attention to the sound of my prayer."},{"verse":20,"text":"Bless God!\nHe has not turned away my prayer.\nHe has not kept his faithful love from me."}]},{"chapter":67,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.\nMay God be kind to us and bless us.\nMay he make his face shine on us. Selah"},{"verse":2,"text":"so that your ways may be known on earth,\nand the way you save may be known among all nations."},{"verse":3,"text":"Let the peoples praise you, God.\nLet all the peoples praise you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,\nfor you judge the peoples fairly.\nYou lead the nations of the earth. Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Let the peoples praise you, God.\nLet all the peoples praise you."},{"verse":6,"text":"The earth has given its harvest.\nGod, our God, blesses us."},{"verse":7,"text":"God blesses us,\nso that all the ends of the earth will fear him."}]},{"chapter":68,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. A psalm of David. A song.\nGod rises up.\nHis enemies run in all directions.\nThose who hate him run away from him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Smoke is blown away.\nIn the same way, you will drive them away.\nWax melts in the fire.\nIn the same way, the wicked will perish when God is near."},{"verse":3,"text":"But those who are right with God will be glad.\nThey will be happy before God.\nThey will celebrate with joy."},{"verse":4,"text":"Sing to God! Sing praises to his name.\nLift up the one who rides on the clouds.\nHis name is the LORD.\nBe glad before him."},{"verse":5,"text":"God is a father to children who have no father.\nHe protects widows.\nHe does this from his holy home."},{"verse":6,"text":"God gives lonely people a family.\nHe leads prisoners out to a good life.\nBut those who rebel live in a land burned by the sun."},{"verse":7,"text":"God, you went out in front of your people.\nYou marched through the wild land. Selah"},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the earth shook.\nThe skies poured down rain before God, the one of Sinai.\nThey poured rain before God, the God of Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"God, you sent plenty of rain.\nYou gave new strength to your own tired inheritance."},{"verse":10,"text":"Your flock made its home there.\nGod, from your good gifts you gave to the poor."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Lord gives the word.\nA great crowd of women tell the news:"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Kings and their armies run away fast!\nThe woman who stays at home divides up the plunder."},{"verse":13,"text":"You may lie down among the sheep pens.\nBut the wings of the dove are covered with silver.\nHer feathers shine with gold.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The Almighty scattered the kings in the land.\nIt was like snow falling on Zalmon."},{"verse":15,"text":"Mount Bashan is a mountain of God.\nMount Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.","note":"Or a mighty mountain."},{"verse":16,"text":"Mountains with many peaks, why do you look on with envy?\nThis is the mountain God chose for his home.\nThe LORD will surely live there forever."},{"verse":17,"text":"God's chariots number tens of thousands.\nThey are thousands upon thousands.\nThe Lord is in his holy place, as he was at Sinai."},{"verse":18,"text":"You went up on high.\nYou led away captives.\nYou received gifts from people,\neven from those who rebel,\nso that the LORD God may live there."},{"verse":19,"text":"Bless the Lord!\nEvery day he carries our heavy load.\nHe is the God who saves us. Selah"},{"verse":20,"text":"Our God is a God who saves.\nThe Lord GOD rescues us from death."},{"verse":21,"text":"God will surely crush the heads of his enemies.\nHe will crush the hairy heads of those who keep on sinning."},{"verse":22,"text":"The Lord said, \"I will bring them back from Bashan.\nI will bring them up from the bottom of the sea."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then your feet may wade in the blood of your enemies.\nYour dogs' tongues will have their share too.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"God, they have seen you parade in.\nThey have seen my God and King march into the holy place."},{"verse":25,"text":"The singers lead the way.\nThe musicians follow.\nYoung women play tambourines among them."},{"verse":26,"text":"Bless God in the great gathering.\nBless the LORD, you who come from the spring of Israel."},{"verse":27,"text":"There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them.\nThe princes of Judah are with them.\nThe princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali are there too."},{"verse":28,"text":"God, call up your power.\nShow your strength, God,\nthe strength you have used for us."},{"verse":29,"text":"Kings will bring you gifts\nbecause of your temple at Jerusalem."},{"verse":30,"text":"Rebuke the wild animal in the reeds,\nthe herd of bulls among the calves of the nations,\nuntil it gives in and brings bars of silver.\nScatter the nations who love war."},{"verse":31,"text":"Messengers will come from Egypt.\nCush will reach out her hands to God."},{"verse":32,"text":"Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.\nSing praises to the Lord. Selah"},{"verse":33,"text":"Sing to the one who rides across the highest, ancient skies.\nListen! His mighty voice thunders."},{"verse":34,"text":"Say that power belongs to God.\nHis majesty is over Israel.\nHis strength is in the skies."},{"verse":35,"text":"God, you are awesome in your holy place.\nThe God of Israel himself gives strength and power to his people.\nBless God!"}]},{"chapter":69,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To the tune of \"Lilies.\" Of David.\nSave me, God!\nThe waters have come up to my neck."},{"verse":2,"text":"I have sunk down deep in the mud.\nThere is nothing to stand on.\nI have floated out into deep waters.\nThe flood covers me."},{"verse":3,"text":"I am tired from crying out.\nMy throat is dry.\nMy eyes grow weak as I look for my God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Many people hate me for no reason.\nThere are more of them than hairs on my head.\nMany want to destroy me.\nThey are my enemies for no reason.\nI did not steal, but I must pay it back."},{"verse":5,"text":"God, you know how foolish I have been.\nMy guilt is not hidden from you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Lord GOD of Hosts,\ndo not let those who hope in you be shamed because of me.\nGod of Israel,\ndo not let those who look for you be disgraced because of me."},{"verse":7,"text":"For I have put up with insults because of you.\nShame has covered my face."},{"verse":8,"text":"I have become a stranger to my brothers.\nI am like a foreigner to my mother's sons."},{"verse":9,"text":"because my zeal for your house has eaten me up.\nThe insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."},{"verse":10,"text":"I cried and went without food.\nBut it only brought me insults."},{"verse":11,"text":"I wore sackcloth for clothes.\nThey made fun of me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Those who sit at the city gate make fun of me.\nDrunks make up songs about me."},{"verse":13,"text":"But I pray to you, LORD,\nat a time when you will be kind.\nGod, your faithful love is so great.\nAnswer me, for you surely save."},{"verse":14,"text":"Rescue me from the mud.\nDo not let me sink.\nSave me from my enemies\nand out of the deep waters."},{"verse":15,"text":"Do not let the floods cover me.\nDo not let the deep water swallow me up.\nDo not let the Pit close its mouth over me."},{"verse":16,"text":"Answer me, LORD, for your faithful love is good.\nTurn to me, because your mercy is great."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not hide your face from me, your servant,\nfor I am in trouble.\nAnswer me quickly!"},{"verse":18,"text":"Come close to me and redeem me.\nBuy me back because of my enemies."},{"verse":19,"text":"You know how I am insulted.\nYou know my shame and disgrace.\nYou see all my enemies."},{"verse":20,"text":"Insults have broken my heart.\nI have lost all hope.\nI looked for someone to feel sorry for me, but there was no one.\nI looked for someone to comfort me, but I found no one."},{"verse":21,"text":"They put bitter poison in my food.\nWhen I was thirsty, they gave me sour wine to drink.","note":"Hebrew: gall and vinegar."},{"verse":22,"text":"May their table become a trap for them.\nMay it be their punishment and a snare."},{"verse":23,"text":"May their eyes grow dark so they cannot see.\nMay their backs be bent forever."},{"verse":24,"text":"Pour out your anger on them.\nLet your burning anger catch them."},{"verse":25,"text":"May their homes be empty.\nLet no one live in their tents."},{"verse":26,"text":"For they chase after the one you struck.\nThey talk about the pain of those you hurt."},{"verse":27,"text":"Add sin on top of their sin.\nDo not let them share in your righteousness."},{"verse":28,"text":"May their names be wiped out of the Book of Life.\nDo not let them be written down with those who are right with God."},{"verse":29,"text":"But I am in pain and trouble.\nGod, let your saving power keep me safe."},{"verse":30,"text":"I will praise God's name with a song.\nI will honor him by giving thanks."},{"verse":31,"text":"This will please the LORD more than an ox.\nIt will please him more than a bull with horns and hooves."},{"verse":32,"text":"The humble will see it and be glad.\nYou who look for God, let your hearts come alive again!"},{"verse":33,"text":"For the LORD listens to the needy.\nHe does not look down on his people who are captives."},{"verse":34,"text":"Let heaven and earth praise him.\nLet the seas and everything that moves in them praise him."},{"verse":35,"text":"For God will save Zion.\nHe will build the cities of Judah again,\nso that they may live there and own it."},{"verse":36,"text":"The children of his servants will receive it.\nThose who love his name will live there."}]},{"chapter":70,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. Of David. To help remember.\nGod, hurry and save me!\nLORD, hurry to help me!"},{"verse":2,"text":"May those who want to kill me be ashamed and confused.\nMay those who want to hurt me be turned back and put to shame."},{"verse":3,"text":"Some people say, \"Aha! Aha!\"\nMay they turn back because of their shame."},{"verse":4,"text":"May all who look for you be happy and glad in you.\nMay those who love the way you save always say,\n\"Let God be praised as great!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But I am poor and in need.\nGod, hurry to me.\nYou are my help and the one who saves me.\nLORD, do not wait."}]},{"chapter":71,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"LORD, I have run to you for safety.\nNever let me be put to shame."},{"verse":2,"text":"Because you are fair, rescue me and set me free.\nTurn your ear to me and save me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Be my rock where I am safe.\nBe a place I can always go.\nGive the order to save me.\nYou are my rock and my fort."},{"verse":4,"text":"My God, save me from the power of the wicked.\nSave me from the grip of cruel people who do wrong."},{"verse":5,"text":"For you are my hope, Lord GOD.\nI have trusted you since I was young."},{"verse":6,"text":"I have leaned on you since I was born.\nYou brought me out of my mother's womb.\nI will always praise you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Many people see me as a warning sign.\nBut you are my strong place of safety."},{"verse":8,"text":"My mouth is full of praise for you.\nAll day long I tell of your glory."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not throw me away when I am old.\nDo not leave me when my strength is gone."},{"verse":10,"text":"For my enemies speak against me.\nThose who wait to kill me make plans together."},{"verse":11,"text":"They say, \"God has left him.\nChase him and grab him,\nfor no one will save him.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"God, do not be far from me.\nMy God, hurry to help me."},{"verse":13,"text":"May those who accuse me be ashamed and destroyed.\nMay those who want to hurt me be covered with shame and disgrace."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I will always have hope.\nI will praise you more and more."},{"verse":15,"text":"My mouth will tell of your righteousness.\nAll day long I will tell how you save,\nthough I cannot know how great they are."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will come in the strength of the Lord GOD.\nI will tell about your righteousness, yours alone."},{"verse":17,"text":"God, you have taught me since I was young.\nTo this day I tell about the wonderful things you do."},{"verse":18,"text":"Even when I am old and gray, God, do not leave me,\nuntil I tell the next generation about your power,\nand all who are still to come about your might."},{"verse":19,"text":"God, your righteousness reaches up to the skies.\nYou have done great things.\nGod, who is like you?"},{"verse":20,"text":"You have let me see many troubles and hard times.\nBut you will give me new life again.\nYou will bring me back up,\neven from the deep places of the earth."},{"verse":21,"text":"You will give me more honor.\nYou will comfort me again."},{"verse":22,"text":"So I will praise you with the harp, my God,\nbecause you are faithful.\nI will sing praise to you with the lyre,\nHoly One of Israel."},{"verse":23,"text":"When I sing praise to you, my lips will shout for joy.\nMy soul will shout too, for you have redeemed it."},{"verse":24,"text":"My tongue will surely tell of your righteousness all day long,\nfor those who want to hurt me are put to shame and confused."}]},{"chapter":72,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of Solomon.\nGod, give the king your fairness.\nGive the king's son your righteousness."},{"verse":2,"text":"May he judge your people in the right way.\nMay he be fair to your poor and hurting people."},{"verse":3,"text":"May the mountains bring peace to the people.\nMay the hills bring what is right."},{"verse":4,"text":"May he stand up for the hurting people.\nMay he save the children of the needy.\nMay he crush the one who mistreats them."},{"verse":5,"text":"May people fear him as long as the sun shines.\nMay they fear him as long as the moon is there,\nfor all generations."},{"verse":6,"text":"May he be like rain that falls on fresh-cut grass.\nMay he be like spring showers that water the earth."},{"verse":7,"text":"May those who are right with God do well while he rules.\nMay there be plenty and peace\nuntil the moon is gone."},{"verse":8,"text":"May he rule from sea to sea.\nMay he rule from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"May the people of the desert bow down to him.\nMay his enemies lick the dust."},{"verse":10,"text":"May the kings of Tarshish and faraway shores pay him tribute.\nMay the kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts."},{"verse":11,"text":"May all kings bow down to him.\nMay all nations serve him."},{"verse":12,"text":"For he will save the needy when they cry out.\nHe will save the hurting who have no one to help."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will feel sorry for the poor and needy.\nHe will save the lives of those who are mistreated."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will redeem them from cruel and violent people,\nfor their blood is precious to him."},{"verse":15,"text":"May he live a long time!\nMay gold from Sheba be given to him.\nMay people always pray for him.\nMay they bless him all day long."},{"verse":16,"text":"May there be plenty of grain in the land.\nMay it wave on the tops of the hills.\nMay its fruit trees grow strong like the forests of Lebanon.\nMay the people of its cities grow like the grass of the field."},{"verse":17,"text":"May his name last forever.\nMay his name go on as long as the sun shines.\nMay all nations be blessed through him.\nMay they call him blessed."},{"verse":18,"text":"Bless the LORD God, the God of Israel!\nHe alone does wonderful things."},{"verse":19,"text":"Bless his glorious name forever!\nMay all the earth be filled with his glory.\nAmen and amen."},{"verse":20,"text":"This is the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse."}]},{"chapter":73,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of Asaph.\nGod is truly good to Israel.\nHe is good to those whose hearts are pure."},{"verse":2,"text":"But as for me, my feet almost tripped.\nMy steps nearly slipped."},{"verse":3,"text":"For I was jealous of proud people\nwhen I saw how well wicked people were doing."},{"verse":4,"text":"They have no pain when they die.\nTheir bodies are well fed."},{"verse":5,"text":"They do not carry the heavy loads others carry.\nThey do not suffer like other people."},{"verse":6,"text":"So they wear pride like a necklace.\nThey wear violence like a robe."},{"verse":7,"text":"Their rich lives lead to sin.\nThe ideas in their hearts run wild."},{"verse":8,"text":"They make fun of others and speak with hate.\nThey proudly threaten to crush people."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their mouths speak against heaven.\nTheir tongues strut proudly across the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"So their people turn back to this place.\nThey drink up plenty of water."},{"verse":11,"text":"The wicked say, \"How can God know?\nDoes the Most High know anything?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Look, this is what the wicked are like.\nThey never have a care, and they keep getting richer."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have kept my heart pure for nothing.\nI have washed my hands to show I am innocent, but for nothing."},{"verse":14,"text":"For I suffer all day long.\nI am punished every morning."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if I had said, \"I will talk like this,\"\nI would have turned against your children."},{"verse":16,"text":"I tried to understand all this.\nIt was too hard for me"},{"verse":17,"text":"until I went into God's holy place.\nThen I understood how they will end."},{"verse":18,"text":"You have surely put them on slippery ground.\nYou throw them down to be destroyed."},{"verse":19,"text":"How suddenly they are ruined!\nTerrors sweep them away completely!"},{"verse":20,"text":"They are like a dream when a person wakes up.\nLord, when you wake up, you will hate what they are."},{"verse":21,"text":"When my heart was sad\nand I was hurt deep inside,"},{"verse":22,"text":"I was foolish and did not understand.\nI was like a dumb animal in front of you."},{"verse":23,"text":"Yet I am always with you.\nYou hold my right hand."},{"verse":24,"text":"You guide me with your wise advice.\nLater you will take me into glory."},{"verse":25,"text":"Who do I have in heaven but you?\nThere is no one on earth I want but you."},{"verse":26,"text":"My body and my heart may fail.\nBut God is the strength of my heart.\nHe is mine forever."},{"verse":27,"text":"Those who are far from you will surely perish.\nYou destroy all who are not faithful to you."},{"verse":28,"text":"But as for me, it is good to be near God.\nI have made the Lord GOD my safe place.\nThen I can tell about all you have done."}]},{"chapter":74,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A maskil of Asaph.\nGod, why have you turned us away forever?\nWhy does your anger smoke against the sheep in your field?","note":"Maskil is probably a word for a kind of song or teaching psalm."},{"verse":2,"text":"Remember your people.\nYou bought them long ago.\nYou redeemed them to be the tribe that belongs to you.\nRemember Mount Zion, where you live."},{"verse":3,"text":"Walk over to these ruins that last forever.\nSee all that the enemy has destroyed in the holy place."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your enemies have roared in the place where you met with us.\nThey have set up their flags as signs."},{"verse":5,"text":"They were like men swinging axes\nin a thick group of trees."},{"verse":6,"text":"They smashed all the carved wood\nwith hatchets and picks."},{"verse":7,"text":"They burned your holy place to the ground.\nThey made the home of your Name unclean."},{"verse":8,"text":"They said in their hearts, \"We will crush them completely!\"\nThey burned down every place in the land where God met with us."},{"verse":9,"text":"We see no signs.\nThere are no more prophets.\nNone of us knows how long this will last."},{"verse":10,"text":"God, how long will the enemy make fun of you?\nWill the enemy insult your name forever?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Why do you hold back your strong right hand?\nReach it out and destroy them!"},{"verse":12,"text":"But God has been my King from long ago.\nHe brings rescue on the earth."},{"verse":13,"text":"You split the sea by your strength.\nYou smashed the heads of the sea monsters."},{"verse":14,"text":"You crushed the heads of Leviathan.\nYou fed him to the animals of the desert."},{"verse":15,"text":"You opened up springs and streams.\nYou dried up rivers that always flowed."},{"verse":16,"text":"The day belongs to you, and so does the night.\nYou put the moon and the sun in place."},{"verse":17,"text":"You set all the borders of the earth.\nYou made summer and winter."},{"verse":18,"text":"LORD, remember how the enemy has made fun of you.\nRemember how foolish people have hated your name."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do not give the life of your dove to wild animals.\nDo not forget the lives of your suffering people forever."},{"verse":20,"text":"Think about your covenant,\nfor violent people fill the dark places of the land."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not let the people who are mistreated turn back in shame.\nMay the poor and needy praise your name."},{"verse":22,"text":"Rise up, God, and stand up for your cause!\nRemember how fools make fun of you all day long."},{"verse":23,"text":"Do not ignore the shouts of your enemies.\nThe noise of those against you keeps rising up."}]},{"chapter":75,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To the tune of \"Do Not Destroy.\" A psalm of Asaph. A song.\nWe give thanks to you, God.\nWe give thanks, for your Name is near.\nPeople tell about the wonderful things you have done."},{"verse":2,"text":"God says, \"I choose the time.\nThen I will judge fairly."},{"verse":3,"text":"The earth and all who live on it shake.\nBut I am the one who holds up its pillars. Selah"},{"verse":4,"text":"I say to the proud, 'Do not brag.'\nI say to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn.","note":"A horn was a picture of strength and pride."},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not lift up your horn against heaven.\nDo not speak with your neck stuck out proudly.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"For honor does not come from the east or the west.\nIt does not come from the desert."},{"verse":7,"text":"But it is God who judges.\nHe brings one person down.\nHe lifts up another."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the LORD holds a cup in his hand.\nIt is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.\nHe pours from his cup.\nAll the wicked of the earth drink it down to the last drop."},{"verse":9,"text":"But I will tell about him forever.\nI will sing praise to the God of Jacob."},{"verse":10,"text":"God says, \"I will cut off all the horns of the wicked.\nBut the horns of those who are right with me will be lifted up.\""}]},{"chapter":76,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. With stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph. A song.\nGod is known in Judah.\nHis name is great in Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"His tent is in Salem.\nHis home is in Zion."},{"verse":3,"text":"There he broke the flaming arrows.\nHe broke the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah"},{"verse":4,"text":"You shine with bright light.\nYou are more glorious than mountains full of wild animals."},{"verse":5,"text":"The brave soldiers have been robbed.\nThey sleep their last sleep.\nNone of the strong men could lift a hand."},{"verse":6,"text":"God of Jacob, when you spoke sharply,\nboth horse and rider lay still as if dead."},{"verse":7,"text":"You alone are to be feared.\nWho can stand before you when you are angry?"},{"verse":8,"text":"From heaven you announced your judgment.\nThe earth was afraid and was quiet"},{"verse":9,"text":"when God rose up to judge.\nHe rose up to save all the humble people of the earth. Selah"},{"verse":10,"text":"Even people's anger will praise you.\nYou will wear what is left of their anger like a belt."},{"verse":11,"text":"Make promises to the LORD your God, and keep them.\nLet all the lands around him bring gifts\nto the one who is to be feared."},{"verse":12,"text":"He breaks the pride of princes.\nThe kings of the earth fear him."}]},{"chapter":77,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. According to Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.\nI cried out to God.\nI cried out loud for God to hear me."},{"verse":2,"text":"When I was in trouble, I looked for the Lord.\nAll night long I held out my hands without getting tired.\nMy soul would not be comforted."},{"verse":3,"text":"I remembered you, God, and I groaned.\nI thought about it, and my spirit grew weak. Selah"},{"verse":4,"text":"You have kept my eyes from closing.\nI am too upset to speak."},{"verse":5,"text":"I thought about the old days,\nthe years long ago."},{"verse":6,"text":"At night I remembered my song.\nI thought about it in my heart.\nMy spirit wondered:"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Will the Lord turn us away forever?\nWill he never be kind to us again?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Is his faithful love gone forever?\nHas his promise failed for all time?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Has God forgotten to be kind?\nHas his anger shut off his mercy?\" Selah"},{"verse":10,"text":"Then I said, \"This is what hurts me:\nthe right hand of the Most High has changed.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"I will remember what the LORD has done.\nYes, I will remember your wonders from long ago."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will think about all you have done.\nI will think about your mighty acts."},{"verse":13,"text":"God, your way is holy.\nWhat god is as great as our God?"},{"verse":14,"text":"You are the God who does wonders.\nYou show your strength among the peoples."},{"verse":15,"text":"With your power you redeemed your people,\nthe sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah"},{"verse":16,"text":"The waters saw you, God.\nThe waters saw you and swirled around.\nEven the deep waters shook."},{"verse":17,"text":"The clouds poured down water.\nThe skies boomed with thunder.\nYour arrows flashed back and forth."},{"verse":18,"text":"Your thunder boomed in the whirlwind.\nThe lightning lit up the world.\nThe earth trembled and shook."},{"verse":19,"text":"Your path led through the sea.\nYour way went through the mighty waters.\nBut no one could find your footprints."},{"verse":20,"text":"You led your people like a flock\nby the hands of Moses and Aaron."}]},{"chapter":78,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A maskil of Asaph.\nMy people, listen to my teaching.\nHear the words of my mouth."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will open my mouth in parables.\nI will speak about things hidden since the beginning."},{"verse":3,"text":"We have heard and known these things.\nOur fathers told them to us."},{"verse":4,"text":"We will not hide them from their children.\nWe will tell the next generation\nabout the LORD's praises and his power.\nWe will tell the wonders he has done."},{"verse":5,"text":"For he set up a witness in Jacob.\nHe gave a law in Israel.\nHe commanded our fathers\nto teach these things to their children."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the next generation would know them,\neven children not yet born.\nThey would grow up and tell their own children."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then they would put their trust in God.\nThey would not forget what he has done.\nThey would keep his commands."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then they would not be like their fathers.\nThose people were stubborn and rebelled.\nTheir hearts were not loyal.\nTheir spirits were not faithful to God."},{"verse":9,"text":"The archers of Ephraim turned and ran\non the day of battle."},{"verse":10,"text":"They did not keep God's covenant.\nThey refused to live by his law."},{"verse":11,"text":"They forgot what he had done.\nThey forgot the wonders he had shown them."},{"verse":12,"text":"He did wonders in front of their fathers\nin the land of Egypt, in the area of Zoan."},{"verse":13,"text":"He split the sea and led them through.\nHe made the waters stand up like a wall."},{"verse":14,"text":"He led them with a cloud during the day.\nHe led them with the light of a fire all night."},{"verse":15,"text":"He split the rocks in the wilderness.\nHe gave them as much water to drink as the seas."},{"verse":16,"text":"He brought streams out of the rock.\nHe made water flow down like rivers."},{"verse":17,"text":"But they kept on sinning against him.\nIn the desert they rebelled against the Most High."},{"verse":18,"text":"They tested God on purpose.\nThey demanded the food they wanted so badly."},{"verse":19,"text":"They spoke against God.\nThey said, \"Can God really set a table in the wilderness?"},{"verse":20,"text":"When he struck the rock, water poured out.\nStreams rushed out.\nBut can he also give bread?\nCan he give his people meat?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So the LORD heard them and was very angry.\nA fire was lit against Jacob.\nHis anger blazed against Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"This was because they did not believe God.\nThey did not trust him to save them."},{"verse":23,"text":"Yet he gave orders to the clouds above.\nHe opened the doors of the skies."},{"verse":24,"text":"He rained down manna for them to eat.\nHe gave them grain from heaven."},{"verse":25,"text":"People ate the bread of angels.\nHe sent them more than enough food."},{"verse":26,"text":"He stirred up the east wind in the skies.\nBy his power he drove the south wind."},{"verse":27,"text":"He rained meat on them like dust.\nHe rained birds on them like sand on the seashore."},{"verse":28,"text":"He made the birds fall in the middle of their camp.\nThey fell all around their tents."},{"verse":29,"text":"So they ate until they were very full,\nfor he gave them what they wanted so badly."},{"verse":30,"text":"But before they had their fill,\nwhile the food was still in their mouths,"},{"verse":31,"text":"God's anger blazed against them.\nHe killed the strongest of them.\nHe struck down the young men of Israel."},{"verse":32,"text":"Even so, they kept on sinning.\nHe had done wonderful things, but they did not believe."},{"verse":33,"text":"So he ended their days with nothing to show for them.\nHe ended their years with sudden terror."},{"verse":34,"text":"Whenever he killed some of them, the rest would look for him.\nThey turned back and searched for God."},{"verse":35,"text":"They remembered that God was their Rock.\nThey remembered that God Most High was their Redeemer."},{"verse":36,"text":"But they tricked him with their mouths.\nThey lied to him with their tongues."},{"verse":37,"text":"Their hearts were not loyal to him.\nThey were not faithful to his covenant."},{"verse":38,"text":"Yet he was full of mercy.\nHe forgave their sin and did not destroy them.\nMany times he held back his anger.\nHe did not let loose all his fury."},{"verse":39,"text":"He remembered that they were only human.\nThey were like a breeze that passes by and does not come back."},{"verse":40,"text":"How often they disobeyed him in the wilderness!\nHow often they made him sad in the desert!"},{"verse":41,"text":"Again and again they tested God.\nThey made the Holy One of Israel angry."},{"verse":42,"text":"They did not remember his power.\nThey forgot the day he redeemed them from the enemy."},{"verse":43,"text":"They forgot when he did his signs in Egypt.\nThey forgot his wonders in the fields of Zoan."},{"verse":44,"text":"He turned their rivers into blood.\nThey could not drink from their streams."},{"verse":45,"text":"He sent swarms of flies that ate them up.\nHe sent frogs that ruined them."},{"verse":46,"text":"He gave their crops to grasshoppers.\nHe gave what they worked for to locusts."},{"verse":47,"text":"He killed their grapevines with hail.\nHe killed their fig trees with sleet."},{"verse":48,"text":"He gave their cattle over to the hail.\nHe gave their herds over to bolts of lightning."},{"verse":49,"text":"He let loose his burning anger against them.\nHe sent fury, rage, and disaster.\nHe sent a band of angels who destroy."},{"verse":50,"text":"He made a path for his anger.\nHe did not spare them from death.\nHe handed their lives over to the plague."},{"verse":51,"text":"He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt.\nThey were the first of their strength in the tents of Ham."},{"verse":52,"text":"He led his people out like sheep.\nHe guided them like a flock in the wilderness."},{"verse":53,"text":"He led them safely, so they were not afraid.\nBut the sea covered their enemies."},{"verse":54,"text":"He brought them to his holy land.\nHe brought them to the mountain his right hand had won."},{"verse":55,"text":"He drove out nations ahead of them.\nHe divided up their land for his people to own.\nHe let the tribes of Israel live in their tents."},{"verse":56,"text":"But they tested God Most High and disobeyed him,\nfor they did not keep his laws."},{"verse":57,"text":"They turned away and were not faithful, like their fathers.\nThey were as twisted as a bad bow."},{"verse":58,"text":"They made him angry with their high places.\nThey made him jealous with their idols."},{"verse":59,"text":"When God heard this, he was very angry.\nHe turned away from Israel completely."},{"verse":60,"text":"He left the tabernacle at Shiloh.\nIt was the tent he had set up among people."},{"verse":61,"text":"He let his strength be taken captive.\nHe let his glory fall into the enemy's hands.","note":"This likely refers to the ark of the covenant."},{"verse":62,"text":"He handed his people over to the sword,\nbecause he was very angry with the people who belonged to him."},{"verse":63,"text":"Fire burned up his young men.\nTheir young women had no wedding songs."},{"verse":64,"text":"His priests were killed by the sword.\nTheir widows could not weep for them."},{"verse":65,"text":"Then the Lord woke up as if from sleep.\nHe was like a mighty warrior who had been overcome by wine."},{"verse":66,"text":"He beat back his enemies.\nHe put them to shame forever."},{"verse":67,"text":"He turned away from the tent of Joseph.\nHe did not choose the tribe of Ephraim."},{"verse":68,"text":"But he chose the tribe of Judah.\nHe chose Mount Zion, which he loved."},{"verse":69,"text":"He built his holy place like the high heavens.\nHe made it firm like the earth, which he set in place forever."},{"verse":70,"text":"He chose his servant David.\nHe took him from the sheep pens."},{"verse":71,"text":"David had cared for the mother sheep.\nGod brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,\nof Israel, the people who belong to him."},{"verse":72,"text":"So David cared for them with an honest heart.\nHe led them with skillful hands."}]},{"chapter":79,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of Asaph.\nGod, the nations have attacked the land that belongs to you.\nThey have made your holy temple unclean.\nThey have turned Jerusalem into piles of rubble."},{"verse":2,"text":"They have given the dead bodies of your servants\nas food to the birds of the sky.\nThey have given the bodies of your faithful people\nto the wild animals of the earth."},{"verse":3,"text":"They have poured out their blood like water\nall around Jerusalem.\nThere is no one to bury the dead."},{"verse":4,"text":"Our neighbors insult us.\nThe people around us laugh at us and make fun of us."},{"verse":5,"text":"How long, LORD?\nWill you be angry forever?\nWill your jealous anger burn like fire?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you.\nPour it on the kingdoms that will not call on your name."},{"verse":7,"text":"for they have eaten up Jacob.\nThey have destroyed his homeland."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not hold the sins of the past against us.\nLet your mercy come to us quickly,\nfor we are in great need."},{"verse":9,"text":"Help us, God who saves us,\nfor the glory of your name.\nRescue us and atone for our sins,\nfor the sake of your name."},{"verse":10,"text":"Why should the nations say, \"Where is their God?\"\nYour servants' blood has been spilled.\nLet the nations see you pay them back for it.\nLet it happen before our eyes."},{"verse":11,"text":"May the groans of the prisoners reach you.\nBy the strength of your arm, keep alive those sentenced to die."},{"verse":12,"text":"Lord, our neighbors threw insults at you.\nPay them back seven times over, right into their laps."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then we, your people, the sheep of your field,\nwill thank you forever.\nWe will tell of your praise\nto every generation."}]},{"chapter":80,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. To the tune of \"The Lilies of the Covenant.\" A psalm of Asaph.\nHear us, Shepherd of Israel.\nYou lead Joseph like a flock.\nYou sit on your throne between the cherubim.\nShine out"},{"verse":2,"text":"before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.\nWake up your mighty power.\nCome and save us."},{"verse":3,"text":"God, bring us back.\nMake your face shine on us,\nso that we may be saved."},{"verse":4,"text":"LORD God of Hosts,\nhow long will your anger smoke\nagainst the prayers of your people?"},{"verse":5,"text":"You have fed them tears for bread.\nYou have made them drink bowls full of tears."},{"verse":6,"text":"You make us something our neighbors fight over.\nOur enemies make fun of us."},{"verse":7,"text":"God of Hosts, bring us back.\nMake your face shine on us,\nso that we may be saved."},{"verse":8,"text":"You dug up a vine from Egypt.\nYou drove out the nations and planted it."},{"verse":9,"text":"You cleared the ground for it.\nIt put down roots and filled the land."},{"verse":10,"text":"Its shade covered the mountains.\nIts branches covered the mighty cedars."},{"verse":11,"text":"It sent out its branches to the Sea.\nIt sent its shoots toward the River.","note":"The Sea is the Mediterranean; the River is the Euphrates."},{"verse":12,"text":"Why have you broken down its walls?\nNow everyone who walks by picks its fruit."},{"verse":13,"text":"The wild boar from the forest tears it up.\nThe animals of the field feed on it."},{"verse":14,"text":"God of Hosts, please come back!\nLook down from heaven and see!\nTake care of this vine,"},{"verse":15,"text":"the root your right hand has planted,\nthe son you have raised up for yourself."},{"verse":16,"text":"Your vine has been cut down and burned.\nThey perish at the rebuke of your face."},{"verse":17,"text":"Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand.\nLet it rest on the son of man you have raised up for yourself."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then we will not turn away from you.\nGive us new life, and we will call on your name."},{"verse":19,"text":"LORD God of Hosts, bring us back.\nMake your face shine on us,\nso that we may be saved."}]},{"chapter":81,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. According to gittith. Of Asaph.\nSing for joy to God our strength.\nShout for joy to the God of Jacob."},{"verse":2,"text":"Start a song. Beat the tambourine.\nPlay the sweet harp and the lyre."},{"verse":3,"text":"Blow the ram's horn at the New Moon.\nBlow it at the full moon, on the day of our Feast."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is a rule for Israel.\nIt is a law of the God of Jacob."},{"verse":5,"text":"He made it a witness for Joseph\nwhen he went out over the land of Egypt.\nThere I heard a language I did not know:"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I took the heavy load off his shoulder.\nHis hands were set free from the basket."},{"verse":7,"text":"You called out when you were in trouble, and I rescued you.\nI answered you from the thundercloud.\nI tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah"},{"verse":8,"text":"Hear, my people, and I will warn you.\nIsrael, if only you would listen to me!"},{"verse":9,"text":"You must have no strange god among you.\nYou must not bow down to a foreign god."},{"verse":10,"text":"I am the LORD your God.\nI brought you up out of Egypt.\nOpen your mouth wide, and I will fill it."},{"verse":11,"text":"But my people would not listen to me.\nIsrael would not obey me."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I let them go their own stubborn way.\nI let them follow their own plans."},{"verse":13,"text":"If only my people would listen to me!\nIf only Israel would walk in my ways!"},{"verse":14,"text":"I would quickly beat their enemies.\nI would turn my hand against those who fight them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Those who hate the LORD would pretend to obey him.\nTheir doom would last forever."},{"verse":16,"text":"But I would feed you the best wheat.\nI would fill you with honey from the rock.\""}]},{"chapter":82,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of Asaph.\nGod takes his place in the meeting of heaven.\nHe judges among the gods:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"How long will you judge unfairly?\nHow long will you take the side of the wicked? Selah"},{"verse":3,"text":"Stand up for the weak and for children with no father.\nProtect the rights of the hurting and mistreated."},{"verse":4,"text":"Rescue the weak and needy.\nSave them from the power of the wicked."},{"verse":5,"text":"They do not know or understand.\nThey wander around in the dark.\nAll the foundations of the earth are shaken."},{"verse":6,"text":"I said, 'You are gods.\nYou are all sons of the Most High.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"But you will die like any human.\nYou will fall like any ruler.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Rise up, God, and judge the earth,\nfor all the nations belong to you."}]},{"chapter":83,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song. A psalm of Asaph.\nGod, do not be silent.\nDo not hold your tongue.\nDo not stay still, God."},{"verse":2,"text":"See how your enemies are raging!\nSee how those who hate you lift their heads!"},{"verse":3,"text":"They make sly plans against your people.\nThey plot against the ones you love."},{"verse":4,"text":"They say, \"Come, let's wipe them out as a nation.\nLet the name of Israel be forgotten.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"For they all agree and plot together.\nThey join together against you."},{"verse":6,"text":"They are the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,\nof Moab and the Hagrites,"},{"verse":7,"text":"of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek,\nof Philistia and the people of Tyre."},{"verse":8,"text":"Even Assyria has joined them.\nIt gives strength to the sons of Lot. Selah"},{"verse":9,"text":"Do to them what you did to Midian.\nDo what you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River."},{"verse":10,"text":"They perished at Endor.\nThey became like dung on the ground."},{"verse":11,"text":"Make their leaders like Oreb and Zeeb.\nMake all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna."},{"verse":12,"text":"Those men said, \"Let's take the fields of God for ourselves.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"My God, make them like tumbleweeds.\nMake them like straw blown by the wind."},{"verse":14,"text":"A fire burns up a forest.\nA flame sets the mountains on fire."},{"verse":15,"text":"Chase them like that with your strong winds.\nScare them with your storm."},{"verse":16,"text":"Cover their faces with shame.\nThen they will look for your name, LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"May they always be ashamed and afraid.\nMay they perish in disgrace."},{"verse":18,"text":"May they know that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.\nYour name is the LORD."}]},{"chapter":84,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir leader. According to gittith. A psalm of the sons of Korah.\nHow lovely is the place where you live,\nLORD of Hosts!"},{"verse":2,"text":"My soul longs for the courtyards of the LORD.\nIt even grows weak with longing.\nMy heart and my body cry out for the living God."},{"verse":3,"text":"Even the sparrow has found a home.\nThe swallow has found a nest for herself.\nThere she keeps her young near your altars,\nLORD of Hosts, my King and my God."},{"verse":4,"text":"How happy are those who live in your house!\nThey are always praising you. Selah"},{"verse":5,"text":"Happy are those whose strength is in you.\nTheir hearts are set on the journey to your house."},{"verse":6,"text":"As they pass through the Valley of Baca,\nthey make it a place of springs.\nThe autumn rain even covers it with pools."},{"verse":7,"text":"They grow stronger and stronger\nuntil each one stands before God in Zion."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer.\nListen, God of Jacob. Selah"},{"verse":9,"text":"God, look at our shield.\nLook with kindness on the face of your anointed one."},{"verse":10,"text":"For one day in your courtyards is better\nthan a thousand days anywhere else.\nI would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God\nthan live in the tents of the wicked."},{"verse":11,"text":"For the LORD God is a sun and a shield.\nThe LORD gives grace and glory.\nHe does not hold back any good thing\nfrom those who live honest lives."},{"verse":12,"text":"LORD of Hosts,\nhow happy is the one who trusts in you!"}]},{"chapter":85,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.\nLORD, you showed kindness to your land.\nYou brought Jacob back from captivity."},{"verse":2,"text":"You forgave the sin of your people.\nYou covered all their sins.\nSelah"},{"verse":3,"text":"You held back all your fury.\nYou turned away from your burning anger."},{"verse":4,"text":"God who saves us, bring us back again.\nPut away your anger toward us."},{"verse":5,"text":"Will you be angry with us forever?\nWill your anger go on for all time to come?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Won't you bring us back to life again,\nso your people can find their joy in you?"},{"verse":7,"text":"LORD, show us your faithful love.\nGive us your saving help."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will listen to what God the LORD will say.\nHe will surely speak peace to his people and to his faithful ones.\nHe won't let them go back to their foolish ways."},{"verse":9,"text":"His saving help is surely near to those who fear him.\nThen his glory will live in our land."},{"verse":10,"text":"Faithful love and faithfulness have come together.\nWhat is right and peace have kissed."},{"verse":11,"text":"Faithfulness grows up from the earth like a plant.\nWhat is right looks down from heaven."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD will surely give what is good.\nOur land will give its crops."},{"verse":13,"text":"What is right will go ahead of him.\nIt will get the path ready for his steps."}]},{"chapter":86,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A prayer of David.\nLORD, bend down and listen to me. Answer me,\nfor I am poor and in need."},{"verse":2,"text":"Guard my life, for I am faithful to you.\nYou are my God.\nSave me, your servant, who trusts in you."},{"verse":3,"text":"Lord, show me mercy,\nfor I call to you all day long."},{"verse":4,"text":"Fill your servant with joy,\nfor to you, Lord, I lift up my soul."},{"verse":5,"text":"For you, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive.\nYou are full of faithful love for all who call on you."},{"verse":6,"text":"LORD, hear my prayer.\nListen to me as I beg for mercy."},{"verse":7,"text":"When I'm in trouble, I call on you,\nbecause you answer me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Lord, there is no one like you among the gods.\nNo one can do the things you do."},{"verse":9,"text":"All the nations you have made will come.\nThey will bow down before you, Lord.\nThey will give glory to your name."},{"verse":10,"text":"For you are great, and you do amazing things.\nYou alone are God."},{"verse":11,"text":"LORD, teach me your way,\nso I can walk in your truth.\nGive me a heart that is not divided,\nso I can fear your name."},{"verse":12,"text":"Lord my God, I will praise you with all my heart.\nI will give glory to your name forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"For your faithful love for me is great.\nYou have saved me from the deepest part of the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":14,"text":"God, proud people rise up against me.\nA gang of cruel men wants to kill me.\nThey don't care about you at all."},{"verse":15,"text":"But you, Lord, are a God of mercy and grace.\nYou are slow to get angry.\nYou are full of faithful love and faithfulness."},{"verse":16,"text":"Turn to me and show me mercy.\nGive your strength to me, your servant.\nSave the son of your servant girl."},{"verse":17,"text":"Show me a sign of your goodness.\nThen my enemies will see it and be ashamed.\nFor you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me."}]},{"chapter":87,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.\nHe has built his city on the holy mountains."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD loves the gates of Zion\nmore than all the homes of Jacob."},{"verse":3,"text":"City of God, people say glorious things about you.\nSelah"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I will name Rahab and Babylon among those who know me.\nI will name Philistia, Tyre, and Cush too.\nI will say, 'This one was born in Zion.'\"","note":"Rahab here is a poetic name for Egypt."},{"verse":5,"text":"People will say this about Zion:\n\"This one and that one were born in her.\nThe Most High himself will make her strong.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD will write in the list of the peoples,\n\"This one was born in Zion.\"\nSelah"},{"verse":7,"text":"Singers and flute players will call out,\n\"All my springs of joy are in you.\""}]},{"chapter":88,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director. To the tune of \"Mahalath Leannoth.\" A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.\nLORD, you are the God who saves me.\nDay and night I cry out to you.","note":"The meaning of \"Mahalath Leannoth\" and \"maskil\" is not certain; they are probably music or song terms."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let my prayer come to you.\nBend down and listen to my cry."},{"verse":3,"text":"For my soul is full of troubles.\nMy life is getting close to the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":4,"text":"People count me with those going down to the Pit.\nI am like a man with no strength left."},{"verse":5,"text":"I am forsaken among the dead.\nI am like those killed in battle who lie in the grave.\nYou don't remember them anymore.\nThey are cut off from your care."},{"verse":6,"text":"You have put me in the lowest Pit,\nin the darkest of the deep places."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your anger lies heavy on me.\nAll your waves have rolled over me.\nSelah"},{"verse":8,"text":"You have taken my friends away from me.\nYou have made them sick at the sight of me.\nI am shut in, and I can't get out."},{"verse":9,"text":"My eyes are weak from crying.\nLORD, I call to you every day.\nI hold out my hands to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do you do wonders for the dead?\nDo the spirits of the dead rise up and praise you?\nSelah"},{"verse":11,"text":"Can anyone tell of your faithful love in the grave?\nCan anyone tell of your faithfulness in Abaddon?","note":"Abaddon means \"destruction.\" It is a name for the place of the dead."},{"verse":12,"text":"Will your wonders be known in the darkness?\nWill your righteousness be known in the land where all is forgotten?"},{"verse":13,"text":"But LORD, I cry to you for help.\nIn the morning my prayer comes to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"LORD, why do you turn me away?\nWhy do you hide your face from me?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Since I was young, I have suffered and been close to death.\nI have carried your terrors.\nI have lost all hope."},{"verse":16,"text":"Your anger has swept over me.\nYour terrors have destroyed me."},{"verse":17,"text":"All day long they rise around me like a flood.\nThey close in on me from every side."},{"verse":18,"text":"You have taken away my loved one and my friend.\nDarkness is my closest friend now."}]},{"chapter":89,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.\nI will sing about the LORD's faithful love forever.\nWith my mouth I will tell of your faithfulness\nto every generation to come."},{"verse":2,"text":"For I have said, \"Your faithful love is built up forever.\nYou make your faithfulness firm in the heavens.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"You said, \"I have made a covenant with my chosen one.\nI have made a promise to David my servant."},{"verse":4,"text":"'I will make your family line last forever.\nI will build up your throne for all generations.'\"\nSelah"},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD, the heavens praise your wonders.\nThey praise your faithfulness too,\nin the gathering of the holy ones."},{"verse":6,"text":"For who in the skies can compare with the LORD?\nWho among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?"},{"verse":7,"text":"In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared.\nHe is more awesome than all who are around him."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD God of Hosts, who is like you?\nMighty LORD, your faithfulness is all around you.","note":"Hosts means armies, the armies of heaven."},{"verse":9,"text":"You rule the wild sea.\nWhen its waves rise up, you calm them."},{"verse":10,"text":"You crushed Rahab like a dead body.\nYou scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.","note":"Rahab here is a poetic name for a sea monster or for Egypt."},{"verse":11,"text":"The heavens belong to you, and the earth does too.\nYou made the world and everything in it."},{"verse":12,"text":"You created the north and the south.\nMount Tabor and Mount Hermon shout for joy at your name."},{"verse":13,"text":"Your arm is mighty. Your hand is strong.\nYour right hand is lifted high."},{"verse":14,"text":"Your throne is built on what is right and fair.\nFaithful love and faithfulness go ahead of you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Blessed are the people who know the joyful shout.\nLORD, they walk in the light of your presence."},{"verse":16,"text":"They find joy in your name all day long.\nThey celebrate because you are righteous."},{"verse":17,"text":"For you are the glory of their strength.\nBy your kindness our strength is lifted high.","note":"Hebrew: our horn is lifted up. A horn was a picture of strength."},{"verse":18,"text":"Our shield surely belongs to the LORD.\nOur king belongs to the Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":19,"text":"Long ago you spoke in a vision.\nYou said to your faithful people,\n\"I have given help to a warrior.\nI have lifted up one chosen from the people."},{"verse":20,"text":"I have found David my servant.\nI have anointed him with my holy oil."},{"verse":21,"text":"My hand will hold him up.\nMy arm will surely make him strong."},{"verse":22,"text":"No enemy will force him to pay them.\nNo evil man will crush him."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will crush his enemies in front of him.\nI will strike down those who hate him."},{"verse":24,"text":"My faithfulness and faithful love will be with him.\nThrough my name his strength will be lifted high.","note":"Hebrew: his horn."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will put his hand over the sea.\nI will put his right hand over the rivers."},{"verse":26,"text":"He will call out to me, 'You are my Father.\nYou are my God, the Rock who saves me.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"I will make him my firstborn son.\nHe will be the highest of the kings of the earth."},{"verse":28,"text":"I will keep my faithful love for him forever.\nMy covenant with him will stand firm."},{"verse":29,"text":"I will make his family line last forever.\nHis throne will last as long as the heavens."},{"verse":30,"text":"If his sons turn away from my law\nand do not live by my rules,"},{"verse":31,"text":"if they break my laws\nand do not keep my commands,"},{"verse":32,"text":"then I will punish their sin with the rod.\nI will punish their wrongs with beatings."},{"verse":33,"text":"But I will not take my faithful love away from him.\nI will never break faith with him."},{"verse":34,"text":"I will not break my covenant.\nI will not change what my lips have said."},{"verse":35,"text":"Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness.\nI will not lie to David."},{"verse":36,"text":"His family line will last forever.\nHis throne will last before me like the sun."},{"verse":37,"text":"It will be like the moon, set in place forever,\na faithful witness in the sky.\"\nSelah"},{"verse":38,"text":"But now you have pushed him away and rejected him.\nYou are very angry with your anointed one."},{"verse":39,"text":"You have turned your back on the covenant with your servant.\nYou have thrown his crown in the dirt and made it dirty."},{"verse":40,"text":"You have broken down all his walls.\nYou have turned his forts into piles of stones."},{"verse":41,"text":"Everyone who passes by robs him.\nHis neighbors make fun of him."},{"verse":42,"text":"You have made his enemies strong.\nYou have made all his enemies glad."},{"verse":43,"text":"You have made the edge of his sword dull.\nYou have not helped him stand in battle."},{"verse":44,"text":"You have ended his glory.\nYou have thrown his throne to the ground."},{"verse":45,"text":"You have cut short the days of his youth.\nYou have covered him with shame.\nSelah"},{"verse":46,"text":"How long, LORD?\nWill you hide yourself forever?\nWill your anger keep burning like fire?"},{"verse":47,"text":"Remember how short my life is!\nYou have made all people for such emptiness!"},{"verse":48,"text":"What man can live and never die?\nCan he save himself from the power of the grave?\nSelah","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":49,"text":"Lord, where is your faithful love from long ago?\nYou faithfully promised it to David."},{"verse":50,"text":"Lord, remember how your servants are mocked.\nI carry in my heart the insults of so many people."},{"verse":51,"text":"LORD, your enemies have mocked.\nThey have made fun of every step of your anointed one!"},{"verse":52,"text":"Praise the LORD forever!\nAmen and amen."}]},{"chapter":90,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A prayer of Moses, the man of God.\nLord, you have been our home\nfor all generations."},{"verse":2,"text":"Before the mountains were born,\nbefore you made the earth and the world,\nyou are God, from forever in the past to forever in the future."},{"verse":3,"text":"You turn people back to dust.\nYou say, \"Go back, you children of men.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"For to you, a thousand years are like a day that has just gone by.\nThey are like a few hours of the night.","note":"Hebrew: a watch of the night."},{"verse":5,"text":"You sweep people away in their sleep.\nThey are like new grass in the morning."},{"verse":6,"text":"In the morning it comes up fresh.\nBut by evening it fades and dries up."},{"verse":7,"text":"For your anger burns us up.\nYour fury fills us with fear."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have put our sins in front of you.\nOur secret sins are in the light of your presence."},{"verse":9,"text":"For all our days pass away under your anger.\nWe end our years with a sigh."},{"verse":10,"text":"We live for seventy years,\nor eighty if we are strong.\nBut even the best of them are hard work and sorrow.\nThey go by quickly, and we fly away."},{"verse":11,"text":"Who knows how strong your anger is?\nYour anger is as great as the fear you deserve."},{"verse":12,"text":"So teach us to count our days,\nso we may gain a wise heart."},{"verse":13,"text":"Come back, LORD! How long will it be?\nHave pity on your servants."},{"verse":14,"text":"Fill us each morning with your faithful love.\nThen we will sing for joy and be glad all our days."},{"verse":15,"text":"Make us glad for as many days as you have made us suffer.\nMake us glad for as many years as we have seen trouble."},{"verse":16,"text":"Let your servants see your work.\nLet their children see your glory."},{"verse":17,"text":"May the kindness of the Lord our God rest on us.\nMake the work of our hands last.\nYes, make the work of our hands last!"}]},{"chapter":91,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Whoever lives in the shelter of the Most High\nwill rest in the shadow of the Almighty."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will say to the LORD,\n\"You are my safe place and my fortress.\nYou are my God, and I trust in you.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"He will surely save you from the bird hunter's trap\nand from deadly sickness."},{"verse":4,"text":"He will cover you with his feathers.\nYou will find safety under his wings.\nHis faithfulness is a shield and a wall."},{"verse":5,"text":"You won't be afraid of the terror at night.\nYou won't fear the arrow that flies by day."},{"verse":6,"text":"You won't fear the sickness that sneaks in the dark,\nor the disaster that destroys at noon."},{"verse":7,"text":"A thousand may fall at your side.\nTen thousand may fall at your right hand.\nBut no harm will come near you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You will only watch with your eyes.\nYou will see the wicked get what they deserve."},{"verse":9,"text":"Because you have made the LORD your home,\nmy safe place, the Most High,"},{"verse":10,"text":"no evil will happen to you.\nNo sickness will come near your tent."},{"verse":11,"text":"For he will command his angels about you.\nThey will guard you in all your ways."},{"verse":12,"text":"They will lift you up in their hands,\nso you won't hit your foot on a stone."},{"verse":13,"text":"You will step on the lion and the cobra.\nYou will stomp on the young lion and the snake."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"He loves me, so I will save him.\nHe knows my name, so I will protect him."},{"verse":15,"text":"When he calls to me, I will answer him.\nI will be with him in trouble.\nI will save him and honor him."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will fill him with a long life.\nI will show him how I save.\""}]},{"chapter":92,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.\nIt is good to praise the LORD.\nIt is good to sing praises to your name, Most High."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is good to tell of your faithful love in the morning\nand your faithfulness at night,"},{"verse":3,"text":"with the music of the ten-stringed harp\nand the tune of the lyre."},{"verse":4,"text":"LORD, you have made me glad by what you have done.\nI sing for joy at the works of your hands."},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD, how great are your works!\nHow deep are your thoughts!"},{"verse":6,"text":"A foolish man does not know this.\nA fool does not understand"},{"verse":7,"text":"that the wicked may spring up like grass,\nand all who do evil may do well,\nbut they will be destroyed forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"But you, LORD, are lifted high forever!"},{"verse":9,"text":"For surely your enemies, LORD,\nsurely your enemies will perish.\nAll who do evil will be scattered."},{"verse":10,"text":"But you have made me strong like a wild ox.\nYou have poured fine oil on me.","note":"Hebrew: you have lifted up my horn like a wild ox's."},{"verse":11,"text":"My eyes see my enemies fall.\nMy ears hear my evil enemies cry out."},{"verse":12,"text":"The righteous will grow strong like a palm tree.\nThey will grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon."},{"verse":13,"text":"They are planted in the house of the LORD.\nThey will grow strong in the courtyards of our God."},{"verse":14,"text":"When they are old, they will still bear fruit.\nThey will stay healthy and green."},{"verse":15,"text":"They will say, \"The LORD is good and fair.\nHe is my Rock.\nThere is nothing wrong in him at all.\""}]},{"chapter":93,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD is King!\nHe is dressed in majesty.\nThe LORD has put on strength like armor.\nThe world is set firmly in place.\nIt cannot be moved."},{"verse":2,"text":"Your throne was set up long ago.\nYou have lived forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"LORD, the floods have risen.\nThe rivers have raised their voice.\nThe seas lift up their pounding waves."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD on high is mighty.\nHe is greater than the roar of many waters,\ngreater than the crashing waves of the sea."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your laws are fully true.\nHoliness makes your house beautiful, LORD,\nfor all the days to come."}]},{"chapter":94,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"LORD, you are the God who pays back.\nGod who pays back, shine out!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Rise up, Judge of the earth.\nGive the proud what they deserve."},{"verse":3,"text":"How long will the wicked, LORD,\nhow long will the wicked celebrate?"},{"verse":4,"text":"They pour out proud words.\nAll who do evil brag."},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD, they crush your people.\nThey treat your own people cruelly."},{"verse":6,"text":"They kill the widow and the foreigner.\nThey murder children who have no father."},{"verse":7,"text":"They say, \"The LORD doesn't see.\nThe God of Jacob doesn't notice.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Pay attention, you foolish people!\nYou fools, when will you get wise?"},{"verse":9,"text":"God put the ear in place. Can't he hear?\nHe made the eye. Can't he see?"},{"verse":10,"text":"He warns the nations. Won't he punish them?\nHe teaches people. Doesn't he know things?"},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD knows what people think.\nHe knows their thoughts are worth nothing."},{"verse":12,"text":"LORD, blessed is the man you correct,\nthe one you teach from your law."},{"verse":13,"text":"You give him rest from days of trouble,\nuntil a pit is dug for the wicked."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD will not leave his people.\nHe will never give up on his own people."},{"verse":15,"text":"Judging will surely be fair again.\nAll whose hearts are good will follow it."},{"verse":16,"text":"Who will stand up for me against the wicked?\nWho will take my side against those who do evil?"},{"verse":17,"text":"If the LORD had not helped me,\nI would soon have lived in the land of silence."},{"verse":18,"text":"If I say, \"My foot is slipping,\"\nyour faithful love, LORD, holds me up."},{"verse":19,"text":"When worry is too much for me,\nyour comfort brings joy to my soul."},{"verse":20,"text":"Can an evil ruler be your partner?\nCan one who makes laws to cause harm be on your side?"},{"verse":21,"text":"They join together against the righteous.\nThey sentence innocent people to death."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the LORD has been my fortress.\nMy God is the rock where I am safe."},{"verse":23,"text":"He will pay them back for their own sin.\nHe will destroy them for their evil.\nThe LORD our God will destroy them."}]},{"chapter":95,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Come, let's sing for joy to the LORD!\nLet's shout to the Rock who saves us!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Let's come before him with thanks.\nLet's make a joyful noise to him with songs."},{"verse":3,"text":"For the LORD is a great God.\nHe is a great King above all gods."},{"verse":4,"text":"He holds the deep places of the earth in his hand.\nThe mountain peaks belong to him."},{"verse":5,"text":"The sea is his, for he made it.\nHis hands shaped the dry land."},{"verse":6,"text":"Come, let's worship and bow down.\nLet's kneel before the LORD who made us."},{"verse":7,"text":"For he is our God.\nWe are the people of his pasture,\nthe sheep he takes care of.\nToday, if you hear his voice,"},{"verse":8,"text":"don't make your hearts hard as you did at Meribah,\nas you did that day at Massah in the wilderness."},{"verse":9,"text":"There your fathers tested me and tried me,\neven though they had seen what I did."},{"verse":10,"text":"For forty years I was angry with those people.\nI said, \"Their hearts wander away from me.\nThey have not known my ways.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So in my anger I swore an oath:\n\"They will never enter my rest.\""}]},{"chapter":96,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Sing a new song to the LORD.\nSing to the LORD, all the earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"Sing to the LORD and praise his name.\nTell how he saves, day after day."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell the nations about his glory.\nTell all peoples about his wonders."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the LORD is great, and he should be praised greatly.\nHe should be feared above all gods."},{"verse":5,"text":"For all the gods of the nations are idols.\nBut the LORD made the heavens."},{"verse":6,"text":"Glory and majesty are before him.\nStrength and beauty fill his holy place."},{"verse":7,"text":"Give to the LORD, you families of the nations.\nGive to the LORD glory and strength."},{"verse":8,"text":"Give to the LORD the glory his name deserves.\nBring an offering and come into his courtyards."},{"verse":9,"text":"Worship the LORD in the beauty of his holiness.\nTremble before him, all the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"Tell the nations, \"The LORD is King!\"\nThe world is set firmly in place.\nIt cannot be moved.\nHe will judge the peoples fairly."},{"verse":11,"text":"Let the heavens be glad and the earth be happy.\nLet the sea roar, and everything in it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Let the fields and everything in them shout for joy.\nThen all the trees of the forest will sing for joy"},{"verse":13,"text":"before the LORD, for he is coming.\nHe is coming to judge the earth.\nHe will judge the world with what is right.\nHe will judge the peoples with his faithfulness."}]},{"chapter":97,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD is King! Let the earth be happy.\nLet the faraway shores be glad."},{"verse":2,"text":"Clouds and darkness are all around him.\nHis throne is built on what is right and fair."},{"verse":3,"text":"Fire goes ahead of him.\nIt burns up his enemies all around."},{"verse":4,"text":"His lightning lights up the world.\nThe earth sees it and shakes."},{"verse":5,"text":"The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,\nbefore the Lord of all the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"The heavens tell how righteous he is.\nAll the peoples see his glory."},{"verse":7,"text":"All who worship carved images are put to shame.\nSo are those who brag about idols.\nWorship him, all you gods!"},{"verse":8,"text":"Zion hears and is glad.\nThe towns of Judah celebrate\nbecause of the way you judge, LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.\nYou are lifted high, far above all gods."},{"verse":10,"text":"You who love the LORD, hate evil!\nHe guards the lives of his faithful people.\nHe saves them from the power of the wicked."},{"verse":11,"text":"Light shines on the righteous.\nJoy shines on those whose hearts are good."},{"verse":12,"text":"Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones.\nPraise his holy name."}]},{"chapter":98,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm.\nSing a new song to the LORD,\nfor he has done amazing things.\nHis right hand and his holy arm have won the victory for him."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD has made known how he saves.\nHe has shown the nations that he is righteous."},{"verse":3,"text":"He has remembered his love and faithfulness\nto the people of Israel.\nAll the ends of the earth have seen\nhow our God saves."},{"verse":4,"text":"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.\nBurst out with a joyful shout, and sing praises!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre.\nSing a sweet song with the harp."},{"verse":6,"text":"Blow trumpets and the ram's horn.\nShout for joy before the LORD, the King."},{"verse":7,"text":"Let the sea roar, and everything in it.\nLet the world roar, and all who live in it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Let the rivers clap their hands.\nLet the mountains sing together for joy"},{"verse":9,"text":"before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth.\nHe will judge the world with what is right.\nHe will judge the peoples fairly."}]},{"chapter":99,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD is King. Let the nations tremble!\nHe sits on his throne above the cherubim.\nLet the earth shake!"},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD is great in Zion.\nHe is lifted high above all the peoples."},{"verse":3,"text":"Let them praise your great and awesome name.\nHe is holy!"},{"verse":4,"text":"The mighty King loves justice.\nYou have set up what is fair.\nYou have done what is just and right in Jacob."},{"verse":5,"text":"Lift high the LORD our God.\nWorship at his footstool.\nHe is holy!"},{"verse":6,"text":"Moses and Aaron were among his priests.\nSamuel was among those who called on his name.\nThey called to the LORD, and he answered them."},{"verse":7,"text":"He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud.\nThey kept his laws and the rules he gave them."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD our God, you answered them.\nYou were a God who forgave them.\nBut you also punished them for their wrong acts."},{"verse":9,"text":"Lift high the LORD our God.\nWorship at his holy mountain,\nfor the LORD our God is holy."}]},{"chapter":100,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of thanks.\nMake a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"Serve the LORD with gladness.\nCome before him with joyful songs."},{"verse":3,"text":"Know that the LORD is God.\nHe made us, and we belong to him.\nWe are his people, the sheep of his pasture."},{"verse":4,"text":"Come through his gates with thanks.\nCome into his courtyards with praise.\nGive thanks to him and praise his name."},{"verse":5,"text":"For the LORD is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever.\nHis faithfulness goes on for all generations."}]},{"chapter":101,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nI will sing about your faithful love and your justice.\nLORD, I will sing praises to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will think carefully about the way that is without fault.\nWhen will you come to me?\nI will live in my house with an honest heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will not set anything worthless in front of my eyes.\nI hate what is done by people who turn away from you.\nIt will not stick to me."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will keep a twisted heart far from me.\nI will have nothing to do with evil."},{"verse":5,"text":"If someone secretly tells lies about his neighbor,\nI will silence him.\nIf someone has proud eyes and a proud heart,\nI will not put up with him."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will look with favor on the faithful people of the land,\nso that they may live with me.\nThe one who lives an honest life will serve me."},{"verse":7,"text":"No one who tricks others will live in my house.\nNo one who tells lies will stand before me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Every morning I will get rid of all the wicked in the land.\nI will cut off everyone who does evil\nfrom the city of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":102,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A prayer of someone who is suffering, when he is weak and pours out his sorrow to the LORD.\nLORD, hear my prayer.\nLet my cry for help come to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Don't hide your face from me when I'm in trouble.\nBend down and listen to me.\nAnswer me quickly when I call."},{"verse":3,"text":"For my days disappear like smoke.\nMy bones burn like hot coals."},{"verse":4,"text":"My heart is hurting.\nIt is dried up like grass.\nI even forget to eat my bread."},{"verse":5,"text":"I groan so loud and so long\nthat I am nothing but skin and bones."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am like an owl in the desert,\nlike an owl among the ruins."},{"verse":7,"text":"I lie awake.\nI am like a lonely bird on a rooftop."},{"verse":8,"text":"All day long my enemies mock me.\nThey make fun of me and use my name as a curse."},{"verse":9,"text":"For I have eaten ashes as if they were bread.\nI have mixed my drink with tears"},{"verse":10,"text":"because of your anger and fury.\nYou have picked me up and thrown me aside."},{"verse":11,"text":"My days are like the long shadows of evening.\nI dry up like grass."},{"verse":12,"text":"But you, LORD, sit on your throne forever.\nYour fame lasts for all generations."},{"verse":13,"text":"You will rise up and have pity on Zion,\nfor it is time to show her kindness.\nThe set time has come."},{"verse":14,"text":"For your servants love her stones.\nThey feel sorry for her dust."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the nations will fear the name of the LORD.\nAll the kings of the earth will fear your glory."},{"verse":16,"text":"For the LORD will build Zion again.\nHe has shown up in his glory."},{"verse":17,"text":"He will turn and listen to the prayer of people in need.\nHe will not turn away from their prayer."},{"verse":18,"text":"Let this be written down for the people to come.\nThen people not yet born will praise the LORD."},{"verse":19,"text":"For the LORD looked down from his holy place on high.\nHe looked down from heaven to earth"},{"verse":20,"text":"to hear the groans of prisoners\nand to set free those who were sentenced to die."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then they will tell about the name of the LORD in Zion.\nThey will praise him in Jerusalem"},{"verse":22,"text":"when peoples and kingdoms gather\nto serve the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"He has broken my strength along the way.\nHe has cut my life short."},{"verse":24,"text":"I say, \"My God, don't take me away\nin the middle of my life!\nYour years go on through all generations."},{"verse":25,"text":"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth.\nThe heavens are the work of your hands."},{"verse":26,"text":"They will perish, but you will stay.\nThey will all wear out like old clothes.\nYou will change them like clothes,\nand they will pass away."},{"verse":27,"text":"But you stay the same.\nYour years will never end."},{"verse":28,"text":"The children of your servants will live safely.\nTheir children will be made secure before you.\""}]},{"chapter":103,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nPraise the LORD, my soul.\nAll that is inside me, praise his holy name."},{"verse":2,"text":"Praise the LORD, my soul.\nDon't forget all the kind things he does."},{"verse":3,"text":"He forgives all your sins.\nHe heals all your sicknesses."},{"verse":4,"text":"He redeems your life from the Pit.\nHe crowns you with faithful love and kindness."},{"verse":5,"text":"He fills your life with good things.\nSo you are made young again like the eagle."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD does what is right and fair\nfor all who are treated badly."},{"verse":7,"text":"He made his ways known to Moses.\nHe showed his mighty acts to the people of Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD is kind and full of grace.\nHe is slow to get angry.\nHe is full of faithful love."},{"verse":9,"text":"He will not always blame us.\nHe will not stay angry forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"He has not treated us as our sins deserve.\nHe has not paid us back for our wrongs."},{"verse":11,"text":"The heavens are high above the earth.\nThat is how great his faithful love is\nfor those who fear him."},{"verse":12,"text":"The east is far from the west.\nThat is how far he has taken our sins away from us."},{"verse":13,"text":"A father is kind and tender to his children.\nIn the same way, the LORD is kind to those who fear him."},{"verse":14,"text":"For he knows how we are made.\nHe remembers that we are dust."},{"verse":15,"text":"A man's days are like grass.\nHe blooms like a flower in the field."},{"verse":16,"text":"When the wind blows over it, it is gone.\nIts place doesn't remember it anymore."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the LORD's faithful love lasts forever and ever\nfor those who fear him.\nHis righteousness goes on to their grandchildren,"},{"verse":18,"text":"to those who keep his covenant\nand remember to obey his commands."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD has set up his throne in heaven.\nHis kingdom rules over everything."},{"verse":20,"text":"Praise the LORD, all his angels.\nYou are mighty and strong.\nYou carry out his word.\nYou listen to the voice of his command."},{"verse":21,"text":"Praise the LORD, all his armies of heaven,\nyou servants who do what he wants."},{"verse":22,"text":"Praise the LORD, all his works,\nin every place where he rules.\nPraise the LORD, my soul!"}]},{"chapter":104,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Praise the LORD, my soul!\nLORD my God, you are very great.\nYou are dressed in glory and majesty."},{"verse":2,"text":"He wraps himself in light like a robe.\nHe spreads out the heavens like a tent."},{"verse":3,"text":"He sets the beams of his rooms in the waters above.\nHe makes the clouds his chariot.\nHe rides on the wings of the wind."},{"verse":4,"text":"He makes the winds his messengers.\nHe makes flames of fire his servants."},{"verse":5,"text":"He set the earth on its foundations.\nIt can never be moved."},{"verse":6,"text":"You covered the earth with the deep sea like a robe.\nThe waters stood above the mountains."},{"verse":7,"text":"When you spoke sharply, the waters ran away.\nAt the sound of your thunder they hurried off."},{"verse":8,"text":"The mountains rose up.\nThe valleys sank down to the place you set for them."},{"verse":9,"text":"You set a border the waters can't cross.\nThey will never cover the earth again."},{"verse":10,"text":"He sends springs into the valleys.\nThey flow between the mountains."},{"verse":11,"text":"They give water to every wild animal.\nThe wild donkeys drink their fill."},{"verse":12,"text":"The birds of the sky nest by the springs.\nThey sing among the branches."},{"verse":13,"text":"He waters the mountains from his rooms above.\nThe earth is filled with the fruit of his work."},{"verse":14,"text":"He makes grass grow for the cattle.\nHe gives plants for people to grow.\nSo they bring food out of the earth:"},{"verse":15,"text":"wine that makes people's hearts glad,\noil that makes their faces shine,\nand bread that gives their hearts strength."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD's trees get plenty of water,\nthe cedars of Lebanon that he planted."},{"verse":17,"text":"The birds build their nests there.\nThe stork makes her home in the cypress trees."},{"verse":18,"text":"The high mountains belong to the wild goats.\nThe cliffs are a safe place for the rock badgers."},{"verse":19,"text":"He made the moon to mark the seasons.\nThe sun knows when to go down."},{"verse":20,"text":"You bring darkness, and it becomes night.\nThen all the animals of the forest creep around."},{"verse":21,"text":"The young lions roar for their prey.\nThey look to God for their food."},{"verse":22,"text":"The sun comes up, and they go away.\nThey lie down in their dens."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then people go out to their work.\nThey work hard until evening."},{"verse":24,"text":"LORD, you have made so many things!\nYou made them all with wisdom.\nThe earth is full of your creatures."},{"verse":25,"text":"Look at the sea, so big and wide!\nIt is full of more creatures than anyone can count.\nThere are living things both large and small."},{"verse":26,"text":"The ships sail there.\nLeviathan is there too.\nYou made him to play in the sea."},{"verse":27,"text":"All creatures look to you\nto give them their food at the right time."},{"verse":28,"text":"When you give it to them, they gather it up.\nWhen you open your hand, they are filled with good things."},{"verse":29,"text":"When you hide your face, they are afraid.\nWhen you take away their breath,\nthey die and go back to dust."},{"verse":30,"text":"When you send your Spirit, they are created.\nYou make the face of the earth new again."},{"verse":31,"text":"May the glory of the LORD last forever.\nMay the LORD be glad in what he has made."},{"verse":32,"text":"He looks at the earth, and it shakes.\nHe touches the mountains, and they smoke."},{"verse":33,"text":"I will sing to the LORD all my life.\nI will sing praise to my God as long as I live."},{"verse":34,"text":"May my thoughts please him,\nfor I find my joy in the LORD."},{"verse":35,"text":"May sinners disappear from the earth.\nMay the wicked be gone forever.\nPraise the LORD, my soul.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":105,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Give thanks to the LORD. Call on his name.\nTell the nations what he has done."},{"verse":2,"text":"Sing to him. Sing praises to him.\nTell about all his wonders."},{"verse":3,"text":"Be proud of his holy name.\nLet the hearts of those who seek the LORD be glad."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look to the LORD and his strength.\nSeek his face always."},{"verse":5,"text":"Remember the wonders he has done.\nRemember his amazing acts\nand the judgments he has spoken,"},{"verse":6,"text":"you children of his servant Abraham,\nyou sons of Jacob, his chosen ones."},{"verse":7,"text":"He is the LORD our God.\nHis judgments reach all over the earth."},{"verse":8,"text":"He remembers his covenant forever.\nHe remembers the promise he made for a thousand generations."},{"verse":9,"text":"It is the covenant he made with Abraham\nand the promise he swore to Isaac."},{"verse":10,"text":"He made it firm for Jacob as a law.\nHe made it firm for Israel as a covenant that lasts forever."},{"verse":11,"text":"He said, \"I will give you the land of Canaan.\nIt will be your share to own.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"At that time there were only a few of them.\nThey were very few, and they were strangers in the land."},{"verse":13,"text":"They wandered from nation to nation,\nfrom one kingdom to another."},{"verse":14,"text":"He let no one treat them badly.\nHe warned kings to leave them alone:"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Do not touch my anointed ones!\nDo not harm my prophets!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"He called for a famine on the land.\nHe cut off all their food supply."},{"verse":17,"text":"He sent a man ahead of them.\nIt was Joseph, who was sold as a slave."},{"verse":18,"text":"They hurt his feet with chains.\nThey put an iron collar around his neck."},{"verse":19,"text":"This lasted until what he said came true.\nThe word of the LORD proved he was right."},{"verse":20,"text":"The king sent for him and let him go.\nThe ruler of peoples set him free."},{"verse":21,"text":"He made Joseph master of his house.\nHe put him in charge of all he owned."},{"verse":22,"text":"Joseph could order the king's princes as he wanted.\nHe could teach the king's leaders wisdom."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Israel came into Egypt.\nJacob lived in the land of Ham."},{"verse":24,"text":"The LORD made his people grow in number.\nHe made them more than their enemies."},{"verse":25,"text":"He turned the hearts of their enemies to hate his people.\nThey made evil plans against his servants."},{"verse":26,"text":"He sent Moses his servant.\nHe sent Aaron, whom he had chosen."},{"verse":27,"text":"They did his miracles among the Egyptians.\nThey did wonders in the land of Ham."},{"verse":28,"text":"He sent darkness, and it became dark.\nBut they fought against his words."},{"verse":29,"text":"He turned their waters into blood.\nHe made their fish die."},{"verse":30,"text":"Their land was crawling with frogs,\neven in the rooms of their kings."},{"verse":31,"text":"He spoke, and bugs came in swarms.\nGnats filled their whole country."},{"verse":32,"text":"He sent them hail instead of rain.\nHe sent lightning all over their land."},{"verse":33,"text":"He struck their grapevines and fig trees.\nHe broke down the trees of their country."},{"verse":34,"text":"He spoke, and the locusts came.\nThere were more young locusts than anyone could count."},{"verse":35,"text":"They ate up every plant in their land.\nThey ate the crops of their fields."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land.\nThey were the firstfruits of all their strength."},{"verse":37,"text":"He brought Israel out with silver and gold.\nNo one in his tribes stumbled."},{"verse":38,"text":"Egypt was glad when they left,\nbecause the Egyptians had become afraid of Israel."},{"verse":39,"text":"He spread out a cloud to cover them.\nHe gave a fire to light up the night."},{"verse":40,"text":"They asked, and he brought quail.\nHe filled them with bread from heaven."},{"verse":41,"text":"He opened a rock, and water poured out.\nIt flowed like a river in the desert."},{"verse":42,"text":"For he remembered his holy promise\nto Abraham his servant."},{"verse":43,"text":"He brought his people out with joy.\nHis chosen ones came out with shouts of joy."},{"verse":44,"text":"He gave them the lands of the nations.\nThey took over what others had worked for."},{"verse":45,"text":"He did this so they would keep his rules\nand obey his laws.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":106,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nGive thanks to the LORD, for he is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":2,"text":"Who can tell all the mighty acts of the LORD?\nWho can praise him as much as he deserves?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Blessed are those who stand up for what is fair.\nBlessed are those who always do what is right."},{"verse":4,"text":"LORD, remember me when you show kindness to your people.\nCome to me and save me."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I will see your chosen ones do well.\nI will share the joy of your nation.\nI will praise you with your own people."},{"verse":6,"text":"We have sinned, just like our fathers.\nWe have done wrong and acted in evil ways."},{"verse":7,"text":"Our fathers in Egypt did not understand your wonders.\nThey did not remember how kind you were so many times.\nInstead, they turned against you by the sea,\nthere at the Red Sea."},{"verse":8,"text":"But he saved them for the sake of his name.\nHe did it to make his power known."},{"verse":9,"text":"He spoke sharply to the Red Sea, and it dried up.\nHe led them through the deep water as if it were a desert."},{"verse":10,"text":"He saved them from the power of those who hated them.\nHe redeemed them from the power of the enemy."},{"verse":11,"text":"The waters covered their enemies.\nNot one of them was left."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then they believed his promises.\nThey sang his praise."},{"verse":13,"text":"But they soon forgot what he had done.\nThey did not wait for his advice."},{"verse":14,"text":"In the wilderness they wanted more and more.\nThey tested God in the desert."},{"verse":15,"text":"So he gave them what they asked for.\nBut he also sent a sickness that made them waste away."},{"verse":16,"text":"In the camp they grew jealous of Moses.\nThey were jealous of Aaron too, the LORD's holy one."},{"verse":17,"text":"The ground opened up and swallowed Dathan.\nIt buried Abiram and his group."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then fire blazed through their followers.\nFlames burned up the wicked."},{"verse":19,"text":"At Horeb they made a calf.\nThey worshiped an idol made from melted metal."},{"verse":20,"text":"They traded their glorious God\nfor the statue of a bull that eats grass."},{"verse":21,"text":"They forgot God who saved them.\nHe had done great things in Egypt,"},{"verse":22,"text":"amazing works in the land of Ham,\nand awesome acts at the Red Sea."},{"verse":23,"text":"So he said he would destroy them.\nBut Moses, his chosen one, stood in the gap before him.\nHe turned God's anger away so he would not destroy them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then they turned up their noses at the beautiful land.\nThey did not believe his promise."},{"verse":25,"text":"They complained in their tents.\nThey did not listen to the voice of the LORD."},{"verse":26,"text":"So he raised his hand and made a promise.\nHe swore to make them fall in the wilderness."},{"verse":27,"text":"He swore to spread their children among the nations\nand scatter them across the lands."},{"verse":28,"text":"They joined themselves to the god Baal of Peor.\nThey ate sacrifices offered to dead gods."},{"verse":29,"text":"They made the LORD angry by what they did.\nAnd a plague broke out among them."},{"verse":30,"text":"But Phinehas stood up and stepped in,\nand the plague was stopped."},{"verse":31,"text":"It was credited to him as righteousness\nfor all generations to come, forever."},{"verse":32,"text":"At the waters of Meribah they made the LORD angry.\nTrouble came to Moses because of them."},{"verse":33,"text":"For they turned against his Spirit,\nand Moses spoke without thinking."},{"verse":34,"text":"They did not destroy the peoples\nas the LORD had commanded them."},{"verse":35,"text":"Instead, they mixed with the nations\nand took up their ways."},{"verse":36,"text":"They worshiped their idols,\nand the idols became a trap for them."},{"verse":37,"text":"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters\nto demons."},{"verse":38,"text":"They spilled innocent blood,\nthe blood of their own sons and daughters.\nThey sacrificed them to the idols of Canaan.\nAnd the land was made unclean with blood."},{"verse":39,"text":"They made themselves unclean by what they did.\nThey were unfaithful like prostitutes by their acts."},{"verse":40,"text":"So the LORD's anger burned against his people.\nHe hated his own people, who belonged to him."},{"verse":41,"text":"He handed them over to the nations.\nThose who hated them ruled over them."},{"verse":42,"text":"Their enemies treated them cruelly.\nThey brought them under their power."},{"verse":43,"text":"Many times he rescued them.\nBut they kept choosing to rebel.\nThey sank down in their sin."},{"verse":44,"text":"Still, he heard their cry.\nHe saw their trouble."},{"verse":45,"text":"He remembered his covenant with them.\nBecause his faithful love is so great, he changed his mind."},{"verse":46,"text":"He made all who held them captive\nfeel sorry for them."},{"verse":47,"text":"Save us, LORD our God.\nGather us from among the nations.\nThen we will give thanks to your holy name.\nWe will be glad to praise you."},{"verse":48,"text":"Praise the LORD, the God of Israel,\nforever and ever.\nLet all the people say, \"Amen!\"\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":107,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so. He has redeemed them, buying them back from the hand of the enemy."},{"verse":3,"text":"He gathered them from the lands,\nfrom east and west, from north and south."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some wandered in empty deserts.\nThey found no path to a city where they could live."},{"verse":5,"text":"They were hungry and thirsty.\nTheir life was fading away inside them."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.\nAnd he rescued them from their pain."},{"verse":7,"text":"He led them on a straight path\nto reach a city where they could live."},{"verse":8,"text":"Let them thank the LORD for his faithful love\nand for the wonders he does for people."},{"verse":9,"text":"For he gives the thirsty all they need.\nHe fills the hungry with good things."},{"verse":10,"text":"Some sat in darkness, in the shadow of death.\nThey were prisoners in misery and chains."},{"verse":11,"text":"This was because they rebelled against the words of God.\nThey looked down on the advice of the Most High."},{"verse":12,"text":"So he humbled their hearts with hard work.\nThey stumbled, and no one was there to help."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.\nAnd he saved them from their pain."},{"verse":14,"text":"He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death.\nHe broke off their chains."},{"verse":15,"text":"Let them thank the LORD for his faithful love\nand for the wonders he does for people."},{"verse":16,"text":"For he has broken down the gates of bronze.\nHe has cut through the bars of iron."},{"verse":17,"text":"Some were fools who went their own rebel ways.\nBecause of their sins, they suffered."},{"verse":18,"text":"They hated the sight of all food.\nThey came near to the gates of death."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.\nAnd he saved them from their pain."},{"verse":20,"text":"He sent out his word and healed them.\nHe rescued them from the pit of death."},{"verse":21,"text":"Let them thank the LORD for his faithful love\nand for the wonders he does for people."},{"verse":22,"text":"Let them offer sacrifices of thanks.\nLet them tell about his works with songs of joy."},{"verse":23,"text":"Others went out to sea in ships.\nThey traded goods on the mighty waters."},{"verse":24,"text":"They saw the works of the LORD.\nThey saw his wonders in the deep sea."},{"verse":25,"text":"For he spoke and stirred up a great storm.\nIt lifted up the waves of the sea."},{"verse":26,"text":"The sailors rose up to the sky,\nthen sank down to the depths.\nTheir courage melted away in their fear."},{"verse":27,"text":"They rolled and staggered like drunk men.\nAll their skill was no use."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble.\nAnd he brought them out of their pain."},{"verse":29,"text":"He calmed the storm to a whisper.\nThe waves of the sea grew still."},{"verse":30,"text":"They were glad when it was quiet.\nAnd he guided them to the harbor they wanted."},{"verse":31,"text":"Let them thank the LORD for his faithful love\nand for the wonders he does for people."},{"verse":32,"text":"Let them lift him up in the gathering of the people.\nLet them praise him in the meeting of the elders."},{"verse":33,"text":"He turns rivers into deserts.\nHe turns springs of water into thirsty ground."},{"verse":34,"text":"He turns good farmland into fields of salt.\nHe does this because the people living there are wicked."},{"verse":35,"text":"He turns a desert into pools of water.\nHe turns dry land into flowing springs."},{"verse":36,"text":"He lets the hungry settle there,\nso that they can build a city where they can live."},{"verse":37,"text":"They plant fields and vineyards.\nThese give them a rich harvest."},{"verse":38,"text":"He blesses them, and they grow into many people.\nHe does not let their herds get smaller."},{"verse":39,"text":"When they become few and are brought low\nby cruel rulers, by evil, and by sorrow,"},{"verse":40,"text":"he pours out shame on the nobles.\nHe makes them wander in a wasteland with no paths."},{"verse":41,"text":"But he lifts the needy out of their suffering.\nHe makes their families grow like flocks."},{"verse":42,"text":"Honest people see it and are glad.\nAnd all evil shuts its mouth."},{"verse":43,"text":"Whoever is wise, let him pay attention to these things.\nLet him think about the faithful love of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":108,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song. A psalm of David.\nMy heart is steady, O God.\nI will sing and make music with all that I am."},{"verse":2,"text":"Wake up, harp and lyre!\nI will wake up the dawn."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations.\nI will sing your praises among the peoples."},{"verse":4,"text":"For your faithful love reaches higher than the heavens.\nYour faithfulness reaches to the clouds."},{"verse":5,"text":"Be lifted high, O God, above the heavens.\nMay your glory cover all the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"Answer us and save us with your right hand,\nso the people you love may be rescued."},{"verse":7,"text":"God has spoken from his holy place:\n\"I will win! I will divide up Shechem.\nI will measure out the Valley of Succoth."},{"verse":8,"text":"Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine.\nEphraim is my helmet.\nJudah is my royal scepter."},{"verse":9,"text":"Moab is my washbowl.\nI toss my sandal on Edom.\nI shout in victory over Philistia.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Who will bring me to the strong, walled city?\nWho will lead me to Edom?"},{"verse":11,"text":"O God, haven't you rejected us?\nO God, won't you march out with our armies anymore?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Give us help against the enemy,\nfor human help is worth nothing."},{"verse":13,"text":"With God we will fight bravely.\nAnd he will stomp on our enemies."}]},{"chapter":109,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the choir director. A psalm of David.\nO God, the one I praise, do not be silent."},{"verse":2,"text":"For wicked and lying mouths are open against me.\nThey speak against me with lying tongues."},{"verse":3,"text":"They surround me with hateful words.\nThey attack me for no reason."},{"verse":4,"text":"In return for my love, they accuse me.\nBut I am a man of prayer."},{"verse":5,"text":"They pay me back evil for good.\nThey give me hate for my love."},{"verse":6,"text":"Put a wicked man in charge over him.\nLet an accuser stand at his right hand."},{"verse":7,"text":"When he is put on trial, let him be found guilty.\nMay even his prayer be counted as sin."},{"verse":8,"text":"May his days be few.\nMay someone else take his place."},{"verse":9,"text":"May his children have no father.\nMay his wife become a widow."},{"verse":10,"text":"May his children wander around as beggars.\nMay they search for food far from their ruined homes."},{"verse":11,"text":"May the man he owes take everything he owns.\nMay strangers steal what he worked for."},{"verse":12,"text":"May no one show him kindness.\nMay no one be good to his fatherless children."},{"verse":13,"text":"May his family line be cut off.\nMay their name be wiped out in the next generation."},{"verse":14,"text":"May the LORD remember the sins of his fathers.\nMay the sin of his mother never be wiped away."},{"verse":15,"text":"May their sins always stay before the LORD,\nso he may wipe out their memory from the earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"For he never thought about showing kindness.\nInstead, he hunted down the poor and needy\nand those with broken hearts, even to their death."},{"verse":17,"text":"He loved to curse others. May the curse fall on him.\nHe did not enjoy blessing others. May blessing be far from him."},{"verse":18,"text":"He wore cursing like a coat.\nMay it soak into his body like water,\nand into his bones like oil."},{"verse":19,"text":"May it be like a robe wrapped around him.\nMay it be like a belt tied around him forever."},{"verse":20,"text":"May this be how the LORD pays back my accusers,\nthose who speak evil against me."},{"verse":21,"text":"But you, O Lord GOD, be kind to me for the sake of your name.\nYour faithful love is good, so rescue me."},{"verse":22,"text":"For I am poor and needy.\nMy heart is wounded inside me."},{"verse":23,"text":"I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day.\nI am shaken off like a locust."},{"verse":24,"text":"My knees are weak from going without food.\nMy body is getting thin and bony."},{"verse":25,"text":"My accusers make fun of me.\nWhen they see me, they shake their heads."},{"verse":26,"text":"Help me, O LORD my God.\nSave me because of your faithful love."},{"verse":27,"text":"Let them know that this is your hand.\nLet them know that you, O LORD, have done it."},{"verse":28,"text":"They may curse, but you will bless.\nWhen they rise up, they will be put to shame.\nBut your servant will be glad."},{"verse":29,"text":"May my accusers be dressed in disgrace.\nMay they wear their shame like a robe."},{"verse":30,"text":"With my mouth I will thank the LORD very much.\nI will praise him in front of many people."},{"verse":31,"text":"For he stands at the right hand of the needy person.\nHe saves his life from those who condemn him."}]},{"chapter":110,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nThe LORD said to my Lord:\n\"Sit at my right hand\nuntil I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD will stretch out your mighty scepter from Zion.\n\"Rule in the middle of your enemies!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Your people will offer themselves freely on your day of battle.\nThey are dressed in holy beauty.\nFrom the womb of the dawn,\nthe dew of your youth belongs to you.","note":"The Hebrew of this verse is hard to understand, and it can be read in more than one way."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD has sworn an oath and will not change his mind:\n\"You are a priest forever,\nin the order of Melchizedek.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The Lord is at your right hand.\nHe will crush kings on the day of his anger."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will judge the nations and pile up the dead.\nHe will crush rulers all over the earth."},{"verse":7,"text":"He will drink from the stream by the road.\nSo he will lift up his head."}]},{"chapter":111,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nI will thank the LORD with all my heart.\nI will do it in the meeting of honest people and in the gathering."},{"verse":2,"text":"The works of the LORD are great.\nAll who enjoy them think deeply about them."},{"verse":3,"text":"His work is full of glory and greatness.\nHis righteousness lasts forever."},{"verse":4,"text":"He makes sure his wonders are remembered.\nThe LORD is kind and full of mercy."},{"verse":5,"text":"He gives food to those who fear him.\nHe remembers his covenant forever."},{"verse":6,"text":"He has shown his people the power of his works.\nHe gave them the lands of the nations to own."},{"verse":7,"text":"The works of his hands are true and fair.\nAll his rules can be trusted."},{"verse":8,"text":"They stand firm forever and ever.\nThey were made in truth and honesty."},{"verse":9,"text":"He has sent redemption to his people.\nHe has set up his covenant forever.\nHis name is holy and awesome."},{"verse":10,"text":"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.\nAll who follow his rules gain deep understanding.\nHis praise lasts forever!"}]},{"chapter":112,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nBlessed is the man who fears the LORD.\nHe takes great joy in God's commands."},{"verse":2,"text":"His children will be mighty in the land.\nThe families of honest people will be blessed."},{"verse":3,"text":"Wealth and riches are in his house.\nHis right living lasts forever."},{"verse":4,"text":"Light rises in the darkness for honest people.\nIt rises for those who are kind, full of mercy, and right with God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Things go well for the man who is generous and lends freely.\nHe runs his business with fairness."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will surely never be shaken.\nA man who does what is right will be remembered forever."},{"verse":7,"text":"He is not afraid of bad news.\nHis heart is steady, and he trusts in the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"His heart is sure, and he is not afraid.\nIn the end he will look in victory on his enemies."},{"verse":9,"text":"He has given gifts freely to the poor.\nHis right living lasts forever.\nHis horn will be lifted high with honor.","note":"A horn was a picture of strength."},{"verse":10,"text":"The wicked man will see it and be upset.\nHe will grind his teeth and waste away.\nWhat wicked people want will come to nothing."}]},{"chapter":113,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nPraise him, you servants of the LORD.\nPraise the name of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"May the name of the LORD be blessed,\nnow and forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"From where the sun rises to where it sets,\nthe name of the LORD is praised."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD is high above all the nations.\nHis glory is above the heavens."},{"verse":5,"text":"Who is like the LORD our God?\nHe sits on his throne up high."},{"verse":6,"text":"He bends down low\nto look at the heavens and the earth."},{"verse":7,"text":"He raises the poor up from the dust.\nHe lifts the needy out of the garbage heap."},{"verse":8,"text":"He seats them with nobles,\nwith the princes of his people."},{"verse":9,"text":"He gives the woman who could not have children a home.\nHe makes her a happy mother of children.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":114,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Israel left Egypt.\nThe family of Jacob left a people who spoke a strange language."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Judah became God's holy place.\nIsrael became the land he ruled."},{"verse":3,"text":"The sea saw it and ran away.\nThe Jordan River turned back."},{"verse":4,"text":"The mountains jumped like rams.\nThe hills jumped like lambs."},{"verse":5,"text":"Why did you run away, O sea?\nWhy did you turn back, O Jordan?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Why did you jump like rams, O mountains?\nWhy did you jump like lambs, O hills?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Tremble, O earth, before the Lord.\nTremble before the God of Jacob."},{"verse":8,"text":"He turned the rock into a pool.\nHe turned hard stone into a spring of water!"}]},{"chapter":115,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Not to us, O LORD, not to us,\nbut to your name be the glory.\nIt is because of your faithful love and your faithfulness."},{"verse":2,"text":"Why should the nations say,\n\"Where is their God?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Our God is in heaven.\nHe does whatever he pleases."},{"verse":4,"text":"Their idols are made of silver and gold.\nHuman hands made them."},{"verse":5,"text":"They have mouths, but they can't speak.\nThey have eyes, but they can't see."},{"verse":6,"text":"They have ears, but they can't hear.\nThey have noses, but they can't smell."},{"verse":7,"text":"They have hands, but they can't feel.\nThey have feet, but they can't walk.\nThey can't even make a sound in their throats."},{"verse":8,"text":"Those who make them will become like them.\nSo will all who trust in them."},{"verse":9,"text":"O Israel, trust in the LORD!\nHe is their help and their shield."},{"verse":10,"text":"O family of Aaron, trust in the LORD!\nHe is their help and their shield."},{"verse":11,"text":"You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!\nHe is their help and their shield."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD remembers us, and he will bless us.\nHe will bless the family of Israel.\nHe will bless the family of Aaron."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will bless those who fear the LORD,\nboth small and great."},{"verse":14,"text":"May the LORD make you grow in number,\nboth you and your children."},{"verse":15,"text":"May you be blessed by the LORD,\nthe Maker of heaven and earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"The highest heavens belong to the LORD.\nBut he has given the earth to people."},{"verse":17,"text":"The dead do not praise the LORD.\nNo one who goes down into silence praises him."},{"verse":18,"text":"But we will bless the LORD,\nnow and forever.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":116,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I love the LORD, for he has heard my voice.\nHe heard me when I begged for mercy."},{"verse":2,"text":"He has turned his ear to me.\nSo I will call on him as long as I live."},{"verse":3,"text":"The ropes of death were wrapped around me.\nThe pain of the grave took hold of me.\nI was faced with trouble and sorrow.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I called on the name of the LORD:\n\"O LORD, save my life!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD is kind and righteous.\nOur God is full of mercy."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD protects people who are simple.\nI was helpless, and he saved me."},{"verse":7,"text":"Go back to your rest, O my soul,\nfor the LORD has been good to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"For you have saved my life from death.\nYou kept my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will walk before the LORD\nin the land of the living."},{"verse":10,"text":"I believed, so I said,\n\"I am suffering very much.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"In my fear I said,\n\"Everyone is a liar!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"How can I pay the LORD back\nfor all the good he has done for me?"},{"verse":13,"text":"I will lift up the cup of salvation.\nI will call on the name of the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will keep my promises to the LORD\nin front of all his people."},{"verse":15,"text":"The death of his faithful people\nis precious in the eyes of the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"Truly, O LORD, I am your servant.\nI am your servant, the son of your female servant.\nYou have set me free from my chains."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will offer you a sacrifice of thanks.\nI will call on the name of the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will keep my promises to the LORD\nin front of all his people,"},{"verse":19,"text":"in the courtyards of the LORD's house,\nin the middle of you, O Jerusalem.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":117,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Praise the LORD, all you nations!\nPraise him, all you peoples!"},{"verse":2,"text":"For his faithful love for us is great.\nThe faithfulness of the LORD lasts forever.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":118,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let Israel say,\n\"His faithful love lasts forever.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Let the family of Aaron say,\n\"His faithful love lasts forever.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Let those who fear the LORD say,\n\"His faithful love lasts forever.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD.\nHe answered me and set me free."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid.\nWhat can a person do to me?"},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD is on my side. He is my helper.\nSo I will look in victory on those who hate me."},{"verse":8,"text":"It is better to run to the LORD for safety\nthan to trust in people."},{"verse":9,"text":"It is better to run to the LORD for safety\nthan to trust in princes."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the nations surrounded me.\nBut in the name of the LORD I cut them down."},{"verse":11,"text":"They surrounded me on every side.\nBut in the name of the LORD I cut them down."},{"verse":12,"text":"They swarmed around me like bees.\nBut they burned out quickly like thorns in a fire.\nIn the name of the LORD I cut them down."},{"verse":13,"text":"I was pushed so hard that I was falling.\nBut the LORD helped me."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD is my strength and my song.\nHe has become my salvation."},{"verse":15,"text":"Shouts of joy and salvation ring out\nin the tents of those who are right with God:\n\"The right hand of the LORD does mighty things!"},{"verse":16,"text":"The right hand of the LORD is lifted high!\nThe right hand of the LORD does mighty things!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"I will not die. I will live.\nI will tell what the LORD has done."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD has corrected me hard.\nBut he has not handed me over to death."},{"verse":19,"text":"Open the gates of righteousness for me,\nso that I may go in and give thanks to the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"This is the gate of the LORD.\nThose who are right with God will go in through it."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will thank you, for you have answered me.\nYou have become my salvation."},{"verse":22,"text":"The stone the builders rejected\nhas become the cornerstone."},{"verse":23,"text":"This is from the LORD.\nIt is amazing to us."},{"verse":24,"text":"This is the day that the LORD has made.\nWe will rejoice and be glad in it."},{"verse":25,"text":"O LORD, save us, we pray.\nWe beg you, O LORD, make us succeed!"},{"verse":26,"text":"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.\nFrom the house of the LORD we bless you."},{"verse":27,"text":"The LORD is God.\nHe has made his light shine on us.\nTie the festival sacrifice with ropes\nto the horns of the altar."},{"verse":28,"text":"You are my God, and I will thank you.\nYou are my God, and I will lift you high."},{"verse":29,"text":"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."}]},{"chapter":119,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Blessed are those whose way is without blame,\nwho walk in the Law of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"Blessed are those who keep his teachings\nand seek him with all their heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"They do no wrong.\nThey walk in his ways."},{"verse":4,"text":"You have given us your instructions,\nso that we would keep them with great care."},{"verse":5,"text":"Oh, how I wish my ways were set\non keeping your rules!"},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I would not be ashamed\nwhen I look at all your commands."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will praise you with an honest heart\nas I learn your right and fair decisions."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will keep your rules.\nDo not forsake me completely."},{"verse":9,"text":"How can a young man keep his way pure?\nBy guarding it with your word."},{"verse":10,"text":"I have looked for you with all my heart.\nDon't let me wander away from your commands."},{"verse":11,"text":"I have hidden your word in my heart,\nso that I won't sin against you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Blessed are you, O LORD.\nTeach me your rules."},{"verse":13,"text":"With my lips I tell about\nall the decisions that come from your mouth."},{"verse":14,"text":"I find joy in following your teachings,\nas much as in all riches."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will think deeply about your instructions.\nI will pay attention to your ways."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will take joy in your rules.\nI will not forget your word."},{"verse":17,"text":"Be very good to your servant,\nso that I may live and keep your word."},{"verse":18,"text":"Open my eyes so I can see\nthe wonderful things in your law."},{"verse":19,"text":"I am a stranger on the earth.\nDon't hide your commands from me."},{"verse":20,"text":"My soul is worn out with longing\nfor your decisions all the time."},{"verse":21,"text":"You scold the proud.\nThey are cursed, and they wander from your commands."},{"verse":22,"text":"Take away the shame and hate I face,\nfor I have kept your teachings."},{"verse":23,"text":"Rulers sit and tell lies about me.\nBut your servant thinks deeply about your rules."},{"verse":24,"text":"Your teachings are truly my joy.\nThey are the ones who give me advice."},{"verse":25,"text":"My soul is stuck down in the dust.\nGive me new life, as your word promised."},{"verse":26,"text":"I told you about my ways, and you answered me.\nTeach me your rules."},{"verse":27,"text":"Help me understand the way of your instructions.\nThen I will think deeply about your wonders."},{"verse":28,"text":"My soul melts with sadness.\nMake me strong, as your word promised."},{"verse":29,"text":"Keep me far from the path of lies.\nBe kind and give me your law."},{"verse":30,"text":"I have chosen the way of truth.\nI have set your decisions in front of me."},{"verse":31,"text":"I hold on tight to your teachings, O LORD.\nDon't let me be put to shame."},{"verse":32,"text":"I run in the path of your commands,\nfor you will make my heart bigger."},{"verse":33,"text":"Teach me, O LORD, the way of your rules.\nThen I will keep them to the end."},{"verse":34,"text":"Help me understand, so I can obey your law.\nI will follow it with all my heart."},{"verse":35,"text":"Lead me in the path of your commands,\nfor I find joy there."},{"verse":36,"text":"Turn my heart toward your teachings,\nand not toward greed for money."},{"verse":37,"text":"Turn my eyes away from worthless things.\nGive me new life by your word."},{"verse":38,"text":"Keep your promise to your servant,\nso that you will be feared and honored."},{"verse":39,"text":"Take away the shame that I'm afraid of,\nfor your decisions are good."},{"verse":40,"text":"How I long for your instructions!\nGive me new life because you are righteous."},{"verse":41,"text":"May your faithful love come to me, O LORD.\nMay your salvation come, as you promised."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then I can answer the one who makes fun of me,\nfor I trust in your word."},{"verse":43,"text":"Never take your word of truth out of my mouth,\nfor I put my hope in your decisions."},{"verse":44,"text":"I will always obey your law,\nforever and ever."},{"verse":45,"text":"And I will walk around in freedom,\nfor I have looked for your instructions."},{"verse":46,"text":"I will speak about your teachings in front of kings.\nAnd I will not be ashamed."},{"verse":47,"text":"I take joy in your commands,\nbecause I love them."},{"verse":48,"text":"I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love.\nAnd I think deeply about your rules."},{"verse":49,"text":"Remember your word to your servant.\nYou have given me hope through it."},{"verse":50,"text":"This is my comfort when I suffer:\nyour promise has given me life."},{"verse":51,"text":"Proud people make fun of me all the time.\nBut I do not turn away from your law."},{"verse":52,"text":"I remember your decisions from long ago, O LORD.\nAnd they comfort me."},{"verse":53,"text":"I am filled with anger\nbecause of the wicked who reject your law."},{"verse":54,"text":"Your rules are my songs\nin the place where I live as a traveler."},{"verse":55,"text":"In the night, O LORD, I remember your name,\nso that I may keep your law."},{"verse":56,"text":"This is what I do,\nfor I obey your instructions."},{"verse":57,"text":"The LORD is my share.\nI have promised to keep your words."},{"verse":58,"text":"I have looked for your face with all my heart.\nBe kind to me, as you promised."},{"verse":59,"text":"I thought about my ways.\nThen I turned my steps toward your teachings."},{"verse":60,"text":"I hurried and did not wait\nto keep your commands."},{"verse":61,"text":"The ropes of the wicked are tied around me.\nBut I do not forget your law."},{"verse":62,"text":"At midnight I get up to thank you\nfor your right and fair decisions."},{"verse":63,"text":"I am a friend to all who fear you,\nand to those who keep your instructions."},{"verse":64,"text":"The earth is full of your faithful love, O LORD.\nTeach me your rules."},{"verse":65,"text":"You are good to your servant, O LORD,\njust as you promised."},{"verse":66,"text":"Teach me good sense and knowledge,\nfor I believe in your commands."},{"verse":67,"text":"Before I suffered, I wandered away.\nBut now I keep your word."},{"verse":68,"text":"You are good, and you do what is good.\nTeach me your rules."},{"verse":69,"text":"The proud have smeared my name with lies.\nBut I keep your instructions with all my heart."},{"verse":70,"text":"Their hearts are hard and feel nothing.\nBut I take joy in your law."},{"verse":71,"text":"It was good for me to suffer,\nso that I could learn your rules."},{"verse":72,"text":"The law from your mouth is worth more to me\nthan thousands of pieces of gold and silver."},{"verse":73,"text":"Your hands made me and shaped me.\nHelp me understand so I can learn your commands."},{"verse":74,"text":"May those who fear you see me and be glad,\nfor I have put my hope in your word."},{"verse":75,"text":"I know, O LORD, that your decisions are right.\nYou made me suffer because you are faithful."},{"verse":76,"text":"Please let your faithful love comfort me,\njust as you promised your servant."},{"verse":77,"text":"Let your mercy come to me so I may live,\nfor your law is my joy."},{"verse":78,"text":"May the proud be put to shame,\nfor they have wronged me with a lie.\nBut I will think deeply about your instructions."},{"verse":79,"text":"May those who fear you turn to me,\nthose who know your teachings."},{"verse":80,"text":"May my heart be without blame in keeping your rules,\nso that I will not be put to shame."},{"verse":81,"text":"My soul grows weak as I long for you to save me.\nI wait for your word."},{"verse":82,"text":"My eyes grow tired as I look for your promise.\nI ask, \"When will you comfort me?\""},{"verse":83,"text":"I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke.\nBut I do not forget your rules."},{"verse":84,"text":"How many days must your servant wait?\nWhen will you judge those who hurt me?"},{"verse":85,"text":"The proud have dug pits to trap me.\nThis goes against your law."},{"verse":86,"text":"All your commands can be trusted.\nPeople hunt me down for no reason. Help me!"},{"verse":87,"text":"They almost wiped me off the earth.\nBut I have not turned away from your instructions."},{"verse":88,"text":"Give me new life because of your faithful love.\nThen I will obey the teachings from your mouth."},{"verse":89,"text":"Your word, O LORD, lasts forever.\nIt stands firm in the heavens."},{"verse":90,"text":"Your faithfulness goes on through all generations.\nYou set the earth in place, and it stays."},{"verse":91,"text":"Your laws still stand today,\nfor all things are your servants."},{"verse":92,"text":"If your law had not been my joy,\nI would have died in my suffering."},{"verse":93,"text":"I will never forget your instructions,\nfor by them you have given me new life."},{"verse":94,"text":"I belong to you. Save me,\nfor I have looked for your instructions."},{"verse":95,"text":"The wicked are waiting to destroy me.\nBut I will think hard about your teachings."},{"verse":96,"text":"I have seen that even the most perfect things have an end.\nBut your command has no end."},{"verse":97,"text":"Oh, how I love your law!\nI think about it all day long."},{"verse":98,"text":"Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,\nfor they are always with me."},{"verse":99,"text":"I understand more than all my teachers,\nfor I think deeply about your teachings."},{"verse":100,"text":"I understand more than the elders,\nfor I obey your instructions."},{"verse":101,"text":"I have kept my feet from every evil path,\nso that I may keep your word."},{"verse":102,"text":"I have not turned away from your laws,\nfor you yourself have taught me."},{"verse":103,"text":"How sweet your words taste to me.\nThey are sweeter than honey in my mouth!"},{"verse":104,"text":"I gain understanding from your instructions.\nSo I hate every path of lies."},{"verse":105,"text":"Your word is a lamp to my feet\nand a light to my path."},{"verse":106,"text":"I have made a promise, and I have made it sure:\nI will keep your right and fair decisions."},{"verse":107,"text":"I am suffering very much, O LORD.\nGive me new life through your word."},{"verse":108,"text":"O LORD, accept the gifts that my mouth gladly offers.\nTeach me your decisions."},{"verse":109,"text":"My life is always in danger.\nBut I do not forget your law."},{"verse":110,"text":"The wicked have set a trap for me.\nBut I have not wandered from your instructions."},{"verse":111,"text":"Your teachings are mine to keep forever,\nfor they are the joy of my heart."},{"verse":112,"text":"I have set my heart on doing what your rules say,\nall the way to the end."},{"verse":113,"text":"I hate people who can't make up their minds.\nBut I love your law."},{"verse":114,"text":"You are my hiding place and my shield.\nI put my hope in your word."},{"verse":115,"text":"Go away from me, you who do evil,\nso I may obey the commands of my God."},{"verse":116,"text":"Hold me up, as you promised, so that I may live.\nDon't let me be ashamed of my hope."},{"verse":117,"text":"Hold me up, and I will be safe.\nThen I will always pay attention to your rules."},{"verse":118,"text":"You reject all who wander from your rules,\nfor their lies come to nothing."},{"verse":119,"text":"You throw away all the wicked on earth like trash from melted metal.\nSo I love your teachings.","note":"Hebrew: dross, the waste skimmed off when metal is melted."},{"verse":120,"text":"My body shakes in awe of you.\nI am afraid of your judgments."},{"verse":121,"text":"I have done what is fair and right.\nDon't leave me to those who treat me cruelly."},{"verse":122,"text":"Promise that your servant will be well.\nDon't let the proud crush me."},{"verse":123,"text":"My eyes grow tired as I look for you to save me.\nI look for your righteous promise."},{"verse":124,"text":"Treat your servant with your faithful love.\nTeach me your rules."},{"verse":125,"text":"I am your servant. Help me understand,\nso I may know your teachings."},{"verse":126,"text":"It is time for the LORD to act,\nfor people have broken your law."},{"verse":127,"text":"So I love your commands more than gold,\neven the purest gold."},{"verse":128,"text":"So I think all your instructions are right.\nI hate every path of lies."},{"verse":129,"text":"Your teachings are wonderful.\nSo I obey them."},{"verse":130,"text":"When your words are opened up, they give light.\nThey help simple people understand."},{"verse":131,"text":"I open my mouth and pant,\nbecause I long for your commands."},{"verse":132,"text":"Turn to me and show me mercy,\nas you do for those who love your name."},{"verse":133,"text":"Guide my steps by your word.\nDon't let any sin rule over me."},{"verse":134,"text":"Redeem me from people who treat me cruelly,\nso I may keep your instructions."},{"verse":135,"text":"Let your face shine on your servant.\nTeach me your rules."},{"verse":136,"text":"Streams of tears flow from my eyes,\nbecause people do not obey your law."},{"verse":137,"text":"You are righteous, O LORD.\nYour decisions are right."},{"verse":138,"text":"The teachings you have given are right.\nThey can be fully trusted."},{"verse":139,"text":"My strong love for you burns me up,\nbecause my enemies forget your words."},{"verse":140,"text":"Your promise is completely pure.\nSo your servant loves it."},{"verse":141,"text":"I am small and looked down on.\nBut I do not forget your instructions."},{"verse":142,"text":"Your righteousness lasts forever.\nYour law is true."},{"verse":143,"text":"Trouble and pain have found me.\nBut your commands are my joy."},{"verse":144,"text":"Your teachings are right forever.\nHelp me understand, so I may live."},{"verse":145,"text":"I call out with all my heart. Answer me, O LORD!\nI will obey your rules."},{"verse":146,"text":"I call out to you. Save me,\nso I may keep your teachings."},{"verse":147,"text":"I get up before dawn and cry for help.\nI have put my hope in your word."},{"verse":148,"text":"My eyes stay open through the hours of the night,\nso I can think deeply about your word."},{"verse":149,"text":"Hear my voice, O LORD, because of your faithful love.\nGive me life by your fair rulings."},{"verse":150,"text":"Those who chase after evil plans are coming near.\nThey are far from your law."},{"verse":151,"text":"But you are near, O LORD.\nAnd all your commands are true."},{"verse":152,"text":"Long ago I learned from your teachings\nthat you set them up to last forever."},{"verse":153,"text":"Look at my suffering and rescue me,\nfor I have not forgotten your law."},{"verse":154,"text":"Stand up for me and redeem me.\nGive me new life, as your word promised."},{"verse":155,"text":"Salvation is far from the wicked,\nbecause they do not look for your rules."},{"verse":156,"text":"Your mercies are great, O LORD.\nGive me new life by your laws."},{"verse":157,"text":"Many people chase me and fight me.\nBut I have not turned from your teachings."},{"verse":158,"text":"I look at people who are not faithful, and I am disgusted,\nbecause they do not keep your word."},{"verse":159,"text":"See how I love your instructions, O LORD.\nGive me life because of your faithful love."},{"verse":160,"text":"All of your word is truth.\nAll your right and fair decisions last forever."},{"verse":161,"text":"Rulers chase after me for no reason.\nBut my heart fears only your word."},{"verse":162,"text":"I am glad about your promise,\nlike someone who finds a great treasure."},{"verse":163,"text":"I hate lies and can't stand them.\nBut I love your law."},{"verse":164,"text":"Seven times a day I praise you\nfor your right and fair decisions."},{"verse":165,"text":"Great peace belongs to those who love your law.\nNothing can make them trip and fall."},{"verse":166,"text":"I wait for you to save me, O LORD.\nAnd I do what your commands say."},{"verse":167,"text":"I obey your teachings,\nand I love them very much."},{"verse":168,"text":"I obey your instructions and your teachings,\nfor you see all that I do."},{"verse":169,"text":"May my cry come before you, O LORD.\nHelp me understand, as your word promised."},{"verse":170,"text":"May my prayer come before you.\nRescue me, as you promised."},{"verse":171,"text":"Praise pours from my lips,\nfor you teach me your rules."},{"verse":172,"text":"My tongue sings about your word,\nfor all your commands are right."},{"verse":173,"text":"May your hand be ready to help me,\nfor I have chosen your instructions."},{"verse":174,"text":"I long for you to save me, O LORD.\nYour law is my joy."},{"verse":175,"text":"Let me live so I can praise you.\nMay your decisions keep me going."},{"verse":176,"text":"I have wandered away like a lost sheep.\nCome look for your servant,\nfor I have not forgotten your commands."}]},{"chapter":120,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nWhen I was in trouble, I cried to the LORD.\nAnd he answered me."},{"verse":2,"text":"O LORD, save my life from lying lips\nand from a tongue that tricks people."},{"verse":3,"text":"What will he do to you?\nWhat more will he do to you, you lying tongue?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Sharp arrows will come from the warrior,\nwith burning coals from the broom tree!"},{"verse":5,"text":"How awful it is for me that I live in Meshech!\nI live among the tents of Kedar!"},{"verse":6,"text":"I have lived too long\namong people who hate peace."},{"verse":7,"text":"I am for peace.\nBut when I speak, they want war."}]},{"chapter":121,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nI lift up my eyes to the hills.\nWhere does my help come from?"},{"verse":2,"text":"My help comes from the LORD,\nthe Maker of heaven and earth."},{"verse":3,"text":"He will not let your foot slip.\nThe one who protects you will not fall asleep."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look! The one who protects Israel\nwill never get drowsy or sleep."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD is the one who watches over you.\nThe LORD is the shade at your right hand."},{"verse":6,"text":"The sun will not hurt you by day,\nand the moon will not hurt you by night."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD will guard you from all evil.\nHe will keep your life safe."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD will watch over your coming and going,\nnow and forever."}]},{"chapter":122,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship. A psalm of David.\nI was glad when they said to me,\n\"Let's go to the house of the LORD.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Our feet are standing\ninside your gates, O Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jerusalem is built as a city\nthat is joined closely together."},{"verse":4,"text":"That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.\nIt is the rule for Israel\nto give thanks to the name of the LORD there."},{"verse":5,"text":"For there the thrones for judging stand.\nThey are the thrones of the family of David."},{"verse":6,"text":"Pray for peace for Jerusalem:\n\"May those who love you do well."},{"verse":7,"text":"May there be peace inside your walls.\nMay there be good things inside your strong towers.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"For the sake of my brothers and friends,\nI will say, \"May peace be inside you.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,\nI will look for what is good for you."}]},{"chapter":123,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nI lift up my eyes to you,\nthe one who sits on his throne in heaven."},{"verse":2,"text":"Servants watch the hand of their master.\nA female servant watches the hand of the woman she serves.\nIn the same way, our eyes look to the LORD our God,\nuntil he shows us mercy."},{"verse":3,"text":"Have mercy on us, O LORD. Have mercy.\nWe have put up with so much hate."},{"verse":4,"text":"We have put up with a lot of mocking from the proud.\nWe have put up with a lot of hate from people who think they are better."}]},{"chapter":124,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship. A psalm of David.\nIf the LORD had not been on our side—\nlet Israel say it now—"},{"verse":2,"text":"if the LORD had not been on our side\nwhen people attacked us,"},{"verse":3,"text":"when their anger burned against us,\nthen they would have swallowed us alive."},{"verse":4,"text":"The floods would have covered us.\nThe rushing water would have washed over us."},{"verse":5,"text":"The wild waters\nwould have swept us away."},{"verse":6,"text":"Bless the LORD!\nHe did not let their teeth tear us apart like prey."},{"verse":7,"text":"We have escaped like a bird from the hunter's trap.\nThe net is torn, and we got away."},{"verse":8,"text":"Our help is in the name of the LORD,\nthe Maker of heaven and earth."}]},{"chapter":125,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nThose who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion.\nIt can't be moved. It lasts forever."},{"verse":2,"text":"The mountains are all around Jerusalem.\nIn the same way, the LORD is all around his people,\nnow and forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"The scepter of the wicked will not stay\nover the land given to those who do right.\nIf it did, those who do right might reach out their hands to do wrong."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,\nto those whose hearts are honest."},{"verse":5,"text":"But some turn aside to crooked paths.\nThe LORD will send them away with those who do evil.\nMay there be peace on Israel."}]},{"chapter":126,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nThe LORD brought the captives back to Zion.\nThen we were like people who were dreaming."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then our mouths were filled with laughing.\nOur tongues were filled with shouts of joy.\nThen people among the nations said,\n\"The LORD has done great things for them.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD has done great things for us.\nWe are filled with joy."},{"verse":4,"text":"Bring back our captives, O LORD,\nlike streams of water in the Negev."},{"verse":5,"text":"Those who plant with tears\nwill harvest with shouts of joy."},{"verse":6,"text":"A person may go out crying,\ncarrying seed to plant.\nBut he will surely come back with shouts of joy,\ncarrying bundles of grain."}]},{"chapter":127,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship. A psalm of Solomon.\nUnless the LORD builds the house,\nits builders work for nothing.\nUnless the LORD protects the city,\nits guards stand watch for nothing."},{"verse":2,"text":"It does no good to get up early and stay up late,\nworking hard for bread to eat.\nFor he gives sleep to those he loves."},{"verse":3,"text":"Children are truly a gift from the LORD.\nBabies are a reward from him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Children born to a young father\nare like arrows in the hand of a warrior."},{"verse":5,"text":"Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.\nHe will not be put to shame\nwhen he faces his enemies at the city gate."}]},{"chapter":128,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nBlessed are all who fear the LORD,\nwho walk in his ways!"},{"verse":2,"text":"For when you eat what your hard work produces,\nblessings and good things will be yours."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your wife will be like a vine full of fruit,\ngrowing inside your house.\nYour sons will be like young olive trees\nsitting around your table."},{"verse":4,"text":"Yes, this is how blessing will come\nto the man who fears the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"May the LORD bless you from Zion.\nMay you see Jerusalem do well\nall the days of your life."},{"verse":6,"text":"May you live to see your grandchildren.\nMay there be peace on Israel!"}]},{"chapter":129,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nMany times they have attacked me since I was young.\nLet Israel say it now."},{"verse":2,"text":"Many times they have attacked me since I was young.\nBut they have not beaten me."},{"verse":3,"text":"Farmers plowed over my back.\nThey made their rows long."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD is righteous.\nHe has cut me free from the ropes of the wicked."},{"verse":5,"text":"May all who hate Zion\nbe turned back in shame."},{"verse":6,"text":"May they be like grass on the rooftops.\nIt dries up before it can grow."},{"verse":7,"text":"It can't fill the hands of the one who cuts grain.\nIt can't fill the arms of the one who ties up bundles."},{"verse":8,"text":"May no one who walks by say to them,\n\"May the LORD's blessing be on you.\nWe bless you in the name of the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":130,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song for going up to worship.\nOut of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!"},{"verse":2,"text":"O Lord, hear my voice.\nLet your ears listen closely as I beg for mercy."},{"verse":3,"text":"O LORD, if you kept a list of sins,\nwho could stand, O Lord?"},{"verse":4,"text":"But with you there is forgiveness,\nso that you will be feared."},{"verse":5,"text":"I wait for the LORD. My soul waits.\nI put my hope in his word."},{"verse":6,"text":"My soul waits for the Lord\nmore than guards wait for the morning,\nmore than guards wait for the morning."},{"verse":7,"text":"O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,\nfor with the LORD there is faithful love.\nWith him there is full redemption."},{"verse":8,"text":"He himself will redeem Israel\nfrom all their sins."}]},{"chapter":131,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song of ascents. Of David.\nMy heart is not proud, LORD.\nMy eyes do not look down on others.\nI don't reach for great things,\nor for things too high for me."},{"verse":2,"text":"Truly I have calmed and quieted my soul.\nLike a weaned child with his mother,\nmy soul is like a weaned child inside me.","note":"A weaned child is a young child who no longer nurses."},{"verse":3,"text":"Israel, put your hope in the LORD,\nboth now and forever."}]},{"chapter":132,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song of ascents.\nLORD, remember David\nand all the hard things he went through."},{"verse":2,"text":"Remember how he made a promise to the LORD.\nHe made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"I will not go into my house.\nI will not get into my bed."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will not let my eyes sleep.\nI will not let my eyelids rest,"},{"verse":5,"text":"until I find a place for the LORD,\na home for the Mighty One of Jacob.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"We heard that the ark was in Ephrathah.\nWe found it in the fields of Jaar."},{"verse":7,"text":"Let us go to his home.\nLet us worship at his footstool."},{"verse":8,"text":"Rise up, LORD, and come to your resting place,\nyou and the ark of your strength."},{"verse":9,"text":"May your priests be dressed in what is right.\nMay your people shout for joy."},{"verse":10,"text":"For the sake of your servant David,\ndo not turn away from your anointed one."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD made a promise to David with an oath.\nHe will not take it back.\nHe said, \"I will put one of your descendants on your throne."},{"verse":12,"text":"If your sons keep my covenant\nand the laws I will teach them,\nthen their sons will also sit on your throne\nforever and ever.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"For the LORD has chosen Zion.\nHe wanted it for his home. He said:"},{"verse":14,"text":"\"This is my resting place forever and ever.\nI will live here, for I have wanted this home."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will bless her with plenty of food.\nI will fill her poor people with bread."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will dress her priests with salvation.\nMy people there will sing out with joy."},{"verse":17,"text":"There I will make a horn grow for David.\nI have made a lamp ready for my anointed one.","note":"A horn stands for strength and power."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will cover his enemies with shame.\nBut the crown on his head will shine.\""}]},{"chapter":133,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song of ascents. Of David.\nLook how good and pleasant it is\nwhen brothers live together as one!"},{"verse":2,"text":"It is like fine oil poured on the head.\nIt runs down on the beard,\ndown on Aaron's beard,\nover the collar of his robes."},{"verse":3,"text":"It is like the dew of Hermon\nfalling on the mountains of Zion.\nFor there the LORD has given his blessing,\nlife that lasts forever."}]},{"chapter":134,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A song of ascents.\nCome, bless the LORD,\nall you servants of the LORD\nwho serve at night in the house of the LORD!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Lift up your hands toward the holy place,\nand bless the LORD!"},{"verse":3,"text":"May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,\nbless you from Zion."}]},{"chapter":135,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah! Praise the name of the LORD.\nPraise him, you servants of the LORD,"},{"verse":2,"text":"who stand in the house of the LORD,\nin the courtyards of the house of our God."},{"verse":3,"text":"Hallelujah, for the LORD is good!\nSing praises to his name, for it is lovely."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the LORD has chosen Jacob as his own.\nHe chose Israel as his special treasure."},{"verse":5,"text":"For I know that the LORD is great.\nOur Lord is above all gods."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD does whatever pleases him.\nHe does it in the heavens and on the earth,\nin the seas and in all their depths."},{"verse":7,"text":"He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth.\nHe makes lightning with the rain.\nHe brings the wind out of his storehouses."},{"verse":8,"text":"He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,\nboth people and animals."},{"verse":9,"text":"He sent signs and wonders among you, Egypt.\nHe sent them against Pharaoh and all his servants."},{"verse":10,"text":"He struck down many nations\nand killed mighty kings:"},{"verse":11,"text":"Sihon king of the Amorites,\nOg king of Bashan,\nand all the kings of Canaan."},{"verse":12,"text":"He gave their land as an inheritance.\nHe gave it as a lasting gift to his people Israel."},{"verse":13,"text":"Your name, LORD, lasts forever.\nYour fame, LORD, goes on through all generations."},{"verse":14,"text":"For the LORD will stand up for his people.\nHe will show mercy to his servants."},{"verse":15,"text":"The idols of the nations are silver and gold.\nThey are made by human hands."},{"verse":16,"text":"They have mouths, but they can't speak.\nThey have eyes, but they can't see."},{"verse":17,"text":"They have ears, but they can't hear.\nThere is no breath in their mouths."},{"verse":18,"text":"Those who make them will become like them,\nand so will all who trust in them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Family of Israel, bless the LORD!\nFamily of Aaron, bless the LORD!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Family of Levi, bless the LORD!\nYou who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!"},{"verse":21,"text":"May the LORD be praised from Zion,\nthe one who lives in Jerusalem.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":136,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":2,"text":"Give thanks to the God of gods.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"Give thanks to the Lord of lords.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":4,"text":"He alone does great wonders.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":5,"text":"By his understanding he made the heavens.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":6,"text":"He spread out the earth on the waters.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":7,"text":"He made the great lights.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"He made the sun to rule the day.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"He made the moon and stars to rule the night.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"He struck down the firstborn of Egypt.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":11,"text":"He brought Israel out from among them.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":12,"text":"He did it with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"He split the Red Sea in two.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":14,"text":"He led Israel through the middle of it.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":15,"text":"But he swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":16,"text":"He led his people through the wilderness.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":17,"text":"He struck down great kings.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":18,"text":"He killed mighty kings.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":19,"text":"He killed Sihon king of the Amorites.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":20,"text":"He killed Og king of Bashan.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":21,"text":"He gave their land as an inheritance.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":22,"text":"He gave it as a lasting gift to his servant Israel.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":23,"text":"He remembered us when we were brought low.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":24,"text":"He set us free from our enemies.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":25,"text":"He gives food to every living thing.\nHis faithful love lasts forever."},{"verse":26,"text":"Give thanks to the God of heaven!\nHis faithful love lasts forever."}]},{"chapter":137,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"By the rivers of Babylon we sat and cried\nwhen we remembered Zion."},{"verse":2,"text":"There we hung our harps\non the willow trees."},{"verse":3,"text":"For there the people who captured us asked us for a song.\nThe ones who tormented us wanted happy songs.\nThey said, \"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"How can we sing a song of the LORD\nin a foreign land?"},{"verse":5,"text":"If I forget you, Jerusalem,\nmay my right hand stop working."},{"verse":6,"text":"May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth\nif I do not remember you,\nif I do not make Jerusalem\nmy greatest joy!"},{"verse":7,"text":"LORD, remember what the people of Edom did\non the day Jerusalem fell.\nThey said, \"Destroy it!\nTear it down to its foundations!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Daughter of Babylon, you are doomed to be destroyed.\nBlessed is the one who pays you back\nfor what you have done to us."},{"verse":9,"text":"Blessed is the one who grabs your babies\nand smashes them against the rocks."}]},{"chapter":138,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David.\nI give you thanks with all my heart.\nIn front of the gods I sing your praises."},{"verse":2,"text":"I bow down toward your holy temple.\nI thank your name for your faithful love and your faithfulness.\nYou have made your name and your word\ngreater than everything else."},{"verse":3,"text":"On the day I called, you answered me.\nYou made me bold and gave my soul strength."},{"verse":4,"text":"All the kings of the earth will thank you, LORD,\nwhen they hear the words you have spoken."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will sing about the ways of the LORD,\nfor the glory of the LORD is great."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD is high above,\nyet he takes care of the humble.\nBut he knows the proud from far away."},{"verse":7,"text":"If I walk through the middle of trouble,\nyou keep me safe from my enemies' anger.\nYou reach out your hand,\nand your right hand saves me."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD will carry out his plan for me.\nLORD, your faithful love lasts forever.\nDo not leave behind the work of your hands."}]},{"chapter":139,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of David.\nLORD, you have searched me,\nand you know me."},{"verse":2,"text":"You know when I sit down and when I get up.\nYou understand my thoughts from far away."},{"verse":3,"text":"You watch where I go and where I lie down.\nYou know all my ways."},{"verse":4,"text":"Even before a word is on my tongue,\nyou know all about it, LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"You close me in, behind me and in front of me.\nYou have put your hand on me."},{"verse":6,"text":"Knowing this is too wonderful for me.\nIt is too high for me to reach."},{"verse":7,"text":"Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?\nWhere can I run from your presence?"},{"verse":8,"text":"If I go up to the heavens, you are there.\nIf I make my bed in the grave, you are there.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":9,"text":"If I fly on the wings of the dawn,\nif I settle by the farthest sea,"},{"verse":10,"text":"even there your hand will guide me.\nYour right hand will hold on to me tight."},{"verse":11,"text":"If I say, \"Surely the darkness will hide me,\nand the light around me will turn into night,\""},{"verse":12,"text":"even the darkness is not dark to you.\nThe night shines like the day,\nfor darkness is like light to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"For you made the deepest parts of me.\nYou knit me together in my mother's womb."},{"verse":14,"text":"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.\nYour works are amazing,\nand I know this very well."},{"verse":15,"text":"My bones were not hidden from you\nwhen I was made in secret,\nwhen I was woven together\nin the depths of the earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"Your eyes saw my body before it was formed.\nAll my days were written in your book.\nThey were planned for me\nbefore even one of them came to be."},{"verse":17,"text":"How precious your thoughts are to me, God!\nHow huge their number is!"},{"verse":18,"text":"If I tried to count them,\nthey would be more than the grains of sand.\nAnd when I wake up, I am still with you."},{"verse":19,"text":"God, if only you would kill the wicked!\nGet away from me, you bloodthirsty men!"},{"verse":20,"text":"They speak about you with lies.\nYour enemies misuse your name."},{"verse":21,"text":"Don't I hate those who hate you, LORD?\nDon't I loathe those who rise up against you?"},{"verse":22,"text":"I hate them with total hatred.\nI count them as my enemies."},{"verse":23,"text":"Search me, God, and know my heart.\nTest me and know my worries."},{"verse":24,"text":"See if there is any way in me that offends you.\nLead me in the way that lasts forever."}]},{"chapter":140,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the music leader. A psalm of David.\nLORD, rescue me from evil men.\nProtect me from violent men,"},{"verse":2,"text":"who plan evil in their hearts\nand stir up wars all day long."},{"verse":3,"text":"They make their tongues sharp like snakes.\nThe poison of vipers is on their lips.\nSelah"},{"verse":4,"text":"LORD, guard me from the hands of the wicked.\nKeep me safe from violent men\nwho plan to make me trip and fall."},{"verse":5,"text":"Proud people have hidden a trap for me.\nThey have spread the ropes of their net along the path.\nThey have set out snares for me.\nSelah"},{"verse":6,"text":"I say to the LORD, \"You are my God.\"\nLORD, hear my cry for help."},{"verse":7,"text":"Lord GOD, you are the strength that saves me.\nYou cover my head on the day of battle."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD, do not give the wicked what they want.\nDo not let their evil plans succeed,\nor they will become proud.\nSelah"},{"verse":9,"text":"As for those who surround me,\nmay the trouble their lips have caused\ncover their heads."},{"verse":10,"text":"May burning coals fall on them.\nMay they be thrown into the fire,\ninto muddy pits,\nnever to rise again."},{"verse":11,"text":"May no one who tells lies about others\nlast long in the land.\nMay disaster hunt down the violent man."},{"verse":12,"text":"I know that the LORD brings justice for the poor.\nHe defends the rights of the needy."},{"verse":13,"text":"Surely those who do right will praise your name.\nHonest people will live in your presence."}]},{"chapter":141,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nLORD, I call to you. Come to me quickly!\nListen to my voice when I call to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"May my prayer come before you like incense.\nMay my lifted hands be like the evening offering."},{"verse":3,"text":"LORD, set a guard over my mouth.\nKeep watch at the door of my lips."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not let my heart be drawn to anything evil.\nDo not let me join in wicked deeds\nwith men who do wrong.\nDo not let me eat their fine foods."},{"verse":5,"text":"Let a man who does what is right strike me.\nLet his correction be an act of faithful love.\nIt is like oil on my head.\nDo not let me refuse it.\nFor I keep praying against the deeds of the wicked."},{"verse":6,"text":"When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs,\nthe people will listen to my words,\nfor they are pleasant."},{"verse":7,"text":"Like when someone plows and breaks up the ground,\nour bones have been scattered\nat the mouth of the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":8,"text":"But my eyes are fixed on you, Lord GOD.\nI run to you for safety.\nDo not leave my soul without protection."},{"verse":9,"text":"Keep me from the traps they have set for me,\nand from the snares of those who do evil."},{"verse":10,"text":"Let the wicked fall into their own nets,\nwhile I pass by safely."}]},{"chapter":142,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer.\nI cry out loud to the LORD.\nI lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.","note":"Maskil is a Hebrew word for a type of psalm. Its exact meaning is not known."},{"verse":2,"text":"I pour out my complaint to him.\nI tell him about my trouble."},{"verse":3,"text":"Even though my spirit grows weak inside me,\nyou know the way I am going.\nOn the path where I walk,\nthey have hidden a trap for me."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look to my right and see.\nNo one is paying attention to me.\nI have no place to be safe.\nNo one cares about my soul."},{"verse":5,"text":"I cry to you, LORD.\nI say, \"You are my safe place.\nYou are my share in the land of the living.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Listen to my cry,\nfor I am brought very low.\nRescue me from the people chasing me,\nfor they are too strong for me."},{"verse":7,"text":"Set my soul free from prison,\nso that I can praise your name.\nThose who do right will gather around me\nbecause you are good to me."}]},{"chapter":143,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of David.\nLORD, hear my prayer.\nYou are faithful, so listen to my plea.\nYou are righteous, so answer me."},{"verse":2,"text":"Do not bring your servant to trial,\nfor no one alive is right in your sight."},{"verse":3,"text":"For the enemy has chased my soul.\nHe has crushed my life to the ground.\nHe makes me live in darkness\nlike people who died long ago."},{"verse":4,"text":"My spirit grows weak inside me.\nMy heart is full of fear inside me."},{"verse":5,"text":"I remember the days of long ago.\nI think deeply about all you have done.\nI think about the work of your hands."},{"verse":6,"text":"I stretch out my hands to you.\nMy soul thirsts for you like a dry land.\nSelah"},{"verse":7,"text":"Answer me quickly, LORD.\nMy spirit is giving out.\nDo not hide your face from me,\nor I will be like those who go down to the Pit."},{"verse":8,"text":"Let me hear of your faithful love in the morning,\nfor I have put my trust in you.\nTeach me the way I should walk,\nfor I lift up my soul to you."},{"verse":9,"text":"LORD, save me from my enemies.\nI run to you to be safe."},{"verse":10,"text":"Teach me to do what you want,\nfor you are my God.\nMay your good Spirit lead me\non level ground."},{"verse":11,"text":"LORD, for the sake of your name, give me new life.\nYou are righteous, so bring my soul out of trouble."},{"verse":12,"text":"In your faithful love, cut off my enemies.\nDestroy all who hurt me,\nfor I am your servant."}]},{"chapter":144,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Of David.\nPraise the LORD, my Rock.\nHe trains my hands for war\nand my fingers for battle."},{"verse":2,"text":"He is my faithful love and my fortress.\nHe is my strong tower and the one who saves me.\nHe is my shield, and I run to him for safety.\nHe puts peoples under my rule."},{"verse":3,"text":"LORD, what is man, that you care about him?\nWhat is a son of man, that you think about him?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Man is like a breath.\nHis days are like a shadow that passes by."},{"verse":5,"text":"LORD, open up your heavens and come down.\nTouch the mountains so that they smoke."},{"verse":6,"text":"Send out your lightning and scatter them.\nShoot your arrows and make them run away."},{"verse":7,"text":"Reach down from on high.\nSet me free and rescue me from the deep waters.\nSave me from the grip of foreigners."},{"verse":8,"text":"Their mouths tell lies.\nTheir right hands cheat."},{"verse":9,"text":"God, I will sing a new song to you.\nI will make music to you on a harp with ten strings."},{"verse":10,"text":"I sing to the one who gives kings the victory,\nwho sets his servant David free from the deadly sword."},{"verse":11,"text":"Set me free and rescue me\nfrom the grip of foreigners.\nTheir mouths tell lies.\nTheir right hands cheat."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then our sons will be like young plants\nthat grow up strong.\nOur daughters will be like corner pillars,\ncarved to make a palace beautiful."},{"verse":13,"text":"Our storehouses will be full\nwith every kind of crop.\nOur flocks will have thousands of lambs,\ntens of thousands in our fields."},{"verse":14,"text":"Our oxen will pull heavy loads.\nThere will be no break in our walls.\nNo one will be taken away as a captive.\nNo cry of sorrow will be heard in our streets."},{"verse":15,"text":"Blessed are the people for whom this is true.\nBlessed are the people whose God is the LORD."}]},{"chapter":145,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A psalm of praise. Of David.\nI will lift you high, my God and King.\nI will bless your name forever and ever."},{"verse":2,"text":"Every day I will bless you.\nI will praise your name forever and ever."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD is great and worthy of great praise.\nNo one can measure how great he is."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each generation will praise your works to the next.\nThey will tell about your mighty acts."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will tell of the glory and beauty of your majesty.\nAnd I will think deeply about your wonderful works."},{"verse":6,"text":"They will tell of the power of your awesome deeds.\nAnd I will tell how great you are."},{"verse":7,"text":"They will celebrate how famous your great goodness is.\nThey will sing with joy about your righteousness."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD is gracious and kind.\nHe is slow to get angry\nand full of faithful love."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD is good to all.\nHis kindness rests on all he has made."},{"verse":10,"text":"All you have made will thank you, LORD.\nYour people will bless you."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will tell of the glory of your kingdom.\nThey will talk about your power."},{"verse":12,"text":"They will do this so that all people will know your mighty acts\nand the glorious beauty of your kingdom."},{"verse":13,"text":"Your kingdom is a kingdom that lasts forever.\nYour rule goes on through all generations.\nThe LORD is faithful in all he says.\nHe is kind in all he does."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD holds up all who fall.\nHe lifts up all who are bent low."},{"verse":15,"text":"The eyes of all look to you.\nYou give them their food at the right time."},{"verse":16,"text":"You open your hand\nand satisfy the desires of every living thing."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD is righteous in all his ways.\nHe is kind in all he does."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD is near to all who call on him,\nto all who call out to him in truth."},{"verse":19,"text":"He gives those who fear him what they long for.\nHe hears their cry and saves them."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD watches over all who love him.\nBut he will destroy all the wicked."},{"verse":21,"text":"My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD.\nLet every creature bless his holy name\nforever and ever."}]},{"chapter":146,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nPraise the LORD, my soul."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will praise the LORD all my life.\nI will sing praises to my God as long as I live."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not put your trust in princes,\nin human beings who can't save."},{"verse":4,"text":"When their spirit leaves, they go back to the ground.\nOn that very day their plans die."},{"verse":5,"text":"Blessed is the one whose help is the God of Jacob,\nwhose hope is in the LORD his God."},{"verse":6,"text":"He is the Maker of heaven and earth,\nthe sea, and everything in them.\nHe stays faithful forever."},{"verse":7,"text":"He brings justice for those who are treated badly.\nHe gives food to the hungry.\nThe LORD sets prisoners free."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.\nThe LORD lifts up those who are bent low.\nThe LORD loves those who do right."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD protects foreigners.\nHe takes care of orphans and widows.\nBut he blocks the ways of the wicked."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD rules forever.\nZion, your God rules for all generations.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":147,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nHow good it is to sing praises to our God!\nHow pleasant and lovely it is to praise him!"},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD builds up Jerusalem.\nHe gathers the people of Israel who were sent away."},{"verse":3,"text":"He heals those whose hearts are broken.\nHe bandages their wounds."},{"verse":4,"text":"He decides how many stars there are.\nHe calls each one by name."},{"verse":5,"text":"Our Lord is great and mighty in power.\nThere is no limit to what he understands."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD holds up the humble.\nBut he throws the wicked to the ground."},{"verse":7,"text":"Sing to the LORD with thanks.\nMake music on the harp to our God."},{"verse":8,"text":"He covers the sky with clouds.\nHe gets rain ready for the earth.\nHe makes grass grow on the hills."},{"verse":9,"text":"He gives food to the animals,\nand to the young ravens when they call."},{"verse":10,"text":"He does not delight in the strength of the horse.\nHe takes no pleasure in a man's strong legs."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD is pleased with those who fear him,\nwith those who hope in his faithful love."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jerusalem, lift up the LORD!\nZion, praise your God!"},{"verse":13,"text":"For he makes the bars of your gates strong.\nHe blesses your children inside you."},{"verse":14,"text":"He brings peace to your borders.\nHe fills you with the finest wheat."},{"verse":15,"text":"He sends out his command to the earth.\nHis word runs fast."},{"verse":16,"text":"He spreads the snow like wool.\nHe scatters the frost like ashes."},{"verse":17,"text":"He throws down his hail like small stones.\nWho can stand up to his icy cold?"},{"verse":18,"text":"He sends out his word and melts them.\nHe lets his winds blow, and the waters flow."},{"verse":19,"text":"He tells his word to Jacob.\nHe tells his laws and rulings to Israel."},{"verse":20,"text":"He has not done this for any other nation.\nThey do not know his rulings.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":148,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nPraise the LORD from the heavens.\nPraise him in the highest places."},{"verse":2,"text":"Praise him, all his angels.\nPraise him, all his armies in heaven."},{"verse":3,"text":"Praise him, sun and moon.\nPraise him, all you shining stars."},{"verse":4,"text":"Praise him, highest heavens,\nand you waters above the skies."},{"verse":5,"text":"Let them praise the name of the LORD.\nFor he gave the command, and they were created."},{"verse":6,"text":"He set them in place forever and ever.\nHe gave a law that will never pass away."},{"verse":7,"text":"Praise the LORD from the earth,\nall you great sea creatures and ocean depths,"},{"verse":8,"text":"lightning and hail, snow and clouds,\nand strong winds that do what he says,"},{"verse":9,"text":"mountains and all hills,\nfruit trees and all cedars,"},{"verse":10,"text":"wild animals and all cattle,\ncrawling creatures and flying birds,"},{"verse":11,"text":"kings of the earth and all peoples,\nprinces and all rulers of the earth,"},{"verse":12,"text":"young men and young women,\nold and young together."},{"verse":13,"text":"Let them praise the name of the LORD,\nfor his name alone is lifted high.\nHis glory is above the earth and the heavens."},{"verse":14,"text":"He has raised up a horn for his people,\nthe praise of all his faithful ones,\nof Israel, the people close to him.\nHallelujah!","note":"A horn stands for strength and power."}]},{"chapter":149,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nSing a new song to the LORD.\nSing his praise among his faithful people."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let Israel be glad in their Maker.\nLet the children of Zion be glad in their King."},{"verse":3,"text":"Let them praise his name with dancing.\nLet them make music to him with tambourine and harp."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the LORD takes delight in his people.\nHe crowns the humble with salvation."},{"verse":5,"text":"Let his faithful people celebrate with joy in glory.\nLet them shout for joy on their beds."},{"verse":6,"text":"May the high praises of God be in their mouths,\nand a sword with two sharp edges in their hands,"},{"verse":7,"text":"to take revenge on the nations\nand to punish the peoples,"},{"verse":8,"text":"to bind their kings with chains\nand their leaders with iron chains,"},{"verse":9,"text":"to carry out the judgment written against them.\nThis honor is for all his faithful people.\nHallelujah!"}]},{"chapter":150,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hallelujah!\nPraise God in his holy place.\nPraise him in his mighty heavens."},{"verse":2,"text":"Praise him for his mighty acts.\nPraise him for how very great he is."},{"verse":3,"text":"Praise him with the sound of the horn.\nPraise him with the harp and lyre."},{"verse":4,"text":"Praise him with tambourine and dancing.\nPraise him with strings and flute."},{"verse":5,"text":"Praise him with clashing cymbals.\nPraise him with loud, ringing cymbals."},{"verse":6,"text":"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!\nHallelujah!"}]}]},{"name":"Proverbs","slug":"proverbs","usfm":"PRO","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the proverbs of Solomon.\nHe was the son of David and the king of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"They help you gain wisdom and discipline.\nThey help you understand wise words."},{"verse":3,"text":"They teach you to live wisely.\nThey teach you to do what is right, fair, and honest."},{"verse":4,"text":"They give good sense to simple people.\nThey give knowledge and careful thinking to the young."},{"verse":5,"text":"Let wise people listen and learn more.\nLet people who understand get good advice."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then they will understand proverbs and stories.\nThey will understand the sayings and riddles of the wise."},{"verse":7,"text":"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.\nBut fools hate wisdom and discipline."},{"verse":8,"text":"My son, listen to what your father teaches you.\nDo not turn away from what your mother teaches you."},{"verse":9,"text":"For their teaching is like a lovely wreath on your head.\nIt is like a necklace around your neck."},{"verse":10,"text":"My son, sinners may try to lead you astray.\nIf they do, don't give in to them."},{"verse":11,"text":"If they say, \"Come with us.\nLet's hide and wait to kill someone.\nLet's attack innocent people for no reason."},{"verse":12,"text":"Let's swallow them alive, like the grave does.\nLet's swallow them whole, like people going down into the Pit.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":13,"text":"We'll find all kinds of valuable things.\nWe'll fill our houses with what we steal."},{"verse":14,"text":"Join us and take your share.\nWe'll all have one money bag.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"My son, don't walk down the road with them.\nDon't even step onto their path."},{"verse":16,"text":"For their feet run to do evil.\nThey are quick to kill."},{"verse":17,"text":"It is useless to spread a net\nwhen any bird can see it!"},{"verse":18,"text":"But these men hide and wait to spill their own blood.\nThey set a trap for their own lives."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is what happens to all who are greedy.\nMoney gained the wrong way takes the lives of those who have it."},{"verse":20,"text":"Wisdom calls out in the street.\nShe raises her voice in the town square."},{"verse":21,"text":"She shouts on the busy main street.\nShe speaks at the city gates:"},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Simple people, how long will you love being simple?\nHow long will mockers enjoy making fun of others?\nHow long will fools hate knowledge?"},{"verse":23,"text":"If only you had turned back when I warned you!\nThen I would have poured out my spirit on you.\nI would have made my words known to you."},{"verse":24,"text":"Because you refused when I called,\nand no one took my hand when I reached out,"},{"verse":25,"text":"because you ignored all my advice\nand did not want any of my correction,"},{"verse":26,"text":"in turn I will laugh at your trouble.\nI will mock you when terror strikes you,"},{"verse":27,"text":"when terror comes at you like a storm,\nwhen ruin sweeps over you like a whirlwind,\nwhen pain and trouble overwhelm you."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then they will call to me, but I will not answer.\nThey will look hard for me, but they will not find me."},{"verse":29,"text":"This is because they hated knowledge.\nThey chose not to fear the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"They would not take any of my advice.\nThey hated all my warnings."},{"verse":31,"text":"So they will eat the fruit of their own way.\nThey will be filled up with their own plans."},{"verse":32,"text":"For simple people wander away, and it will kill them.\nFools feel too safe, and it will destroy them."},{"verse":33,"text":"But whoever listens to me will live in safety.\nThey will be safe and not afraid of harm.\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My son, if you accept my words\nand store up my commands inside you,"},{"verse":2,"text":"if you turn your ear toward wisdom\nand set your heart on understanding,"},{"verse":3,"text":"if you truly cry out for insight\nand raise your voice for understanding,"},{"verse":4,"text":"if you look for it like silver\nand search for it like hidden treasure,"},{"verse":5,"text":"Then you will understand the fear of the LORD.\nYou will find the knowledge of God."},{"verse":6,"text":"For the LORD gives wisdom.\nKnowledge and understanding come from his mouth."},{"verse":7,"text":"He stores up good wisdom for honest people.\nHe is a shield for those who live with integrity."},{"verse":8,"text":"He guards the paths of justice.\nHe protects the way of God's people."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair.\nYou will understand every good path."},{"verse":10,"text":"For wisdom will come into your heart.\nKnowledge will bring joy to your soul."},{"verse":11,"text":"Careful thinking will watch over you.\nUnderstanding will guard you."},{"verse":12,"text":"They will save you from the way of evil,\nfrom the man who says twisted things,"},{"verse":13,"text":"from those who leave the straight paths\nto walk in the ways of darkness,"},{"verse":14,"text":"from those who enjoy doing evil\nand are glad about twisted, evil things,"},{"verse":15,"text":"whose paths are crooked\nand whose ways are full of tricks."},{"verse":16,"text":"It will save you from the forbidden woman,\nfrom the stranger with tempting words."},{"verse":17,"text":"She has left the husband she married when she was young.\nShe has forgotten the covenant of her God."},{"verse":18,"text":"For her house sinks down to death.\nHer paths lead to the spirits of the dead."},{"verse":19,"text":"No one who goes to her comes back.\nThey never reach the paths of life."},{"verse":20,"text":"So you will walk in the ways of good people.\nYou will stay on the paths of those who do right."},{"verse":21,"text":"For honest people will live in the land.\nThose who are without blame will stay in it."},{"verse":22,"text":"But wicked people will be cut off from the land.\nUnfaithful people will be pulled up by the roots."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My son, don't forget my teaching.\nLet your heart keep my commands."},{"verse":2,"text":"For they will give you a long life.\nThey will add years and peace to your life."},{"verse":3,"text":"Never let faithful love and faithfulness leave you.\nTie them around your neck.\nWrite them on the tablet of your heart."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then you will win favor and a good name\nwith God and with people."},{"verse":5,"text":"Trust in the LORD with all your heart.\nDon't depend on your own understanding."},{"verse":6,"text":"In all your ways, remember him.\nAnd he will make your paths straight."},{"verse":7,"text":"Don't think you are wise.\nFear the LORD and turn away from evil."},{"verse":8,"text":"This will bring healing to your body.\nIt will make your bones strong and fresh."},{"verse":9,"text":"Honor the LORD with your wealth.\nHonor him with the firstfruits of all your crops."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then your barns will be filled to the top.\nYour vats will overflow with new wine."},{"verse":11,"text":"My son, don't reject the LORD's discipline.\nDon't hate it when he corrects you."},{"verse":12,"text":"For the LORD disciplines the one he loves.\nA father does the same for the son he delights in."},{"verse":13,"text":"Blessed is the person who finds wisdom.\nBlessed is the one who gains understanding."},{"verse":14,"text":"For wisdom is worth more than silver.\nWhat she gives is better than fine gold."},{"verse":15,"text":"She is worth more than rubies.\nNothing you want can compare with her."},{"verse":16,"text":"Long life is in her right hand.\nIn her left hand are riches and honor."},{"verse":17,"text":"All her ways are pleasant.\nAll her paths are peaceful."},{"verse":18,"text":"She is a tree of life to those who hug her close.\nThose who hold on to her are blessed."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD made the earth by wisdom.\nHe set the heavens in place by understanding."},{"verse":20,"text":"By his knowledge the deep waters burst open.\nBy it the clouds dripped with dew."},{"verse":21,"text":"My son, don't lose sight of this.\nHold on to good sense and wise thinking."},{"verse":22,"text":"They will be life for your soul.\nThey will be like jewels around your neck."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then you will walk safely on your way.\nYour foot will not trip."},{"verse":24,"text":"When you lie down, you won't be afraid.\nWhen you rest, your sleep will be sweet."},{"verse":25,"text":"Don't be afraid of sudden danger.\nDon't fear the ruin that comes on wicked people."},{"verse":26,"text":"For the LORD will be the one you trust.\nHe will keep your foot from being caught in a trap."},{"verse":27,"text":"Don't hold back good from those who should have it\nwhen you have the power to help."},{"verse":28,"text":"Don't tell your neighbor, \"Come back tomorrow, and I'll give it to you.\"\nDon't say this when you already have it."},{"verse":29,"text":"Don't plan to hurt your neighbor,\nfor he lives next to you and trusts you."},{"verse":30,"text":"Don't accuse someone for no reason\nwhen he has done you no harm."},{"verse":31,"text":"Don't be jealous of a violent man.\nDon't choose any of his ways."},{"verse":32,"text":"For the LORD hates people who are twisted.\nBut he is a close friend to honest people."},{"verse":33,"text":"The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked.\nBut he blesses the home of those who do right."},{"verse":34,"text":"He mocks those who mock.\nBut he gives grace to the humble."},{"verse":35,"text":"Wise people will receive honor.\nBut fools will be put to shame."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My sons, listen to what a father teaches.\nPay attention so you can gain understanding."},{"verse":2,"text":"For I am giving you good teaching.\nDon't turn away from what I tell you."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I was a boy in my father's house,\nyoung and my mother's only child,"},{"verse":4,"text":"he taught me and said,\n\"Hold on to my words with all your heart.\nKeep my commands, and you will live."},{"verse":5,"text":"Get wisdom. Get understanding.\nDon't forget my words or turn away from them."},{"verse":6,"text":"Don't leave wisdom, and she will keep you safe.\nLove her, and she will guard you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Wisdom is the most important thing. So get wisdom.\nWhatever else you get, get understanding."},{"verse":8,"text":"Value her highly, and she will lift you up.\nHold her close, and she will honor you."},{"verse":9,"text":"She will put a lovely wreath on your head.\nShe will give you a beautiful crown.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Listen, my son, and accept what I say.\nThen you will live for many years."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will guide you in the way of wisdom.\nI will lead you on straight paths."},{"verse":12,"text":"When you walk, nothing will block your steps.\nWhen you run, you won't trip."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hold on to what you've been taught. Don't let it go.\nGuard it, because it is your life."},{"verse":14,"text":"Don't step onto the path of wicked people.\nDon't walk the way of those who do evil."},{"verse":15,"text":"Stay away from it. Don't travel on it.\nTurn away from it and keep going."},{"verse":16,"text":"For they can't sleep until they do evil.\nThey can't rest until they make someone fall."},{"verse":17,"text":"They eat the bread of wickedness.\nThey drink the wine of violence."},{"verse":18,"text":"The path of those who do right is like the first light of dawn.\nIt shines brighter and brighter until it is full day."},{"verse":19,"text":"But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness.\nThey don't know what makes them trip."},{"verse":20,"text":"My son, pay attention to my words.\nTurn your ear to what I say."},{"verse":21,"text":"Don't lose sight of them.\nKeep them deep in your heart."},{"verse":22,"text":"For they are life to those who find them.\nThey are health to the whole body."},{"verse":23,"text":"Guard your heart with great care.\nFor springs of life flow from it."},{"verse":24,"text":"Get rid of lies from your mouth.\nKeep twisted words far from your lips."},{"verse":25,"text":"Let your eyes look forward.\nKeep your eyes fixed straight ahead."},{"verse":26,"text":"Make a level path for your feet.\nThen all your ways will be steady."},{"verse":27,"text":"Don't turn to the right or the left.\nKeep your feet away from evil."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My son, pay attention to my wisdom.\nTurn your ear to what I understand."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then you will keep on thinking carefully.\nYour lips will hold on to knowledge."},{"verse":3,"text":"The lips of the forbidden woman drip with honey.\nHer words are smoother than oil."},{"verse":4,"text":"But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood.\nShe is as sharp as a sword with two edges.","note":"Wormwood is a very bitter plant."},{"verse":5,"text":"Her feet go down to death.\nHer steps lead straight to the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":6,"text":"She doesn't think about the path of life.\nShe doesn't know that her ways wander and are not steady."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now, my sons, listen to me.\nDon't turn away from the words I speak."},{"verse":8,"text":"Keep your path far away from her.\nDon't go near the door of her house."},{"verse":9,"text":"If you do, you will give your strength to others.\nYou will give your years to someone cruel."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then strangers will enjoy your wealth.\nYour hard work will make a foreigner's house rich."},{"verse":11,"text":"At the end of your life you will groan.\nYour flesh and your body will be worn out."},{"verse":12,"text":"You will say, \"How I hated discipline!\nMy heart hated being corrected!"},{"verse":13,"text":"I did not listen to my teachers.\nI did not turn my ear to those who taught me."},{"verse":14,"text":"Now I am close to complete ruin.\nAnd it is in front of the whole community.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Drink water from your own well.\nDrink fresh water from your own spring.","note":"Literally, cistern. A cistern was a pit dug to hold water."},{"verse":16,"text":"Why should your springs spill out into the streets?\nWhy should your streams flow in the public squares?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Let them be yours alone.\nNever share them with strangers."},{"verse":18,"text":"May your fountain be blessed.\nBe glad in the wife you married when you were young."},{"verse":19,"text":"She is a loving deer, a graceful fawn.\nMay her breasts always satisfy you.\nMay you always be carried away by her love."},{"verse":20,"text":"My son, why be carried away by a woman who cheats on her husband?\nWhy hug the body of a stranger?"},{"verse":21,"text":"For the LORD sees everything a man does.\nThe LORD looks closely at all his paths."},{"verse":22,"text":"A wicked man's sins trap him.\nThe ropes of his sin tie him up."},{"verse":23,"text":"He will die because he would not accept discipline.\nHis own great foolishness will lead him astray."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My son, if you have promised to pay your neighbor's debt,\nif you have shaken hands to make a promise for a stranger,"},{"verse":2,"text":"if you have been trapped by what you said,\ncaught by the words of your mouth,"},{"verse":3,"text":"then do this, my son, to set yourself free,\nfor you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:\nGo and humble yourself.\nKeep begging your neighbor."},{"verse":4,"text":"Don't let your eyes sleep.\nDon't let your eyelids rest."},{"verse":5,"text":"Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand.\nFree yourself like a bird from the trap of the bird catcher."},{"verse":6,"text":"Go to the ant, you lazy person.\nWatch how it lives, and become wise."},{"verse":7,"text":"It has no commander.\nIt has no boss or ruler."},{"verse":8,"text":"Yet it stores up its food in summer.\nIt gathers its food at harvest time."},{"verse":9,"text":"How long will you lie there, you lazy person?\nWhen will you get up from your sleep?"},{"verse":10,"text":"A little sleep, a little nap,\na little folding of the hands to rest,"},{"verse":11,"text":"and being poor will come on you like a robber.\nNeed will come on you like a bandit."},{"verse":12,"text":"A worthless person, a wicked man,\ngoes around saying twisted things."},{"verse":13,"text":"He winks his eyes.\nHe signals with his feet.\nHe points with his fingers."},{"verse":14,"text":"His heart is full of lies, and he plans evil.\nHe is always causing fights."},{"verse":15,"text":"So disaster will come on him all at once.\nIn a moment he will be broken, and no one can fix it."},{"verse":16,"text":"There are six things the LORD hates.\nThere are seven things he finds disgusting:"},{"verse":17,"text":"eyes that are proud,\na tongue that lies,\nhands that kill innocent people,"},{"verse":18,"text":"a heart that makes wicked plans,\nfeet that run quickly to do evil,"},{"verse":19,"text":"a false witness who tells lies,\nand a person who stirs up fights among brothers."},{"verse":20,"text":"My son, keep your father's command.\nDon't turn away from your mother's teaching."},{"verse":21,"text":"Always hold them close to your heart.\nTie them around your neck."},{"verse":22,"text":"When you walk, they will guide you.\nWhen you lie down, they will watch over you.\nWhen you wake up, they will speak to you."},{"verse":23,"text":"For this command is a lamp.\nThis teaching is a light.\nThe warnings of discipline are the way to life."},{"verse":24,"text":"They will keep you from the evil woman.\nThey will keep you from the smooth talk of a woman who cheats on her husband."},{"verse":25,"text":"Don't let your heart want her beauty.\nDon't let her catch you with her eyes."},{"verse":26,"text":"For the price of a prostitute is being poor.\nA woman who cheats on her husband hunts for your very life."},{"verse":27,"text":"Can a man hold fire against his chest\nand not burn his clothes?"},{"verse":28,"text":"Can a man walk on hot coals\nwithout burning his feet?"},{"verse":29,"text":"It is the same for the man who sleeps with another man's wife.\nNo one who touches her will go unpunished."},{"verse":30,"text":"People don't hate a thief\nif he steals because he is hungry."},{"verse":31,"text":"But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times as much.\nHe must give up everything his house owns."},{"verse":32,"text":"A man who commits adultery has no sense.\nWhoever does it destroys himself."},{"verse":33,"text":"He will get wounds and shame.\nHis disgrace will never be wiped away."},{"verse":34,"text":"For jealousy makes a husband very angry.\nHe will show no mercy when he takes revenge."},{"verse":35,"text":"He will not accept any payment.\nHe will not be won over, even by many gifts."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My son, keep my words.\nStore up my commands inside you like treasure."},{"verse":2,"text":"Keep my commands, and you will live.\nGuard my teaching like the pupil of your eye.","note":"Literally, the apple of your eye."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tie them on your fingers.\nWrite them on the tablet of your heart."},{"verse":4,"text":"Say to wisdom, \"You are my sister.\"\nCall understanding your close relative."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will keep you away from the woman who cheats on her husband.\nThey will keep you from the stranger with tempting words."},{"verse":6,"text":"For I was at the window of my house.\nI looked out through the lattice."},{"verse":7,"text":"I saw some simple people.\nAmong the young men I noticed one who had no sense."},{"verse":8,"text":"He was crossing the street near her corner.\nHe was walking down the road toward her house."},{"verse":9,"text":"It was at twilight, as the day was ending.\nThe dark of night was coming."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then a woman came out to meet him.\nShe was dressed like a prostitute, and her heart was sly."},{"verse":11,"text":"She is loud and wild.\nHer feet never stay at home."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now she is in the street, now in the squares.\nShe waits at every corner."},{"verse":13,"text":"She grabs him and kisses him.\nWith a bold face she says to him,"},{"verse":14,"text":"\"I have made my peace offerings.\nToday I kept my vows."},{"verse":15,"text":"So I came out to meet you.\nI looked for you, and I found you!"},{"verse":16,"text":"I have spread covers on my bed.\nThey are colored linen from Egypt."},{"verse":17,"text":"I have made my bed smell sweet\nwith myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon."},{"verse":18,"text":"Come, let's enjoy love all night until morning.\nLet's delight in touching each other!"},{"verse":19,"text":"For my husband isn't home.\nHe has gone on a long trip."},{"verse":20,"text":"He took a bag of money with him.\nHe won't be back until the full moon.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"She talks him into it with her clever words.\nShe tempts him with her flattering lips."},{"verse":22,"text":"All at once he follows her.\nHe is like an ox going to be killed.\nHe is like a deer jumping into a trap,"},{"verse":23,"text":"until an arrow pierces his liver.\nHe is like a bird rushing into a trap.\nHe doesn't know it will cost him his life."},{"verse":24,"text":"Now, my sons, listen to me.\nPay attention to the words I speak."},{"verse":25,"text":"Don't let your heart turn toward her ways.\nDon't wander onto her paths."},{"verse":26,"text":"For she has brought many people down to death.\nThe number of those she has killed is large."},{"verse":27,"text":"Her house is the road to the grave.\nIt goes down to the rooms of death.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Doesn't wisdom call out?\nDoesn't understanding raise her voice?"},{"verse":2,"text":"She stands on the high places beside the road.\nShe stands where the paths meet."},{"verse":3,"text":"She stands beside the gates into the city.\nAt the entrances she cries out:"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I am calling out to you, people.\nI am crying out to all of you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Simple people, learn to be wise.\nFools, gain understanding."},{"verse":6,"text":"Listen, for I speak about great things.\nWhen I open my lips, I will tell what is right."},{"verse":7,"text":"For my mouth will speak the truth.\nMy lips hate what is wicked."},{"verse":8,"text":"All the words I speak are right.\nNone of them are crooked or twisted."},{"verse":9,"text":"They are all clear to anyone who understands.\nThey are right to those who find knowledge."},{"verse":10,"text":"Take my teaching instead of silver.\nTake knowledge instead of pure gold."},{"verse":11,"text":"For wisdom is worth more than rubies.\nNothing you want can compare with her."},{"verse":12,"text":"I, wisdom, live together with good sense.\nI find knowledge and careful thinking."},{"verse":13,"text":"To fear the LORD is to hate evil.\nI hate pride and arrogance.\nI hate evil ways and twisted speech."},{"verse":14,"text":"Good advice and wise thinking belong to me.\nI have understanding and strength."},{"verse":15,"text":"Because of me, kings rule.\nBecause of me, rulers make fair laws."},{"verse":16,"text":"Because of me, princes rule.\nSo do all the nobles who govern fairly."},{"verse":17,"text":"I love those who love me.\nThose who look for me early will find me."},{"verse":18,"text":"Riches and honor are with me.\nSo are lasting wealth and what is right."},{"verse":19,"text":"What I give is better than gold, even pure gold.\nWhat I produce is better than the finest silver."},{"verse":20,"text":"I walk in the way of what is right.\nI walk along the paths of justice."},{"verse":21,"text":"I give wealth to those who love me.\nI fill up their treasure rooms."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD made me as the first of his works.\nHe made me before his acts of long ago."},{"verse":23,"text":"I was set up from long, long ago.\nI was there from the beginning, before the earth began."},{"verse":24,"text":"I was born when there were no deep waters.\nThere were no springs full of water then."},{"verse":25,"text":"I was born before the mountains were set in place.\nI was born before the hills."},{"verse":26,"text":"It was before he made the land or the fields.\nIt was before he made any of the dust of the earth."},{"verse":27,"text":"I was there when he set the heavens in place.\nI was there when he drew a circle on the face of the deep."},{"verse":28,"text":"I was there when he set the clouds up above.\nI was there when the springs of the deep poured out."},{"verse":29,"text":"He set a limit for the sea,\nso the waters would not go past his command.\nHe marked out the foundations of the earth."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then I was the skilled worker at his side.\nI was his delight day after day.\nI was always full of joy before him."},{"verse":31,"text":"I was full of joy in his whole world.\nI delighted in the human race."},{"verse":32,"text":"So now, my sons, listen to me,\nfor blessed are those who keep my ways."},{"verse":33,"text":"Listen to my teaching and be wise.\nDon't ignore it."},{"verse":34,"text":"Blessed is the one who listens to me.\nHe watches at my doors every day.\nHe waits beside my doorway."},{"verse":35,"text":"For whoever finds me finds life.\nHe receives favor from the LORD."},{"verse":36,"text":"But whoever fails to find me hurts himself.\nAll who hate me love death.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Wisdom has built her house.\nShe has carved out its seven pillars."},{"verse":2,"text":"She has cooked her meat and mixed her wine.\nShe has also set her table."},{"verse":3,"text":"She has sent out her servant girls.\nShe calls out from the highest places in the city."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Let all who are simple come in here!\"\nShe says this to those who have no sense."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Come, eat my bread.\nDrink the wine I have mixed."},{"verse":6,"text":"Leave your foolish ways behind, and you will live.\nWalk in the way of understanding.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Whoever corrects a mocker brings shame on himself.\nWhoever warns a wicked man brings a stain on himself."},{"verse":8,"text":"Don't correct a mocker, or he will hate you.\nCorrect a wise man, and he will love you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Teach a wise man, and he will become even wiser.\nTeach a man who does right, and he will learn more."},{"verse":10,"text":"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.\nKnowing the Holy One is understanding."},{"verse":11,"text":"For through wisdom you will live many days.\nYears will be added to your life."},{"verse":12,"text":"If you are wise, it will help you.\nBut if you mock, you alone will suffer for it."},{"verse":13,"text":"The woman named Folly is loud.\nShe is foolish and knows nothing."},{"verse":14,"text":"She sits at the door of her house.\nShe sits on a seat in the highest places of the city."},{"verse":15,"text":"She calls out to those who pass by.\nThey are going straight along their way."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Let all who are simple come in here!\"\nShe says this to those who have no sense."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Stolen water is sweet!\nFood eaten in secret tastes good!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But they don't know that the dead are there.\nHer guests are deep in the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the proverbs of Solomon:\nA wise son brings joy to his father.\nBut a foolish son brings sadness to his mother."},{"verse":2,"text":"Treasures gained by doing wrong are worth nothing.\nBut doing what is right saves people from death."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD doesn't let those who do right go hungry.\nBut he keeps the wicked from getting what they crave."},{"verse":4,"text":"Lazy hands make a person poor.\nBut hard-working hands bring wealth."},{"verse":5,"text":"A son who gathers crops in summer is wise.\nA son who sleeps during harvest brings shame."},{"verse":6,"text":"Blessings rest on the head of those who do right.\nBut the mouth of the wicked hides violence."},{"verse":7,"text":"Remembering those who do right is a blessing.\nBut the name of the wicked will rot."},{"verse":8,"text":"A wise heart will accept commands.\nBut a fool who talks too much will be ruined."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever lives with integrity walks safely.\nBut whoever takes crooked paths will be found out."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever winks to trick others causes sorrow.\nAnd a fool who talks too much will be ruined."},{"verse":11,"text":"The mouth of those who do right is a fountain of life.\nBut the mouth of the wicked hides violence."},{"verse":12,"text":"Hatred stirs up fights.\nBut love covers over all wrongs."},{"verse":13,"text":"Wisdom is found on the lips of those who understand.\nBut a rod is for the back of the one who has no sense."},{"verse":14,"text":"Wise people store up knowledge.\nBut the mouth of a fool invites ruin."},{"verse":15,"text":"A rich man's wealth is like a strong city to him.\nBut being poor is the ruin of the poor."},{"verse":16,"text":"The work of those who do right leads to life.\nBut what the wicked earn brings punishment."},{"verse":17,"text":"Whoever listens to teaching is on the path to life.\nBut whoever ignores correction goes the wrong way."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever hides hatred has lying lips.\nWhoever spreads false stories about others is a fool."},{"verse":19,"text":"When there are many words, sin can't be avoided.\nBut whoever controls his lips is wise."},{"verse":20,"text":"The tongue of those who do right is like the best silver.\nBut the heart of the wicked is worth little."},{"verse":21,"text":"The lips of those who do right feed many people.\nBut fools die because they have no sense."},{"verse":22,"text":"The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich.\nAnd he adds no sorrow to it."},{"verse":23,"text":"A fool enjoys doing shameful things.\nBut a person with understanding has wisdom."},{"verse":24,"text":"What the wicked man fears will come upon him.\nBut those who do right will get what they want."},{"verse":25,"text":"When the storm sweeps past, the wicked are gone.\nBut those who do right stand firm forever."},{"verse":26,"text":"A lazy person is like vinegar to the teeth\nand smoke to the eyes\nfor those who send him."},{"verse":27,"text":"The fear of the LORD adds to your life.\nBut the years of the wicked will be cut short."},{"verse":28,"text":"The hope of those who do right brings joy.\nBut what the wicked hope for will die."},{"verse":29,"text":"The way of the LORD is a safe place for honest people.\nBut ruin waits for those who do evil."},{"verse":30,"text":"Those who do right will never be shaken.\nBut the wicked will not live in the land."},{"verse":31,"text":"The mouth of those who do right brings out wisdom.\nBut a twisted tongue will be cut out."},{"verse":32,"text":"The lips of those who do right know what is fitting to say.\nBut the mouth of the wicked says twisted things."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD hates scales that cheat.\nBut honest weights please him."},{"verse":2,"text":"When pride comes, shame follows.\nBut wisdom comes with being humble."},{"verse":3,"text":"Honest people are guided by their integrity.\nBut unfaithful people are destroyed by their crooked ways."},{"verse":4,"text":"Riches are worth nothing on the day of wrath.\nBut doing what is right saves people from death."},{"verse":5,"text":"The goodness of the blameless makes their path straight.\nBut the wicked fall because of their own evil."},{"verse":6,"text":"Doing what is right rescues honest people.\nBut unfaithful people are trapped by their own desires."},{"verse":7,"text":"When a wicked man dies, his hope dies too.\nAll he hoped for from his strength is gone."},{"verse":8,"text":"A man who does right is saved from trouble.\nThe wicked man falls into it in his place."},{"verse":9,"text":"A godless man ruins his neighbor with his words.\nBut those who do right are rescued by knowledge."},{"verse":10,"text":"When those who do right do well, the city is glad.\nWhen the wicked die, people shout for joy."},{"verse":11,"text":"A city is built up by the blessing of honest people.\nBut it is torn down by the words of the wicked."},{"verse":12,"text":"Whoever looks down on his neighbor has no sense.\nBut a person with understanding keeps quiet."},{"verse":13,"text":"A gossip tells secrets.\nBut a person you can trust keeps a secret."},{"verse":14,"text":"A nation falls when it has no guidance.\nBut with many advisers it is kept safe."},{"verse":15,"text":"Whoever promises to pay a stranger's debt will surely suffer.\nBut whoever refuses to make such promises is safe."},{"verse":16,"text":"A kind woman gains honor.\nBut cruel men gain only wealth."},{"verse":17,"text":"A kind man does good for himself.\nBut a cruel man brings trouble on himself."},{"verse":18,"text":"A wicked man earns pay that is empty.\nBut whoever plants what is right gets a true reward."},{"verse":19,"text":"Truly doing what is right leads to life.\nBut chasing after evil brings death."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD hates people with twisted hearts.\nBut people who live blameless lives please him."},{"verse":21,"text":"You can be sure the wicked will be punished.\nBut the children of those who do right will escape."},{"verse":22,"text":"A beautiful woman who has no good sense\nis like a gold ring in a pig's nose."},{"verse":23,"text":"What people who do right desire leads only to good.\nBut what the wicked hope for brings wrath."},{"verse":24,"text":"One person gives freely, yet gets even more.\nAnother holds back what he should give, and he only becomes poor."},{"verse":25,"text":"A generous person will do well.\nWhoever refreshes others will be refreshed too."},{"verse":26,"text":"People curse the one who stores up grain and won't sell it.\nBut they bless the one who sells it."},{"verse":27,"text":"Whoever looks for what is good finds favor.\nBut evil will come to the one who looks for it."},{"verse":28,"text":"Whoever trusts in his riches will fall.\nBut those who do right will grow like green leaves."},{"verse":29,"text":"Whoever brings trouble on his family will get only wind.\nThe fool will be a servant to the wise."},{"verse":30,"text":"The fruit of those who do right is a tree of life.\nAnd whoever wins souls is wise."},{"verse":31,"text":"If those who do right get what they have earned on earth,\nhow much more the godless and the sinner!"}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge.\nBut whoever hates correction is stupid."},{"verse":2,"text":"A good man receives favor from the LORD.\nBut the LORD condemns a man who plans evil."},{"verse":3,"text":"No one can stand firm by doing evil.\nBut the roots of those who do right can't be pulled up."},{"verse":4,"text":"A wife of noble character is like a crown for her husband.\nBut a wife who brings shame is like rot in his bones."},{"verse":5,"text":"The plans of those who do right are fair.\nBut the advice of the wicked leads to lies."},{"verse":6,"text":"The words of the wicked hide and wait to kill.\nBut the words of honest people rescue them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The wicked are thrown down and are gone.\nBut the house of those who do right will stand."},{"verse":8,"text":"A man is praised for how wise he is.\nBut people look down on a twisted mind."},{"verse":9,"text":"It is better to be thought little of and have a servant\nthan to act important but have no food."},{"verse":10,"text":"A man who does right cares about the life of his animal.\nBut even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."},{"verse":11,"text":"Whoever works his land will have plenty of food.\nBut whoever chases empty dreams has no sense."},{"verse":12,"text":"The wicked want what evil men have stolen.\nBut the root of those who do right grows strong."},{"verse":13,"text":"An evil man is trapped by his sinful words.\nBut a man who does right escapes from trouble."},{"verse":14,"text":"A man is filled with good things from the good words he speaks.\nAnd the work of his hands comes back to him."},{"verse":15,"text":"A fool thinks his own way is right.\nBut a wise man listens to advice."},{"verse":16,"text":"A fool shows his anger right away.\nBut a wise man ignores an insult."},{"verse":17,"text":"Whoever tells the truth says what is right.\nBut a false witness tells lies."},{"verse":18,"text":"Careless words cut like a sword.\nBut the tongue of the wise brings healing."},{"verse":19,"text":"Truthful lips last forever.\nBut a lying tongue lasts only a moment."},{"verse":20,"text":"Lies fill the hearts of those who plan evil.\nBut those who give advice for peace have joy."},{"verse":21,"text":"No harm comes to those who do right.\nBut the wicked are full of trouble."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD hates lying lips.\nBut people who are faithful please him."},{"verse":23,"text":"A wise man keeps what he knows to himself.\nBut a foolish heart shouts out its foolishness."},{"verse":24,"text":"Hard-working hands will rule.\nBut being lazy ends in forced labor."},{"verse":25,"text":"Worry weighs down a person's heart.\nBut a kind word cheers it up."},{"verse":26,"text":"A man who does right is careful in choosing friends.\nBut the ways of the wicked lead them astray."},{"verse":27,"text":"A lazy man doesn't even cook the animal he hunted.\nBut a hard-working man values what he has."},{"verse":28,"text":"There is life on the path of doing right.\nBut another path leads to death."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A wise son listens when his father disciplines him.\nBut a mocker won't listen when he is corrected."},{"verse":2,"text":"A man enjoys good things from the fruit of his lips.\nBut unfaithful people hunger for violence."},{"verse":3,"text":"Whoever guards his mouth protects his life.\nWhoever opens his lips too wide brings ruin on himself."},{"verse":4,"text":"A lazy person wants things but gets nothing.\nBut hard-working people get all they need."},{"verse":5,"text":"Those who do right hate lies.\nBut the wicked bring shame and disgrace."},{"verse":6,"text":"Doing what is right guards a person of integrity.\nBut evil brings down the sinner."},{"verse":7,"text":"One person acts rich but has nothing.\nAnother acts poor but has great wealth."},{"verse":8,"text":"A rich man may have to use his riches to pay for his life.\nBut a poor man never hears a threat."},{"verse":9,"text":"The light of those who do right shines brightly.\nBut the lamp of the wicked will be put out."},{"verse":10,"text":"Pride only leads to fighting.\nBut wisdom is with those who take advice."},{"verse":11,"text":"Money gained by cheating will shrink away.\nBut money earned by hard work will grow."},{"verse":12,"text":"Hope that is put off makes the heart sick.\nBut a wish that comes true is a tree of life."},{"verse":13,"text":"Whoever looks down on teaching will pay for it.\nBut whoever respects a command will be rewarded."},{"verse":14,"text":"The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life.\nIt turns a person away from the traps of death."},{"verse":15,"text":"Good understanding wins favor.\nBut the way of unfaithful people is hard."},{"verse":16,"text":"Every wise person acts with knowledge.\nBut a fool shows off how foolish he is."},{"verse":17,"text":"A wicked messenger falls into trouble.\nBut a faithful messenger brings healing."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever ignores discipline will be poor and ashamed.\nBut whoever listens to correction will be honored."},{"verse":19,"text":"A wish that comes true is sweet to the soul.\nBut fools hate to turn away from evil."},{"verse":20,"text":"Whoever walks with wise people will become wise.\nBut a friend of fools will be harmed."},{"verse":21,"text":"Trouble chases sinners.\nBut good things are the reward of those who do right."},{"verse":22,"text":"A good man leaves something for his grandchildren.\nBut a sinner's wealth is saved up for those who do right."},{"verse":23,"text":"A poor person's unplowed field may grow plenty of food.\nBut without justice it is swept away."},{"verse":24,"text":"Whoever won't use the rod hates his son.\nBut whoever loves him is careful to discipline him."},{"verse":25,"text":"A man who does right eats until he is full.\nBut the stomach of the wicked stays empty."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Every wise woman builds up her house.\nBut a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands."},{"verse":2,"text":"Whoever lives an honest life fears the LORD.\nBut whoever is crooked in his ways looks down on him."},{"verse":3,"text":"A fool's proud words bring a rod down on his back.\nBut the lips of the wise keep them safe."},{"verse":4,"text":"Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty.\nBut a big harvest comes from the strength of an ox."},{"verse":5,"text":"An honest witness doesn't lie.\nBut a false witness pours out lies."},{"verse":6,"text":"A mocker looks for wisdom but doesn't find any.\nBut knowledge comes easily to a person who understands."},{"verse":7,"text":"Stay away from a foolish man.\nYou won't learn anything from what he says."},{"verse":8,"text":"A wise person is wise because he thinks about his way.\nBut fools are tricked by their own foolishness."},{"verse":9,"text":"Fools laugh at making things right.\nBut good will is found among honest people."},{"verse":10,"text":"Each heart knows its own pain.\nAnd no stranger can share in its joy."},{"verse":11,"text":"The house of the wicked will be destroyed.\nBut the tent of honest people will do well."},{"verse":12,"text":"There is a way that seems right to a person.\nBut in the end it leads to death."},{"verse":13,"text":"Even when you laugh, your heart may hurt.\nAnd joy may end in sadness."},{"verse":14,"text":"A person whose heart turns away will get what his ways deserve.\nBut a good person will be rewarded for his ways."},{"verse":15,"text":"A simple person believes everything he hears.\nBut a wise person thinks about each step."},{"verse":16,"text":"A wise man is careful and turns away from evil.\nBut a fool is careless and rushes ahead."},{"verse":17,"text":"A man who gets angry quickly does foolish things.\nAnd people hate a man who makes sneaky plans."},{"verse":18,"text":"Simple people end up with foolishness.\nBut wise people are crowned with knowledge."},{"verse":19,"text":"Evil people will bow down before good people.\nThe wicked will bow at the gates of those who do right."},{"verse":20,"text":"A poor man is hated even by his neighbor.\nBut many people love the rich."},{"verse":21,"text":"Whoever looks down on his neighbor sins.\nBut blessed is the one who is kind to the poor."},{"verse":22,"text":"Don't those who plan evil go the wrong way?\nBut those who plan good will find faithful love and faithfulness."},{"verse":23,"text":"All hard work brings a profit.\nBut just talking only leads to being poor."},{"verse":24,"text":"The wealth of the wise is like a crown to them.\nBut what fools do brings only foolishness."},{"verse":25,"text":"A truthful witness saves lives.\nBut a person who tells lies is a cheat."},{"verse":26,"text":"Whoever fears the LORD has a strong, safe trust.\nAnd his children will have a place of safety."},{"verse":27,"text":"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life.\nIt turns a person away from the traps of death."},{"verse":28,"text":"Many people in a land are a king's glory.\nBut a prince with few people is ruined."},{"verse":29,"text":"A patient man has great understanding.\nBut a man who gets angry quickly shows how foolish he is."},{"verse":30,"text":"A peaceful heart gives life to the body.\nBut jealousy rots the bones."},{"verse":31,"text":"Whoever is cruel to the poor insults the one who made them.\nBut whoever is kind to the needy honors God."},{"verse":32,"text":"A wicked man is thrown down by his own sin.\nBut a man who does right has a safe place even in death."},{"verse":33,"text":"Wisdom rests in the heart of a person who understands.\nEven among fools she is known."},{"verse":34,"text":"Doing what is right lifts up a nation.\nBut sin brings shame to any people."},{"verse":35,"text":"A king is pleased with a wise servant.\nBut his anger falls on the one who brings shame."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A gentle answer turns away anger.\nBut harsh words stir up anger."},{"verse":2,"text":"The tongue of the wise makes knowledge look good.\nBut the mouth of a fool pours out foolishness."},{"verse":3,"text":"The eyes of the LORD are everywhere.\nThey watch both the evil and the good."},{"verse":4,"text":"A gentle tongue is a tree of life.\nBut a twisted tongue crushes the spirit."},{"verse":5,"text":"A fool won't accept his father's discipline.\nBut whoever listens to correction is wise."},{"verse":6,"text":"There is great treasure in the house of those who do right.\nBut what the wicked earn brings trouble."},{"verse":7,"text":"The lips of the wise spread knowledge.\nBut the hearts of fools do not."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD hates the sacrifice of the wicked.\nBut the prayer of honest people pleases him."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD hates the way of the wicked.\nBut he loves those who chase after what is right."},{"verse":10,"text":"Harsh discipline waits for the one who leaves the path.\nWhoever hates correction will die."},{"verse":11,"text":"The grave and Destruction lie open before the LORD.\nHow much more the hearts of people!","note":"Hebrew: Sheol and Abaddon"},{"verse":12,"text":"A mocker doesn't like to be corrected.\nHe won't go to the wise for advice."},{"verse":13,"text":"A happy heart makes the face cheerful.\nBut a sad heart crushes the spirit."},{"verse":14,"text":"A heart that understands looks for knowledge.\nBut the mouth of a fool feeds on foolishness."},{"verse":15,"text":"Every day is hard for those who are mistreated.\nBut a cheerful heart has a feast that never ends."},{"verse":16,"text":"A little with the fear of the LORD is better\nthan great treasure with trouble."},{"verse":17,"text":"A plate of vegetables where there is love is better\nthan a fattened ox where there is hatred."},{"verse":18,"text":"A hot-tempered man stirs up fights.\nBut a man who is slow to anger calms an argument."},{"verse":19,"text":"The way of a lazy person is like a hedge of thorns.\nBut the path of honest people is a smooth road."},{"verse":20,"text":"A wise son brings joy to his father.\nBut a foolish man looks down on his mother."},{"verse":21,"text":"Foolishness is fun for a person who has no sense.\nBut a person with understanding walks a straight path."},{"verse":22,"text":"Plans fail without good advice.\nBut with many advisers, they succeed."},{"verse":23,"text":"A person is happy when he gives a fitting answer.\nAnd a word at the right time is so good!"},{"verse":24,"text":"The path of life leads upward for the wise.\nIt keeps him from going down to the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD tears down the house of the proud.\nBut he protects the property lines of the widow."},{"verse":26,"text":"The LORD hates the thoughts of the wicked.\nBut the words of the pure please him."},{"verse":27,"text":"Whoever is greedy for dishonest gain brings trouble on his family.\nBut whoever hates bribes will live."},{"verse":28,"text":"The heart of a person who does right thinks before answering.\nBut the mouth of the wicked spills out evil."},{"verse":29,"text":"The LORD is far from the wicked.\nBut he hears the prayer of those who do right."},{"verse":30,"text":"Bright eyes make the heart glad.\nGood news makes the bones healthy."},{"verse":31,"text":"Whoever listens to correction that gives life\nwill live among the wise."},{"verse":32,"text":"Whoever ignores discipline hates himself.\nBut whoever listens to correction gains understanding."},{"verse":33,"text":"The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom.\nAnd being humble comes before honor."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A person makes plans in his heart.\nBut the answer that comes from the tongue is from the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"All of a man's ways seem pure to him.\nBut the LORD weighs his reasons."},{"verse":3,"text":"Give your work to the LORD,\nand your plans will succeed."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD has made everything for his purpose.\nHe has even made the wicked for the day of disaster."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD hates everyone who is proud in heart.\nYou can be sure they will not escape punishment."},{"verse":6,"text":"Sin is paid for by faithful love and faithfulness.\nBy the fear of the LORD, a person turns away from evil."},{"verse":7,"text":"When a man's ways please the LORD,\nhe makes even that man's enemies live at peace with him."},{"verse":8,"text":"It is better to have a little and do what is right\nthan to gain a lot by being unfair."},{"verse":9,"text":"A man plans his path in his heart.\nBut the LORD decides his steps."},{"verse":10,"text":"A ruling from God is on the lips of a king.\nHis mouth must not turn against justice."},{"verse":11,"text":"Honest scales and balances come from the LORD.\nAll the weights in the bag are his concern."},{"verse":12,"text":"Kings should hate doing wicked things,\nbecause a throne is made strong by doing what is right."},{"verse":13,"text":"Kings are pleased by lips that speak what is right.\nThey love the one who speaks honestly."},{"verse":14,"text":"A king's anger is a messenger of death.\nBut a wise man will calm it down."},{"verse":15,"text":"When a king's face lights up, there is life.\nHis favor is like a rain cloud in spring."},{"verse":16,"text":"It is so much better to get wisdom than gold!\nTo gain understanding is better than silver."},{"verse":17,"text":"The road of good people leads away from evil.\nWhoever guards his path keeps his life safe."},{"verse":18,"text":"Pride goes before destruction.\nA proud spirit comes before a fall."},{"verse":19,"text":"It is better to be humble in spirit among humble people\nthan to share stolen goods with the proud."},{"verse":20,"text":"Whoever listens to teaching will do well.\nBlessed is the one who trusts in the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"People with wise hearts are known for good sense.\nKind words help others learn."},{"verse":22,"text":"Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it.\nBut fools are punished by their own foolishness."},{"verse":23,"text":"A wise man's heart teaches his mouth what to say.\nIt makes his words more convincing."},{"verse":24,"text":"Kind words are like honey from the comb.\nThey are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."},{"verse":25,"text":"There is a way that seems right to a man.\nBut in the end it leads to death."},{"verse":26,"text":"A worker's hunger makes him work hard.\nHis empty stomach pushes him on."},{"verse":27,"text":"A worthless man digs up trouble.\nHis words are like a burning fire."},{"verse":28,"text":"A twisted man stirs up fights.\nA gossip splits up close friends."},{"verse":29,"text":"A violent man tempts his neighbor.\nHe leads him down a path that is not good."},{"verse":30,"text":"The one who winks his eye is planning something twisted.\nThe one who presses his lips together is set on evil."},{"verse":31,"text":"Gray hair is a crown of glory.\nIt is gained by living the right way."},{"verse":32,"text":"It is better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior.\nIt is greater to control your temper than to capture a city."},{"verse":33,"text":"The lot is thrown into the lap.\nBut every answer it gives is from the LORD."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A dry crust of bread eaten in peace\nis better than a house full of feasts with fighting."},{"verse":2,"text":"A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame.\nHe will share the inheritance like one of the brothers."},{"verse":3,"text":"A melting pot is for silver, and a furnace is for gold.\nBut the LORD is the one who tests hearts."},{"verse":4,"text":"A wicked man listens to evil lips.\nA liar pays attention to a harmful tongue."},{"verse":5,"text":"Whoever makes fun of the poor insults the God who made them.\nWhoever is glad when trouble comes will not escape punishment."},{"verse":6,"text":"Grandchildren are a crown to old people.\nAnd a son's glory is his father."},{"verse":7,"text":"Fine words don't fit a fool.\nLying lips fit a ruler even less!"},{"verse":8,"text":"A bribe is like a magic charm to the one who gives it.\nWherever he turns, he succeeds."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever covers over a wrong builds love.\nBut whoever keeps bringing it up splits up friends."},{"verse":10,"text":"One warning cuts deeper into a wise man\nthan a hundred whippings cut into a fool."},{"verse":11,"text":"An evil man looks only to rebel.\nA cruel messenger will be sent against him."},{"verse":12,"text":"It is better to meet a bear whose cubs were taken\nthan to meet a fool acting foolish."},{"verse":13,"text":"If anyone pays back evil for good,\nevil will never leave his house."},{"verse":14,"text":"Starting a fight is like letting out a flood.\nSo drop the argument before it breaks out."},{"verse":15,"text":"Letting the guilty go free and punishing those who do right\nare both things the LORD hates."},{"verse":16,"text":"Why should a fool have money in his hand\nwhen he has no plan to buy wisdom?"},{"verse":17,"text":"A friend loves at all times.\nA brother is born to help in hard times."},{"verse":18,"text":"A man with poor judgment shakes hands to make a promise.\nHe agrees to pay his neighbor's debt."},{"verse":19,"text":"Whoever loves sin loves fighting.\nWhoever builds his gate high is asking to be ruined."},{"verse":20,"text":"The one with a twisted heart finds nothing good.\nThe one with a lying tongue falls into trouble."},{"verse":21,"text":"A man who has a foolish son has sorrow.\nThe father of a fool has no joy."},{"verse":22,"text":"A joyful heart is good medicine.\nBut a crushed spirit dries up the bones."},{"verse":23,"text":"A wicked man takes a secret bribe\nto twist the path of justice."},{"verse":24,"text":"A wise person keeps his eyes on wisdom.\nBut a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth."},{"verse":25,"text":"A foolish son brings sorrow to his father.\nHe brings bitter pain to the mother who gave birth to him."},{"verse":26,"text":"It is surely not good to punish someone who is innocent.\nIt is not good to whip a leader for being honest."},{"verse":27,"text":"A man with knowledge holds back his words.\nA man with understanding stays calm."},{"verse":28,"text":"Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps quiet.\nHe seems smart when he holds his tongue."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A man who keeps to himself chases his own selfish wants.\nHe fights against all good sense."},{"verse":2,"text":"A fool does not enjoy understanding.\nHe only enjoys telling his own opinions."},{"verse":3,"text":"When a wicked man comes, scorn comes too.\nAnd with shame comes disgrace."},{"verse":4,"text":"The words of a man's mouth are deep waters.\nThe fountain of wisdom is a bubbling stream."},{"verse":5,"text":"It is not good to take the side of the wicked.\nIt is not good to keep justice from the innocent."},{"verse":6,"text":"A fool's lips get him into fights.\nHis mouth asks for a beating."},{"verse":7,"text":"A fool's mouth ruins him.\nHis lips are a trap for his own soul."},{"verse":8,"text":"The words of a gossip are like tasty bites of food.\nThey go down deep inside a person."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever is lazy in his work\nis a brother to the one who destroys."},{"verse":10,"text":"The name of the LORD is a strong tower.\nThose who do right run to it and are safe."},{"verse":11,"text":"A rich man's wealth is his walled city.\nIn his mind, it is like a high wall."},{"verse":12,"text":"Before a man falls, his heart is proud.\nBut humility comes before honor."},{"verse":13,"text":"Whoever answers before he listens\nis foolish and brings shame on himself."},{"verse":14,"text":"A man's spirit can carry him through sickness.\nBut who can live with a crushed spirit?"},{"verse":15,"text":"The heart of a wise person gains knowledge.\nThe ear of the wise looks for it."},{"verse":16,"text":"A man's gift opens doors for him.\nIt brings him in front of great people."},{"verse":17,"text":"The first one to tell his side seems right,\nuntil another person comes and asks him hard questions."},{"verse":18,"text":"Casting lots ends fights.\nIt settles things between strong enemies."},{"verse":19,"text":"A brother who has been hurt is harder to win back than a walled city.\nFights are like the locked bars of a fortress."},{"verse":20,"text":"A man's stomach is filled by the fruit of his mouth.\nHe is satisfied by the harvest of his lips."},{"verse":21,"text":"The tongue has the power of life and death.\nThose who love to talk will eat what it produces."},{"verse":22,"text":"He who finds a wife finds a good thing.\nHe receives favor from the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"The poor man begs for mercy.\nBut the rich man answers in a harsh way."},{"verse":24,"text":"A man with many friends may be ruined.\nBut there is a friend who stays closer than a brother."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It is better to be poor and honest\nthan to be a fool whose lips are twisted."},{"verse":2,"text":"Even eagerness is no good without knowledge.\nWhoever rushes ahead misses the mark."},{"verse":3,"text":"A man's own foolishness ruins his life.\nYet his heart is angry at the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Wealth brings many friends.\nBut a poor man is left alone by his friend."},{"verse":5,"text":"A false witness will not escape punishment.\nWhoever tells lies will not get away."},{"verse":6,"text":"Many people try to win the favor of a ruler.\nEveryone is a friend to the one who gives gifts."},{"verse":7,"text":"All the brothers of a poor man hate him.\nHis friends stay away from him even more!\nHe may run after them and beg,\nbut they are nowhere to be found."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whoever gets wisdom loves himself.\nWhoever holds on to understanding will do well."},{"verse":9,"text":"A false witness will not escape punishment.\nWhoever pours out lies will die."},{"verse":10,"text":"It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury.\nIt is even worse for a slave to rule over princes!"},{"verse":11,"text":"A man's good sense makes him patient.\nIt is to his credit to overlook a wrong."},{"verse":12,"text":"A king's anger is like a lion's roar.\nBut his favor is like dew on the grass."},{"verse":13,"text":"A foolish son ruins his father.\nA wife who quarrels is like a leak that keeps dripping."},{"verse":14,"text":"Houses and wealth are passed down from fathers.\nBut a wise wife is from the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"Laziness brings on deep sleep.\nA lazy person will go hungry."},{"verse":16,"text":"Whoever keeps a command keeps his life safe.\nBut whoever is careless in how he lives will die."},{"verse":17,"text":"Being kind to the poor is like lending to the LORD.\nHe will pay back the one who gives."},{"verse":18,"text":"Correct your son, because there is hope.\nDo not be the cause of his death."},{"verse":19,"text":"A man with a bad temper must pay the price.\nIf you rescue him, you will have to do it again."},{"verse":20,"text":"Listen to advice and accept correction.\nThen you will be wise for the rest of your life."},{"verse":21,"text":"A man has many plans in his heart.\nBut the LORD's purpose will win out."},{"verse":22,"text":"What a man longs for is faithful love.\nIt is better to be poor than to be a liar."},{"verse":23,"text":"The fear of the LORD leads to life.\nThen a person can rest happy, and harm will not come to him."},{"verse":24,"text":"The lazy man sticks his hand in the dish.\nHe won't even lift it back to his mouth."},{"verse":25,"text":"Hit a mocker, and simple people will learn to be careful.\nCorrect a wise man, and he will gain knowledge."},{"verse":26,"text":"A son who attacks his father or throws out his mother\nbrings shame and disgrace."},{"verse":27,"text":"My son, if you stop listening to teaching,\nyou will wander away from the words of knowledge."},{"verse":28,"text":"A crooked witness makes fun of justice.\nA wicked mouth gulps down sin."},{"verse":29,"text":"Punishments are ready for mockers.\nBeatings are ready for the backs of fools."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Wine is a mocker, and strong drink is a fighter.\nWhoever is led astray by them is not wise."},{"verse":2,"text":"The terror of a king is like a lion's roar.\nWhoever makes him angry puts his own life at risk."},{"verse":3,"text":"It is a man's honor to settle an argument.\nBut any fool will start a fight."},{"verse":4,"text":"The lazy man does not plow at the right time.\nAt harvest he looks for a crop, but nothing is there."},{"verse":5,"text":"The plans in a man's heart are like deep waters.\nBut a man with understanding draws them out."},{"verse":6,"text":"Many men say they have faithful love.\nBut who can find a man you can trust?"},{"verse":7,"text":"The man who does right lives an honest life.\nHis children after him are blessed."},{"verse":8,"text":"A king sits on his throne to judge.\nWith his eyes he sifts out all evil."},{"verse":9,"text":"Who can say, \"I have kept my heart pure.\nI am clean from my sin\"?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Weights that are not the same and measures that are not equal\nare both things the LORD hates."},{"verse":11,"text":"Even a young man is known by what he does.\nHis actions show if he is pure and good."},{"verse":12,"text":"Ears that hear and eyes that see\nare both made by the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"Do not love sleep, or you will become poor.\nKeep your eyes open, and you will have plenty of food."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"This is no good, no good!\" says the buyer.\nBut when he walks away, he brags about his deal."},{"verse":15,"text":"There is plenty of gold and rubies.\nBut lips that speak knowledge are a rare treasure."},{"verse":16,"text":"Take the coat of the one who promises to pay a stranger's debt.\nHold it as a pledge if he does it for a foreigner."},{"verse":17,"text":"Food gained by cheating tastes sweet to a man.\nBut later his mouth is full of gravel."},{"verse":18,"text":"Make your plans by asking for advice.\nGo to war with good guidance."},{"verse":19,"text":"Whoever tells secrets is always gossiping.\nStay away from someone who talks too much."},{"verse":20,"text":"If someone curses his father or mother,\nhis lamp will go out in the deepest darkness."},{"verse":21,"text":"An inheritance gained too quickly at the start\nwill not be blessed in the end."},{"verse":22,"text":"Do not say, \"I will pay back this evil!\"\nWait for the LORD, and he will save you."},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD hates weights that are not equal.\nDishonest scales are not good."},{"verse":24,"text":"A man's steps are led by the LORD.\nSo how can anyone understand his own way?"},{"verse":25,"text":"It is a trap for a man to promise something to God too fast.\nThen later he has second thoughts about his vows."},{"verse":26,"text":"A wise king sorts out the wicked.\nHe drives the threshing wheel over them."},{"verse":27,"text":"A man's spirit is the lamp of the LORD.\nIt searches deep inside him."},{"verse":28,"text":"Faithful love and faithfulness keep a king safe.\nBy them he keeps his throne strong."},{"verse":29,"text":"The glory of young men is their strength.\nGray hair is the beauty of the old."},{"verse":30,"text":"Blows and wounds scrub away evil.\nBeatings clean a person deep inside."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The king's heart is like a stream of water in the LORD's hand.\nHe turns it wherever he wants."},{"verse":2,"text":"All a man's ways seem right to him.\nBut the LORD weighs the heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"Doing what is right and fair\npleases the LORD more than sacrifice."},{"verse":4,"text":"Proud eyes and a proud heart guide the wicked.\nThey are sin."},{"verse":5,"text":"The plans of hard workers lead to plenty.\nBut rushing surely leads to being poor."},{"verse":6,"text":"Getting rich by a lying tongue\nis like a mist that fades away. It is a chase that leads to death."},{"verse":7,"text":"The violence of the wicked will sweep them away.\nThis is because they refuse to do what is fair."},{"verse":8,"text":"The path of a guilty man is crooked.\nBut an innocent person does what is right."},{"verse":9,"text":"It is better to live on a corner of the roof\nthan to share a house with a wife who quarrels."},{"verse":10,"text":"A wicked man's soul longs for evil.\nHe shows no kindness to his neighbor."},{"verse":11,"text":"When a mocker is punished, simple people become wise.\nWhen a wise man is taught, he gains knowledge."},{"verse":12,"text":"The Righteous One watches the house of the wicked.\nHe brings the wicked to ruin."},{"verse":13,"text":"Whoever closes his ears to the cry of the poor\nwill also cry out and get no answer."},{"verse":14,"text":"A secret gift calms anger.\nA hidden bribe calms great rage."},{"verse":15,"text":"When justice is done, those who do right are glad.\nBut those who do evil are filled with terror."},{"verse":16,"text":"The man who wanders from the path of understanding\nwill rest in the gathering of the dead."},{"verse":17,"text":"Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.\nWhoever loves wine and oil will never be rich."},{"verse":18,"text":"The wicked become a ransom for those who do right.\nThe unfaithful become a ransom for the honest."},{"verse":19,"text":"It is better to live in the desert\nthan with a wife who argues and is bad-tempered."},{"verse":20,"text":"Precious treasure and oil are in the home of the wise.\nBut a foolish man uses them all up."},{"verse":21,"text":"Whoever goes after what is right and faithful love\nfinds life, what is right, and honor."},{"verse":22,"text":"A wise man climbs the walls of a city of mighty men.\nHe pulls down the fortress they trust in."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue\nkeeps himself out of trouble."},{"verse":24,"text":"The proud and arrogant man is called a mocker.\nHe acts with too much pride."},{"verse":25,"text":"The lazy man's wants will kill him.\nThis is because his hands refuse to work."},{"verse":26,"text":"All day long he wants more.\nBut those who do right give freely."},{"verse":27,"text":"The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful.\nIt is even worse when it is brought with evil plans!"},{"verse":28,"text":"A lying witness will die.\nBut the man who listens to the truth will speak forever."},{"verse":29,"text":"A wicked man puts on a bold face.\nBut an honest man makes his path sure."},{"verse":30,"text":"There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no advice\nthat can win against the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"A horse is made ready for the day of battle.\nBut the victory belongs to the LORD."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A good name is worth more than great riches.\nBeing well liked is better than silver and gold."},{"verse":2,"text":"The rich and the poor have this in common:\nThe LORD made them all."},{"verse":3,"text":"Wise people see danger and hide.\nBut simple people keep going and pay for it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Humility and the fear of the LORD\nbring the rewards of wealth, honor, and life."},{"verse":5,"text":"Thorns and traps lie on the path of twisted people.\nWhoever guards his soul stays far away from them."},{"verse":6,"text":"Train up a child in the way he should go.\nWhen he is old, he will not turn away from it."},{"verse":7,"text":"The rich rule over the poor.\nThe one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whoever plants unfairness will harvest disaster.\nThe rod of his anger will be broken."},{"verse":9,"text":"A generous man will be blessed,\nbecause he shares his bread with the poor."},{"verse":10,"text":"Throw out the mocker, and fighting will leave.\nArguing and insults will stop too."},{"verse":11,"text":"Whoever loves a pure heart and speaks kind words\nwill have the king as his friend."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD's eyes watch over knowledge.\nBut he spoils the words of the unfaithful."},{"verse":13,"text":"The lazy man says, \"There's a lion outside!\nI'll be killed in the streets!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The mouth of a woman who cheats on her husband is a deep pit.\nThe one the LORD is angry with will fall into it."},{"verse":15,"text":"Foolishness is tied up in the heart of a child.\nBut the rod of correction drives it far away from him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Some people crush the poor to get rich.\nOthers give gifts to the rich.\nBoth will surely end up poor."},{"verse":17,"text":"Turn your ear and listen to the words of the wise.\nSet your mind on what I teach."},{"verse":18,"text":"For it is good when you keep them inside you\nand they are always ready on your lips."},{"verse":19,"text":"I am teaching you today, yes, you,\nso that you will trust in the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"Haven't I written thirty sayings for you?\nThey are sayings of advice and knowledge."},{"verse":21,"text":"They show you words that are true and can be trusted.\nThen you can give a good answer to those who sent you."},{"verse":22,"text":"Do not rob a poor man because he is poor.\nDo not crush the needy at the city gate."},{"verse":23,"text":"For the LORD will stand up for them in court.\nHe will rob those who rob them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Do not be friends with an angry man.\nDo not spend time with a man who has a hot temper."},{"verse":25,"text":"If you do, you may learn his ways.\nYou may get yourself caught in a trap."},{"verse":26,"text":"Do not be one who makes promises\nto pay for other people's debts."},{"verse":27,"text":"If you have nothing to pay with,\nwhy should your bed be taken out from under you?"},{"verse":28,"text":"Do not move an old boundary stone\nthat your fathers set in place."},{"verse":29,"text":"Do you see a man who is skilled at his work?\nHe will serve in front of kings.\nHe will not serve unknown men."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When you sit down to eat with a ruler,\nthink carefully about what is in front of you."},{"verse":2,"text":"If you have a big appetite,\nput a knife to your throat."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not long for his fancy foods,\nbecause that food will fool you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not wear yourself out trying to get rich.\nBe wise enough to stop."},{"verse":5,"text":"Just glance at riches, and they are gone.\nThey grow wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not eat the bread of a stingy man.\nDo not long for his fancy foods."},{"verse":7,"text":"For he is keeping track. Inside, he is counting the cost.\n\"Eat and drink,\" he says to you.\nBut his heart is not with you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You will throw up the little you have eaten.\nYou will waste your kind words."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not speak to a fool,\nbecause he will hate the wisdom of your words."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not move an old boundary stone.\nDo not take over the fields of children who have no father."},{"verse":11,"text":"For their Redeemer is strong.\nHe will stand up for them against you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Set your heart on teaching.\nOpen your ears to words of knowledge."},{"verse":13,"text":"Do not hold back correction from a child.\nIf you hit him with a rod, he will not die."},{"verse":14,"text":"Hit him with a rod,\nand you will save his soul from the grave.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":15,"text":"My son, if your heart is wise,\nmy own heart will be glad."},{"verse":16,"text":"Deep inside I will be full of joy\nwhen your lips say what is right."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners.\nAlways keep living in the fear of the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"For there surely is a future for you.\nYour hope will not be cut off."},{"verse":19,"text":"Listen, my son, and be wise.\nKeep your heart on the right path."},{"verse":20,"text":"Do not join those who drink too much wine.\nDo not join those who stuff themselves with meat."},{"verse":21,"text":"For the drunk and the one who eats too much will become poor.\nSleepiness will dress them in rags."},{"verse":22,"text":"Listen to your father, who gave you life.\nDo not look down on your mother when she is old."},{"verse":23,"text":"Buy truth, and never sell it.\nBuy wisdom, teaching, and understanding."},{"verse":24,"text":"The father of a son who does right will be full of joy.\nThe man who has a wise son will be glad because of him."},{"verse":25,"text":"May your father and mother be glad.\nMay the mother who gave birth to you be full of joy!"},{"verse":26,"text":"My son, give me your heart.\nLet your eyes enjoy my ways."},{"verse":27,"text":"For a prostitute is a deep pit.\nA woman who cheats on her husband is a narrow well."},{"verse":28,"text":"She hides and waits like a robber.\nShe makes more and more men unfaithful."},{"verse":29,"text":"Who has trouble? Who has sadness?\nWho has fights? Who has complaints?\nWho has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes?"},{"verse":30,"text":"Those who stay up late drinking wine.\nThose who go to try mixed drinks."},{"verse":31,"text":"Do not stare at wine when it is red,\nwhen it sparkles in the cup and goes down smooth."},{"verse":32,"text":"In the end it bites like a snake.\nIt stings like a poisonous snake."},{"verse":33,"text":"Your eyes will see strange things.\nYour mind will say twisted things."},{"verse":34,"text":"You will be like someone sleeping out on the open sea.\nYou will be like someone lying on top of a ship's mast."},{"verse":35,"text":"You will say, \"They hit me, but I don't feel any pain!\nThey beat me, but I didn't even know it!\nWhen will I wake up so I can look for another drink?\""}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Do not be jealous of wicked men.\nDo not want to be with them."},{"verse":2,"text":"For their hearts plan violence.\nTheir lips talk about making trouble."},{"verse":3,"text":"A house is built by wisdom.\nIt is made strong by understanding."},{"verse":4,"text":"By knowledge its rooms are filled\nwith every kind of rare and beautiful treasure."},{"verse":5,"text":"A wise man is strong.\nA man with knowledge adds to his strength."},{"verse":6,"text":"Only go to war with good guidance.\nVictory comes from having many advisers."},{"verse":7,"text":"Wisdom is too high for a fool.\nHe does not open his mouth at the city gate."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whoever plans evil\nwill be called a schemer."},{"verse":9,"text":"A foolish plan is sin.\nPeople hate a mocker."},{"verse":10,"text":"If you give up when times are hard,\nyour strength is very small!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Rescue those who are being led away to death.\nHold back those who are stumbling toward being killed."},{"verse":12,"text":"If you say, \"Look, we didn't know about this,\"\ndoesn't the one who weighs hearts see it?\nDoesn't the one who guards your life know it?\nWon't he pay back each person for what he has done?"},{"verse":13,"text":"My son, eat honey, because it is good.\nHoney from the comb tastes sweet."},{"verse":14,"text":"So know that wisdom is sweet to your soul.\nIf you find it, you will have a future.\nYour hope will never be cut off."},{"verse":15,"text":"Wicked man, do not hide and wait near the home of one who does right.\nDo not destroy the place where he rests."},{"verse":16,"text":"For a man who does right may fall seven times, but he still gets up.\nBut the wicked trip and fall when trouble comes."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not be glad when your enemy falls.\nDo not let your heart be happy when he trips."},{"verse":18,"text":"If you do, the LORD will see it and not be pleased.\nHe will turn his anger away from your enemy."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do not get upset because of evil people.\nDo not be jealous of the wicked."},{"verse":20,"text":"For the evil man has no future.\nThe lamp of the wicked will go out."},{"verse":21,"text":"My son, fear the LORD and the king.\nDo not join with those who rebel."},{"verse":22,"text":"For they will bring sudden ruin.\nWho knows what disaster they can cause?"},{"verse":23,"text":"These are also sayings of the wise:\nIt is not good to take sides when judging."},{"verse":24,"text":"Someone may tell the guilty, \"You are innocent.\"\nPeoples will curse him, and nations will speak against him."},{"verse":25,"text":"But things will go well for those who judge the guilty to be guilty.\nGreat blessing will come on them."},{"verse":26,"text":"Giving an honest answer\nis like a kiss on the lips."},{"verse":27,"text":"Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready.\nAfter that, you can build your house."},{"verse":28,"text":"Do not speak against your neighbor without a reason.\nDo not trick people with your lips."},{"verse":29,"text":"Do not say, \"I'll do to him what he did to me.\nI'll pay him back for what he has done.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"I walked past the field of a lazy man.\nI passed the vineyard of a man with no sense."},{"verse":31,"text":"Thorns had grown up everywhere.\nWeeds covered the ground.\nThe stone wall was broken down."},{"verse":32,"text":"I saw it and thought hard about it.\nI looked and learned a lesson:"},{"verse":33,"text":"A little sleep, a little nap,\na little folding of the hands to rest,"},{"verse":34,"text":"and being poor will come on you like a robber.\nNeed will come on you like a bandit."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are more proverbs of Solomon. They were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is God's glory to hide a matter.\nIt is the glory of kings to search it out."},{"verse":3,"text":"The heavens are high, and the earth is deep.\nIn the same way, no one can search the hearts of kings."},{"verse":4,"text":"Take away the waste from silver,\nand the silversmith can make something from it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Take away the wicked from the king's presence.\nThen his throne will be made strong by what is right."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not make yourself look important in front of the king.\nDo not stand in the place of great men."},{"verse":7,"text":"For it is better to be told, \"Come up here!\"\nthan to be sent lower in front of a ruler.\nEven what you have seen with your own eyes,"},{"verse":8,"text":"do not rush to take to court.\nOtherwise, what will you do in the end\nwhen your neighbor puts you to shame?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Argue your case with your neighbor himself.\nDo not tell another person's secret."},{"verse":10,"text":"If you do, the one who hears may shame you.\nThen your bad name will never go away."},{"verse":11,"text":"A word spoken at the right time\nis like apples of gold set in silver."},{"verse":12,"text":"A wise man's warning to an ear that listens\nis like a gold earring or a jewel of fine gold."},{"verse":13,"text":"A messenger you can trust is like cool snow at harvest time\nto those who send him.\nHe refreshes the soul of his masters."},{"verse":14,"text":"A man who brags about gifts he never gives\nis like clouds and wind with no rain."},{"verse":15,"text":"A ruler can be won over by patience.\nA gentle tongue can break a bone."},{"verse":16,"text":"If you find honey, eat only what you need.\nIf you eat too much, you will throw it up."},{"verse":17,"text":"Don't visit your neighbor's house too often.\nOtherwise he may get tired of you and hate you."},{"verse":18,"text":"A man who tells lies about his neighbor in court\nis like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow."},{"verse":19,"text":"Trusting an unfaithful man in times of trouble\nis like a broken tooth or a foot that is out of joint."},{"verse":20,"text":"Singing songs to someone with a heavy heart\nis like taking off a coat on a cold day.\nIt is like pouring vinegar on a wound."},{"verse":21,"text":"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.\nIf he is thirsty, give him water to drink."},{"verse":22,"text":"For when you do this, you will pile burning coals on his head.\nAnd the LORD will reward you."},{"verse":23,"text":"The north wind brings rain.\nIn the same way, a tongue that talks behind people's backs brings angry looks."},{"verse":24,"text":"It is better to live on a corner of the roof\nthan to share a house with a wife who quarrels."},{"verse":25,"text":"Good news from a faraway land\nis like cold water to a tired soul."},{"verse":26,"text":"A man who does right but gives in to the wicked\nis like a muddy spring or a dirty well."},{"verse":27,"text":"It is not good to eat too much honey.\nIt is not good to seek your own glory."},{"verse":28,"text":"A man who does not control his temper\nis like a city whose walls are broken down."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Snow does not fit summer, and rain does not fit harvest.\nIn the same way, honor does not fit a fool."},{"verse":2,"text":"A curse that is not deserved does not land.\nIt is like a sparrow that flutters or a swallow that darts away."},{"verse":3,"text":"A whip is for the horse, and a bridle is for the donkey.\nA rod is for the backs of fools!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not answer a fool in the same foolish way he talks.\nIf you do, you will be like him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Answer a fool as his foolishness deserves.\nIf you don't, he will think he is wise."},{"verse":6,"text":"Sending a message by a fool\nis like cutting off your own feet or drinking violence."},{"verse":7,"text":"A proverb in the mouth of a fool\nis like weak legs that hang limp."},{"verse":8,"text":"Giving honor to a fool\nis like tying a stone into a sling."},{"verse":9,"text":"A proverb in the mouth of a fool\nis like a thorn that sticks into the hand of a drunk."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever hires a fool or someone passing by\nis like an archer who shoots and wounds anyone."},{"verse":11,"text":"A dog goes back to its vomit.\nIn the same way, a fool does his foolish things again."},{"verse":12,"text":"Do you see a man who thinks he is wise?\nThere is more hope for a fool than for him."},{"verse":13,"text":"The lazy man says, \"There's a lion in the road!\nA fierce lion is loose in the town square!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"A door turns on its hinges.\nIn the same way, the lazy man turns over in his bed."},{"verse":15,"text":"The lazy man sticks his hand in the dish.\nIt tires him out to lift it back to his mouth."},{"verse":16,"text":"The lazy man thinks he is wiser\nthan seven men who give sensible answers."},{"verse":17,"text":"Someone passing by who gets mixed up in someone else's fight\nis like a person who grabs a dog by the ears."},{"verse":18,"text":"Like a madman shooting flaming arrows and deadly arrows,"},{"verse":19,"text":"so is the man who tricks his neighbor and says,\n\"I was only joking!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Without wood, a fire goes out.\nWithout gossip, a fight stops."},{"verse":21,"text":"Charcoal keeps coals burning, and wood keeps a fire going.\nIn the same way, a man who loves to argue stirs up fights."},{"verse":22,"text":"The words of a gossip are like tasty bites of food.\nThey go down deep inside a person."},{"verse":23,"text":"Burning lips with a wicked heart\nare like shiny glaze covering a clay pot."},{"verse":24,"text":"A man full of hate hides it with his words.\nBut he stores up lies in his heart."},{"verse":25,"text":"When he speaks kindly, do not believe him,\nbecause seven hateful things fill his heart."},{"verse":26,"text":"His hate may be hidden by lies.\nBut his evil will be shown in front of everyone."},{"verse":27,"text":"Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.\nWhoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him."},{"verse":28,"text":"A lying tongue hates the people it hurts.\nA mouth that flatters brings ruin."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Do not brag about tomorrow,\nbecause you don't know what a day may bring."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth.\nLet a stranger do it, not your own lips."},{"verse":3,"text":"A stone is heavy, and sand is a load.\nBut the trouble a fool causes is heavier than both."},{"verse":4,"text":"Rage is cruel, and anger is like a flood.\nBut who can stand up against jealousy?"},{"verse":5,"text":"An open warning is better\nthan love that is kept hidden."},{"verse":6,"text":"The wounds from a friend can be trusted.\nBut the kisses of an enemy are false."},{"verse":7,"text":"Someone who is full hates even honey.\nBut to someone who is hungry, anything bitter tastes sweet."},{"verse":8,"text":"A man who wanders from his home\nis like a bird that wanders from its nest."},{"verse":9,"text":"Oil and incense make the heart glad.\nA friend's advice is sweet to the soul."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not leave your friend or your father's friend.\nDo not go to your brother's house when disaster comes.\nA neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away."},{"verse":11,"text":"Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad.\nThen I can answer anyone who makes fun of me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Wise people see danger and hide.\nBut simple people keep going and pay for it."},{"verse":13,"text":"Take the coat of the one who promises to pay a stranger's debt.\nHold it as a pledge if he does it for a foreigner."},{"verse":14,"text":"If someone blesses his neighbor in a loud voice early in the morning,\nit will be counted as a curse."},{"verse":15,"text":"A woman who loves to argue\nis like a leak that keeps dripping on a rainy day."},{"verse":16,"text":"Trying to stop her is like holding back the wind.\nIt is like trying to grab oil with your right hand."},{"verse":17,"text":"As iron sharpens iron,\nso one man sharpens another."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever takes care of a fig tree will eat its fruit.\nWhoever looks after his master will be honored."},{"verse":19,"text":"Water shows a reflection of a face.\nIn the same way, a man's heart shows who he really is."},{"verse":20,"text":"The grave and the place of ruin are never full.\nIn the same way, a man's eyes are never satisfied.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol and Abaddon"},{"verse":21,"text":"A melting pot is for silver, and a furnace is for gold.\nBut a man is tested by the praise people give him."},{"verse":22,"text":"You may grind a fool like grain with a bowl and a club.\nBut his foolishness will not leave him."},{"verse":23,"text":"Be sure you know how your flocks are doing.\nPay close attention to your herds."},{"verse":24,"text":"For riches don't last forever.\nA crown does not last for every generation."},{"verse":25,"text":"The hay is taken in, and new growth comes up.\nThe grass from the hills is gathered."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the lambs will give you clothing.\nThe goats will give you the price of a field."},{"verse":27,"text":"You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you.\nThere will be food for your family\nand food for your servant girls."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The wicked run away when no one is chasing them.\nBut those who do right are as brave as a lion."},{"verse":2,"text":"When a land rebels, it has many rulers.\nBut a man with understanding and knowledge keeps order."},{"verse":3,"text":"A leader who is poor himself and crushes the poor\nis like a pounding rain that leaves no food."},{"verse":4,"text":"Those who turn away from the law praise the wicked.\nBut those who keep the law fight against them."},{"verse":5,"text":"Evil men do not understand justice.\nBut those who seek the LORD understand it fully."},{"verse":6,"text":"It is better to be poor and honest\nthan to be rich and live a twisted life."},{"verse":7,"text":"A wise son keeps the law.\nBut a friend of people who eat too much brings shame on his father."},{"verse":8,"text":"Some people get rich by charging high interest on loans.\nThey are only saving it up for someone who is kind to the poor."},{"verse":9,"text":"If someone turns his ear away from hearing the law,\neven his prayer is hateful."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever leads good people down an evil path\nwill fall into his own pit.\nBut the innocent will receive good things."},{"verse":11,"text":"A rich man thinks he is wise.\nBut a poor man with understanding sees right through him."},{"verse":12,"text":"When those who do right win, there is great glory.\nBut when the wicked rise up, people hide."},{"verse":13,"text":"Whoever hides his sins will not do well.\nBut whoever admits them and turns from them will find mercy."},{"verse":14,"text":"Blessed is the man who always fears God.\nBut whoever makes his heart hard falls into trouble."},{"verse":15,"text":"A wicked ruler over helpless people\nis like a roaring lion or a charging bear."},{"verse":16,"text":"A leader with no good sense is also very cruel to his people.\nBut whoever hates money gained by cheating will live a long life."},{"verse":17,"text":"A man who carries the guilt of murder\nwill run away into the Pit.\nLet no one help him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever lives an honest life will be kept safe.\nBut whoever lives a twisted life will suddenly fall."},{"verse":19,"text":"The one who works his land will have plenty of food.\nBut whoever chases empty dreams will have plenty of being poor."},{"verse":20,"text":"A faithful man will have many blessings.\nBut someone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment."},{"verse":21,"text":"It is not good to take sides.\nYet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread."},{"verse":22,"text":"A stingy man rushes after riches.\nHe doesn't know that being poor is waiting for him."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whoever corrects a man will be liked more in the end\nthan someone who flatters with his tongue."},{"verse":24,"text":"Someone may rob his father or mother and say, \"It's not wrong.\"\nHe is a partner of the man who destroys."},{"verse":25,"text":"A greedy man stirs up fights.\nBut whoever trusts in the LORD will do well."},{"verse":26,"text":"Whoever trusts in himself is a fool.\nBut whoever lives wisely will be safe."},{"verse":27,"text":"Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need.\nBut whoever closes his eyes to them will get many curses."},{"verse":28,"text":"When the wicked take power, people hide.\nBut when the wicked die, those who do right grow strong."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A man may stay stubborn after being warned many times.\nHe will suddenly be broken, and nothing can fix him."},{"verse":2,"text":"When those who do right grow strong, the people are glad.\nBut when the wicked rule, the people groan."},{"verse":3,"text":"A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad.\nBut a friend of prostitutes wastes his wealth."},{"verse":4,"text":"A king makes the land steady by justice.\nBut a man who demands heavy taxes tears it down."},{"verse":5,"text":"A man who flatters his neighbor\nis spreading a net for his feet."},{"verse":6,"text":"An evil man is caught by his own sin.\nBut one who does right sings and is glad."},{"verse":7,"text":"Those who do right care about the rights of the poor.\nBut the wicked don't care about such things."},{"verse":8,"text":"Mockers stir up a city.\nBut the wise turn anger away."},{"verse":9,"text":"If a wise man goes to court with a fool,\nthere will be yelling and laughing, and nothing will be settled."},{"verse":10,"text":"Murderers hate a man who is innocent.\nBut honest people care for his life."},{"verse":11,"text":"A fool lets all his anger out.\nBut a wise man holds it back."},{"verse":12,"text":"If a ruler listens to lies,\nall his officials will be wicked."},{"verse":13,"text":"The poor man and the one who crushes others have this in common:\nThe LORD gives light to the eyes of both."},{"verse":14,"text":"A king may judge the poor fairly.\nIf he does, his throne will be made strong forever."},{"verse":15,"text":"The rod of correction gives wisdom.\nBut a child left on his own brings shame to his mother."},{"verse":16,"text":"When the wicked do well, sin grows.\nBut those who do right will see the wicked fall."},{"verse":17,"text":"Correct your son, and he will give you peace.\nHe will bring joy to your soul."},{"verse":18,"text":"Where there is no vision, the people run wild.\nBut blessed is the one who keeps the Law.","note":"Vision here means a message from God given to a prophet."},{"verse":19,"text":"A servant cannot be corrected by words alone.\nHe may understand, but he will not obey."},{"verse":20,"text":"Do you see a man who speaks too fast?\nThere is more hope for a fool than for him."},{"verse":21,"text":"A servant who is spoiled from the time he is young\nwill bring sorrow in the end."},{"verse":22,"text":"An angry man stirs up fights.\nA man with a hot temper does many wrong things."},{"verse":23,"text":"A man's pride will bring him down.\nBut a humble spirit will receive honor."},{"verse":24,"text":"A partner of a thief hates his own life.\nHe hears the oath to speak up, but he doesn't tell what he knows."},{"verse":25,"text":"Being afraid of people is a trap.\nBut whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe up high."},{"verse":26,"text":"Many people try to win the ruler's favor.\nBut a man gets justice from the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"People who do right hate those who are unfair.\nThe wicked hate those who live honestly."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh. This is the message this man spoke to Ithiel:\n\"I am tired, O God.\nI am worn out."},{"verse":2,"text":"I am surely the most foolish of men.\nI don't have the understanding of a man."},{"verse":3,"text":"I have not learned wisdom.\nI don't have knowledge of the Holy One."},{"verse":4,"text":"Who has gone up to heaven and come back down?\nWho has gathered the wind in his hands?\nWho has wrapped up the waters in his coat?\nWho has set all the ends of the earth in place?\nWhat is his name, and what is the name of his Son?\nSurely you know!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Every word of God is perfect.\nHe is a shield to those who run to him for safety."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not add to his words.\nIf you do, he will correct you and show that you are a liar."},{"verse":7,"text":"I ask you for two things.\nDo not say no to me before I die:"},{"verse":8,"text":"Keep lies and false words far away from me.\nDon't make me poor, and don't make me rich.\nFeed me with the bread I need each day."},{"verse":9,"text":"If I have too much, I may turn away from you and say,\n'Who is the LORD?'\nOr I may become poor and steal.\nThen I would dishonor the name of my God."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not tell lies about a servant to his master.\nIf you do, he will curse you, and you will be guilty."},{"verse":11,"text":"There are people who curse their fathers.\nThey do not bless their mothers."},{"verse":12,"text":"There are people who think they are pure.\nYet they have not been washed of their filth."},{"verse":13,"text":"There are people whose eyes are so proud!\nThey look down on others."},{"verse":14,"text":"There are people whose teeth are swords.\nTheir jaws are knives.\nThey eat up the poor from the earth\nand the needy from among people."},{"verse":15,"text":"The leech has two daughters.\nThey both cry, 'Give! Give!'\nThere are three things that are never satisfied.\nThere are four that never say, 'Enough!':"},{"verse":16,"text":"the grave, a woman who cannot have children,\nland that never has enough water,\nand fire that never says, 'Enough!'","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":17,"text":"An eye may make fun of a father\nand refuse to obey a mother.\nMay the ravens of the valley peck it out.\nMay young vultures eat it."},{"verse":18,"text":"There are three things too amazing for me.\nThere are four that I can't understand:"},{"verse":19,"text":"the way of an eagle in the sky,\nthe way of a snake on a rock,\nthe way of a ship at sea,\nand the way of a man with a young woman."},{"verse":20,"text":"This is the way of a woman who cheats on her husband:\nShe eats and wipes her mouth.\nThen she says, 'I haven't done anything wrong.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"There are three things that make the earth shake.\nThere are four it cannot stand:"},{"verse":22,"text":"a servant who becomes king,\na fool who has plenty of food,"},{"verse":23,"text":"an unloved woman who gets married,\nand a servant girl who takes her mistress's place."},{"verse":24,"text":"Four things on earth are small.\nYet they are very wise:"},{"verse":25,"text":"Ants are not strong.\nYet they store up their food in the summer."},{"verse":26,"text":"Rock badgers are not powerful.\nYet they make their homes in the rocks."},{"verse":27,"text":"Locusts have no king.\nYet they all march forward in rows."},{"verse":28,"text":"A lizard can be caught in your hands.\nYet it is found in the palaces of kings."},{"verse":29,"text":"There are three things that walk with pride.\nThere are four that move in a grand way:"},{"verse":30,"text":"a lion, the mightiest of animals,\nwhich backs down from nothing;"},{"verse":31,"text":"a rooster that struts; a male goat;\nand a king with his army around him."},{"verse":32,"text":"Maybe you have foolishly made yourself look great.\nMaybe you have planned evil.\nIf so, put your hand over your mouth."},{"verse":33,"text":"For churning milk makes butter.\nTwisting the nose makes blood come out.\nIn the same way, stirring up anger makes fights.\""}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of King Lemuel.\nThey are a message his mother taught him:","note":"Or \"an oracle\"; the Hebrew word can mean a heavy message."},{"verse":2,"text":"What should I tell you, my son?\nWhat, son I carried in my womb?\nWhat, son I made vows for?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not spend your strength on women.\nDo not give your energy to those who ruin kings."},{"verse":4,"text":"It is not for kings, Lemuel.\nIt is not for kings to drink wine.\nIt is not for rulers to long for strong drink."},{"verse":5,"text":"If they drink, they may forget what the law says.\nThen they will take justice away from all who are crushed by others."},{"verse":6,"text":"Give strong drink to someone who is dying.\nGive wine to those whose hearts are bitter."},{"verse":7,"text":"Let him drink and forget how poor he is.\nLet him not remember his misery anymore."},{"verse":8,"text":"Speak up for those who have no voice.\nSpeak up for the rights of all who have lost everything."},{"verse":9,"text":"Speak up and judge in a way that is right.\nDefend the rights of the poor and needy."},{"verse":10,"text":"Who can find a wife of noble character?\nShe is worth far more than rubies."},{"verse":11,"text":"Her husband trusts her with all his heart.\nHe never lacks anything of value."},{"verse":12,"text":"She does him good and not harm\nall the days of her life."},{"verse":13,"text":"She chooses wool and flax.\nShe works with eager hands.","note":"Flax is a plant used to make linen cloth."},{"verse":14,"text":"She is like the trading ships.\nShe brings her food from far away."},{"verse":15,"text":"She gets up while it is still dark.\nShe gets food ready for her family.\nShe gives portions to her female servants."},{"verse":16,"text":"She looks over a field and buys it.\nWith the money she earns, she plants a vineyard."},{"verse":17,"text":"She dresses herself with strength.\nShe shows that her arms are strong."},{"verse":18,"text":"She sees that her trading earns a good profit.\nHer lamp does not go out at night."},{"verse":19,"text":"She reaches her hands out to the distaff.\nHer fingers hold the spindle.","note":"A distaff and a spindle are tools for spinning thread."},{"verse":20,"text":"She opens her arms to the poor.\nShe reaches out her hands to the needy."},{"verse":21,"text":"When it snows, she is not afraid for her family.\nFor all of them are dressed in scarlet."},{"verse":22,"text":"She makes covers for her bed.\nHer clothes are fine linen and purple."},{"verse":23,"text":"Her husband is well known at the city gates.\nHe sits there with the elders of the land."},{"verse":24,"text":"She makes linen clothes and sells them.\nShe supplies sashes to the merchants."},{"verse":25,"text":"She is clothed with strength and honor.\nShe can laugh at the days to come."},{"verse":26,"text":"When she opens her mouth, she speaks with wisdom.\nFaithful teaching is on her tongue."},{"verse":27,"text":"She watches over everything in her home.\nShe does not eat the bread of laziness."},{"verse":28,"text":"Her children get up and call her blessed.\nHer husband praises her too:"},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Many women have done noble things,\nbut you are better than them all!\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Charm can fool you, and beauty fades.\nBut a woman who fears the LORD should be praised."},{"verse":31,"text":"Give her the reward her hands have earned.\nLet her works bring her praise at the city gates."}]}]},{"name":"Ecclesiastes","slug":"ecclesiastes","usfm":"ECC","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of the Teacher. He was the son of David and king in Jerusalem.","note":"Hebrew: Qoheleth, one who gathers people together to speak to them."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Totally pointless!\" says the Teacher. \"Totally pointless! Everything is pointless!\"","note":"The Hebrew word means a breath or vapor. It pictures what is empty and quickly gone."},{"verse":3,"text":"What does a person gain from all his hard work? What does he gain from all his work under the sun?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Generations come, and generations go. But the earth lasts forever."},{"verse":5,"text":"The sun rises, and the sun sets. Then it hurries back to the place where it rises."},{"verse":6,"text":"The wind blows to the south. Then it turns to the north. Around and around it goes. It always comes back to its path."},{"verse":7,"text":"All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea is never full. The streams go back to the place they come from. Then they flow from there again."},{"verse":8,"text":"Everything makes people tired, more than anyone can say. The eye never gets enough of seeing. The ear is never filled with hearing."},{"verse":9,"text":"What has been before will be again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun."},{"verse":10,"text":"Can anyone point to something and say, \"Look, this is new\"? No, it was already here long before our time."},{"verse":11,"text":"No one remembers the people who lived long ago. And people still to come will not be remembered by those who come after them."},{"verse":12,"text":"I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem."},{"verse":13,"text":"I set my mind to study and explore everything done under heaven. I used wisdom to do it. What a hard and painful job God has given people to keep them busy!"},{"verse":14,"text":"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun. All of them are pointless. They are like chasing the wind."},{"verse":15,"text":"What is bent cannot be made straight. What is missing cannot be counted."},{"verse":16,"text":"I said to myself, \"Look, I have grown great. I have become wiser than all who ruled over Jerusalem before me. My mind has seen a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So I set my mind to know wisdom. I also set it to know madness and foolishness. But I learned that this too is chasing the wind."},{"verse":18,"text":"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow. The more knowledge grows, the more grief grows."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I said to myself, \"Come now, I will test you with pleasure. Enjoy what is good!\" But that was pointless too."},{"verse":2,"text":"I said about laughter, \"It is foolish.\" And I said about pleasure, \"What good does it do?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"I tried to cheer myself with wine and to take hold of foolishness. But my mind still guided me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worth doing for people under heaven. I wanted to know what they should do in the few days of their lives."},{"verse":4,"text":"I took on great projects. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself."},{"verse":5,"text":"I made gardens and parks for myself. I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them."},{"verse":6,"text":"I built pools of water. I used them to water my groves of growing trees."},{"verse":7,"text":"I got male and female servants. I also had servants who were born in my house. I owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me."},{"verse":8,"text":"I piled up silver and gold for myself. I gathered the treasures of kings and provinces. I got male and female singers for myself. And I got what men enjoy most—many concubines.","note":"A concubine was a wife of lower rank."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I became great. I became greater than all who were in Jerusalem before me. And my wisdom stayed with me."},{"verse":10,"text":"I did not hold back anything my eyes wanted. I did not refuse my heart any pleasure. For my heart took joy in all my work. This was my reward for all my hard work."},{"verse":11,"text":"But then I looked at all the things my hands had done. I looked at all I had worked so hard to do. And everything was pointless. It was like chasing the wind. Nothing was gained under the sun."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then I turned to think about wisdom. I also thought about madness and foolishness. After all, what more can the next king do? He can only do what has already been done."},{"verse":13,"text":"And I saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness:"},{"verse":14,"text":"The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in the dark. Yet I also came to see that the same end comes to both of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"So I said to myself, \"What happens to the fool will happen to me too. Then what have I gained by being wise?\" And I told myself that this too is pointless."},{"verse":16,"text":"For the wise will not be remembered for long, just like the fool. Both will be forgotten in the days to come. How sad! The wise man will die just like the fool!"},{"verse":17,"text":"So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was painful to me. For everything is pointless. It is like chasing the wind."},{"verse":18,"text":"I hated all the things I had worked so hard for under the sun. I hated them because I must leave them to the man who comes after me."},{"verse":19,"text":"And who knows if that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take control of all the work I did with skill under the sun. This too is pointless."},{"verse":20,"text":"So my heart began to lose hope over all the hard work I had done under the sun."},{"verse":21,"text":"A man may work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill. Then he must give what he owns to a man who did not work for it. This too is pointless and a great evil."},{"verse":22,"text":"What does a man get for all his hard work? What does he get for all his effort under the sun?"},{"verse":23,"text":"All his days are full of grief, and his work brings him pain. Even at night his mind does not rest. This too is pointless."},{"verse":24,"text":"Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this comes from the hand of God."},{"verse":25,"text":"For without him, who can eat? Who can find joy?"},{"verse":26,"text":"God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who pleases him. But he gives the sinner the job of gathering and storing up. Then the sinner must hand it over to someone who pleases God. This too is pointless. It is like chasing the wind."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"There is a season for everything. There is a time for every purpose under heaven:"},{"verse":2,"text":"a time to be born and a time to die,\na time to plant and a time to pull up,"},{"verse":3,"text":"a time to kill and a time to heal,\na time to tear down and a time to build,"},{"verse":4,"text":"a time to cry and a time to laugh,\na time to grieve and a time to dance,"},{"verse":5,"text":"a time to throw stones away and a time to gather stones,\na time to hug and a time to hold back from hugging,"},{"verse":6,"text":"a time to search and a time to give up as lost,\na time to keep and a time to throw away,"},{"verse":7,"text":"a time to tear and a time to sew,\na time to be quiet and a time to speak,"},{"verse":8,"text":"a time to love and a time to hate,\na time for war and a time for peace."},{"verse":9,"text":"What does the worker gain from all his hard work?"},{"verse":10,"text":"I have seen the heavy load God has put on people to keep them busy."},{"verse":11,"text":"God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also put eternity in people's hearts. Yet they cannot understand the work God has done from beginning to end."},{"verse":12,"text":"I know there is nothing better for people than to be happy and do good while they live."},{"verse":13,"text":"I also know that everyone should eat and drink and find joy in all his work. This is the gift of God."},{"verse":14,"text":"I know that everything God does will last forever. Nothing can be added to it. Nothing can be taken from it. God does this so that people will fear him."},{"verse":15,"text":"What is here now has already been. What will be has already been too. For God will call the past to account."},{"verse":16,"text":"I saw something else under the sun. In the place of justice, there was evil. In the place where right should be, there was evil."},{"verse":17,"text":"I said in my heart, \"God will judge both the righteous and the wicked. For there is a time for every activity and every deed.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"I said to myself, \"God tests people so they can see for themselves that they are only animals.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"What happens to people and to animals is the same. As one dies, so does the other. They all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals, for everything is pointless."},{"verse":20,"text":"All go to the same place. All come from dust, and all go back to dust."},{"verse":21,"text":"Who knows if a person's spirit goes up, and an animal's spirit goes down into the earth?"},{"verse":22,"text":"I have seen that nothing is better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can help him see what will happen after he is gone?"}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Again I looked. I saw all the cruel ways people are treated under the sun. I saw the tears of those who were treated badly. No one comforted them. Power was in the hands of those who hurt them. And no one comforted them."},{"verse":2,"text":"So I said the dead, who have already died, are better off than the living, who are still alive."},{"verse":3,"text":"But better than both is the one who has not been born yet. He has not seen the evil that is done under the sun."},{"verse":4,"text":"I saw that all hard work and success come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This too is pointless. It is like chasing the wind."},{"verse":5,"text":"The fool folds his hands and eats up his own flesh."},{"verse":6,"text":"One handful with peace is better than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind."},{"verse":7,"text":"Again, I saw something pointless under the sun."},{"verse":8,"text":"There is a man who is all alone. He has no son or brother. His work never ends. Yet his eyes are never happy with his riches. He asks, \"Who am I working so hard for? Why am I keeping myself from joy?\" This too is pointless. It is a miserable job."},{"verse":9,"text":"Two are better than one, because they get a good return for their work."},{"verse":10,"text":"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the one who falls and has no one to help him up!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?"},{"verse":12,"text":"One person may be overpowered, but two can fight back. And a rope of three strands is not quickly broken."},{"verse":13,"text":"A poor but wise young man is better than an old but foolish king. That king no longer knows how to listen to a warning."},{"verse":14,"text":"The young man came out of prison to become king. Yet he was born poor in his own kingdom."},{"verse":15,"text":"I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one. He was the young man who took the king's place."},{"verse":16,"text":"There was no end to all the people who went before them. Yet those who come later will not be glad about the new king. This too is pointless. It is like chasing the wind."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Watch your steps when you go to the house of God. Come near to listen. That is better than offering the sacrifice of fools. They don't know that they are doing wrong."},{"verse":2,"text":"Do not be quick to speak. Do not be in a hurry in your heart to say something before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. So let your words be few."},{"verse":3,"text":"A dream comes when there are many worries. In the same way, a fool's talk comes with many words."},{"verse":4,"text":"When you make a vow to God, do not wait to keep it, because he takes no pleasure in fools. Keep your vow."},{"verse":5,"text":"It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not keep it."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not let your mouth make your body sin. Do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your words? Why should he destroy the work of your hands?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Many dreams lead to nothing, and so do many words. So fear God."},{"verse":8,"text":"If you see the poor treated cruelly in a province, do not be surprised. If you see justice and what is right denied there, do not be surprised. For one official is watched by a higher one. And there are others still higher over them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Everyone takes a share of what the land produces. Even the king gains from the fields."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever loves money never has enough money. Whoever loves riches is never happy with what he earns. This too is pointless."},{"verse":11,"text":"When good things grow, so do the people who use them up. So what does the owner gain? He only gets to look at them with his eyes."},{"verse":12,"text":"The worker's sleep is sweet, whether he eats a little or a lot. But the rich man has so much that he cannot sleep."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have seen a painful evil under the sun. A man stores up riches, and it brings harm to him."},{"verse":14,"text":"Or he loses his riches in a business that fails. Then when he has a son, he has nothing to leave him."},{"verse":15,"text":"A man comes from his mother's womb. In the same way, he will leave again, naked as he came. He cannot carry anything in his hands from all his work."},{"verse":16,"text":"This too is a painful evil. Just as a man is born, so he will leave. What does he gain, since he works hard for the wind?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Also, all his days he eats in darkness. He has much sorrow, sickness, and anger."},{"verse":18,"text":"Here is what I have seen to be good and right. A person should eat and drink. He should find joy in all the work he does under the sun. He should do this during the few days of life God has given him. For this is his lot."},{"verse":19,"text":"God gives some people riches and wealth. He also lets them enjoy these things. He lets them accept their lot and be glad in their work. This is a gift from God."},{"verse":20,"text":"A man like that rarely thinks about the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy in his heart."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I have seen another evil under the sun. It is heavy on people:"},{"verse":2,"text":"God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor. He lacks nothing his heart wants. But God does not let him enjoy these things. Instead, a stranger enjoys them. This is pointless. It is a painful evil."},{"verse":3,"text":"A man may have a hundred children and live many years. But no matter how long he lives, he may not be happy with the good things he has. He may not even get a proper burial. If so, I say a baby born dead is better off than he is."},{"verse":4,"text":"That baby comes for nothing and leaves in darkness. Its name is hidden in darkness."},{"verse":5,"text":"It never saw the sun or knew anything. Yet it has more rest than that man."},{"verse":6,"text":"This is true even if the man lives two thousand years but does not enjoy the good things he has. Don't all go to the same place?"},{"verse":7,"text":"All of a man's work is to feed his mouth. Yet his hunger is never satisfied."},{"verse":8,"text":"So what does the wise man have that the fool does not? What does the poor man gain by knowing how to act in front of others?"},{"verse":9,"text":"What the eyes can see is better than a wandering desire. This too is pointless. It is like chasing the wind."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whatever is here was named long ago. It is known what a man is. But he cannot argue with someone stronger than he is."},{"verse":11,"text":"The more words there are, the more pointless they are. How does that help anyone?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Who knows what is good for a man in his life? He lives only a few short days, and they pass like a shadow. Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?"}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A good name is better than fine perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you were born."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is better to go to a house where people are mourning than to a house where people are feasting. For death is the end of every person. The living should take this to heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad face is good for the heart."},{"verse":4,"text":"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning. But the heart of fools is in the house of fun."},{"verse":5,"text":"It is better to listen when a wise man corrects you than to listen to the song of fools."},{"verse":6,"text":"The laughter of a fool is like thorns crackling in a fire under a pot. This too is pointless."},{"verse":7,"text":"Cheating others turns a wise man into a fool. And a bribe ruins the heart."},{"verse":8,"text":"The end of something is better than its beginning. And a patient spirit is better than a proud one."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not let your spirit get angry quickly. For anger lives in the lap of fools."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not say, \"Why were the old days better than today?\" It is not wise to ask this."},{"verse":11,"text":"Wisdom is good, like an inheritance. It helps those who see the sun."},{"verse":12,"text":"For wisdom is a shelter, just like money is. And here is the advantage of knowledge: wisdom keeps alive the one who has it."},{"verse":13,"text":"Think about the work of God. Who can make straight what he has bent?"},{"verse":14,"text":"When times are good, be happy. But when times are hard, think about this. God has made both the good and the bad. So no one can find out anything about what will come after him."},{"verse":15,"text":"In my pointless life I have seen both of these. I have seen a righteous man perish in his righteousness. And I have seen a wicked man live a long time in his wickedness."},{"verse":16,"text":"Do not be too righteous. Do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not be too wicked. Do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?"},{"verse":18,"text":"It is good to hold on to the one warning. Do not let go of the other. The one who fears God will follow both of them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a city."},{"verse":20,"text":"There is surely no righteous man on earth who always does good and never sins."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not pay attention to every word people say. If you do, you may hear your servant cursing you."},{"verse":22,"text":"You know in your heart that you have cursed others many times yourself."},{"verse":23,"text":"I tested all this with wisdom. I said, \"I am going to be wise.\" But it was too far from me."},{"verse":24,"text":"What is here is far away and very deep. Who can figure it out?"},{"verse":25,"text":"I turned my mind to understand, to explore, and to search for wisdom and reasons. I wanted to understand how stupid evil is. I wanted to understand how foolish madness is."},{"verse":26,"text":"I found something more bitter than death. It is the woman who is a trap. Her heart is a net, and her hands are chains. The man who pleases God gets away from her. But the sinner is caught by her."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Look,\" says the Teacher, \"this is what I have found. I added one thing to another to find the answer."},{"verse":28,"text":"My soul kept searching, but I did not find it. I found one upright man among a thousand. But I did not find one such woman among them all."},{"verse":29,"text":"This is the only thing I found. God made people upright. But they have gone looking for many schemes.\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Who is like the wise man? Who knows what things mean? A man's wisdom makes his face shine. It changes the hard look on his face."},{"verse":2,"text":"I say, obey the king's command. Do this because of the oath you made before God."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not be in a hurry to leave the king. Do not stay with a bad cause. For he will do whatever he wants."},{"verse":4,"text":"The king's word is the highest power. Who can say to him, \"What are you doing?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Whoever obeys his command will not be harmed. A wise heart knows the right time and the right way."},{"verse":6,"text":"There is a right time and a right way for everything. But a man's troubles weigh heavy on him."},{"verse":7,"text":"No one knows what will happen. So who can tell him what is coming?"},{"verse":8,"text":"No one has power over the wind to hold it back. In the same way, no one has power over the day he dies. No one is let go from the army in time of war. In the same way, evil will not set free those who do it."},{"verse":9,"text":"I have seen all this. I put my mind on every deed done under the sun. There is a time when one man rules over another to his own harm."},{"verse":10,"text":"I also saw wicked people being buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place. And they were praised in the city where they had done these things. This too is pointless."},{"verse":11,"text":"Sometimes the punishment for a crime is not carried out quickly. Then people's hearts are fully set on doing evil."},{"verse":12,"text":"A sinner may do evil a hundred times and still live a long time. Yet I know that it will go well with those who fear God. It will go well with those who show him respect."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the wicked do not fear God. So it will not go well with them. Their days will not grow long like a shadow."},{"verse":14,"text":"There is something pointless that happens on the earth. Some righteous people get what the wicked deserve. And some wicked people get what the righteous deserve. I say that this too is pointless."},{"verse":15,"text":"So I praised the joy of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be happy. For this joy will stay with him in his work. It will stay with him all the days of life God gives him under the sun."},{"verse":16,"text":"I set my mind to know wisdom. I wanted to watch the work people do on the earth. Their eyes get no sleep, day or night."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then I saw all that God has done. No one can understand the work that is done under the sun. People try hard to search it out, but they cannot find its meaning. A wise man may say he knows, but he cannot understand it."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So I thought about all this, and I came to see this. The righteous and the wise and all they do are in God's hands. No one knows what is ahead, whether love or hate."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is the same for everyone. The same end comes to the righteous and the wicked. It comes to the good and the bad. It comes to the clean and the unclean. It comes to the one who offers sacrifices and the one who does not. It is the same for the good person and for the sinner. It is the same for the one who makes a vow and the one who refuses to make one."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is an evil in all that is done under the sun. The same end comes to everyone. Also, people's hearts are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they live. After that, they join the dead."},{"verse":4,"text":"But there is hope for anyone who is still alive. Even a live dog is better than a dead lion."},{"verse":5,"text":"For the living know that they will die. But the dead know nothing. They have no more reward, because the memory of them is forgotten."},{"verse":6,"text":"Their love, their hate, and their envy are already gone. They will never again have a part in anything done under the sun."},{"verse":7,"text":"Go and eat your bread with joy. Drink your wine with a happy heart. For God has already accepted what you do."},{"verse":8,"text":"Always wear white clothes. Always put oil on your head."},{"verse":9,"text":"Enjoy life with the wife you love. Do this all the days of the short life God has given you under the sun. Do it all your short days. This is your share in life and in your work under the sun."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your strength. For you are going to the grave. And in the grave there is no work or planning. There is no knowledge or wisdom there.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":11,"text":"I saw something else under the sun. The race is not won by the fastest. The battle is not won by the strongest. Bread does not go to the wise. Riches do not go to the smart. Favor does not go to the skilled. For time and chance happen to them all."},{"verse":12,"text":"No one knows when his time will come. Fish are caught in a cruel net. Birds are trapped in a snare. In the same way, people are trapped by evil times that fall on them suddenly."},{"verse":13,"text":"I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun. It seemed great to me:"},{"verse":14,"text":"There was a small city with only a few men in it. A mighty king came against it. He surrounded it and built large ramps to attack it."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now a poor but wise man lived in that city. He saved the city by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man."},{"verse":16,"text":"So I said, \"Wisdom is better than strength. But people look down on the poor man's wisdom. They do not listen to his words.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"People listen to the quiet words of the wise more than to the shouts of a ruler among fools."},{"verse":18,"text":"Wisdom is better than weapons of war. But one sinner can destroy much good."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Dead flies make the perfumer's oil stink. In the same way, a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor."},{"verse":2,"text":"A wise man's heart leans to the right. But a fool's heart leans to the left."},{"verse":3,"text":"Even when a fool walks down the road, he has no sense. He shows everyone that he is a fool."},{"verse":4,"text":"If the ruler gets angry with you, do not leave your post. For staying calm can put great wrongs to rest."},{"verse":5,"text":"I have seen an evil under the sun. It is a mistake that comes from the ruler:"},{"verse":6,"text":"Fools are put in high places. But the rich sit in low places."},{"verse":7,"text":"I have seen slaves riding on horses. And I have seen princes walking on foot like slaves."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whoever digs a pit may fall into it. Whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever cuts stones may be hurt by them. Whoever splits logs puts himself in danger."},{"verse":10,"text":"If the axe is dull and the blade is not sharpened, you must use more strength. But skill brings success."},{"verse":11,"text":"If a snake bites before it is charmed, the snake charmer gains nothing."},{"verse":12,"text":"The words of a wise man's mouth are kind. But a fool's lips destroy him."},{"verse":13,"text":"His talk begins with foolishness. It ends with evil madness."},{"verse":14,"text":"Still the fool keeps talking more and more. No one knows what is coming. Who can tell him what will happen after him?"},{"verse":15,"text":"A fool's work makes him tired, for he does not know the way to the city."},{"verse":16,"text":"How terrible for you, land whose king is a boy! How terrible when your princes feast in the morning!"},{"verse":17,"text":"You are blessed, land whose king comes from a noble family. You are blessed when your princes feast at the right time. They eat for strength, not to get drunk."},{"verse":18,"text":"Because of laziness, the roof falls in. Because of idle hands, the house leaks."},{"verse":19,"text":"A feast is made for laughter. Wine makes life happy. But money is the answer for everything."},{"verse":20,"text":"Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird in the sky may carry your words. A creature with wings may tell what you said."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Throw your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it again."},{"verse":2,"text":"Divide what you have among seven, or even eight. For you do not know what trouble may come on the land."},{"verse":3,"text":"If the clouds are full, they will pour rain on the earth. A tree may fall to the south or to the north. Wherever it falls, there it will lie."},{"verse":4,"text":"Whoever watches the wind will not plant. Whoever looks at the clouds will not harvest."},{"verse":5,"text":"You do not know the path of the wind. You do not know how bones are formed in a mother's womb. In the same way, you cannot understand the work of God. He is the Maker of all things."},{"verse":6,"text":"Plant your seed in the morning. Do not let your hands rest in the evening. For you do not know which will do well, this or that. Maybe both will do equally well."},{"verse":7,"text":"Light is sweet. It is good for the eyes to see the sun."},{"verse":8,"text":"So if a man lives many years, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is pointless."},{"verse":9,"text":"Be happy, young man, while you are young. Let your heart be glad while you are young. Follow the ways of your heart and what your eyes see. But know that God will judge you for all these things."},{"verse":10,"text":"So put sorrow out of your heart. Throw off pain from your body. For youth and strength do not last."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Remember your Creator while you are young. Remember him before the hard days come. Remember him before the years come when you will say, \"I find no joy in them.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars grows dark. Remember him before the clouds come back after the rain."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the keepers of the house will shake. The strong men will bend over. Those who grind will stop because they are few. And those looking through the windows will see dimly."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the doors to the street will be shut. The sound of the mill will fade away. People will wake up at the sound of a bird. And all the songs will grow quiet."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then people will be afraid of high places and dangers in the road. The almond tree will bloom. The grasshopper will lose its spring. The caper berry will dry up. Then man goes to his eternal home. And people who mourn will walk in the streets."},{"verse":6,"text":"Remember him before the silver cord is snapped. Remember him before the golden bowl is crushed. Remember him before the jar is smashed at the spring. Remember him before the wheel is broken at the well."},{"verse":7,"text":"Remember him before the dust goes back to the ground it came from. Remember him before the spirit goes back to God who gave it."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Totally pointless!\" says the Teacher. \"Everything is pointless!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The Teacher was wise. He also taught the people knowledge. He thought hard about many proverbs. He searched them out and put them in order."},{"verse":10,"text":"The Teacher searched to find pleasing words. He wanted to write words that were true and right."},{"verse":11,"text":"The words of the wise are like goads. Their collected sayings are like nails driven in firmly. They are given by one Shepherd.","note":"A goad was a pointed stick used to drive cattle."},{"verse":12,"text":"My son, be warned about anything more than these. There is no end to making many books. And much study makes the body tired."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now everything has been heard. Here is the end of the matter. Fear God and keep his commands, because this is the whole duty of every person."},{"verse":14,"text":"For God will bring every deed into judgment. He will judge every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."}]}]},{"name":"Song of Solomon","slug":"song-of-solomon","usfm":"SNG","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is Solomon's Song of Songs."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!\nFor your love is sweeter than wine."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your perfume smells so good.\nYour name is like perfume poured out.\nNo wonder the young women love you!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Take me away with you. Let's hurry!\nMay the king bring me into his rooms.\nWe will be glad and full of joy in you.\nWe will praise your love more than wine.\nIt is right that they love you."},{"verse":5,"text":"I am dark, but I am lovely,\nyou daughters of Jerusalem.\nI am dark like the tents of Kedar.\nI am lovely like the curtains of Solomon."},{"verse":6,"text":"Don't stare at me because I am dark.\nThe sun has looked down on me.\nMy mother's sons were angry with me.\nThey made me take care of the vineyards.\nBut I have not cared for my own vineyard."},{"verse":7,"text":"Tell me, you whom I love,\nwhere do you feed your sheep?\nWhere do you let them rest at noon?\nWhy should I be like a woman with a veil\nbeside the flocks of your friends?"},{"verse":8,"text":"If you don't know, most beautiful of women,\nfollow the tracks of the flock.\nLet your young goats eat grass\nnear the tents of the shepherds."},{"verse":9,"text":"My darling, you are like a mare\namong the chariots of Pharaoh."},{"verse":10,"text":"Your cheeks look lovely with jewelry.\nYour neck looks lovely with strings of jewels."},{"verse":11,"text":"We will make you jewelry of gold,\nwith small beads of silver on it."},{"verse":12,"text":"While the king was at his table,\nthe smell of my perfume filled the air."},{"verse":13,"text":"My beloved is like a little bag of myrrh to me.\nHe rests between my breasts."},{"verse":14,"text":"My beloved is like a bunch of henna flowers to me,\nin the vineyards of En-gedi."},{"verse":15,"text":"How beautiful you are, my darling!\nOh, you are so beautiful!\nYour eyes are like doves."},{"verse":16,"text":"How handsome you are, my beloved!\nOh, you are so lovely!\nThe soft green grass is our bed."},{"verse":17,"text":"The beams of our house are cedars.\nOur roof boards are sweet-smelling fir trees."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I am a rose of Sharon,\na lily of the valley."},{"verse":2,"text":"My darling among the young women\nis like a lily among thorns."},{"verse":3,"text":"My beloved among the young men\nis like an apple tree among the trees of the forest.\nI love to sit in his shade.\nHis fruit tastes sweet to me."},{"verse":4,"text":"He has brought me to the house of wine.\nHis banner over me is love."},{"verse":5,"text":"Give me strength with raisins.\nRefresh me with apples,\nfor I am weak with love."},{"verse":6,"text":"His left hand is under my head.\nHis right arm holds me close."},{"verse":7,"text":"Daughters of Jerusalem, make me a promise.\nPromise by the gazelles and the deer of the field.\nDo not stir up or wake up love\nuntil the time is right."},{"verse":8,"text":"Listen! My beloved is coming.\nLook! Here he comes.\nHe leaps over the mountains.\nHe jumps over the hills."},{"verse":9,"text":"My beloved is like a gazelle or a young deer.\nLook, he stands behind our wall.\nHe gazes through the windows.\nHe peeks through the lattice."},{"verse":10,"text":"My beloved calls to me,\n\"Get up, my darling.\nCome away with me, my beautiful one."},{"verse":11,"text":"For now the winter is past.\nThe rain is over and gone."},{"verse":12,"text":"Flowers have come up in the fields.\nThe time for singing has come.\nThe cooing of turtledoves\nis heard in our land."},{"verse":13,"text":"The fig tree is ripening its figs.\nThe vines are blooming and smell sweet.\nGet up, come away, my darling.\nCome away with me, my beautiful one.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"My dove, you are in the cracks of the rock,\nhidden in the side of the cliff.\nLet me see your face.\nLet me hear your voice.\nFor your voice is sweet,\nand your face is lovely."},{"verse":15,"text":"Catch the foxes for us,\nthe little foxes that ruin the vineyards.\nFor our vineyards are in bloom."},{"verse":16,"text":"My beloved is mine, and I am his.\nHe feeds his flock among the lilies."},{"verse":17,"text":"Before the day breaks\nand the shadows run away,\nturn back, my beloved.\nBe like a gazelle or a young deer\non the mountains of Bether."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At night on my bed\nI looked for the one I love.\nI looked for him, but I did not find him."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will get up now and go around the city.\nI will go through the streets and the squares.\nI will look for the one I love.\nSo I looked for him, but I did not find him."},{"verse":3,"text":"The watchmen found me\nas they walked around the city.\nI asked, \"Have you seen the one I love?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"I had just passed them\nwhen I found the one I love.\nI held on to him and would not let him go.\nI held him until I brought him to my mother's house,\nto the room of the one who gave birth to me."},{"verse":5,"text":"Daughters of Jerusalem, make me a promise.\nPromise by the gazelles and the deer of the field.\nDo not stir up or wake up love\nuntil the time is right."},{"verse":6,"text":"Who is this coming up from the wilderness\nlike a pillar of smoke?\nIt smells of myrrh and frankincense,\nand of all the spices the traders sell."},{"verse":7,"text":"Look! It is Solomon's carriage.\nSixty soldiers walk with it,\nthe strongest men of Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"All of them are good with the sword.\nThey have fought in many wars.\nEach one wears his sword at his side.\nThey are ready for the dangers of the night."},{"verse":9,"text":"King Solomon made his carriage\nout of wood from Lebanon."},{"verse":10,"text":"He made its posts of silver\nand its base of gold.\nIts seat is covered with purple cloth.\nThe daughters of Jerusalem\nlovingly decorated the inside."},{"verse":11,"text":"Come out, daughters of Zion.\nLook at King Solomon!\nHe is wearing the crown his mother put on him\non his wedding day.\nThat was the day his heart was full of joy."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How beautiful you are, my darling!\nOh, you are so beautiful!\nYour eyes behind your veil are like doves.\nYour hair is like a flock of goats\nrunning down Mount Gilead."},{"verse":2,"text":"Your teeth are like a flock of sheep\njust sheared and coming up from the washing.\nEach one has its twin.\nNot one of them is missing."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your lips are like a red ribbon.\nYour mouth is lovely.\nYour forehead behind your veil\nis like a slice of pomegranate."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your neck is like the tower of David,\nbuilt with rows of stone.\nA thousand shields hang on it.\nAll of them are the shields of warriors."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your breasts are like two fawns,\ntwin baby gazelles\neating among the lilies."},{"verse":6,"text":"Before the day breaks\nand the shadows run away,\nI will go to the mountain of myrrh\nand to the hill of frankincense."},{"verse":7,"text":"You are beautiful in every way, my darling.\nThere is nothing wrong with you at all."},{"verse":8,"text":"Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.\nCome with me from Lebanon!\nCome down from the top of Amana,\nfrom the peaks of Senir and Hermon.\nCome down from the lions' dens\nand the mountains where leopards live."},{"verse":9,"text":"You have taken my heart,\nmy sister, my bride.\nYou stole my heart with one look of your eyes,\nwith one jewel of your necklace."},{"verse":10,"text":"How sweet your love is,\nmy sister, my bride!\nYour love is much better than wine.\nYour perfume smells better than any spice."},{"verse":11,"text":"My bride, your lips drip sweetness like honeycomb.\nHoney and milk are under your tongue.\nYour clothes smell like Lebanon."},{"verse":12,"text":"My sister, my bride,\nyou are a garden that is locked up.\nYou are a spring that is closed in,\na fountain that is sealed."},{"verse":13,"text":"Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates\nwith the best fruits,\nwith henna and nard,"},{"verse":14,"text":"with nard and saffron,\nwith calamus and cinnamon,\nwith every kind of frankincense tree,\nwith myrrh and aloes,\nand with all the best spices."},{"verse":15,"text":"You are a spring in a garden.\nYou are a well of fresh water\nflowing down from Lebanon."},{"verse":16,"text":"Wake up, north wind!\nCome, south wind!\nBlow on my garden.\nSpread the sweet smell of its spices.\nLet my beloved come into his garden\nand taste its best fruits."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I have come into my garden,\nmy sister, my bride.\nI have gathered my myrrh and my spice.\nI have eaten my honeycomb and my honey.\nI have drunk my wine and my milk.\nEat, friends, and drink!\nDrink all you want, you who are loved."},{"verse":2,"text":"I was asleep, but my heart was awake.\nListen! My beloved is knocking.\n\"Open the door for me, my sister, my darling,\nmy dove, my perfect one.\nMy head is wet with dew.\nMy hair is damp from the night.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"I have taken off my robe.\nMust I put it on again?\nI have washed my feet.\nMust I get them dirty again?"},{"verse":4,"text":"My beloved put his hand on the latch.\nMy heart pounded for him."},{"verse":5,"text":"I got up to open the door for my beloved.\nMy hands dripped with myrrh.\nMy fingers dripped with flowing myrrh\non the handles of the lock."},{"verse":6,"text":"I opened the door for my beloved,\nbut he had turned and gone away.\nMy heart sank when he left.\nI looked for him, but I did not find him.\nI called him, but he did not answer."},{"verse":7,"text":"The watchmen found me\nas they walked around the city.\nThey beat me and bruised me.\nThey took away my cloak,\nthose guards of the walls."},{"verse":8,"text":"Daughters of Jerusalem, promise me this.\nIf you find my beloved,\ntell him I am sick with love."},{"verse":9,"text":"Most beautiful of women,\nwhy is your beloved better than others?\nWhy is he better than any other man,\nthat you make us promise this?"},{"verse":10,"text":"My beloved is shining and ruddy.\nHe stands out among ten thousand."},{"verse":11,"text":"His head is the purest gold.\nHis hair is wavy\nand black as a raven."},{"verse":12,"text":"His eyes are like doves\nby streams of water.\nThey are washed in milk\nand set like jewels."},{"verse":13,"text":"His cheeks are like beds of spice,\nlike towers of perfume.\nHis lips are like lilies\ndripping with flowing myrrh."},{"verse":14,"text":"His arms are rods of gold\nset with beryl stones.\nHis body is smooth ivory\ncovered with sapphires."},{"verse":15,"text":"His legs are pillars of marble\nset on bases of pure gold.\nHe looks like Lebanon.\nHe is as grand as its cedars."},{"verse":16,"text":"His mouth is very sweet.\nEverything about him is lovely.\nThis is my beloved.\nThis is my friend,\ndaughters of Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Most beautiful of women,\nwhere has your beloved gone?\nWhich way did he turn?\nWe will look for him with you."},{"verse":2,"text":"My beloved has gone down to his garden,\nto the beds of spices.\nHe went to feed his flock in the gardens\nand to gather lilies."},{"verse":3,"text":"I belong to my beloved,\nand he belongs to me.\nHe feeds his flock among the lilies."},{"verse":4,"text":"My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah.\nYou are as lovely as Jerusalem.\nYou are as grand as an army with banners."},{"verse":5,"text":"Turn your eyes away from me,\nfor they are too much for me.\nYour hair is like a flock of goats\nrunning down from Gilead."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your teeth are like a flock of sheep\ncoming up from the washing.\nEach one has its twin.\nNot one of them is missing."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your forehead behind your veil\nis like a slice of pomegranate."},{"verse":8,"text":"There are sixty queens\nand eighty concubines,\nand more young women than anyone can count,"},{"verse":9,"text":"but my dove, my perfect one, is the only one.\nShe is her mother's favorite,\nthe one her mother gave birth to.\nThe young women see her and call her blessed.\nThe queens and concubines praise her."},{"verse":10,"text":"Who is this who shines like the dawn?\nShe is as fair as the moon\nand as bright as the sun.\nShe is as grand as the stars marching across the sky."},{"verse":11,"text":"I went down to the grove of walnut trees\nto see the new growth in the valley.\nI went to see if the vines had buds\nor if the pomegranates were in bloom."},{"verse":12,"text":"Before I knew it,\nmy desire put me among the royal chariots of my people.","note":"The meaning of the Hebrew in this verse is not certain."},{"verse":13,"text":"Come back, come back, Shulammite!\nCome back, come back,\nso we may look at you!\nWhy do you look at the Shulammite\nas if she were dancing the dance of Mahanaim?"}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How beautiful your feet are in sandals,\ndaughter of a prince!\nThe curves of your thighs are like jewels,\nthe work of a master's hands."},{"verse":2,"text":"Your navel is a round cup.\nIt is never without mixed wine.\nYour waist is a heap of wheat\nwith lilies all around it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your breasts are like two fawns,\ntwin baby gazelles."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your neck is like a tower of ivory.\nYour eyes are like the pools of Heshbon\nby the gate of Bath-rabbim.\nYour nose is like the tower of Lebanon\nthat looks toward Damascus."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.\nThe hair on your head is like purple threads.\nThe king is held captive by your long hair."},{"verse":6,"text":"How beautiful and pleasing you are,\nmy love, with all your delights!"},{"verse":7,"text":"You are tall like a palm tree.\nYour breasts are like bunches of fruit."},{"verse":8,"text":"I said, \"I will climb the palm tree.\nI will take hold of its fruit.\"\nMay your breasts be like bunches of grapes on the vine.\nMay your breath smell like apples,"},{"verse":9,"text":"and may your mouth be like the best wine.\nMay it flow smoothly to my beloved,\ngliding gently over lips and teeth."},{"verse":10,"text":"I belong to my beloved,\nand his desire is for me."},{"verse":11,"text":"Come, my beloved.\nLet's go out to the countryside.\nLet's spend the night among the wildflowers."},{"verse":12,"text":"Let's get up early and go to the vineyards.\nLet's see if the vines have budded,\nif their flowers have opened,\nand if the pomegranates are in bloom.\nThere I will give you my love."},{"verse":13,"text":"The mandrakes give off their sweet smell.\nAt our door are all kinds of good things,\nnew ones and old ones.\nI have saved them up for you, my beloved."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I wish you were like a brother to me,\none who nursed at my mother's breasts.\nThen if I found you outside, I would kiss you.\nAnd no one would look down on me."},{"verse":2,"text":"I would lead you and bring you\nto the house of my mother, who taught me.\nI would give you spiced wine to drink,\nthe sweet juice of my pomegranates."},{"verse":3,"text":"His left hand is under my head.\nHis right arm holds me close."},{"verse":4,"text":"Daughters of Jerusalem, make me a promise.\nDo not stir up or wake up love\nuntil the time is right."},{"verse":5,"text":"Who is this coming up from the wilderness,\nleaning on her beloved?\nI woke you under the apple tree.\nThere your mother became pregnant with you.\nThere she was in labor and gave birth to you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Put me like a seal over your heart,\nlike a seal on your arm.\nFor love is as strong as death.\nIts jealousy is as hard to escape as the grave.\nIts sparks are flames of fire,\nthe hottest fire of all.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":7,"text":"Many waters cannot put out love.\nRivers cannot wash it away.\nIf a man gave all the riches of his house for love,\nhis offer would be completely scorned."},{"verse":8,"text":"We have a little sister.\nHer breasts have not grown yet.\nWhat will we do for our sister\non the day a man asks to marry her?"},{"verse":9,"text":"If she is a wall,\nwe will build a tower of silver on her.\nIf she is a door,\nwe will close her in with boards of cedar."},{"verse":10,"text":"I am a wall,\nand my breasts are like towers.\nSo in his eyes I have become\nlike one who brings peace."},{"verse":11,"text":"Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon.\nHe rented it out to farmers.\nEach one was to pay a thousand shekels of silver\nfor its fruit.","note":"A thousand shekels was about 25 pounds of silver."},{"verse":12,"text":"But my own vineyard is mine to give.\nThe thousand shekels are for you, Solomon.\nTwo hundred are for those who care for its fruit."},{"verse":13,"text":"You who live in the gardens,\nmy friends are listening for your voice.\nLet me hear it!"},{"verse":14,"text":"Come away, my beloved.\nBe like a gazelle or a young deer\non the mountains of spices."}]}]},{"name":"Isaiah","slug":"isaiah","usfm":"ISA","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw about Judah and Jerusalem. He saw it while Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Listen, heavens! Pay attention, earth!\nFor the LORD has spoken:\n\"I raised children and helped them grow up.\nBut they have turned against me."},{"verse":3,"text":"An ox knows its owner.\nA donkey knows where its master feeds it.\nBut Israel does not know.\nMy people do not understand.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"How terrible for you, sinful nation!\nYou are a people loaded down with sin.\nYou are a family of evildoers,\nchildren who do wicked things.\nThey have forsaken the LORD.\nThey have looked down on the Holy One of Israel.\nThey have turned their backs on him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Why do you want to be beaten again?\nWhy do you keep rebelling?\nYour whole head has a terrible wound.\nYour whole heart is sick."},{"verse":6,"text":"From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head,\nnothing is healthy.\nThere are only wounds and welts and open sores.\nThey have not been cleaned or bandaged.\nNo oil has been put on them to ease the pain."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your land is ruined.\nYour cities are burned with fire.\nForeigners eat up your fields right in front of you.\nIt is ruined, as when strangers tear a land down."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Daughter of Zion is left alone\nlike a shelter in a vineyard,\nlike a hut in a field of cucumbers,\nlike a city surrounded by enemies."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD of Hosts left us a few survivors.\nIf he had not, we would have become like Sodom.\nWe would have been like Gomorrah."},{"verse":10,"text":"Hear the word of the LORD,\nyou rulers of Sodom!\nListen to the teaching of our God,\nyou people of Gomorrah!"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"What good to me are all your sacrifices?\" says the LORD.\n\"I have had more than enough burnt offerings of rams.\nI have had enough fat from well-fed cattle.\nI take no joy in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats."},{"verse":12,"text":"You come to stand before me.\nBut who asked you to do this?\nWho asked you to stomp through my courtyards?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Stop bringing me worthless offerings!\nYour incense is disgusting to me.\nNew Moons, Sabbaths, and holy meetings!\nI cannot stand sin at a holy gathering."},{"verse":14,"text":"I hate your New Moons and your set feasts.\nThey have become a heavy load to me.\nI am tired of carrying them."},{"verse":15,"text":"When you lift up your hands to pray,\nI will hide my eyes from you.\nEven if you pray many prayers,\nI will not listen.\nYour hands are covered with blood."},{"verse":16,"text":"Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean.\nTake your evil deeds out of my sight.\nStop doing evil!"},{"verse":17,"text":"Learn to do what is right.\nWork for justice.\nCorrect those who crush others.\nStand up for children who have no father.\nSpeak up for the widow in court.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Come now, let us reason together,\" says the LORD.\n\"Even though your sins are like scarlet,\nthey will be as white as snow.\nEven though they are as red as crimson,\nthey will become like wool."},{"verse":19,"text":"If you are willing and you obey,\nyou will eat the best food of the land."},{"verse":20,"text":"But if you refuse and rebel,\nyou will be killed by the sword.\"\nFor the LORD himself has spoken."},{"verse":21,"text":"Look how the faithful city\nhas become a prostitute!\nShe was once full of justice.\nWhat is right used to live in her.\nBut now only murderers live there!"},{"verse":22,"text":"Your silver has become worthless scraps.\nYour best wine is mixed with water."},{"verse":23,"text":"Your rulers are rebels.\nThey are friends of thieves.\nAll of them love bribes\nand chase after gifts.\nThey do not stand up for children with no father.\nThe widow's case never even comes before them."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the Lord GOD of Hosts,\nthe Mighty One of Israel, says:\n\"Ah, I will get relief from my foes.\nI will pay back my enemies."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will turn my hand against you.\nI will burn away all your worthless scraps.\nI will take away everything that is not pure."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will give you judges again like you had at first.\nI will give you wise advisers like in the beginning.\nAfter that you will be called\nthe City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Zion will be redeemed by justice.\nThose in her who turn back to God\nwill be redeemed by what is right."},{"verse":28,"text":"But rebels and sinners will be crushed together.\nThose who forsake the LORD will perish."},{"verse":29,"text":"You will be ashamed of the sacred oak trees\nthat you loved so much.\nYou will be embarrassed by the gardens\nthat you chose."},{"verse":30,"text":"For you will be like an oak tree\nwith dried-up leaves.\nYou will be like a garden with no water."},{"verse":31,"text":"The strong man will become like dry kindling.\nHis work will be like a spark.\nThey will both burn together.\nNo one will put out the fire."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message that was shown to Isaiah son of Amoz about Judah and Jerusalem:"},{"verse":2,"text":"In the last days,\nthe mountain of the LORD's house\nwill be set up as the highest of the mountains.\nIt will be raised above the hills.\nAll nations will stream to it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Many peoples will come and say,\n\"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,\nto the house of the God of Jacob.\nHe will teach us his ways,\nso that we may walk in his paths.\"\nFor the law will go out from Zion.\nThe word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"He will judge between the nations.\nHe will settle arguments for many peoples.\nThey will hammer their swords into plows.\nThey will hammer their spears into pruning hooks.\nNation will not lift up the sword against nation.\nThey will not train for war anymore."},{"verse":5,"text":"Come, house of Jacob,\nlet us walk in the light of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"For you have left your people,\nthe house of Jacob.\nThey are full of ways from the east.\nThey tell fortunes like the Philistines.\nThey shake hands on deals with the children of foreigners."},{"verse":7,"text":"Their land is full of silver and gold.\nThere is no end to their treasures.\nTheir land is full of horses.\nThere is no end to their chariots."},{"verse":8,"text":"Their land is full of idols.\nThey bow down to things their own hands made,\nto what their fingers have shaped."},{"verse":9,"text":"So people are brought low.\nEveryone is humbled.\nDo not forgive them!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Go into the rocks.\nHide in the dust.\nHide from the terror of the LORD\nand the glory of his majesty."},{"verse":11,"text":"The proud eyes of people will be humbled.\nThe pride of men will be brought low.\nThe LORD alone will be lifted high on that day."},{"verse":12,"text":"For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come\nagainst all who are proud and high,\nagainst all that is lifted up.\nIt will be brought low."},{"verse":13,"text":"It will come against all the cedars of Lebanon,\nso tall and lifted up,\nand against all the oaks of Bashan,"},{"verse":14,"text":"against all the tall mountains,\nagainst all the high hills,"},{"verse":15,"text":"against every high tower,\nagainst every strong wall,"},{"verse":16,"text":"against every ship of Tarshish,\nand against every fine ship."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the pride of people will be brought low.\nThe pride of men will be humbled.\nThe LORD alone will be lifted high on that day,"},{"verse":18,"text":"and the idols will be gone completely."},{"verse":19,"text":"People will run to caves in the rocks\nand to holes in the ground.\nThey will hide from the terror of the LORD\nand from the glory of his majesty,\nwhen he rises to shake the earth."},{"verse":20,"text":"On that day people will throw away\ntheir idols of silver and gold.\nThey made these idols to worship.\nBut they will throw them to the moles and bats."},{"verse":21,"text":"They will run to caves in the rocks\nand to cracks in the cliffs.\nThey will hide from the terror of the LORD\nand from the glory of his majesty,\nwhen he rises to shake the earth."},{"verse":22,"text":"Stop trusting in man.\nHe has only a breath in his nose.\nWhat is he worth?"}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Look! The Lord GOD of Hosts\nis about to take away from Jerusalem and Judah\nall that they lean on and depend on.\nHe will take away all their food and water,"},{"verse":2,"text":"the strong man and the warrior,\nthe judge and the prophet,\nthe fortune-teller and the elder,"},{"verse":3,"text":"the captain of fifty and the important man,\nthe adviser, the skilled magician,\nand the clever charmer."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I will make mere boys their leaders.\nChildren will rule over them.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The people will treat each other cruelly.\nMan will fight against man,\nand neighbor against neighbor.\nThe young will rise up against the old.\nWorthless people will rise up against the honored."},{"verse":6,"text":"A man will grab his brother\nin his father's house and say,\n\"You have a coat. You be our leader!\nTake charge of this pile of ruins!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"On that day he will cry out,\n\"I am not a healer.\nI have no food or clothes in my house.\nDo not make me the leader of the people!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"For Jerusalem has stumbled.\nJudah has fallen.\nThis is because their words and deeds are against the LORD.\nThey defy his glorious presence."},{"verse":9,"text":"The look on their faces is a witness against them.\nThey show off their sin like Sodom.\nThey do not hide it.\nHow terrible for them!\nFor they have brought disaster on themselves."},{"verse":10,"text":"Tell those who do what is right\nthat things will go well for them,\nfor they will enjoy the fruit of their work."},{"verse":11,"text":"How terrible for the wicked!\nDisaster is on them!\nFor they will be paid back\nfor what their hands have done."},{"verse":12,"text":"Young people treat my people cruelly.\nWomen rule over them.\nMy people, your guides lead you the wrong way.\nThey turn you away from your paths."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD rises to argue his case.\nHe stands up to judge the people."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD brings this charge\nagainst the elders and leaders of his people:\n\"You are the ones who have eaten up the vineyard.\nWhat you stole from the poor is in your houses."},{"verse":15,"text":"Why do you crush my people?\nWhy do you grind the faces of the poor into the dirt?\"\nsays the Lord GOD of Hosts."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD also says,\n\"Because the daughters of Zion are proud,\nwalking with their heads held high\nand flirting with their eyes,\nprancing and skipping as they go,\nwith the bracelets on their ankles jingling,"},{"verse":17,"text":"the Lord will put sores\non the heads of the daughters of Zion.\nThe LORD will make their foreheads bare.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day the Lord will take away their fine things:\ntheir ankle bracelets, headbands, and moon-shaped necklaces,"},{"verse":19,"text":"their earrings, bracelets, and veils,"},{"verse":20,"text":"their headdresses, ankle chains, and sashes,\ntheir perfume bottles and charms,"},{"verse":21,"text":"their signet rings and nose rings,"},{"verse":22,"text":"their party robes, capes, cloaks, and purses,"},{"verse":23,"text":"and their mirrors, linen clothes,\nfancy head coverings, and shawls."},{"verse":24,"text":"Instead of perfume, there will be a bad smell.\nInstead of a belt, there will be a rope.\nInstead of fancy hair, there will be baldness.\nInstead of fine clothes, there will be sackcloth.\nInstead of beauty, there will be shame."},{"verse":25,"text":"Your men will be killed by the sword.\nYour warriors will die in battle."},{"verse":26,"text":"The gates of Zion will cry and mourn.\nShe will have nothing left.\nShe will sit on the ground."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On that day seven women will grab hold of one man. They will say, \"We will eat our own bread. We will get our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our shame!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious. The fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of Israel's survivors."},{"verse":3,"text":"Those left in Zion will be called holy. Those who remain in Jerusalem will be called holy. This means all in Jerusalem whose names are written down among the living."},{"verse":4,"text":"This will happen when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion. He will clean the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem. He will do it by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the LORD will make a cloud of smoke by day over all of Mount Zion and over her gatherings. He will make a glowing, flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering,"},{"verse":6,"text":"a shelter that gives shade from the heat in the daytime. It will be a safe place to hide from the storm and the rain."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I will sing for the one I love\na song about his vineyard.\nThe one I love had a vineyard\non a very rich hill."},{"verse":2,"text":"He dug up the ground and cleared away the stones.\nHe planted the best vines.\nHe built a watchtower in the middle of it.\nHe also cut out a winepress.\nThen he waited for it to grow good grapes.\nBut the fruit it grew was sour!"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Now, you people living in Jerusalem\nand you men of Judah,\nI urge you to judge between me and my vineyard."},{"verse":4,"text":"What more could have been done for my vineyard\nthan what I have done for it?\nI looked for sweet grapes.\nSo why did it grow sour fruit?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Now I will tell you\nwhat I am going to do to my vineyard.\nI will take away its hedge,\nand it will be eaten up.\nI will tear down its wall,\nand it will be trampled."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will make it a wasteland.\nNo one will trim its vines or dig its ground.\nThorns and briers will grow there.\nI will command the clouds\nnot to rain on it.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts\nis the house of Israel.\nThe men of Judah are the plant he loved.\nHe looked for justice,\nbut he saw people being killed.\nHe looked for what is right,\nbut he heard cries for help."},{"verse":8,"text":"How terrible for you who buy house after house\nand add field to field!\nYou do it until there is no room left,\nand you live alone in the land."},{"verse":9,"text":"I heard the LORD of Hosts say,\n\"For sure, many houses will be empty.\nBig, fine houses will have no one living in them."},{"verse":10,"text":"For ten acres of vineyard\nwill make only six gallons of wine.\nSix bushels of seed\nwill grow only about half a bushel of grain.\"","note":"Hebrew: a bath of wine; a homer of seed will yield only an ephah. A homer is ten ephahs."},{"verse":11,"text":"How terrible for those who get up early in the morning\nto chase after strong drink!\nThey stay up late into the evening\nuntil wine sets them on fire."},{"verse":12,"text":"At their feasts they have lyres and harps,\ntambourines and flutes and wine.\nBut they pay no attention to what the LORD does.\nThey do not see the work of his hands."},{"verse":13,"text":"So my people will be taken away as captives\nbecause they do not understand.\nTheir important men will starve.\nTheir crowds of people will be dry with thirst."},{"verse":14,"text":"So the grave opens its throat wide.\nIt opens its huge jaws.\nDown go Zion's nobles and her crowds,\nall her partyers and drunken people!","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":15,"text":"So people will be brought low.\nEach person will be humbled.\nThe proud will look down in shame."},{"verse":16,"text":"But the LORD of Hosts will be lifted high by his justice.\nThe holy God will show he is holy\nby doing what is righteous."},{"verse":17,"text":"Lambs will eat grass there\nas if it were their own pasture.\nStrangers will eat in the ruins of the rich."},{"verse":18,"text":"How terrible for those who pull sin along\nwith ropes made of lies!\nThey drag sin behind them\nlike a cart pulled with ropes."},{"verse":19,"text":"They say, \"Let God hurry up!\nLet him do his work quickly so we can see it!\nLet the plan of the Holy One of Israel come about,\nso we can know it!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"How terrible for those who call evil good\nand good evil!\nThey make darkness into light\nand light into darkness.\nThey make bitter into sweet\nand sweet into bitter."},{"verse":21,"text":"How terrible for those who think they are wise,\nwho think they are so clever!"},{"verse":22,"text":"How terrible for those who are heroes at drinking wine,\nand champions at mixing strong drinks!"},{"verse":23,"text":"They let guilty people go free for a bribe.\nThey take away justice from the innocent."},{"verse":24,"text":"So, as fire burns up straw,\nand as dry grass shrivels up in the flame,\nso their roots will rot.\nTheir flowers will blow away like dust.\nFor they have rejected the teaching of the LORD of Hosts.\nThey have hated the word of the Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":25,"text":"So the LORD's anger burns against his people.\nHe has raised his hand against them to strike them down.\nThe mountains shake.\nDead bodies lie like garbage in the streets.\nEven after all this, his anger has not turned away.\nHis hand is still raised to strike."},{"verse":26,"text":"He raises a flag as a signal to nations far away.\nHe whistles for people at the ends of the earth.\nLook! They come so fast!"},{"verse":27,"text":"None of them gets tired or trips.\nNo one gets sleepy or sleeps.\nNo belt is loose.\nNo sandal strap is broken."},{"verse":28,"text":"Their arrows are sharp.\nAll their bows are ready to shoot.\nTheir horses' hooves are hard as flint.\nTheir chariot wheels spin like a whirlwind."},{"verse":29,"text":"Their roar is like a lion's roar.\nThey roar like young lions.\nThey growl and grab their prey.\nThey carry it off,\nand no one can save it."},{"verse":30,"text":"On that day they will roar over it\nlike the roaring of the sea.\nIf anyone looks at the land,\nhe will see darkness and trouble.\nEven the light will be hidden by clouds."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. The bottom of his robe filled the temple."},{"verse":2,"text":"Seraphim stood above him. Each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces. With two they covered their feet. And with two they flew."},{"verse":3,"text":"They were calling out to one another, \"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Their voices made the doorposts and the doorways shake. The temple was filled with smoke."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I said, \"How terrible for me! I am ruined! For I am a man with unclean lips. And I live among a people with unclean lips. For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then one of the seraphim flew to me. In his hand was a burning coal. He had taken it from the altar with tongs."},{"verse":7,"text":"He touched my mouth with it and said, \"Look, this has touched your lips. Your wrong is taken away. Your sin is atoned for.\"","note":"To atone means to cover or make up for sin."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then I heard the voice of the Lord. He said, \"Whom should I send? Who will go for us?\" And I said, \"Here I am. Send me!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"He said, \"Go and tell this people, 'Keep on hearing, but never understand. Keep on seeing, but never know what you see.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Make the hearts of these people hard. Make their ears deaf, and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears and understand with their hearts. Then they might turn and be healed.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I asked, \"Lord, how long?\" He answered, \"Until the cities lie in ruins with no one living in them. Until the houses are empty and the land is ruined and wasted."},{"verse":12,"text":"Until the LORD has sent the people far away, and the land is totally deserted."},{"verse":13,"text":"Even if a tenth of the people are left in the land, it will be burned again. But when a terebinth or an oak is cut down, a stump is left. In the same way, the holy seed will be a stump in the land.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah. In his days, Rezin king of Aram marched up to fight against Jerusalem. Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, went with him. But he could not take the city."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the house of David was told, \"Aram has joined forces with Ephraim.\" So the hearts of Ahaz and his people shook. They shook like trees in the forest when the wind blows."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the LORD said to Isaiah, \"Go out to meet Ahaz. Take your son Shear-jashub with you. Meet him at the end of the water channel that flows into the upper pool. It is on the road to the field where cloth is washed."},{"verse":4,"text":"Say to him, 'Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoking stubs of firewood. Don't fear the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah."},{"verse":5,"text":"For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has made a plan to ruin you. They have said,"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Let's attack Judah and fill it with terror. Let's split it up among ourselves. Then we can make the son of Tabeal king over it.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But this is what the Lord GOD says: \"It will not stand. It will not happen."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the head of Aram is Damascus. The head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years, Ephraim will be too broken to be a people."},{"verse":9,"text":"The head of Ephraim is Samaria. The head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.\"'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD spoke to Ahaz again. He said,"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Ask the LORD your God for a sign. Ask for one from the deepest grave or from the highest heaven.\"","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":12,"text":"But Ahaz said, \"I won't ask. I won't test the LORD.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Isaiah said, \"Listen now, house of David! Isn't it enough to wear out people's patience? Will you wear out my God's patience too?"},{"verse":14,"text":"So the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son. She will name him Immanuel.","note":"Immanuel means \"God with us.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"He will be eating curds and honey by the time he knows enough to turn from evil and choose good."},{"verse":16,"text":"For before the boy knows enough to turn from evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you fear will be left empty."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD will bring a time on you, your people, and your father's family like no time since Ephraim broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day the LORD will whistle for the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile. He will whistle for the bees in the land of Assyria."},{"verse":19,"text":"They will all come and settle in the steep valleys and in the cracks of the rocks. They will settle on all the thornbushes and at all the watering holes."},{"verse":20,"text":"On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River. That razor is the king of Assyria. He will use it to shave your head and the hair on your legs. He will cut off your beard too."},{"verse":21,"text":"On that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep."},{"verse":22,"text":"They will give so much milk that he will eat curds. For all who are left in the land will eat curds and honey."},{"verse":23,"text":"On that day there will be places that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver. But only briers and thorns will be found there."},{"verse":24,"text":"Men will go there with bows and arrows, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns."},{"verse":25,"text":"There were hills that people once dug with hoes. But you will be afraid of the briers and thorns, so you won't go there anymore. Those hills will become places where oxen graze and sheep walk all over."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Take a large scroll. Write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.\"","note":"Maher-shalal-hash-baz means \"quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I will choose trustworthy witnesses for myself. They are Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then I slept with the prophetess. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, \"Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz."},{"verse":4,"text":"For before the boy knows how to say 'Father' or 'Mother,' the king of Assyria will carry off the riches of Damascus. He will carry off what was taken from Samaria.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD spoke to me again. He said,"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Because these people have turned away from the gently flowing waters of Shiloah, and are happy about Rezin and the son of Remaliah,"},{"verse":7,"text":"the Lord will surely bring the mighty flood waters of the Euphrates against them. That flood is the king of Assyria and all his power and glory. It will rise over all its channels. It will spill over all its banks."},{"verse":8,"text":"It will pour into Judah. It will swirl and sweep over it. It will rise as high as the neck. Its wide waters will cover your whole land, Immanuel!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Band together, you peoples, and be crushed!\nListen, all you faraway lands!\nGet ready for battle, and be crushed!\nGet ready for battle, and be crushed!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Make a plan, but it will fail.\nGive orders, but they will not happen.\nFor God is with us.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand on me. He warned me not to live the way these people live. He said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Don't call everything a plot that these people call a plot. Don't fear what they fear. Don't be filled with dread."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD of Hosts is the one you must treat as holy. He is the only one you should fear. He is the only one you should dread."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will be a holy place of safety. But for both houses of Israel, he will be a stone that makes people trip. He will be a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare."},{"verse":15,"text":"Many of them will trip over these. They will fall and be broken. They will be trapped and caught.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Tie up the testimony. Seal up the law among my disciples."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will wait for the LORD. He is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. But I will put my trust in him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Here I am, with the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who lives on Mount Zion."},{"verse":19,"text":"People will tell you to ask mediums and spiritists for advice. Those people whisper and mutter. But shouldn't a people ask their God instead? Why ask the dead about the living?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Go to the law and to the testimony! If they don't speak by this word, they have no light of dawn."},{"verse":21,"text":"They will wander through the land, sad and hungry. When they are starving, they will get angry. They will look up and curse their king and their God."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then they will look at the earth. They will see only trouble and darkness and terrible gloom. And they will be pushed into total darkness."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But there will be no more gloom for those who were in trouble. In the past he brought shame on the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:"},{"verse":2,"text":"The people walking in darkness\nhave seen a great light.\nOn those living in the land of the shadow of death,\na light has dawned."},{"verse":3,"text":"You have made the nation bigger.\nYou have made their joy greater.\nThe people are glad before you,\nlike people are glad at harvest time,\nlike men are glad when they divide what they won in battle."},{"verse":4,"text":"For you have broken the yoke that weighed them down.\nYou broke the bar across their shoulders\nand the rod of the one who crushed them.\nYou did it as in the day you beat Midian."},{"verse":5,"text":"For every boot that stomped in battle\nand every coat rolled in blood\nwill be burned up as fuel for the fire."},{"verse":6,"text":"For to us a child is born,\nto us a son is given.\nThe government will be on his shoulders.\nHe will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,\nEverlasting Father, Prince of Peace."},{"verse":7,"text":"His government and his peace will keep growing,\nand they will never end.\nHe will rule on David's throne\nand over David's kingdom.\nHe will set it up and hold it up\nwith justice and what is right,\nfrom then on and forever.\nThe LORD of Hosts will do this\nwith his great zeal."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Lord has sent a message against Jacob.\nIt has fallen on Israel."},{"verse":9,"text":"All the people will know it,\nEphraim and the people living in Samaria.\nWith proud and boastful hearts they will say,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"The bricks have fallen down,\nbut we will build again with cut stone.\nThe fig trees have been cut down,\nbut we will put cedars in their place.\"","note":"Hebrew: sycamores, a kind of fig tree."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the LORD has raised up Rezin's foes against him.\nHe has stirred up his enemies together."},{"verse":12,"text":"Aram from the east and Philistia from the west\nhave eaten up Israel with open mouths.\nEven after all this, his anger has not turned away.\nHis hand is still raised to strike."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the people did not turn back to the one who struck them.\nThey did not seek the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":14,"text":"So the LORD will cut off Israel's head and tail.\nHe will cut off both palm branch and reed in one day."},{"verse":15,"text":"The head is the elder and the honored man.\nThe tail is the prophet who teaches lies."},{"verse":16,"text":"For those who guide this people lead them the wrong way.\nAnd those they lead are swallowed up."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the Lord takes no joy in their young men.\nHe has no pity on their orphans and widows.\nFor every one of them is godless and wicked.\nEvery mouth speaks foolish things.\nEven after all this, his anger has not turned away.\nHis hand is still raised to strike."},{"verse":18,"text":"For wickedness burns like a fire.\nIt burns up the thorns and briers.\nIt sets the thick forest on fire.\nThe forest goes up in clouds of smoke."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD of Hosts is angry,\nso the land is burned.\nThe people are fuel for the fire.\nNo one even spares his own brother."},{"verse":20,"text":"They cut off food on the right,\nbut they are still hungry.\nThey eat food on the left,\nbut they are still not full.\nEach one eats the flesh of his own children."},{"verse":21,"text":"Manasseh eats up Ephraim,\nand Ephraim eats up Manasseh.\nTogether they turn against Judah.\nEven after all this, his anger has not turned away.\nHis hand is still raised to strike."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible for those who make unfair laws\nand write orders that crush people!"},{"verse":2,"text":"They keep the poor from being treated fairly.\nThey take away justice from my people who are crushed.\nThey hunt down widows like prey.\nThey rob children who have no parents."},{"verse":3,"text":"What will you do on the day God punishes you,\nwhen ruin comes from far away?\nWho will you run to for help?\nWhere will you leave your riches?"},{"verse":4,"text":"All you can do is bend down among the prisoners\nor fall among the dead.\nEven after all this, his anger has not turned away.\nHis hand is still raised to strike."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"How terrible for Assyria, the rod of my anger!\nThe club in their hands is my fury."},{"verse":6,"text":"I send him against a godless nation.\nI send him against a people I am angry with.\nI send him to take what they own and grab their riches.\nHe will stomp them down like mud in the streets."},{"verse":7,"text":"But this is not what he means to do.\nThis is not his plan.\nFor in his heart he wants to destroy\nand wipe out many nations."},{"verse":8,"text":"He says, 'Aren't all my commanders kings?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Isn't Calno like Carchemish?\nIsn't Hamath like Arpad?\nIsn't Samaria like Damascus?"},{"verse":10,"text":"My hand took hold of kingdoms full of idols.\nTheir idols were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria."},{"verse":11,"text":"I did that to Samaria and its idols.\nSo won't I do the same to Jerusalem and her idols?'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The Lord will finish all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Then he will say, \"I will punish the king of Assyria for the proud things his heart has done. I will punish him for the proud look in his eyes."},{"verse":13,"text":"For he says,\n'I did this by the strength of my hand\nand by my wisdom, because I am smart.\nI took away the borders of nations.\nI stole their treasures.\nLike a mighty one, I brought down their rulers."},{"verse":14,"text":"My hand reached out to grab the riches of the nations,\nas if reaching into a nest.\nPeople gather eggs that have been left behind.\nIn the same way, I gathered up the whole earth.\nNo wing flapped.\nNo beak opened to chirp.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Can an ax brag that it is greater\nthan the person who swings it?\nCan a saw brag against the one who uses it?\nThat would be like a rod waving the person who lifts it!\nIt would be like a wooden stick lifting up a man!"},{"verse":16,"text":"So the Lord GOD of Hosts\nwill send a wasting sickness on Assyria's strong warriors.\nUnder his glory a fire will be lit,\nlike a burning flame."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Light of Israel will become a fire.\nIsrael's Holy One will become a flame.\nIn one day it will burn up\nAssyria's thorns and thistles."},{"verse":18,"text":"It will totally destroy the glory of its forests and orchards,\nboth soul and body.\nIt will be like a sickness that wastes a man away."},{"verse":19,"text":"So few trees will be left in his forests\nthat a child could count them."},{"verse":20,"text":"On that day the people of Israel who are left,\nthe survivors of the house of Jacob,\nwill no longer lean on the one who struck them.\nThey will truly trust in the LORD,\nthe Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":21,"text":"A few who are left will return.\nThose left from Jacob will return\nto the Mighty God."},{"verse":22,"text":"Israel, your people may be as many\nas the sand by the sea.\nBut only a few who are left will return.\nDestruction has been decided on.\nIt will overflow with what is right."},{"verse":23,"text":"For the Lord GOD of Hosts will carry out\nthe destruction he has decided on\nagainst the whole land."},{"verse":24,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says:\n\"My people who live in Zion,\ndon't be afraid of Assyria.\nThey hit you with a rod.\nThey raise a club against you,\nas the Egyptians did."},{"verse":25,"text":"For in just a little while\nmy anger against you will end.\nThen my anger will turn to destroy them.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The LORD of Hosts will swing a whip against them.\nHe will strike them as he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb.\nHe will raise his staff over the sea,\nas he did in Egypt."},{"verse":27,"text":"On that day the heavy load\nwill be lifted from your shoulders.\nThe yoke will be taken off your neck.\nThe yoke will break\nbecause your neck will be too big for it."},{"verse":28,"text":"Assyria has come into Aiath.\nThey have passed through Migron.\nThey store their supplies at Michmash."},{"verse":29,"text":"They have crossed at the shallow place in the river.\nThey say, \"We will spend the night at Geba.\"\nRamah shakes with fear.\nGibeah of Saul runs away."},{"verse":30,"text":"Cry out loud, Daughter of Gallim!\nListen, Laishah!\nPoor Anathoth!"},{"verse":31,"text":"Madmenah runs away.\nThe people of Gebim hide for safety."},{"verse":32,"text":"This very day they will stop at Nob.\nThey will shake their fists\nat the mountain of Daughter Zion,\nat the hill of Jerusalem."},{"verse":33,"text":"Look! The Lord GOD of Hosts\nwill chop off the branches with terrible power.\nThe tall trees will be cut down.\nThe high ones will be brought low."},{"verse":34,"text":"He will cut down the thick forest with an ax.\nLebanon will fall before the Mighty One."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then a shoot will grow out of the stump of Jesse.\nA Branch from his roots will bear fruit."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him.\nHe is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,\nthe Spirit of good advice and strength,\nthe Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"He will find joy in the fear of the LORD.\nHe will not judge by what his eyes see.\nHe will not decide by what his ears hear."},{"verse":4,"text":"But he will judge the poor with what is right.\nHe will decide fairly for the humble people of the earth.\nHe will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth.\nHe will kill the wicked with the breath of his lips."},{"verse":5,"text":"What is right will be like the belt around his hips.\nFaithfulness will be like the sash around his waist."},{"verse":6,"text":"The wolf will live with the lamb.\nThe leopard will lie down with the young goat.\nThe calf, the young lion, and the fat calf will be together.\nAnd a little child will lead them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The cow will eat grass with the bear.\nTheir young will lie down together.\nThe lion will eat straw like the ox."},{"verse":8,"text":"The baby will play near the cobra's hole.\nThe little child will put a hand into the viper's nest."},{"verse":9,"text":"They will not hurt or destroy\non all my holy mountain.\nFor the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD,\nas the sea is full of water."},{"verse":10,"text":"On that day the Root of Jesse\nwill stand as a banner for the peoples.\nThe nations will come looking for him.\nThe place where he rests will be glorious."},{"verse":11,"text":"On that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time.\nHe will bring back his people who are left.\nHe will bring them from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, and Cush.\nHe will bring them from Elam, Shinar, and Hamath,\nand from the islands of the sea."},{"verse":12,"text":"He will raise a banner for the nations.\nHe will gather the people of Israel who were sent away.\nHe will bring together the scattered people of Judah\nfrom the four corners of the earth."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Ephraim will no longer be jealous.\nThe enemies of Judah will be cut off.\nEphraim will not be jealous of Judah.\nJudah will not be hostile to Ephraim."},{"verse":14,"text":"They will swoop down on the hills of the Philistines to the west.\nTogether they will rob the people of the east.\nThey will take control of Edom and Moab.\nThe Ammonites will obey them."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD will completely destroy\nthe gulf of the Sea of Egypt.\nHe will wave his hand over the Euphrates River\nwith a burning wind.\nHe will split it into seven streams,\nso people can cross it in dry sandals."},{"verse":16,"text":"There will be a highway for his people who are left,\nthose who remain in Assyria.\nIt will be like the road for Israel\nwhen they came up out of the land of Egypt."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On that day you will say,\n\"I will praise you, LORD.\nYou were angry with me,\nbut your anger has turned away,\nand you have comforted me."},{"verse":2,"text":"For sure, God is my salvation.\nI will trust him and not be afraid.\nFor the Lord GOD is my strength and my song.\nHe also has become my salvation.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"With joy you will draw water\nfrom the wells of salvation."},{"verse":4,"text":"On that day you will say,\n\"Give praise to the LORD.\nCall out his name!\nTell the peoples what he has done.\nTell them that his name is lifted high."},{"verse":5,"text":"Sing to the LORD,\nfor he has done glorious things.\nLet this be known in all the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"Shout and sing for joy, people of Zion!\nFor great among you\nis the Holy One of Israel.\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the heavy message against Babylon. Isaiah son of Amoz received it:"},{"verse":2,"text":"Raise a flag on a bare hilltop.\nCall out to them.\nWave your hand to them,\nso they will go through the gates of the nobles."},{"verse":3,"text":"I have given orders to the ones I set apart.\nI have called my warriors\nto carry out my anger\nand to cheer at my victory."},{"verse":4,"text":"Listen! There is a noise on the mountains,\nlike the noise of a great crowd!\nListen! There is a roar among the kingdoms,\nlike nations gathering together!\nThe LORD of Hosts is getting an army ready for war."},{"verse":5,"text":"They are coming from faraway lands,\nfrom the ends of the sky.\nThe LORD is coming with the weapons of his anger\nto destroy the whole land."},{"verse":6,"text":"Cry out loud,\nfor the Day of the LORD is near!\nIt will come like ruin from the Almighty."},{"verse":7,"text":"So every hand will hang down weak.\nEvery man's heart will melt with fear."},{"verse":8,"text":"Terror will grab them.\nPain and deep sorrow will take hold of them.\nThey will twist in pain like a woman giving birth.\nThey will look at each other,\nwith faces red with fear."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look! The Day of the LORD is coming.\nIt will be cruel, full of fury and burning anger.\nIt will make the earth a wasteland.\nIt will destroy the sinners in it."},{"verse":10,"text":"For the stars in the sky and their groups\nwill not give their light.\nThe sun will be dark when it rises.\nThe moon will not give its light."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will punish the world for its evil.\nI will punish the wicked for their sin.\nI will put an end to the pride of the proud.\nI will bring down the pride of the cruel."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make people harder to find than pure gold.\nThey will be rarer than the gold of Ophir."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I will make the heavens shake.\nThe earth will be shaken out of its place.\nThis will happen because the LORD of Hosts is angry,\non the day of his burning anger."},{"verse":14,"text":"Like a hunted gazelle,\nlike sheep with no shepherd,\neach one will go back to his own people.\nEach one will run to his own land."},{"verse":15,"text":"Anyone who is found will be stabbed.\nAnyone who is caught will be killed by the sword."},{"verse":16,"text":"Their babies will be smashed to pieces\nright in front of them.\nTheir houses will be robbed.\nTheir wives will be raped."},{"verse":17,"text":"Look! I will stir up the Medes against them.\nThe Medes do not care about silver.\nThey do not want gold."},{"verse":18,"text":"Their bows will cut down young men.\nThey will have no mercy on babies.\nThey will not pity children."},{"verse":19,"text":"Babylon is the jewel of the kingdoms,\nthe glory and pride of the Chaldeans.\nBut God will overthrow it\nlike Sodom and Gomorrah."},{"verse":20,"text":"No one will ever live there again.\nNo one will settle there for all time to come.\nNo wandering Arab will set up his tent there.\nNo shepherd will rest his flock there.","note":"Hebrew: no Arab; that is, no desert nomad."},{"verse":21,"text":"But desert animals will lie down there.\nHowling creatures will fill her houses.\nOstriches will live there.\nWild goats will leap around."},{"verse":22,"text":"Hyenas will howl in her forts.\nJackals will howl in her fancy palaces.\nBabylon's time is almost here.\nHer days will not last much longer."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For the LORD will show mercy to Jacob. He will choose Israel again. He will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them. They will unite with the house of Jacob."},{"verse":2,"text":"The nations will take Israel and bring them to their homeland. Then the house of Israel will own those nations as male and female servants in the LORD's land. They will make prisoners of those who held them prisoner. They will rule over those who crushed them."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD will give you rest from your pain and suffering. He will give you rest from the hard work you were forced to do. On that day,"},{"verse":4,"text":"you will sing this song to mock the king of Babylon:\nThe cruel ruler has come to an end!\nHis fury is over!"},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked,\nthe scepter of the rulers."},{"verse":6,"text":"In anger it struck the peoples\nwith blows that never stopped.\nIn rage it ruled the nations\nand chased them down without end."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now the whole earth is calm and at rest.\nThey burst out singing."},{"verse":8,"text":"Even the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon\nare glad about what happened to you.\nThey say, \"Since you were brought down,\nno woodcutter comes to cut us down.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The grave below is eager\nto meet you when you arrive.\nIt wakes up the spirits of the dead to greet you,\nall who were rulers of the earth.\nIt makes all the kings of the nations\nget up from their thrones.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol; also in verses 11 and 15."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will all answer you.\nThey will say, \"You have become weak too, just like us!\nYou have become like us!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"All your pride and glory have been brought down to the grave,\nalong with the music of your harps.\nMaggots are your bed.\nWorms are your blanket."},{"verse":12,"text":"How you have fallen from heaven,\nmorning star, son of the dawn!\nYou have been cut down to the ground,\nyou who destroyed nations!"},{"verse":13,"text":"You said in your heart,\n\"I will go up to heaven.\nI will raise my throne above the stars of God.\nI will sit on the mountain of meeting,\nfar away in the north."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will go up above the tops of the clouds.\nI will make myself like the Most High.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But you will be brought down to the grave,\nto the deepest part of the Pit."},{"verse":16,"text":"Those who see you will stare at you.\nThey will think about what happened to you.\nThey will say, \"Is this the man who shook the earth?\nIs this the one who made kingdoms tremble?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Is this the one who turned the world into a desert\nand tore down its cities?\nIs this the one who would not let his prisoners go home?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"All the kings of the nations\nlie in honor,\neach one in his own tomb."},{"verse":19,"text":"But you are thrown out of your grave\nlike a branch no one wants.\nYou are covered by those killed with the sword.\nYou are thrown into a rocky pit\nlike a dead body that has been stomped on."},{"verse":20,"text":"You will not be buried with them,\nbecause you ruined your land\nand killed your own people.\nThe children of the wicked\nwill never be spoken of again."},{"verse":21,"text":"Get a place ready to kill his sons\nfor the sins of their fathers.\nThey will never rise up to take over a land\nor fill the earth with their cities."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"I will rise up against them,\"\nsays the LORD of Hosts.\n\"I will cut off from Babylon her name and those who are left.\nI will cut off her children and her descendants,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":23,"text":"\"I will make her a place for owls\nand a land of swamps.\nI will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,\"\nsays the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":24,"text":"The LORD of Hosts has made a promise.\nHe said, \"For sure, it will happen as I have planned.\nWhat I have decided will stand."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will break Assyria in my land.\nI will stomp on him on my mountains.\nHis yoke will be taken off my people.\nHis heavy load will be lifted from their shoulders.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"This is the plan made for the whole earth.\nThis is the hand reached out over all the nations."},{"verse":27,"text":"The LORD of Hosts has made his plan.\nWho can stop him?\nHis hand is reached out.\nWho can turn it back?"},{"verse":28,"text":"This heavy message came in the year King Ahaz died:"},{"verse":29,"text":"Don't be glad, all you Philistines,\nthat the rod that struck you is broken.\nFor a viper will come out of the root of that snake.\nA flying serpent will come from its egg."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the oldest children of the poor will find food.\nThe needy will lie down in safety.\nBut I will kill your root with hunger.\nThose of you who are left will be killed."},{"verse":31,"text":"Cry out, you gate!\nWeep, you city!\nMelt away with fear, all you Philistines!\nFor a cloud of smoke is coming from the north.\nNo soldier falls behind in its ranks."},{"verse":32,"text":"What answer will be given\nto the messengers of that nation?\n\"The LORD has built Zion.\nHis suffering people will find safety there.\""}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the heavy message against Moab:\nAr in Moab is ruined,\ndestroyed in one night!\nKir in Moab is ruined,\ndestroyed in one night!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Dibon goes up to its temple\nto weep at its high places.\nMoab cries over Nebo and over Medeba.\nEvery head is shaved.\nEvery beard is cut off."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the streets they wear sackcloth.\nOn the roofs and in the town squares\nthey all cry out loud.\nThey fall down weeping."},{"verse":4,"text":"Heshbon and Elealeh cry out.\nTheir voices are heard as far as Jahaz.\nSo the soldiers of Moab cry out.\nTheir hearts shake inside them."},{"verse":5,"text":"My heart cries out for Moab.\nHer people run away as far as Zoar,\nas far as Eglath-shelishiyah.\nThey go up the hill to Luhith, weeping.\nOn the road to Horonaim\nthey cry over their ruin."},{"verse":6,"text":"The waters of Nimrim have dried up.\nThe grass has dried out.\nThe plants are gone.\nNothing green is left."},{"verse":7,"text":"So they carry away their riches and everything they own\nacross the Brook of the Willows."},{"verse":8,"text":"For their cries echo to the border of Moab.\nTheir weeping reaches Eglaim.\nIt is heard in Beer-elim."},{"verse":9,"text":"The waters of Dimon are full of blood.\nBut I will bring even more on Dimon.\nI will send a lion on those of Moab who run away,\nand on those left in the land."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Send lambs to the ruler of the land as payment.\nSend them from Sela in the desert\nto the mountain of Daughter Zion."},{"verse":2,"text":"The daughters of Moab are at the shallow crossings of the Arnon.\nThey are like birds flapping around\nafter being pushed out of the nest."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Give us advice.\nMake a decision.\nAt noon, cover us with shade as dark as night.\nHide the people who have run away.\nDon't give away the one who is running."},{"verse":4,"text":"Let my people who ran away stay with you.\nBe a safe place for Moab from the destroyer.\"\nWhen the cruel ruler is gone,\nwhen the destroying has stopped,\nand when those who crush others have disappeared from the land,"},{"verse":5,"text":"a throne will be set up in faithful love\nin the tent of David.\nA judge will sit on it in faithfulness.\nHe will look for justice\nand be quick to do what is right."},{"verse":6,"text":"We have heard about Moab's pride.\nHe is very proud and full of himself.\nHis pride overflows.\nBut his bragging is empty."},{"verse":7,"text":"So let Moab cry.\nLet them all cry together for Moab.\nMoan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth,\nyou who are struck down completely."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the fields of Heshbon have dried up.\nThe grapevines of Sibmah have dried up too.\nThe rulers of the nations\nhave stomped on its best vines.\nThose vines once reached as far as Jazer.\nThey spread out toward the desert.\nTheir branches spread out and went across the sea."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I weep with Jazer\nfor the vines of Sibmah.\nHeshbon and Elealeh,\nI soak you with my tears.\nThe happy shouts over your summer fruit and harvest\nhave gone silent."},{"verse":10,"text":"Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchard.\nNo one sings or shouts in the vineyards.\nNo one stomps grapes in the winepresses.\nI have put an end to the cheering."},{"verse":11,"text":"So my heart cries for Moab like a sad song on a harp.\nDeep inside, I cry for Kir-heres."},{"verse":12,"text":"Moab will go to the high place.\nHe will wear himself out.\nHe will go into his holy place to pray.\nBut it will do him no good."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is the message the LORD spoke about Moab in the past."},{"verse":14,"text":"But now the LORD says, \"In three years, as a hired worker counts years, Moab's glory will be looked down on. All her many people will be shamed. Those who are left will be few and weak.\""}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message of judgment against Damascus:\n\"Look, Damascus is no longer a city.\nIt has become a pile of ruins.","note":"Hebrew: burden or oracle."},{"verse":2,"text":"The cities of Aroer are left empty.\nThey will be left for the flocks.\nThe flocks will lie down there, and no one will scare them."},{"verse":3,"text":"The fortress will be gone from Ephraim.\nThe power to rule will be gone from Damascus.\nThe few left in Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,\"\nsays the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"On that day the glory of Jacob will fade.\nThe fat on his body will waste away."},{"verse":5,"text":"It will be like a reaper gathering the standing grain.\nHe harvests the heads of grain with his arm.\nIt will be like someone picking up leftover grain\nin the Valley of Rephaim."},{"verse":6,"text":"Yet some leftovers will remain.\nIt will be like an olive tree that has been beaten.\nTwo or three olives are left at the very top.\nFour or five are left on its fruitful branches,\"\nsays the LORD, the God of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"On that day people will look to their Maker.\nThey will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"They will not look to the altars they made with their hands.\nThey will not look to the Asherah poles and incense altars\nthey made with their fingers."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day their strong cities will be like empty thickets and hilltops.\nThey were left behind for the Israelites.\nThey will be totally ruined."},{"verse":10,"text":"For you have forgotten the God who saves you.\nYou have not remembered the Rock where you are safe.\nSo even though you plant lovely gardens\nand set out cuttings from foreign vines,"},{"verse":11,"text":"even though on the day you plant you make them grow,\nand that same morning you help your seeds sprout,\nthe harvest will be gone\nin a day of sickness and pain that cannot be cured."},{"verse":12,"text":"Oh, the uproar of many peoples!\nThey roar like the roaring seas.\nOh, the noise of the nations!\nThey rumble like the crashing of mighty waters."},{"verse":13,"text":"The nations roar like the rush of many waters.\nBut God scolds them, and they run far away.\nThey are blown by the wind like husks on the hills.\nThey are like tumbleweeds before a storm."},{"verse":14,"text":"In the evening, there is sudden terror!\nBefore morning, they are gone!\nThis is what happens to those who rob us.\nThis is the share of those who steal from us."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for the land of buzzing wings,\nalong the rivers of Cush."},{"verse":2,"text":"It sends messengers by sea\nin boats made of papyrus on the waters.\nGo, fast messengers, to a tall people with smooth skin.\nGo to a people feared far and wide.\nGo to a strong nation with a strange language,\nwhose land is divided by rivers."},{"verse":3,"text":"All you people of the world, who live on the earth,\nyou will see it when a flag is raised on the mountains.\nYou will hear it when a ram's horn blows."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the LORD told me:\n\"I will quietly watch from my home.\nI will be like shimmering heat in the sunshine.\nI will be like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"For before the harvest, when the blossom is gone\nand the flower becomes a ripening grape,\nhe will cut off the shoots with a pruning knife.\nHe will cut away the branches and throw them out."},{"verse":6,"text":"They will all be left for the birds of prey on the mountains\nand for the wild animals of the land.\nThe birds will feed on them in summer.\nAll the wild animals will feed on them in winter."},{"verse":7,"text":"At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of Hosts.\nThey will come from a tall people with smooth skin,\nfrom a people feared far and wide,\nfrom a strong nation with a strange language,\nwhose land is divided by rivers.\nThe gifts will be brought to Mount Zion,\nthe place of the Name of the LORD of Hosts."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message of judgment against Egypt:\nLook, the LORD rides on a fast cloud.\nHe is coming to Egypt.\nThe idols of Egypt will shake before him.\nThe hearts of the Egyptians will melt inside them."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian.\nBrother will fight against brother.\nNeighbor will fight against neighbor.\nCity will fight city, and kingdom will fight kingdom."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the Egyptians will lose heart.\nI will ruin their plans.\nSo they will turn to idols and the spirits of the dead.\nThey will turn to mediums and fortune-tellers."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will hand the Egyptians over to a harsh master.\nA fierce king will rule over them,\"\nsays the Lord GOD of Hosts."},{"verse":5,"text":"The waters of the Nile will dry up.\nThe riverbed will be dry and empty."},{"verse":6,"text":"The canals will stink.\nThe streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up.\nThe reeds and rushes will dry up and die."},{"verse":7,"text":"The reeds by the Nile, at the mouth of the river, will dry up.\nAll the fields planted along the Nile will dry up too.\nThey will blow away and be gone."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the fishermen will be sad.\nAll who throw a hook into the Nile will cry.\nThose who spread nets on the waters will waste away."},{"verse":9,"text":"The people who work with flax will lose hope.\nThe weavers of fine linen will turn pale."},{"verse":10,"text":"The cloth workers will be crushed.\nAll the hired workers will be sick at heart."},{"verse":11,"text":"The princes of Zoan are nothing but fools.\nPharaoh's wise advisers give silly advice.\nHow can you say to Pharaoh,\n\"I am one of the wise men.\nI am a son of the kings of the east\"?","note":"Or: a son of kings of long ago."},{"verse":12,"text":"Where are your wise men now?\nLet them tell you.\nLet them show what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt."},{"verse":13,"text":"The princes of Zoan have become fools.\nThe princes of Memphis are fooled.\nThe leaders of her tribes have led Egypt the wrong way.","note":"Hebrew: the cornerstones of her tribes."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD has poured a spirit of confusion into her.\nEgypt has gone the wrong way in all she does.\nShe is like a drunk man staggering through his own vomit."},{"verse":15,"text":"There is nothing Egypt can do,\nwhether head or tail, palm branch or reed."},{"verse":16,"text":"On that day the Egyptians will be like women.\nThey will shake with fear under the raised hand of the LORD of Hosts,\nwhen he waves it against them."},{"verse":17,"text":"The land of Judah will bring terror to Egypt.\nWhenever anyone talks about Judah, Egypt will shake with fear.\nThey will fear what the LORD of Hosts has planned against them."},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan.\nThey will promise to be loyal to the LORD of Hosts.\nOne of them will be called the City of the Sun.","note":"Some manuscripts read: City of Destruction."},{"verse":19,"text":"On that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the middle of Egypt.\nThere will be a stone pillar to the LORD near its border."},{"verse":20,"text":"It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt.\nThey will cry out to the LORD because of those who treat them cruelly.\nThen he will send them a savior and defender to rescue them."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD will make himself known to Egypt.\nOn that day Egypt will know the LORD.\nThey will worship him with sacrifices and offerings.\nThey will make promises to the LORD and keep them."},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague.\nHe will strike them, but he will heal them.\nThey will turn to the LORD.\nHe will hear their prayers and heal them."},{"verse":23,"text":"On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria.\nThe Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians will go to Assyria.\nThe Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together."},{"verse":24,"text":"On that day Israel will be the third partner with Egypt and Assyria.\nThey will be a blessing on the earth."},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD of Hosts will bless them. He will say,\n\"Blessed be Egypt, my people.\nBlessed be Assyria, the work of my hands.\nBlessed be Israel, my inheritance.\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Sargon king of Assyria sent his chief commander to Ashdod. The commander attacked Ashdod and captured it. Before the year that this happened,"},{"verse":2,"text":"the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said, \"Go, take the sackcloth off your waist. Take the sandals off your feet.\" Isaiah did this. He walked around naked and barefoot."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the LORD said, \"My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years. It is a sign and a warning against Egypt and Cush."},{"verse":4,"text":"In the same way, the king of Assyria will lead away the captives from Egypt and the exiles from Cush. Young and old will go naked and barefoot. Their bottoms will be bare, to Egypt's shame."},{"verse":5,"text":"Some people put their hope in Cush and bragged about Egypt. They will be afraid and ashamed."},{"verse":6,"text":"On that day the people who live on this coast will say, 'Look what has happened to the ones we hoped in! We ran to them for help. We wanted them to save us from the king of Assyria! So how can we escape?'\""}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message of judgment against the Desert by the Sea:\nLike whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev,\nan attacker comes from the desert,\nfrom a land of terror."},{"verse":2,"text":"A terrible vision has been shown to me:\n\"The traitor still betrays.\nThe destroyer still destroys.\nGo up, Elam! Attack, Media!\nI will put an end to all her groaning.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So my body is full of pain.\nPain grabs me, like a woman giving birth.\nWhat I hear makes me dizzy.\nWhat I see makes me afraid."},{"verse":4,"text":"My heart is weak.\nFear makes me shake.\nI longed for the evening.\nBut now it has turned to horror."},{"verse":5,"text":"They set the table.\nThey spread out the rugs.\nThey eat, they drink!\nGet up, you princes! Oil the shields!"},{"verse":6,"text":"This is what the Lord says to me:\n\"Go, put a lookout in place.\nHave him report what he sees."},{"verse":7,"text":"He may see chariots with teams of horsemen,\nriders on donkeys, or riders on camels.\nThen he must watch closely, very closely.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the lookout shouted,\n\"Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower.\nNight after night I stay at my post."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look, here come the riders,\nhorsemen in pairs.\"\nThen someone answered,\n\"Babylon has fallen, it has fallen!\nAll the statues of her gods lie broken on the ground!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"My people, you have been crushed like grain on the threshing floor.\nI tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts,\nthe God of Israel."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is the message of judgment against Dumah:\nSomeone calls to me from Seir,\n\"Watchman, how much of the night is left?\nWatchman, how much of the night is left?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The watchman answers,\n\"Morning has come, but night has come too.\nIf you want to ask, then ask.\nCome back again.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"This is the message of judgment against Arabia:\nYou caravans of the Dedanites,\nyou must camp in the thickets of Arabia."},{"verse":14,"text":"You people who live in Tema,\nbring water for the thirsty.\nMeet the refugees with food."},{"verse":15,"text":"For they run from the sword, the sword that is drawn.\nThey run from the bow that is bent.\nThey run from the hard fighting of battle."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the Lord says to me:\n\"In one year, counted the way a hired worker counts,\nall the glory of Kedar will be gone."},{"verse":17,"text":"Only a few archers will be left,\nonly a few warriors of Kedar.\"\nFor the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message of judgment against the Valley of Vision:\nWhat is wrong with you now?\nWhy have you all gone up on the rooftops,"},{"verse":2,"text":"you city full of noise, you town full of wild parties?\nYour dead did not die by the sword.\nThey were not killed in battle."},{"verse":3,"text":"All your rulers ran away together.\nThey were captured without a bow being used.\nAll who ran away were captured together.\nThey had run to a place far away."},{"verse":4,"text":"So I said, \"Look away from me.\nLet me weep bitter tears!\nDo not try to comfort me\nover the ruin of my dear people.\"","note":"Hebrew: the daughter of my people."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Lord GOD of Hosts has set a day in the Valley of Vision.\nIt is a day of panic and trampling and confusion.\nIt is a day of breaking down walls\nand crying out to the mountains."},{"verse":6,"text":"Elam picks up a quiver of arrows,\nwith chariots and horsemen.\nKir takes the cover off the shield."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your best valleys are full of chariots.\nHorsemen stand ready at the gates."},{"verse":8,"text":"He has taken away Judah's protection.\nOn that day you looked to the weapons\nin the House of the Forest."},{"verse":9,"text":"You saw that there were many holes\nin the walls of the City of David.\nYou collected water from the lower pool."},{"verse":10,"text":"You counted the houses of Jerusalem.\nYou tore houses down to make the wall stronger."},{"verse":11,"text":"You built a pool between the walls\nfor the water of the old pool.\nBut you did not look to the One who made it.\nYou did not think about the One who planned it long ago."},{"verse":12,"text":"On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called you to weep and wail.\nHe called you to shave your heads and wear sackcloth."},{"verse":13,"text":"But look, there is joy and celebration.\nCattle are butchered and sheep are killed.\nPeople eat meat and drink wine.\nThey say, \"Let's eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD of Hosts has made this known in my hearing:\n\"This sin of yours will never be forgiven\nuntil the day you die,\"\nsays the Lord GOD of Hosts.","note":"Hebrew: atoned for."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says:\n\"Go to Shebna, the manager in charge of the palace. Say to him:"},{"verse":16,"text":"'What are you doing here?\nWho gave you the right to cut out a tomb for yourself here?\nYou chisel your tomb up high.\nYou cut out a resting place for yourself in the rock."},{"verse":17,"text":"Look, you mighty man!\nThe LORD is about to shake you hard.\nHe will grab hold of you."},{"verse":18,"text":"He will roll you up into a ball.\nHe will throw you into a wide land.\nThere you will die.\nThere your fancy chariots will stay.\nYou are a shame to your master's house."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will remove you from your job.\nYou will be thrown out of your position."},{"verse":20,"text":"On that day I will call my servant,\nEliakim son of Hilkiah."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will dress him in your robe.\nI will tie your sash around him.\nI will put your power in his hand.\nHe will be a father to the people of Jerusalem\nand to the house of Judah."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will put the key to the house of David on his shoulder.\nWhat he opens, no one can shut.\nWhat he shuts, no one can open."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will drive him like a peg into a firm place.\nHe will be a seat of honor for his father's house."},{"verse":24,"text":"They will hang on him all the glory of his father's house.\nThey will hang his children and family on him,\nlike all the small dishes,\nfrom bowls to every kind of jar."},{"verse":25,"text":"On that day, says the LORD of Hosts,\nthe peg driven into a firm place will give way.\nIt will be cut off and fall.\nThe load hanging on it will fall too.'\"\nYes, the LORD has spoken."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message of judgment against Tyre:\nWail, you ships of Tarshish!\nTyre is destroyed, with no house or harbor left.\nThe news has reached them from the land of Cyprus."},{"verse":2,"text":"Be silent, you people who live on the coast,\nyou merchants of Sidon.\nYour traders have crossed the sea."},{"verse":3,"text":"The grain of Shihor came across the great waters.\nThe harvest of the Nile was Tyre's income.\nShe traded with the nations."},{"verse":4,"text":"Be ashamed, Sidon, you fortress by the sea.\nFor the sea has spoken:\n\"I have not been in labor or given birth.\nI have not raised young men or brought up young women.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"When the report reaches Egypt,\nthey will twist in pain over the news about Tyre."},{"verse":6,"text":"Cross over to Tarshish.\nWail, you people who live on the coast!"},{"verse":7,"text":"Is this your happy city?\nShe began long, long ago.\nHer feet carried her to live in faraway places."},{"verse":8,"text":"Who planned this against Tyre?\nShe gave out crowns.\nHer traders are princes.\nHer merchants are famous on the earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD of Hosts planned it.\nHe did it to dishonor all her proud beauty.\nHe did it to bring shame to all the famous people of the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"Farm your land like the Nile, Daughter of Tarshish.\nThere is no harbor anymore."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD has stretched out his hand over the sea.\nHe has made kingdoms shake.\nHe has given a command\nto destroy the fortresses of Canaan."},{"verse":12,"text":"He said, \"You will not celebrate anymore,\ncrushed Virgin Daughter of Sidon.\nGet up and cross over to Cyprus.\nEven there you will find no rest.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Look at the land of the Chaldeans.\nThose people are now worth nothing.\nThe Assyrians made it a place for desert animals.\nThey set up their siege towers.\nThey stripped its palaces bare.\nThey turned it into ruins."},{"verse":14,"text":"Wail, you ships of Tarshish!\nYour harbor has been destroyed!"},{"verse":15,"text":"At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years. That is as long as a king lives. But at the end of seventy years, Tyre will be like the prostitute in the song:"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Pick up your harp. Walk through the city,\nyou forgotten prostitute.\nPlay sweet music. Sing many songs.\nThen people will remember you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"At the end of seventy years, the LORD will bring Tyre back. Then she will go back to selling herself like a prostitute. She will sell herself to all the kingdoms on the face of the earth."},{"verse":18,"text":"But her profits and her pay will be set apart for the LORD. They will not be stored up or saved. Her profits will go to those who live in the LORD's presence. They will have plenty of food and fine clothes."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Look, the LORD is wiping out the earth.\nHe leaves it in ruins.\nHe will twist its surface.\nHe will scatter the people who live on it."},{"verse":2,"text":"It will be the same for people and priest,\nservant and master,\nmaid and the woman she serves,\nbuyer and seller,\nlender and borrower,\nthe one owed and the one in debt."},{"verse":3,"text":"The earth will be completely wiped out.\nIt will be totally robbed.\nFor the LORD has spoken this word."},{"verse":4,"text":"The earth mourns and dries up.\nThe world grows weak and fades.\nThe proud people of the earth waste away."},{"verse":5,"text":"The earth is made unclean by its people.\nThey have broken the laws.\nThey have gone against the decrees.\nThey have broken the covenant that lasts forever."},{"verse":6,"text":"So a curse has eaten up the earth.\nIts people must pay for their guilt.\nThe people of the earth have been burned up.\nOnly a few are left alive."},{"verse":7,"text":"The new wine dries up.\nThe vine dries up and dies.\nAll who used to party now groan."},{"verse":8,"text":"The happy tambourines have stopped.\nThe noise of the partying has ended.\nThe happy harp is silent."},{"verse":9,"text":"They do not sing and drink wine anymore.\nBeer tastes bitter to those who drink it."},{"verse":10,"text":"The city of chaos is broken down.\nEvery house is shut so no one can go in."},{"verse":11,"text":"In the streets they cry out for wine.\nAll joy turns to gloom.\nGladness has been sent away from the land."},{"verse":12,"text":"The city is left in ruins.\nIts gate is smashed to pieces."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is how it will be on the earth and among the nations.\nIt will be like an olive tree after the harvest is beaten off.\nIt will be like the few grapes left after the grape harvest."},{"verse":14,"text":"They lift up their voices.\nThey shout for joy.\nFrom the west they tell of the LORD's greatness."},{"verse":15,"text":"So give glory to the LORD in the east.\nPraise the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,\nin the islands of the sea."},{"verse":16,"text":"From the ends of the earth we hear singing:\n\"Glory to the Righteous One.\"\nBut I said, \"I am wasting away! I am wasting away!\nHow terrible it is for me!\"\nTraitors betray.\nTraitors keep on betraying."},{"verse":17,"text":"Terror and pit and trap are waiting for you,\nyou people who live on the earth."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever runs from the sound of terror will fall into the pit.\nWhoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in the trap.\nFor the windows of heaven are open.\nThe foundations of the earth shake."},{"verse":19,"text":"The earth is totally broken apart.\nThe earth is split open.\nThe earth is shaken hard."},{"verse":20,"text":"The earth staggers like a drunk man.\nIt sways like a shack.\nIts rebellion lies heavy on it.\nIt falls and will never get up again."},{"verse":21,"text":"On that day the LORD will punish\nthe powers in heaven above\nand the kings on the earth below.","note":"Hebrew: the host of heaven."},{"verse":22,"text":"They will be gathered together\nlike prisoners in a pit.\nThey will be locked in a prison.\nAfter many days they will be punished."},{"verse":23,"text":"The moon will be embarrassed.\nThe sun will be ashamed.\nFor the LORD of Hosts will rule as king\non Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.\nHe will rule with great glory in front of his elders."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"LORD, you are my God!\nI will lift you high. I will praise your name.\nYou have done wonderful things.\nYou planned them long ago,\nand you have been perfectly faithful."},{"verse":2,"text":"Yes, you have made the city a pile of rubble.\nYou have made the walled town a ruin.\nThe fortress of foreigners is not a city anymore.\nIt will never be built again."},{"verse":3,"text":"So a strong people will honor you.\nThe cities of cruel nations will fear you."},{"verse":4,"text":"For you have been a safe place for the poor.\nYou have been a fortress for the needy in their trouble.\nYou are a shelter from the storm\nand a shade from the heat.\nFor the breath of cruel people is like rain beating against a wall,"},{"verse":5,"text":"like heat in a dry land.\nYou quiet the noise of foreigners.\nThe shade of a cloud cools the heat.\nIn the same way, the song of cruel people is silenced."},{"verse":6,"text":"On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a rich feast for all peoples.\nIt will be a feast of aged wine and the best meat,\nof fine, aged wine."},{"verse":7,"text":"On this mountain he will swallow up the burial cloth\nthat covers all peoples.\nHe will swallow up the sheet that covers all nations."},{"verse":8,"text":"He will swallow up death forever.\nThe Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face.\nHe will take away the shame of his people\nfrom the whole earth.\nThe LORD has spoken."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day people will say,\n\"This really is our God!\nWe waited for him, and he saved us.\nThis is the LORD we waited for.\nLet's be happy and glad that he saved us.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"For the LORD's hand will rest on this mountain.\nBut Moab will be trampled where he stands,\nlike straw trampled into a manure pile."},{"verse":11,"text":"He will spread out his hands in it,\nlike a swimmer spreads his arms to swim.\nBut his pride will be brought down,\nno matter how skilled his hands are."},{"verse":12,"text":"The fortress with high walls will be brought down.\nIt will be thrown to the ground, into the dust."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:\nWe have a strong city.\nSalvation is its walls and towers."},{"verse":2,"text":"Open the gates so a righteous nation can come in,\na nation that stays faithful."},{"verse":3,"text":"You will keep in perfect peace\nthe one whose mind stays steady,\nbecause he trusts in you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Trust in the LORD forever,\nbecause GOD the LORD is the Rock that lasts forever."},{"verse":5,"text":"He has brought down those who live up high.\nHe brings the proud city low.\nHe brings it down to the ground.\nHe throws it into the dust."},{"verse":6,"text":"Feet trample it down,\nthe feet of those who were treated badly,\nthe steps of the poor."},{"verse":7,"text":"The path of those who do what is right is level.\nYou make a straight, smooth path for honest people."},{"verse":8,"text":"Yes, LORD, we wait for you.\nWe walk in the path of your judgments.\nYour name and your fame\nare what our hearts long for."},{"verse":9,"text":"My soul longs for you in the night.\nYes, my spirit looks for you at dawn.\nFor when your judgments come on the earth,\nthe people of the world learn what is right."},{"verse":10,"text":"Grace may be shown to a wicked man,\nbut he does not learn what is right.\nEven in a land where people do right, he does wrong.\nHe does not see how great the LORD is."},{"verse":11,"text":"LORD, your hand is raised up,\nbut they do not see it.\nThey will see your zeal for your people,\nand they will be put to shame.\nThe fire saved for your enemies will burn them up!"},{"verse":12,"text":"LORD, you will give us peace.\nFor everything we have done,\nyou have done for us."},{"verse":13,"text":"LORD our God, other masters besides you have ruled over us.\nBut your name is the only one we honor."},{"verse":14,"text":"The dead will not live again.\nThe spirits of the dead will not rise.\nThat is why you punished them and destroyed them.\nYou wiped out every memory of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"LORD, you have made the nation bigger.\nYou have made the nation bigger.\nYou have won glory for yourself.\nYou have pushed out all the borders of the land."},{"verse":16,"text":"LORD, they looked for you in their trouble.\nWhen you corrected them,\nthey could only whisper a prayer."},{"verse":17,"text":"A pregnant woman about to give birth\ntwists and cries out in pain.\nThat is how we were before you, LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"We were pregnant. We twisted in pain.\nBut we gave birth only to wind.\nWe have not brought saving help to the earth.\nWe have not brought any life into the world."},{"verse":19,"text":"Your dead will live.\nTheir bodies will rise.\nYou who lie in the dust, wake up and sing for joy!\nFor your dew is like the morning dew.\nThe earth will give birth to her dead."},{"verse":20,"text":"Go, my people, into your rooms.\nShut your doors behind you.\nHide for a little while,\nuntil the anger has passed by."},{"verse":21,"text":"For look, the LORD is coming out from his home.\nHe is coming to punish the people of the earth for their sin.\nThe earth will show the blood spilled on it.\nIt will not hide its dead anymore."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On that day the LORD will take his sword.\nIt is sharp and great and strong.\nHe will judge Leviathan, the serpent that runs away,\nLeviathan, the serpent that coils.\nHe will kill the dragon of the sea."},{"verse":2,"text":"On that day:\n\"Sing about a fruitful vineyard."},{"verse":3,"text":"I, the LORD, take care of it.\nI water it all the time.\nI guard it night and day\nso no one can harm it."},{"verse":4,"text":"I am not angry.\nIf only thorns and briers would fight me!\nI would march against them and trample them.\nI would burn them all up."},{"verse":5,"text":"Or let them come to me for safety.\nLet them make peace with me.\nYes, let them make peace with me.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"In the days to come, Jacob will take root.\nIsrael will bud and bloom.\nThey will fill the whole world with fruit."},{"verse":7,"text":"Has the LORD struck Israel\nthe way he struck those who struck her?\nWas she killed\nthe way those who killed her were killed?"},{"verse":8,"text":"You fought against her by war and exile.\nYou drove her away with your fierce wind,\nlike on a day when the east wind blows."},{"verse":9,"text":"So Jacob's guilt will be paid for.\nThis will be the full result of taking away his sin:\nWhen he makes all the altar stones\nlike chalk that has been crushed to bits,\nno Asherah poles or incense altars will be left standing.","note":"Hebrew: atoned for."},{"verse":10,"text":"The walled city is empty.\nIt is a home left behind,\na wilderness no one lives in.\nThere the calves eat grass and lie down.\nThey strip its branches bare."},{"verse":11,"text":"When its branches are dry, they are broken off.\nWomen come and use them to start fires.\nFor this is a people who do not understand.\nSo their Maker has no pity on them.\nTheir Creator shows them no kindness."},{"verse":12,"text":"On that day the LORD will thresh\nfrom the flowing Euphrates River to the Wadi of Egypt.\nAnd you, Israelites, will be gathered one by one."},{"verse":13,"text":"On that day a great ram's horn will blow.\nThose who were dying in Assyria will come.\nThose who were sent away to Egypt will come too.\nThey will worship the LORD\non the holy mountain in Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for the proud crown of Ephraim's drunks!\nHow terrible for its fading flower of glorious beauty!\nIt sits on the hilltop above the rich valley.\nIt is the pride of those who are overcome by wine."},{"verse":2,"text":"Look, the Lord has someone who is strong and mighty.\nHe is like a hailstorm or a destroying storm.\nHe is like a pounding rain or a flood.\nHe will throw that crown down to the ground."},{"verse":3,"text":"The proud crown of Ephraim's drunks\nwill be trampled under feet."},{"verse":4,"text":"Its fading flower of beautiful glory\nsits on the hilltop above the rich valley.\nIt will be like a fig that is ripe before the summer harvest.\nWhoever sees it picks it\nand swallows it right away."},{"verse":5,"text":"On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a glorious crown.\nHe will be a beautiful headband\nfor the few of his people who are left."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will give a spirit of justice to the one who sits as judge.\nHe will give strength to those who push back the attack at the gate."},{"verse":7,"text":"These also stagger from wine.\nThey stumble from beer.\nPriests and prophets stagger from beer.\nThey are confused by wine.\nThey stumble because of beer.\nThey are mixed up in their visions.\nThey stumble when they make decisions."},{"verse":8,"text":"All their tables are covered with vomit.\nThere is not one clean place left."},{"verse":9,"text":"Who is he trying to teach?\nWho is he explaining his message to?\nTo babies just finished drinking milk?\nTo babies just taken from the breast?"},{"verse":10,"text":"For they hear:\n\"Rule on rule, rule on rule,\nline on line, line on line,\na little here, a little there.\"","note":"The Hebrew sounds like baby talk: tsav latsav, kav lakav."},{"verse":11,"text":"So now God will speak to this people\nwith mocking lips and foreign languages."},{"verse":12,"text":"He had said to them,\n\"This is the place of rest.\nLet the tired people rest.\nThis is the place of peace.\"\nBut they would not listen."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the word of the LORD to them will become:\n\"Rule on rule, rule on rule,\nline on line, line on line,\na little here, a little there,\"\nso that they will go and fall backward.\nThey will be hurt and trapped and captured."},{"verse":14,"text":"So hear the word of the LORD,\nyou mockers who rule this people in Jerusalem."},{"verse":15,"text":"For you said, \"We have made a covenant with death.\nWe have made a deal with the grave.\nWhen the flooding disaster sweeps through,\nit will not touch us,\nbecause we have made lies our safe place.\nWe have made falsehood our hiding place.\"","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":16,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says:\n\"Look, I am laying a stone in Zion.\nIt is a tested stone,\na precious cornerstone,\na sure foundation.\nThe one who believes will never be shaken."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will make justice the measuring line.\nI will make what is right the level.\nHail will sweep away your safe place of lies.\nWater will flood your hiding place."},{"verse":18,"text":"Your covenant with death will be canceled.\nYour deal with the grave will not stand.\nWhen the flooding disaster sweeps through,\nit will trample you down.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":19,"text":"Every time it sweeps through, it will carry you away.\nIt will come morning after morning,\nby day and by night.\"\nWhen people understand this message,\nit will bring them pure terror."},{"verse":20,"text":"Yes, the bed is too short to stretch out on.\nThe blanket is too small to wrap around you."},{"verse":21,"text":"The LORD will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim.\nHe will stir himself up as he did in the Valley of Gibeon.\nHe will do his work, his strange work.\nHe will do his task, his troubling task."},{"verse":22,"text":"So now, stop mocking,\nor your chains will get heavier.\nI have heard from the Lord GOD of Hosts\nthat he has ordered the whole land destroyed."},{"verse":23,"text":"Listen and hear my voice.\nPay attention and hear what I say."},{"verse":24,"text":"Does the farmer plow every day to get ready for planting?\nDoes he keep on breaking up and smoothing the soil?"},{"verse":25,"text":"When he has made the ground level,\ndoesn't he plant caraway and scatter cumin?\nHe plants wheat in rows and barley in its place.\nHe plants rye along its edges."},{"verse":26,"text":"For his God shows him what to do.\nGod teaches him the right way."},{"verse":27,"text":"Caraway is not threshed with a heavy sled.\nA cart wheel is not rolled over cumin.\nCaraway is beaten out with a stick.\nCumin is beaten out with a rod."},{"verse":28,"text":"Grain for bread must be ground.\nBut it is not threshed forever.\nThe cart wheels may roll over it,\nbut the horses do not crush it."},{"verse":29,"text":"This also comes from the LORD of Hosts.\nHis advice is wonderful,\nand his wisdom is great."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, Ariel,\nthe city of Ariel where David camped!\nYear after year,\nlet your feasts keep coming around.","note":"Ariel is a name for Jerusalem. It may mean altar hearth."},{"verse":2,"text":"But I will bring trouble on Ariel.\nThere will be mourning and crying.\nShe will be like an altar hearth to me."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will camp in a circle all around you.\nI will surround you with towers.\nI will set up siege ramps against you."},{"verse":4,"text":"You will be brought low.\nYou will speak from the ground.\nYour words will be muffled from the dust.\nYour voice will be like a ghost from the ground.\nYour words will whisper out of the dust."},{"verse":5,"text":"But your many enemies will be like fine dust.\nThe crowd of cruel men will be like blowing husks.\nThen suddenly, in a moment,"},{"verse":6,"text":"the LORD of Hosts will come to you.\nHe will come with thunder and earthquake and a loud noise.\nHe will come with windstorm and storm\nand flames of fire that burn everything up."},{"verse":7,"text":"All the many nations will go out to fight against Ariel.\nAll who fight against her will surround her and attack her.\nBut they will be like a dream,\nlike a vision in the night."},{"verse":8,"text":"It will be like a hungry man who dreams he is eating.\nThen he wakes up, and he is still hungry.\nIt will be like a thirsty man who dreams he is drinking.\nThen he wakes up, weak and dry.\nThat is how it will be for all the many nations\nwho fight against Mount Zion."},{"verse":9,"text":"Stop and be amazed.\nBlind yourselves and do not see.\nBe drunk, but not from wine.\nStagger, but not from beer."},{"verse":10,"text":"For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep.\nHe has shut your eyes, you prophets.\nHe has covered your heads, you seers."},{"verse":11,"text":"This whole vision will be like the words in a sealed scroll to you. Suppose it is handed to someone who can read. He will say, \"I can't read it, because it is sealed.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Or suppose the scroll is handed to someone who can't read. He will say, \"I don't know how to read.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So the Lord said:\n\"These people come near to me with their mouths.\nThey honor me with their lips.\nBut their hearts are far away from me.\nTheir worship of me is only rules taught by people."},{"verse":14,"text":"So once again I will amaze these people\nwith wonder after wonder.\nThe wisdom of the wise will disappear.\nThe understanding of the smart will be hidden.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"How terrible it will be for those who dig deep\nto hide their plans from the LORD.\nThey do their deeds in the dark.\nThey say, \"Who sees us? Who will know?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"You turn things upside down!\nIt is as if the potter were thought of as the clay.\nShould the thing that was made say to its maker,\n\"He did not make me\"?\nCan the pot say about the potter,\n\"He doesn't understand anything\"?"},{"verse":17,"text":"In a very short time,\nwon't Lebanon become a rich orchard?\nAnd won't the orchard seem like a forest?"},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll.\nOut of deep darkness,\nthe eyes of the blind will see."},{"verse":19,"text":"The humble will have more and more joy in the LORD.\nThe poorest people will be glad in the Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":20,"text":"For the cruel will vanish.\nThe mockers will disappear.\nAll who look for ways to do evil will be cut down."},{"verse":21,"text":"They are the ones who make a man guilty with just a word.\nThey set traps for the one who defends others at the city gate.\nThey use false charges to keep justice from the innocent."},{"verse":22,"text":"So the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says this about the house of Jacob:\n\"Jacob will not be ashamed anymore.\nHis face will not turn pale anymore."},{"verse":23,"text":"He will see his children around him,\nthe work of my hands.\nThen they will honor my name.\nThey will treat the Holy One of Jacob as holy.\nThey will stand in awe of the God of Israel."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then those who wander in spirit will come to understand.\nThose who complain will accept teaching.\""}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"How terrible it will be for the rebel children,\"\nsays the LORD.\n\"They carry out a plan that is not mine.\nThey make an agreement with others, but it is against my will.\nThey pile sin on top of sin."},{"verse":2,"text":"They start out to go down to Egypt\nwithout asking me for advice.\nThey look for shelter under Pharaoh's protection.\nThey look for safety in Egypt's shade."},{"verse":3,"text":"But Pharaoh's protection will bring you shame.\nHiding in Egypt's shade will bring you disgrace."},{"verse":4,"text":"For even though their princes are at Zoan,\nand their messengers have arrived in Hanes,"},{"verse":5,"text":"everyone will be put to shame\nbecause of a people who are useless to them.\nThey bring no help and no good,\nonly shame and disgrace.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"This is the message of judgment against the animals of the Negev:\nThey travel through a land of hardship and trouble.\nIt is a land of lionesses and lions,\nof poisonous snakes and flying serpents.\nThey carry their riches on the backs of donkeys.\nThey carry their treasures on the humps of camels.\nThey take them to a people who cannot help them."},{"verse":7,"text":"Egypt's help is useless and empty.\nSo I have called her\nRahab Who Sits Still.","note":"Rahab here is a name for a sea monster, used as a symbol for Egypt."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now go and write it on a tablet in front of them.\nWrite it on a scroll.\nIt will be for the days to come,\na witness forever and ever."},{"verse":9,"text":"These are rebel people.\nThey are lying children.\nThey are children who will not obey the LORD's teaching."},{"verse":10,"text":"They say to the seers, \"Stop seeing visions!\"\nThey say to the prophets,\n\"Don't tell us what is true!\nTell us nice things.\nProphesy things that are not real."},{"verse":11,"text":"Get out of the way.\nLeave this path.\nStop telling us about the Holy One of Israel!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So this is what the Holy One of Israel says:\n\"Because you have rejected this message,\nand you trust in being cruel to others,\nand you depend on lies,"},{"verse":13,"text":"this sin of yours is like a crack in a high wall.\nThe wall bulges and is about to fall.\nIt will crash down suddenly, in a moment!"},{"verse":14,"text":"It will break into pieces like a potter's jar.\nIt will be smashed so badly that no piece can be found.\nNo piece in the dust will be big enough\nto scoop coals from a fire\nor to dip water from a well.\"","note":"Or: cistern, a pit for storing rainwater."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, says:\n\"You would be saved by turning back to me and resting.\nYour strength would come from being quiet and trusting.\nBut you would not do it.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"You said, \"No, we will run away on horses.\"\nSo you will run away!\nYou said, \"We will ride fast horses.\"\nBut those chasing you will be faster."},{"verse":17,"text":"A thousand of you will run from the threat of one.\nAt the threat of five, all of you will run.\nIn the end you will be left alone,\nlike a pole on a mountaintop,\nlike a flag on a hill."},{"verse":18,"text":"So the LORD longs to show you grace.\nHe rises up to show you mercy.\nFor the LORD is a God of justice.\nBlessed are all who wait for him."},{"verse":19,"text":"People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,\nyou will not cry anymore.\nHe will surely show you grace when you cry for help.\nWhen he hears you, he will answer you."},{"verse":20,"text":"The Lord will give you hard times as your bread\nand trouble as your water.\nBut your Teacher will not hide anymore.\nYou will see him with your own eyes."},{"verse":21,"text":"You may turn to the right or to the left.\nThen your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,\n\"This is the way. Walk in it.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then you will treat your idols as unclean.\nThey are covered with silver and gold.\nYou will throw them away like cloths from a woman's monthly bleeding.\nYou will say to them, \"Go away!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then he will send rain for the seed you plant in the ground.\nThe food from your land will be rich and plenty.\nOn that day your cattle will eat grass in wide fields."},{"verse":24,"text":"The oxen and donkeys that work the ground\nwill eat salted feed.\nIt will be separated from the husks with shovel and pitchfork."},{"verse":25,"text":"Streams of water will flow\nfrom every high mountain and every tall hill.\nThis will happen on the day of great killing,\nwhen the towers fall."},{"verse":26,"text":"The moon will shine as bright as the sun.\nThe sun will shine seven times brighter,\nlike the light of seven days.\nThis will happen on the day the LORD bandages his broken people.\nHe will heal the wounds he gave them."},{"verse":27,"text":"Look, the Name of the LORD is coming from far away.\nHe comes with burning anger and thick smoke.\nHis lips are full of fury.\nHis tongue is like a fire that burns everything up."},{"verse":28,"text":"His breath is like a rushing flood\nthat rises up to the neck.\nHe comes to shake the nations in a sifting screen that destroys.\nHe puts a bit in the mouths of the peoples\nto lead them the wrong way."},{"verse":29,"text":"You will sing like on the night of a holy feast.\nYour heart will be glad\nlike someone who walks to the music of a flute.\nYou will go up to the mountain of the LORD,\nto the Rock of Israel."},{"verse":30,"text":"The LORD will make people hear his great voice.\nHe will show his mighty arm coming down.\nHe will strike in burning anger,\nwith flames of fire that burn everything up.\nHe will strike with cloudbursts, storms, and hailstones."},{"verse":31,"text":"The voice of the LORD will smash Assyria.\nHe will strike them with his royal rod."},{"verse":32,"text":"The LORD will bring down his rod of punishment on them.\nWith every stroke, tambourines and harps will play.\nHe will fight them, waving his weapons."},{"verse":33,"text":"Topheth has been ready for a long time.\nIt has been made ready for the king.\nIts fire pit is deep and wide.\nIt has plenty of fire and wood.\nThe breath of the LORD sets it on fire,\nlike a stream of burning sulfur.","note":"Topheth was a place of burning outside Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for those who go down to Egypt for help!\nThey depend on horses.\nThey trust in their many chariots\nand in their large number of horsemen.\nBut they do not look to the Holy One of Israel.\nThey do not ask the LORD for help."},{"verse":2,"text":"Yet he is wise too, and he brings disaster.\nHe does not take back his words.\nHe will rise up against the house of the wicked.\nHe will rise up against those who help evil people."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the Egyptians are men, not God.\nTheir horses are flesh, not spirit.\nWhen the LORD reaches out his hand,\nthe helper will trip,\nand the one he helps will fall.\nThey will both perish together."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the LORD has said to me:\n\"A lion or a young lion may roar over its prey.\nA group of shepherds may be called out against it.\nBut it is not scared by their shouting.\nIt is not stopped by their noise.\nIn the same way, the LORD of Hosts will come down\nto fight on Mount Zion and its hills."},{"verse":5,"text":"Like birds flying overhead,\nthe LORD of Hosts will protect Jerusalem.\nHe will shield it and rescue it.\nHe will pass over it and keep it safe.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Children of Israel, come back to the One\nyou have rebelled against so openly."},{"verse":7,"text":"For on that day, every one of you will throw away\nyour idols of silver and gold.\nYour own hands made them, and that was sin."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Then Assyria will fall,\nbut not by the sword of a man.\nA sword will destroy them,\nbut not one made by humans.\nThey will run from the sword.\nTheir young men will be made into slaves."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their rock will be gone because of fear.\nTheir princes will panic when they see the battle flag,\"\nsays the LORD.\nHis fire is in Zion.\nHis furnace is in Jerusalem."}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Look, a king will rule by what is right.\nPrinces will rule with justice."},{"verse":2,"text":"Each one will be like a shelter from the wind\nand a safe place from the storm.\nEach will be like streams of water in a dry land,\nlike the shade of a great rock in a hot, dry land."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed anymore.\nThe ears of those who hear will listen."},{"verse":4,"text":"The minds of those who act too fast will know and understand.\nThose who stutter will speak clearly and easily."},{"verse":5,"text":"A fool will not be called noble anymore.\nA worthless person will not be respected."},{"verse":6,"text":"A fool speaks foolish things.\nHis mind plans evil.\nHe does ungodly things.\nHe tells lies about the LORD.\nHe leaves the hungry with nothing.\nHe keeps the thirsty from getting a drink."},{"verse":7,"text":"The weapons of the worthless person do great harm.\nHe makes evil plans to destroy the poor with lies,\neven when the needy are asking for what is right."},{"verse":8,"text":"But a noble man makes honest plans.\nHe stands up for what is good."},{"verse":9,"text":"Stand up, you women who are so at ease.\nListen to me.\nYou daughters who feel so safe,\nhear what I say."},{"verse":10,"text":"In a little more than a year,\nyou who feel so safe will shake.\nFor the grape harvest will fail.\nThe fruit harvest will not come."},{"verse":11,"text":"Shake, you women who live at ease.\nTremble, you daughters who feel so safe.\nTake off your clothes.\nPut sackcloth around your waists."},{"verse":12,"text":"Beat your chests in sorrow for the pleasant fields\nand for the fruitful vines,"},{"verse":13,"text":"and for the land of my people.\nIt is covered with thorns and briers.\nMourn for every happy house\nin this city of parties."},{"verse":14,"text":"For the palace will be left empty.\nThe busy city will be left behind.\nThe hill and the watchtower will become caves forever.\nWild donkeys will love it there.\nFlocks will eat grass there."},{"verse":15,"text":"It will be that way until the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven.\nThen the desert will become a rich orchard.\nThe orchard will seem like a forest."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then justice will live in the wilderness.\nWhat is right will live in the rich fields."},{"verse":17,"text":"Doing what is right will bring peace.\nThe result of what is right\nwill be quiet trust forever."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then my people will live in a peaceful place.\nThey will live in safe homes and quiet places of rest."},{"verse":19,"text":"But hail will flatten the forest.\nThe city will be brought down low."},{"verse":20,"text":"Blessed are those who plant seeds by every stream,\nwho let the ox and donkey roam free."}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, destroyer,\nyou who have never been destroyed!\nHow terrible for you, traitor,\nyou who have never been betrayed!\nWhen you are done destroying, you will be destroyed.\nWhen you are done betraying, you will be betrayed."},{"verse":2,"text":"LORD, show us grace!\nWe wait for you.\nBe our strength every morning.\nSave us in our time of trouble."},{"verse":3,"text":"The peoples run from the thunder of your voice.\nThe nations scatter when you rise up."},{"verse":4,"text":"You nations, what you stole is gathered up\nthe way locusts gather.\nLike a swarm of locusts,\nmen rush over it."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD is lifted high,\nfor he lives up high.\nHe has filled Zion with justice and what is right."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will be the sure foundation for your times.\nHe will be a rich store of saving help,\nwisdom, and knowledge.\nThe fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure."},{"verse":7,"text":"Look, their brave men cry out in the streets.\nThe messengers who came to make peace weep bitter tears."},{"verse":8,"text":"The highways are empty.\nNo one travels anymore.\nThe peace treaty is broken.\nThe witnesses are hated.\nNo one cares about human life."},{"verse":9,"text":"The land mourns and grows weak.\nLebanon is ashamed and rots away.\nSharon is like a desert.\nBashan and Carmel shake off their leaves."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Now I will rise up,\" says the LORD.\n\"Now I will lift myself up.\nNow I will be honored."},{"verse":11,"text":"You become pregnant with husks.\nYou give birth to straw.\nYour own breath is a fire that will burn you up."},{"verse":12,"text":"The peoples will be burned to ashes,\nlike thorns cut down and set on fire."},{"verse":13,"text":"You who are far away, hear what I have done.\nYou who are near, see how strong I am.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The sinners in Zion are afraid.\nShaking grabs hold of the ungodly.\n\"Who of us can live with a fire that burns everything up?\nWho of us can live with flames that never end?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"It is the one who lives in what is right\nand speaks the honest truth.\nHe will not take money by cheating others.\nHis hand never takes a bribe.\nHe covers his ears so he won't hear plans to murder.\nHe shuts his eyes tight so he won't look at evil."},{"verse":16,"text":"That person will live up high.\nThe mountain fortress will be his safe place.\nHe will be given food.\nHe will always have water."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your eyes will see the King in his beauty.\nYou will see a land that stretches far away."},{"verse":18,"text":"Your mind will think back to the terror of the past:\n\"Where is the one who counted?\nWhere is the one who weighed?\nWhere is the one who counted the towers?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"You will not see those proud people anymore.\nTheir speech was hard to understand.\nThey stuttered in a language you could not understand."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look at Zion, the city of our holy feasts.\nYour eyes will see Jerusalem,\na peaceful place to live,\na tent that will not be moved.\nIts tent pegs will never be pulled up.\nNone of its ropes will be broken."},{"verse":21,"text":"But there the Majestic One, our LORD,\nwill be for us a place of rivers and wide streams.\nNo boat with oars will row there.\nNo great ship will sail there."},{"verse":22,"text":"For the LORD is our Judge.\nThe LORD is the one who gives us laws.\nThe LORD is our King.\nHe is the one who will save us."},{"verse":23,"text":"Your ropes hang loose.\nThey cannot hold the mast steady.\nThey cannot spread the sail.\nThen great piles of riches will be divided.\nEven people who cannot walk will carry off loot."},{"verse":24,"text":"No one who lives in Zion will say, \"I am sick.\"\nThe sins of the people who live there will be forgiven."}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Come near and listen, you nations.\nPay attention, you peoples.\nLet the earth hear, and everything in it.\nLet the world hear, and everything that comes from it."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD is angry with all the nations.\nHe is furious with all their armies.\nHe will set them apart to be destroyed.\nHe will hand them over to be killed."},{"verse":3,"text":"Their dead will be thrown out and not buried.\nThe stink of their bodies will rise.\nThe mountains will flow with their blood."},{"verse":4,"text":"All the stars in the sky will melt away.\nThe sky will be rolled up like a scroll.\nAll its stars will fall\nlike dry leaves falling from a vine,\nlike leaves falling from a fig tree."},{"verse":5,"text":"When my sword has drunk all it wants in the heavens,\nthen it will come down on Edom,\non the people I have set apart to be destroyed."},{"verse":6,"text":"The sword of the LORD is covered in blood.\nIt drips with fat.\nIt drips with the blood of lambs and goats,\nwith the fat from the kidneys of rams.\nFor the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah.\nHe has a great killing in the land of Edom."},{"verse":7,"text":"The wild oxen will fall with them.\nThe young bulls will fall with the strong ones.\nTheir land will be soaked with blood.\nTheir dirt will be soaked with fat."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the LORD has a day of payback.\nHe has a year of repaying\nto defend Zion."},{"verse":9,"text":"Edom's streams will be turned into tar.\nHer dirt will be turned into sulfur.\nHer land will become burning tar."},{"verse":10,"text":"The fire will not go out, day or night.\nIts smoke will rise forever.\nIt will lie empty for all time to come.\nNo one will ever travel through it again."},{"verse":11,"text":"The desert owl and the screech owl will own it.\nThe great owl and the raven will live in it.\nThe LORD will stretch a measuring line of chaos over Edom.\nHe will hold up a plumb line of ruin over it."},{"verse":12,"text":"No nobles will be left to name a king.\nAll her princes will be gone."},{"verse":13,"text":"Thorns will grow over her towers.\nThistles and briers will cover her fortresses.\nShe will become a home for jackals,\na place for ostriches to live."},{"verse":14,"text":"Desert animals will meet with hyenas.\nOne wild goat will call to another.\nThe night creature will settle there\nand find a place to rest.","note":"Hebrew: Lilith. The meaning is uncertain."},{"verse":15,"text":"The owl will make her nest there.\nShe will lay and hatch her eggs.\nShe will gather her young under her shadow.\nThe birds of prey will gather there too,\neach one with its mate."},{"verse":16,"text":"Look in the scroll of the LORD and read it:\nNot one of these animals will be missing.\nNot one will be without her mate.\nThis is because his mouth has given the order,\nand his Spirit will gather them together."},{"verse":17,"text":"He has given them their share.\nHis hand has measured it out for them.\nThey will own the land forever.\nThey will live there for all time to come."}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The wilderness and the dry land will be glad.\nThe desert will be full of joy\nand bloom like a rose."},{"verse":2,"text":"It will be covered with flowers.\nIt will be very happy and sing for joy.\nIt will be given the glory of Lebanon\nand the beauty of Carmel and Sharon.\nThey will see the glory of the LORD,\nthe beauty of our God."},{"verse":3,"text":"Make the weak hands strong.\nMake the shaky knees steady!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Say to those whose hearts are afraid,\n\"Be strong. Do not be afraid!\nLook, your God will come with vengeance.\nWith payback from God,\nhe will come to save you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the eyes of the blind will be opened.\nThe ears of the deaf will be unplugged."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the lame will jump like a deer.\nThose who cannot speak will shout for joy.\nFor water will burst out in the wilderness.\nStreams will flow in the desert."},{"verse":7,"text":"The dry, burning ground will become a pool.\nThe thirsty land will become springs of water.\nWhere jackals once lay down,\nthere will be grass and reeds and papyrus."},{"verse":8,"text":"A highway will be there.\nIt will be called the Way of Holiness.\nThose who are unclean will not travel on it.\nIt is only for those who walk in the Way.\nFools will not wander onto it."},{"verse":9,"text":"No lion will be there.\nNo dangerous wild animal will go up on it.\nThey will not be found there.\nBut the redeemed will walk on it."},{"verse":10,"text":"So the redeemed of the LORD will come back.\nThey will enter Zion singing.\nJoy that lasts forever will be like a crown on their heads.\nGladness and joy will catch up with them.\nSorrow and sighing will run away."}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the fourteenth year that Hezekiah was king. Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the walled cities of Judah and captured them."},{"verse":2,"text":"The king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. He sent him with a large army. The Rabshakeh stopped by the water channel of the upper pool. It was on the road to the Launderer's Field.","note":"Rabshakeh is a title for a high Assyrian official."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then three men went out to meet him. They were Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records."},{"verse":4,"text":"The Rabshakeh said to them, \"Tell Hezekiah that this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: What are you trusting in? Why are you so sure of yourself?"},{"verse":5,"text":"You say you have a plan and the strength for war. But those are empty words. Who are you trusting in now, that you have rebelled against me?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Look, you are trusting in Egypt. Egypt is like a cracked reed used as a walking stick. If you lean on it, it will stab your hand. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is like to all who trust in him."},{"verse":7,"text":"But you may say to me, 'We trust in the LORD our God.' Isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah took away? Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship in front of this altar.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"So now, make a deal with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses, if you can find riders to put on them!"},{"verse":9,"text":"For how can you push back even one officer, one of the least of my master's servants, when you depend on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Besides, do you think I have come to attack and destroy this land without the LORD? The LORD himself told me, 'Go attack this land and destroy it.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, \"Please speak to us, your servants, in Aramaic. We understand it. Don't speak to us in Hebrew. The people on the wall can hear you.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But the Rabshakeh answered, \"Did my master send me to say these things only to you and your master? No, he sent me to the men sitting on the wall too. Like you, they will have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the Rabshakeh stood up and shouted in Hebrew, \"Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!"},{"verse":14,"text":"This is what the king says: Don't let Hezekiah fool you. He can't save you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Don't let Hezekiah talk you into trusting in the LORD. He says, 'The LORD will surely save us. This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't listen to Hezekiah! This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat from your own vine and your own fig tree. Each of you will drink water from your own well."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then I will come and take you away to a land like your own. It is a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards."},{"verse":18,"text":"Don't let Hezekiah fool you when he says, 'The LORD will save us.' Has the god of any nation ever saved his land from the king of Assyria?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Did they save Samaria from my hand?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Which of all the gods of these lands has saved his land from my hand? So how can the LORD save Jerusalem from my hand?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But the people stayed quiet. They did not say a word. For Hezekiah had given an order: \"Do not answer him.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the three men went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn. They were Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, who kept the records. They told Hezekiah what the Rabshakeh had said."}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"King Hezekiah heard their report. He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. Then he went into the house of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent some men to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests. They were all wearing sackcloth."},{"verse":3,"text":"They told Isaiah, \"This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, of being scolded, and of shame. It is like when babies are ready to be born, but there is no strength to give birth to them."},{"verse":4,"text":"The king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh to insult the living God. Maybe the LORD your God will hear his words. Maybe he will punish him for the words the LORD your God has heard. So pray for the people who are still left alive.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So King Hezekiah's servants went to Isaiah."},{"verse":6,"text":"Isaiah answered them, \"Tell your master that this is what the LORD says: 'Do not be afraid of the words you have heard. The servants of the king of Assyria have spoken against me with those words."},{"verse":7,"text":"Listen! I will put a spirit in him. He will hear a rumor and go back to his own land. There I will make him die by the sword.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The Rabshakeh heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. So he left and found the king fighting against Libnah."},{"verse":9,"text":"Sennacherib had been warned about Tirhakah king of Cush. He was told, \"He has set out to fight against you.\" When Sennacherib heard this, he sent messengers to Hezekiah. He told them,"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Give this message to Hezekiah king of Judah: 'You trust in your God. Don't let him fool you when he says Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria."},{"verse":11,"text":"You have surely heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries. They destroyed them completely. So will you be saved?"},{"verse":12,"text":"My fathers destroyed many nations. Did the gods of those nations rescue them? Think of the gods of Gozan, Haran, and Rezeph, and of the people of Eden in Telassar."},{"verse":13,"text":"Where is the king of Hamath? Where is the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house of the LORD. He spread the letter out before the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"LORD of Hosts, God of Israel, you sit on your throne above the cherubim. You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Turn your ear to us, LORD, and hear. Open your eyes, LORD, and see. Listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God."},{"verse":18,"text":"It is true, LORD. The kings of Assyria have destroyed all these countries and their lands."},{"verse":19,"text":"They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them. For they were not gods. They were only wood and stone, made by human hands."},{"verse":20,"text":"Now, LORD our God, save us from his hand. Then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, LORD, are God.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah. It said, \"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria,"},{"verse":22,"text":"this is the word the LORD has spoken against him:\n'The Virgin Daughter of Zion hates you and makes fun of you.\nThe Daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head behind your back."},{"verse":23,"text":"Who have you made fun of and spoken against?\nWho have you shouted at?\nWho have you looked down on in pride?\nThe Holy One of Israel!"},{"verse":24,"text":"You have sent your servants to make fun of the Lord.\nYou have said,\n\"With my many chariots\nI have gone up to the tops of the mountains,\nto the far peaks of Lebanon.\nI have cut down its tallest cedars\nand its best cypress trees.\nI have reached its highest places\nand its thickest forests."},{"verse":25,"text":"I have dug wells\nand drunk water in foreign lands.\nWith the bottoms of my feet\nI have dried up all the streams of Egypt.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Haven't you heard?\nI decided it long ago.\nI planned it in days of old.\nNow I have made it happen.\nI let you crush walled cities into piles of rubble."},{"verse":27,"text":"So their people had no power.\nThey were afraid and ashamed.\nThey were like plants in the field,\nlike tender green sprouts,\nlike grass on the rooftops,\nburned up before it is grown."},{"verse":28,"text":"But I know when you sit down.\nI know when you go out and when you come in.\nI know how you rage against me."},{"verse":29,"text":"Because your rage against me and your pride have reached my ears,\nI will put my hook in your nose\nand my bit in your mouth.\nI will send you back the way you came.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"Hezekiah, this will be a sign for you: This year you will eat what grows by itself. In the second year you will eat what grows from that. But in the third year you will plant and harvest. You will plant vineyards and eat their fruit."},{"verse":31,"text":"The people of Judah who are left alive will again put down roots below and bear fruit above."},{"verse":32,"text":"For a group of people who are left will go out from Jerusalem. Survivors will come out of Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will make this happen."},{"verse":33,"text":"So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: 'He will not come into this city. He will not shoot an arrow into it. He will not come at it with a shield. He will not build a siege ramp against it."},{"verse":34,"text":"He will go back the way he came. He will not come into this city,' says the LORD."},{"verse":35,"text":"'I will defend this city and save it. I will do it for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.'\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD went out. He struck down 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning, there were dead bodies everywhere!"},{"verse":37,"text":"So Sennacherib king of Assyria packed up his camp and left. He went back to Nineveh and stayed there."},{"verse":38,"text":"One day he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch. His sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword. Then they escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esar-haddon became king after him."}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Put your house in order, because you are about to die. You will not get well.'\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said, \"Please, LORD, remember how I have lived faithfully before you. I have served you with all my heart. I have done what is good in your eyes.\" And Hezekiah cried hard."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah. He said,"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: 'I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Listen, I will add fifteen years to your life."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city."},{"verse":7,"text":"Here is a sign to you from the LORD. It will show that he will do what he promised."},{"verse":8,"text":"The sun's shadow has gone down the stairway of Ahaz. I will make it go back ten steps.'\" So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what Hezekiah king of Judah wrote after he was sick and got well:"},{"verse":10,"text":"I said, \"In the best years of my life\nI must go through the gates of the grave.\nThe rest of my years are taken from me.\"","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":11,"text":"I said, \"I will never again see the LORD,\nthe LORD, in the land of the living.\nI will not look on people anymore,\nor be with those who live in this world."},{"verse":12,"text":"My home has been pulled up and taken from me,\nlike a shepherd's tent.\nI have rolled up my life like a weaver rolls up cloth.\nHe cuts me off from the loom.\nFrom day to night you bring me to an end."},{"verse":13,"text":"I waited calmly until morning.\nBut like a lion he breaks all my bones.\nFrom day to night you bring me to an end."},{"verse":14,"text":"I chirp like a swallow or a crane.\nI moan like a dove.\nMy eyes grow tired as I look up to heaven.\nLord, I am in trouble.\nBe the one who keeps me safe.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"What can I say?\nHe has spoken to me,\nand he himself has done this.\nI will walk slowly all my years\nbecause of the deep pain in my soul."},{"verse":16,"text":"Lord, people live by these things.\nMy spirit finds life in all of them too.\nYou made me healthy again.\nYou let me live."},{"verse":17,"text":"Yes, it was for my own good\nthat I had such great pain.\nBut your love has saved me\nfrom the pit where all is forgotten.\nFor you have thrown all my sins behind your back."},{"verse":18,"text":"For the grave cannot thank you.\nDeath cannot praise you.\nThose who go down to the Pit\ncannot hope in your faithfulness.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":19,"text":"The living, only the living, can thank you,\nas I do today.\nFathers will tell their children\nabout your faithfulness."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD will save me.\nWe will play songs on harps\nall the days of our lives\nin the house of the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"Isaiah had said, \"Make a paste of pressed figs. Put it on the boil, and he will get well.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"And Hezekiah had asked, \"What will be the sign that I will go up to the house of the LORD?\""}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan was king of Babylon. He heard that Hezekiah had been sick and had gotten well. So he sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hezekiah was glad to welcome the messengers. He showed them what was in his treasure house. He showed them the silver, the gold, the spices, and the costly oil. He showed them all his weapons and everything in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in his whole kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah. He asked, \"Where did those men come from? What did they say to you?\" Hezekiah answered, \"They came to me from a land far away. They came from Babylon.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Isaiah asked, \"What did they see in your palace?\" Hezekiah answered, \"They saw everything in my palace. There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, \"Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts:"},{"verse":6,"text":"The time is surely coming when everything in your palace will be carried off to Babylon. All that your fathers have stored up until today will be taken. Nothing will be left, says the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"Some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away. They will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"The word of the LORD you have spoken is good.\" For he thought, \"At least there will be peace and safety while I live.\""}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Comfort, comfort my people,\"\nsays your God."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak kindly to Jerusalem.\nTell her that her hard labor is over.\nHer sin has been forgiven.\nShe has gotten from the LORD's hand\ntwice as much for all her sins.\"","note":"Hebrew: forced labor; or warfare."},{"verse":3,"text":"A voice is calling out:\n\"Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness.\nMake a straight road for our God in the desert."},{"verse":4,"text":"Every valley will be raised up.\nEvery mountain and hill will be made low.\nThe bumpy ground will become smooth.\nThe rough land will become a flat plain."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the glory of the LORD will be shown.\nAll people together will see it.\"\nFor the LORD himself has said it."},{"verse":6,"text":"A voice says, \"Call out!\"\nI asked, \"What should I call out?\"\n\"All people are like grass.\nAll their beauty is like the flowers of the field."},{"verse":7,"text":"The grass dries up and the flowers fall\nwhen the breath of the LORD blows on them.\nYes, the people are grass."},{"verse":8,"text":"The grass dries up and the flowers fall,\nbut the word of our God stands forever.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Go up on a high mountain, Zion,\nyou who bring good news.\nShout out loud, Jerusalem,\nyou who bring good news.\nShout it, and do not be afraid!\nSay to the towns of Judah, \"Here is your God!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Look, the Lord GOD is coming with power.\nHis strong arm rules for him.\nHe brings his reward with him.\nHe brings the payment he will give."},{"verse":11,"text":"He cares for his flock like a shepherd.\nHe gathers the lambs in his arms.\nHe carries them close to his heart.\nHe gently leads the mother sheep that have young."},{"verse":12,"text":"Who has measured the oceans in the palm of his hand?\nWho has marked off the skies with the width of his hand?\nWho has held the dust of the earth in a basket?\nWho has weighed the mountains on a scale\nand the hills on a balance?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Who has told the Spirit of the LORD what to do?\nWho has taught him as his adviser?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Whom did the LORD ask to help him understand?\nWho taught him the right way to judge?\nWho gave him knowledge?\nWho showed him the way to understanding?"},{"verse":15,"text":"The nations are like a drop in a bucket.\nThey are like a speck of dust on the scales.\nHe lifts up the islands as if they were fine dust."},{"verse":16,"text":"All the trees of Lebanon are not enough wood for the fire.\nAll its animals are not enough for a burnt offering."},{"verse":17,"text":"All the nations are as nothing to him.\nHe thinks of them as less than nothing.\nThey are empty to him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Who will you say God is like?\nWhat image will you compare him to?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Is he like an idol?\nA craftsman pours the metal to make it.\nA metal worker covers it with gold\nand puts silver chains on it."},{"verse":20,"text":"A man too poor for such a gift\npicks wood that will not rot.\nHe looks for a skilled worker\nto set up an idol that will not fall over."},{"verse":21,"text":"Don't you know?\nHaven't you heard?\nHasn't it been told to you from the beginning?\nHaven't you understood since the earth was made?"},{"verse":22,"text":"God sits on his throne above the circle of the earth.\nThe people who live there are like grasshoppers to him.\nHe stretches out the skies like a curtain.\nHe spreads them out like a tent to live in."},{"verse":23,"text":"He brings princes down to nothing.\nHe makes the rulers of the earth worth nothing."},{"verse":24,"text":"They are barely planted.\nThey are barely sown.\nTheir stems have barely taken root in the ground.\nThen he blows on them, and they dry up.\nA strong wind sweeps them away like straw."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Who will you say I am like?\nWho is equal to me?\"\nasks the Holy One."},{"verse":26,"text":"Look up at the sky.\nWho made all these stars?\nHe leads them out like an army, one by one.\nHe calls each one by name.\nHis power is great, and his strength is mighty.\nSo not one of them is missing."},{"verse":27,"text":"Jacob, why do you say this?\nIsrael, why do you claim,\n\"The LORD does not see the way I live.\nMy God pays no attention to my rights\"?"},{"verse":28,"text":"Don't you know?\nHaven't you heard?\nThe LORD is the God who lives forever.\nHe made the ends of the earth.\nHe will not get tired or worn out.\nNo one can measure how much he understands."},{"verse":29,"text":"He gives power to those who are tired.\nHe makes the weak strong."},{"verse":30,"text":"Even young people get tired and worn out.\nStrong young men trip and fall."},{"verse":31,"text":"But those who wait on the LORD will get new strength.\nThey will rise up on wings like eagles.\nThey will run and not get tired.\nThey will walk and not grow weak."}]},{"chapter":41,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Be quiet before me, you islands.\nLet the nations get new strength.\nLet them come forward and speak.\nLet us meet together in court."},{"verse":2,"text":"Who has stirred up a man from the east?\nWho has called him to serve in what is right?\nGod hands nations over to him.\nHe makes kings bow down before him.\nHis sword turns them to dust.\nHis bow turns them to straw blown by the wind."},{"verse":3,"text":"He chases them and goes on safely.\nHis feet barely touch the path."},{"verse":4,"text":"Who has done this and made it happen?\nWho has called each generation from the beginning?\nI, the LORD, am the first and the last.\nI am he.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The islands see it and are afraid.\nThe ends of the earth shake.\nThey come near and step forward."},{"verse":6,"text":"Each one helps the other.\nEach says to his brother, \"Be strong!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The craftsman cheers on the goldsmith.\nThe one who smooths the metal with a hammer\ncheers on the one who strikes the anvil.\nHe says about the joining, \"It is good.\"\nThen he nails the idol down so it will not fall over."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"But you, Israel, are my servant.\nYou are Jacob, whom I have chosen.\nYou come from Abraham, my friend."},{"verse":9,"text":"I brought you from the ends of the earth.\nI called you from its farthest corners.\nI said, 'You are my servant.'\nI have chosen you, and I have not turned you away."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not fear, for I am with you.\nDo not be afraid, for I am your God.\nI will make you strong.\nI will surely help you.\nI will hold you up with my righteous right hand."},{"verse":11,"text":"Look, all who are angry with you\nwill be ashamed and put to shame.\nThose who fight with you\nwill become nothing and will perish."},{"verse":12,"text":"You will look for them,\nbut you will not find them.\nThose who go to war against you\nwill come to nothing."},{"verse":13,"text":"For I am the LORD your God.\nI take hold of your right hand and tell you,\n'Do not fear. I will help you.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not fear, Jacob, you worm.\nDo not fear, you few people of Israel.\nI will help you,\" says the LORD.\n\"Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.","note":"Redeemer means one who buys back and sets free."},{"verse":15,"text":"Look, I will make you into a threshing sled.\nIt will be new and sharp, with many teeth.\nYou will thresh the mountains and crush them.\nYou will turn the hills into chaff."},{"verse":16,"text":"You will toss them into the air,\nand the wind will carry them away.\nA strong wind will scatter them.\nBut you will be full of joy in the LORD.\nYou will boast in the Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"The poor and needy look for water,\nbut there is none.\nTheir tongues are dry with thirst.\nI, the LORD, will answer them.\nI, the God of Israel, will not forsake them."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will make rivers flow on the bare hills.\nI will make springs in the middle of the valleys.\nI will turn the desert into a pool of water.\nI will turn the dry land into flowing springs."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will plant cedars in the wilderness,\nand acacias, myrtles, and olive trees.\nI will put cypress trees in the desert,\nwith elms and boxwood trees together."},{"verse":20,"text":"This is so that all may see and know.\nThey may think about it and understand\nthat the LORD's hand has done this,\nthat the Holy One of Israel has made it.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Bring your case,\" says the LORD.\n\"Give your reasons,\" says the King of Jacob."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Let your idols come and tell us what will happen.\nTell us about the things of the past,\nso we can think about them and know how they turn out.\nOr tell us what is coming."},{"verse":23,"text":"Tell us what will happen in the future.\nThen we will know that you are gods.\nYes, do something, good or bad.\nThen we will all look on and be afraid."},{"verse":24,"text":"Look, you are nothing.\nWhat you do is worth nothing.\nAnyone who chooses you is disgusting."},{"verse":25,"text":"I have stirred up a man from the north, and he has come.\nHe comes from the east, and he calls on my name.\nHe will walk on rulers as if they were mud.\nHe will be like a potter who stomps on clay."},{"verse":26,"text":"Who told about this from the beginning, so we could know?\nWho told it long ago, so we could say, 'He was right'?\nNo one told about it.\nNo one said it ahead of time.\nNo one heard any words from you."},{"verse":27,"text":"I was the first to tell Zion,\n'Look, here they are!'\nI gave Jerusalem a messenger of good news."},{"verse":28,"text":"When I look, there is no one.\nNo one among them can give advice.\nWhen I ask them,\nthey have nothing to say."},{"verse":29,"text":"Look, they are all false.\nWhat they do comes to nothing.\nTheir idols are as empty as the wind.\""}]},{"chapter":42,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Here is my Servant. I hold him up.\nHe is my Chosen One, and my soul delights in him.\nI will put my Spirit on him.\nHe will bring justice to the nations."},{"verse":2,"text":"He will not shout or raise his voice.\nHe will not make his voice heard in the streets."},{"verse":3,"text":"He will not break a bruised reed.\nHe will not put out a wick that is barely burning.\nHe will faithfully bring justice."},{"verse":4,"text":"He will not grow weak or lose heart\nuntil he has set up justice on the earth.\nThe islands will put their hope in his law.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what God the LORD says.\nHe created the skies and stretched them out.\nHe spread out the earth and all that grows from it.\nHe gives breath to the people on it.\nHe gives life to those who walk on it."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I, the LORD, have called you for a right purpose.\nI will take hold of your hand.\nI will keep you safe.\nI will make you a covenant for the people\nand a light to the nations."},{"verse":7,"text":"You will open the eyes of the blind.\nYou will bring prisoners out of the dungeon.\nYou will bring those who sit in darkness out of the prison."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am the LORD. That is my name!\nI will not give my glory to anyone else.\nI will not give my praise to idols."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look, the things I said before have happened.\nNow I tell you new things.\nBefore they start to happen,\nI tell you about them.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Sing a new song to the LORD!\nSing his praise from the ends of the earth.\nSing, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.\nSing, you islands, and all who live there."},{"verse":11,"text":"Let the desert and its towns raise their voices.\nLet the villages of Kedar shout.\nLet the people of Sela sing for joy.\nLet them shout from the mountaintops."},{"verse":12,"text":"Let them give glory to the LORD.\nLet them tell his praise in the islands."},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD marches out like a mighty hero.\nHe stirs up his zeal like a soldier.\nHe shouts. Yes, he roars.\nHe wins over his enemies."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"For a long, long time I have kept silent.\nI have stayed quiet and held myself back.\nBut now I will cry out like a woman giving birth.\nI will gasp and pant all at once."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will ruin the mountains and hills.\nI will dry up all their plants.\nI will turn the rivers into dry land.\nI will dry up the ponds."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will lead the blind on a road they did not know.\nI will guide them on paths that are new to them.\nI will turn the darkness into light in front of them.\nI will make the rough places smooth.\nThese things I will do for them.\nI will not forsake them."},{"verse":17,"text":"But some people trust in idols.\nThey say to metal images, 'You are our gods!'\nThey will be turned back in deep shame."},{"verse":18,"text":"Listen, you who are deaf!\nLook, you who are blind, so you can see!"},{"verse":19,"text":"Who is blind but my servant?\nWho is as deaf as the messenger I send?\nWho is as blind as the one in covenant with me?\nWho is as blind as the servant of the LORD?"},{"verse":20,"text":"You have seen many things,\nbut you do not pay attention.\nYour ears are open,\nbut you do not hear.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Because the LORD is righteous,\nhe was pleased to make his law great and glorious."},{"verse":22,"text":"But these people have been robbed and looted.\nAll of them are trapped in holes\nor locked up in prisons.\nThey have been taken as loot,\nand no one rescues them.\nThey have been carried off,\nand no one says, \"Send them back!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Which of you will listen to this?\nWho will pay attention and obey from now on?"},{"verse":24,"text":"Who handed Jacob over to be robbed?\nWho gave Israel to the robbers?\nWasn't it the LORD, the one we have sinned against?\nThey did not want to live his way.\nThey would not obey his law."},{"verse":25,"text":"So he poured out his burning anger on them.\nHe sent the violence of war on them.\nIt wrapped them in flames,\nbut they did not understand.\nIt burned them up,\nbut they did not take it to heart."}]},{"chapter":43,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But now, this is what the LORD says.\nHe is the one who created you, Jacob.\nHe is the one who formed you, Israel.\n\"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.\nI have called you by your name.\nYou are mine!"},{"verse":2,"text":"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.\nWhen you go through the rivers,\nthey will not sweep over you.\nWhen you walk through the fire,\nyou will not be burned.\nThe flames will not set you on fire."},{"verse":3,"text":"For I am the LORD your God,\nthe Holy One of Israel, your Savior.\nI give Egypt as the price to set you free.\nI give Cush and Seba in your place."},{"verse":4,"text":"You are precious and honored in my eyes,\nand I love you.\nSo I will give people in trade for you.\nI will give nations in place of your life."},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not be afraid, for I am with you.\nI will bring your children from the east.\nI will gather you from the west."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'\nI will say to the south, 'Do not hold them back!'\nBring my sons from far away.\nBring my daughters from the ends of the earth."},{"verse":7,"text":"Bring everyone who is called by my name.\nI created them for my glory.\nYes, I formed them and made them.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Bring out a people who have eyes but are blind.\nThey have ears but are deaf."},{"verse":9,"text":"All the nations gather together.\nThe peoples come together.\nWhich of them can tell about this?\nWhich of them can tell us the things of the past?\nLet them bring their witnesses to prove they are right.\nThen others may hear and say, \"It is true.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"You are my witnesses,\" says the LORD.\n\"You are my servant whom I have chosen.\nI chose you so you would know me and believe me.\nI want you to understand that I am he.\nNo god was formed before me,\nand none will come after me."},{"verse":11,"text":"I, yes I, am the LORD.\nThere is no Savior but me."},{"verse":12,"text":"I alone said it would happen.\nI saved, and I told about it.\nIt was I, not some strange god among you.\nSo you are my witnesses that I am God,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"From forever I am he.\nNo one can rescue anyone out of my hand.\nWhen I act, who can undo it?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"This is what the LORD says,\nyour Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:\n\"For your sake I will send to Babylon.\nI will make all of them run away.\nThe Chaldeans will flee in the ships they were so proud of."},{"verse":15,"text":"I am the LORD, your Holy One.\nI made Israel, and I am your King.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the LORD says.\nHe makes a way through the sea.\nHe makes a path through the rushing waters."},{"verse":17,"text":"He brings out the chariots and horses,\nthe army and the soldiers together.\nThey lie down and never get up again.\nThey are put out like the flame of a wick."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Do not keep thinking about the things of the past.\nDo not pay attention to what happened long ago."},{"verse":19,"text":"Look, I am about to do something new.\nIt is starting even now.\nDon't you see it?\nI will make a road in the wilderness.\nI will make streams in the desert."},{"verse":20,"text":"The wild animals will honor me,\nthe jackals and the ostriches.\nFor I give water in the wilderness\nand rivers in the desert.\nI give drink to my chosen people."},{"verse":21,"text":"I formed this people for myself.\nThey will tell how great I am."},{"verse":22,"text":"But you have not called on me, Jacob,\nbecause you have grown tired of me, Israel."},{"verse":23,"text":"You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings.\nYou have not honored me with your sacrifices.\nI have not made you carry a heavy load of offerings.\nI have not worn you out by asking for incense."},{"verse":24,"text":"You have not used your silver to buy me sweet cane.\nYou have not filled me with the fat of your sacrifices.\nInstead, you have loaded me down with your sins.\nYou have worn me out with your wrongs."},{"verse":25,"text":"I, yes I, am the one\nwho wipes away your sins for my own sake.\nI will not remember your sins anymore."},{"verse":26,"text":"Remind me of what happened.\nLet us argue it out together.\nTell your side, so you can be proved right."},{"verse":27,"text":"Your first father sinned.\nYour leaders who spoke for you turned against me."},{"verse":28,"text":"So I will bring shame on the leaders of your holy place.\nI will give Jacob over to be destroyed.\nI will let Israel be mocked.\""}]},{"chapter":44,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"But now listen, Jacob, my servant.\nListen, Israel, whom I have chosen."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD says.\nHe made you and formed you in the womb.\nHe will help you.\n\"Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant.\nDo not be afraid, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen."},{"verse":3,"text":"For I will pour water on the thirsty land.\nI will pour streams on the dry ground.\nI will pour out my Spirit on your children.\nI will pour out my blessing on those who come after you."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will spring up among the grass,\nlike willow trees by flowing streams."},{"verse":5,"text":"One will say, 'I belong to the LORD.'\nAnother will call himself by the name of Jacob.\nAnother will write on his hand, 'The LORD's.'\nHe will take the name of Israel.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"This is what the LORD says,\nthe King of Israel and the one who redeems it,\nthe LORD of Hosts:\n\"I am the first, and I am the last.\nThere is no God but me."},{"verse":7,"text":"Who then is like me? Let him say so!\nLet him lay out his case before me,\nsince I set up an ancient people.\nLet him tell what will come\nand what is going to happen."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not shake with fear.\nDo not be afraid.\nDidn't I tell you about this long ago?\nYou are my witnesses!\nIs there any God but me?\nThere is no other Rock.\nI don't know of any.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"All who make idols are nothing.\nThe things they love are worth nothing.\nThe ones who speak up for idols are blind.\nThey do not understand,\nso they will be put to shame."},{"verse":10,"text":"Who would shape a god or pour metal into an idol\nthat cannot help him at all?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Look, all who join with him will be put to shame,\nfor the workers who make idols are only human.\nLet them all gather and take their stand.\nThey will all be terrified and ashamed."},{"verse":12,"text":"The blacksmith takes a tool\nand works over the hot coals.\nHe shapes an idol with hammers.\nHe pounds it out with his strong arms.\nBut he gets hungry and loses his strength.\nHe drinks no water and grows weak."},{"verse":13,"text":"The woodworker stretches out a measuring line.\nHe marks the wood with a pen.\nHe shapes it with chisels.\nHe marks it with a compass.\nHe makes it look like a man,\nlike a man in all his beauty.\nThen it can live in a shrine."},{"verse":14,"text":"He cuts down cedars.\nOr he takes a cypress or an oak.\nHe lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.\nHe plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then people use it for fuel.\nHe takes some of the wood to warm himself.\nHe lights a fire and bakes his bread.\nHe also makes it into a god and worships it.\nHe makes an idol and bows down to it."},{"verse":16,"text":"He burns half of the wood in the fire.\nOn that half he roasts meat.\nHe eats the roast and is full.\nHe also warms himself and says,\n\"Ah! I am warm. I see the fire.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"From the rest he makes a god, his carved idol.\nHe bows down to it and worships it.\nHe prays to it and says,\n\"Save me, for you are my god.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"They do not know or understand,\nfor he has shut their eyes so they cannot see.\nHe has closed their minds so they cannot understand."},{"verse":19,"text":"No one stops to think about it.\nNo one has the knowledge or sense to say,\n\"I burned half of it in the fire.\nI baked bread on its coals.\nI roasted meat and ate it.\nShould I make something disgusting with the rest?\nShould I bow down to a block of wood?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"He feeds on ashes.\nHis fooled heart has led him the wrong way.\nHe cannot save himself.\nHe cannot say, \"Isn't this thing in my right hand a lie?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Remember these things, Jacob,\nfor you are my servant, Israel.\nI made you, and you are my servant.\nIsrael, I will never forget you."},{"verse":22,"text":"I have wiped away your wrongs like a cloud.\nI have wiped away your sins like the morning mist.\nCome back to me, for I have redeemed you.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this.\nShout out loud, you depths of the earth.\nBurst into song, you mountains,\nyou forests and all your trees.\nFor the LORD has redeemed Jacob.\nHe has shown his glory in Israel."},{"verse":24,"text":"This is what the LORD says,\nyour Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:\n\"I am the LORD, who made all things.\nI alone stretched out the skies.\nI spread out the earth by myself."},{"verse":25,"text":"I make the signs of false prophets fail.\nI make fools of those who tell the future.\nI confuse the wise.\nI turn what they know into nonsense."},{"verse":26,"text":"I make the message of my servant come true.\nI carry out the plans of my messengers.\nI say of Jerusalem, 'People will live in her again.'\nI say of the towns of Judah, 'They will be rebuilt.\nI will build up their ruins again.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"I say to the deep sea, 'Be dry.\nI will dry up your streams.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd.\nHe will do all that I want.'\nI say of Jerusalem, 'She will be rebuilt.'\nI say of the temple, 'Let its foundation be laid.'\""}]},{"chapter":45,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one.\nI have taken hold of his right hand.\nI will make nations bow down before him.\nI will take away the weapons of kings.\nI will open doors before him,\nso that the city gates will not be shut."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I will go ahead of you.\nI will make the mountains flat.\nI will break down the bronze gates.\nI will cut through the iron bars."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will give you treasures hidden in the dark.\nI will give you riches stored in secret places.\nThen you will know that I am the LORD,\nthe God of Israel, who calls you by name."},{"verse":4,"text":"I call you by name\nfor the sake of Jacob my servant\nand Israel my chosen one.\nI have given you a title of honor,\nthough you have not known me."},{"verse":5,"text":"I am the LORD, and there is no other.\nThere is no God but me.\nI will make you ready for battle,\nthough you have not known me."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then all people will know,\nfrom where the sun rises to where it sets,\nthat there is no one but me.\nI am the LORD, and there is no other."},{"verse":7,"text":"I make the light and create the darkness.\nI bring good times and create disaster.\nI, the LORD, do all these things."},{"verse":8,"text":"Drip down from above, you heavens.\nLet the skies pour down what is right.\nLet the earth open up so that saving help may grow.\nLet what is right spring up with it.\nI, the LORD, have created it."},{"verse":9,"text":"How terrible it will be for the one who argues with his Maker!\nHe is only one clay pot among many.\nDoes the clay ask the potter, 'What are you making?'\nDoes your work say, 'He has no hands'?"},{"verse":10,"text":"How terrible it will be for the one who says to his father,\n'What kind of child have you fathered?'\nOr to his mother,\n'What kind of child have you given birth to?'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"This is what the LORD says,\nthe Holy One of Israel, its Maker:\n\"Do you question me about things to come for my sons?\nDo you tell me what to do with the work of my hands?"},{"verse":12,"text":"I am the one who made the earth.\nI created people to live on it.\nMy own hands stretched out the skies.\nI gave orders to all the stars."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will stir up Cyrus to do what is right.\nI will make all his paths straight.\nHe will rebuild my city.\nHe will set my captured people free.\nBut he will not do it for money or a reward,\"\nsays the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":14,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"The goods of Egypt and the trade of Cush\nwill come over to you and be yours.\nThe Sabeans, tall men, will come too.\nThey will walk slowly behind you.\nThey will come over in chains and bow down to you.\nThey will admit to you,\n'God really is with you, and there is no other.\nThere is no other God.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Truly you are a God who hides himself,\nGod of Israel, the Savior."},{"verse":16,"text":"All who make idols will be put to shame and brought low.\nThey will all go away together in shame."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the LORD will save Israel,\nand that rescue will last forever.\nYou will never be put to shame or brought low,\nnot for all time to come."},{"verse":18,"text":"For this is what the LORD says.\nHe created the skies. He is God.\nHe formed the earth and made it.\nHe set it firmly in place.\nHe did not create it to be empty.\nHe formed it for people to live on.\n\"I am the LORD, and there is no other."},{"verse":19,"text":"I have not spoken in secret,\nfrom some place in a dark land.\nI did not say to Jacob's children,\n'Look for me in an empty wasteland.'\nI, the LORD, speak the truth.\nI say what is right."},{"verse":20,"text":"Come, gather together, and come near,\nyou who have escaped from the nations.\nPeople who carry around wooden idols know nothing.\nThey pray to a god that cannot save."},{"verse":21,"text":"Speak up and tell your case.\nYes, let them talk it over together.\nWho told about this long ago?\nWho said it from ancient times?\nWasn't it I, the LORD?\nThere is no other God but me.\nI am a righteous God and a Savior.\nThere is no one but me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Turn to me and be saved,\nall you ends of the earth.\nFor I am God, and there is no other."},{"verse":23,"text":"I have made a promise by myself.\nTruth has gone out from my mouth.\nIt is a word that will not be taken back:\nEvery knee will bow before me.\nEvery tongue will promise to be loyal to me."},{"verse":24,"text":"They will surely say of me,\n'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.'\"\nAll who are angry at him will come to him\nand be put to shame."},{"verse":25,"text":"In the LORD all the children of Israel\nwill be made right with God, and they will be glad."}]},{"chapter":46,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The god Bel bends low.\nThe god Nebo bows down.\nTheir idols are loaded onto animals and cattle.\nThe images you carry around are heavy.\nThey are a load for tired animals."},{"verse":2,"text":"These gods bow low.\nThey bend down together.\nThey cannot save their heavy load.\nThey themselves are carried away as captives."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Listen to me, family of Jacob,\nall who are left of the family of Israel.\nI have cared for you from the womb.\nI have carried you since your birth."},{"verse":4,"text":"Even when you are old, I will be the same.\nI will hold you up when your hair turns gray.\nI made you, and I will carry you.\nI will hold you up and rescue you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Who will you say I am like?\nWho will you say is my equal?\nWho will you compare me to,\nas if we were alike?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Some people pour gold out of their bags.\nThey weigh out silver on scales.\nThey pay a goldsmith to make it into a god.\nThen they bow down and worship it."},{"verse":7,"text":"They lift it onto their shoulders and carry it.\nThey set it in its place, and there it stands.\nIt does not move from that spot.\nThey cry out to it, but it does not answer.\nIt does not save anyone from his troubles."},{"verse":8,"text":"Remember this and be brave.\nThink hard about it, you who break my laws!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Remember what happened long ago.\nFor I am God, and there is no other.\nI am God, and there is no one like me."},{"verse":10,"text":"I tell the end from the beginning.\nFrom long ago I tell what is still to come.\nI say, 'My plan will stand.\nI will do everything I want to do.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"I call a bird of prey from the east.\nI call a man from a faraway land to do what I plan.\nI have spoken, and I will surely make it happen.\nI have planned it, and I will surely do it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Listen to me, you stubborn people,\nyou who are far from what is right."},{"verse":13,"text":"I am bringing my righteousness near.\nIt is not far away.\nMy saving help will not be late.\nI will save Zion.\nI will give Israel my beauty and glory.\""}]},{"chapter":47,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Go down and sit in the dust,\nvirgin daughter of Babylon.\nSit on the ground with no throne,\ndaughter of the Chaldeans!\nFor no one will call you soft or gentle anymore."},{"verse":2,"text":"Take millstones and grind flour.\nTake off your veil.\nPull up your skirt and show your legs.\nWade across the streams."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your naked body will be uncovered.\nYour shame will be shown.\nI will take vengeance.\nI will spare no one.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Our Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Sit in silence, and go into the darkness,\ndaughter of the Chaldeans.\nFor no one will call you the queen of kingdoms anymore."},{"verse":6,"text":"I was angry with my people.\nI treated my own people as unholy.\nI put them under your control.\nYou showed them no mercy.\nYou put a very heavy yoke even on the old people."},{"verse":7,"text":"You said, 'I will be queen forever.'\nYou did not think hard about these things.\nYou did not think about how they would end."},{"verse":8,"text":"So now listen to this, you who love fancy living.\nYou sit there feeling safe.\nYou say to yourself, 'I am the only one.\nThere is no one but me.\nI will never be a widow.\nI will never lose my children.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"But both of these things will come on you\nin a moment, in a single day.\nYou will lose your children and become a widow.\nThese things will come on you in full.\nYour many magic tricks will not stop them.\nYour powerful spells will not stop them."},{"verse":10,"text":"You felt safe in your evil ways.\nYou said, 'No one sees me.'\nYour wisdom and knowledge led you the wrong way.\nYou said to yourself,\n'I am the only one. There is no one but me.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"But disaster will come on you.\nYou will not know how to make it go away with magic.\nTrouble will fall on you that you cannot stop.\nRuin will come on you all of a sudden,\nwhen you do not expect it."},{"verse":12,"text":"So keep on with your spells\nand your many magic tricks.\nYou have worked hard at them since you were young.\nMaybe they will help you.\nMaybe you will make people afraid!"},{"verse":13,"text":"All the advice you get has worn you out.\nLet your advisers come and save you now.\nLet those who study the sky and watch the stars save you.\nEach month they tell you what will happen to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"They are only like dry straw.\nThe fire will burn them up.\nThey cannot save themselves from the power of the flames.\nThere will be no coals to warm them.\nThere will be no fire to sit beside."},{"verse":15,"text":"That is all they will be to you.\nYou have worked and traded with them since you were young.\nBut each of them wanders off his own way.\nNot one of them can save you.\""}]},{"chapter":48,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Listen to this, family of Jacob.\nYou are called by the name of Israel.\nYou come from the family line of Judah.\nYou make promises in the name of the LORD.\nYou call on the God of Israel.\nBut you do not do it in truth or in what is right."},{"verse":2,"text":"You call yourselves people of the holy city.\nYou lean on the God of Israel.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name."},{"verse":3,"text":"Long ago I told what would happen.\nIt came out of my mouth, and I made it known.\nThen all at once I acted, and it happened."},{"verse":4,"text":"For I knew how stubborn you are.\nYour neck is like iron.\nYour forehead is like bronze."},{"verse":5,"text":"So I told you these things long ago.\nI told you before they happened.\nThen you could not say, 'My idol did this.\nMy carved image and metal god made it happen.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"You have heard these things. Look at them all.\nWon't you admit they are true?\nFrom now on I will tell you about new things.\nThey are hidden things you do not know."},{"verse":7,"text":"They are being created now, not long ago.\nYou have not heard of them before today.\nSo you cannot say, 'I already knew about them!'"},{"verse":8,"text":"You have never heard them.\nYou have never understood them.\nFor a long time your ears have been closed.\nFor I knew how false you are.\nYou have been called a rebel since you were born."},{"verse":9,"text":"For the sake of my name, I hold back my anger.\nFor the sake of my praise, I keep it from you.\nSo you will not be wiped out."},{"verse":10,"text":"Look, I have made you pure,\nbut not the way silver is made pure.\nI have tested you in the hot fire of suffering."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will act for my own sake, yes, my very own sake.\nHow can I let my name be dishonored?\nI will not give my glory to anyone else."},{"verse":12,"text":"Listen to me, Jacob.\nListen, Israel, whom I have called.\nI am he.\nI am the first, and I am the last."},{"verse":13,"text":"My own hand laid the earth's foundation.\nMy right hand spread out the skies.\nWhen I call them,\nthey all stand up together."},{"verse":14,"text":"Come together, all of you, and listen.\nWhich of the idols has told about these things?\nThe LORD has chosen a man to work with him.\nHe will do what the LORD wants against Babylon.\nHis arm will be against the Chaldeans."},{"verse":15,"text":"I, yes I, have spoken.\nYes, I have called him.\nI have brought him,\nand he will succeed in what he was sent to do."},{"verse":16,"text":"Come near to me and listen to this.\nFrom the beginning I have not spoken in secret.\nWhen it happened, I was there.\"\nAnd now the Lord GOD has sent me,\nand his Spirit is with me."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is what the LORD says,\nyour Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:\n\"I am the LORD your God.\nI teach you what is good for you.\nI lead you in the way you should go."},{"verse":18,"text":"If only you had listened to my commands!\nThen your peace would have been like a river.\nYour right living would have been like the waves of the sea."},{"verse":19,"text":"Your children would have been as many as the sand.\nThose who came after you would have been like its grains.\nTheir name would never be cut off\nor wiped out from before me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Leave Babylon!\nRun away from the Chaldeans!\nShout for joy as you tell it.\nAnnounce it to the ends of the earth.\nSay, \"The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"They were not thirsty when he led them through the deserts.\nHe made water flow for them from the rock.\nHe split the rock, and water rushed out."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"There is no peace for the wicked,\"\nsays the LORD."}]},{"chapter":49,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Listen to me, you islands.\nPay attention, you peoples far away.\nThe LORD called me from the womb.\nWhile I was inside my mother, he spoke my name."},{"verse":2,"text":"He made my mouth like a sharp sword.\nHe hid me in the shadow of his hand.\nHe made me like a polished arrow.\nHe hid me in his bag of arrows."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said to me, \"You are my Servant, Israel.\nI will show my glory through you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But I said, \"I have worked for nothing.\nI have used up my strength for nothing at all.\nYet the LORD will prove I am right.\nMy reward is with my God.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"And now the LORD speaks.\nHe formed me in the womb to be his Servant.\nHe formed me to bring Jacob back to him,\nso that Israel would be gathered to him.\nFor I am honored in the LORD's eyes,\nand my God is my strength."},{"verse":6,"text":"He says, \"It is too small a thing for you just to be my Servant,\nto raise up the tribes of Jacob,\nand to bring back the ones of Israel I have kept safe.\nI will also make you a light for the nations.\nYou will bring my saving help to the ends of the earth.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"This is what the LORD says,\nthe Redeemer and Holy One of Israel.\nHe speaks to the one the nation hated and looked down on,\nthe servant of rulers:\n\"Kings will see you and stand up.\nPrinces will bow down.\nThey will do it because of the LORD, who is faithful,\nthe Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"At the time I show favor, I will answer you.\nOn the day of saving, I will help you.\nI will keep you and make you a covenant for the people.\nYou will bring the land back.\nYou will give out again the lands that lie empty."},{"verse":9,"text":"You will say to the prisoners, 'Come out.'\nYou will say to those in darkness, 'Show yourselves.'\nThey will find food along the roads.\nThey will find pasture on every bare hill."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will not be hungry or thirsty.\nThe burning heat and sun will not beat down on them.\nFor the one who has mercy on them will guide them.\nHe will lead them beside springs of water."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will turn all my mountains into roads.\nMy highways will be built up."},{"verse":12,"text":"Look, they will come from far away.\nThey will come from the north and from the west.\nThey will come from the land of Aswan.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Shout for joy, you heavens.\nBe glad, earth.\nBurst into song, you mountains!\nFor the LORD has comforted his people.\nHe will show love and mercy to his suffering ones."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Zion said, \"The LORD has forsaken me.\nThe Lord has forgotten me!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Can a mother forget the baby nursing at her breast?\nCan she have no love for the son she gave birth to?\nEven if she could forget,\nI will not forget you!"},{"verse":16,"text":"Look, I have carved you on the palms of my hands.\nYour walls are always in front of me."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your builders hurry back.\nThose who tore you down and ruined you\nare going away from you."},{"verse":18,"text":"Look up and look all around.\nThey are all gathering together.\nThey are coming to you.\nAs surely as I live,\" says the LORD,\n\"you will wear them all like jewelry.\nYou will put them on like a bride."},{"verse":19,"text":"For your land was ruined and empty and torn apart.\nBut now it will be too small for your people.\nThose who swallowed you up will be far away."},{"verse":20,"text":"The children born while you were grieving\nwill say where you can hear them,\n'This place is too small for us.\nMake room for us to live here.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"Then you will say to yourself,\n'Who gave birth to these for me?\nMy children were taken, and I could not have more.\nI was taken away and sent off.\nSo who raised these children?\nLook, I was left all alone.\nSo where did these come from?'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says:\n\"Look, I will lift up my hand to the nations.\nI will raise my flag for the peoples to see.\nThey will bring your sons in their arms.\nThey will carry your daughters on their shoulders."},{"verse":23,"text":"Kings will take care of your children like fathers.\nTheir queens will nurse them like mothers.\nThey will bow before you with their faces to the ground.\nThey will lick the dust at your feet.\nThen you will know that I am the LORD.\nThose who hope in me will never be put to shame.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Can the loot be taken away from a mighty soldier?\nCan the captives of a cruel ruler be set free?"},{"verse":25,"text":"Yes! This is what the LORD says:\n\"Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away.\nThe loot of the cruel ruler will be taken back.\nI will fight those who fight you.\nI will save your children."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will make those who hurt you eat their own flesh.\nThey will be drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine.\nThen all people will know\nthat I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer,\nthe Mighty One of Jacob.\""}]},{"chapter":50,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Where is the paper that shows I divorced your mother\nand sent her away?\nOr to which of the people I owe did I sell you?\nLook, you were sold because of your sins.\nYour mother was sent away because of your wrongs."},{"verse":2,"text":"When I came, why was no one there?\nWhen I called, why did no one answer?\nIs my hand too short to buy you back?\nDo I not have the strength to rescue you?\nLook, when I speak sharply, the sea dries up.\nI turn the rivers into a desert.\nThe fish rot because there is no water.\nThey die of thirst."},{"verse":3,"text":"I dress the skies in black.\nI cover them with sackcloth.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The Lord GOD has given me a tongue that is taught by him.\nNow I know how to help tired people with a word.\nHe wakes me up morning after morning.\nHe wakes up my ear to listen like a student."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Lord GOD has opened my ears.\nI have not turned against him.\nI have not turned away."},{"verse":6,"text":"I let people beat my back.\nI let them pull out the hair of my beard.\nI did not hide my face\nwhen they mocked me and spit on me."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Lord GOD helps me,\nso I have not been put to shame.\nSo I have set my face like hard stone.\nI know I will not be put to shame."},{"verse":8,"text":"The one who proves I am right is near.\nWho dares to bring charges against me?\nLet us face each other!\nWho has a case against me?\nLet him come to me!"},{"verse":9,"text":"The Lord GOD helps me.\nWho can say I am guilty?\nLook, they will all wear out like old clothes.\nThe moths will eat them up."},{"verse":10,"text":"Who among you fears the LORD\nand obeys the voice of his Servant?\nWho among you walks in darkness and has no light?\nLet him trust in the name of the LORD.\nLet him lean on his God."},{"verse":11,"text":"But look, all of you who light a fire,\nwho surround yourselves with burning torches.\nGo ahead and walk in the light of your own fire,\nin the light of the torches you have lit!\nThis is what you will get from my hand:\nyou will lie down in a place of pain."}]},{"chapter":51,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Listen to me, you who chase after what is right,\nyou who look for the LORD.\nLook at the rock you were cut from.\nLook at the stone pit you were dug out of."},{"verse":2,"text":"Look at Abraham your father.\nLook at Sarah, who gave birth to you.\nWhen I called him, he was only one man.\nThen I blessed him and made him into many."},{"verse":3,"text":"For the LORD will comfort Zion.\nHe will look with love on all her ruins.\nHe will make her wilderness like Eden.\nHe will make her desert like the garden of the LORD.\nJoy and gladness will be found there.\nThere will be thanks and the sound of songs."},{"verse":4,"text":"Pay attention to me, my people.\nListen to me, my nation.\nFor a law will go out from me.\nMy justice will become a light to the nations.\nI will make it happen quickly."},{"verse":5,"text":"My righteousness is coming near.\nMy saving help is on the way.\nMy arms will bring justice to the nations.\nThe islands will look to me.\nThey will wait with hope for my arm."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look up at the skies.\nLook down at the earth below.\nFor the skies will disappear like smoke.\nThe earth will wear out like old clothes.\nIts people will die like gnats.\nBut my saving help will last forever.\nMy righteousness will never end."},{"verse":7,"text":"Listen to me, you who know what is right,\nyou people who have my law in your hearts.\nDo not be afraid when people make fun of you.\nDo not be crushed by their insults."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the moth will eat them up like clothes.\nThe worm will eat them like wool.\nBut my righteousness will last forever.\nMy saving help will last for all generations.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Wake up, wake up!\nArm of the LORD, put on strength.\nWake up as you did in days long ago,\nin generations of the past.\nWasn't it you who cut Rahab to pieces?\nWasn't it you who stabbed the dragon?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Wasn't it you who dried up the sea,\nthe waters of the great deep?\nYou made a road in the deep sea\nso the people you redeemed could cross over."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the people the LORD has redeemed will return.\nThey will come into Zion singing.\nJoy that lasts forever will be like a crown on their heads.\nGladness and joy will fill them.\nSorrow and sighing will run away."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.\nWhy should you be afraid of humans who die?\nWhy fear people who dry up like grass?"},{"verse":13,"text":"But you have forgotten the LORD who made you.\nHe stretched out the skies.\nHe laid the foundations of the earth.\nAll day long you live in fear\nof the anger of the one who hurts you.\nHe is set on destroying you.\nBut where is his anger now?"},{"verse":14,"text":"The prisoner will soon be set free.\nHe will not die in the dungeon.\nHe will not run out of bread."},{"verse":15,"text":"For I am the LORD your God.\nI stir up the sea so that its waves roar.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name."},{"verse":16,"text":"I have put my words in your mouth.\nI have covered you with the shadow of my hand.\nI did this to set the skies in place\nand to lay the foundations of the earth.\nI did it to say to Zion, 'You are my people.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Wake up, wake up!\nStand up, Jerusalem!\nYou have drunk from the LORD's hand\nthe cup of his anger.\nYou have drunk it down to the last drop.\nIt is the cup that makes people stumble."},{"verse":18,"text":"Of all the sons she had,\nnone is there to guide her.\nOf all the sons she raised,\nnone is there to take her hand."},{"verse":19,"text":"Two pairs of troubles have come on you:\nruin and destruction, hunger and the sword.\nWho will feel sorry for you?\nWho can comfort you?"},{"verse":20,"text":"Your sons have fainted.\nThey lie at the corner of every street,\nlike an antelope caught in a net.\nThey are filled with the anger of the LORD.\nYour God has scolded them."},{"verse":21,"text":"So now listen to this, you who suffer.\nYou are drunk, but not with wine."},{"verse":22,"text":"This is what your Lord says,\nthe LORD your God, who stands up for his people:\n\"Look, I have taken from your hand\nthe cup that makes you stumble.\nYou will never drink again from that cup,\nthe cup of my anger."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will put it into the hands of those who hurt you.\nThey told you, 'Lie down, so we can walk on you.'\nSo you made your back like the ground,\nlike a street for them to walk on.\""}]},{"chapter":52,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Wake up, wake up, Zion!\nPut on your strength!\nPut on your beautiful clothes,\nJerusalem, the holy city!\nFor those who are uncircumcised and unclean\nwill not come into you anymore."},{"verse":2,"text":"Shake off your dust!\nGet up and sit on your throne, Jerusalem.\nTake the chains off your neck,\ncaptive daughter of Zion."},{"verse":3,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"You were sold for nothing.\nAnd you will be bought back without money.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says:\n\"At first my people went down to Egypt to live.\nThen Assyria treated them cruelly for no reason."},{"verse":5,"text":"And now, what do I see here?\" says the LORD.\n\"My people have been taken away for no reason.\nThose who rule them make fun of them,\" says the LORD.\n\"And people speak against my name all day long."},{"verse":6,"text":"So my people will know my name.\nOn that day they will know\nthat I am the one who speaks.\nHere I am!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"How beautiful on the mountains\nare the feet of those who bring good news!\nThey announce peace.\nThey bring good news.\nThey announce that God saves.\nThey say to Zion, \"Your God is King!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Listen! Your watchmen are shouting.\nTogether they shout for joy.\nFor they will see it with their own eyes\nwhen the LORD comes back to Zion."},{"verse":9,"text":"Burst into joy and sing together,\nyou ruins of Jerusalem!\nFor the LORD has comforted his people.\nHe has redeemed Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"The LORD has bared his holy arm\nfor all the nations to see.\nAll the ends of the earth will see\nhow our God saves."},{"verse":11,"text":"Leave, leave, go out from there!\nDo not touch anything unclean.\nCome out from there and make yourselves pure,\nyou who carry the bowls and tools of the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"For you will not leave in a rush.\nYou will not run away in a hurry.\nFor the LORD will go ahead of you.\nThe God of Israel will guard you from behind."},{"verse":13,"text":"Look, my Servant will succeed.\nHe will be raised up and lifted high.\nHe will be greatly honored."},{"verse":14,"text":"Just as many people were shocked at him—\nhis looks were so ruined he looked worse than any man,\nand his form was so ruined he hardly looked human—"},{"verse":15,"text":"So he will sprinkle many nations.\nKings will shut their mouths because of him.\nFor they will see what they were never told.\nThey will understand what they have not heard."}]},{"chapter":53,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Who has believed our message?\nTo whom has the LORD shown his powerful arm?"},{"verse":2,"text":"He grew up before the LORD like a young plant,\nlike a root coming out of dry ground.\nHe had no fine looks or royal beauty to draw us to him.\nThere was nothing in how he looked to make us want him."},{"verse":3,"text":"People hated him and turned him away.\nHe was a man of sorrows who knew all about pain.\nHe was like someone people hide their faces from.\nHe was hated, and we did not think he was worth anything."},{"verse":4,"text":"Surely he took up our weakness.\nHe carried our sorrows.\nBut we thought he was being punished.\nWe thought God was striking him down and making him suffer."},{"verse":5,"text":"But he was pierced for our sins.\nHe was crushed for our wrongs.\nThe punishment that brought us peace was on him.\nBy his wounds we are healed."},{"verse":6,"text":"All of us, like sheep, have wandered away.\nEach of us has turned to go our own way.\nAnd the LORD has put on him\nthe sin of us all."},{"verse":7,"text":"He was treated cruelly and made to suffer,\nyet he did not open his mouth.\nHe was led like a lamb to be killed.\nA sheep is silent before those who cut its wool.\nIn the same way, he did not open his mouth."},{"verse":8,"text":"He was taken away by cruel judging.\nWho can talk about his descendants?\nFor he was cut off from the land of the living.\nHe was struck down for the sins of my people."},{"verse":9,"text":"They gave him a grave with the wicked.\nHe was with a rich man in his death.\nYet he had done nothing violent.\nHe had never told a lie."},{"verse":10,"text":"Yet it was the LORD's plan to crush him\nand make him suffer.\nAnd when his life is made a guilt offering,\nhe will see his children.\nHe will live a long time.\nAnd the LORD's good plan will succeed in his hand."},{"verse":11,"text":"After his soul has suffered so much,\nhe will see the light of life and be satisfied.\nMy righteous Servant will make many people right with God\nby what he knows.\nHe will carry their sins."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I will give him a share with the great.\nHe will divide the loot with the strong.\nFor he poured out his life to death.\nHe was counted with the sinners.\nYet he carried the sin of many people.\nHe prayed for those who did wrong."}]},{"chapter":54,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Shout for joy, you woman who could not have children,\nyou who have never given birth.\nBurst into song and shout out loud,\nyou who have never felt the pains of birth.\nFor the woman left alone will have more children\nthan the woman who has a husband,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Make the space for your tent bigger.\nStretch out the curtains of your home.\nDo not hold back.\nMake your ropes longer.\nDrive your tent stakes in deep."},{"verse":3,"text":"For you will spread out to the right and to the left.\nYour children will take over the lands of the nations.\nThey will live in the cities that were left empty."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame.\nDo not be scared, for you will not be brought low.\nFor you will forget the shame of when you were young.\nYou will not remember anymore\nthe disgrace of being a widow."},{"verse":5,"text":"For your husband is the one who made you.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name.\nThe Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.\nHe is called the God of all the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"For the LORD has called you back.\nYou were like a wife who was left alone and hurt deep inside.\nYou were like a young wife who was sent away,\"\nsays your God."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"For a short moment I forsook you.\nBut with great love and mercy I will bring you back."},{"verse":8,"text":"In a flood of anger\nI hid my face from you for a moment.\nBut with kindness that lasts forever\nI will show you mercy,\"\nsays the LORD your Redeemer."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"For to me this is like the days of Noah.\nThen I promised that the waters of Noah's flood\nwould never cover the earth again.\nSo now I have promised that I will not be angry with you.\nI will not scold you."},{"verse":10,"text":"The mountains may be moved,\nand the hills may be shaken.\nBut my faithful love will not leave you.\nMy covenant of peace will not be broken,\"\nsays the LORD, who has mercy on you."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"You city who suffers, beaten by storms, with no one to comfort you,\nI will set your stones in shining black mortar.\nI will lay your foundations with sapphires."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make your towers out of rubies.\nI will make your gates out of sparkling jewels.\nI will make all your walls out of precious stones."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD will teach all your sons.\nAnd they will have great peace and well-being."},{"verse":14,"text":"You will be set up firmly in righteousness.\nYou will be far from cruel treatment,\nfor you will have nothing to fear.\nTerror will be far away.\nIt will not come near you."},{"verse":15,"text":"If anyone attacks you, it will not be my doing.\nWhoever attacks you will fall because of you."},{"verse":16,"text":"Look, I created the blacksmith.\nHe blows on the coals to make a fire.\nHe makes a weapon fit for its job.\nAnd I created the destroyer to bring ruin."},{"verse":17,"text":"No weapon made to fight against you will succeed.\nYou will prove wrong every tongue that blames you.\nThis is what the servants of the LORD receive.\nI am the one who proves them right,\"\nsays the LORD."}]},{"chapter":55,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Come, all you who are thirsty,\ncome to the waters.\nYou who have no money, come, buy, and eat!\nCome, buy wine and milk\nwithout money and without cost!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Why spend money on what is not bread?\nWhy work hard for what does not fill you up?\nListen carefully to me, and eat what is good.\nThen your soul will enjoy the richest food."},{"verse":3,"text":"Turn your ear and come to me.\nListen, so that your soul may live.\nI will make a covenant with you that lasts forever.\nIt is the faithful love I promised to David."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look, I made him a witness to the nations.\nI made him a leader and commander of the peoples."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will call nations you do not know.\nNations that do not know you will run to you.\nThis is because of the LORD your God,\nthe Holy One of Israel.\nHe has given you glory.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Look for the LORD while he may be found.\nCall on him while he is near."},{"verse":7,"text":"Let the wicked person leave his way of life.\nLet the evil person leave his evil thoughts.\nLet him turn back to the LORD,\nand the LORD will have mercy on him.\nLet him turn to our God,\nfor he will freely forgive."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"For my thoughts are not your thoughts.\nAnd your ways are not my ways,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"The heavens are higher than the earth.\nIn the same way, my ways are higher than your ways.\nMy thoughts are higher than your thoughts."},{"verse":10,"text":"The rain and snow come down from the sky.\nThey do not go back without watering the earth.\nThey make plants bud and grow.\nThey give seed to plant and food to eat."},{"verse":11,"text":"In the same way, the word that goes out of my mouth\nwill not come back to me empty.\nIt will do what I want.\nIt will succeed in what I send it to do."},{"verse":12,"text":"You will go out with joy.\nYou will be led out in peace.\nThe mountains and hills will burst into song before you.\nAll the trees of the field will clap their hands."},{"verse":13,"text":"Cypress trees will grow where thornbushes grew.\nMyrtle trees will grow where weeds grew.\nThis will bring honor to the LORD's name.\nIt will be a sign that lasts forever.\nIt will never be destroyed.\""}]},{"chapter":56,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Keep on doing what is fair and what is right.\nFor I will soon come to save you.\nMy righteousness will soon be shown."},{"verse":2,"text":"Blessed is the person who does this.\nBlessed is the one who holds on to it.\nHe keeps the Sabbath and does not treat it as unholy.\nHe keeps his hand from doing anything evil.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"A foreigner may have joined himself to the LORD.\nHe should not say,\n\"The LORD will surely keep me away from his people.\"\nAnd the eunuch should not say,\n\"I am only a dried-up tree.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"Some eunuchs keep my Sabbaths.\nThey choose what pleases me.\nThey hold on tight to my covenant."},{"verse":5,"text":"To them I will give something in my house and inside my walls.\nI will give them a monument and a name\nbetter than sons and daughters.\nI will give them a name that lasts forever.\nIt will never be cut off."},{"verse":6,"text":"Some foreigners join themselves to the LORD.\nThey serve him and love the name of the LORD.\nThey are his servants.\nThey keep the Sabbath and do not treat it as unholy.\nThey hold on tight to my covenant."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will bring them to my holy mountain.\nI will give them joy in my house of prayer.\nI will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices on my altar.\nFor my house will be called\na house of prayer for all the nations.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says.\nHe gathers the scattered people of Israel.\n\"I will gather still others to them,\nbesides those I have already gathered.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Come, all you wild animals of the field.\nCome and eat all you want, all you animals of the forest."},{"verse":10,"text":"Israel's watchmen are blind.\nNone of them know what is going on.\nThey are all dogs that cannot bark.\nThey lie around and dream.\nThey love to sleep."},{"verse":11,"text":"They are like hungry dogs that are never full.\nThey are shepherds who do not understand.\nThey all turn to their own way.\nEach one looks out only for himself."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Come,\" they say, \"let me get the wine.\nLet us drink lots of strong drink.\nTomorrow will be like today,\nonly much better!\""}]},{"chapter":57,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The righteous perish,\nand no one thinks about it.\nPeople who love God are taken away,\nand no one understands\nthat the righteous are taken away\nto be kept from evil."},{"verse":2,"text":"Those who live right go into peace.\nThey find rest as they lie down in death."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"But come here, you children of a witch!\nYou children of men who cheat on their wives\nand women who sell their bodies!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Who are you making fun of?\nWho are you laughing at and sticking your tongue out at?\nAren't you children of sin?\nAren't you a family of liars?"},{"verse":5,"text":"You burn with lust among the oak trees,\nunder every green tree.\nYou kill your children in the valleys,\nunder the cracks in the rocks."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your share is among the smooth stones of the valley.\nYes, they are what you get.\nYou have even poured out drink offerings to them.\nYou have given them grain offerings.\nShould I calm down because of these things?"},{"verse":7,"text":"You have made your bed on a high hill.\nYou went up there to offer sacrifices."},{"verse":8,"text":"You set up your sign\nbehind your door and doorpost.\nYou forsook me and uncovered your bed.\nYou climbed into it and opened it wide.\nYou made a deal with those whose beds you love.\nYou looked at their naked bodies."},{"verse":9,"text":"You went to Molech with oil.\nYou used lots of perfume.\nYou sent your messengers far away.\nYou went down even to the grave itself.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":10,"text":"Your many trips wore you out.\nBut you did not say, \"It's no use!\"\nYou found new strength,\nso you did not grow weak."},{"verse":11,"text":"Who were you so afraid of\nthat you lied?\nYou did not remember me\nor think about this.\nI have been silent for a long time.\nIs that why you do not fear me?"},{"verse":12,"text":"I will show what your so-called rightness is,\nand what you have done.\nThey will not help you."},{"verse":13,"text":"When you cry out for help,\nlet your collection of idols save you!\nThe wind will carry them all off.\nA breath will blow them away.\nBut whoever comes to me for safety\nwill receive the land.\nHe will own my holy mountain.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"And someone will say,\n\"Build up the road, build it up!\nGet the way ready!\nTake everything out of the way of my people\nthat makes them trip.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"For this is what the High and Lifted Up One says.\nHe lives forever, and his name is Holy.\n\"I live in a high and holy place.\nBut I also live with those who are crushed and humble in spirit.\nI give new life to the spirit of the humble.\nI give new life to the heart of those who are sorry for their sins."},{"verse":16,"text":"For I will not accuse you forever.\nI will not always be angry.\nIf I did, people's spirits would grow weak before me.\nThe breath of life I made would fail."},{"verse":17,"text":"I was very angry because of his sinful greed.\nSo I struck him.\nI hid my face in anger.\nBut he kept going back to what his heart wanted."},{"verse":18,"text":"I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.\nI will guide him.\nI will comfort him again,\nand I will comfort those who mourn for him."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will put praise on their lips.\nPeace, peace to those far and near,\"\nsays the LORD.\n\"And I will heal them.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But the wicked are like a sea tossed by a storm.\nIt cannot be still.\nIts waves stir up mud and dirt."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"There is no peace for the wicked,\"\nsays my God."}]},{"chapter":58,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Shout out loud! Do not hold back!\nLift up your voice like a ram's horn.\nTell my people what they have done wrong.\nTell the family of Jacob their sins."},{"verse":2,"text":"For day after day they look for me.\nThey are glad to learn my ways.\nThey act like a nation that does what is right,\nlike a nation that has not left the laws of its God.\nThey ask me for fair decisions.\nThey are glad to come near to God.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"They say, \"Why have we fasted, and you have not seen it?\nWhy have we made ourselves humble, and you have not noticed?\"\n\"Look, on the day you fast, you do whatever you want.\nAnd you treat all your workers cruelly."},{"verse":4,"text":"When you fast, you end up fighting and arguing.\nYou hit each other with mean fists.\nYou cannot fast like you do today\nand expect your voice to be heard in heaven."},{"verse":5,"text":"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen?\nIs it only a day for a man to go without food?\nIs it just for bowing his head like a reed?\nIs it for lying on sackcloth and ashes?\nIs that what you call a fast?\nIs that a day the LORD will accept?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Isn't this the fast that I have chosen?\nIt is to break the chains of evil.\nIt is to untie the ropes of the yoke.\nIt is to set free those who are treated cruelly\nand to break off every yoke."},{"verse":7,"text":"Isn't it sharing your bread with the hungry?\nIsn't it bringing the poor and homeless into your house?\nIsn't it giving clothes to someone with none when you see him,\nand not turning away from your own family?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Then your light will break out like the sunrise.\nYou will be healed quickly.\nYour right living will go ahead of you.\nThe glory of the LORD will guard you from behind."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer.\nYou will cry for help, and he will say, 'Here I am.'\nIf you take the yoke away from among you,\nif you stop pointing your finger\nand saying cruel things,"},{"verse":10,"text":"and if you give yourself to help the hungry\nand meet the needs of those who suffer,\nthen your light will shine in the darkness.\nYour night will be as bright as noon."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD will always guide you.\nHe will meet your needs in a land burned by the sun.\nHe will make your body strong.\nYou will be like a garden with plenty of water,\nlike a spring that never runs dry."},{"verse":12,"text":"Your people will rebuild the old ruins.\nYou will build again on the very old foundations.\nYou will be called the One Who Fixes Broken Walls.\nYou will be called the One Who Makes Streets Good to Live On Again."},{"verse":13,"text":"If you turn your feet away from breaking the Sabbath,\nif you do not do whatever you want on my holy day,\nif you call the Sabbath a joy\nand call the LORD's holy day worthy of honor,\nif you honor it by not going your own way,\nnot chasing what you want,\nand not speaking empty words,"},{"verse":14,"text":"If you do, you will find your joy in the LORD.\nI will make you ride on the high places of the land.\nI will feed you with what was given to your father Jacob.\"\nFor the LORD himself has said it."}]},{"chapter":59,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD's arm is surely not too short to save.\nHis ear is not too dull to hear."},{"verse":2,"text":"But your sins have built walls\nbetween you and your God.\nYour sins have hidden his face from you,\nso he does not hear."},{"verse":3,"text":"For your hands are stained with blood.\nYour fingers are stained with sin.\nYour lips have told lies.\nYour tongue whispers evil things."},{"verse":4,"text":"No one asks for what is fair.\nNo one argues his case honestly.\nThey trust in empty words.\nThey tell lies.\nThey plan trouble and give birth to evil."},{"verse":5,"text":"They hatch the eggs of poisonous snakes.\nThey weave spider webs.\nWhoever eats their eggs will die.\nCrack one open, and a snake comes out."},{"verse":6,"text":"Their spider webs cannot be made into clothes.\nThey cannot cover themselves with what they make.\nWhat they do is sinful.\nTheir hands are full of violence."},{"verse":7,"text":"Their feet run to do evil.\nThey are quick to kill innocent people.\nTheir thoughts are sinful thoughts.\nThey leave ruin and destruction behind them."},{"verse":8,"text":"They do not know the way of peace.\nThere is nothing fair in the paths they walk.\nThey have made their paths crooked.\nNo one who walks on them will know peace."},{"verse":9,"text":"So fairness is far from us.\nWhat is right does not reach us.\nWe hope for light, but there is darkness.\nWe hope for brightness, but we walk in gloom."},{"verse":10,"text":"Like blind people, we feel our way along the wall.\nWe feel around like people with no eyes.\nAt noon we trip as if it were evening.\nAmong strong people we are like the dead."},{"verse":11,"text":"We all growl like bears.\nWe moan like doves.\nWe hope for fairness, but there is none.\nWe hope to be saved, but it is far from us."},{"verse":12,"text":"For we have done so many wrongs before you.\nOur sins speak out against us.\nOur wrongs are with us all the time.\nWe know our sins well."},{"verse":13,"text":"We have rebelled and denied the LORD.\nWe have turned away from our God.\nWe have talked about hurting others and turning against you.\nWe have thought up lies in our hearts and spoken them."},{"verse":14,"text":"So fairness is pushed back.\nWhat is right stands far away.\nFor truth has tripped and fallen in the town square.\nHonesty cannot come in."},{"verse":15,"text":"Truth is gone.\nWhoever turns away from evil is attacked.\nThe LORD looked and was not pleased\nthat there was no fairness."},{"verse":16,"text":"He saw that there was no one to help.\nHe was shocked that no one stepped in to plead for the people.\nSo his own arm brought saving help.\nHis own righteousness held him up."},{"verse":17,"text":"He put on righteousness like a breastplate.\nHe put the helmet of salvation on his head.\nHe put on clothes of vengeance.\nHe wrapped himself in zeal like a coat."},{"verse":18,"text":"So he will pay them back for what they have done.\nHe will pour out anger on his enemies.\nHe will punish his foes.\nHe will pay back the islands."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then people in the west will fear the name of the LORD.\nPeople in the east will fear his glory.\nFor he will come like a rushing flood,\npushed along by the breath of the LORD."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"The Redeemer will come to Zion.\nHe will come to those in Jacob who turn away from their sins,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"As for me, this is my covenant with them,\" says the LORD.\n\"My Spirit will not leave you.\nMy words that I have put in your mouth will not leave you.\nThey will not leave your mouth\nor the mouths of your children and grandchildren,\nfrom now on and forever,\" says the LORD."}]},{"chapter":60,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Get up and shine, for your light has come!\nThe glory of the LORD is rising on you."},{"verse":2,"text":"For look, darkness covers the earth.\nThick darkness is over the peoples.\nBut the LORD will rise on you.\nHis glory will appear over you."},{"verse":3,"text":"Nations will come to your light.\nKings will come to the brightness of your sunrise."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look up and look all around.\nThey are all gathering and coming to you.\nYour sons will come from far away.\nYour daughters will be carried in people's arms."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then you will look and your face will shine.\nYour heart will pound and be full of joy.\nFor the riches of the sea will be brought to you.\nThe wealth of the nations will come to you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Long lines of camels will cover your land,\nyoung camels from Midian and Ephah.\nAll the people from Sheba will come.\nThey will bring gold and incense.\nThey will tell how great the LORD is."},{"verse":7,"text":"All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you.\nThe rams of Nebaioth will serve you.\nThey will be accepted as offerings on my altar.\nI will make my glorious house beautiful."},{"verse":8,"text":"Who are these that fly along like clouds,\nlike doves flying home to their nests?"},{"verse":9,"text":"The islands will surely wait for me.\nThe ships of Tarshish will lead the way.\nThey will bring your children from far away,\nwith their silver and gold.\nThey will do it to honor the LORD your God,\nthe Holy One of Israel,\nfor he has given you glory."},{"verse":10,"text":"Foreigners will rebuild your walls.\nTheir kings will serve you.\nIn my anger I struck you.\nBut in my kindness I will show you mercy."},{"verse":11,"text":"Your gates will always stay open.\nThey will never be shut, day or night.\nThen the wealth of the nations can be brought to you.\nTheir kings will be led in as a parade."},{"verse":12,"text":"For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish.\nIt will be completely destroyed."},{"verse":13,"text":"The glory of Lebanon will come to you.\nIts cypress, elm, and boxwood trees will come together.\nThey will make my holy place beautiful.\nI will bring glory to the place where my feet rest."},{"verse":14,"text":"The sons of those who were cruel to you\nwill come and bow down to you.\nAll who looked down on you\nwill fall on their faces at your feet.\nThey will call you the City of the LORD,\nthe Zion of the Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"You have been forsaken and hated.\nNo one would even travel through you.\nBut I will make you a city to be proud of forever.\nYou will be a joy for all generations."},{"verse":16,"text":"You will drink the milk of nations.\nYou will nurse at the breasts of kings.\nThen you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior.\nI am your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will bring you gold instead of bronze.\nI will bring silver instead of iron.\nI will bring bronze instead of wood,\nand iron instead of stones.\nI will make peace your governor.\nI will make what is right your ruler."},{"verse":18,"text":"No one will hear of violence in your land anymore.\nThere will be no ruin or destruction inside your borders.\nYou will name your walls Salvation.\nYou will name your gates Praise."},{"verse":19,"text":"The sun will no longer be your light by day.\nThe moon will no longer shine on your night.\nFor the LORD will be your light forever.\nYour God will be your glory."},{"verse":20,"text":"Your sun will never set again.\nYour moon will not grow smaller.\nFor the LORD will be your light forever.\nYour days of sadness will end."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then all your people will be righteous.\nThe land will belong to them forever.\nThey are the branch I planted,\nthe work of my hands,\nso that I may be glorified."},{"verse":22,"text":"The least of you will become a thousand.\nThe smallest will become a mighty nation.\nI am the LORD.\nWhen the time is right, I will make it happen quickly."}]},{"chapter":61,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me,\nbecause the LORD has anointed me\nto bring good news to the poor.\nHe has sent me to bandage up those whose hearts are broken.\nHe sent me to announce freedom for the captives,\nand to set the prisoners free."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent me to announce the year of the LORD's favor\nand the day of our God's vengeance.\nHe sent me to comfort all who mourn."},{"verse":3,"text":"He sent me to comfort those in Zion who are sad.\nI will give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes.\nI will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow.\nI will give them clothes of praise instead of a heavy spirit.\nThey will be called oaks of righteousness.\nThe LORD has planted them to show his glory."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will rebuild the old ruins.\nThey will build up the places that were torn down long ago.\nThey will make the ruined cities new again.\nThose cities have been empty for many generations."},{"verse":5,"text":"Strangers will stand and take care of your flocks.\nForeigners will plow your fields and work in your vineyards."},{"verse":6,"text":"But you will be called the priests of the LORD.\nPeople will say you are servants of our God.\nYou will feed on the wealth of nations.\nYou will boast in their riches."},{"verse":7,"text":"Instead of shame, my people will get a double share.\nInstead of disgrace, they will be glad about what they receive.\nSo they will receive a double share in their land.\nJoy that lasts forever will be theirs."},{"verse":8,"text":"For I, the LORD, love what is fair.\nI hate robbery and sin.\nBecause I am faithful, I will reward them.\nI will make a covenant with them that lasts forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their children will be known among the nations.\nThe ones who come after them will be known among the peoples.\nAll who see them will say\nthat they are a people the LORD has blessed."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will be very glad in the LORD.\nMy soul will be full of joy in my God.\nFor he has dressed me in clothes of salvation.\nHe has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.\nI am like a groom wearing a priest's headdress.\nI am like a bride wearing her jewels."},{"verse":11,"text":"The earth makes plants come up.\nA garden makes seeds grow.\nIn the same way, the Lord GOD will make rightness and praise\ngrow up in front of all the nations."}]},{"chapter":62,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"For Zion's sake I will not keep quiet.\nFor Jerusalem's sake I will not stay still.\nI will not stop until her rightness shines like a bright light,\nuntil her salvation burns like a torch."},{"verse":2,"text":"The nations will see your rightness.\nAll kings will see your glory.\nYou will be called by a new name.\nThe LORD himself will give you that name."},{"verse":3,"text":"You will be a beautiful crown in the LORD's hand.\nYou will be a royal crown in the palm of your God."},{"verse":4,"text":"No one will call you Forsaken anymore.\nNo one will name your land Empty.\nInstead, you will be called Hephzibah.\nYour land will be called Beulah.\nFor the LORD will take delight in you.\nYour land will be his bride.","note":"Hephzibah means \"My Delight Is in Her.\" Beulah means \"Married.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"A young man marries a young woman.\nIn the same way, your sons will marry you.\nA groom is full of joy over his bride.\nIn the same way, your God will be full of joy over you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jerusalem, I have placed watchmen on your walls.\nThey will never be silent, day or night.\nYou who call on the LORD,\ndo not take any rest for yourselves."},{"verse":7,"text":"And do not give him any rest\nuntil he makes Jerusalem strong\nand makes her the praise of the earth."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD has made a promise\nby his right hand and by his mighty arm:\n\"I will never again give your grain to your enemies to eat.\nForeigners will not drink the new wine\nthat you worked so hard for."},{"verse":9,"text":"For those who harvest the grain will eat it\nand praise the LORD.\nThose who gather the grapes will drink the wine\nin the courtyards of my holy place.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Go out, go out through the gates!\nGet the road ready for the people!\nBuild it up, build up the highway!\nClear away the stones!\nRaise a flag for the nations!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Look, the LORD has announced to the ends of the earth,\n\"Say to Daughter Zion,\n'See, your Savior is coming!\nLook, he brings his reward with him.\nThe payment he will give goes ahead of him.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"They will be called the Holy People,\nthe Redeemed of the LORD.\nAnd you will be called Sought Out,\nthe City Not Forsaken."}]},{"chapter":63,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Who is this coming from Edom,\nfrom Bozrah, with clothes stained deep red?\nWho is this dressed in splendor,\nmarching in his great strength?\n\"It is I. I announce that I will set things right.\nI am mighty to save.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Why are your clothes red?\nWhy do your robes look like those of someone\nwho stomps grapes in a winepress?"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"I have stomped the winepress alone.\nNo one from the nations was with me.\nI stomped on them in my anger.\nI trampled them in my fury.\nTheir blood splashed on my robes,\nand all my clothes were stained."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the day of vengeance was in my heart.\nThe year for me to redeem had come."},{"verse":5,"text":"I looked, but there was no one to help.\nI was shocked that no one gave support.\nSo my own arm won the victory for me.\nMy own anger held me up."},{"verse":6,"text":"I trampled the nations in my anger.\nIn my fury I made them drunk.\nI poured out their blood on the ground.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"I will tell of the LORD's faithful love.\nI will tell of the deeds that make him worthy of praise.\nI will tell of all the LORD has done for us.\nHe has done many good things for the house of Israel.\nHe did them because of his great mercy and faithful love."},{"verse":8,"text":"For he said, \"They are surely my people.\nThey are children who will not be false to me.\"\nSo he became their Savior."},{"verse":9,"text":"In all their trouble, he was troubled too.\nThe Angel of his Presence saved them.\nIn his love and mercy he redeemed them.\nHe lifted them up and carried them\nall through the days of long ago."},{"verse":10,"text":"But they rebelled\nand grieved his Holy Spirit.\nSo he turned and became their enemy.\nHe himself fought against them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then his people remembered the days of long ago,\nthe days of Moses.\nWhere is the one who brought them through the sea\nwith the shepherds of his flock?\nWhere is the one who put his Holy Spirit among them,"},{"verse":12,"text":"who sent his glorious arm\nto lead them by Moses' right hand,\nwho split the waters in front of them\nto win for himself a name that lasts forever,"},{"verse":13,"text":"who led them through the deep waters\nlike a horse in the wilderness,\nso that they did not stumble?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Like cattle going down into the valley,\nthey were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD.\nThis is how you led your people\nto make a glorious name for yourself."},{"verse":15,"text":"Look down from heaven and see,\nfrom your holy and glorious home.\nWhere are your zeal and your power?\nYour tender love and mercy for me are held back."},{"verse":16,"text":"But you are our Father,\nthough Abraham does not know us\nand Israel does not claim us.\nYou, LORD, are our Father.\nOur Redeemer from Long Ago is your name."},{"verse":17,"text":"LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways?\nWhy do you harden our hearts so we do not fear you?\nCome back, for the sake of your servants,\nthe tribes that belong to you."},{"verse":18,"text":"For a short time your people owned your holy place.\nBut now our enemies have trampled your temple."},{"verse":19,"text":"We have become like people you never ruled,\nlike those who were never called by your name."}]},{"chapter":64,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Oh, if only you would tear open the heavens and come down!\nThen the mountains would shake before you,"},{"verse":2,"text":"as when fire sets dry sticks burning\nand makes water boil.\nThen you would make your name known to your enemies,\nand the nations would tremble before you!"},{"verse":3,"text":"When you did amazing things we did not expect,\nyou came down,\nand the mountains shook before you."},{"verse":4,"text":"From ancient times no one has heard,\nno ear has noticed,\nand no eye has seen any God but you,\nwho acts for those who wait for him."},{"verse":5,"text":"You welcome those who gladly do what is right,\nwho remember your ways.\nYes, you were angry, for we sinned.\nHow can we be saved if we stay in our sins?"},{"verse":6,"text":"All of us have become like something unclean.\nAll the right things we do are like filthy rags.\nWe all dry up like a leaf.\nOur sins sweep us away like the wind."},{"verse":7,"text":"No one calls on your name\nor works hard to hold on to you.\nFor you have hidden your face from us.\nYou have handed us over to the power of our sins."},{"verse":8,"text":"But now, LORD, you are our Father.\nWe are the clay, and you are the potter.\nWe are all the work of your hand."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD.\nDo not remember our sin forever.\nOh, please look at us.\nWe are all your people!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Your holy cities have become a wilderness.\nZion has become a wasteland.\nJerusalem lies empty and ruined."},{"verse":11,"text":"Our holy and beautiful temple,\nwhere our fathers praised you,\nhas been burned with fire.\nAll that was dear to us lies in ruins."},{"verse":12,"text":"After all this, LORD, will you still hold yourself back?\nWill you stay silent\nand make us suffer beyond measure?"}]},{"chapter":65,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"I made myself known to those who did not ask for me.\nI was found by those who did not look for me.\nTo a nation that did not call on my name,\nI said, 'Here I am! Here I am!'"},{"verse":2,"text":"All day long I have held out my hands\nto a stubborn people.\nThey walk in the wrong path\nand follow their own ideas."},{"verse":3,"text":"They are a people who keep making me angry right to my face.\nThey offer sacrifices in gardens\nand burn incense on altars of brick."},{"verse":4,"text":"They sit among the graves\nand spend nights in secret places.\nThey eat the meat of pigs,\nand their bowls hold broth that is unclean."},{"verse":5,"text":"They say, 'Stay away! Do not come near me,\nfor I am holier than you!'\nPeople like that are smoke in my nose,\na fire that burns all day long."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look, it is written down before me:\nI will not keep silent, but I will pay them back.\nI will pay it back right into their laps,"},{"verse":7,"text":"both for your sins and for the sins of your fathers,\" says the LORD.\n\"They burned incense on the mountains\nand insulted me on the hills.\nSo I will measure out into their laps\nfull payment for what they did before.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"When new wine is found in a bunch of grapes,\npeople say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it.'\nIn the same way, I will act for the sake of my servants.\nI will not destroy them all."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will bring out descendants from Jacob,\nand from Judah, people who will inherit.\nMy chosen ones will own my mountains,\nand my servants will live there."},{"verse":10,"text":"Sharon will become a pasture for flocks.\nThe Valley of Achor will be a resting place for herds.\nThey will be for my people who seek me."},{"verse":11,"text":"But as for you who turn away from the LORD,\nwho forget my holy mountain,\nwho set a table for Fortune\nand fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,","note":"Fortune and Destiny were names of false gods of luck (Hebrew: Gad and Meni)."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will choose the sword for you.\nYou will all bow down to be slaughtered.\nFor I called, but you did not answer.\nI spoke, but you did not listen.\nYou did evil in my sight\nand chose what I do not delight in.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says:\n\"My servants will eat,\nbut you will go hungry.\nMy servants will drink,\nbut you will go thirsty.\nMy servants will be glad,\nbut you will be put to shame."},{"verse":14,"text":"My servants will shout for joy\nwith glad hearts.\nBut you will cry out with heavy hearts\nand wail with broken spirits."},{"verse":15,"text":"Your name will be left behind\nas a curse for my chosen ones to use.\nThe Lord GOD will put you to death.\nBut he will give his servants another name."},{"verse":16,"text":"Whoever asks for a blessing in the land\nwill do it by the God of truth.\nWhoever makes an oath in the land\nwill swear by the God of truth.\nFor the troubles of the past will be forgotten\nand hidden from my eyes."},{"verse":17,"text":"For look, I will create new heavens and a new earth.\nThe old things will not be remembered.\nThey will not even come to mind."},{"verse":18,"text":"But be glad and rejoice forever\nin what I create.\nFor I will create Jerusalem to be a joy,\nand her people to be a delight."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will rejoice over Jerusalem\nand take delight in my people.\nThe sound of weeping and crying\nwill not be heard in her anymore."},{"verse":20,"text":"No more will a baby live only a few days.\nNo more will an old man fail to live out his years.\nFor one who dies at a hundred will still be called young.\nOne who does not reach a hundred will be thought cursed."},{"verse":21,"text":"They will build houses and live in them.\nThey will plant vineyards and eat their fruit."},{"verse":22,"text":"They will no longer build houses for others to live in.\nThey will not plant for others to eat.\nFor as long as a tree lives,\nso long will my people live.\nMy chosen ones will fully enjoy\nthe work of their hands."},{"verse":23,"text":"They will not work for nothing.\nThey will not have children who are doomed to disaster.\nFor they will be a people blessed by the LORD,\nthey and their descendants with them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Even before they call, I will answer.\nWhile they are still speaking, I will hear."},{"verse":25,"text":"The wolf and the lamb will eat together.\nThe lion will eat straw like the ox.\nBut dust will be the serpent's food.\nThey will not hurt or destroy\nanywhere on my holy mountain,\" says the LORD."}]},{"chapter":66,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Heaven is my throne,\nand the earth is my footstool.\nWhat kind of house could you build for me?\nWhere could my resting place be?"},{"verse":2,"text":"Did not my hand make all these things?\nThat is how they came to be,\" declares the LORD.\n\"This is the one I will look on with favor:\nthe one who is humble and broken in spirit,\nwho trembles at my word."},{"verse":3,"text":"Whoever kills an ox is like one who kills a man.\nWhoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog's neck.\nWhoever brings a grain offering is like one who offers pig's blood.\nWhoever burns frankincense is like one who blesses an idol.\nYes, they have chosen their own ways.\nThey delight in their disgusting practices."},{"verse":4,"text":"So I will choose their punishment.\nI will bring terror on them.\nFor I called, and no one answered.\nI spoke, and no one listened.\nThey did evil in my sight\nand chose what I do not delight in.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Hear the word of the LORD,\nyou who tremble at his word:\n\"Your brothers hate you\nand push you out because of my name.\nThey have said, 'Let the LORD be glorified,\nso we can see your joy!'\nBut they will be put to shame.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Hear that uproar from the city!\nListen to that voice from the temple!\nIt is the voice of the LORD,\npaying back his enemies what they deserve!"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Before she went into labor, she gave birth.\nBefore her pain came, she had a son."},{"verse":8,"text":"Who has ever heard of such a thing?\nWho has seen things like this?\nCan a country be born in one day?\nCan a nation be born in a moment?\nYet as soon as Zion went into labor,\nshe gave birth to her children."},{"verse":9,"text":"Would I bring a baby to the moment of birth\nand not let it be born?\" says the LORD.\n\"Or would I, who bring babies to birth, close up the womb?\" says your God."},{"verse":10,"text":"Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her,\nall you who love her.\nRejoice greatly with her,\nall you who mourn over her."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then you will nurse and be satisfied\nat her comforting breasts.\nYou will drink deeply\nand delight in her rich and glorious plenty."},{"verse":12,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"I will send peace to her like a river.\nI will send the wealth of nations like a flowing stream.\nYou will nurse and be carried on her arm.\nYou will be bounced on her knees."},{"verse":13,"text":"As a mother comforts her son,\nso I will comfort you.\nYou will be comforted over Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"When you see this, you will rejoice.\nYou will grow strong like fresh grass.\nThen the hand of the LORD will be shown to his servants.\nBut his anger will be shown to his enemies."},{"verse":15,"text":"For look, the LORD will come with fire.\nHis chariots are like a whirlwind.\nHe will pour out his anger with fury,\nand his rebuke with flames of fire."},{"verse":16,"text":"For the LORD will judge all people\nwith fire and with his sword.\nMany will be killed by the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Some make themselves holy and clean\nto go into the sacred gardens.\nThey follow one who stands in the middle\nof those who eat pig meat, rats, and other disgusting creatures.\nThey will all die together,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"I know their deeds and their thoughts.\nI am coming to gather all nations and languages.\nThey will come and see my glory."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will set a sign among them.\nI will send some who survive to the nations:\nto Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud,\nto Tubal and Javan,\nand to the far-off islands.\nThose places have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.\nSo those I send will tell of my glory among the nations."},{"verse":20,"text":"And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations\nas a gift to the LORD.\nThey will come on horses, in chariots and wagons,\non mules and on camels,\nto my holy mountain Jerusalem,\" says the LORD.\n\"It will be just like when the Israelites bring an offering\nin a clean bowl to the house of the LORD.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"And I will choose some of them to be priests and Levites,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"For the new heavens and the new earth that I will make\nwill last before me,\" declares the LORD.\n\"In the same way, your descendants and your name will last."},{"verse":23,"text":"From one New Moon to the next,\nand from one Sabbath to the next,\nall people will come to worship before me,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"As they go out, they will see the dead bodies\nof the men who rebelled against me.\nFor their worm will never die,\nand their fire will never go out.\nThey will be a horror to all people.\""}]}]},{"name":"Jeremiah","slug":"jeremiah","usfm":"JER","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah. He was one of the priests in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin."},{"verse":2,"text":"The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah."},{"verse":3,"text":"It kept coming through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah. It came until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem were taken away into exile."},{"verse":4,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Oh, Lord GOD,\" I said, \"I really don't know how to speak. I'm only a child!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But the LORD told me, \"Do not say, 'I am only a child.' For you must go to everyone I send you to. You must say everything I command you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, \"Look, I have put my words in your mouth."},{"verse":10,"text":"See, today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will pull up and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He asked, \"Jeremiah, what do you see?\" \"I see a branch of an almond tree,\" I answered."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"You have seen correctly,\" said the LORD. \"For I am watching over my word to make it happen.\"","note":"In Hebrew, the word for almond tree sounds like the word for watching."},{"verse":13,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He asked, \"What do you see?\" \"I see a pot that is boiling,\" I answered. \"It is tipping toward us from the north.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Disaster will pour out from the north on everyone who lives in the land."},{"verse":15,"text":"For I am about to call all the clans and kingdoms of the north,\" declares the LORD. \"Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the walls around her and all the other cities of Judah."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will announce my judgments against them for all their evil. It is because they have turned away from me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have worshiped things their own hands made."},{"verse":17,"text":"Get yourself ready! Stand up and tell them everything I command you. Do not be scared of them, or I will make you terrified in front of them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Look, today I have made you like a strong walled city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls. You will stand against the whole land. You will stand against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land."},{"verse":19,"text":"They will fight against you, but they will never defeat you. For I am with you to rescue you,\" declares the LORD."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Go and shout this so Jerusalem can hear it. This is what the LORD says:\n'I remember your faithful love when you were young.\nYou loved me like a bride.\nYou followed me through the wilderness,\nthrough a land where nothing was planted."},{"verse":3,"text":"Israel was holy to the LORD,\nthe firstfruits of his harvest.\nAll who ate her up were found guilty.\nDisaster came on them,'\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Hear the word of the LORD, house of Jacob,\nall you families of the house of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"What wrong did your fathers find in me\nthat they wandered so far from me?\nThey followed worthless idols\nand became worthless themselves."},{"verse":6,"text":"They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD,\nwho brought us up out of the land of Egypt?\nHe led us through the wilderness,\nthrough a land of deserts and pits,\na land of drought and darkness,\na land where no one travels and no one lives.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"I brought you into a rich land\nto eat its fruit and its good things.\nBut you came and made my land unclean.\nYou made the land I gave you disgusting."},{"verse":8,"text":"The priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?'\nThose who handled the law did not know me anymore.\nThe leaders rebelled against me.\nThe prophets spoke by Baal\nand followed useless idols."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I will bring charges against you again,\" declares the LORD.\n\"And I will bring charges against your children's children."},{"verse":10,"text":"Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look.\nSend someone to Kedar and think it over carefully.\nSee if there has ever been anything like this."},{"verse":11,"text":"Has a nation ever traded its gods for others?\n(And those are not even gods at all!)\nBut my people have traded their Glory\nfor useless idols."},{"verse":12,"text":"Be stunned at this, you heavens!\nBe shocked and filled with horror,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"My people have done two evil things.\nThey have turned away from me,\nthe spring of living water.\nAnd they have dug their own cisterns,\nbroken cisterns that cannot hold water.","note":"A cistern was a pit cut in rock to collect and store rainwater."},{"verse":14,"text":"Is Israel a slave?\nWas he born a slave?\nThen why has he become something to be hunted?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Young lions have roared at him.\nThey have growled loudly.\nThey have ruined his land.\nHis cities lie in ruins, and no one lives there."},{"verse":16,"text":"The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes\nhave shaved the top of your head."},{"verse":17,"text":"Haven't you brought this on yourself?\nYou turned away from the LORD your God\nwhen he was leading you on the way."},{"verse":18,"text":"Now what will you gain by going to Egypt\nto drink water from the Nile?\nWhat will you gain by going to Assyria\nto drink water from the Euphrates?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Your own evil will punish you.\nYour own turning away will correct you.\nThink about it and see how evil and bitter it is\nfor you to leave the LORD your God\nand not to fear me,\" declares the Lord GOD of Hosts."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Long ago you broke your yoke\nand tore off your chains.\nYou said, 'I will not serve!'\nYes, on every high hill\nand under every green tree\nyou lay down like a prostitute."},{"verse":21,"text":"I had planted you like a fine vine\nfrom the very best seed.\nHow could you turn against me\nand become a rotten, wild vine?"},{"verse":22,"text":"Even if you wash with strong lye\nand use lots of soap,\nthe stain of your guilt is still before me,\" declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":23,"text":"\"How can you say, 'I am not unclean.\nI have not run after the Baals'?\nLook at how you acted in the valley.\nAdmit what you have done.\nYou are like a fast young female camel\nrunning here and there."},{"verse":24,"text":"You are like a wild donkey at home in the wilderness.\nIn her heat she sniffs the wind.\nWho can hold back her desire?\nThe males that look for her don't need to tire themselves out.\nAt mating time they will find her."},{"verse":25,"text":"You should have kept your feet from going bare\nand your throat from getting thirsty.\nBut you said, 'It's no use!\nI love foreign gods,\nand I must go after them.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"A thief is ashamed when he is caught.\nIn the same way, the house of Israel is put to shame.\nThey, their kings, their officials,\ntheir priests, and their prophets"},{"verse":27,"text":"say to a tree, 'You are my father,'\nand to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.'\nThey have turned their backs to me, not their faces.\nYet when trouble comes, they say,\n'Get up and save us!'"},{"verse":28,"text":"But where are the gods you made for yourselves?\nLet them get up and save you, if they can,\nwhen trouble comes!\nFor you have as many gods\nas you have cities, Judah."},{"verse":29,"text":"Why do you bring charges against me?\nAll of you have rebelled against me,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":30,"text":"\"I punished your children, but it did no good.\nThey would not accept correction.\nYour own sword has eaten up your prophets\nlike a hungry lion.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"You people of this generation,\nthink about the word of the LORD:\n\"Have I been a wilderness to Israel?\nHave I been a land of deep darkness?\nWhy do my people say, 'We are free to wander.\nWe will not come to you anymore'?"},{"verse":32,"text":"Does a young woman forget her jewelry?\nDoes a bride forget her wedding sash?\nYet my people have forgotten me\nfor more days than anyone can count."},{"verse":33,"text":"How skillfully you chase after love!\nEven the worst of women\ncould learn from the way you act."},{"verse":34,"text":"And on your skirts is the blood\nof poor people who did nothing wrong.\nYou did not catch them breaking into your house.\nBut in spite of all this"},{"verse":35,"text":"you say, 'I am innocent.\nSurely his anger will turn away from me.'\nBut look, I will judge you\nbecause you say, 'I have not sinned.'"},{"verse":36,"text":"You rush around so much,\nalways changing your ways!\nEgypt will let you down,\njust as Assyria did."},{"verse":37,"text":"You will also leave that place\nwith your hands on your head.\nFor the LORD has rejected those you trust.\nThey will not help you succeed.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"If a man divorces his wife,\nand she leaves him and marries another man,\ncan he ever go back to her?\nWouldn't that make the land completely unclean?\nBut you have acted like a prostitute with many lovers.\nAnd now you want to come back to me?\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Look up at the bare hilltops and see.\nIs there any place where you have not been with men?\nYou sat by the roads waiting for your lovers,\nlike a nomad in the desert.\nYou have made the land unclean\nwith your prostitution and your evil."},{"verse":3,"text":"That is why the showers have been held back\nand no spring rains have come.\nYet you have the bold look of a prostitute.\nYou refuse to be ashamed."},{"verse":4,"text":"Haven't you just called out to me,\n'My Father, you have been my friend since I was young."},{"verse":5,"text":"Will he be angry forever?\nWill he stay mad to the end?'\nThat is what you have said.\nBut you keep doing all the evil you can.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"When Josiah was king, the LORD said to me, \"Have you seen what unfaithful Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree. There she has acted like a prostitute."},{"verse":7,"text":"I thought that after she had done all this, she would come back to me. But she did not come back. And her unfaithful sister Judah saw it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Judah saw that I sent unfaithful Israel away because of her adultery. I gave her a divorce paper. Yet her unfaithful sister Judah was not afraid. She went and acted like a prostitute too."},{"verse":9,"text":"Israel did not care that she was unfaithful. She made the land unclean. She committed adultery with stones and trees."},{"verse":10,"text":"Even so, her unfaithful sister Judah did not come back to me with all her heart. She only pretended,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Unfaithful Israel has shown that she is more righteous than faithless Judah."},{"verse":12,"text":"Go and announce this message toward the north: 'Come back, unfaithful Israel,' declares the LORD. 'I will not look at you in anger anymore, for I am merciful,' declares the LORD. 'I will not stay angry forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"Only admit your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the LORD your God. You gave your love to foreign gods under every green tree. You have not obeyed my voice,'\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Come back, unfaithful children,\" declares the LORD, \"for I am your master. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family. I will bring you to Zion."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then I will give you shepherds who follow my own heart. They will feed you with knowledge and understanding.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"In those days your numbers will grow in the land,\" declares the LORD. \"Then people will no longer talk about the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind. No one will remember it or miss it. And no other ark will be made."},{"verse":17,"text":"At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD. All the nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow their stubborn, evil hearts."},{"verse":18,"text":"In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel. Together they will come from the land of the north. They will come to the land I gave your fathers to keep."},{"verse":19,"text":"I said to myself, 'How I long to treat you as my sons! I long to give you a lovely land, the most beautiful one of all the nations!' I thought you would call me 'Father' and never turn away from following me."},{"verse":20,"text":"But like a woman who is unfaithful to her husband, you have been unfaithful to me, house of Israel,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"A sound is heard on the bare hilltops.\nIt is the people of Israel weeping and begging for mercy.\nFor they have twisted their ways\nand forgotten the LORD their God."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Come back, unfaithful children,\nand I will heal you of your unfaithfulness.\"\n\"Here we are. We come to you,\nfor you are the LORD our God."},{"verse":23,"text":"Surely the hills are full of lies,\nand the mountains are full of noise.\nSurely the salvation of Israel\nis in the LORD our God."},{"verse":24,"text":"Since we were young,\nthat shameful god has eaten up\nwhat our fathers worked for.\nIt took their flocks and herds,\ntheir sons and daughters."},{"verse":25,"text":"Let us lie down in our shame.\nLet our disgrace cover us.\nWe have sinned against the LORD our God,\nboth we and our fathers.\nFrom our youth until today\nwe have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Israel, if you will come back,\nthen come back to me,\" declares the LORD.\n\"If you will take your disgusting idols out of my sight\nand stop going back and forth,"},{"verse":2,"text":"and if you can make your promises by saying,\n'As surely as the LORD lives,'\nin truth, in fairness, and in what is right,\nthen the nations will be blessed by him,\nand they will boast in him.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:\n\"Break up your hard, unplowed ground.\nDo not plant your seed among thorns."},{"verse":4,"text":"Circumcise yourselves for the LORD.\nCut away the foreskins of your hearts,\nyou men of Judah and people of Jerusalem.\nIf you don't, my anger will break out like fire.\nIt will burn, and no one will be able to put it out,\nbecause of the evil things you have done.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Announce it in Judah.\nShout it in Jerusalem and say,\n\"Blow the ram's horn all through the land!\nCry out loud and say,\n'Gather together!\nLet's run to the walled cities!'"},{"verse":6,"text":"Raise a signal flag toward Zion!\nRun for safety! Don't wait!\nFor I am bringing disaster from the north,\nand terrible destruction."},{"verse":7,"text":"A lion has come up out of his thicket.\nA destroyer of nations has set out.\nHe has left his den\nto ruin your land.\nYour cities will be turned to ruins,\nand no one will live in them."},{"verse":8,"text":"So put on sackcloth.\nMourn and wail.\nFor the fierce anger of the LORD\nhas not turned away from us.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"On that day,\" declares the LORD,\n\"the king and officials will lose heart.\nThe priests will shake with fear,\nand the prophets will be stunned.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then I said, \"Oh, Lord GOD! You have completely fooled these people and Jerusalem. You said, 'You will have peace.' But a sword is at our throats!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"At that time these people and Jerusalem will be told,\n\"A burning wind blows from the bare hills in the desert.\nIt blows toward my dear people.\nBut it is not a breeze to separate grain from straw or to clean it."},{"verse":12,"text":"A wind too strong for that comes from me.\nNow I also announce my judgments against them.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Look! He comes on like the clouds.\nHis chariots are like a whirlwind.\nHis horses are faster than eagles.\nHow terrible for us! We are ruined!"},{"verse":14,"text":"Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart\nso that you may be saved.\nHow long will you keep\nwicked thoughts inside you?"},{"verse":15,"text":"For a voice is heard from Dan.\nIt announces disaster from the hills of Ephraim."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Warn the nations now!\nAnnounce to Jerusalem:\n'An army is coming from a land far away to surround the city.\nThey shout against the cities of Judah."},{"verse":17,"text":"They surround her like men guarding a field,\nbecause she has rebelled against me,'\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Your own ways and actions\nhave brought this on you.\nThis is your punishment.\nHow bitter it is!\nIt stabs you to the heart!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Oh, my pain, my pain!\nI twist in agony!\nOh, the pain in my chest!\nMy heart pounds inside me.\nI cannot keep quiet.\nFor I have heard the sound of the horn,\nthe battle alarm."},{"verse":20,"text":"Disaster after disaster is reported,\nfor the whole land is ruined.\nIn a moment my tents are destroyed,\nmy curtains in an instant."},{"verse":21,"text":"How long must I see the signal flag\nand hear the sound of the horn?"},{"verse":22,"text":"\"My people are fools.\nThey do not know me.\nThey are foolish children.\nThey have no understanding.\nThey are skilled at doing evil,\nbut they do not know how to do good.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"I looked at the earth,\nand it was formless and empty.\nI looked at the heavens,\nand there was no light."},{"verse":24,"text":"I looked at the mountains,\nand they were shaking.\nAll the hills were swaying."},{"verse":25,"text":"I looked, and no people were left.\nAll the birds of the sky had flown away."},{"verse":26,"text":"I looked, and the rich farmland was a desert.\nAll its cities were torn down\nbefore the LORD, before his fierce anger."},{"verse":27,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"The whole land will be ruined,\nbut I will not destroy it completely."},{"verse":28,"text":"So the earth will mourn,\nand the sky above will grow dark.\nI have spoken, and I have planned it.\nI will not change my mind or turn back.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"At the sound of horsemen and archers\nevery city runs away.\nThey go into the thick bushes\nand climb up among the rocks.\nEvery city is deserted.\nNo one lives in them."},{"verse":30,"text":"And you, ruined one, what will you do?\nEven if you dress yourself in bright red,\neven if you put on gold jewelry,\neven if you paint around your eyes to make them look big,\nyou make yourself pretty for nothing.\nYour lovers hate you.\nThey want to kill you."},{"verse":31,"text":"For I hear a cry like a woman in labor,\na cry of pain like a woman having her first child.\nIt is the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath.\nShe reaches out her hands and says,\n\"How terrible for me!\nI am fainting before the murderers!\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem.\nLook around and pay attention.\nSearch her public squares.\nIf you can find even one person\nwho does what is fair and looks for the truth,\nthen I will forgive the city."},{"verse":2,"text":"They say, 'As surely as the LORD lives.'\nBut even then their promises are lies.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"LORD, don't your eyes look for the truth?\nYou struck them, but they felt no pain.\nYou crushed them, but they would not accept correction.\nThey made their faces harder than stone.\nThey refused to turn back to you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I said, \"These are only the poor.\nThey have acted like fools.\nFor they do not know the way of the LORD,\nwhat their God requires."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will go to the important people\nand speak to them.\nSurely they know the way of the LORD,\nwhat their God requires.\"\nBut all of them together had broken off the yoke\nand torn off the chains too."},{"verse":6,"text":"So a lion from the forest will kill them.\nA wolf from the desert will tear them apart.\nA leopard will lie in wait near their cities.\nAnyone who goes out will be torn to pieces.\nFor their rebellions are many,\nand their unfaithful acts are many."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Why should I forgive you?\nYour children have turned away from me.\nThey have made promises by gods that are not gods.\nI gave them all they needed,\nyet they committed adultery.\nThey crowded into the houses of prostitutes."},{"verse":8,"text":"They are like well-fed stallions full of lust.\nEach one neighs for his neighbor's wife."},{"verse":9,"text":"Shouldn't I punish them for these things?\" declares the LORD.\n\"Shouldn't I pay back a nation like this?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Go through her vineyards and wreck them,\nbut do not destroy them completely.\nStrip off her branches,\nfor they do not belong to the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"For the house of Israel and the house of Judah\nhave been completely unfaithful to me,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"They have told lies about the LORD.\nThey said, \"He won't do anything!\nNo harm will come to us.\nWe will never see war or famine."},{"verse":13,"text":"The prophets are nothing but wind,\nfor the word is not in them.\nSo let what they say happen to them!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So this is what the LORD God of Hosts says:\n\"Because you have spoken these words,\nI will make my words in your mouth a fire.\nThese people will be the wood,\nand the fire will burn them up."},{"verse":15,"text":"House of Israel, listen!\nI am bringing a nation from far away against you,\" declares the LORD.\n\"It is a strong nation that has lasted a long time,\nan ancient nation.\nYou do not know its language.\nYou will not understand what they say."},{"verse":16,"text":"Their quivers of arrows are like open graves.\nAll of them are mighty warriors."},{"verse":17,"text":"They will eat up your harvest and your food.\nThey will eat up your sons and daughters.\nThey will eat up your flocks and herds.\nThey will eat up your vines and fig trees.\nWith the sword they will destroy\nthe walled cities you trust in.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Yet even in those days,\" declares the LORD, \"I will not destroy you completely."},{"verse":19,"text":"The people will ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?' Then you are to tell them, 'You turned away from me and served foreign gods in your own land. So now you will serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Announce this to the house of Jacob.\nShout it out in Judah:"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Hear this, you foolish people who have no sense.\nYou have eyes, but you do not see.\nYou have ears, but you do not hear."},{"verse":22,"text":"Don't you fear me?\" declares the LORD.\n\"Don't you tremble in front of me?\nI put the sand as a border for the sea,\na lasting wall it cannot cross.\nThe waves rise up, but they cannot win.\nThey roar, but they cannot cross it."},{"verse":23,"text":"But these people have stubborn hearts\nthat rebel against me.\nThey have turned aside and gone away."},{"verse":24,"text":"They do not say to themselves,\n'Let us fear the LORD our God.\nHe gives us rain in fall and spring, at the right times.\nHe makes sure we have the weeks set for harvest.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"Your sins have turned these things away from you.\nYour wrongs have kept my good gifts from you."},{"verse":26,"text":"For there are wicked men among my people.\nThey watch like hunters lying in wait for birds.\nThey set a trap to catch people."},{"verse":27,"text":"Like a cage full of birds,\ntheir houses are full of lies and cheating.\nThat is how they have become powerful and rich."},{"verse":28,"text":"They have grown fat and sleek.\nThey have gone beyond the wicked in doing evil.\nThey do not stand up for the fatherless\nso that they may do well.\nThey do not defend the rights of the poor."},{"verse":29,"text":"Shouldn't I punish them for these things?\" declares the LORD.\n\"Shouldn't I pay back a nation like this?"},{"verse":30,"text":"Something horrible and shocking\nhas happened in the land."},{"verse":31,"text":"The prophets speak lies.\nThe priests rule by their own power.\nAnd my people love it this way.\nBut what will you do when the end comes?\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Run for safety, people of Benjamin!\nRun away from Jerusalem!\nBlow the ram's horn in Tekoa!\nSend up a signal over Beth-haccherem!\nFor disaster is coming from the north,\ngreat destruction."},{"verse":2,"text":"Daughter Zion is beautiful and delicate,\nbut I will destroy her."},{"verse":3,"text":"Shepherds with their flocks will come against her.\nThey will set up their tents all around her.\nEach will graze his own part of the land."},{"verse":4,"text":"They say, 'Get ready to fight against her!\nGet up! Let's attack at noon!\nHow terrible for us! The daylight is fading.\nThe evening shadows are getting long."},{"verse":5,"text":"So get up! Let's attack at night\nand destroy her strong towers!'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Cut down the trees.\nBuild a ramp of dirt against Jerusalem's walls to attack it.\nThis city must be punished.\nThere is nothing inside her but cruelty."},{"verse":7,"text":"As a well keeps its water flowing,\nso she keeps her evil flowing.\nViolence and destruction echo inside her.\nI always see her sickness and wounds."},{"verse":8,"text":"Take this warning, Jerusalem,\nor I will turn away from you.\nI will make you a wasteland,\na land where no one lives.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Pick the last of Israel clean,\nthe way you pick the last grapes off a vine.\nPass your hand over the branches once more,\nlike someone gathering grapes.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Who can I speak to and warn?\nWho will listen to me?\nLook, their ears are closed,\nso they cannot hear.\nSee, the word of the LORD offends them.\nThey take no pleasure in it."},{"verse":11,"text":"But I am full of the LORD's anger.\nI am tired of holding it in.\n\"Pour it out on the children in the street\nand on the young men gathered together.\nFor both husband and wife will be captured,\nthe old and the very old too."},{"verse":12,"text":"Their houses will be given to others,\nalong with their fields and their wives.\nFor I will reach out my hand\nagainst the people of the land,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"For from the least of them to the greatest,\nall of them are greedy for money.\nFrom prophet to priest,\nall of them cheat and lie."},{"verse":14,"text":"They treat the wound of my people\nas if it were not serious.\nThey say, 'Peace, peace,'\nwhen there is no peace at all."},{"verse":15,"text":"Are they ashamed of the disgusting things they have done?\nNo, they are not ashamed at all.\nThey do not even know how to blush.\nSo they will fall with those who fall.\nWhen I punish them, they will be brought down,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Stand where the roads cross, and look.\nAsk about the old paths.\nAsk, 'Where is the good way?'\nThen walk in it,\nand you will find rest for your souls.\nBut they said, 'We will not walk in it!'"},{"verse":17,"text":"I put watchmen over you.\nI said, 'Listen for the sound of the ram's horn.'\nBut they said, 'We will not listen!'"},{"verse":18,"text":"So hear, you nations!\nYou crowds of people, learn\nwhat will happen to them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Hear, earth!\nI am bringing disaster on these people.\nIt is the fruit of their own plans.\nFor they have paid no attention to my word.\nThey have rejected my teaching."},{"verse":20,"text":"What good to me is frankincense from Sheba\nor sweet cane from a faraway land?\nI do not accept your burnt offerings.\nYour sacrifices do not please me.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So this is what the LORD says:\n\"I will put things in front of these people to make them trip.\nFathers and sons alike will stumble over them.\nFriends and neighbors will die.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Look, an army is coming from the land of the north.\nA great nation is being stirred up\nfrom the far ends of the earth."},{"verse":23,"text":"They hold bows and spears.\nThey are cruel and show no mercy.\nThey sound like the roaring sea.\nThey ride on horses.\nThey line up like soldiers ready for battle\nto attack you, Daughter Zion.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"We have heard the news about them.\nOur hands hang weak.\nTrouble has taken hold of us,\npain like a woman giving birth."},{"verse":25,"text":"Do not go out into the fields.\nDo not walk on the roads.\nFor the enemy has a sword.\nThere is terror all around."},{"verse":26,"text":"My dear people, put on sackcloth\nand roll in the ashes.\nMourn with bitter crying\nas you would for an only son.\nFor suddenly the destroyer will come on us."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"I have made you a tester of my people,\nas someone tests metal ore.\nYou will learn about their ways\nand test them."},{"verse":28,"text":"All of them are stubborn rebels.\nThey go around spreading lies about others.\nThey are as hard as bronze and iron.\nAll of them are rotten."},{"verse":29,"text":"The bellows blow hard\nto burn away the lead with fire.\nBut the work of making them pure is useless.\nThe wicked are not removed."},{"verse":30,"text":"They are called rejected silver,\nbecause the LORD has rejected them.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and announce this message there: 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Change your ways and your actions. Then I will let you live in this place."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not trust in lies that say, \"This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"For if you really change your ways and your actions, and if you treat one another fairly,"},{"verse":6,"text":"if you stop being cruel to the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and if you stop killing innocent people in this place or following other gods to your own harm,"},{"verse":7,"text":"then I will let you live in this place. It is the land I gave to your fathers forever and ever."},{"verse":8,"text":"But look, you keep trusting in lies that do you no good."},{"verse":9,"text":"Will you steal and murder? Will you commit adultery and lie under oath? Will you burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have never known,"},{"verse":10,"text":"and then come and stand in front of me in this house that is called by my Name? Will you say, \"We are safe,\" so you can keep doing all these disgusting things?"},{"verse":11,"text":"This house is called by my Name. Has it become a hideout for robbers in your eyes? I have seen it too, declares the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Go now to my place in Shiloh. That is where I first made a home for my Name. See what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel."},{"verse":13,"text":"You have done all these things, declares the LORD. I spoke to you again and again, but you would not listen. I called to you, but you would not answer."},{"verse":14,"text":"So what I did to Shiloh, I will now do to this house that is called by my Name. It is the house you trust in. It is the place I gave to you and your fathers."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will throw you out of my sight, just as I threw out all your relatives, all the people of Ephraim.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"As for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not cry out or ask for anything for them. Do not beg me, for I will not listen to you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Don't you see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?"},{"verse":18,"text":"The children gather wood. The fathers light the fire. The women knead dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to make me angry."},{"verse":19,"text":"But am I the one they are making angry? declares the LORD. Aren't they really hurting themselves, to their own shame?"},{"verse":20,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, my anger and my fury will be poured out on this place. It will fall on people and animals, on the trees of the field and the crops of the land. It will burn, and no one will put it out."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices, and eat the meat yourselves!"},{"verse":22,"text":"When I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices."},{"verse":23,"text":"This is what I commanded them: Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. You must walk in all the ways I command you, so that things will go well for you."},{"verse":24,"text":"But they did not listen or pay attention. They followed the stubborn desires of their own evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward."},{"verse":25,"text":"From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until today, I have sent you all my servants the prophets. I sent them again and again."},{"verse":26,"text":"But they would not listen to me or pay attention. They were stubborn and did more evil than their fathers."},{"verse":27,"text":"When you tell them all these things, they will not listen to you. When you call to them, they will not answer."},{"verse":28,"text":"So you must say to them, 'This is the nation that would not listen to the voice of the LORD their God. They would not accept correction. Truth has died. It has disappeared from their lips."},{"verse":29,"text":"Cut off your hair and throw it away. Sing a sad song on the bare hilltops. For the LORD has rejected and forsaken this generation that is under his anger.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"The people of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the LORD. They have set up their disgusting idols in the house that is called by my Name. They have made it unclean."},{"verse":31,"text":"They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. There they burn their sons and daughters in the fire. I never commanded that. It never even entered my mind."},{"verse":32,"text":"So look, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom. It will be called the Valley of Slaughter. For they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room."},{"verse":33,"text":"The dead bodies of these people will become food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals. No one will be there to scare them away."},{"verse":34,"text":"In the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, I will stop the sounds of joy and gladness. I will stop the voices of the bride and groom. For the land will become a wasteland.\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"At that time,\" declares the LORD, \"the bones of the kings of Judah will be taken out of their graves. So will the bones of the officials, the priests, the prophets, and the people of Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"Their bones will be spread out under the sun and moon and all the stars of the sky. The people loved those things. They served them, followed them, asked them for advice, and worshiped them. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground."},{"verse":3,"text":"In all the places where I have driven them, those who are left from this evil family will choose death over life,\" declares the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"So tell them that this is what the LORD says:\n'When people fall down, don't they get up again?\nWhen someone turns away, doesn't he come back?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Then why have these people turned away?\nWhy does Jerusalem keep turning away?\nThey hold on tight to lies.\nThey refuse to come back."},{"verse":6,"text":"I have listened carefully.\nThey do not say what is right.\nNo one is sorry for his evil.\nNo one asks, \"What have I done?\"\nEach one keeps going his own way,\nlike a horse charging into battle."},{"verse":7,"text":"Even the stork in the sky\nknows the seasons set for her.\nThe dove, the swift, and the thrush\nknow when it is time to fly away.\nBut my people do not know\nwhat the LORD requires."},{"verse":8,"text":"How can you say, \"We are wise.\nWe have the Law of the LORD\"?\nThe truth is that the scribes\nhave used their lying pens to write lies."},{"verse":9,"text":"The wise will be put to shame.\nThey will be upset and trapped.\nThey have rejected the word of the LORD.\nSo what wisdom do they really have?"},{"verse":10,"text":"So I will give their wives to other men\nand their fields to new owners.\nFor from the least of them to the greatest,\nall of them are greedy for money.\nFrom prophet to priest,\nall of them cheat and lie."},{"verse":11,"text":"They treat the wound of my dear people\nas if it were not serious.\nThey say, \"Peace, peace,\"\nwhen there is no peace at all."},{"verse":12,"text":"Are they ashamed of the disgusting things they have done?\nNo, they are not ashamed at all.\nThey do not even know how to blush.\nSo they will fall with those who fall.\nWhen I punish them, they will be brought down,\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will take away their harvest,\ndeclares the LORD.\nThere will be no grapes on the vine\nand no figs on the tree.\nEven the leaves will dry up.\nWhat I gave them will be taken from them.'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Why are we just sitting here?\nCome together!\nLet's run to the walled cities and die there!\nFor the LORD our God has doomed us to die.\nHe has given us poisoned water to drink,\nbecause we have sinned against the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"We hoped for peace,\nbut nothing good has come.\nWe hoped for a time of healing,\nbut there was only terror."},{"verse":16,"text":"The snorting of the enemy's horses\nis heard from Dan.\nAt the neighing of their strong horses\nthe whole land shakes.\nThey come to eat up the land and everything in it,\nthe city and everyone who lives there."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Look, I will send snakes among you,\npoisonous snakes that cannot be charmed.\nThey will bite you,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"My sorrow cannot be healed.\nMy heart is sick inside me."},{"verse":19,"text":"Listen to the cry of my dear people\nfrom a land far away:\n\"Is the LORD no longer in Zion?\nIs her King no longer there?\"\n\"Why have they made me angry with their carved idols,\nwith their worthless foreign gods?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"The harvest is over.\nThe summer has ended.\nBut we have not been saved.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"My dear people are broken,\nso I am crushed.\nI mourn, and horror has taken hold of me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Is there no healing balm in Gilead?\nIs there no doctor there?\nThen why haven't my dear people\nbeen made well?"}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Oh, I wish my head were a spring of water\nand my eyes a fountain of tears!\nThen I would weep day and night\nfor my dear people who have been killed."},{"verse":2,"text":"I wish I had a travelers' shelter in the wilderness!\nThen I would leave my people and go away from them.\nFor all of them are adulterers,\na crowd of unfaithful people."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"They bend their tongues like bows.\nLies are stronger than truth in the land.\nThey go from one evil thing to another.\nThey do not even think about me,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Each of you, watch out for your neighbor.\nDo not trust any brother.\nFor every brother is a cheater,\nand every friend spreads lies about others."},{"verse":5,"text":"Each one tricks his friend.\nNo one tells the truth.\nThey have taught their tongues to lie.\nThey wear themselves out doing wrong."},{"verse":6,"text":"You live in the middle of lies.\nIn their lying they refuse to know me,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Look, I will melt them down and test them.\nWhat else can I do\nbecause of my dear people?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Their tongues are deadly arrows.\nThey speak lies.\nA man speaks kindly to his neighbor with his mouth,\nbut in his heart he sets a trap for him."},{"verse":9,"text":"Shouldn't I punish them for these things?\ndeclares the LORD.\nShouldn't I pay back a nation like this?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"I will weep and wail for the mountains.\nI will sing a sad song for the wilderness pastures.\nThey are burned up so that no one passes through.\nThe mooing of cattle is not heard.\nThe birds of the sky and the animals\nhave all run away and are gone."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"I will make Jerusalem a pile of rubble,\na home for jackals.\nI will make the cities of Judah a wasteland\nwhere no one lives.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Who is wise enough to understand this? Who has heard the LORD speak, so he can explain it? Why has the land been ruined? Why is it burned up like a desert so that no one can travel through it?"},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD answered, \"It is because they have turned away from my law that I gave them. They have not lived by it or obeyed my voice."},{"verse":14,"text":"Instead, they have followed their own stubborn hearts. They have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: \"Look, I will feed these people bitter wormwood. I will give them poisoned water to drink."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their fathers have known. I will send the sword after them until I have destroyed them.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Think about this!\nCall for the women who wail at funerals.\nSend for the most skillful of them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Let them come quickly\nand sing a sad song over us.\nThen our eyes will overflow with tears,\nand water will pour from our eyelids."},{"verse":19,"text":"For the sound of wailing is heard from Zion:\n'How ruined we are!\nHow great is our shame!\nWe have left the land,\nfor our homes have been torn down.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Now, you women, hear the word of the LORD.\nOpen your ears to what his mouth says.\nTeach your daughters how to wail.\nTeach one another to sing sad songs."},{"verse":21,"text":"For death has climbed in through our windows.\nIt has come into our strong towers.\nIt takes the children from the streets\nand the young men from the town squares."},{"verse":22,"text":"Say that this is what the LORD says:\n\"Dead bodies will fall like dung on the open field.\nThey will fall like freshly cut grain behind the harvester,\nwith no one to gather them.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Do not let the wise man brag about his wisdom.\nDo not let the strong man brag about his strength.\nDo not let the rich man brag about his riches."},{"verse":24,"text":"But if anyone wants to brag, let him brag about this:\nthat he understands and knows me.\nLet him know that I am the LORD.\nI show faithful love, justice, and what is right on the earth.\nFor these are the things I delight in,\" declares the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Look, the days are coming,\" declares the LORD, \"when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the body:"},{"verse":26,"text":"Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and all who live in the desert and cut the hair at the sides of their heads. For all these nations are uncircumcised. And the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"House of Israel, hear the word the LORD speaks to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Do not learn the ways of the nations.\nDo not be terrified by signs in the sky,\neven though the nations are terrified by them."},{"verse":3,"text":"For the customs of the peoples are worthless.\nThey cut down a tree from the forest.\nA craftsman shapes it with a chisel."},{"verse":4,"text":"They decorate it with silver and gold.\nThey fasten it with hammer and nails\nso it will not fall over."},{"verse":5,"text":"Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field.\nThey cannot speak.\nThey must be carried, because they cannot walk.\nDo not be afraid of them.\nThey cannot do any harm,\nand they cannot do any good either.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"No one is like you, LORD.\nYou are great,\nand your name is great in power."},{"verse":7,"text":"Who would not fear you, King of the nations?\nYou deserve it.\nAmong all the wise men of the nations\nand in all their kingdoms,\nthere is no one like you."},{"verse":8,"text":"But they are all without sense and foolish.\nThey are taught by worthless idols made of wood!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish,\nand gold from Uphaz.\nA craftsman and a goldsmith make the idols.\nThey dress them in blue and purple cloth.\nSkilled workers make them all."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the LORD is the true God.\nHe is the living God and the King who lives forever.\nWhen he is angry, the earth shakes.\nThe nations cannot stand up under his anger."},{"verse":11,"text":"So tell them this: \"These gods did not make the heavens or the earth. They will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.\"","note":"This verse is written in Aramaic in the original text."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD made the earth by his power.\nHe set the world in place by his wisdom.\nHe stretched out the heavens by his understanding."},{"verse":13,"text":"When he thunders, the waters in the sky roar.\nHe makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.\nHe makes lightning for the rain.\nHe brings out the wind from his storehouses."},{"verse":14,"text":"Every person is foolish and has no knowledge.\nEvery goldsmith is put to shame by his idols.\nFor the images he makes from melted metal are a lie.\nThere is no breath in them."},{"verse":15,"text":"They are worthless, something to make fun of.\nWhen the time comes to punish them, they will perish."},{"verse":16,"text":"The God who belongs to Jacob is not like these.\nFor he is the Maker of all things.\nIsrael is the tribe that belongs to him.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name.","note":"Hebrew: the Portion of Jacob."},{"verse":17,"text":"Pick up your bags and leave the land,\nyou who live in a city under attack."},{"verse":18,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"Look, this time I will throw out the people who live in the land,\nlike stones from a sling.\nI will bring trouble on them\nso that they will be captured.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"How terrible for me because I am hurt!\nMy wound is very bad!\nBut I said, \"This is truly my sickness,\nand I must put up with it.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"My tent is torn down.\nAll its ropes are snapped.\nMy children have left me and are gone.\nNo one is left to set up my tent\nor hang my curtains."},{"verse":21,"text":"For the shepherds have no sense.\nThey do not seek the LORD.\nSo they have not done well,\nand all their flock is scattered."},{"verse":22,"text":"Listen! The news is coming.\nThere is a great noise from the land to the north.\nIt will make the cities of Judah a wasteland,\na home for jackals."},{"verse":23,"text":"LORD, I know that a person's life is not his own.\nNo one who walks can direct his own steps."},{"verse":24,"text":"Correct me, LORD, but only with justice.\nDo not do it in your anger,\nor you will turn me into nothing."},{"verse":25,"text":"Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you,\nand on the families that do not call on your name.\nFor they have eaten up Jacob.\nThey have swallowed him up and finished him off.\nThey have ruined his homeland."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Listen to the words of this covenant. Tell them to the men of Judah and to the people who live in Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant."},{"verse":4,"text":"I commanded these words to your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace. I said, 'Obey me, and do everything I command you. Then you will be my people, and I will be your God.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"I did this to keep the promise I swore to your ancestors. I promised to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, the land you have today.\" \"Amen, LORD,\" I answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Announce all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Say, 'Hear the words of this covenant and do them."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the time I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt until today, I have warned them strongly. Again and again I said, \"Obey my voice.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But they would not obey or pay attention. Each one followed his own stubborn, evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant. I had commanded them to keep it, but they did not keep it.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"There is a secret plot among the men of Judah and the people who live in Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"They have gone back to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to obey my words. They have followed other gods and served them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their fathers."},{"verse":11,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: 'I am about to bring a disaster on them that they cannot escape. They will cry out to me, but I will not listen to them."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the cities of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods they burn incense to. But those gods will surely not save them when disaster comes."},{"verse":13,"text":"Judah, you have as many gods as you have cities. You have set up altars to that shameful god. You have as many altars to burn incense to Baal as Jerusalem has streets.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"As for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not cry out or pray for them. For I will not listen when they call to me in their time of disaster."},{"verse":15,"text":"What right does my loved one have to be in my house?\nShe has done so many evil things.\nCan meat from holy sacrifices keep away your ruin?\nWhen you do evil, you are happy."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD once called you a green, healthy olive tree,\nbeautiful with good fruit.\nBut with the sound of a mighty roar,\nhe will set it on fire,\nand its branches will be burned up."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD of Hosts planted you. But he has announced disaster against you. It is because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done. They brought it on themselves. They made me angry by burning incense to Baal.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD told me about it, so I knew. Then you showed me what they were doing."},{"verse":19,"text":"I was like a gentle lamb led to be killed. I did not know they had made plans against me. They said, \"Let's destroy the tree and its fruit. Let's cut him off from the land of the living, so that no one will remember his name anymore.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"LORD of Hosts, you judge fairly.\nYou look closely at the heart and mind.\nLet me see you pay them back,\nfor I have put my case in your hands."},{"verse":21,"text":"So this is what the LORD says about the people of Anathoth. They are trying to kill you, Jeremiah. They say, \"Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or we will kill you.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword. Their sons and daughters will die from famine."},{"verse":23,"text":"Not one of them will be left. For I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year I punish them.\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"LORD, you are righteous\nwhen I bring my case to you.\nYet I want to talk with you about your judgments.\nWhy do wicked people do so well?\nWhy do all the unfaithful live such easy lives?"},{"verse":2,"text":"You planted them, and they have put down roots.\nThey grow and produce fruit.\nYou are always on their lips,\nbut you are far from their hearts."},{"verse":3,"text":"But you know me, LORD.\nYou see me and test my heart toward you.\nDrag the wicked away like sheep to be killed.\nSet them apart for the day of slaughter."},{"verse":4,"text":"How long will the land mourn?\nHow long will the grass in every field be dried up?\nBecause the people who live there are evil,\nthe animals and birds have been swept away.\nFor the people have said,\n\"He cannot see what will happen to us.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"If you have raced with men on foot\nand they have worn you out,\nhow can you race against horses?\nIf you trip in a peaceful land,\nwhat will you do in the thick bushes by the Jordan?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Even your brothers, your own father's family,\neven they have turned against you.\nThey have shouted loudly against you.\nDo not trust them,\neven when they say nice things to you."},{"verse":7,"text":"I have forsaken my house.\nI have walked away from the people who belong to me.\nI have handed the one I love most\nover to her enemies."},{"verse":8,"text":"My own people have become to me\nlike a lion in the forest.\nShe has roared at me,\nso I hate her."},{"verse":9,"text":"Haven't my own people become to me\nlike a spotted bird of prey,\nwith other birds of prey circling to attack her?\nGo, gather all the wild animals.\nBring them to eat her up."},{"verse":10,"text":"Many shepherds have ruined my vineyard.\nThey have trampled my piece of land.\nThey have turned my lovely field\ninto an empty wasteland."},{"verse":11,"text":"They have made it a wasteland.\nRuined, it mourns in front of me.\nThe whole land is ruined,\nbut no one cares about it."},{"verse":12,"text":"Destroyers have come\nover all the bare hilltops in the wilderness.\nFor the sword of the LORD destroys\nfrom one end of the land to the other.\nNo one has any peace."},{"verse":13,"text":"They planted wheat but harvested thorns.\nThey wore themselves out for nothing.\nBe ashamed of your harvest\nbecause of the LORD's fierce anger.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"This is what the LORD says: \"My evil neighbors attack the land I gave my people Israel to own. I am about to pull them up from their land. And I will pull up the house of Judah from among them."},{"verse":15,"text":"But after I pull them up, I will again show them mercy. I will bring each one back to his own property and his own land."},{"verse":16,"text":"They once taught my people to make promises by Baal. But if they will carefully learn the ways of my people, and make promises by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' then they will be built up among my people."},{"verse":17,"text":"But if any nation will not obey, I will pull it up. I will pull it up and destroy it,\" declares the LORD."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD said to me: \"Go and buy a linen loincloth. Put it around your waist, but do not let it get wet.\"","note":"A loincloth was a cloth worn around the hips as underclothing."},{"verse":2,"text":"So I bought a loincloth as the LORD had told me, and I put it around my waist."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time:"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Take the loincloth you bought, the one you are wearing. Go right away to Perath. Hide it there in a crack in the rocks.\"","note":"Perath may mean the Euphrates River, or a town named Parah near Anathoth."},{"verse":5,"text":"So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me."},{"verse":6,"text":"Many days later the LORD said to me, \"Get up and go to Perath. Get the loincloth I told you to hide there.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So I went to Perath and dug up the loincloth. I took it from the place where I had hidden it. But now it was ruined. It was no good at all."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me:"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"This is what the LORD says: In the same way, I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"These evil people refuse to listen to my words. They follow their own stubborn hearts. They go after other gods to serve and worship them. They will be like this loincloth. They will be no good at all."},{"verse":11,"text":"A loincloth clings to a man's waist. In the same way, I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD. I wanted them to be my people. I wanted them to bring me fame and praise and glory. But they did not listen."},{"verse":12,"text":"So tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Every wine jar should be filled with wine.' And they will answer you, 'Don't we know that every wine jar should be filled with wine?'"},{"verse":13,"text":"Then tell them that this is what the LORD says: 'I am going to fill everyone who lives in this land until they are drunk. I will fill the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the people of Jerusalem."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will not let any pity or mercy or kindness stop me from destroying them.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Listen and pay attention.\nDo not be proud,\nfor the LORD has spoken."},{"verse":16,"text":"Give glory to the LORD your God\nbefore he brings darkness,\nbefore your feet trip\non the mountains as night falls.\nYou hope for light,\nbut he will turn it into deep gloom and thick darkness."},{"verse":17,"text":"But if you will not listen,\nI will weep in secret because of your pride.\nMy eyes will overflow with tears,\nbecause the LORD's flock has been taken away as captives."},{"verse":18,"text":"Say to the king and to the queen mother,\n\"Sit down in a low place,\nfor your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The cities of the Negev are shut tight,\nand no one can open them.\nAll Judah has been carried away into exile.\nAll of them have been taken captive."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look up and see the people coming from the north.\nWhere is the flock that was given to you,\nthe sheep you were proud of?"},{"verse":21,"text":"What will you say when he puts over you\nthe friends you yourself trained?\nWon't pain grab hold of you\nlike a woman giving birth?"},{"verse":22,"text":"And if you ask yourself,\n\"Why has this happened to me?\"\nit is because your sins are so great.\nThat is why your skirts have been torn off\nand your body has been exposed."},{"verse":23,"text":"Can a man from Ethiopia change the color of his skin?\nCan a leopard change its spots?\nIn the same way, you cannot do good,\nbecause you are used to doing evil."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"I will scatter you like straw\nblown away by the desert wind."},{"verse":25,"text":"This is what will happen to you.\nIt is the share I have measured out for you,\" declares the LORD.\n\"For you have forgotten me\nand trusted in lies."},{"verse":26,"text":"So I will pull your skirts up over your face,\nso that your shame will be seen."},{"verse":27,"text":"I have seen your disgusting acts:\nyour adulteries, your lustful neighing,\nand your shameless prostitution\non the hills and in the fields.\nHow terrible for you, Jerusalem!\nHow long will you stay unclean?\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah about the drought:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Judah mourns.\nHer city gates grow weak.\nHer people wail for the land.\nA cry goes up from Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"The rich men send their servants for water.\nThey go to the cisterns but find no water.\nThey come back with empty jars.\nThey are ashamed and embarrassed.\nThey cover their heads."},{"verse":4,"text":"The ground is cracked\nbecause no rain has fallen on the land.\nThe farmers are ashamed.\nThey cover their heads."},{"verse":5,"text":"Even the deer in the field\nleaves her newborn fawn,\nbecause there is no grass."},{"verse":6,"text":"Wild donkeys stand on the bare hilltops.\nThey pant for air like jackals.\nTheir eyes grow weak\nbecause there is no grass to eat.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Our sins speak against us, LORD.\nBut please act for the sake of your name.\nWe have rebelled many times.\nWe have sinned against you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You are the Hope of Israel.\nYou save her in times of trouble.\nSo why are you like a stranger in the land,\nlike a traveler who stays only one night?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Why are you like a man who is caught by surprise,\nlike a warrior who has no power to save?\nYet you are among us, LORD.\nWe are called by your name.\nDo not forsake us!"},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what the LORD says about these people:\n\"They truly love to wander.\nThey do not keep their feet from straying.\nSo the LORD does not accept them.\nNow he will remember their sin\nand punish them for their sins.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Do not pray for good things for these people."},{"verse":12,"text":"They may fast, but I will not listen to their cry. They may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, but I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with war, famine, and disease.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Oh, Lord GOD!\" I answered. \"Look, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see war. You will not suffer famine. I will give you lasting peace in this place.'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"The prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them. I did not choose them or speak to them. They are telling you about false visions. They tell you worthless fortunes. Their message is empty, and it comes from their own made-up ideas."},{"verse":15,"text":"So this is what the LORD says about the prophets who speak in my name. I did not send them. Yet they say, 'No war or famine will come to this land.' Those same prophets will die by war and famine!"},{"verse":16,"text":"And the people they speak to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem. They will die because of famine and war. No one will be there to bury them, or their wives, or their sons, or their daughters. I will pour out on them the evil they have done."},{"verse":17,"text":"Speak this word to them:\n'My eyes overflow with tears\nday and night without stopping.\nFor my people, my dear virgin daughter,\nhas been struck with a crushing blow,\na very terrible wound."},{"verse":18,"text":"If I go out into the country,\nI see people killed by the sword.\nIf I go into the city,\nI see people sick from hunger!\nBoth prophet and priest\ngo off to a land they do not know.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Have you completely rejected Judah?\nDo you hate Zion?\nWhy have you hurt us so badly\nthat we cannot be healed?\nWe hoped for peace,\nbut nothing good has come.\nWe hoped for a time of healing,\nbut there was only terror."},{"verse":20,"text":"LORD, we admit our evil\nand the guilt of our fathers.\nYes, we have sinned against you."},{"verse":21,"text":"For the sake of your name, do not reject us.\nDo not bring shame on your glorious throne.\nRemember your covenant with us.\nDo not break it."},{"verse":22,"text":"Can any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?\nCan the sky send showers by itself?\nNo, it is you, LORD our God!\nSo we put our hope in you,\nfor you are the one who does all these things."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my heart would not go out to these people. Send them away from me. Let them go!"},{"verse":2,"text":"They may ask you, 'Where should we go?' Then tell them this is what the LORD says: 'Those meant for death will go to death. Those meant for the sword will go to the sword. Those meant for hunger will go to hunger. And those meant to be captured will go as captives.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"I will send four kinds of destroyers against them, says the LORD. The sword will kill. The dogs will drag away. And the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth will eat and destroy."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. This is because of what Manasseh did in Jerusalem. He was the son of Hezekiah and the king of Judah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem?\nWho will cry for you?\nWho will stop to ask how you are?"},{"verse":6,"text":"You have left me, says the LORD.\nYou have turned your back on me.\nSo I will reach out my hand against you and destroy you.\nI am tired of showing you mercy."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will scatter them with a winnowing fork\nat the gates of the land.\nI will take away their children and destroy my people,\nfor they have not turned from their ways."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will make their widows more in number than the sand of the sea.\nAt noon I will bring a destroyer\nagainst the mothers of young men.\nI will suddenly bring pain and terror on them."},{"verse":9,"text":"The mother of seven will grow weak.\nShe will breathe her last breath.\nHer sun will go down while it is still day.\nShe will be shamed and put down.\nAnd the rest of them I will kill with the sword\nwhile their enemies watch,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"How sad for me, my mother, that you gave birth to me!\nI am a man of fighting and arguing in all the land.\nI have not lent money or borrowed it.\nYet everyone curses me."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD said, \"I will surely rescue you for a good purpose.\nI will surely plead with your enemy for you\nin your time of trouble and pain.","note":"Or: I will surely make your enemy plead with you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Can anyone break iron,\niron from the north, or bronze?"},{"verse":13,"text":"I will give away your riches and treasures as loot.\nNo price will be paid for them.\nThis is because of all your sins in every part of your land."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then I will make you slaves to your enemies\nin a land you do not know.\nFor my anger will start a fire\nthat will burn against you.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"You understand, LORD.\nRemember me and take care of me.\nPay back the people who hurt me.\nIn your patience, do not take me away.\nKnow that I suffer shame for your sake."},{"verse":16,"text":"Your words came to me, and I ate them up.\nYour words became my joy and the delight of my heart.\nFor I am called by your name,\nLORD God of Hosts."},{"verse":17,"text":"I never sat with the party crowd.\nI never had fun with them.\nI sat alone because your hand was on me.\nFor you have filled me with anger."},{"verse":18,"text":"Why does my pain never end?\nWhy is my wound so bad that it won't heal?\nYou have become like a mirage to me,\nlike water that is not really there."},{"verse":19,"text":"So this is what the LORD says:\n\"If you come back, I will make you right again.\nYou will stand before me.\nIf you speak words that are good and not worthless,\nyou will speak for me.\nLet them turn to you,\nbut you must not turn to them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then I will make you like a wall to these people,\na strong wall of bronze.\nThey will fight against you,\nbut they will not beat you.\nFor I am with you to save you and rescue you,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"I will rescue you from the hands of evil people.\nI will set you free from the grip of cruel people.\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"You must not get married or have sons or daughters in this place.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"For this is what the LORD says about the sons and daughters born in this place. He also speaks about the mothers who gave birth to them and the fathers of those children in this land."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"They will die of terrible diseases. No one will cry for them or bury them. They will lie like dung on the ground. The sword and hunger will finish them off. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Yes, this is what the LORD says: \"Do not go into a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or to comfort them. For I have taken away my peace from these people. I have taken away my faithful love and my mercy,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Both important and common people will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned. No one will cut himself or shave his head for them."},{"verse":7,"text":"No one will offer food to comfort those who mourn the dead. No one will even give them a cup to comfort them when a father or mother dies."},{"verse":8,"text":"And you must not go into a house where people are feasting. Do not sit down with them to eat and drink."},{"verse":9,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to take away the sounds of joy and gladness from this place. The voices of the bride and groom will be gone. This will happen while you watch, in your own lifetime."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will tell these people all these things. Then they will ask you, 'Why has the LORD said that all this great trouble will come on us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we done against the LORD our God?'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Then answer them, 'It is because your fathers left me, says the LORD. They followed other gods. They served them and worshiped them. They left me and did not keep my teaching."},{"verse":12,"text":"And you have done even more evil than your fathers. Look how each of you follows his own stubborn, evil heart. You do not obey me."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I will throw you out of this land. I will send you to a land that you and your fathers have never known. There you will serve other gods day and night. For I will show you no kindness.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"But look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"Instead they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north. He brought them out of all the other lands where he had driven them.' For I will bring them back to the land I gave to their ancestors."},{"verse":16,"text":"But for now I will send for many fishermen, says the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters. They will hunt them down on every mountain and hill. They will even find them in the cracks of the rocks."},{"verse":17,"text":"For my eyes see all they do. They are not hidden from me. Their sin is not hidden from my eyes."},{"verse":18,"text":"First I will pay them back double for their wrong and their sin. This is because they have made my land unclean with the dead bodies of their hateful idols. They have filled the land that belongs to me with their disgusting things.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"LORD, you are my strength and my fortress.\nYou are my safe place in the day of trouble.\nThe nations will come to you from the ends of the earth.\nThey will say, \"Our fathers were given nothing but lies.\nThey had worthless idols that did no good at all."},{"verse":20,"text":"Can people make gods for themselves?\nThose are not gods!\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"So look, I will teach them.\nThis time I will show them my power and my strength.\nThen they will know that my name is the LORD."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen.\nIt is carved with a diamond point\non the tablets of their hearts\nand on the horns of their altars."},{"verse":2,"text":"Even their children remember their altars\nand their Asherah poles\nby the green trees and on the high hills."},{"verse":3,"text":"My mountain in the countryside,\nI will give away your riches and all your treasures as loot.\nThis is because of the sin of your high places\nin every part of your land."},{"verse":4,"text":"You yourself will lose the land\nthat I gave you to own.\nI will make you slaves to your enemies\nin a land you do not know.\nFor you have lit the fire of my anger,\nand it will burn forever.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Cursed is the man who trusts in people.\nHe depends on weak human strength,\nand his heart turns away from the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will be like a bush in the desert.\nHe will not see it when good times come.\nHe will live in the dry places of the desert,\nin a salty land where no one lives."},{"verse":7,"text":"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.\nHe puts his hope in him."},{"verse":8,"text":"He is like a tree planted by the water.\nIt sends out its roots toward the stream.\nIt is not afraid when the heat comes.\nIts leaves are always green.\nIt does not worry in a year with no rain.\nIt never stops making fruit."},{"verse":9,"text":"The heart is more full of tricks than anything else.\nIt is sick beyond cure.\nWho can understand it?"},{"verse":10,"text":"I, the LORD, search the heart.\nI test the mind.\nI reward each person for the way he lives,\nfor what his actions deserve."},{"verse":11,"text":"A man who gets rich in a wrong way\nis like a partridge that sits on eggs it did not lay.\nIn the middle of his life his riches will leave him.\nIn the end he will be shown to be a fool.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"A glorious throne, lifted high from the beginning,\nis the place of our holy temple."},{"verse":13,"text":"LORD, you are the hope of Israel.\nAll who leave you will be put to shame.\nThose who turn away will be written in the dust.\nFor they have left the LORD,\nthe spring of living water."},{"verse":14,"text":"Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed.\nSave me, and I will be saved.\nFor you are the one I praise."},{"verse":15,"text":"Listen, they keep saying to me,\n\"Where is the word of the LORD?\nLet it come true now!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But I have not run away from being your shepherd.\nI have not wanted the day of despair to come.\nYou know what came out of my mouth.\nIt was spoken in front of you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not become a terror to me.\nYou are my safe place in the day of disaster."},{"verse":18,"text":"Let the people who hurt me be put to shame,\nbut do not let me be put to shame.\nLet them be terrified,\nbut do not let me be terrified.\nBring the day of disaster on them.\nCrush them with double destruction."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is what the LORD said to me: \"Go and stand at the People's Gate. The kings of Judah go in and out through it. Then stand at all the other gates of Jerusalem."},{"verse":20,"text":"Say to them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah. Hear it, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem who come in through these gates."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is what the LORD says: Be careful for your own sakes. Do not carry a load on the Sabbath day. Do not bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem."},{"verse":22,"text":"You must not carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath day. You must not do any work on it. But you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your ancestors."},{"verse":23,"text":"But they would not listen or pay attention. They were stubborn and would not listen. They would not accept my correction."},{"verse":24,"text":"But suppose you listen carefully to me, says the LORD. Suppose you bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day. Suppose you keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then kings and princes will come in through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David. They will ride in chariots and on horses with their officials. The men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will be with them. And this city will have people living in it forever."},{"verse":26,"text":"People will come from the towns of Judah and the places around Jerusalem. They will come from the land of Benjamin, from the foothills, from the hill country, and from the Negev. They will bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to the house of the LORD. They will bring grain offerings and frankincense and thank offerings."},{"verse":27,"text":"But you might not listen to me. You might not keep the Sabbath day holy. You might carry a load as you come in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. If so, I will start a fire in its gates that no one can put out. It will burn up the strong towers of Jerusalem.'\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Go down right now to the potter's house. There I will give you my message.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So I went down to the potter's house. I saw him working at his wheel."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the pot he was shaping from the clay was spoiled in his hand. So he made it into another pot, in the way that seemed best to him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message:"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"People of Israel, can't I do with you what this potter does with his clay? says the LORD. You are in my hand just like clay in the potter's hand, people of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"At any time I might say that a nation or kingdom will be pulled up, torn down, and destroyed."},{"verse":8,"text":"But suppose that nation I warned turns away from its evil. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I planned to bring on it."},{"verse":9,"text":"And at another time I might say that I will build up a nation or kingdom and make it strong."},{"verse":10,"text":"But suppose it does evil in my sight and does not listen to my voice. Then I will change my mind about the good I meant to do for it."},{"verse":11,"text":"So now, tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: 'Look, I am planning a disaster for you. I am making a plan against you. So turn now, each of you, from your evil ways. Change your ways and the things you do.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"But they will answer, 'It's no use. We will follow our own plans. Each of us will do what his stubborn, evil heart wants.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So this is what the LORD says:\n\"Ask among the nations,\n'Who has ever heard of things like these?'\nThe virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing."},{"verse":14,"text":"Does the snow of Lebanon ever leave its rocky slopes?\nDo its cool waters that flow from far away ever dry up?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Yet my people have forgotten me.\nThey burn incense to worthless idols.\nThese make them trip as they walk.\nThey leave the old roads\nand walk on bumpy side paths instead of the main road."},{"verse":16,"text":"They have made their land an empty waste,\nsomething people will always make fun of.\nAll who pass by will be shocked\nand shake their heads."},{"verse":17,"text":"Like the east wind, I will scatter them\nin front of their enemy.\nI will show them my back and not my face\non the day of their disaster.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then some people said, \"Come, let's make plans against Jeremiah. For the priests will never run out of teaching the law. The wise will never run out of advice. The prophets will never run out of messages. Come, let's speak against him. Let's pay no attention to anything he says.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Listen to me, LORD.\nHear what the people against me are saying!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Should good be paid back with evil?\nYet they have dug a pit for me.\nRemember how I stood before you\nto speak good things for them.\nI asked you to turn your anger away from them."},{"verse":21,"text":"So give their children over to hunger.\nLet them be killed by the sword.\nLet their wives lose their children and become widows.\nLet their husbands be killed by disease.\nLet their young men be cut down by the sword in battle."},{"verse":22,"text":"Let screams be heard from their houses\nwhen you suddenly bring raiders against them.\nFor they have dug a pit to catch me.\nThey have hidden traps for my feet."},{"verse":23,"text":"But you, LORD, know all their plans to kill me.\nDo not forgive their guilt.\nDo not wipe away their sin from your sight.\nLet them fall down in front of you.\nDeal with them when you are angry."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says: \"Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and some of the leading priests with you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Go out to the Valley of Ben-hinnom, near the opening of the Potsherd Gate. Announce there the words I tell you."},{"verse":3,"text":"Say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring a terrible disaster on this place. The ears of everyone who hears about it will ring."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is because they have left me. They have made this a place for foreign gods. Here they have burned incense to other gods. Neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah ever knew these gods. They have filled this place with the blood of people who did nothing wrong."},{"verse":5,"text":"They have built high places for Baal. There they burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal. I never commanded this or spoke of it. It never even came into my mind."},{"verse":6,"text":"So look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben-hinnom. It will be called the Valley of Slaughter."},{"verse":7,"text":"In this place I will ruin the plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will make them fall by the sword in front of their enemies. They will die by the hands of those who want to kill them. I will give their dead bodies as food to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will make this city an empty ruin and something to make fun of. All who pass by will be shocked. They will laugh at all her wounds."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters. They will eat one another's flesh. This will happen during the siege, when their enemies who want to kill them close them in and make them suffer.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Then break the jar while the men who came with you watch."},{"verse":11,"text":"Tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will break this nation and this city like a potter's jar is broken. It can never be fixed again. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is what I will do to this place and to the people who live here, says the LORD. I will make this city like Topheth."},{"verse":13,"text":"The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be made unclean like Topheth. These are all the houses where they burned incense on the roofs to all the stars of the sky. There they poured out drink offerings to other gods.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Jeremiah came back from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the house of the LORD. He announced to all the people,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Look, I am about to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster I said would come. This is because they have been stubborn and would not listen to my words.'\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Pashhur the priest was the son of Immer. He was the chief officer in the house of the LORD. He heard Jeremiah prophesying these things."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Pashhur had Jeremiah the prophet beaten. He had him locked in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, by the house of the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"The next day Pashhur let Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, \"The LORD does not call you Pashhur. He calls you Magor-missabib.","note":"Magor-missabib means \"terror on every side.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"For this is what the LORD says: 'I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will be killed by the sword of their enemies while you watch. I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will carry them away to Babylon and kill them with the sword."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will give all the riches of this city to their enemies. I will give away all it makes, all its valuable things, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. Their enemies will rob them, take them, and carry them off to Babylon."},{"verse":6,"text":"And you, Pashhur, and everyone who lives in your house will be taken away as captives. You will go to Babylon. There you will die and be buried. So will all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"LORD, you fooled me, and I was fooled.\nYou were stronger than me, and you won.\nPeople laugh at me all day long.\nEveryone makes fun of me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whenever I speak, I cry out.\nI shout, \"Violence and destruction!\"\nFor the word of the LORD has brought me\nshame and mocking all day long."},{"verse":9,"text":"But suppose I say, \"I won't mention him.\nI won't speak in his name anymore.\"\nThen his message becomes like a fire burning in my heart.\nIt is shut up in my bones.\nI am worn out from holding it in.\nI can't do it."},{"verse":10,"text":"I have heard many people whispering,\n\"Terror is on every side!\nReport him! Let's report him!\"\nAll my close friends are waiting for me to fall.\nThey say, \"Maybe he will be tricked.\nThen we can beat him and get our revenge on him.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior.\nSo those who hurt me will trip and fall.\nThey will not win.\nThey have failed,\nso they will be put to complete shame.\nTheir shame will last forever.\nIt will never be forgotten."},{"verse":12,"text":"LORD of Hosts, you test those who do what is right.\nYou see the heart and mind.\nLet me see you pay them back,\nfor I have trusted my case to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Sing to the LORD!\nPraise the LORD!\nFor he saves the life of the needy\nfrom the hands of evil people."},{"verse":14,"text":"Cursed be the day I was born!\nMay the day my mother gave birth to me\nnever be blessed."},{"verse":15,"text":"Cursed be the man who brought my father the news.\nHe said, \"You have a son!\"\nIt made my father very glad."},{"verse":16,"text":"May that man be like the cities\nthat the LORD destroyed without mercy.\nMay he hear screams in the morning\nand a battle cry at noon."},{"verse":17,"text":"For he did not kill me before I was born.\nThen my mother would have been my grave.\nI would have stayed inside her forever."},{"verse":18,"text":"Why was I ever born?\nWas it only to see trouble and sorrow,\nand to end my life in shame?"}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD. It came when King Zedekiah sent two men to him. They were Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Please ask the LORD for us. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Maybe the LORD will do a wonder for us, like all the ones he did in the past. Then Nebuchadnezzar will go away from us.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Jeremiah answered, \"Tell Zedekiah"},{"verse":4,"text":"that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'You are using weapons of war in your hands. You are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who surround you outside the wall. I will turn those weapons against you. I will gather your enemies' armies into the middle of this city."},{"verse":5,"text":"I myself will fight against you with my hand reached out and my mighty arm. I will fight with anger, rage, and great fury."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will strike down the people of this city, both people and animals. They will die from a terrible plague.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"'After that,' says the LORD, 'I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials. I will hand over the people in this city who live through the plague, the sword, and the hunger. I will give them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will kill them with the sword. He will not spare them or show them pity or mercy.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Also tell these people that this is what the LORD says: 'Look, I am putting in front of you the way of life and the way of death."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, hunger, and plague. But whoever goes out and gives himself up to the Chaldeans who surround you will live. He will escape with his life like a prize of war."},{"verse":10,"text":"For I have set my face against this city. I will bring disaster on it, not good, says the LORD. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Also tell the royal family of Judah to hear the word of the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Family of David, this is what the LORD says: 'Judge fairly every morning. Rescue the one who has been robbed from the person who mistreats him. If you don't, my anger will go out like fire. It will burn, and no one will be able to put it out, because of the evil things they have done."},{"verse":13,"text":"Look, I am against you who live above the valley, on top of the rocky plain, says the LORD. You say, \"Who can come against us? Who can get into our homes?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"I will punish you as your actions deserve, says the LORD. I will start a fire in your forest. It will burn up everything around you.'\""}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says: \"Go down to the palace of the king of Judah. Announce this message there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David. Hear it, you and your officials and your people who come in through these gates."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the LORD says: Do what is fair and right. Rescue the one who has been robbed from the person who mistreats him. Do not do wrong or harm to the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow. Do not kill innocent people in this place."},{"verse":4,"text":"If you really obey these commands, then kings who sit on David's throne will come in through the gates of this palace. They will ride on chariots and horses, with their officials and their people."},{"verse":5,"text":"But you may not obey these words. If so, I make a promise by my own name, says the LORD, that this palace will become a pile of ruins.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"For this is what the LORD says about the palace of the king of Judah:\n\"You are like Gilead to me,\nlike the top of Lebanon.\nBut I will surely make you a desert,\nlike towns where no one lives."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will send destroyers against you,\neach man with his weapons.\nThey will cut down your best cedars\nand throw them into the fire."},{"verse":8,"text":"People from many nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?'"},{"verse":9,"text":"And people will answer, 'Because they left the covenant of the LORD their God. They worshiped and served other gods.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not cry for the one who is dead.\nDo not mourn his loss.\nInstead, cry hard for the one who was taken away.\nHe will never come back to see the land where he was born."},{"verse":11,"text":"For this is what the LORD says about Shallum son of Josiah, king of Judah. Shallum became king after his father Josiah, but he has gone away from this place. The LORD says, \"He will never come back."},{"verse":12,"text":"He will die in the place where they took him as a captive. He will never see this land again.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"How terrible for the one who builds his palace by doing wrong.\nHe builds its upper rooms by being unfair.\nHe makes his own people work for nothing.\nHe does not pay them what they earned."},{"verse":14,"text":"He says, 'I will build myself a great palace\nwith big upper rooms.'\nSo he cuts windows in it.\nHe covers its walls with cedar\nand paints it bright red."},{"verse":15,"text":"Does having more cedar than others make you a king?\nDidn't your father have food and drink?\nHe did what was fair and right,\nso things went well for him."},{"verse":16,"text":"He stood up for the poor and needy,\nso things went well for him.\nIsn't this what it means to know me?\" says the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"But your eyes and your heart are set on nothing\nbut getting money in dishonest ways.\nYou want to kill innocent people.\nYou want to cheat and crush others.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:\n\"They will not mourn for him, saying,\n'Oh, my brother! Oh, my sister!'\nThey will not mourn for him, saying,\n'Oh, my master! Oh, his greatness!'"},{"verse":19,"text":"He will be buried like a donkey.\nHe will be dragged away\nand thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem."},{"verse":20,"text":"Go up to Lebanon and cry out.\nLet your voice be heard in Bashan.\nCry out from Abarim,\nfor all your lovers have been crushed."},{"verse":21,"text":"I warned you when you felt safe.\nBut you said, 'I will not listen.'\nYou have been this way since you were young.\nYou have not obeyed my voice."},{"verse":22,"text":"The wind will blow away all your shepherds.\nYour lovers will be taken away as captives.\nThen you will be ashamed and put to shame\nbecause of all your evil."},{"verse":23,"text":"You who live in Lebanon,\nsnug in your nest in the cedars,\nhow you will groan when pain comes on you!\nIt will hurt like a woman giving birth.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"\"As surely as I live,\" says the LORD, \"I would pull you off, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah. I would do it even if you were a signet ring on my right hand."},{"verse":25,"text":"In fact, I will hand you over to those you are afraid of, who want to kill you. I will give you to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Chaldeans."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will throw you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land. Neither of you was born there, but there you both will die."},{"verse":27,"text":"You will never come back to the land you long for.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Is this man Coniah a hated, broken pot?\nIs he a jar that no one wants?\nWhy are he and his children thrown out?\nWhy are they thrown into a land they do not know?"},{"verse":29,"text":"O land, land, land,\nhear the word of the LORD!"},{"verse":30,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Write this man down as if he had no children.\nHe is a man who will not succeed in his lifetime.\nNone of his children will succeed\nin sitting on the throne of David\nor ruling in Judah again.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"How terrible for the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!\" says the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who care for his people: \"You have scattered my flock and driven them away. You have not taken care of them. So look, I will take care of punishing you for the evil things you have done, says the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then I myself will gather the rest of my flock from all the lands where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their pasture. There they will have many young and grow in number."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will give them shepherds who will take care of them. They will not be afraid or terrified anymore. Not one of them will be lost, says the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous Branch for David. He will rule wisely as King. He will do what is fair and right in the land."},{"verse":6,"text":"In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness."},{"verse":7,"text":"So look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when people will no longer say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Instead they will say, 'As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the children of Israel up out of the land of the north. He led them out of all the other lands where he had driven them.' Then they will live again in their own land.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"About the prophets:\nMy heart is broken inside me.\nAll my bones shake.\nI am like a drunk man,\nlike a man who has had too much wine.\nThis is because of the LORD\nand because of his holy words."},{"verse":10,"text":"For the land is full of people who commit adultery.\nBecause of the curse, the land mourns.\nThe pastures in the wilderness have dried up.\nThe people live in evil ways.\nThey use their power in wrong ways."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Both prophet and priest do not honor God.\nEven in my house I have found their evil,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"So their path will become slippery.\nThey will be driven out into the darkness,\nand there they will fall.\nFor I will bring disaster on them\nin the year I punish them,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"I saw a disgusting thing among the prophets of Samaria.\nThey prophesied by Baal.\nThey led my people Israel the wrong way."},{"verse":14,"text":"And I have seen a horrible thing among the prophets of Jerusalem.\nThey commit adultery and live by lies.\nThey help evil people be strong,\nso that no one turns away from evil.\nTo me they are all like Sodom.\nThe people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts says about the prophets:\n\"I will feed them bitter wormwood.\nI will give them poisoned water to drink.\nFor from the prophets of Jerusalem\nevil that dishonors God has spread through all the land.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Do not listen to what the prophets are telling you. They fill you with false hopes. They tell visions from their own minds. Their words do not come from the mouth of the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"They keep telling those who hate me, 'The LORD says you will have peace.' They tell everyone who follows his own stubborn heart, 'No harm will come to you.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"But which of them has stood in the LORD's council to see and hear his word? Who has paid attention to his word and obeyed it?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Look, the storm of the LORD has burst out in fury.\nA whirlwind is swirling down\non the heads of the wicked."},{"verse":20,"text":"The anger of the LORD will not turn back\nuntil he has done all that his heart has planned.\nIn the days to come\nyou will understand this clearly."},{"verse":21,"text":"I did not send these prophets,\nyet they have run with their message.\nI did not speak to them,\nyet they have prophesied."},{"verse":22,"text":"But suppose they had stood in my council.\nThen they would have told my words to my people.\nThey would have turned them back\nfrom their evil ways and evil actions.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Am I only a God who is close by,\" says the LORD,\n\"and not a God who is far away?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Can anyone hide in secret places where I cannot see him?\" says the LORD.\n\"Don't I fill the heavens and the earth?\" says the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"I have heard what the prophets say. They prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'"},{"verse":26,"text":"How long will this go on in the hearts of these lying prophets? They prophesy the false ideas of their own minds."},{"verse":27,"text":"They think the dreams they tell each other will make my people forget my name. It is just as their fathers forgot my name by worshiping Baal."},{"verse":28,"text":"Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream. But let the one who has my word speak it truly. What does straw have to do with grain?\" says the LORD."},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Isn't my word like fire?\" says the LORD. \"Isn't it like a hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"\"So look,\" says the LORD, \"I am against the prophets who steal words from each other. Then they say those words came from me.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"\"Yes,\" says the LORD, \"I am against the prophets who just move their own tongues. Then they say, 'This is what the LORD says.'\""},{"verse":32,"text":"\"Yes,\" says the LORD, \"I am against those who prophesy false dreams. They tell them to lead my people the wrong way with their careless lies. I did not send them or command them. They do these people no good at all,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"\"These people or a prophet or a priest may ask you, 'What is the burden of the LORD?' Then say to them, 'What burden? I will leave you, says the LORD.'","note":"The Hebrew word for \"burden\" can also mean \"message.\" The LORD is making a play on words."},{"verse":34,"text":"A prophet or priest or anyone else may claim, 'This is the burden of the LORD.' I will punish that man and his family."},{"verse":35,"text":"This is what each of you should say to his friend and to his brother: 'What has the LORD answered?' or 'What has the LORD said?'"},{"verse":36,"text":"But do not speak about the burden of the LORD anymore. For each man's own word becomes his burden. In this way you twist the words of the living God, the LORD of Hosts, our God."},{"verse":37,"text":"This is what you should say to the prophet: 'What has the LORD answered you?' and 'What has the LORD said?'"},{"verse":38,"text":"But you might claim, 'This is the burden of the LORD.' Then this is what the LORD says: You have said, 'This is the burden of the LORD.' I clearly told you not to say this."},{"verse":39,"text":"So I will surely forget you. I will throw you out of my presence. I will throw out both you and the city I gave to you and your fathers."},{"verse":40,"text":"I will bring on you shame that lasts forever. You will be put to shame for all time, and it will never be forgotten.\""}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah away from Jerusalem. He had also taken the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalworkers. He had brought them to Babylon. After that, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs. They were set in front of the temple of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"One basket had very good figs, like figs that ripen early. But the other basket had very bad figs. They were so bad that no one could eat them."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD asked, \"Jeremiah, what do you see?\" \"Figs!\" I answered. \"The good figs are very good. But the bad figs are very bad. They are so bad that no one can eat them.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message:"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The captives from Judah are like these good figs. I see them as good. I have sent them away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will watch over them for their good. I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not pull them up."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will give them a heart to know me, to know that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God. For they will come back to me with all their heart."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the others are like the bad figs, so bad that no one can eat them,' says the LORD. 'I will treat them that way. I mean Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the rest of the people of Jerusalem. That includes those left in this land and those living in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will make them a horror and a hated thing to all the kingdoms of the earth. In every place where I have driven them, they will be a shame. People will make fun of them, laugh at them, and curse them."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will send the sword, hunger, and plague against them. I will do this until they are gone from the land I gave to them and their fathers.'\""}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message that came to Jeremiah about all the people of Judah. It came in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah. That was the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem. He said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"The LORD's messages have come to me for twenty-three years. That is from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until today. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened."},{"verse":4,"text":"And the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again. But you have not listened or paid attention."},{"verse":5,"text":"The prophets told you, 'Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and evil actions. Then you can live in the land that the LORD gave to you and your fathers forever and ever."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not follow other gods to serve them and worship them. Do not make me angry with the idols your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"'But you have not listened to me,' says the LORD. 'So you have made me angry with the idols your hands have made, and you have hurt yourselves.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'You have not obeyed my words."},{"verse":9,"text":"So look, I will call all the peoples of the north, says the LORD. I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and the people who live in it. I will bring them against all the nations around it too. I will set them apart to be completely destroyed. I will make them a horror and something people hate. They will be a ruin forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will take away from them the sounds of joy and gladness. The voices of the bride and groom will be gone. The sound of the millstones grinding grain will stop. The light of the lamp will go out."},{"verse":11,"text":"This whole land will become an empty waste. These nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years."},{"verse":12,"text":"But when the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation for their guilt, says the LORD. That is the land of the Chaldeans. I will make it a ruin forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will bring on that land everything I have said against it. I will bring all that is written in this book. Jeremiah has prophesied it against all the nations."},{"verse":14,"text":"For many nations and great kings will make slaves of them too. I will pay them back for what they have done and for the work of their hands.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: \"Take this cup from my hand. It is filled with the wine of my anger. Make all the nations I send you to drink from it."},{"verse":16,"text":"They will drink it and stumble around and go crazy. This is because of the sword I will send among them.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So I took the cup from the LORD's hand. I made all the nations drink from it, each one the LORD had sent me to."},{"verse":18,"text":"This was to make them a ruin. They became a horror and something people hate and curse, as they still are today. First were Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, with its kings and officials."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then came Pharaoh king of Egypt, his officials, his leaders, and all his people."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then came all the mixed peoples and all the kings of Uz. Then came all the kings of the Philistines: Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and what was left of Ashdod."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then came Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then came all the kings of Tyre and Sidon, and the kings of the coastlands across the sea."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then came Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the hair on the sides of their heads."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then came all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed peoples who live in the desert."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then came all the kings of Zimri, Elam, and Media."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then came all the kings of the north, near and far, one after another. All the kingdoms on the face of the earth drank. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too.","note":"Sheshach is a code name for Babylon."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Drink, get drunk, and throw up. Fall down and never get up again. This is because of the sword I will send among you.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"They may refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it. Then tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'You surely must drink it!"},{"verse":29,"text":"Look, I am starting to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name. So how could you possibly go without punishment? You will not go unpunished. For I am calling for a sword to come on all the people of the earth, says the LORD of Hosts.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"So prophesy all these words against them. Say to them,\n'The LORD will roar from on high.\nHe will thunder from his holy home.\nHe will roar loudly over his pasture.\nHe will shout like people stomping on grapes.\nHe will shout against all the people of the earth."},{"verse":31,"text":"The noise will echo to the ends of the earth.\nFor the LORD brings charges against the nations.\nHe judges all people.\nHe kills the wicked with the sword,'\" says the LORD."},{"verse":32,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Look! Disaster is spreading\nfrom one nation to the next.\nA great storm is rising\nfrom the ends of the earth.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"On that day, those the LORD has killed will lie from one end of the earth to the other. No one will mourn them, gather them up, or bury them. They will be like dung lying on the ground."},{"verse":34,"text":"Cry and wail, you shepherds!\nRoll in the dust, you leaders of the flock!\nFor the time for you to be slaughtered has come.\nYou will fall and break like fine pottery."},{"verse":35,"text":"The shepherds will have no place to run.\nThe leaders of the flock will not escape."},{"verse":36,"text":"Hear the cry of the shepherds\nand the wailing of the leaders of the flock!\nFor the LORD is destroying their pasture."},{"verse":37,"text":"The peaceful fields have gone silent\nbecause of the LORD's burning anger."},{"verse":38,"text":"Like a lion, he has left his den.\nFor their land has been made an empty waste\nby the sword of the cruel enemy\nand by the fierce anger of the LORD."}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This message came from the LORD at the start of the rule of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD. Speak to the people from all the towns of Judah who come to worship there. Tell them all the words I have commanded you to say. Do not leave out a word."},{"verse":3,"text":"Maybe they will listen. Maybe each one will turn from his evil way of life. Then I may change my mind about the disaster I plan to bring on them because of the evil things they have done."},{"verse":4,"text":"Tell them that this is what the LORD says: 'Suppose you do not listen to me. Suppose you do not live by my law, which I have set in front of you."},{"verse":5,"text":"And suppose you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you again and again, but you did not listen."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I will make this house like Shiloh. I will make this city something all the nations of the earth use as a curse.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah saying these words in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say. As soon as he did, the priests and prophets and all the people grabbed him. They shouted, \"You must die!"},{"verse":9,"text":"How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will be like Shiloh! How dare you say this city will be an empty ruin with no one living in it!\" And all the people gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"The officials of Judah heard about these things. So they went up from the king's palace to the house of the LORD. They sat down at the entrance of the New Gate."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the priests and prophets spoke to the officials and all the people. They said, \"This man should be put to death! He has prophesied against this city. You heard it with your own ears!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people. He said, \"The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city. He sent me to say all the words you have heard."},{"verse":13,"text":"So now, change your ways and the things you do. Obey the voice of the LORD your God. Then he may change his mind about the disaster he said would come on you."},{"verse":14,"text":"As for me, here I am in your hands. Do to me whatever you think is good and right."},{"verse":15,"text":"But know this for sure. If you put me to death, you will be guilty of killing an innocent man. That guilt will be on you, on this city, and on the people who live here. For it is true that the LORD sent me to speak all these words to you.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, \"This man should not be put to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Some of the elders of the land stood up. They spoke to the whole crowd of people. They said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Micah from Moresheth prophesied when Hezekiah was king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Zion will be plowed like a field. Jerusalem will become a pile of ruins. The temple hill will become a hill covered with trees.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? No! Hezekiah feared the LORD and asked for his kindness. And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster he had said would come on them. But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"There was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD. He was Uriah son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied the same things against this city and this land that Jeremiah did."},{"verse":21,"text":"King Jehoiakim and all his mighty soldiers and officials heard what Uriah said. The king wanted to put him to death. But Uriah found out about it. He was afraid, so he ran away to Egypt."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. He sent Elnathan son of Achbor and some other men with him."},{"verse":23,"text":"They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim. The king had him killed with a sword. He had his body thrown into the graves of the common people."},{"verse":24,"text":"But Ahikam son of Shaphan stood up for Jeremiah. So Jeremiah was not handed over to the people to be put to death."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD at the start of the rule of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD said to me: \"Make a yoke out of leather straps. Put it on your neck."},{"verse":3,"text":"Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. Send it by the messengers who have come to Jerusalem to see Zedekiah king of Judah."},{"verse":4,"text":"Give them a message from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel. Tell them to give it to their masters:"},{"verse":5,"text":"By my great power and my strong arm, I made the earth. I made the people and animals on it. And I give it to anyone I choose."},{"verse":6,"text":"So now I have put all these lands under the rule of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even put the wild animals under his control."},{"verse":7,"text":"All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson. This will last until the time comes for his own land. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave."},{"verse":8,"text":"But some nation or kingdom may not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It may not put its neck under his yoke. I will punish that nation with the sword, hunger, and plague, says the LORD. I will do this until I have destroyed it by his hand."},{"verse":9,"text":"But as for you, do not listen to your prophets or your fortune-tellers. Do not listen to those who explain dreams, or to your mediums, or to your sorcerers. They tell you, 'You will not serve the king of Babylon.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"For they are telling you a lie. It will only get you taken far from your land. I will drive you out, and you will die."},{"verse":11,"text":"But some nation may put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him. I will let that nation stay in its own land. They will farm it and live there, says the LORD.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, \"Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon. Serve him and his people, and you will live!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Why should you and your people die by the sword, hunger, and plague? The LORD has said this will happen to any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not listen to the prophets who tell you, 'You must not serve the king of Babylon.' They are telling you a lie."},{"verse":15,"text":"I have not sent them, says the LORD. Yet they are telling lies in my name. So I will drive you out, and you will die. You and the prophets who prophesy to you will die.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then I spoke to the priests and to all these people. I said, \"This is what the LORD says: Do not listen to your prophets. They tell you, 'Look, very soon the things from the house of the LORD will be brought back from Babylon.' They are telling you a lie."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live! Why should this city become a ruin?"},{"verse":18,"text":"If they really are prophets and have the word of the LORD, let them pray hard to the LORD of Hosts. Let them ask that the things still left in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon. That means the things left in the house of the LORD and in the palace of the king of Judah."},{"verse":19,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts says about the things that are still in this city. He speaks about the pillars, the bronze Sea, the stands, and the other things left here."},{"verse":20,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take them when he took Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah away from Jerusalem. He took him to Babylon as a captive, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem."},{"verse":21,"text":"Yes, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about the things left in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem:"},{"verse":22,"text":"'They will be carried to Babylon. They will stay there until the day I come for them again,' says the LORD. 'Then I will bring them back and put them in this place again.'\""}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"That same year, near the start of the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, a prophet spoke to me. It was in the fifth month of the fourth year. The prophet was Hananiah son of Azzur, from Gibeon. He spoke to me in the house of the LORD in front of the priests and all the people. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon."},{"verse":3,"text":"Within two years I will bring back to this place all the things from the house of the LORD. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took them from here and carried them to Babylon."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah. And I will bring back all the captives from Judah who went to Babylon,' says the LORD. 'For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jeremiah the prophet answered Hananiah the prophet. He spoke in front of the priests and all the people standing in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jeremiah said, \"Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD make the words you prophesied come true. May he bring back the things from his house and all the captives from Babylon to this place."},{"verse":7,"text":"But listen now to this message. I am speaking it to you and to all the people."},{"verse":8,"text":"Long ago there were prophets who came before you and me. They prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many lands and great kingdoms."},{"verse":9,"text":"But a prophet may prophesy peace. Only when his words come true will people know that the LORD really sent him.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it."},{"verse":11,"text":"Hananiah spoke in front of all the people. He said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'In the same way, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I will break it off the necks of all the nations.'\" When he heard this, Jeremiah the prophet went on his way."},{"verse":12,"text":"Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke off Jeremiah's neck. A short time later, the LORD gave Jeremiah this message:"},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: 'You have broken a yoke made of wood. But in its place you have made a yoke of iron.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I have put a yoke of iron on the necks of all these nations. They must serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even put the wild animals under his control.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, \"Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you. But you have made these people trust in a lie."},{"verse":16,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: 'I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year, because you have told people to turn against the LORD.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"And in the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died."}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem. He sent it to the elders who were still alive among the captives. He also sent it to the priests, the prophets, and all the other people. Nebuchadnezzar had taken them all from Jerusalem to Babylon as captives."},{"verse":2,"text":"(This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother had been taken away from Jerusalem. The palace officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalworkers had been taken too.)"},{"verse":3,"text":"Jeremiah gave the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah. Zedekiah king of Judah was sending these men to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The letter said:"},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the captives who were taken from Jerusalem to Babylon:"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat the food they grow."},{"verse":6,"text":"Get married and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons. Give your daughters to be married, so they can have sons and daughters too. Grow in number there. Do not grow fewer."},{"verse":7,"text":"Work for the good of the city where I have sent you as captives. Pray to the LORD for it. For if it does well, you will do well too.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: \"Do not let the prophets and fortune-tellers among you fool you. Do not listen to the dreams you get them to tell you."},{"verse":9,"text":"They are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them, says the LORD.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"For this is what the LORD says: \"When Babylon's seventy years are over, I will come to you. I will keep my promise to bring you back to this place."},{"verse":11,"text":"For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for your good and not to harm you. They are plans to give you a future and a hope."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you will call on me. You will come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"You will look for me and find me when you search for me with all your heart."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will let you find me, says the LORD. I will bring you back from being captives. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have driven you, says the LORD. I will bring you back to the place I sent you away from.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"You may say, \"The LORD has given us prophets in Babylon.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Because you say this, here is what the LORD says about the king who sits on David's throne. He also speaks about all the people still in this city. They are your relatives who did not go with you as captives."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"I will send the sword, hunger, and plague against them. I will make them like rotten figs, so bad that no one can eat them."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will chase them with the sword, hunger, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. They will be a curse and an empty ruin. People will make fun of them and insult them in all the nations where I drive them."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will do this because they have not listened to my words, says the LORD. I sent my words to them again and again through my servants the prophets. And you captives have not listened either, says the LORD.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So hear the word of the LORD, all you captives I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah. They are telling you lies in my name. \"I will hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will kill them while you watch."},{"verse":22,"text":"Because of them, all the captives from Judah in Babylon will use this curse: 'May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab! The king of Babylon burned them in the fire!'"},{"verse":23,"text":"For they have done a shameful thing in Israel. They have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives. They have told lies in my name, which I did not command them to do. I am the one who knows. I am a witness, says the LORD.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite"},{"verse":25,"text":"that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: \"You have sent letters in your own name to all the people of Jerusalem. You sent them to Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. You said to Zephaniah,"},{"verse":26,"text":"'The LORD has made you priest in place of Jehoiada. You are to be the chief officer in the house of the LORD. You are in charge of any crazy man who acts like a prophet. You must put him in the stocks and in neck chains."},{"verse":27,"text":"So why haven't you scolded Jeremiah from Anathoth? He acts like a prophet among you."},{"verse":28,"text":"He has sent a message to us in Babylon. He says that we will be captives for a long time. He says, Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat the food they grow.'\""},{"verse":29,"text":"(But Zephaniah the priest had read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet.)"},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the LORD gave Jeremiah this message:"},{"verse":31,"text":"\"Send a message to all the captives. Tell them what the LORD says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and because he has made you trust in a lie,"},{"verse":32,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: 'I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his children. He will have no one left among these people. He will not see the good things I will do for my people, says the LORD. For he has told people to turn against the LORD.'\""}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Write down in a book all the words I have spoken to you."},{"verse":3,"text":"For look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from being captives, says the LORD. I will bring them back to the land I gave to their fathers. They will own it again.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"These are the words the LORD spoke about Israel and Judah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Yes, this is what the LORD says:\n\"A cry of panic is heard.\nIt is a cry of terror, not of peace."},{"verse":6,"text":"Ask now and see.\nCan a man give birth to a baby?\nThen why do I see every man\nwith his hands on his belly\nlike a woman giving birth?\nWhy has every face turned pale?"},{"verse":7,"text":"How terrible that day will be!\nNo other day will be like it!\nIt is a time of trouble for Jacob,\nbut he will be saved out of it."},{"verse":8,"text":"On that day, says the LORD of Hosts,\nI will break the yoke off their necks.\nI will tear off their chains.\nStrangers will no longer make them slaves."},{"verse":9,"text":"Instead, they will serve the LORD their God.\nThey will serve David their king,\nwhom I will raise up for them."},{"verse":10,"text":"As for you, Jacob my servant, do not be afraid, says the LORD.\nDo not lose heart, Israel.\nFor I will surely save you from a land far away.\nI will save your children from the land where they are captives.\nJacob will come back and have peace and rest.\nNo one will make him afraid."},{"verse":11,"text":"For I am with you to save you, says the LORD.\nI will completely destroy all the nations\nwhere I have scattered you.\nBut I will not completely destroy you.\nI will correct you fairly.\nI will not let you go without punishment.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"Your injury cannot be cured.\nYour wound is very bad."},{"verse":13,"text":"There is no one to stand up for you.\nThere is no medicine for your sores.\nYou will not get well."},{"verse":14,"text":"All your lovers have forgotten you.\nThey don't look for you anymore.\nI have struck you as an enemy would.\nI have punished you like someone cruel.\nThis is because your guilt is great\nand your sins are many."},{"verse":15,"text":"Why do you cry out about your wound?\nYour pain has no cure!\nI have done these things to you\nbecause your guilt is great\nand your sins are many."},{"verse":16,"text":"But all who eat you up will be eaten up.\nAll your enemies, every one of them,\nwill be taken away as captives.\nThose who robbed you will be robbed.\nAll who attacked you will be attacked."},{"verse":17,"text":"But I will make you healthy again.\nI will heal your wounds, says the LORD.\nFor they call you an outcast.\nThey say, 'This is Zion, and no one cares about her.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"I will make things good again for the tents of Jacob.\nI will have mercy on his homes.\nThe city will be rebuilt on its own ruins.\nThe palace will stand in its proper place."},{"verse":19,"text":"Songs of thanks will come from them.\nThere will be sounds of celebrating.\nI will make them many, and they will not become few.\nI will give them honor, and they will not be looked down on."},{"verse":20,"text":"Their children will be as they were long ago.\nTheir community will be made strong before me.\nAnd I will punish all who mistreat them."},{"verse":21,"text":"Their leader will be one of their own.\nTheir ruler will come from among them.\nI will bring him close, and he will come near to me.\nFor who would dare to come near me on his own?\" says the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"And you will be my people,\nand I will be your God.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Look, the storm of the LORD has burst out in fury.\nA whirlwind is swirling down\non the heads of the wicked."},{"verse":24,"text":"The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back\nuntil he has done all that his heart has planned.\nIn the days to come\nyou will understand this."}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"At that time,\" says the LORD, \"I will be the God of all the families of Israel. And they will be my people.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"The people who lived through the sword\nfound kindness in the wilderness.\nThat was when Israel went to find rest.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Long ago the LORD appeared to us and said,\n\"I have loved you with a love that lasts forever.\nSo I have drawn you close with faithful love."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will build you up again,\nand you will be rebuilt, virgin Israel.\nYou will pick up your tambourines again.\nYou will go out and dance with joy."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will plant vineyards again\non the hills of Samaria.\nThe farmers will plant them\nand enjoy their fruit."},{"verse":6,"text":"For a day will come when watchmen will call out\non the hills of Ephraim,\n'Get up! Let's go up to Zion,\nto the LORD our God!'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"Sing with joy for Jacob.\nShout for the greatest of the nations!\nLet your praises be heard.\nSay, 'LORD, save your people,\nthe ones left in Israel!'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Look, I will bring them from the land of the north.\nI will gather them from the far ends of the earth.\nThe blind and the lame will be with them.\nWomen who are pregnant and women giving birth will come too.\nA great crowd will come back!"},{"verse":9,"text":"They will come crying.\nThey will pray as I lead them.\nI will lead them beside streams of water,\non a flat path where they will not trip.\nFor I am Israel's Father,\nand Ephraim is my firstborn son.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Nations, hear the word of the LORD.\nAnnounce it in coastlands far away.\nSay, \"The one who scattered Israel will gather them.\nHe will watch over them like a shepherd watches his flock.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"For the LORD has paid the price to free Jacob.\nHe has redeemed him from the hand\nof someone too strong for him."},{"verse":12,"text":"They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion.\nTheir faces will shine because of the LORD's good gifts.\nHe will give them grain, new wine, and olive oil.\nHe will give them young sheep and young cattle.\nTheir lives will be like a garden with plenty of water.\nThey will never grow weak and sad again."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the young women will dance with joy.\nThe young men and old men will be glad too.\nI will turn their mourning into joy.\nI will comfort them and give them joy instead of sorrow."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will give the priests more than enough.\nMy people will be filled with my good gifts,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"A voice is heard in Ramah.\nThere is mourning and loud crying.\nRachel is crying for her children.\nShe will not be comforted,\nbecause her children are gone.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Stop your crying.\nWipe the tears from your eyes.\nFor your work will be rewarded, says the LORD.\nYour children will come back from the land of the enemy."},{"verse":17,"text":"So there is hope for your future, says the LORD.\nYour children will come back to their own land."},{"verse":18,"text":"I have surely heard Ephraim groaning.\nHe says, 'You corrected me hard,\nlike a young bull that was never trained.\nBring me back so I can return,\nfor you are the LORD my God."},{"verse":19,"text":"After I came back, I was sorry for my sins.\nAfter I learned my lesson,\nI struck my thigh in sadness.\nI was ashamed and embarrassed,\nfor I carried the shame of the sins I did when I was young.'","note":"Striking the thigh was a sign of grief."},{"verse":20,"text":"Isn't Ephraim my dear son?\nIsn't he the child I delight in?\nI often speak against him,\nbut I still remember him.\nSo my heart longs for him.\nI have great mercy on him,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Set up road markers.\nPut up signs to show the way.\nRemember the highway,\nthe road you traveled on.\nCome back, virgin Israel.\nCome back to these towns of yours."},{"verse":22,"text":"How long will you wander,\nyou unfaithful daughter?\nFor the LORD has made something new in the land.\nA woman will protect a man.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: \"I will bring them back from being captives. Then once again in the land of Judah and its towns, people will say this: 'May the LORD bless you, home of what is right, holy mountain.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"Judah and all its towns will live together in the land. The farmers and those who move around with their flocks will live there."},{"verse":25,"text":"For I will refresh the tired soul. I will give new strength to all who are weak.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"At this I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet to me."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"The days are coming,\" says the LORD, \"when I will plant the people of Israel and the people of Judah like seed. It will be the seed of people and of animals."},{"verse":28,"text":"I watched over them to pull them up and tear them down. I watched over them to knock them down, destroy them, and bring disaster. In the same way, I will watch over them to build them up and to plant them,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":29,"text":"\"In those days people will no longer say,\n'The fathers have eaten sour grapes,\nand the children's teeth are set on edge.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"Instead, each person will die for his own sin. Whoever eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge."},{"verse":31,"text":"Look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and the people of Judah."},{"verse":32,"text":"It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers. I made that one when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, even though I was a husband to them,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"\"But this is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will put my law in their minds. I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."},{"verse":34,"text":"No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD.' For they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD. For I will forgive their sins, and I will never again remember their sins.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"This is what the LORD says.\nHe gives the sun for light in the day.\nHe sets the moon and stars in order\nto give light at night.\nHe stirs up the sea so its waves roar.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name."},{"verse":36,"text":"\"Suppose this fixed order could disappear from my sight, says the LORD.\nOnly then would Israel's children\never stop being a nation before me.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Suppose the heavens above could be measured.\nSuppose the foundations of the earth below could be explored.\nOnly then would I reject all of Israel's children\nfor all they have done,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":38,"text":"\"The days are coming,\" says the LORD, \"when this city will be rebuilt for me. It will be built from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate."},{"verse":39,"text":"The measuring line will stretch out straight again to the hill of Gareb. Then it will turn toward Goah."},{"verse":40,"text":"The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown will be holy to the LORD. So will all the fields out to the Kidron Valley, to the corner of the Horse Gate on the east. The city will never again be pulled up or torn down.\""}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave a message to Jeremiah in the tenth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah. That was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar."},{"verse":2,"text":"At that time the army of the king of Babylon had surrounded Jerusalem to attack it. Jeremiah the prophet was locked up in the courtyard of the guard. It was in the palace of the king of Judah."},{"verse":3,"text":"Zedekiah king of Judah had locked him up there. He said, \"Why do you prophesy like this? You say that the LORD says, 'Look, I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon. He will capture it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the Chaldeans. He will surely be handed over to the king of Babylon. He will speak with him face to face. He will see him eye to eye."},{"verse":5,"text":"He will take Zedekiah to Babylon. Zedekiah will stay there until I deal with him, says the LORD. If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not win.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Jeremiah answered, \"The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":7,"text":"Look! Hanamel is coming to you. He is the son of your uncle Shallum. He will say, 'Buy my field in Anathoth. You have the right to buy it back for the family.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard, just as the LORD had said. He begged me, 'Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. You have the right to own it and to buy it back for the family. Buy it for yourself.'\" Then I knew this was the LORD's message.","note":"The 'right of redemption' let a close relative buy family land so it stayed in the family."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver for him.","note":"About 7 ounces of silver."},{"verse":10,"text":"I signed the deed and sealed it. I called in witnesses. I weighed out the silver on the scales."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I took the deed of sale. There was the sealed copy with its terms and rules. There was also the open copy."},{"verse":12,"text":"I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah. My cousin Hanamel watched. So did the witnesses who signed the deed. All the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard watched too."},{"verse":13,"text":"While they watched, I gave Baruch these orders."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Take these deeds. Take both the sealed copy and the open copy of the deed of sale. Put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time."},{"verse":15,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: People will again buy houses, fields, and vineyards in this land.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"After I gave the deed of sale to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Oh, Lord GOD! You made the heavens and the earth by your great power and your outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you!"},{"verse":18,"text":"You show faithful love to thousands. But you also lay the sin of the fathers in the laps of their children after them. You are the great and mighty God. Your name is the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":19,"text":"Your plans are great, and your deeds are mighty. Your eyes see all the ways of people. You pay back each one for how he lives and for what his deeds have brought about."},{"verse":20,"text":"You did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. You still do them today, in Israel and among all people. You have made a name for yourself, and it is still so today."},{"verse":21,"text":"You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt. You did it with signs and wonders. You did it with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror."},{"verse":22,"text":"You gave them this land. You had promised with an oath to give it to their fathers. It is a land flowing with milk and honey."},{"verse":23,"text":"They came in and took it for their own. But they did not obey your voice or live by your law. They did not do all you commanded them. So you have brought all this disaster on them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Look at the dirt ramps built up against the city to capture it! Because of war, hunger, and sickness, the city has been handed over to the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you said has happened, as you can see!"},{"verse":25,"text":"Still, Lord GOD, you said to me, 'Buy the field with silver and call in witnesses.' But the city has been handed over to the Chaldeans!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Look, I am the LORD, the God of all people. Is anything too hard for me?"},{"verse":28,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: Look, I am about to hand this city over to the Chaldeans. I will give it to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will capture it."},{"verse":29,"text":"The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come in. They will set it on fire and burn it down. They will burn the houses where people made me angry. On their rooftops they burned incense to Baal. They poured out drink offerings to other gods."},{"verse":30,"text":"The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight since they were young. Yes, they have done nothing but make me angry by the things they have made, says the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"This city has made me angry and furious from the day it was built until now. So I will remove it from my sight."},{"verse":32,"text":"This is because of all the evil the people of Israel and Judah have done to make me angry. Their kings and officials did it. Their priests and prophets did it. The men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem did it."},{"verse":33,"text":"They have turned their backs to me, not their faces. I taught them again and again. But they would not listen or accept correction."},{"verse":34,"text":"They set up their disgusting idols in the house that bears my Name. So they made it unclean."},{"verse":35,"text":"They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. There they made their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech. I never commanded them to do that. It never even entered my mind that they would do such a disgusting thing and cause Judah to sin."},{"verse":36,"text":"You say about this city, 'It will be handed over to the king of Babylon by war, hunger, and sickness.' But now this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about it:"},{"verse":37,"text":"I will surely gather my people from all the lands where I scattered them. I drove them out in my great anger and fury. But I will bring them back to this place. I will let them live in safety."},{"verse":38,"text":"They will be my people, and I will be their God."},{"verse":39,"text":"I will give them one heart and one way of life. Then they will always fear me. That will be good for them and for their children after them."},{"verse":40,"text":"I will make a covenant with them that lasts forever. I will never stop doing good to them. I will put fear of me in their hearts. Then they will never turn away from me."},{"verse":41,"text":"Yes, I will be glad to do them good. I will faithfully plant them in this land with all my heart and all my soul."},{"verse":42,"text":"For this is what the LORD says: I have brought all this great disaster on this people. In the same way, I will bring them all the good things I have promised them."},{"verse":43,"text":"Fields will be bought again in this land. You say about it, 'It is an empty ruin, with no people or animals. It has been handed over to the Chaldeans.'"},{"verse":44,"text":"People will buy fields with silver. They will sign deeds, seal them, and have them witnessed. This will happen in the land of Benjamin and in the towns around Jerusalem. It will happen in the towns of Judah. It will happen in the towns of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev. For I will bring my people back from captivity, says the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jeremiah was still locked up in the courtyard of the guard. Then the LORD gave him a message a second time."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD says. He made the earth. The LORD formed it and set it in place. The LORD is his name."},{"verse":3,"text":"Call to me, and I will answer you. I will show you great and hidden things that you do not know."},{"verse":4,"text":"For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses of this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah. They have been torn down to defend against the dirt ramps and the sword."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Chaldeans are coming to fight. They will fill those places with the dead bodies of men. I will strike them down in my anger and fury. I have hidden my face from this city because of all its evil."},{"verse":6,"text":"But I will bring health and healing to it. I will heal its people. I will show them great peace and truth."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity. I will build them up again as they were before."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will wash them clean from all the sin they have done against me. I will forgive all the ways they sinned and rebelled against me."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then this city will bring me fame, joy, praise, and glory in front of all the nations of the earth. They will hear about all the good I do for it. They will shake with awe because of all the good things and the wealth I give it."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what the LORD says: You say this place is a wasteland with no people or animals. The towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are empty. No people or animals live there. But in those places you will hear again"},{"verse":11,"text":"the sounds of joy and gladness. You will hear the voices of the bride and groom. You will hear people bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD. They will say, 'Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good. His faithful love lasts forever.' For I will bring the land back from captivity as it was before, says the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: This place is empty now, with no people or animals. But in it and in all its towns there will be pastures again. Shepherds will rest their flocks there."},{"verse":13,"text":"This will happen in the towns of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev. It will happen in the land of Benjamin and the towns around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah. Flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will keep the kind promise I made. I made it to the people of Israel and the people of Judah."},{"verse":15,"text":"In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout for David. He will do what is just and right in the land."},{"verse":16,"text":"In those days Judah will be saved. Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness."},{"verse":17,"text":"For this is what the LORD says: David will always have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"And the priests who are Levites will always have a man to stand before me. He will offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings, and bring sacrifices.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD gave this message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"This is what the LORD says: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their set times,"},{"verse":21,"text":"then my covenant with my servant David can also be broken. Then David would not have a son to rule on his throne. And my covenant with the Levites who are priests and serve me could be broken too."},{"verse":22,"text":"No one can count the stars of the sky. No one can measure the sand on the seashore. In the same way, I will make the descendants of my servant David very many. I will do the same for the Levites who serve me.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Have you noticed what these people are saying? They say, 'The LORD has rejected the two families he had chosen.' So they look down on my people. They no longer think of them as a nation."},{"verse":25,"text":"This is what the LORD says: I made my covenant with the day and the night. I set the fixed laws of heaven and earth. If I had not done that,"},{"verse":26,"text":"then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of my servant David. I would not choose rulers from David's family to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I will bring them back from captivity. I will show them mercy.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave a message to Jeremiah. At that time Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the towns around it. His whole army was with him. All the kingdoms of the earth that he ruled were there too, and all the other nations."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah. He was to tell him that this is what the LORD says: \"Look, I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon. He will burn it down."},{"verse":3,"text":"And you will not escape from him. You will surely be caught and handed over to him. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye. You will speak with him face to face. And you will go to Babylon."},{"verse":4,"text":"But hear the word of the LORD, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the LORD says about you: You will not die by the sword."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will die in peace. People burned spices to honor your fathers, the kings who ruled before you. In the same way they will burn spices for you. They will mourn for you and cry, 'Oh, master!' For I myself have made this promise, says the LORD.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Jeremiah the prophet told all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem."},{"verse":7,"text":"At that time the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem. It was also fighting the other towns of Judah that were left, Lachish and Azekah. These were the only walled cities left in Judah."},{"verse":8,"text":"King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to announce freedom. After that, the LORD gave a message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":9,"text":"The covenant said that each man must free his Hebrew slaves, both men and women. No one was to keep a fellow Jew as a slave."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the officials and all the people who made this covenant agreed. They would free their male and female servants. They would no longer keep them as slaves. They obeyed and let them go."},{"verse":11,"text":"But later they changed their minds. They took back the male and female servants they had freed. They forced them to be slaves again."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah. He said,"},{"verse":13,"text":"\"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors. It was when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the place where they were slaves. I said,"},{"verse":14,"text":"Every seventh year, each of you must free any Hebrew who sold himself to you. He may serve you six years. But then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or pay attention."},{"verse":15,"text":"Not long ago you turned back to me and did what pleased me. Each of you announced freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant in front of me in the house that bears my Name."},{"verse":16,"text":"But now you have changed your minds. You have treated my name as if it were not holy. Each of you took back the male and female servants you had set free. You had let them go wherever they wanted. But you forced them to be your slaves again."},{"verse":17,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me. You have not announced freedom, each man for his brother and his neighbor. So now I announce freedom for you, says the LORD. It is freedom to die by the sword, by sickness, and by hunger! I will make you a thing of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth."},{"verse":18,"text":"These people broke my covenant. They did not keep the terms of the covenant they made in front of me. They cut a calf in two and walked between its pieces. Now I will treat them like that calf."},{"verse":19,"text":"This means the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the palace officials, and the priests. It means all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf."},{"verse":20,"text":"I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the earth."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will hand Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them. I will give them to the army of the king of Babylon. That army has pulled back from you for now."},{"verse":22,"text":"Look, I am going to give the order, says the LORD. I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it down. I will make the towns of Judah empty ruins where no one lives.\""}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave a message to Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Go to the family of the Rechabites and speak to them. Bring them to one of the side rooms of the house of the LORD. Offer them some wine to drink.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So I got Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah. I got his brothers and all his sons. This was the whole family of the Rechabites."},{"verse":4,"text":"I brought them into the house of the LORD. I took them to the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was next to the room of the officials. That room was above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the doorkeeper."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I set jugs full of wine and some cups in front of the men of the Rechabite family. I said to them, \"Drink some wine.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"We don't drink wine,\" they answered. \"Our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab gave us a command. He said, 'You and your descendants must never drink wine."},{"verse":7,"text":"You must never build a house, plant seed, or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Instead, you must live in tents all your lives. Then you will live a long time in the land where you wander.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"We have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab in all he commanded us. So we have never drunk wine. Not we, not our wives, and not our sons and daughters."},{"verse":9,"text":"We have not built houses to live in. We have not owned any vineyards or fields or crops."},{"verse":10,"text":"We have lived in tents. We have obeyed and done just what our ancestor Jonadab commanded us."},{"verse":11,"text":"But Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched into the land. So we said, 'Come, let's go into Jerusalem. We must escape the armies of the Chaldeans and the Arameans.' That is why we are living in Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Go and speak to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem. Say, 'Will you not learn your lesson and obey my words?' says the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"Jonadab son of Rechab told his sons not to drink wine. His words have been obeyed. To this very day they have not drunk it. They obeyed the command of their ancestor. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you have not obeyed me!"},{"verse":15,"text":"Again and again I sent you all my servants the prophets. They said, 'Each of you, turn now from your evil ways. Fix how you live. Do not follow other gods to serve them. Live in the land I gave to you and your fathers.' But you would not pay attention or listen to me."},{"verse":16,"text":"Yes, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab obeyed the command their ancestor gave them. But these people have not listened to me."},{"verse":17,"text":"So this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Look, I will bring on Judah and all the people of Jerusalem all the disaster I warned them about. I spoke to them, but they did not obey. I called to them, but they did not answer.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jeremiah spoke to the family of the Rechabites. \"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'You obeyed the command of your ancestor Jonadab. You kept all his commands. You did all he told you to do."},{"verse":19,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will always have a man to stand before me.'\""}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Take a scroll. Write on it all the words I have spoken to you about Israel, Judah, and all the nations. Write everything from the day I first spoke to you, when Josiah was king, until today."},{"verse":3,"text":"Maybe the people of Judah will hear about all the trouble I plan to bring on them, and each of them will turn from his evil way. Then I will forgive their wrongs and their sin."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah. Jeremiah spoke all the words the LORD had told him. As he spoke, Baruch wrote them on a scroll."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jeremiah gave Baruch an order. \"I am kept away. I can't go into the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"So you must go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting. Read the people the words of the LORD from the scroll. You wrote these words as I spoke them. Read them out loud to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns."},{"verse":7,"text":"Maybe they will bring their prayer to the LORD. Maybe each one will turn from his evil way. For the LORD has warned that his anger and fury against this people are great.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So Baruch son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet told him. He read the words of the LORD from the scroll in the house of the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"This was in the ninth month of the fifth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah. A time of fasting before the LORD was announced. It was for all the people of Jerusalem. It was also for all who had come there from the towns of Judah."},{"verse":10,"text":"Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll so all the people could hear. He read from the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe. This room was in the upper courtyard, at the entrance of the New Gate of the house of the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then he went down to the scribe's room in the king's palace. All the officials were sitting there. Elishama the scribe was there. So were Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials."},{"verse":13,"text":"Micaiah told them all the words he had heard. Baruch had read them from the scroll for the people to hear."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then all the officials sent Jehudi to Baruch. Jehudi was the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi. They said, \"Bring the scroll you read to the people, and come here.\" So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Please sit down,\" they said. \"Read it to us.\" So Baruch read it to them."},{"verse":16,"text":"When they heard all these words, they looked at one another in fear. They said to Baruch, \"We must surely tell the king all these words.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then they asked Baruch, \"Tell us now. How did you write all these words? Did Jeremiah say them to you?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Yes, he said them,\" Baruch answered. \"He spoke all these words to me. I wrote them in ink on the scroll.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the officials said to Baruch, \"You and Jeremiah must go and hide. Don't tell anyone where you are.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So the officials put the scroll away in the room of Elishama the scribe. Then they went to the king in the courtyard. They told the king everything."},{"verse":21,"text":"The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. Jehudi took it from the room of Elishama the scribe. He read it out loud to the king and to all the officials standing beside him."},{"verse":22,"text":"It was the ninth month. So the king was sitting in his winter house. A fire was burning in front of him."},{"verse":23,"text":"Each time Jehudi read three or four columns, Jehoiakim cut them off with a scribe's knife. He threw them into the fire pot. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up in the fire."},{"verse":24,"text":"The king and his servants heard all these words. But they were not afraid. They did not tear their clothes."},{"verse":25,"text":"Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll. But he would not listen to them."},{"verse":26,"text":"Instead, the king gave orders to Jerahmeel, one of the king's sons. He also ordered Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel. They were to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them."},{"verse":27,"text":"The king burned the scroll with the words Baruch wrote as Jeremiah spoke them. After that, the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Take another scroll. Write on it the very same words that were on the first scroll. Jehoiakim king of Judah burned that one."},{"verse":29,"text":"Tell Jehoiakim king of Judah that this is what the LORD says: You burned the scroll. You said, 'Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon will surely come? Why did you say he will destroy this land and wipe out its people and animals?'"},{"verse":30,"text":"So this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David's throne. His dead body will be thrown out. It will lie in the heat of the day and the frost of the night."},{"verse":31,"text":"I will punish him and his children and his servants for their sin. I will bring on them all the trouble I warned them about. It will also fall on the people of Jerusalem and the men of Judah. I warned them, but they did not listen.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So Jeremiah took another scroll. He gave it to Baruch son of Neriah, the scribe. Jeremiah spoke, and Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many more words like them were added."}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah. He ruled in place of Coniah son of Jehoiakim."},{"verse":2,"text":"But Zedekiah, his officers, and the people of the land would not obey the words of the LORD. The LORD had spoken them through Jeremiah the prophet."},{"verse":3,"text":"Still, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet. They brought this message: \"Please pray to the LORD our God for us!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"At that time Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people. They had not yet put him in prison."},{"verse":5,"text":"Pharaoh's army had marched out of Egypt. The Chaldeans had surrounded Jerusalem to attack it. But when they heard the news, they pulled back from Jerusalem."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah the prophet."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The king of Judah sent you to ask me. Tell him this: Look, Pharaoh's army marched out to help you. But it will go back to its own land of Egypt."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the Chaldeans will come back and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what the LORD says: Do not fool yourselves. Do not say, 'The Chaldeans will go away for good.' They will not!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Suppose you struck down the whole Chaldean army that is fighting you. Suppose only wounded men were left in their tents. They would still get up and burn this city down.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The Chaldean army pulled back from Jerusalem because they were afraid of Pharaoh's army."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem. He was going to the land of Benjamin to claim his share of property among the people there."},{"verse":13,"text":"He came to the Gate of Benjamin. The captain of the guard there was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah. He grabbed Jeremiah and said, \"You are running away to join the Chaldeans!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"\"That's a lie,\" Jeremiah answered. \"I'm not running away to the Chaldeans!\" But Irijah would not listen to him. He arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials."},{"verse":15,"text":"The officials were angry with Jeremiah. They beat him and put him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe. They had made that house into a prison."},{"verse":16,"text":"So Jeremiah was put into a cell in the dungeon. He stayed there a long time."},{"verse":17,"text":"Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and brought him to his palace. There he asked him in secret, \"Is there a message from the LORD?\" \"There is,\" Jeremiah answered. \"You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, \"What wrong have I done to you or your servants or these people? Why have you put me in prison?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Where are your prophets now? They prophesied to you, 'The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"But now please listen, my lord the king. Please hear what I ask. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe. If you do, I will die there.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So King Zedekiah gave orders to keep Jeremiah in the courtyard of the guard. Each day he was given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers. This went on until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard."}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some men heard what Jeremiah had been telling all the people. They were Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah. Jeremiah had been saying,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by war, hunger, and sickness. But whoever gives up to the Chaldeans will live. He will escape with his life like a prize of war. He will live."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the LORD says: This city will surely be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. He will capture it.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the officials said to the king, \"This man should be put to death. He is making the soldiers left in this city lose heart. He is doing the same to all the people by saying such things to them. This man does not want what is good for these people. He wants to ruin them.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Here he is,\" King Zedekiah answered. \"He is in your hands. The king can't do anything to stop you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the well of Malchiah, the king's son. This well was in the courtyard of the guard. They let Jeremiah down into it with ropes. There was no water in the well, only mud. And Jeremiah sank down into the mud.","note":"Or \"cistern\", a pit dug to hold rainwater."},{"verse":7,"text":"Ebed-melech the Cushite was an official in the king's palace. He heard that Jeremiah had been put into the well. At that time the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ebed-melech went out of the king's palace and spoke to the king."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"My lord the king, these men have done evil in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the well. He will starve to death there, for there is no more bread in the city.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So the king gave an order to Ebed-melech the Cushite. \"Take thirty men from here with you. Pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the well before he dies.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the king's palace. He went to a room under the storehouse. He took old rags and worn-out clothes from there. He let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the well."},{"verse":12,"text":"Ebed-melech the Cushite called to Jeremiah, \"Put these old rags and clothes under your arms. They will pad the ropes.\" Jeremiah did this."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the well. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet. He met him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, \"I'm going to ask you something. Don't hide anything from me.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Jeremiah answered, \"If I tell you, you will surely put me to death. And if I give you advice, you won't listen to me.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah. \"As surely as the LORD lives, who gave us this life, I won't kill you. I won't hand you over to these men who want to kill you.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, \"This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'If you give yourself up to the officers of the king of Babylon, you will live. This city will not be burned down. You and your family will stay alive."},{"verse":18,"text":"But if you do not give yourself up to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it down. And you will not escape from them.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, \"I'm afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Chaldeans. The Chaldeans may hand me over to them, and they will treat me cruelly.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"They won't hand you over,\" Jeremiah answered. \"Obey the voice of the LORD in what I'm telling you. Then it will go well with you, and you will live."},{"verse":21,"text":"But if you refuse to give yourself up, this is what the LORD has shown me."},{"verse":22,"text":"All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say, 'Your trusted friends fooled you. They got the better of you. Your feet sank in the mud, and they left you.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. You will not escape from them. The king of Babylon will capture you. And this city will be burned down.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, \"Don't let anyone know about this talk, or you will die."},{"verse":25,"text":"If the officials hear that I have spoken with you, they may come to you and say, 'Tell us what you said to the king and what he said to you. Don't hide it from us, or we will kill you.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"Then tell them, 'I was begging the king not to send me back to Jonathan's house to die there.'\""},{"verse":27,"text":"All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him. He told them just what the king had told him to say. So they stopped asking him, because no one had heard the talk."},{"verse":28,"text":"And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured."}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem. He came with his whole army. They surrounded the city to attack it."},{"verse":2,"text":"In Zedekiah's eleventh year, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city wall was broken through."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in. They sat down in the Middle Gate. They were Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the other officials of the king of Babylon.","note":"Rabsaris and Rabmag were titles of high officials."},{"verse":4,"text":"Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them. So they ran away. They left the city at night by way of the king's garden. They went out through the gate between the two walls. They headed toward the Arabah."},{"verse":5,"text":"But the Chaldean army chased them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He was at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king passed sentence on him."},{"verse":6,"text":"There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah's sons while Zedekiah watched. He also killed all the nobles of Judah."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes. He tied him up with bronze chains to take him to Babylon."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Chaldeans set fire to the king's palace and the people's houses. They broke down the walls of Jerusalem."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took the rest of the people who were left in the city. He carried them away to Babylon. He also took those who had gone over to his side."},{"verse":10,"text":"But Nebuzaradan left some of the poor people in the land of Judah. They owned nothing. At that time he gave them vineyards and fields."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given orders about Jeremiah. He gave them through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard. He said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Take him and look after him. Don't let anything bad happen to him. Do for him whatever he asks.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent for Jeremiah. So did Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the captains of the king of Babylon."},{"verse":14,"text":"They had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard. They handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah stayed among his own people."},{"verse":15,"text":"While Jeremiah was still locked up in the courtyard of the guard, the LORD had given him a message."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Cushite. Tell him this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I am about to make my words come true against this city. They will bring harm, not good. On that day you will see them come true."},{"verse":17,"text":"But I will rescue you on that day, says the LORD. You will not be handed over to the men you are afraid of."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will surely save you. You will not die by the sword. You trusted in me. So you will escape with your life like a prize of war, says the LORD.'\""}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave a message to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, set him free at Ramah. Nebuzaradan had found him there in chains. He was among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken away to Babylon."},{"verse":2,"text":"The captain of the guard found Jeremiah. He said to him, \"The LORD your God said this disaster would come on this place."},{"verse":3,"text":"Now the LORD has made it happen. He has done just what he said. You people sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice. That is why this has happened to you."},{"verse":4,"text":"But today I am setting you free from the chains on your wrists. If you want to come with me to Babylon, then come. I will take care of you. But if you don't want to come with me to Babylon, then don't. Look, the whole land is in front of you. Go wherever you think is good and right.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, \"Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. The king of Babylon has put him in charge of the towns of Judah. Stay with him among the people. Or go anywhere else you think is right.\" Then the captain of the guard gave him food and a gift. And he let him go."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. He stayed with him among the people left in the land."},{"verse":7,"text":"All the army commanders and their men out in the countryside heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge of the land. They heard he had put him over the men, women, and children who were the poorest in the land. These people had not been taken away to Babylon."},{"verse":8,"text":"So they and their men came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite."},{"verse":9,"text":"Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, made a promise with an oath to them and their men. He said, \"Don't be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon. Then it will go well with you."},{"verse":10,"text":"As for me, I will stay in Mizpah. I will speak for you to the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather grapes for wine, summer fruit, and olive oil. Put them in your storage jars. Live in the towns you have taken over.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"All the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a small group of people in Judah. They heard he had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, in charge of them."},{"verse":12,"text":"So they all came back from all the places where they had been scattered. They came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered a large harvest of grapes for wine and summer fruit."},{"verse":13,"text":"Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders out in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah."},{"verse":14,"text":"They said to him, \"Do you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?\" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in secret at Mizpah. \"Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,\" he said. \"No one will know. Why should he kill you? Then all the people of Judah who have gathered around you would be scattered. The few people left in Judah would perish.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, \"Don't do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.\""}]},{"chapter":41,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah came to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. Ishmael was the grandson of Elishama. He was from the royal family and was one of the king's chief officers. He brought ten men with him. They ate a meal together there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him got up. They struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword. They killed the man the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land."},{"verse":3,"text":"Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah. He killed the Chaldean soldiers who were there too."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the second day after Gedaliah was murdered, no one knew about it yet."},{"verse":5,"text":"Eighty men came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves. They were bringing grain offerings and incense to the house of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them. He wept as he went. When he met the men, he said, \"Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"When they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and his men killed them. They threw them into a well.","note":"Or \"cistern\", a pit for storing rainwater."},{"verse":8,"text":"But ten of the men said to Ishmael, \"Don't kill us! We have food hidden in a field. We have wheat, barley, oil, and honey!\" So he did not kill them with the others."},{"verse":9,"text":"Ishmael threw all the bodies of the men he had killed, along with Gedaliah, into a large well. King Asa had made it because he was afraid of Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Ishmael took all the rest of the people at Mizpah as captives. Among them were the king's daughters and all the others left in Mizpah. Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge of them. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive. He set off to cross over to the Ammonites."},{"verse":11,"text":"Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done."},{"verse":12,"text":"So they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They found him near the big pool in Gibeon."},{"verse":13,"text":"All the people with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him. And they were glad."},{"verse":14,"text":"All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned around. They went over to Johanan son of Kareah."},{"verse":15,"text":"But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men got away from Johanan. They went to the Ammonites."},{"verse":16,"text":"Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam and taken the people from Mizpah. But Johanan son of Kareah got them back from him. Then Johanan and all the army commanders with him took all these people who were left. There were soldiers, women, children, and palace officials. He had brought them back from Gibeon."},{"verse":17,"text":"They went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem. They planned to go on into Egypt"},{"verse":18,"text":"to get away from the Chaldeans. They were afraid of the Chaldeans because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. The king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge of the land."}]},{"chapter":42,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then all the army commanders came near. Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah came too. All the people came, from the least to the greatest."},{"verse":2,"text":"They came to Jeremiah the prophet and said, \"Please hear what we ask. Pray to the LORD your God for all of us who are left. Once there were many of us, but now only a few are left. You can see that with your own eyes."},{"verse":3,"text":"Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I have heard you,\" Jeremiah the prophet answered. \"I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you ask. I will tell you everything the LORD answers. I will not hold back a single word from you.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then they said to Jeremiah, \"The LORD your God will send you to tell us his words. If we do not do every word of it, may the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us."},{"verse":6,"text":"Whether we like it or not, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God. We are sending you to him. We will obey the voice of the LORD our God so it will go well with us!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Ten days later the LORD gave a message to Jeremiah."},{"verse":8,"text":"So Jeremiah called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him. He called all the people, from the least to the greatest."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jeremiah told them, \"You sent me to bring your request to the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what he says:"},{"verse":10,"text":"'If you really stay in this land, I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will plant you and not pull you up. For I will turn back from the disaster I have brought on you."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon. You are afraid of him now. But do not be afraid of him, says the LORD. For I am with you. I will save you and rescue you from his power."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will show you mercy. Then he will show you mercy and let you go back to your own land.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"But if you say, 'We will not stay in this land,' and so disobey the voice of the LORD your God,"},{"verse":14,"text":"and if you say, 'No, we will go to the land of Egypt and live there. There we won't see war or hear the sound of the ram's horn or be hungry for bread,'"},{"verse":15,"text":"then hear the word of the LORD, you people left in Judah! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'If you make up your minds to go to Egypt and live there,"},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the war you fear will catch up with you there. The hunger you dread will follow close behind you into Egypt. And you will die there."},{"verse":17,"text":"So all who decide to go and live in Egypt will die by war, hunger, and sickness. Not one of them will live or escape the disaster I will bring on them.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'My anger and fury were poured out on the people of Jerusalem. In the same way my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. People will use your name as a curse. You will be a thing of horror. People will mock you and put you to shame. And you will never see this place again.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"You people left in Judah, the LORD has told you, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Know for sure that I have warned you today!"},{"verse":20,"text":"You have fooled yourselves. You sent me to the LORD your God. You said, 'Pray to the LORD our God for us. Tell us all that the LORD our God says, and we will do it.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"I have told you today. But you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in anything he sent me to tell you."},{"verse":22,"text":"So now know for sure: you will die by war, hunger, and sickness. You will die in the place where you want to go and live.\""}]},{"chapter":43,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jeremiah finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God. He told them everything the LORD had sent him to say."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke to Jeremiah. \"You are lying!\" they said. \"The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'You must not go to Egypt to live there.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"No, Baruch son of Neriah is turning you against us. He wants to hand us over to the Chaldeans. Then they can kill us or carry us away to Babylon!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders did not obey the LORD's command. He had told them to stay in the land of Judah."},{"verse":5,"text":"Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders took all the people left in Judah. These people had come back to the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered."},{"verse":6,"text":"They took the men, the women, the children, and the king's daughters. They took everyone Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. They also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah."},{"verse":7,"text":"They did not obey the voice of the LORD. So they went into the land of Egypt. They went as far as Tahpanhes."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message to Jeremiah at Tahpanhes."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Pick up some large stones while the Jews watch. Bury them in the clay of the brick path at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then tell them this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I will set his throne over these stones I have buried. He will spread his royal tent over them."},{"verse":11,"text":"He will come and attack the land of Egypt. Those meant for death will die. Those meant for captivity will be taken captive. Those meant for the sword will die by the sword."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples. He will carry off their gods as captives. A shepherd wraps himself in his cloak. In the same way, he will wrap himself in the land of Egypt. Then he will leave there unharmed."},{"verse":13,"text":"He will smash the sacred stone pillars of the temple of the sun in the land of Egypt. He will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.'\"","note":"Hebrew: \"Beth-shemesh\" (house of the sun), likely the city of Heliopolis."}]},{"chapter":44,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave a message to Jeremiah about all the Jews living in the land of Egypt. They lived in Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis, and in the land of Pathros."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You have seen all the disaster I brought on Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah. Look, today they lie in ruins. No one lives there."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is because of the evil they did. They made me angry. They kept burning incense and serving other gods. Neither they nor you nor your fathers ever knew these gods."},{"verse":4,"text":"Again and again I sent you all my servants the prophets. They said, 'Do not do this disgusting thing that I hate.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"But they did not listen or pay attention. They did not turn from their evil. They did not stop burning incense to other gods."},{"verse":6,"text":"So my fury and anger poured out. They burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. That is why they are empty ruins today."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now this is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves? You are cutting off men and women, children and babies from Judah. You will have no one left."},{"verse":8,"text":"Why do you make me angry by what you make with your hands? You burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have come to live. Because of this, you will be cut off. All the nations of the earth will use your name as a curse and make fun of you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Have you forgotten the evil done by your fathers? Have you forgotten the evil of the kings of Judah and their wives? Have you forgotten the evil that you and your wives did in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem?"},{"verse":10,"text":"To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown me respect. They have not followed my teaching or the laws I set before you and your fathers."},{"verse":11,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I have made up my mind to bring disaster on you. I will cut off all Judah."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will take away the people left in Judah who decided to go and live in the land of Egypt. They will all come to an end. They will all die by the sword or by hunger. From the least to the greatest, they will die by war or hunger. People will use their name as a curse. They will be a thing of horror. People will mock them and put them to shame."},{"verse":13,"text":"I punished Jerusalem by war, hunger, and sickness. In the same way, I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":14,"text":"So none of the people left from Judah who went to live in Egypt will escape or survive to go back to the land of Judah. They long to go back and live there. But none will go back except a few who escape.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then a large crowd spoke to Jeremiah. It included all the men who knew their wives were burning incense to other gods. It included all the women standing there. And it included all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros. They said,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"You have spoken a message to us in the name of the LORD. But we will not listen to you!"},{"verse":17,"text":"Instead, we will do everything we promised. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven. We will pour out drink offerings to her. We will do just what we and our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Back then we had plenty of food. Things went well for us, and we saw no disaster."},{"verse":18,"text":"But then we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven. We stopped pouring out drink offerings to her. Ever since, we have had nothing. We have been dying by war and hunger.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The women added, \"We burned incense to the Queen of Heaven. We poured out drink offerings to her. We made cakes shaped like her for offerings. Did we do all this without our husbands knowing?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people who were answering him, both men and women."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"You burned incense in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. So did your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land. Didn't the LORD remember it? Didn't he think about it?"},{"verse":22,"text":"The LORD could no longer put up with your evil deeds and the disgusting things you did. So your land became an empty ruin and a thing of horror. People use its name as a curse. No one lives there, as you see today."},{"verse":23,"text":"You burned incense and sinned against the LORD. You did not obey the voice of the LORD. You did not follow his teaching, his laws, or his commands. That is why this disaster has come on you, as you see today.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people, including all the women. \"Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":25,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives said with your mouths what you would do. Then you did it with your hands. You said, 'We will surely keep the promises we made. We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.' Go ahead, then! Do what you promised! Keep your promises!"},{"verse":26,"text":"But hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt. Look, I have made a promise by my great name, says the LORD. No man of Judah living in the land of Egypt will ever again call on my name. None will say, 'As surely as the Lord GOD lives.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"I am watching over them to harm them, not to do them good. Every man of Judah in the land of Egypt will die by the sword or by hunger. This will go on until they are all gone."},{"verse":28,"text":"Only a few will escape the sword and come back from Egypt to Judah. Then all the people left from Judah who went to live in Egypt will know whose word comes true. Will it be mine or theirs?"},{"verse":29,"text":"This will be a sign to you, says the LORD. It will show that I will punish you in this place. Then you will know that my warnings of harm against you will surely come true."},{"verse":30,"text":"This is what the LORD says: Look, I will hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies who want to kill him. I did the same to Zedekiah king of Judah. I handed him over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.\""}]},{"chapter":45,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to Baruch son of Neriah. It was in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah. Baruch had written these words on a scroll as Jeremiah spoke them."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch:"},{"verse":3,"text":"You said, 'How terrible for me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am worn out from groaning. I have found no rest.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So Jeremiah was to say to Baruch, \"This is what the LORD says: All through the land I will tear down what I have built. I will pull up what I have planted."},{"verse":5,"text":"But you, are you looking for great things for yourself? Stop looking for them! For I will bring disaster on every living thing, says the LORD. But wherever you go, I will let you escape with your life like a prize of war.\""}]},{"chapter":46,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the LORD's message about the nations. It came to Jeremiah the prophet."},{"verse":2,"text":"This message was about Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon beat that army at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. It happened in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Get your shields ready, small and large!\nMarch out to battle!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Hitch up the horses!\nGet on your horses!\nTake your places with your helmets on!\nShine your spears!\nPut on your armor!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Why am I seeing this?\nThey are terrified. They are pulling back.\nTheir soldiers are beaten.\nThey run away fast and don't look back.\nTerror is on every side!\" says the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"The fast runners can't get away.\nThe soldiers can't escape!\nIn the north by the Euphrates River\nthey trip and fall."},{"verse":7,"text":"Who is this rising like the Nile,\nlike rivers with churning waters?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Egypt rises like the Nile.\nIts waters churn like rivers.\nEgypt brags, 'I will rise and cover the earth.\nI will destroy the cities and their people.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Charge, you horses!\nRace wildly, you chariots!\nLet the soldiers march out.\nLet the men of Cush and Put carry their shields.\nLet the men of Lydia pull back their bows."},{"verse":10,"text":"For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts.\nIt is a day to pay back his enemies.\nThe sword will eat until it is full.\nIt will drink their blood until it has had enough.\nFor the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice\nin the land of the north by the Euphrates River."},{"verse":11,"text":"Go up to Gilead and get healing balm,\nyou Virgin Daughter of Egypt!\nYou try many medicines, but they are no use.\nThere is no healing for you."},{"verse":12,"text":"The nations have heard of your shame.\nYour cries fill the earth.\nOne soldier trips over another,\nand both of them fall down together.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The LORD gave this message to Jeremiah the prophet. It was about Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon coming to attack the land of Egypt."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Announce it in Egypt.\nTell it in Migdol.\nTell it in Memphis and Tahpanhes:\n'Take your places and get ready,\nfor the sword is eating up those around you.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"Why have your soldiers been knocked down?\nThey can't stand,\nfor the LORD has pushed them down."},{"verse":16,"text":"They keep tripping.\nYes, they fall over one another.\nThey say, 'Get up! Let's go back to our own people.\nLet's go back to the land where we were born.\nLet's get away from the sword of the enemy.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"There they will cry out,\n'Pharaoh king of Egypt is just a lot of noise.\nHe has let his chance go by.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"As surely as I live, says the King,\nwhose name is the LORD of Hosts,\none will come who is like Mount Tabor among the mountains,\nlike Mount Carmel by the sea."},{"verse":19,"text":"Pack your bags to be taken away,\nyou daughter living in Egypt!\nFor Memphis will be wiped out.\nIt will be destroyed, and no one will live there."},{"verse":20,"text":"Egypt is a beautiful young cow.\nBut a biting fly from the north is coming against her."},{"verse":21,"text":"Even the hired soldiers in her army are like fat calves.\nThey too will turn around.\nThey will all run away together.\nThey will not stand and fight.\nFor the day of their disaster is coming on them.\nIt is the time for them to be punished."},{"verse":22,"text":"Egypt will hiss like a snake slithering away.\nFor the enemy will march in with great force.\nThey will come against her with axes,\nlike men who cut down trees."},{"verse":23,"text":"They will chop down her forest, says the LORD,\neven though it is thick.\nThere are more of them than locusts.\nNo one can count them."},{"verse":24,"text":"The Daughter of Egypt will be put to shame.\nShe will be handed over to the people of the north.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says, \"Look, I am about to punish Amon, the god of Thebes. I will punish Pharaoh and Egypt, with her gods and her kings. I will punish those who trust in Pharaoh."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will hand them over to those who want to kill them. I will give them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. But later, people will live in Egypt again as in the old days, says the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"But you, Jacob my servant, do not be afraid.\nDo not lose heart, Israel.\nFor I will surely save you from a land far away.\nI will save your children from the land where they are captives!\nJacob will come back and have peace and rest.\nNo one will make him afraid."},{"verse":28,"text":"Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, says the LORD,\nfor I am with you.\nI will completely destroy all the nations\nwhere I have scattered you.\nBut I will not completely destroy you.\nI will correct you fairly.\nI will not let you go unpunished.\""}]},{"chapter":47,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave this message to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines. It came before Pharaoh attacked Gaza."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Look, waters are rising in the north.\nThey are becoming a flooding river.\nThey will flood the land and everything in it,\nthe cities and the people who live there.\nThe people will cry out.\nAll who live in the land will wail."},{"verse":3,"text":"They will hear the pounding hooves of war horses.\nThey will hear the rumbling chariots and their rattling wheels.\nFathers will not turn back for their sons.\nTheir hands will hang limp."},{"verse":4,"text":"For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines.\nIt has come to cut off every helper left for Tyre and Sidon.\nYes, the LORD is about to destroy the Philistines,\nthose left from the coasts of Caphtor."},{"verse":5,"text":"The people of Gaza will shave their heads to show their sorrow.\nAshkelon will be silenced.\nYou who are left in their valley,\nhow long will you cut yourselves?"},{"verse":6,"text":"'Oh, sword of the LORD,\nhow long until you rest?\nGo back into your sheath.\nStop and be still!'"},{"verse":7,"text":"But how can it rest when the LORD has given it orders?\nHe has sent it against Ashkelon\nand against the seacoast.\""}]},{"chapter":48,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Moab:\n\"How terrible for Nebo, for it will be ruined!\nKiriathaim will be captured and put to shame.\nIts fortress will be smashed and torn down."},{"verse":2,"text":"No one praises Moab anymore.\nIn Heshbon they plan evil against her.\nThey say, 'Come, let's wipe her out as a nation.'\nYou people of Madmen will also be silenced.\nThe sword will chase you."},{"verse":3,"text":"Listen to the cry from Horonaim:\n'Ruin and great destruction!'"},{"verse":4,"text":"Moab will be smashed.\nHer little ones will cry out."},{"verse":5,"text":"They go up the road to Luhith,\nweeping bitterly as they go.\nOn the road down to Horonaim\nthey cry out in pain over the destruction."},{"verse":6,"text":"'Run away! Run for your lives!\nBe like a bush in the desert.'","note":"Or \"juniper\"; the Hebrew word may also mean \"a wild donkey\" or the town of Aroer."},{"verse":7,"text":"You trust in what you have done and in your treasures.\nSo you too will be captured.\nYour god Chemosh will be taken away as a captive,\nalong with his priests and officials."},{"verse":8,"text":"The destroyer will attack every city.\nNot one town will escape.\nThe valley will be ruined.\nThe high plain will be destroyed,\njust as the LORD has said."},{"verse":9,"text":"Put salt on Moab,\nfor she will be wiped out.\nHer towns will become empty ruins,\nwith no one living in them.","note":"The Hebrew is unclear. It may also mean \"Give wings to Moab, for she will fly away.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"A curse on anyone who is lazy in doing the LORD's work!\nA curse on anyone who keeps his sword from killing!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Moab has been at ease since he was young.\nHe is like wine left to settle on its dregs.\nHe has not been poured from jar to jar.\nHe has never been taken away as a captive.\nSo his taste is still the same.\nHis smell has not changed."},{"verse":12,"text":"So look, the days are coming, says the LORD,\nwhen I will send wanderers to pour him out.\nThey will empty his jars\nand smash his jugs."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh.\nIn the same way the people of Israel were ashamed\nwhen they trusted in Bethel."},{"verse":14,"text":"How can you say, 'We are soldiers,\nstrong men ready for battle'?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Moab has been destroyed.\nEnemies have invaded its towns.\nIts best young men have gone down to be killed,\nsays the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":16,"text":"Moab's disaster is near.\nHis suffering is rushing toward him."},{"verse":17,"text":"Mourn for him, all you who live around him,\nall who know his name.\nSay, 'How the strong scepter is broken,\nthe glorious rod!'"},{"verse":18,"text":"Come down from your glory.\nSit on the dry ground,\nyou daughter living in Dibon.\nFor the destroyer of Moab has come against you.\nHe has torn down your fortresses."},{"verse":19,"text":"Stand by the road and watch,\nyou who live in Aroer!\nAsk the man running away and the woman escaping,\n'What has happened?'"},{"verse":20,"text":"Moab is put to shame, for it has been smashed.\nWail and cry out!\nAnnounce by the Arnon River\nthat Moab is destroyed."},{"verse":21,"text":"Judgment has come on the high plain.\nIt has come on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,"},{"verse":22,"text":"on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,"},{"verse":23,"text":"on Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,"},{"verse":24,"text":"on Kerioth and Bozrah.\nIt has come on all the towns of Moab, far and near."},{"verse":25,"text":"Moab's horn has been cut off.\nHis arm is broken,\" says the LORD.","note":"A horn was a picture of strength."},{"verse":26,"text":"\"Make him drunk,\nfor he has set himself up against the LORD.\nMoab will roll around in his own vomit.\nPeople will laugh at him too."},{"verse":27,"text":"Didn't you make fun of Israel?\nWas he ever caught with thieves?\nEvery time you talk about him,\nyou shake your head at him."},{"verse":28,"text":"Leave your towns and live among the rocks,\nyou people of Moab!\nBe like a dove\nthat makes its nest at the opening of a cave."},{"verse":29,"text":"We have heard about Moab's pride.\nHe is very proud and stuck-up.\nHe is full of pride and thinks he is better than others.\nHis heart is lifted high."},{"verse":30,"text":"I know how proud and bold he is,\" says the LORD,\n\"but it is useless.\nHis bragging is as empty as his deeds."},{"verse":31,"text":"So I will wail for Moab.\nI will cry out for all of Moab.\nI will moan for the men of Kir-heres."},{"verse":32,"text":"I will weep for you, vine of Sibmah,\nmore than I weep for Jazer.\nYour branches reached out to the sea.\nThey reached as far as Jazer.\nThe destroyer has come down\non your summer fruit and your grape harvest."},{"verse":33,"text":"Joy and gladness are gone\nfrom the orchards and the fields of Moab.\nI have stopped the wine from flowing out of the presses.\nNo one stomps the grapes with shouts of joy.\nThe shouts they hear are not shouts of joy."},{"verse":34,"text":"A cry goes up from Heshbon to Elealeh.\nThey raise their voices all the way to Jahaz.\nThey cry from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah.\nFor even the waters of Nimrim have dried up."},{"verse":35,"text":"In Moab, says the LORD,\nI will put an end to those who make offerings on the high places.\nI will stop those who burn incense to their gods."},{"verse":36,"text":"So my heart moans for Moab like a sad flute.\nIt moans like a flute for the men of Kir-heres.\nFor the riches they gained are gone."},{"verse":37,"text":"Every head is shaved.\nEvery beard is cut off.\nEvery hand has a cut on it.\nEvery waist is wrapped in sackcloth."},{"verse":38,"text":"On all the rooftops of Moab\nand in the town squares, everyone is mourning.\nFor I have smashed Moab\nlike a jar no one wants,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":39,"text":"\"How broken it is! How they wail!\nMoab turns his back in shame!\nAll those around Moab\nlaugh at him and are horrified.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\n\"Look, an eagle swoops down.\nIt spreads its wings over Moab."},{"verse":41,"text":"Kirioth has been taken.\nThe forts have been captured.\nOn that day the hearts of Moab's soldiers\nwill be like the heart of a woman giving birth."},{"verse":42,"text":"Moab will be destroyed as a nation,\nbecause he bragged against the LORD."},{"verse":43,"text":"Terror, a pit, and a trap are waiting for you,\nyou people of Moab,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":44,"text":"\"Whoever runs from the terror\nwill fall into the pit.\nWhoever climbs out of the pit\nwill be caught in the trap.\nFor I will bring on Moab\nthe year of their punishment,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":45,"text":"\"Those who run away will stand helpless\nin the shadow of Heshbon.\nFor a fire has gone out from Heshbon,\na flame from the city of Sihon.\nIt burns up the foreheads of Moab,\nthe skulls of the noisy people."},{"verse":46,"text":"How terrible for you, Moab!\nThe people of Chemosh are destroyed.\nFor your sons have been taken away as prisoners.\nYour daughters have been taken captive."},{"verse":47,"text":"Yet in the last days\nI will bring Moab back from captivity,\" says the LORD.\nThis is the end of the judgment on Moab."}]},{"chapter":49,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says about the Ammonites:\n\"Doesn't Israel have any sons?\nDoesn't he have anyone to receive his land?\nThen why has Milcom taken over Gad?\nWhy do his people live in Gad's towns?","note":"Milcom was the main god of the Ammonites."},{"verse":2,"text":"So look, the days are coming, says the LORD,\nwhen I will sound the battle cry\nagainst Rabbah of the Ammonites.\nIt will become a pile of ruins.\nIts villages will be burned.\nThen Israel will drive out those who drove them out,\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!\nCry out, you daughters of Rabbah!\nPut on sackcloth and mourn.\nRun here and there inside your walls.\nFor Milcom will be taken away as a captive,\nalong with his priests and officials."},{"verse":4,"text":"Why do you brag about your valleys,\nyour rich, fruitful valleys,\nyou unfaithful daughter?\nYou trust in your riches and say,\n'Who can attack me?'"},{"verse":5,"text":"Look, I am about to bring terror on you\nfrom all those around you,\nsays the Lord GOD of Hosts.\nEach of you will be chased away.\nNo one will gather those who run away."},{"verse":6,"text":"But later I will bring the Ammonites back from captivity,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says about Edom:\n\"Is there no more wisdom in Teman?\nHave wise people lost their good advice?\nHas their wisdom rotted away?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Turn and run!\nHide in deep places, you people of Dedan!\nFor I will bring disaster on Esau\nat the time I punish him."},{"verse":9,"text":"If grape pickers came to you,\nwouldn't they leave a few grapes behind?\nIf thieves came at night,\nwouldn't they steal only what they wanted?"},{"verse":10,"text":"But I will strip Esau bare.\nI will uncover his hiding places.\nHe will not be able to hide.\nHis children will be destroyed,\nand his relatives and neighbors too.\nHe will be gone."},{"verse":11,"text":"Leave your orphans behind.\nI will keep them alive.\nLet your widows trust in me.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"For this is what the LORD says: \"If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, how can you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished. You must drink it too."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have made a promise by my own name, says the LORD. Bozrah will become an empty ruin and a thing of shame. It will be a wasteland. People will use its name as a curse. All her towns will be ruins forever.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"I have heard a message from the LORD.\nA messenger has been sent to the nations to say,\n\"Gather together and march against her!\nGet up and go to battle!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"For look, I will make you small among the nations.\nPeople will look down on you."},{"verse":16,"text":"The terror you cause\nand the pride of your heart have fooled you.\nYou live in the cracks of the rocks.\nYou hold the tops of the mountains.\nYou build your nest high like the eagle.\nBut I will bring you down even from there,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Edom will become a thing of horror.\nAll who pass by will be shocked.\nThey will make fun of all her wounds."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, along with the towns near them,\" says the LORD. \"Just like them, no one will live there. No one will stay there."},{"verse":19,"text":"Look, someone will come up like a lion\nfrom the thick bushes by the Jordan\nto a rich, green pasture.\nIn a moment I will chase Edom from her land.\nWho is the chosen one I will put in charge of this?\nWho is like me? Who can challenge me?\nWhat shepherd can stand against me?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So hear the plans the LORD has made against Edom.\nHear what he plans against the people of Teman.\nSurely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away.\nSurely their pasture will be made empty because of them."},{"verse":21,"text":"When they fall, the earth will shake at the sound.\nTheir cry will be heard as far as the Red Sea."},{"verse":22,"text":"Look! An eagle will fly up and swoop down.\nIt will spread its wings over Bozrah.\nOn that day the hearts of Edom's strong men\nwill be like the heart of a woman giving birth."},{"verse":23,"text":"This is about Damascus:\n\"Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,\nfor they have heard bad news.\nThey are as restless as the sea.\nTheir worry cannot be calmed."},{"verse":24,"text":"Damascus has grown weak.\nShe has turned to run away.\nPanic has taken hold of her.\nPain and suffering have grabbed her\nlike a woman giving birth."},{"verse":25,"text":"Why has the city of praise not been left empty,\nthe town that gives me joy?"},{"verse":26,"text":"For her young men will fall in the streets.\nAll her soldiers will be silenced on that day,\"\nsays the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"I will set fire to the walls of Damascus.\nIt will burn up the forts of Ben-hadad.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"This is about Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated them. This is what the LORD says:\n\"Get up and attack Kedar!\nDestroy the people of the east!"},{"verse":29,"text":"They will take their tents and flocks,\ntheir tent curtains and all their goods.\nThey will take their camels for themselves.\nThey will shout to them, 'Terror is on every side!'"},{"verse":30,"text":"Run! Get away fast!\nHide in deep places, you people of Hazor,\" says the LORD.\n\"For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has made a plan against you.\nHe has thought up a way to attack you."},{"verse":31,"text":"Get up and attack a nation that feels at ease.\nIt lives without worry,\" says the LORD.\n\"They have no gates or bars.\nThey live all alone."},{"verse":32,"text":"Their camels will be stolen.\nTheir large herds will be taken.\nThey cut the hair at the sides of their heads.\nI will scatter them to the winds in every direction.\nI will bring disaster on them from every side,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":33,"text":"\"Hazor will become a home for wild dogs.\nIt will be an empty ruin forever.\nNo one will live there.\nNo one will stay there.\"","note":"Hebrew: jackals."},{"verse":34,"text":"The LORD gave this message to Jeremiah the prophet about Elam. It came at the start of the rule of Zedekiah king of Judah."},{"verse":35,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Look, I will break Elam's bow,\nthe main source of their strength."},{"verse":36,"text":"I will bring the four winds against Elam\nfrom the four corners of the sky.\nI will scatter them to all these winds.\nThere will be no nation\nwhere Elam's captives do not go."},{"verse":37,"text":"I will smash Elam in front of their enemies,\nin front of those who want to kill them.\nI will bring disaster on them,\nmy burning anger,\" says the LORD.\n\"I will send the sword after them\nuntil I have wiped them out."},{"verse":38,"text":"I will set my throne in Elam.\nI will destroy its king and officials,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":39,"text":"\"But in the last days\nI will bring Elam back from captivity,\" says the LORD."}]},{"chapter":50,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. It is about Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell the nations. Make it known.\nLift up a banner and announce it.\nHold nothing back. Say this:\n'Babylon is captured.\nBel is put to shame.\nMarduk is smashed.\nHer images are put to shame.\nHer idols are broken to pieces.'","note":"Bel and Marduk were names of the chief god of Babylon."},{"verse":3,"text":"A nation from the north will come against her.\nIt will make her land an empty ruin.\nNo one will live in it.\nBoth people and animals will run away.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"In those days, at that time,\" says the LORD,\n\"the people of Israel and the people of Judah will come together.\nThey will weep as they come.\nThey will look for the LORD their God."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will ask the way to Zion.\nThey will turn their faces toward it.\nThey will come and join themselves to the LORD.\nIt will be in a covenant that lasts forever.\nIt will never be forgotten."},{"verse":6,"text":"My people are lost sheep.\nTheir shepherds have led them the wrong way.\nThey made them roam on the mountains.\nThey have wandered from mountain to hill.\nThey have forgotten their own resting place."},{"verse":7,"text":"Everyone who found them ate them up.\nTheir enemies said, 'We are not guilty.\nThey have sinned against the LORD.\nHe is their true pasture.\nThe LORD was the hope of their fathers.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Run away from the middle of Babylon!\nLeave the land of the Chaldeans!\nBe like the male goats that lead the flock."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look! I will stir up a group of great nations.\nI will bring them from the land of the north against Babylon.\nThey will line up for battle against her.\nShe will be captured from the north.\nTheir arrows will be like skilled warriors.\nThey do not come back empty-handed."},{"verse":10,"text":"Chaldea will be robbed.\nAll who rob her will take all they want,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Because you are glad and you cheer,\nyou who robbed the people who belong to me,\nbecause you jump around like a young cow stomping grain\nand neigh like strong horses,"},{"verse":12,"text":"your mother will be very ashamed.\nThe one who gave birth to you will be put to shame.\nLook! She will be the least of the nations.\nShe will be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert."},{"verse":13,"text":"Because of the LORD's anger, no one will live in her.\nShe will be completely empty and ruined.\nAll who pass by Babylon will be shocked.\nThey will hiss at all her wounds."},{"verse":14,"text":"Line up for battle around Babylon,\nall of you who shoot the bow!\nShoot at her! Don't save any arrows!\nFor she has sinned against the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"Shout a battle cry against her on every side!\nShe has thrown up her hands and given up.\nHer towers have fallen.\nHer walls are torn down.\nThis is the LORD paying her back.\nSo pay her back yourselves!\nDo to her what she has done to others."},{"verse":16,"text":"Cut off the one who plants seed in Babylon.\nCut off the one who swings the sickle at harvest time.\nThe cruel enemy's sword is coming.\nSo each one will turn back to his own people.\nEach one will run to his own land."},{"verse":17,"text":"Israel is a flock of sheep scattered by lions.\nThe king of Assyria was the first to eat him up.\nThe last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:\n\"I will punish the king of Babylon and his land.\nI will punish them as I punished the king of Assyria."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will bring Israel back to his own pasture.\nHe will graze on Carmel and Bashan.\nHe will eat until he is full\non the hills of Ephraim and Gilead."},{"verse":20,"text":"In those days, at that time,\" says the LORD,\n\"people will search for Israel's guilt.\nBut there will be none.\nThey will search for Judah's sins.\nBut none will be found.\nFor I will forgive the few people I keep alive."},{"verse":21,"text":"Attack the land of Merathaim.\nAttack the people who live in Pekod.\nKill them and destroy them completely.\nDo all that I have told you,\"\nsays the LORD.","note":"Destroy them completely: Hebrew devote them to destruction, meaning given over to God by being totally destroyed."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"The noise of battle is in the land.\nIt is the noise of great ruin."},{"verse":23,"text":"The hammer of the whole earth\nlies broken and smashed!\nBabylon has become a horror among the nations!"},{"verse":24,"text":"I set a trap for you, Babylon.\nYou were caught before you knew it.\nYou were found and captured\nbecause you fought against the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD has opened the room where he keeps his weapons.\nHe has brought out the weapons of his anger.\nFor the Lord GOD of Hosts has work to do\nin the land of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":26,"text":"Come against her from the farthest edges.\nBreak open the buildings where she stores grain.\nPile her up like heaps of grain.\nDestroy her completely.\nLeave no one alive."},{"verse":27,"text":"Kill all her young bulls.\nLet them go down to be killed.\nHow terrible for them!\nTheir day has come.\nIt is the time for them to be punished."},{"verse":28,"text":"Listen to the people running away!\nThey have escaped from the land of Babylon.\nIn Zion they tell how the LORD our God is paying Babylon back.\nHe is paying her back for what she did to his temple."},{"verse":29,"text":"Call the archers to fight Babylon,\nall who string the bow.\nSet up camp all around her.\nLet no one escape.\nPay her back for what she has done.\nDo to her what she has done to others.\nFor she has been proud against the LORD,\nthe Holy One of Israel."},{"verse":30,"text":"So her young men will fall in the streets.\nAll her soldiers will be silenced on that day,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":31,"text":"\"Look! I am against you, you proud one,\"\nsays the Lord GOD of Hosts.\n\"Your day has come.\nIt is the time when I will punish you."},{"verse":32,"text":"The proud one will trip and fall.\nNo one will help him up.\nI will start a fire in his cities.\nIt will burn up everything around him.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"The people of Israel are being treated cruelly.\nSo are the people of Judah.\nAll who captured them hold on to them tightly.\nThey will not let them go."},{"verse":34,"text":"But the one who will rescue them is strong.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name.\nHe will strongly argue their case,\nso that he may bring rest to the earth.\nBut he will bring trouble to those who live in Babylon.","note":"The one who will rescue them: Hebrew Redeemer."},{"verse":35,"text":"A sword is against the Chaldeans,\" says the LORD.\n\"It is against those who live in Babylon.\nIt is against her leaders and wise men."},{"verse":36,"text":"A sword is against her false prophets.\nThey will become fools.\nA sword is against her soldiers.\nThey will be filled with terror."},{"verse":37,"text":"A sword is against her horses and chariots.\nIt is against all the foreigners living in her.\nThey will become weak like women.\nA sword is against her treasures.\nThey will be stolen."},{"verse":38,"text":"A drought is coming on her waters.\nThey will dry up.\nFor it is a land of carved idols.\nThe people go crazy over their idols."},{"verse":39,"text":"So desert animals and hyenas will live there.\nOstriches will make their home there.\nNo one will ever live there again.\nIt will stay empty for all time to come."},{"verse":40,"text":"God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah\nand the towns near them,\" says the LORD.\n\"In the same way, no one will live there.\nNo person will stay there."},{"verse":41,"text":"Look! An army is coming from the north.\nA great nation and many kings\nare being stirred up from the ends of the earth."},{"verse":42,"text":"They hold the bow and spear.\nThey are cruel and show no mercy.\nThey sound like the roaring sea.\nThey ride on horses.\nThey line up like soldiers ready for battle\nagainst you, Daughter of Babylon."},{"verse":43,"text":"The king of Babylon has heard the news about them.\nHis hands hang weak.\nGreat pain has gripped him,\npain like a woman giving birth."},{"verse":44,"text":"Look! Someone will come up like a lion\nfrom the thick bushes by the Jordan\nto the green pasture.\nFor in a moment I will chase Babylon from her land.\nWho is the chosen one I will pick for this?\nFor who is like me?\nWho can challenge me?\nWhat shepherd can stand against me?\""},{"verse":45,"text":"So hear the plans the LORD has made against Babylon.\nHear what he plans against the land of the Chaldeans.\nThe little ones of the flock will surely be dragged away.\nTheir pasture will surely be ruined because of them."},{"verse":46,"text":"At the sound of Babylon's capture the earth will shake.\nA cry will be heard among the nations."}]},{"chapter":51,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Look! I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer.\nIt will come against Babylon\nand against the people of Leb-kamai.","note":"Leb-kamai is a code name for Chaldea (Babylonia)."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will send strangers to Babylon.\nThey will scatter her like straw in the wind.\nThey will empty her land.\nThey will come against her from every side\non her day of disaster.","note":"Scatter her like straw: Hebrew winnow her."},{"verse":3,"text":"Do not let the archer bend his bow.\nDo not let him put on his armor.\nDo not spare her young men.\nDestroy her whole army completely!"},{"verse":4,"text":"They will fall dead in the land of the Chaldeans.\nThey will be stabbed through in her streets."},{"verse":5,"text":"For Israel and Judah have not been left alone by their God,\nthe LORD of Hosts.\nThis is true even though their land is full of guilt\nbefore the Holy One of Israel.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Run away from Babylon!\nRun for your lives!\nDon't be destroyed when she is punished.\nFor this is the time for the LORD to pay her back.\nHe will give her what she deserves."},{"verse":7,"text":"Babylon was a gold cup in the LORD's hand.\nShe made the whole earth drunk.\nThe nations drank her wine.\nSo the nations have gone crazy."},{"verse":8,"text":"All of a sudden Babylon has fallen and been smashed.\nCry loudly for her!\nGet healing ointment for her pain.\nMaybe she can be healed."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"We tried to heal Babylon.\nBut she could not be healed.\nLeave her!\nLet each of us go to his own land.\nFor her judgment reaches up to the sky.\nIt rises as high as the clouds.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"The LORD has shown that we were in the right.\nCome, let's tell in Zion\nwhat the LORD our God has done.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Sharpen the arrows!\nFill the bags of arrows!\nThe LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes,\nbecause his plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her.\nFor this is the LORD paying her back.\nHe is paying her back for what she did to his temple."},{"verse":12,"text":"Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon.\nMake the guard stronger.\nPut the watchmen in place.\nGet the surprise attack ready.\nFor the LORD has planned what he said against the people of Babylon.\nAnd he has done it."},{"verse":13,"text":"You live by many waters.\nYou are rich in treasures.\nBut your end has come.\nThe thread of your life is cut."},{"verse":14,"text":"The LORD of Hosts has made a promise by himself:\n\"I will surely fill you with soldiers,\nas many as a swarm of locusts.\nThey will shout in victory over you.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD made the earth by his power.\nHe set the world in place by his wisdom.\nHe stretched out the heavens by his understanding."},{"verse":16,"text":"When he thunders, the waters in the sky roar.\nHe makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth.\nHe makes lightning with the rain.\nHe brings out the wind from his storerooms."},{"verse":17,"text":"Every person is foolish and knows nothing.\nEvery goldsmith is put to shame by his idols.\nHis metal idols are fake.\nThere is no breath in them."},{"verse":18,"text":"They are worthless.\nThey are things to laugh at.\nWhen it is time to punish them, they will perish."},{"verse":19,"text":"The God who is Jacob's Portion is not like these.\nFor he is the Maker of all things,\nand of the tribe that belongs to him.\nThe LORD of Hosts is his name."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"You are my war club.\nYou are my weapon for battle.\nWith you I smash nations.\nWith you I destroy kingdoms."},{"verse":21,"text":"With you I smash the horse and its rider.\nWith you I smash the chariot and its driver."},{"verse":22,"text":"With you I smash man and woman.\nWith you I smash the old man and the boy.\nWith you I smash the young man and the young woman."},{"verse":23,"text":"With you I smash the shepherd and his flock.\nWith you I smash the farmer and his oxen.\nWith you I smash the governors and officials."},{"verse":24,"text":"You will watch as I pay back Babylon\nand all who live in Chaldea.\nI will pay them back for all the evil they did in Zion,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Look! I am against you, you destroying mountain.\nYou destroy the whole earth,\" says the LORD.\n\"I will reach out my hand against you.\nI will roll you off the cliffs.\nI will make you a burned-up mountain."},{"verse":26,"text":"No one will take a cornerstone from you.\nNo one will take a stone for a foundation,\nbecause you will be an empty ruin forever,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Raise a banner in the land!\nBlow the ram's horn among the nations!\nGet the nations ready to fight her.\nCall the kingdoms to come against her.\nCall Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.\nPut a commander in charge against her.\nBring up horses like a swarm of locusts."},{"verse":28,"text":"Get the nations ready for battle against her.\nGet the kings of the Medes ready,\nwith their governors and all their officials.\nGet all the lands they rule ready."},{"verse":29,"text":"The earth shakes and twists in pain,\nbecause the LORD's plans against Babylon will stand.\nHe plans to make the land of Babylon an empty ruin.\nNo one will live there."},{"verse":30,"text":"The soldiers of Babylon have stopped fighting.\nThey sit inside their forts.\nTheir strength is gone.\nThey have become weak like women.\nBabylon's homes have been set on fire.\nThe bars of her gates are broken."},{"verse":31,"text":"One runner races to meet another.\nOne messenger follows another.\nThey go to tell the king of Babylon\nthat his whole city has been captured."},{"verse":32,"text":"The river crossings have been taken.\nThe marshes have been set on fire.\nThe soldiers are terrified.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says:\n\"The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor\nat the time it is stomped down.\nIn just a little while her harvest time will come.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has eaten me up.\nHe has crushed me.\nHe has set me aside like an empty jar.\nHe has swallowed me like a monster.\nHe filled his belly with my best foods.\nThen he threw me up."},{"verse":35,"text":"May the violence done to me and to my body\nfall on Babylon,\"\nsays the one who lives in Zion.\n\"May my blood be on those who live in Chaldea,\"\nsays Jerusalem."},{"verse":36,"text":"So this is what the LORD says:\n\"Look! I will argue your case.\nI will pay them back for you.\nI will dry up her sea.\nI will make her springs run dry."},{"verse":37,"text":"Babylon will become a pile of broken stones.\nJackals will live there.\nPeople will be shocked and will make fun of her.\nNo one will live there."},{"verse":38,"text":"Her people will roar together like young lions.\nThey will growl like lion cubs."},{"verse":39,"text":"While they are burning hot, I will serve them a feast.\nI will make them drunk so they will party.\nThen they will fall asleep forever.\nThey will never wake up,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":40,"text":"\"I will bring them down to be killed like lambs,\nlike rams and male goats."},{"verse":41,"text":"Sheshach has been captured!\nThe city praised by the whole earth has been taken!\nBabylon has become a horror among the nations!","note":"Sheshach is a code name for Babylon."},{"verse":42,"text":"The sea has risen over Babylon.\nShe is covered by its wild waves."},{"verse":43,"text":"Her towns have become empty ruins.\nThey are a dry desert land.\nIt is a land where no one lives.\nNo human being travels through it."},{"verse":44,"text":"I will punish Bel in Babylon.\nI will make him spit out what he swallowed.\nThe nations will no longer stream to him.\nEven the wall of Babylon will fall."},{"verse":45,"text":"Come out of her, my people!\nEach of you, run for your lives!\nGet away from the LORD's fierce anger."},{"verse":46,"text":"Don't lose heart.\nDon't be afraid when you hear rumors in the land.\nOne rumor will come one year.\nThen another will come the next year.\nThere will be rumors of violence in the land.\nThere will be rumors of ruler fighting ruler."},{"verse":47,"text":"So look! The days are coming\nwhen I will punish the idols of Babylon.\nHer whole land will be put to shame.\nAll her dead will lie fallen inside her."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then heaven and earth and all that is in them\nwill shout for joy over Babylon,\nbecause the destroyers from the north will come against her,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":49,"text":"\"Babylon must fall because of Israel's dead,\njust as people all over the earth have fallen dead because of Babylon."},{"verse":50,"text":"You who have escaped the sword,\nleave and don't wait around!\nRemember the LORD in that faraway land.\nThink about Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"\"We are ashamed,\nbecause we have heard people insult us.\nShame covers our faces,\nbecause foreigners have gone into the holy places of the LORD's house.\""},{"verse":52,"text":"\"So look! The days are coming,\" says the LORD,\n\"when I will punish her idols.\nAll through her land the wounded will groan."},{"verse":53,"text":"Babylon may climb up to the heavens.\nShe may make her high fort strong.\nBut I will still send destroyers against her,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":54,"text":"\"Listen! A cry comes from Babylon.\nThe sound of great ruin comes from the land of the Chaldeans!"},{"verse":55,"text":"For the LORD will destroy Babylon.\nHe will silence her loud noise.\nThe waves will roar like great waters.\nThe roar of their voices will ring out."},{"verse":56,"text":"For a destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon.\nHer soldiers will be captured.\nTheir bows will be broken.\nFor the LORD is a God who pays people back.\nHe will pay back in full."},{"verse":57,"text":"I will make her princes and wise men drunk.\nI will make her governors, officials, and soldiers drunk too.\nThen they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,\"\nsays the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":58,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"Babylon's thick walls will be knocked flat.\nHer high gates will be burned up.\nSo the people will work for nothing.\nThe nations will wear themselves out\njust to feed the flames.\""},{"verse":59,"text":"Jeremiah the prophet gave this message to Seraiah. Seraiah was the officer in charge of supplies. He was the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah. Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was in the fourth year that Zedekiah was king."},{"verse":60,"text":"Jeremiah had written on one scroll about all the disaster that would come on Babylon. He wrote all these words that are written about Babylon."},{"verse":61,"text":"Jeremiah said to Seraiah, \"When you get to Babylon, be sure to read all these words out loud."},{"verse":62,"text":"Then say, 'LORD, you have promised to destroy this place. You said no one will be left here, not people or animals. It will be an empty ruin forever.'"},{"verse":63,"text":"When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it. Then throw it into the Euphrates River."},{"verse":64,"text":"Then say, 'In the same way Babylon will sink. She will never rise again, because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will grow tired.'\" This is the end of Jeremiah's words."}]},{"chapter":52,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Zedekiah was 21 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years. His mother's name was Hamutal. She was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah."},{"verse":2,"text":"Zedekiah did what was evil in the LORD's eyes, just as Jehoiakim had done."},{"verse":3,"text":"All this happened in Jerusalem and Judah because the LORD was angry. In the end he sent them away from his presence. And Zedekiah also turned against the king of Babylon."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. It was the ninth year that Zedekiah was king, on the tenth day of the tenth month. They set up camp outside the city. They built a siege wall all around it."},{"verse":5,"text":"The city was kept under attack until the eleventh year King Zedekiah ruled."},{"verse":6,"text":"By the ninth day of the fourth month, the hunger in the city was very bad. The people had no food left."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the enemy broke through the city wall. The Chaldeans were all around the city. But all the soldiers ran away from the city at night. They went out through the gate between the two walls near the king's garden. They headed toward the Arabah."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the Chaldean army chased the king. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains near Jericho. All his soldiers left him and ran."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Chaldeans grabbed the king. They brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon decided what to do to Zedekiah."},{"verse":10,"text":"There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah's sons while Zedekiah watched. He also killed all the officials of Judah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes. He tied him up with bronze chains and took him to Babylon. He kept him in prison there until the day he died."},{"verse":12,"text":"Nebuzaradan came to Jerusalem on the tenth day of the fifth month. It was the nineteenth year that Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon. Nebuzaradan was the captain of the guard. He served the king of Babylon."},{"verse":13,"text":"He burned down the LORD's house and the king's palace. He burned all the houses of Jerusalem. He burned every important building."},{"verse":14,"text":"The whole Chaldean army was under the captain of the guard. They broke down all the walls around Jerusalem."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took some people away as captives. He took some of the poorest people and those who were left in the city. He took the people who had gone over to the side of the king of Babylon. He also took the rest of the skilled workers."},{"verse":16,"text":"But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land. They stayed to take care of the vineyards and fields."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars in the LORD's house. They also broke up the stands and the huge bronze bowl called the Sea. They carried all the bronze to Babylon."},{"verse":18,"text":"They also took the pots, shovels, and wick cutters. They took the sprinkling bowls and dishes. They took all the bronze things used for the work in the temple."},{"verse":19,"text":"The captain of the guard also took away the basins and incense pans. He took the sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and bowls for drink offerings. He took everything made of pure gold or fine silver."},{"verse":20,"text":"King Solomon had made two pillars, the Sea, and the twelve bronze bulls under it. He had also made the stands that could be moved. He made them for the LORD's house. There was too much bronze in all these things to weigh."},{"verse":21,"text":"Each pillar was 27 feet tall. It was 18 feet around. Each was hollow, and its metal was about 3 inches thick.","note":"Hebrew 18 cubits tall and 12 cubits around; four fingers thick."},{"verse":22,"text":"The bronze top on one pillar was 7 and a half feet high. It had a net of bronze pomegranates all around it. The second pillar and its pomegranates were the same.","note":"Hebrew 5 cubits."},{"verse":23,"text":"Each top had 96 pomegranates on the sides. In all there were 100 pomegranates above the net that went around it."},{"verse":24,"text":"The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest. He took Zephaniah, the priest who was second in rank. He took the three gatekeepers too."},{"verse":25,"text":"He took some people who were still in the city. He took an officer who was in charge of the soldiers. He took seven trusted men who gave advice to the king. He also took the army commander's secretary, who signed up the people of the land for the army. And he took 60 men who were found in the city."},{"verse":26,"text":"Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them. He brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah."},{"verse":27,"text":"There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them struck down and killed. So Judah was taken away as captives from its own land."},{"verse":28,"text":"These are the people Nebuchadnezzar took away as captives. In the seventh year he took 3,023 Jews."},{"verse":29,"text":"In Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year he took 832 people from Jerusalem."},{"verse":30,"text":"In Nebuchadnezzar's twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took away 745 Jews. In all, 4,600 people were taken away."},{"verse":31,"text":"Jehoiachin king of Judah had been a captive for 37 years. In that year, Evil-merodach became king of Babylon. On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he pardoned Jehoiachin king of Judah. He let him out of prison."},{"verse":32,"text":"He spoke kindly to Jehoiachin. He gave him a seat of honor higher than the other kings who were with him in Babylon."},{"verse":33,"text":"So Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes. For the rest of his life he ate meals at the king's table."},{"verse":34,"text":"The king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a set amount of food each day. He did this for the rest of his life, until the day he died."}]}]},{"name":"Lamentations","slug":"lamentations","usfm":"LAM","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How lonely the city sits,\nonce so full of people!\nShe was great among the nations.\nNow she has become like a widow.\nShe was a princess among the lands.\nNow she has become a slave."},{"verse":2,"text":"She cries hard in the night.\nTears are on her cheeks.\nOf all her lovers, no one comforts her.\nAll her friends have turned on her.\nThey have become her enemies."},{"verse":3,"text":"Judah has been taken away as a captive.\nShe suffers under hard slavery.\nShe lives among the nations,\nbut she finds no place to rest.\nAll who chased her have caught her\nin the middle of her trouble."},{"verse":4,"text":"The roads to Zion are sad,\nbecause no one comes to her set feasts.\nAll her gates are empty.\nHer priests groan.\nHer young women are full of sorrow.\nAnd she herself is bitter with pain."},{"verse":5,"text":"Her enemies have become her masters.\nThey are doing well.\nThe LORD has made her suffer\nbecause of her many sins.\nHer children have been taken away.\nThe enemy drove them out as captives."},{"verse":6,"text":"All the beauty has left the Daughter of Zion.\nHer princes are like deer that find no pasture.\nThey are too weak to run\nfrom the hunter."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jerusalem is suffering and wandering.\nIn these days she remembers all the treasures\nthat were hers long ago.\nWhen her people fell into enemy hands,\nno one helped her.\nHer enemies looked at her.\nThey laughed at her fall."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jerusalem has sinned greatly.\nSo she has become something people scorn.\nAll who honored her now hate her,\nbecause they have seen her naked.\nShe herself groans and turns away."},{"verse":9,"text":"Her uncleanness stains her skirts.\nShe did not think about where her life was going.\nHer fall was shocking.\nNo one was there to comfort her.\nLook, LORD, at how I suffer!\nThe enemy has won!"},{"verse":10,"text":"The enemy has taken all her treasures.\nShe has seen the nations go into her holy place.\nYou had told them not to come into your assembly."},{"verse":11,"text":"All her people groan as they look for bread.\nThey have traded their treasures for food\nto stay alive.\nLook, LORD, and see!\nPeople look down on me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Does this mean nothing to you,\nall you who pass by?\nLook around and see!\nIs there any sorrow like mine?\nThe LORD made me suffer this\non the day of his fierce anger."},{"verse":13,"text":"He sent fire from above.\nIt took over my bones.\nHe spread a net for my feet.\nHe turned me back.\nHe left me ruined\nand weak all day long."},{"verse":14,"text":"My sins have been tied into a yoke.\nHis hand has woven them together.\nThey hang on my neck.\nThe Lord has taken away my strength.\nHe has handed me over to people\nI cannot stand against."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Lord has thrown aside all the strong men among me.\nHe has called an army against me\nto crush my young soldiers.\nThe Lord has stomped on the Virgin Daughter of Judah\nlike grapes in a winepress."},{"verse":16,"text":"That is why I weep.\nTears flow from my eyes.\nFor no one is near to comfort me.\nNo one is here to give me new life.\nMy children have nothing left,\nbecause the enemy has won."},{"verse":17,"text":"Zion reaches out her hands,\nbut no one comforts her.\nThe LORD has ordered\nthat Jacob's neighbors become his enemies.\nJerusalem has become an unclean thing among them."},{"verse":18,"text":"The LORD is righteous.\nBut I turned against his command.\nListen, all you people.\nLook at how I suffer.\nMy young men and young women\nhave been taken away as captives."},{"verse":19,"text":"I called out to my lovers,\nbut they turned on me.\nMy priests and leaders died in the city.\nThey died while looking for food\nto stay alive."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look, LORD, at how upset I am!\nI am all stirred up inside.\nMy heart is pounding in me,\nbecause I have turned against you so much.\nOutside, the sword kills my children.\nInside, there is death."},{"verse":21,"text":"People have heard me groan.\nBut no one comforts me.\nAll my enemies have heard about my trouble.\nThey are glad you have done it.\nBring the day you promised,\nso they will become like me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Let all their evil come before you.\nDeal with them as you have dealt with me\nbecause of all my sins.\nFor I groan so much,\nand my heart is weak."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion\nwith the cloud of his anger!\nHe has thrown down the glory of Israel\nfrom heaven to earth.\nIn the day of his anger\nhe has left the place where he rests his feet.","note":"The place where he rests his feet: Hebrew his footstool, likely the temple or the ark."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Lord has swallowed up all of Jacob's homes.\nHe showed no pity.\nIn his anger he has torn down\nthe strong cities of the Daughter of Judah.\nHe brought her kingdom and its princes to the ground.\nHe made them unclean."},{"verse":3,"text":"In fierce anger he has cut off\nall of Israel's strength.\nHe pulled back his right hand\nwhen the enemy came near.\nHe has burned in Jacob like a blazing fire\nthat burns up everything around it.","note":"All of Israel's strength: Hebrew every horn of Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"He has bent his bow like an enemy.\nHis right hand is ready.\nLike an enemy he has killed\nall who were pleasing to look at.\nHe has poured out his anger like fire\non the tent of the Daughter of Zion."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Lord is like an enemy.\nHe has swallowed up Israel.\nHe has swallowed up all her palaces.\nHe has destroyed her forts.\nHe has made the Daughter of Judah\nmourn and cry more and more."},{"verse":6,"text":"He has torn down his own tent like a shelter in a garden.\nHe has destroyed the place where people met with him.\nThe LORD has made Zion forget\nher set feasts and Sabbaths.\nIn his fierce anger he has looked with scorn\non both king and priest."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Lord has rejected his altar.\nHe has left his holy place.\nHe has handed the walls of her palaces\nover to the enemy.\nThey have shouted in the LORD's house\nas if it were a feast day."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD made up his mind\nto destroy the wall of the Daughter of Zion.\nHe stretched out a measuring line.\nHe did not stop his hand from destroying.\nHe made the towers and walls cry out in sorrow.\nTogether they waste away."},{"verse":9,"text":"Her gates have sunk into the ground.\nHe has smashed and broken their bars.\nHer king and her princes are captives among the nations.\nThe law is gone.\nEven her prophets get no vision from the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"The leaders of the Daughter of Zion\nsit on the ground in silence.\nThey have thrown dust on their heads.\nThey have put on sackcloth.\nThe young women of Jerusalem\nhave bowed their heads to the ground."},{"verse":11,"text":"My eyes are worn out from crying.\nI am all stirred up inside.\nMy heart is poured out in sorrow,\nbecause my people have been destroyed.\nChildren and babies faint\nin the streets of the city."},{"verse":12,"text":"They cry to their mothers,\n\"Where is the grain and wine?\"\nThey faint in the city streets\nlike people who are wounded.\nTheir lives slip away\nin their mothers' arms."},{"verse":13,"text":"What can I say to you?\nWhat can I compare you to,\nDaughter of Jerusalem?\nWhat are you like, so I can comfort you,\nVirgin Daughter of Zion?\nYour wound is as deep as the sea.\nWho can ever heal you?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Your prophets saw visions that were empty and false.\nThey did not show you your guilt.\nIf they had, you might not have been taken captive.\nThe messages they gave you\nwere empty and led you the wrong way."},{"verse":15,"text":"All who pass by clap their hands at you to mock you.\nThey hiss and shake their heads\nat the Daughter of Jerusalem.\n\"Is this the city people called perfect in beauty?\nIs this the joy of the whole earth?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"All your enemies open their mouths against you.\nThey hiss and grind their teeth.\nThey say, \"We have swallowed her up.\nThis is the day we waited for.\nWe have lived to see it!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD has done what he planned.\nHe has carried out what he said.\nHe ordered it long ago.\nHe has torn you down without pity.\nHe has let the enemy laugh at you.\nHe has made your enemies strong.","note":"Made your enemies strong: Hebrew raised up the horn of your foes."},{"verse":18,"text":"The people's hearts cry out to the Lord.\nWall of the Daughter of Zion,\nlet your tears run down like a river\nday and night.\nGive yourself no break.\nGive your eyes no rest."},{"verse":19,"text":"Get up and cry out in the night,\nwhen the night watches begin.\nPour out your heart like water\nbefore the Lord.\nLift up your hands to him.\nPray for the lives of your children.\nThey are fainting from hunger\nat the corner of every street."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look, LORD, and think about it!\nWho have you ever treated like this?\nShould women eat their own children,\nthe babies they have cared for?\nShould priests and prophets be killed\nin the Lord's holy place?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Young and old lie together\nin the dust of the streets.\nMy young men and young women\nhave been killed by the sword.\nYou killed them on the day of your anger.\nYou killed them without pity."},{"verse":22,"text":"You called terrors against me from every side,\nas if calling people to a feast day.\nOn the day of the LORD's anger,\nno one escaped or lived.\nMy enemy has destroyed\nthe children I cared for and raised."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I am the man who has seen suffering.\nGod has struck me with the rod of his anger."},{"verse":2,"text":"He has driven me away.\nHe has made me walk in darkness, not light."},{"verse":3,"text":"Yes, he turns his hand against me\nagain and again, all day long."},{"verse":4,"text":"He has worn away my flesh and skin.\nHe has broken my bones."},{"verse":5,"text":"He has attacked me and closed me in.\nHe has surrounded me with bitterness and hard times."},{"verse":6,"text":"He has made me live in darkness\nlike those who died long ago."},{"verse":7,"text":"He has built a wall around me so I can't escape.\nHe has weighed me down with chains."},{"verse":8,"text":"Even when I cry out and beg for help,\nhe shuts out my prayer."},{"verse":9,"text":"He has blocked my way with cut stones.\nHe has made my paths crooked."},{"verse":10,"text":"He is like a bear waiting to attack,\nlike a lion hiding to pounce."},{"verse":11,"text":"He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces.\nHe left me with no help."},{"verse":12,"text":"He bent his bow.\nHe made me the target for his arrow."},{"verse":13,"text":"He shot his arrows\ndeep into my insides.","note":"Hebrew my kidneys."},{"verse":14,"text":"All my people laugh at me.\nThey make fun of me in songs all day long."},{"verse":15,"text":"He has filled me with bitter things.\nHe has made me drunk on wormwood.","note":"Wormwood is a very bitter plant."},{"verse":16,"text":"He has broken my teeth with gravel.\nHe has stomped me into the dust."},{"verse":17,"text":"My soul has no peace.\nI have forgotten what good times are."},{"verse":18,"text":"So I say, \"My strength has perished.\nSo has my hope from the LORD.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Remember how I suffer and wander.\nRemember the wormwood and the bitter gall."},{"verse":20,"text":"My soul surely remembers.\nIt sinks down inside me."},{"verse":21,"text":"But I bring this to mind,\nand so I have hope:"},{"verse":22,"text":"Because of the LORD's faithful love,\nwe are not destroyed.\nFor his mercies never fail."},{"verse":23,"text":"They are new every morning.\nGreat is your faithfulness!"},{"verse":24,"text":"My soul says, \"The LORD is all I have.\nSo I will hope in him.\"","note":"All I have: Hebrew my portion."},{"verse":25,"text":"The LORD is good to those who wait for him.\nHe is good to the one who looks for him."},{"verse":26,"text":"It is good to wait quietly\nfor the LORD to save."},{"verse":27,"text":"It is good for a man to carry the yoke\nwhile he is still young."},{"verse":28,"text":"Let him sit alone and be quiet,\nfor the LORD has put it on him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Let him put his face in the dust.\nMaybe there is still hope."},{"verse":30,"text":"Let him turn his cheek to the one who would hit him.\nLet him be filled with shame."},{"verse":31,"text":"For the Lord will not reject us forever."},{"verse":32,"text":"He may bring sorrow.\nBut he will show kindness,\nbecause his faithful love is so great."},{"verse":33,"text":"For he does not gladly make people suffer\nor bring them sorrow."},{"verse":34,"text":"To crush under your feet\nall the prisoners of the land,"},{"verse":35,"text":"to keep a man from getting justice\nbefore the Most High,"},{"verse":36,"text":"to twist the truth in a man's court case,\nthe Lord does not approve of these."},{"verse":37,"text":"Who can speak and make something happen\nunless the Lord has ordered it?"},{"verse":38,"text":"Don't both trouble and good things\ncome from the mouth of the Most High?"},{"verse":39,"text":"Why should any living person complain\nwhen he is punished for his sins?"},{"verse":40,"text":"Let us look closely at our ways and test them.\nLet us turn back to the LORD."},{"verse":41,"text":"Let us lift up our hearts and our hands\nto God in heaven:"},{"verse":42,"text":"\"We have sinned and turned against you.\nAnd you have not forgiven.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"You have covered yourself with anger and chased us.\nYou have killed without pity."},{"verse":44,"text":"You have covered yourself with a cloud\nso no prayer can get through."},{"verse":45,"text":"You have made us trash and garbage\namong the nations."},{"verse":46,"text":"All our enemies\nopen their mouths against us."},{"verse":47,"text":"Fear and traps have come on us.\nWe face ruin and destruction."},{"verse":48,"text":"Streams of tears flow from my eyes,\nbecause my people have been destroyed."},{"verse":49,"text":"My eyes will keep pouring out tears.\nThey will not stop"},{"verse":50,"text":"until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees."},{"verse":51,"text":"What I see makes my soul sad\nbecause of all the women of my city."},{"verse":52,"text":"My enemies hunted me like a bird.\nThey had no reason to do it."},{"verse":53,"text":"They threw me alive into a pit.\nThey threw stones on me."},{"verse":54,"text":"Water flowed over my head.\nI thought I was going to die."},{"verse":55,"text":"I called on your name, LORD,\nfrom the bottom of the pit."},{"verse":56,"text":"You heard me beg,\n\"Don't close your ears to my cry for help.\""},{"verse":57,"text":"You came near when I called to you.\nYou said, \"Do not be afraid.\""},{"verse":58,"text":"Lord, you stand up for me.\nYou redeem my life."},{"verse":59,"text":"LORD, you have seen the wrong done to me.\nShow that I am in the right!"},{"verse":60,"text":"You have seen how much they hate me.\nYou have seen all their plans against me."},{"verse":61,"text":"LORD, you have heard their insults.\nYou have heard all their plans against me."},{"verse":62,"text":"My attackers whisper and tell lies about me\nall day long."},{"verse":63,"text":"Look at them! When they sit and when they stand,\nthey make fun of me in their songs."},{"verse":64,"text":"You will pay them back what they deserve, LORD.\nYou will pay them back for what their hands have done."},{"verse":65,"text":"Cover their hearts with a veil of pain.\nMay your curse be on them!"},{"verse":66,"text":"You will chase them in your anger, LORD.\nYou will wipe them out from under your heavens."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The gold has lost its shine!\nThe pure gold has turned dull!\nThe stones of the temple lie scattered\nat the corner of every street."},{"verse":2,"text":"The dear sons of Zion\nwere once worth their weight in pure gold.\nNow they are treated like clay jars,\nthe work of a potter's hands!"},{"verse":3,"text":"Even jackals give milk\nto feed their young.\nBut my people have become cruel,\nlike ostriches in the wilderness."},{"verse":4,"text":"The nursing baby is so thirsty\nthat his tongue sticks to the roof of his mouth.\nLittle children beg for bread,\nbut no one gives them any."},{"verse":5,"text":"Those who once ate fine foods\nnow have nothing in the streets.\nThose who grew up wearing rich red clothes\nnow lie in piles of ashes."},{"verse":6,"text":"The punishment of my people\nis greater than the punishment of Sodom.\nSodom was destroyed in a moment.\nNo hand was lifted to help her."},{"verse":7,"text":"Her princes were brighter than snow.\nThey were whiter than milk.\nTheir bodies were redder than rubies.\nThey looked like sapphires."},{"verse":8,"text":"But now they look blacker than soot.\nNo one knows them in the streets.\nTheir skin has shriveled on their bones.\nIt has become as dry as a stick."},{"verse":9,"text":"Those killed by the sword are better off\nthan those who die of hunger.\nThe hungry waste away in pain\nbecause the fields grow no food."},{"verse":10,"text":"Women who were once kind\nhave cooked their own children with their hands.\nThe children became their food\nwhen my people were destroyed."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD has used up all his anger.\nHe has poured out his fierce anger.\nHe has started a fire in Zion.\nIt has burned up her foundations."},{"verse":12,"text":"The kings of the earth did not believe it.\nNo one in the world believed it.\nThey did not think an enemy could ever\ncome in through the gates of Jerusalem."},{"verse":13,"text":"But it happened because of the sins of her prophets.\nIt happened because of the guilt of her priests.\nThey spilled the blood of people who did what was right in the city."},{"verse":14,"text":"Now they wander through the streets like blind men.\nThey are so stained with blood\nthat no one dares to touch their clothes."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Go away! You are unclean!\" people shouted at them.\n\"Go away! Go away! Don't touch us!\"\nSo they ran away and wandered.\nAmong the nations people said,\n\"They can't stay here anymore.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD himself has scattered them.\nHe no longer watches over them.\nThe priests are not honored.\nThe leaders are shown no kindness."},{"verse":17,"text":"All this time our eyes grew tired\nlooking for help that never came.\nFrom our towers we watched for a nation\nthat could not save us."},{"verse":18,"text":"Our enemies followed every step we took.\nWe could not walk in our own streets.\nOur end was near.\nOur time was up.\nOur end had come!"},{"verse":19,"text":"Those who chased us\nwere faster than eagles in the sky.\nThey chased us over the mountains.\nThey hid and waited for us in the wilderness."},{"verse":20,"text":"The LORD's chosen king was caught in their pits.\nHe was the very breath of our life.\nWe had said about him,\n\"We will live under his shadow among the nations.\"","note":"Chosen king: Hebrew anointed."},{"verse":21,"text":"So be happy and glad, Daughter of Edom,\nyou who live in the land of Uz.\nBut the cup will be passed to you too.\nYou will get drunk and strip yourself naked."},{"verse":22,"text":"Daughter of Zion, your punishment is over.\nHe will not keep you in exile any longer.\nBut, Daughter of Edom, he will punish your sin.\nHe will uncover your sins."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Remember, LORD, what has happened to us.\nLook and see our shame!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Our land has been handed over to strangers.\nOur houses have been given to foreigners.","note":"Our land: Hebrew our inheritance."},{"verse":3,"text":"We have become orphans with no fathers.\nOur mothers are widows."},{"verse":4,"text":"We have to pay for the water we drink.\nWe have to buy our wood."},{"verse":5,"text":"Our enemies are close behind us.\nWe are tired and can find no rest."},{"verse":6,"text":"We gave ourselves to Egypt and Assyria\nto get enough bread."},{"verse":7,"text":"Our fathers sinned, and they are gone.\nBut we carry their punishment."},{"verse":8,"text":"Slaves rule over us.\nNo one can save us from their hands."},{"verse":9,"text":"We risk our lives to get our bread,\nbecause of the sword in the wilderness."},{"verse":10,"text":"Our skin is as hot as an oven.\nWe burn with fever from hunger."},{"verse":11,"text":"Women have been raped in Zion.\nYoung girls have been raped in the towns of Judah."},{"verse":12,"text":"Princes have been hung up by their hands.\nThe leaders are not respected."},{"verse":13,"text":"Young men are forced to grind grain at millstones.\nBoys stumble under loads of wood."},{"verse":14,"text":"The leaders no longer sit at the city gate.\nThe young men have stopped their music."},{"verse":15,"text":"Joy has left our hearts.\nOur dancing has turned to sadness."},{"verse":16,"text":"The crown has fallen from our head.\nHow terrible for us, because we have sinned!"},{"verse":17,"text":"Because of this our hearts are weak.\nBecause of these things our eyes grow dim,"},{"verse":18,"text":"because Mount Zion lies empty,\nand foxes prowl over it."},{"verse":19,"text":"But you, LORD, rule forever.\nYour throne lasts from one generation to the next."},{"verse":20,"text":"Why have you forgotten us forever?\nWhy have you forsaken us for so long?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Bring us back to yourself, LORD,\nso we may return.\nMake our days new like they were long ago,"},{"verse":22,"text":"unless you have completely rejected us\nand are angry with us beyond measure."}]}]},{"name":"Ezekiel","slug":"ezekiel","usfm":"EZK","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month. I was living among the exiles by the River Kebar. Then the heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.","note":"\"The thirtieth year\" may mean Ezekiel's age."},{"verse":2,"text":"This was on the fifth day of the month. It was the fifth year since King Jehoiachin was taken into exile."},{"verse":3,"text":"On that day the word of the LORD came straight to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi. He was in the land of the Chaldeans, by the River Kebar. There the hand of the LORD was on him."},{"verse":4,"text":"I looked and saw a windstorm coming from the north. There was a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth. Bright light shone all around it. In the middle of the fire was something that glowed like amber."},{"verse":5,"text":"Inside it I saw what looked like four living creatures. This is what they looked like. They had a human shape,"},{"verse":6,"text":"but each one had four faces and four wings."},{"verse":7,"text":"Their legs were straight. The bottoms of their feet were like a calf's hooves. They shone like polished bronze."},{"verse":8,"text":"Under their wings, on all four sides, they had human hands. All four living creatures had faces and wings,"},{"verse":9,"text":"and their wings touched one another. They did not turn when they moved. Each one went straight ahead."},{"verse":10,"text":"Their faces looked like this. Each had the face of a man. Each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side and the face of an ox on the left side. Each also had the face of an eagle."},{"verse":11,"text":"That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread out upward. Each one had two wings that touched the wings of the creature on each side. And each had two wings that covered its body."},{"verse":12,"text":"Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go. They did not turn as they moved."},{"verse":13,"text":"In the middle of the living creatures was something like burning coals of fire, or like torches. Fire moved back and forth between the creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning flashed out of it."},{"verse":14,"text":"The creatures darted back and forth as fast as flashes of lightning."},{"verse":15,"text":"As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground. There was one wheel beside each creature with its four faces."},{"verse":16,"text":"This is how the wheels were made. They shone like beryl, a sparkling stone. All four looked the same. Each one was made like a wheel inside a wheel."},{"verse":17,"text":"When they moved, they could go in any of the four directions. They did not have to turn as they moved."},{"verse":18,"text":"Their rims were tall and fearsome. All four rims were full of eyes all the way around."},{"verse":19,"text":"When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the creatures rose up from the ground, the wheels rose too."},{"verse":20,"text":"Wherever the spirit would go, they would go. And the wheels would rise along with them. This was because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels."},{"verse":21,"text":"When the creatures moved, the wheels moved. When the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still. When the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose with them. This was because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels."},{"verse":22,"text":"Above the heads of the living creatures was something like a wide, spread-out dome. It was fearsome, and it shone like crystal."},{"verse":23,"text":"Under the dome, their wings stretched out toward one another. Each one also had two wings covering its body."},{"verse":24,"text":"When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings. It was like the roar of rushing waters. It was like the voice of the Almighty. It was like the noise of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then a voice came from above the dome over their heads, as they stood still with their wings lowered."},{"verse":26,"text":"Above the dome over their heads was something like a throne. It looked like sapphire. High above, on the throne, was a figure who looked like a man."},{"verse":27,"text":"From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a glow like amber. It looked like fire was inside it all around. From what seemed to be his waist down, I saw what looked like fire. Bright light was all around him."},{"verse":28,"text":"The bright light around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. This was what the glory of the LORD looked like. When I saw it, I fell with my face to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, stand up on your feet, and I will speak to you.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"As he spoke to me, the Spirit came into me and stood me on my feet. Then I heard him speaking to me."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites. They are a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their fathers have rebelled against me to this very day."},{"verse":4,"text":"They are stubborn and hard-hearted children. I am sending you to them. You are to say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"They may listen, or they may refuse to listen, for they are a rebellious house. Either way, they will know that a prophet has been among them."},{"verse":6,"text":"But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or of what they say. Do not be afraid, even though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not fear their words or be terrified when they look at you, even though they are a rebellious house."},{"verse":7,"text":"You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen. For they are rebellious."},{"verse":8,"text":"But you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. In the hand was a scroll."},{"verse":10,"text":"He unrolled it in front of me. Words were written on the front and the back. They were words of sad songs, mourning, and sorrow."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll. Then go and speak to the house of Israel.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, eat this scroll I'm giving you. Fill your stomach with it.\" So I ate it. In my mouth it tasted as sweet as honey."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Son of man, go now to the house of Israel. Speak my words to them."},{"verse":5,"text":"For I am not sending you to a people whose speech is strange and whose language is hard. I am sending you to the house of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am not sending you to many peoples with strange speech and hard languages, whose words you cannot understand. If I had sent you to them, they surely would have listened to you."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, because they are not willing to listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is stubborn and hard-hearted."},{"verse":8,"text":"Look, I will make your face as hard as their faces. I will make your forehead as hard as their foreheads."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them. Do not be terrified when they look at you, even though they are a rebellious house.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"He also said, \"Son of man, listen closely to all the words I speak to you. Take them to heart."},{"verse":11,"text":"Go to your people, the exiles. Speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.' Do this whether they listen or refuse to listen.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the Spirit lifted me up. Behind me I heard a loud rumbling sound: \"Praise the glory of the LORD in the place where he lives!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"It was the sound of the living creatures' wings brushing against each other. It was also the sound of the wheels beside them. It was a loud rumbling sound."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went feeling bitter, and my spirit was angry. The hand of the LORD was strong on me."},{"verse":15,"text":"I came to the exiles who lived at Tel-abib, by the River Kebar. I sat where they sat. I stayed there among them for seven days, stunned and overwhelmed."},{"verse":16,"text":"At the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, warn them for me."},{"verse":18,"text":"Suppose I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die.' But you do not warn him. You do not speak out to warn him to leave his wicked ways and save his life. Then that wicked man will die in his sin. But I will hold you responsible for his blood."},{"verse":19,"text":"But suppose you warn a wicked man, and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked ways. Then he will die in his sin. But you will have saved yourself."},{"verse":20,"text":"Now suppose a righteous man turns away from doing what is right and does wrong. And I put something in his path that makes him fall. Then he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin. The right things he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood."},{"verse":21,"text":"But suppose you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin. Then he will surely live, because he listened to your warning. And you will have saved yourself.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The hand of the LORD was on me there. He said to me, \"Get up and go out to the plain. I will speak with you there.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So I got up and went out to the plain. And there was the glory of the LORD! It was like the glory I had seen by the River Kebar. I fell with my face to the ground."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the Spirit came into me and stood me on my feet. He spoke with me and said, \"Go and shut yourself inside your house."},{"verse":25,"text":"And you, son of man, they will tie you up with ropes. You will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth. You will be silent. You will not be able to scold them, even though they are a rebellious house."},{"verse":27,"text":"But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth. Then you must tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.' Whoever will listen, let him listen. Whoever refuses, let him refuse. For they are a rebellious house."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Now, son of man, take a clay brick and put it in front of you. Draw the city of Jerusalem on it."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then attack it as an army would. Build a siege wall against it. Build a ramp up to it. Set up army camps around it. Put battering rams all around it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then take an iron pan. Set it up like an iron wall between you and the city. Turn your face toward the city. It is under attack, and you are the one attacking it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then lie down on your left side. Put the sin of the house of Israel on yourself. You will carry their sin for as many days as you lie on your side."},{"verse":5,"text":"I have given you 390 days. That is the number of years of their sin. So you will carry the sin of the house of Israel."},{"verse":6,"text":"When you have finished these days, lie down again. This time lie on your right side. Carry the sin of the house of Judah. I have given you 40 days, one day for each year."},{"verse":7,"text":"Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem. Keep your arm bare, and prophesy against the city."},{"verse":8,"text":"Look, I will tie you up with ropes. You will not be able to turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege."},{"verse":9,"text":"Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Put them in one jar and make bread from them for yourself. This is what you will eat during the 390 days you lie on your side."},{"verse":10,"text":"Weigh out eight ounces of food to eat each day. Eat it at set times.","note":"Hebrew: twenty shekels."},{"verse":11,"text":"Also measure out about two-thirds of a quart of water to drink. Drink it at set times.","note":"Hebrew: a sixth of a hin."},{"verse":12,"text":"Eat the food the way you would eat a barley cake. Bake it over dried human dung while the people watch.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD said, \"This is how the Israelites will eat bread that is unclean. They will eat it among the nations where I will drive them.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then I said, \"Oh, Lord GOD! I have never made myself unclean. From the time I was young until now, I have never eaten anything that was found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever gone into my mouth.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"He answered, \"All right. I will let you use cow dung instead of human dung. You may bake your bread over that.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Son of man, I am going to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will worry as they eat bread measured out by weight. They will be hopeless as they drink water measured out in small amounts."},{"verse":17,"text":"So they will run short of food and water. They will be shocked as they look at one another. They will waste away because of their sin."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Now, son of man, take a sharp sword. Use it like a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair."},{"verse":2,"text":"When the days of the siege are over, burn a third of the hair inside the city. Take another third and cut it up with the sword all around the city. Scatter the last third to the wind. For I will chase after them with a drawn sword."},{"verse":3,"text":"But take a few strands of hair and tuck them into the folds of your robe."},{"verse":4,"text":"Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire. Burn them up. From there a fire will spread to the whole house of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'This is Jerusalem. I put her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her."},{"verse":6,"text":"But she has rebelled against my laws. She has been more wicked than the nations. She has rebelled against my rules, worse than the countries around her. For her people have rejected my laws. They have not lived by my rules.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You have been more disobedient than the nations around you. You have not lived by my rules or kept my laws. You have not even kept the laws of the nations around you.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Look, I myself am against you, Jerusalem. I will punish you while the nations watch."},{"verse":9,"text":"Because of all your disgusting acts, I will do something to you that I have never done before. I will never do anything like it again."},{"verse":10,"text":"Because of this, fathers among you will eat their sons. And sons will eat their fathers. I will punish you. I will scatter all your survivors to every wind.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"So as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I myself will take away my favor. This is because you have made my holy place unclean with all your disgusting idols and evil acts. I will not look on you with pity. I will not spare you."},{"verse":12,"text":"A third of your people will die of disease or starve to death inside your walls. A third will be killed by the sword outside your walls. And a third I will scatter to every wind. I will chase after them with a drawn sword."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then my anger will be used up. I will have poured out my fury on them, and I will be satisfied. When I have used up my fury on them, they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my burning jealousy."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will make you a ruin. You will be a disgrace among the nations around you. Everyone who passes by will see it."},{"verse":15,"text":"You will be put to shame and mocked. You will be a warning and a horror to the nations around you. That is what will happen when I punish you in anger, fury, and raging wrath. I, the LORD, have spoken."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will shoot at you with the deadly arrows of famine and ruin. I will send them to destroy you. I will make the famine worse and worse. I will cut off your food supply."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will send famine and wild animals against you. They will leave you without children. Disease and killing will sweep through you. I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face against the mountains of Israel. Prophesy against them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Say to them: 'Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, and to the ravines and valleys: I am about to bring a sword against you. I will destroy your high places."},{"verse":4,"text":"Your altars will be torn down. Your incense altars will be smashed. I will throw down your dead in front of your idols."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols. I will scatter your bones around your altars."},{"verse":6,"text":"Wherever you live, the cities will be ruined. The high places will be torn down. Your altars will be ruined and made unclean. Your idols will be smashed and wiped out. Your incense altars will be cut down. All the things you made will be wiped away."},{"verse":7,"text":"People will fall dead among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"But I will leave some of you alive. Some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the nations and through the lands."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then your survivors will remember me in the nations where they were taken as captives. They will remember how hurt I was by their unfaithful hearts that turned away from me. They will remember how I was hurt by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will hate themselves for the evil they have done and for all their disgusting acts."},{"verse":10,"text":"And they will know that I am the LORD. I did not warn them for nothing that I would bring this disaster on them."},{"verse":11,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands and stamp your feet! Cry out, \"How terrible!\" Cry out because of all the wicked, disgusting acts of the house of Israel. They will fall by sword, famine, and disease."},{"verse":12,"text":"Those who are far away will die of disease. Those who are near will fall by the sword. And those who are left will die of hunger. That is how I will pour out my fury on them."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then you will know that I am the LORD. Their dead will lie among their idols around their altars. They will lie on every high hill and on all the mountaintops. They will lie under every green tree and every leafy oak. Those are the places where they burned sweet-smelling incense to all their idols."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will stretch out my hand against them. Wherever they live, I will make the land an empty waste, from the wilderness to Diblah. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel: 'The end! The end has come on the four corners of the land."},{"verse":3,"text":"Now the end is on you. I will let loose my anger against you. I will judge you by the way you have lived. I will pay you back for all your disgusting acts."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will not look on you with pity. I will not spare you. I will punish you for your ways and for the disgusting acts among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Disaster! A disaster like no other is coming! Look, it is coming!"},{"verse":6,"text":"The end has come! The end has come! It has woken up against you. Look, it has come!"},{"verse":7,"text":"Doom has come to you who live in the land. The time has come. The day is near. There is panic on the mountains, not shouts of joy."},{"verse":8,"text":"Very soon I will pour out my fury on you. I will let my anger loose against you. I will judge you by the way you have lived. I will pay you back for all your disgusting acts."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will not look on you with pity. I will not spare you. I will punish you for your ways and for the disgusting acts among you. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am the one who strikes you."},{"verse":10,"text":"Look, the day is here! It has come! Doom has gone out. The rod has budded. Pride has bloomed."},{"verse":11,"text":"Their violence has grown into a rod to punish their wickedness. None of them will be left. None of their crowds will be left. None of their wealth, and nothing of value, will be left."},{"verse":12,"text":"The time has come. The day has arrived. Let the buyer not be glad, and let the seller not be sad. For anger is on the whole crowd of them."},{"verse":13,"text":"The seller will surely not get back what he sold, even if both of them are still alive. For the vision about the whole crowd will not be taken back. Because of their sin, not one of them will save his life."},{"verse":14,"text":"They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready. But no one goes into battle. For my anger is on the whole crowd of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"The sword is outside. Disease and famine are inside. Those out in the country will die by the sword. Those in the city will be eaten up by famine and disease."},{"verse":16,"text":"The survivors will escape and live in the mountains. They will moan like doves of the valleys. Each one will moan for his own sin."},{"verse":17,"text":"Every hand will go limp. Every knee will become as weak as water."},{"verse":18,"text":"They will put on sackcloth. Terror will cover them. Shame will be on all their faces. All their heads will be shaved."},{"verse":19,"text":"They will throw their silver into the streets. Their gold will seem unclean to them. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day of the LORD's anger. Their riches cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs. For their wealth was the stumbling block that led them into sin."},{"verse":20,"text":"They turned his beautiful jewelry into something to be proud of. They used it to make their evil images and disgusting idols. So I will make these things unclean to them."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will hand these things over to foreigners as plunder. I will give them to the wicked people of the earth as loot. They will make them unclean."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will turn my face away from them. They will make my treasured place unclean. Violent men will go into it and make it unclean."},{"verse":23,"text":"Make the chains! For the land is full of murder. The city is full of violence."},{"verse":24,"text":"So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take over their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty. Their holy places will be made unclean."},{"verse":25,"text":"Terror is coming! They will look for peace, but there will be none."},{"verse":26,"text":"Disaster after disaster will come. One rumor after another will spread. They will try to get a vision from a prophet. But the priests will have no teaching left. The elders will have no advice to give."},{"verse":27,"text":"The king will mourn. The prince will be wrapped in hopelessness. The hands of the people of the land will shake. I will deal with them as they have acted. I will judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the sixth year, on the fifth day of the sixth month. I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me. There the hand of the Lord GOD came on me."},{"verse":2,"text":"I looked and saw a figure that looked like a man. From his waist down, he looked like fire. From his waist up, he was as bright as glowing amber."},{"verse":3,"text":"He reached out what looked like a hand. He took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and sky. In visions of God he took me to Jerusalem. He took me to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court. The idol that makes God jealous was set up there."},{"verse":4,"text":"There I saw the glory of the God of Israel. It was like the vision I had seen out on the plain."},{"verse":5,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, now look toward the north.\" So I looked toward the north. In the entrance north of the Altar Gate, I saw this idol of jealousy."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, do you see what they are doing? Do you see the terrible, disgusting things the house of Israel is doing here? They are doing this to drive me far from my holy place. But you will see even worse things than these.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he brought me to the entrance of the courtyard. I looked and saw a hole in the wall."},{"verse":8,"text":"He told me, \"Son of man, dig through the wall.\" So I dug through the wall and found a doorway."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Go in. See the wicked, disgusting things they are doing here.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So I went in and looked. Carved all over the walls were all kinds of crawling creatures and disgusting animals. All the idols of the house of Israel were carved there too."},{"verse":11,"text":"Seventy elders of the house of Israel stood in front of them. Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each man had a censer in his hand. A sweet-smelling cloud of incense was rising up."},{"verse":12,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark? Each one is at the shrine of his own idol. For they are saying, 'The LORD does not see us. The LORD has forsaken the land.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"He told me again, \"You will see them doing even worse things.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD. I saw women sitting there, weeping for the god Tammuz."},{"verse":15,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, do you see this? But you will see things even more disgusting than these.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD. There, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, were about twenty-five men. They stood between the porch and the altar. Their backs were toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces were toward the east. They were bowing down to the sun in the east."},{"verse":17,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, do you see this? The house of Judah does these disgusting things here. Isn't that bad enough? Must they also fill the land with violence and keep making me angry? Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose!"},{"verse":18,"text":"So I will answer them in anger. I will not look on them with pity. I will not spare them. They may shout loudly in my ears, but I will not listen to them.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I heard him call out in a loud voice. He said, \"Come near, you who will punish the city! Each of you, bring your weapon of destruction in your hand.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Then I saw six men coming from the Upper Gate, which faces north. Each had a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was another man dressed in linen. He had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the glory of the God of Israel rose up from above the cherubim, where it had been. It moved to the doorway of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side."},{"verse":4,"text":"The LORD said to him, \"Go all through the city of Jerusalem. Put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the disgusting things done there.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"As I listened, he said to the others, \"Follow him through the city and start killing. Do not show pity. Do not spare anyone!"},{"verse":6,"text":"Kill the old men, the young men, and the young women. Kill the women and the children. But do not go near anyone who has the mark. Start at my holy place.\" So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he told them, \"Make the temple unclean. Fill the courtyards with the dead. Go!\" So they went out and began killing all through the city."},{"verse":8,"text":"While they were killing, I was left alone. I fell with my face to the ground and cried out, \"Oh, Lord GOD! When you pour out your anger on Jerusalem, will you destroy everyone left in Israel?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"He answered, \"The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great. The land is full of murder. The city is full of crooked acts. For they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land. The LORD does not see.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"But as for me, I will not look on them with pity. I will not spare them. I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side came back. He reported, \"I have done what you commanded.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I looked, and I saw something above the dome over the heads of the cherubim. It looked like a throne made of sapphire."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to the man dressed in linen, \"Go in among the wheels under the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim. Scatter them over the city.\" As I watched, he went in."},{"verse":3,"text":"When the man went in, the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple. A cloud filled the inner courtyard."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim. It moved over the doorway of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud. The courtyard was filled with the bright light of the LORD's glory."},{"verse":5,"text":"The sound of the cherubim's wings could be heard as far away as the outer courtyard. It was like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks."},{"verse":6,"text":"The LORD commanded the man dressed in linen, \"Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim.\" So the man went in and stood beside a wheel."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand. He took some of the fire that was among them. He put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen. The man took it and went out."},{"verse":8,"text":"(Under their wings, the cherubim seemed to have what looked like human hands.)"},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim. There was one wheel beside each cherub. The wheels shone like beryl, a sparkling stone."},{"verse":10,"text":"All four of them looked the same. Each was like a wheel inside a wheel."},{"verse":11,"text":"When they moved, they could go in any of the four directions. They did not turn as they moved. For the cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced. They did not turn as they moved."},{"verse":12,"text":"Their whole bodies were full of eyes all over. This included their backs, their hands, and their wings. Their four wheels were full of eyes too."},{"verse":13,"text":"I heard someone call the wheels \"the whirling wheels.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Each of the cherubim had four faces. The first face was a cherub's face. The second was a man's face. The third was a lion's face. The fourth was an eagle's face."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the cherubim rose up. These were the living creatures I had seen by the River Kebar."},{"verse":16,"text":"When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them. When they spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels stayed right by their side."},{"verse":17,"text":"When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still too. When they rose up, the wheels rose up with them. For the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the glory of the LORD left the doorway of the temple. It stopped above the cherubim."},{"verse":19,"text":"As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground. The wheels went right beside them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD. The glory of the God of Israel was above them."},{"verse":20,"text":"These were the living creatures I had seen under the God of Israel by the River Kebar. I knew that they were cherubim."},{"verse":21,"text":"Each one had four faces and four wings. Under their wings was what looked like human hands."},{"verse":22,"text":"Their faces looked like the faces I had seen by the River Kebar. Each creature went straight ahead."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the Spirit lifted me up. He brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. At the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah. They were leaders of the people."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to me, \"Son of man, these are the men who plan evil. They give wicked advice in this city."},{"verse":3,"text":"They are saying, 'Isn't it almost time to build houses? This city is the cooking pot, and we are the meat.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me. He told me to say, \"This is what the LORD says: That is what you are thinking, house of Israel. I know the thoughts that come into your minds."},{"verse":6,"text":"You have killed more and more people in this city. You have filled its streets with the dead."},{"verse":7,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: The people you have killed and left in this city are the meat. The city is the pot. But I will drive you out of it."},{"verse":8,"text":"You are afraid of the sword. So I will bring the sword against you, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will bring you out of the city. I will hand you over to foreigners. I will punish you."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will be killed by the sword. I will judge you all the way to the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"This city will not be a pot for you. You will not be the meat inside it. I will judge you all the way to the borders of Israel."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you will know that I am the LORD. You have not followed my rules or kept my laws. Instead, you have followed the ways of the nations around you.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"While I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell with my face to the ground. I cried out in a loud voice, \"Oh, Lord GOD! Will you wipe out all who are left in Israel?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Son of man, think of your brothers, your relatives, your fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel. The people of Jerusalem have said about them, 'They are far away from the LORD. This land has been given to us to own.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I sent them far away among the nations. I scattered them among the countries. But for a little while I have been a holy place for them in the countries where they have gone.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I will gather you from the peoples. I will bring you together from the countries where you have been scattered. And I will give the land of Israel back to you.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"When they return to it, they will remove all its evil things and all its disgusting idols."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will give them one heart. I will put a new spirit in them. I will take away their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh."},{"verse":20,"text":"I will do this so that they will follow my rules and keep my laws and obey them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God."},{"verse":21,"text":"But some people's hearts chase after evil things and disgusting idols. I will bring what they have done down on their own heads, says the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the cherubim spread their wings, with the wheels beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was above them."},{"verse":23,"text":"The glory of the LORD rose up from inside the city. It stopped over the mountain east of the city."},{"verse":24,"text":"The Spirit lifted me up. In the vision given by the Spirit of God, he carried me back to the exiles in Chaldea. Then the vision I had seen left me."},{"verse":25,"text":"I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but they do not see. They have ears to hear, but they do not hear. For they are a rebellious house."},{"verse":3,"text":"So, son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. In broad daylight, while they watch, leave your place and go to another place. Maybe they will understand, even though they are a rebellious house."},{"verse":4,"text":"During the day, while they watch, bring out your bags packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they watch, go out like people going into exile."},{"verse":5,"text":"While they watch, dig through the wall. Carry your things out through the hole."},{"verse":6,"text":"While they watch, put your bags on your shoulder and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So I did what I was commanded. During the day I brought out my bags packed for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. At dusk I took my things out. I carried them on my shoulder while they watched."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the morning the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Son of man, hasn't the rebellious house of Israel asked you, 'What are you doing?'"},{"verse":10,"text":"Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: This message is about the prince in Jerusalem. It is about all the house of Israel who live there.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Say to them, 'I am a sign to you.' What I have done will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives."},{"verse":12,"text":"At dusk the prince among them will put his bags on his shoulder and go out. A hole will be dug through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land."},{"verse":13,"text":"But I will throw my net over him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans. But he will not see it, and he will die there."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will scatter to every wind all the officials around him and all his troops. I will draw a sword and chase after them."},{"verse":15,"text":"They will know that I am the LORD when I spread them out among the nations. They will know it when I scatter them through the countries."},{"verse":16,"text":"But I will spare a few of them from sword, famine, and disease. I will do this so that in the nations where they go, they can tell about all their disgusting acts. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The word of the LORD also came to me. He said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Son of man, shake as you eat your bread. Tremble with worry as you drink your water."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then speak to the people of the land. Tell them this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: 'They will eat their bread with worry. They will drink their water in fear. For everything in their land will be stripped away. This is because of the violence of all who live there."},{"verse":20,"text":"The towns where people live will be ruined. The land will become empty. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He said,"},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Son of man, what is this saying you have in the land of Israel? You say, 'The days go by, and every vision comes to nothing.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to this saying. People in Israel will not say it anymore.' Instead, tell them, 'The days are near when every vision will come true."},{"verse":24,"text":"For there will be no more false visions in the house of Israel. There will be no more fortune-telling that only says what people want to hear."},{"verse":25,"text":"This is because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will come true without delay. For in your own days, you rebellious house, I will speak a message and make it happen, says the Lord GOD.'\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The word of the LORD also came to me. He said,"},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Son of man, listen to what the house of Israel is saying. They say, 'The vision he sees is for many years from now. He is prophesying about times far in the future.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: None of my words will be put off any longer. The message I speak will come true, says the Lord GOD.'\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying now. Speak to those who make up prophecies in their own minds. Tell them: Hear the word of the LORD!"},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: How terrible it will be for the foolish prophets! They follow their own spirit, but they have seen nothing."},{"verse":4,"text":"Israel, your prophets are like foxes living among ruins."},{"verse":5,"text":"You did not go up into the broken places in the wall. You did not repair the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand firm in the battle on the Day of the LORD."},{"verse":6,"text":"Their visions are false. Their fortune-telling is a lie. They say, 'The LORD says this,' but the LORD did not send them. Yet they expect their message to come true."},{"verse":7,"text":"Haven't you seen false visions? Haven't you told lying fortunes? You say, 'The LORD says this,' but I have not spoken."},{"verse":8,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: You have spoken empty words and seen false visions. So I am against you, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":9,"text":"My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and tell lying fortunes. They will not be part of the council of my people. Their names will not be written in the record of the house of Israel. They will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD."},{"verse":10,"text":"They have led my people the wrong way. They say, 'Peace,' when there is no peace. When a weak wall is built, they cover it with whitewash."},{"verse":11,"text":"So tell those who cover the wall with whitewash that it will fall. Rain will pour down in floods. I will send hailstones crashing down. A windstorm will break out."},{"verse":12,"text":"When the wall has fallen, people will surely ask you, 'Where is the whitewash you covered it with?'"},{"verse":13,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: In my fury I will let loose a windstorm. In my anger, floods of rain and hail will fall and destroy everything."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will tear down the wall you covered with whitewash. I will knock it flat to the ground, and its foundation will be uncovered. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed inside it. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will pour out my fury on the wall and on those who covered it with whitewash. Then I will say to you, 'The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it."},{"verse":16,"text":"They were the prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem. They saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, says the Lord GOD.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"Now, son of man, turn your face against the women of your people who make up prophecies in their own minds. Prophesy against them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Tell them this is what the Lord GOD says: How terrible it will be for the women who sew magic charms for everyone's wrists! They make veils for the heads of people of every size. They do it to trap people's souls. Will you trap the souls of my people and keep your own souls alive?"},{"verse":19,"text":"You have dishonored me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and some scraps of bread. You lie to my people, who listen to lies. By doing this, you have killed people who should not have died. And you have kept alive people who should not have lived."},{"verse":20,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am against your magic charms. You use them to trap souls like birds. I will tear them off your arms. I will set free the souls you have trapped like birds."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will also tear off your veils. I will rescue my people from your hands. They will no longer be caught in your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":22,"text":"With your lies you have discouraged people who do what is right, even though I did not cause them sorrow. And you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and save their lives."},{"verse":23,"text":"So you will no longer see false visions or tell fortunes. I will rescue my people from your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down in front of me."},{"verse":2,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts. They have put wicked stumbling blocks in front of their faces. Should I let them ask me for anything at all?"},{"verse":4,"text":"So speak to them. Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Suppose any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block in front of his face. Then he comes to the prophet. I, the LORD, will answer him as his great idol worship deserves."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will do this to take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For they have all turned away from me because of their idols.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"So tell the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Turn back to God! Turn away from your idols. Turn your faces away from all your disgusting acts."},{"verse":7,"text":"Suppose any Israelite, or any foreigner living in Israel, separates himself from me. He sets up idols in his heart. He puts a wicked stumbling block in front of his face. Then he comes to the prophet to ask me something. I, the LORD, will answer him myself."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will turn my face against that man. I will make him a warning sign and a saying people repeat. I will cut him off from among my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"But if the prophet is tricked into speaking a message, then I, the LORD, have tricked that prophet. I will stretch out my hand against him. I will destroy him from among my people Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will both carry the punishment for their sin. The one who asks will get the same punishment as the prophet."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will do this so that the house of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer make themselves unclean with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord GOD.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Son of man, suppose a land sins against me by being unfaithful. And I stretch out my hand against it. I cut off its food supply and send famine on it. I wipe out both people and animals from it."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, their righteousness could save only themselves, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":15,"text":"Or suppose I send wild animals through the land. They leave it with no children and empty. No one passes through it because of the animals."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. Only they would be saved. And the land would become empty."},{"verse":17,"text":"Or suppose I bring a sword against that land. I say, 'Let a sword go through the land.' And I wipe out both people and animals from it."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. Only they would be saved."},{"verse":19,"text":"Or suppose I send a disease into that land. I pour out my fury on it with bloodshed. I wipe out both people and animals from it."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could save only themselves."},{"verse":21,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'It will be so much worse when I send my four terrible punishments against Jerusalem! I will send the sword, famine, wild animals, and disease. I will send them to wipe out both people and animals from it."},{"verse":22,"text":"But look, some survivors will be left in it. Some sons and daughters will be brought out. They will come out to you. You will see how they live and what they do. Then you will be comforted about the disaster I brought on Jerusalem, all that I brought on it."},{"verse":23,"text":"They will comfort you when you see how they live and what they do. Then you will know that I had good reason for all I have done in it,' says the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, is the wood of a vine any better than a branch from any tree in the forest?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Can its wood be used to make anything useful? Can someone even make a peg from it to hang pots and tools on?"},{"verse":4,"text":"No, it is thrown into the fire to burn. The fire burns up both ends, and the middle is blackened. Is it good for anything now?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Even when it was whole, nothing useful could be made from it. So it is even less useful now that the fire has burned it and blackened it!"},{"verse":6,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'The wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest. I have given it to the fire to burn. In the same way, I will give up the people of Jerusalem."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will turn my face against them. They may have escaped from the fire, but another fire will burn them up. When I turn my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will make the land empty and ruined, because they have been unfaithful,' says the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, face Jerusalem with her disgusting acts."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell her, 'This is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: You came from the land of the Canaanites. You were born there. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the day you were born, your cord was not cut. You were not washed with water to make you clean. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths."},{"verse":5,"text":"No one cared enough about you to do even one of these things for you out of kindness. Instead, you were thrown out into an open field, because you were hated on the day you were born."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there in your blood, I said to you, \"Live!\" Yes, I said to you, \"Live!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up and became a young woman. You became very beautiful. Your breasts formed and your hair grew. But you were naked and bare."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then I passed by and saw you. You were old enough for love. So I spread my cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I made a promise to you. I made a covenant with you, and you became mine, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I bathed you with water. I washed off your blood. I rubbed you with oil."},{"verse":10,"text":"I dressed you in cloth with beautiful stitching. I gave you sandals made of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk."},{"verse":11,"text":"I decorated you with jewelry. I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck."},{"verse":12,"text":"I put a ring in your nose and earrings on your ears. I put a beautiful crown on your head."},{"verse":13,"text":"So you were decorated with gold and silver. Your clothes were made of fine linen, silk, and cloth with beautiful stitching. You ate fine flour, honey, and olive oil. You became very beautiful, and you rose up to be a queen."},{"verse":14,"text":"Your beauty made you famous among the nations. It was perfect because of the glory I had given you, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":15,"text":"But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty. You acted like a prostitute. You gave yourself freely to everyone who passed by. Your beauty was theirs for the asking."},{"verse":16,"text":"You took some of your clothes and made colorful high places for yourself. There you acted like a prostitute. Such things should never have happened. They never should have taken place!"},{"verse":17,"text":"You also took the fine gold and silver jewelry I had given you. You made male idols from it and acted like a prostitute with them."},{"verse":18,"text":"You took your clothes with beautiful stitching and covered the idols with them. You set my oil and my incense in front of them."},{"verse":19,"text":"You also set in front of them the food I had given you. You offered the fine flour, oil, and honey I had fed you, as a sweet smell to please them. That is what happened, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":20,"text":"You even took the sons and daughters you gave birth to for me. You sacrificed them as food for idols. Wasn't your prostitution bad enough?"},{"verse":21,"text":"You killed my children. You gave them up to idols by passing them through the fire."},{"verse":22,"text":"In all your disgusting acts and your prostitution, you did not remember when you were young. You did not remember when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your own blood."},{"verse":23,"text":"How terrible! How terrible it will be for you, says the Lord GOD! On top of all your other wickedness,"},{"verse":24,"text":"you built yourself a mound. You made yourself a high shrine in every town square."},{"verse":25,"text":"You built your high shrines at the start of every street. You made your beauty something shameful. You offered your body to everyone who passed by. You became more and more sinful in your prostitution."},{"verse":26,"text":"You acted like a prostitute with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians. You kept doing more and more of it to make me angry."},{"verse":27,"text":"So I stretched out my hand against you. I made your share of food smaller. I handed you over to the wishes of those who hate you. They were the daughters of the Philistines, and even they were ashamed of your filthy ways."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then you acted like a prostitute with the Assyrians, because you still were not satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied."},{"verse":29,"text":"So you spread your prostitution to Chaldea, the land of traders. But even this did not satisfy you!"},{"verse":30,"text":"How weak your heart is, says the Lord GOD! You do all these things. You act like a prostitute who has no shame!"},{"verse":31,"text":"You built your mounds at the start of every street. You made your high shrines in every town square. But you were not even like a prostitute, because you refused to be paid."},{"verse":32,"text":"You unfaithful wife! You take in strangers instead of your own husband!"},{"verse":33,"text":"Men give gifts to all their prostitutes. But you gave gifts to all your lovers. You paid them to come to you from everywhere to sleep with you."},{"verse":34,"text":"So you are the opposite of other prostitutes. No one asked you to sleep with them. You paid a fee instead of getting paid. You are the very opposite!"},{"verse":35,"text":"So, you prostitute, hear the word of the LORD!"},{"verse":36,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: You poured out your wealth. You showed your naked body as you slept around with your lovers and with all your disgusting idols. You gave them the blood of your children."},{"verse":37,"text":"So I will surely gather all the lovers you enjoyed. I will gather all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around. I will strip you in front of them, and they will see you completely naked."},{"verse":38,"text":"I will sentence you to the punishment given to women who commit adultery and to those who murder. I will bring on you the bloody punishment of my fury and jealousy."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then I will hand you over to your lovers. They will knock down your mounds and tear down your high shrines. They will strip off your clothes and take your fine jewelry. They will leave you naked and bare."},{"verse":40,"text":"They will bring a mob against you. The mob will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords."},{"verse":41,"text":"They will burn down your houses. They will punish you while many women watch. I will put an end to your prostitution. You will never pay your lovers again."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then my fury against you will rest. My jealousy will turn away from you. I will be calm and no longer angry."},{"verse":43,"text":"You did not remember the days when you were young. Instead, you made me furious with all these things. So I will surely bring what you have done down on your own head, says the Lord GOD. Didn't you add this filthy sin to all your other disgusting acts?"},{"verse":44,"text":"Look, everyone who uses sayings will use this one about you: 'Like mother, like daughter.'"},{"verse":45,"text":"You are truly your mother's daughter. She hated her husband and her children. You are truly a sister of your sisters. They hated their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite."},{"verse":46,"text":"Your older sister was Samaria. She lived with her daughters to the north of you. Your younger sister was Sodom. She lived with her daughters to the south of you."},{"verse":47,"text":"You did not just follow their ways and do their disgusting acts. Soon you became even more evil than they were."},{"verse":48,"text":"As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done."},{"verse":49,"text":"This was the sin of your sister Sodom. She and her daughters were proud. They had too much food and felt safe and careless. They did not help the poor and needy."},{"verse":50,"text":"They were proud and did disgusting things in front of me. So I removed them, as you have seen."},{"verse":51,"text":"Samaria did not commit even half of your sins. You have done far more disgusting things than they did. All the disgusting things you have done have made your sisters look righteous."},{"verse":52,"text":"So now you must carry your disgrace, because you have made your sisters look better. They seem more righteous than you, because your sins were more evil than theirs. So you too must carry your shame and disgrace, because you have made your sisters look righteous."},{"verse":53,"text":"But I will bring back Sodom and her daughters from captivity. I will also bring back Samaria and her daughters. And I will bring you back along with them.","note":"Or \"restore the fortunes of.\""},{"verse":54,"text":"Then you will carry your disgrace. You will be ashamed of all you did, which made them feel better about themselves."},{"verse":55,"text":"Your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will go back to how they were before. You and your daughters will also go back to how you were before."},{"verse":56,"text":"In the days when you were proud, didn't you make fun of your sister Sodom?"},{"verse":57,"text":"That was before your wickedness was uncovered. But now you are mocked by the daughters of Edom and all those around her. You are mocked by the daughters of the Philistines. All those around you hate you."},{"verse":58,"text":"You will suffer for your filthy sins and your disgusting acts, says the LORD."},{"verse":59,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have treated your oath with contempt by breaking the covenant."},{"verse":60,"text":"But I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young. And I will make a covenant with you that will last forever."},{"verse":61,"text":"Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed. That will happen when you welcome your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters. But this will not be because of my covenant with you."},{"verse":62,"text":"So I will set up my covenant with you. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":63,"text":"This is so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed. You will never open your mouth again because of your disgrace, says the Lord GOD.\"","note":"Atonement: covering over sin so it is forgiven."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, give a riddle. Tell a story with a meaning to the house of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell them this is what the Lord GOD says: 'A great eagle came to Lebanon. He had huge wings and long feathers. His feathers were full of many colors. He took away the top of the cedar tree."},{"verse":4,"text":"He broke off its highest twig. He carried it to a land of merchants. He planted it in a city of traders."},{"verse":5,"text":"He took some of the seed of the land. He planted it in rich soil. He put it by plenty of water and planted it like a willow."},{"verse":6,"text":"It sprouted and became a vine that spread out low on the ground. Its branches turned toward him. But its roots stayed where it was planted. So it became a vine. It grew branches and sent out shoots."},{"verse":7,"text":"But there was another great eagle. He had huge wings and many feathers. And look! This vine bent its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from the bed where it was planted. It wanted him to water it."},{"verse":8,"text":"It had been planted in good soil by plenty of water. It was planted so it would grow branches and bear fruit. It could have become a beautiful vine.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"So tell them this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Will it grow well? Won't it be pulled up by the roots? Won't its fruit be stripped off so that it dries up? All its leaves will wither! It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by its roots."},{"verse":10,"text":"Even if it is planted somewhere else, will it grow well? Won't it dry up completely when the east wind hits it? It will wither in the bed where it sprouted.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Now say to this rebellious house, 'Don't you know what these things mean?' Tell them, 'Look, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He took away its king and its officials. He brought them back with him to Babylon."},{"verse":13,"text":"He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him. He made him swear an oath. Then he took away the leading men of the land."},{"verse":14,"text":"He did this so the kingdom would be made weak and would not be able to rise up again. It could survive only by keeping his covenant."},{"verse":15,"text":"But this king rebelled against the king of Babylon. He sent messengers to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still escape?'"},{"verse":16,"text":"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'he will die in Babylon. He will die in the land of the king who put him on the throne. He hated that king's oath and broke his covenant."},{"verse":17,"text":"Pharaoh, with his mighty army and huge crowd of soldiers, will not help him in battle when ramps are built and siege walls are set up to kill many people."},{"verse":18,"text":"He treated the oath with contempt by breaking the covenant. He gave his hand to make a promise, but then he did all these things. He will not escape!'"},{"verse":19,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'As surely as I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he hated and my covenant that he broke."},{"verse":20,"text":"I will throw my net over him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon and judge him there. I will punish him for being unfaithful to me."},{"verse":21,"text":"All his best troops will be killed by the sword. Those who are left will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'I myself will take a shoot from the very top of the cedar tree, and I will plant it. I will break off a tender twig from its highest branches. I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will plant it on the high mountains of Israel. It will grow branches and bear fruit. It will become a mighty cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it. They will find shelter in the shade of its branches."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down, and I make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree, and I make the dry tree grow well. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.'\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"What do you people mean when you repeat this saying about the land of Israel? You say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, you will no longer repeat this saying in Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look, every soul belongs to me. The father and the son both belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die."},{"verse":5,"text":"Suppose a man is righteous. He does what is fair and right."},{"verse":6,"text":"He does not eat at the mountain shrines. He does not look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not sleep with his neighbor's wife. He does not go near a woman during her monthly period."},{"verse":7,"text":"He does not treat anyone cruelly. He gives back what a borrower gave him to hold as a promise. He does not rob anyone. He gives his food to the hungry. He gives clothes to those who have none."},{"verse":8,"text":"He does not lend money for profit or charge too much interest. He keeps his hand from doing wrong. He judges fairly between people."},{"verse":9,"text":"He follows my rules and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous. He will surely live, says the Lord GOD."},{"verse":10,"text":"But suppose that man has a violent son. The son murders people or does any of these other things,"},{"verse":11,"text":"even though the father did none of them. The son eats at the mountain shrines. He sleeps with his neighbor's wife."},{"verse":12,"text":"He treats the poor and needy cruelly. He robs people. He does not give back what a borrower gave him as a promise. He looks to idols. He does disgusting things."},{"verse":13,"text":"He lends money for profit and charges too much interest. Will this son live? He will not! He has done all these disgusting things, so he will surely die. His blood will be on his own head."},{"verse":14,"text":"But suppose this son has a son. He sees all the sins his father has done. He thinks about them, and he does not do the same things."},{"verse":15,"text":"He does not eat at the mountain shrines. He does not look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not sleep with his neighbor's wife."},{"verse":16,"text":"He does not treat anyone cruelly. He does not keep what a borrower gave him as a promise. He does not rob anyone. He gives his food to the hungry. He gives clothes to those who have none."},{"verse":17,"text":"He keeps his hand from hurting the poor. He does not charge interest or lend for profit. He keeps my laws and follows my rules. Such a man will not die for his father's sin. He will surely live."},{"verse":18,"text":"But his father will die for his own sin. He cheated people out of money. He robbed his brother. He did what was wrong among his people."},{"verse":19,"text":"But you may ask, 'Why shouldn't the son be punished for his father's sin?' The son has done what is fair and right. He has carefully kept all my rules. So he will surely live."},{"verse":20,"text":"The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not be punished for his father's sin. A father will not be punished for his son's sin. The righteousness of the righteous man will be on him. The wickedness of the wicked man will be on him."},{"verse":21,"text":"But suppose a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has done. He keeps all my rules. He does what is fair and right. Then he will surely live. He will not die."},{"verse":22,"text":"None of the wrongs he has done will be held against him. He will live because of the right things he has done."},{"verse":23,"text":"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Wouldn't I rather have him turn from his ways and live?"},{"verse":24,"text":"But suppose a righteous man turns away from doing right and does what is wrong. He does the same disgusting things the wicked man does. Will he live? None of the right things he did will be remembered. He will die because of how unfaithful he has been and because of the sins he has done."},{"verse":25,"text":"But you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Listen now, house of Israel. Is my way unfair? Isn't it your ways that are unfair?"},{"verse":26,"text":"If a righteous man turns away from doing right and does what is wrong, he will die for it. He will die because of the wrong he has done."},{"verse":27,"text":"But if a wicked man turns away from the wicked things he has done, and he does what is fair and right, he will save his life."},{"verse":28,"text":"He thought about all the wrongs he had done, and he turned away from them. So he will surely live. He will not die."},{"verse":29,"text":"But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Are my ways unfair, house of Israel? Isn't it your ways that are unfair?"},{"verse":30,"text":"So, house of Israel, I will judge each of you by your own ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn back to God! Turn away from all your wrongs, so that your sin will not bring you down."},{"verse":31,"text":"Throw away all the wrongs you have done. Make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?"},{"verse":32,"text":"For I take no joy in anyone's death, says the Lord GOD. So turn back to God and live!"}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Now sing a sad song for the princes of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Say:\n'What was your mother? A lioness among the lions!\nShe lay down among the young lions.\nShe raised her cubs."},{"verse":3,"text":"She raised one of her cubs,\nand he became a strong young lion.\nHe learned to tear apart his prey,\nand he ate people."},{"verse":4,"text":"The nations heard about him.\nHe was caught in their pit.\nThey led him away with hooks\nto the land of Egypt."},{"verse":5,"text":"She saw that she had waited for nothing.\nShe saw that her hope was gone.\nSo she took another of her cubs\nand made him a strong young lion."},{"verse":6,"text":"He prowled among the lions\nand became a strong young lion.\nHe learned to tear apart his prey,\nand he ate people."},{"verse":7,"text":"He broke down their forts\nand ruined their cities.\nThe land and everything in it shook\nat the sound of his roar."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the nations came against him\nfrom the lands on every side.\nThey threw their net over him.\nHe was caught in their pit."},{"verse":9,"text":"They put him in a cage with hooks.\nThey brought him to the king of Babylon.\nThey took him away as a captive.\nSo his roar was heard no more\non the mountains of Israel."},{"verse":10,"text":"Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard.\nIt was planted by the water.\nIt was full of fruit and branches\nbecause there was plenty of water."},{"verse":11,"text":"It had strong branches,\ngood enough to make a ruler's scepter.\nIt grew tall above the thick branches.\nEveryone could see how tall it was\nand how many leaves it had."},{"verse":12,"text":"But it was pulled up in fury.\nIt was thrown down to the ground.\nThe east wind dried up its fruit.\nIts strong branches were broken off and dried up.\nThe fire burned them up."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now it is planted in the wilderness,\nin a dry and thirsty land."},{"verse":14,"text":"Fire has spread from its main branch\nand burned up its fruit.\nNo strong branch is left on it\nthat is good enough to be a ruler's scepter.'\nThis is a sad song, and it will be used as a sad song.\""}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month. Some of the elders of Israel came to ask the LORD for a message. They sat down in front of me."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me anything, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then face them with the disgusting things their fathers did."},{"verse":5,"text":"Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I made a promise to the people of the family of Jacob. I swore an oath to them. I showed them who I am in the land of Egypt. With my hand raised, I said to them, 'I am the LORD your God.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt. I would bring them into a land that I had searched out for them. It was a land flowing with milk and honey. It was the most beautiful of all lands."},{"verse":7,"text":"And I said to them, 'Each of you must throw away the disgusting idols that you look at. You must not make yourselves unclean with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"But they rebelled against me. They refused to listen to me. Not one of them threw away the disgusting idols they looked at. They did not give up the idols of Egypt. So I decided to pour out my fury on them. I would let my anger loose on them in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":9,"text":"But I acted for the sake of my name. I did not want it to be dishonored in front of the nations where they were living. Those nations had watched me show myself to Israel. They saw me bring Israel out of the land of Egypt."},{"verse":10,"text":"So I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I led them into the wilderness."},{"verse":11,"text":"I gave them my rules. I taught them my laws. The person who obeys them will live by them."},{"verse":12,"text":"I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them. Then they would know that I am the LORD who makes them holy."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my rules. They turned away from my laws, even though the person who obeys them will live by them. And they completely dishonored my Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out my fury on them. I would put an end to them in the wilderness."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I acted for the sake of my name. I did not want it to be dishonored in front of the nations. Those nations had watched me bring Israel out."},{"verse":15,"text":"Also, with my hand raised, I swore to them in the wilderness. I swore that I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands."},{"verse":16,"text":"I did this because they kept turning away from my laws. They refused to live by my rules. They dishonored my Sabbaths. Their hearts kept going after their idols."},{"verse":17,"text":"But I felt sorry for them. I did not destroy them. I did not put an end to them in the wilderness."},{"verse":18,"text":"In the wilderness I said to their children, 'Do not follow the rules of your fathers. Do not keep their laws. Do not make yourselves unclean with their idols."},{"verse":19,"text":"I am the LORD your God. Follow my rules. Keep my laws and obey them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Keep my Sabbaths holy. Let them be a sign between me and you. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my rules. They were not careful to obey my laws, even though the person who obeys them will live by them. They dishonored my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my fury on them. I would let my anger loose on them in the wilderness."},{"verse":22,"text":"But I held back my hand. I acted for the sake of my name. I did not want it to be dishonored in front of the nations. Those nations had watched me bring Israel out."},{"verse":23,"text":"But with my hand raised, I also swore to them in the wilderness. I swore that I would scatter them among the nations. I would spread them out through many lands."},{"verse":24,"text":"This was because they did not obey my laws. They turned away from my rules. They dishonored my Sabbaths. Their eyes were set on the idols of their fathers."},{"verse":25,"text":"I also handed them over to rules that were not good. I gave them over to laws that could not give them life."},{"verse":26,"text":"I declared them unclean because of their gifts. They burned every firstborn child in the fire as a sacrifice. I did this so I could fill them with horror. Then they would know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":27,"text":"So, son of man, speak to the people of Israel. Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your fathers also insulted me in this way. They were unfaithful to me."},{"verse":28,"text":"I brought them into the land that I had sworn to give them. Then whenever they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there. They gave offerings that made me angry. They burned their sweet-smelling incense. They poured out their drink offerings."},{"verse":29,"text":"So I asked them, 'What is this high place you go to?' (It is still called Bamah today.)","note":"Bamah means \"high place.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you make yourselves unclean the way your fathers did? Will you be unfaithful like a prostitute by chasing their disgusting idols?"},{"verse":31,"text":"You offer your gifts. You burn your sons in the fire as sacrifices. To this day you keep making yourselves unclean with all your idols. So should I let you ask me for a message, people of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not let you ask me anything!"},{"verse":32,"text":"You say, 'Let us be like the nations. Let us be like the peoples of other lands, who worship wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen."},{"verse":33,"text":"As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will rule over you. I will rule with a strong hand and a powerful arm. I will rule with my anger poured out."},{"verse":34,"text":"With a strong hand and a powerful arm and my anger poured out, I will bring you out from the peoples. I will gather you from the lands where you have been scattered."},{"verse":35,"text":"I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations. There I will judge you face to face."},{"verse":36,"text":"I judged your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt. In the same way, I will judge you, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":37,"text":"I will make you pass under my rod. I will bring you under the bond of the covenant."},{"verse":38,"text":"I will clear out from among you those who rebel and sin against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are living. But they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":39,"text":"As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But later you will surely listen to me. You will no longer dishonor my holy name with your gifts and your idols."},{"verse":40,"text":"For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all the people of Israel will serve me in the land, declares the Lord GOD. All of them will be there. There I will accept them. There I will ask for your offerings and your best gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices."},{"verse":41,"text":"I will bring you from the peoples. I will gather you from the lands where you have been scattered. Then I will accept you like a sweet-smelling offering. I will show that I am holy through you while the nations watch."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then you will know that I am the LORD. You will know it when I bring you into the land of Israel. It is the land I swore to give your fathers."},{"verse":43,"text":"There you will remember your ways. You will remember all the things you did that made you unclean. And you will hate yourselves for all the evil things you have done."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then you will know that I am the LORD, people of Israel. You will know it when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name. I will not treat you as your wicked ways and evil acts deserve, declares the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Now the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":46,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face toward the south. Preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev."},{"verse":47,"text":"Say to the forest of the Negev, 'Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to start a fire in you. It will burn up all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be put out. Every face from south to north will be scorched by it."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have started it. It will not be put out.'\""},{"verse":49,"text":"Then I said, \"Oh, Lord GOD, they are saying about me, 'Isn't he just telling stories?'\""}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face against Jerusalem. Preach against the holy places. Prophesy against the land of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell her that this is what the LORD says: 'I am against you. I will pull my sword out of its sheath. I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked. So my sword will come out of its sheath against everyone from south to north."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then all people will know that I, the LORD, have pulled my sword out of its sheath. I will not put it back again.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"But you, son of man, groan! Groan in front of them with a broken heart and bitter sorrow."},{"verse":7,"text":"They will ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' Then you must say, 'Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear. Every hand will go weak. Every spirit will faint. Every knee will turn to water.' Yes, it is coming. It will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Again the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Son of man, prophesy. Tell them that this is what the Lord says:\n'A sword, a sword!\nIt is sharpened and polished."},{"verse":10,"text":"It is sharpened to kill.\nIt is polished to flash like lightning!\nShould we be glad about the scepter of my son?\nThe sword looks down on every stick like that."},{"verse":11,"text":"The sword is ready to be polished.\nIt is ready to be held in the hand.\nIt is sharpened and polished.\nIt is ready for the hand of the killer."},{"verse":12,"text":"Cry out and wail, son of man!\nThe sword is swinging against my people.\nIt is against all the princes of Israel!\nThey are thrown to the sword along with my people.\nSo beat your thigh in sorrow."},{"verse":13,"text":"Testing will surely come!\nAnd what if even the scepter, which the sword looks down on, does not last?' declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":14,"text":"'So, son of man, prophesy.\nClap your hands together.\nLet the sword strike two times, even three.\nIt is a sword for killing.\nIt is a sword for a great slaughter.\nIt closes in on them from every side!"},{"verse":15,"text":"I want their hearts to melt with fear.\nI want many to fall.\nSo I have set a sword for killing at all their gates.\nYes, it is made to flash like lightning.\nIt is drawn to kill."},{"verse":16,"text":"Sword, slash to the right!\nTurn your blade to the left!\nGo wherever your blade is pointed."},{"verse":17,"text":"I also will clap my hands together.\nI will let out all my fury.'\nI, the LORD, have spoken.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take. Both roads must start from the same land. Put up a signpost where the road splits off toward each city."},{"verse":20,"text":"Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites. Mark out the other road against Judah and into Jerusalem with its strong walls."},{"verse":21,"text":"For the king of Babylon is standing where the road splits. He stands where the two roads meet. He is looking for a sign of what to do. He shakes the arrows. He asks his idols. He looks closely at the liver of an animal."},{"verse":22,"text":"The sign for Jerusalem comes into his right hand. It tells him to set up battering rams there. It tells him to give the order to kill and to raise a battle cry. He is to aim the battering rams at the gates. He is to build a ramp and set up a wall to attack the city."},{"verse":23,"text":"To the people who swore to be loyal to him, it will seem like a false sign. But it will bring their guilt to light. And they will be taken captive."},{"verse":24,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You have reminded everyone of your guilt. Your wrongs are out in the open. Your sins can be seen in all you do. Because you have been remembered, you will be captured."},{"verse":25,"text":"And you, the ungodly and wicked prince of Israel, your day has come! The time for your final punishment is here.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Take off the turban. Remove the crown. Things will not stay the way they are. Lift up the lowly and bring down the proud."},{"verse":27,"text":"A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! It will not be set right again until he comes. It belongs to him. I have given him the right to judge.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"Now prophesy, son of man. Say that this is what the Lord GOD says about the Ammonites and their insults: 'A sword! A sword is drawn to kill. It is polished to destroy and to flash like lightning."},{"verse":29,"text":"People see false visions for you. They tell lies about you by fortune-telling. But the sword will be laid on the necks of the wicked who are killed. Their day has come. It is the time for their final punishment."},{"verse":30,"text":"Put the sword back in its sheath! I will judge you in the place where you were made. I will judge you in the land where you came from."},{"verse":31,"text":"I will pour out my anger on you. I will breathe the fire of my fury against you. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled at destroying."},{"verse":32,"text":"You will be fuel for the fire. Your blood will be spilled in your own land. No one will remember you anymore. For I, the LORD, have spoken.'\""}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge the city that is full of killing? Then show her all the disgusting things she has done."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You are a city that brings ruin on herself. You kill people inside your walls. You make idols that make you unclean."},{"verse":4,"text":"You are guilty because of the blood you have spilled. You are unclean because of the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close. You have come to the end of your years. So I have made you something the nations laugh at. All the lands make fun of you."},{"verse":5,"text":"People near and far will make fun of you. You are a city with a bad name, full of chaos."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look at how every prince of Israel in you has used his power to kill people."},{"verse":7,"text":"In you, people treat their father and mother with scorn. Inside your walls, they take advantage of foreigners. They mistreat orphans and widows."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have looked down on my holy things. You have dishonored my Sabbaths."},{"verse":9,"text":"Among you are men who tell lies about others so that people will be killed. In you are people who eat at the shrines on the mountains. They do shameful sexual things."},{"verse":10,"text":"In you men sleep with their father's wife. In you they force women to have sex during their monthly time of being unclean."},{"verse":11,"text":"One man does a disgusting thing with his neighbor's wife. Another man wickedly sleeps with his daughter-in-law. Yet another forces himself on his sister, his own father's daughter."},{"verse":12,"text":"In you people take bribes to kill others. You charge interest on loans and make huge profits. You cheat your neighbors to get their money. And you have forgotten me, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now look! I clap my hands together in anger at the money you got unfairly. I am angry at the blood you have spilled among you."},{"verse":14,"text":"Will you still be brave on the day I deal with you? Will your hands still be strong? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will scatter you among the nations. I will spread you out through many lands. I will clean out your filth."},{"verse":16,"text":"You will have made yourself unclean in front of the nations. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Son of man, the people of Israel have become like dross to me. All of them are like copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace. They are only the waste left over from silver.","note":"Dross is the waste left over when metal is melted."},{"verse":19,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'All of you have become waste. So I will gather you into Jerusalem."},{"verse":20,"text":"People gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into a furnace. They blow fire on it to melt it. In the same way, I will gather you in my anger and fury. I will put you there and melt you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Yes, I will gather you together. I will blow on you with the fire of my fury. And you will be melted inside the city."},{"verse":22,"text":"Silver is melted in a furnace. In the same way, you will be melted inside the city. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury on you.'\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Son of man, say to her, 'You are a land that has not been made clean. No rain has fallen on you in the day of my anger.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"Her princes plot together inside her. They are like a roaring lion tearing apart what it has caught. They eat up the people. They grab treasures and valuable things. They make many women into widows inside her."},{"verse":26,"text":"Her priests do violence to my law. They dishonor my holy things. They do not show the difference between what is holy and what is common. They do not teach the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. They close their eyes to my Sabbaths. So I am dishonored among them."},{"verse":27,"text":"Her officials inside her are like wolves tearing apart what they have caught. They spill blood. They destroy people's lives to get money by cheating."},{"verse":28,"text":"Her prophets cover up these deeds, like painting a wall with whitewash. They do it with false visions and fortune-telling that is full of lies. They say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.' But the LORD has not spoken."},{"verse":29,"text":"The people of the land cheat others and rob them. They mistreat the poor and needy. They take advantage of foreigners and treat them unfairly."},{"verse":30,"text":"I looked for a man among them who would fix the wall. I looked for someone to stand in the gap in front of me for the land. Then I would not have to destroy it. But I found no one."},{"verse":31,"text":"So I have poured out my anger on them. I have burned them up with the fire of my fury. I have brought on their own heads what they have done, declares the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Again the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, there were two women. They were daughters of the same mother."},{"verse":3,"text":"They acted like prostitutes in Egypt. They did this from the time they were young. There men touched their breasts and fondled their young bodies when they were still virgins."},{"verse":4,"text":"The older sister was named Oholah. Her younger sister was named Oholibah. They became mine, and they had sons and daughters. Here is who they are: Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.","note":"Oholah means \"her tent.\" Oholibah means \"my tent is in her.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Oholah acted like a prostitute while she was still mine. She longed for her lovers, the Assyrians. They were warriors"},{"verse":6,"text":"dressed in blue. They were governors and commanders. All of them were handsome young men, riding on horses."},{"verse":7,"text":"She gave herself as a prostitute to all the leading men of Assyria. She made herself unclean with all the idols of the men she wanted."},{"verse":8,"text":"She did not give up the prostitution she started in Egypt. When she was young, men slept with her there. They touched her young body when she was a virgin. They poured out their lust on her."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I handed her over to her lovers. I gave her to the Assyrians she wanted so much."},{"verse":10,"text":"They stripped her naked. They took away her sons and daughters. They killed her with the sword. So her name became a warning among women. They carried out judgment on her."},{"verse":11,"text":"Her sister Oholibah saw this. But she was even more wicked than her sister in her lust and prostitution."},{"verse":12,"text":"She also longed for the Assyrians. They were governors and commanders, warriors in fine clothes, and men riding horses. All of them were handsome young men."},{"verse":13,"text":"I saw that she also had made herself unclean. Both sisters had gone down the same path."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Oholibah took her prostitution even further. She saw pictures of men carved on a wall. They were pictures of Chaldeans, painted in bright red."},{"verse":15,"text":"They wore belts around their waists. They had long turbans on their heads. All of them looked like Babylonian officers from Chaldea, the land where they were born."},{"verse":16,"text":"As soon as she saw them, she wanted them. She sent messengers to them in Chaldea."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the Babylonians came to her, to her bed of love. In their lust they made her unclean. But after they had made her unclean, she turned away from them in disgust."},{"verse":18,"text":"Oholibah was a prostitute in the open. She showed her naked body. So I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister."},{"verse":19,"text":"But she slept around more and more. She remembered when she was young. Back then she had been a prostitute in the land of Egypt."},{"verse":20,"text":"There she had longed for her lovers. Their sex organs were like those of donkeys. Their flow of semen was like that of horses."},{"verse":21,"text":"So you went back to the shameful ways of your youth. Back then the Egyptians touched your breasts and fondled your young body."},{"verse":22,"text":"So, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will stir up your lovers against you. They are the ones you turned away from in disgust. I will bring them against you from every side."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will bring the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans. I will bring the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them. They are all handsome young men, governors and commanders. They are officers and famous men, all riding on horses."},{"verse":24,"text":"They will come against you with a huge army of peoples. They will bring weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will line up against you on every side with small shields, large shields, and helmets. I will let them judge you. They will punish you by their own laws."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will turn my jealous anger against you. They will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears. Those of you who are left will be killed by the sword. They will take away your sons and daughters. Those of you who are still left will be burned up by fire."},{"verse":26,"text":"They will tear off your clothes. They will take your beautiful jewelry."},{"verse":27,"text":"So I will put an end to your shameful ways and your prostitution. These began in the land of Egypt. You will not look to them with longing anymore. You will not remember Egypt anymore.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will surely hand you over to the people you hate. They are the ones you turned away from in disgust."},{"verse":29,"text":"They will treat you with hatred. They will take everything you worked for. They will leave you naked and bare. Then the shame of your prostitution will be seen by all. Your shameful ways and your sleeping around"},{"verse":30,"text":"have brought these things on you. This is because you acted like a prostitute with the nations. You made yourself unclean with their idols."},{"verse":31,"text":"You have followed the path of your sister. So I will put her cup in your hand.'"},{"verse":32,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says:\n'You will drink your sister's cup.\nIt is a deep and wide cup.\nPeople will laugh at you and make fun of you,\nfor the cup holds so much."},{"verse":33,"text":"You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow.\nIt is a cup of ruin and terror.\nIt is the cup of your sister Samaria."},{"verse":34,"text":"You will drink it and drain it.\nYou will smash it to pieces.\nYou will tear at your breasts.\nFor I have spoken,' declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":35,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You have forgotten me. You have thrown me behind your back. So you must suffer for your shameful ways and your prostitution.'\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then tell them about the disgusting things they have done."},{"verse":37,"text":"For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They even burned their children in the fire as food for their idols. These were the children they had for me."},{"verse":38,"text":"They have also done this to me: On that same day they made my temple unclean. They dishonored my Sabbaths."},{"verse":39,"text":"On the same day they killed their children for their idols, they came into my temple and dishonored it. Yes, they did this inside my house."},{"verse":40,"text":"You sisters even sent messengers for men who came from far away. And look! When they came, you took a bath for them. You painted your eyes and put on your jewelry."},{"verse":41,"text":"You sat on a fancy couch. A table was set in front of it. On it you had put my incense and my oil."},{"verse":42,"text":"The noise of a carefree crowd was all around. Drunks were brought in from the desert, along with common men. They put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your heads."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, 'Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!'"},{"verse":44,"text":"And they slept with her as men sleep with a prostitute. That is how they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those shameful women."},{"verse":45,"text":"But righteous men will judge them. They will give them the punishment for women who commit adultery and murder. For they are adulterers, and blood is on their hands."},{"verse":46,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Bring a mob against them. Hand them over to terror and robbery."},{"verse":47,"text":"The mob will stone them. They will cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters. They will burn down their houses."},{"verse":48,"text":"So I will put an end to shameful acts in the land. All the women will be warned not to act the way you did."},{"verse":49,"text":"They will pay you back for your shameful acts. You will suffer for your sins of worshiping idols. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'\""}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, write down today's date. For on this very day the king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem to attack it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Now tell a story with a lesson to these rebellious people. Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'Put the pot on the fire.\nPut it on and pour in the water."},{"verse":4,"text":"Put in the pieces of meat,\nall the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder.\nFill it with the best bones."},{"verse":5,"text":"Take the best animals from the flock.\nPile the wood under the pot.\nBring it to a boil,\nand cook the bones in it.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'How terrible it will be for the city full of killing!\nShe is a pot that is now rusted.\nIts rust will not come off!\nEmpty it piece by piece.\nDo not cast lots for what is in it."},{"verse":7,"text":"For the blood she spilled is still in her.\nShe poured it out on the bare rock.\nShe did not pour it on the ground,\nwhere dust could cover it."},{"verse":8,"text":"I want to stir up anger and pay her back.\nSo I have put her blood on the bare rock,\nso that it would not be covered.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'How terrible it will be for the city full of killing!\nI also will pile the wood up high."},{"verse":10,"text":"Pile on the logs and light the fire.\nCook the meat well.\nMix in the spices.\nLet the bones be burned."},{"verse":11,"text":"Set the empty pot on the hot coals.\nLet it get hot until its copper glows.\nThen the filth inside it will melt.\nIts rust will be burned away."},{"verse":12,"text":"Every effort to clean it has failed.\nIts thick rust has not come off,\nnot even in the fire."},{"verse":13,"text":"Because your filth was so shameful,\nI tried to make you clean.\nBut you would not be cleaned from your filth.\nYou will not be clean again\nuntil my anger against you has calmed down."},{"verse":14,"text":"I, the LORD, have spoken.\nThe time is coming, and I will act.\nI will not hold back.\nI will not show pity.\nI will not change my mind.\nI will judge you by your ways and your deeds,' declares the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Son of man, listen. I am about to take away the one you love to look at. It will happen with one sudden blow. But you must not mourn or cry. You must not let your tears flow."},{"verse":17,"text":"Groan quietly. Do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban. Tie your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lips. Do not eat the bread that mourners eat.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So I spoke to the people in the morning. And in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did what I had been told to do."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the people asked me, \"Won't you tell us what these things you're doing mean for us?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So I answered them, \"The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":21,"text":"'Tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to make my temple unclean. It is the pride of your strength. You love to look at it. It is the joy of your heart. And your sons and daughters you left behind will be killed by the sword."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then you will do what I have done. You will not cover your lips. You will not eat the bread that mourners eat."},{"verse":23,"text":"You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or cry. But you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan to one another."},{"verse":24,"text":"So Ezekiel will be a sign for you. You will do everything he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"And you, son of man, listen. I will take away their stronghold. It is their pride and joy. They love to look at it, and it lifts up their hearts. I will take away their sons and daughters too."},{"verse":26,"text":"On that day, someone who escaped will come and tell you the news."},{"verse":27,"text":"On that day your mouth will be opened to the one who escaped. You will speak and no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them. And they will know that I am the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face against the Ammonites. Prophesy against them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says: 'You shouted, \"Aha!\" over my temple when it was made unclean. You shouted it over the land of Israel when it was ruined. You shouted it over the people of Judah when they were taken away as captives."},{"verse":4,"text":"So I will give you to the people of the East. They will own you. They will set up their camps among you and pitch their tents there. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will turn Rabbah into a field for camels. I will make Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You clapped your hands and stamped your feet. You were glad about what happened to the land of Israel. Your heart was full of scorn."},{"verse":7,"text":"So I will reach out my hand against you. I will give you to the nations to rob. I will cut you off from the peoples. I will wipe you out from the countries. I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because Moab and Seir said, \"Look, the people of Judah are just like all the other nations,\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So I will open up the side of Moab to attack. I will start with its border towns: Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. These towns are the glory of the land."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will give Moab, along with the Ammonites, to the people of the East. They will own it. Then the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations."},{"verse":11,"text":"So I will punish Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Edom took revenge on the people of Judah. By doing that, Edom became very guilty."},{"verse":13,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: I will reach out my hand against Edom. I will wipe out its people and its animals. I will make it a wasteland. From Teman to Dedan, they will be killed by the sword."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will take revenge on Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will deal with Edom as my anger and fury deserve. Then Edom will know what my revenge is like, declares the Lord GOD.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'The Philistines acted out of revenge. They took revenge with hatred in their hearts. They wanted to destroy Judah because of their hatred from long ago."},{"verse":16,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I will reach out my hand against the Philistines. I will wipe out the Cherethites. I will destroy the people who are left along the coast."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will take great revenge on them. I will punish them in my fury. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take my revenge on them.'\""}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the twelfth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, Tyre has said about Jerusalem, 'Aha! The gate to the nations is broken. It has swung open to me. Now that she lies in ruins, I will get rich.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Listen, Tyre, I am against you. I will bring many nations against you, like the sea brings up its waves."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will destroy the walls of Tyre. They will tear down her towers. I will scrape away her soil and make her a bare rock."},{"verse":5,"text":"Out in the sea, she will become a place to spread out fishing nets. For I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. The nations will rob her."},{"verse":6,"text":"And her villages on the mainland will be killed by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Look, I will bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon against Tyre from the north. He is the king of kings. He will come with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a huge army."},{"verse":8,"text":"He will kill the people of your villages on the mainland with the sword. He will build siege works against you. He will build a ramp up to your walls. He will raise his shields against you."},{"verse":9,"text":"He will aim his battering rams at your walls. He will tear down your towers with his axes."},{"verse":10,"text":"He has so many horses that their dust will cover you. He will enter your gates like an army entering a city with broken walls. Then your walls will shake from the noise of horsemen, wagons, and chariots."},{"verse":11,"text":"The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword. Your strong pillars will fall to the ground."},{"verse":12,"text":"They will steal your riches. They will rob you of your goods. They will knock down your walls. They will tear down your beautiful houses. They will throw your stones, wood, and soil into the sea."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I will stop the sound of your songs. The music of your lyres will not be heard anymore."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will make you a bare rock. You will become a place to spread out fishing nets. You will never be built again. For I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: 'The lands along the coast will shake at the sound of your fall. The wounded will groan as people are killed inside you."},{"verse":16,"text":"All the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones. They will take off their robes. They will strip off their fancy stitched clothes. They will be dressed in terror and sit on the ground. They will tremble all the time. They will be shocked at what happened to you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then they will sing a sad song about you:\n\"How you have been destroyed,\nfamous city full of sailors!\nYou were powerful on the sea,\nyou and your people.\nYou made all peoples afraid of you!"},{"verse":18,"text":"Now the lands along the coast tremble\non the day of your fall.\nThe islands in the sea are terrified\nbecause you are gone.\"'"},{"verse":19,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will make you an empty city, like other cities where no one lives. I will bring up the deep ocean over you. Its mighty waters will cover you."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then I will bring you down with those who go down to the Pit. You will join the people of long ago. I will make you live in the world below, among the ancient ruins. You will be with those who go down to the Pit. Then no one will live in you. You will have no place of glory in the land of the living."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will make you a thing of horror, and you will be gone. People will look for you, but you will never be found,' declares the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Now you, son of man, sing a sad song for Tyre."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tyre sits at the gate to the sea. She trades with the peoples of many coasts. Tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'Tyre, you have said,\n\"I am perfect in beauty.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Your borders are in the middle of the seas.\nYour builders made you perfectly beautiful."},{"verse":5,"text":"They made all your boards\nfrom cypress trees from Senir.\nThey took a cedar from Lebanon\nto make a mast for you."},{"verse":6,"text":"They made your oars\nfrom oak trees from Bashan.\nThey made your deck\nfrom wood from the coasts of Cyprus.\nThey decorated it with ivory."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your sail was made of fine linen from Egypt,\nwith stitched designs.\nIt was also your flag.\nYour covering was made of blue and purple cloth\nfrom the coasts of Elishah."},{"verse":8,"text":"Men from Sidon and Arvad\nrowed your oars.\nYour own skilled men, Tyre,\nwere your captains."},{"verse":9,"text":"The elders of Gebal were on board as ship builders.\nThey fixed your leaks.\nAll the ships of the sea and their sailors\ncame beside you to trade for your goods."},{"verse":10,"text":"Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put\nwere soldiers in your army.\nThey hung their shields and helmets on your walls.\nThey made you look grand."},{"verse":11,"text":"Men of Arvad and Helech\nguarded your walls all around.\nThe men of Gammad were in your towers.\nThey hung their shields around your walls.\nThey made you perfectly beautiful."},{"verse":12,"text":"Tarshish traded with you\nbecause you had so many riches.\nThey traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods."},{"verse":13,"text":"Javan, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you.\nThey traded slaves and bronze tools for your goods."},{"verse":14,"text":"The men of Beth-togarmah traded horses,\nwar horses, and mules for your goods."},{"verse":15,"text":"The men of Dedan traded with you.\nMany lands along the coast bought from you.\nThey paid you with ivory tusks and ebony wood."},{"verse":16,"text":"Aram bought from you\nbecause you had so many products.\nThey traded turquoise, purple cloth, stitched cloth,\nfine linen, coral, and rubies for your goods."},{"verse":17,"text":"Judah and the land of Israel traded with you.\nThey traded wheat from Minnith, cakes, honey,\nolive oil, and healing balm for your goods."},{"verse":18,"text":"You had so many products and riches.\nSo Damascus traded with you.\nThey brought wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar"},{"verse":19,"text":"and barrels of wine from Izal for your goods.\nThey traded worked iron, cassia, and sweet cane for your goods."},{"verse":20,"text":"Dedan traded with you\nin saddle blankets for riding."},{"verse":21,"text":"Arabia and all the princes of Kedar bought from you.\nThey traded lambs, rams, and goats."},{"verse":22,"text":"The traders of Sheba and Raamah traded with you.\nFor your goods they gave gold,\nthe best of all spices, and valuable stones."},{"verse":23,"text":"Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you.\nSo did the traders of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad."},{"verse":24,"text":"In your market they traded with you.\nThey sold fine blue clothes and stitched cloth.\nThey sold rugs of many colors,\ntied with tightly twisted cords."},{"verse":25,"text":"The ships of Tarshish carried your goods.\nYou were filled with heavy cargo\nin the middle of the sea."},{"verse":26,"text":"Your rowers have taken you\nout onto the open sea.\nBut the east wind will smash you to pieces\nin the middle of the sea."},{"verse":27,"text":"On the day you fall, everything will sink into the middle of the sea.\nYour riches, your goods, and your products will sink.\nYour sailors, captains, and ship builders will sink.\nYour traders and all your soldiers will sink,\nalong with everyone else on board."},{"verse":28,"text":"The land along the shore will shake\nwhen your sailors cry out."},{"verse":29,"text":"All who row with oars\nwill leave their ships.\nThe sailors and all the sea captains\nwill stand on the shore."},{"verse":30,"text":"They will cry out loud for you.\nThey will weep bitterly.\nThey will throw dust on their heads.\nThey will roll in ashes."},{"verse":31,"text":"They will shave their heads because of you.\nThey will put on sackcloth.\nThey will weep over you with deep pain in their hearts.\nThey will mourn bitterly."},{"verse":32,"text":"As they wail and mourn over you,\nthey will sing a sad song about you:\n\"Who was ever like Tyre?\nNow she is silent in the middle of the sea!\""},{"verse":33,"text":"When your goods went out over the sea,\nyou supplied many nations.\nYou made the kings of the earth rich\nwith your many riches and goods."},{"verse":34,"text":"Now the seas have smashed you\nin the deep waters.\nYour goods and all your people\nhave gone down with you."},{"verse":35,"text":"All the people of the coastlands\nare shocked at what happened to you.\nTheir kings shake with fear.\nTheir faces are twisted with terror."},{"verse":36,"text":"The traders among the nations hiss at you.\nYou have come to a horrible end.\nYou will be gone forever.'\""}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'Your heart is proud.\nYou have said, \"I am a god.\nI sit on the throne of the gods\nin the middle of the sea.\"\nBut you are a man and not a god,\neven though you think your heart is like the heart of a god."},{"verse":3,"text":"Yes, you are wiser than Daniel.\nNo secret is hidden from you!"},{"verse":4,"text":"By your wisdom and understanding\nyou have gotten rich.\nYou have piled up gold and silver\nin your treasure rooms."},{"verse":5,"text":"By your great skill in trading\nyou have made yourself richer.\nBut your heart has become proud\nbecause of your riches."},{"verse":6,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says:\nYou think your heart is like the heart of a god."},{"verse":7,"text":"So I will bring foreigners against you.\nThey are the most cruel of the nations.\nThey will pull out their swords\nagainst your beautiful wisdom.\nThey will ruin your glory."},{"verse":8,"text":"They will bring you down to the Pit.\nYou will die a violent death\nin the middle of the seas."},{"verse":9,"text":"Will you still say, \"I am a god,\"\nin front of those who kill you?\nYou will be only a man, not a god,\nin the hands of those who wound you."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will die like an uncircumcised man\nat the hands of foreigners.\nFor I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Again the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Son of man, sing a sad song for the king of Tyre. Tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'You were the model of perfection.\nYou were full of wisdom\nand perfectly beautiful."},{"verse":13,"text":"You were in Eden,\nthe garden of God.\nEvery kind of valuable stone decorated you:\nruby, topaz, and diamond,\nberyl, onyx, and jasper,\nsapphire, turquoise, and emerald.\nYour settings and mountings were made of gold.\nThey were made ready on the day you were created."},{"verse":14,"text":"You were anointed as a guardian cherub,\nfor I had appointed you.\nYou were on the holy mountain of God.\nYou walked among the fiery stones."},{"verse":15,"text":"From the day you were created,\nyou did nothing wrong in your ways.\nBut then wickedness was found in you."},{"verse":16,"text":"You traded so much\nthat you were filled with violence,\nand you sinned.\nSo I drove you in shame from the mountain of God.\nI threw you out, guardian cherub,\nfrom among the fiery stones."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your heart became proud\nbecause of your beauty.\nYou ruined your wisdom\nbecause of your glory.\nSo I threw you down to the earth.\nI made you a show for kings to stare at."},{"verse":18,"text":"You sinned so much and traded so dishonestly\nthat you dishonored your holy places.\nSo I made a fire come out from inside you,\nand it burned you up.\nI turned you to ashes on the ground\nin front of everyone who was watching."},{"verse":19,"text":"All the nations who knew you\nare shocked at what happened to you.\nYou have come to a horrible end.\nYou will be gone forever.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face against Sidon. Prophesy against her."},{"verse":22,"text":"Say that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Listen, Sidon, I am against you. I will show my glory among you. They will know that I am the LORD when I punish her. Through her I will show that I am holy."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will send a plague on her. I will make blood flow in her streets. People will be killed inside her, with the sword against her on every side. Then they will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":24,"text":"The people of Israel will no longer have neighbors who hate them and hurt them like sharp briers and painful thorns. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will gather the people of Israel from the peoples where they have been scattered. Then I will show that I am holy among them while the nations watch. They will live in their own land, the land I gave to my servant Jacob."},{"verse":26,"text":"They will live there safely. They will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live safely when I punish all their neighbors who hate them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.'\""}]},{"chapter":29,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the tenth year, on the twelfth day of the tenth month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt. Prophesy against him and against all of Egypt."},{"verse":3,"text":"Speak to him. Tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'Listen, I am against you,\nPharaoh king of Egypt.\nYou are a great monster\nlying in the middle of your rivers.\nYou say, \"The Nile is mine.\nI made it myself.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But I will put hooks in your jaws.\nI will make the fish of your streams\nstick to your scales.\nI will pull you up out of your rivers.\nAll the fish of your streams\nwill stick to your scales."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will leave you in the desert,\nyou and all the fish of your streams.\nYou will fall in the open field.\nNo one will pick you up or bury you.\nI have given you as food\nto the wild animals and the birds of the sky."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then all the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD.\nFor you were only a walking stick made of reeds\nfor the people of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"When Israel grabbed you with their hands,\nyou splintered and tore their shoulders.\nWhen they leaned on you, you broke,\nand their backs were twisted."},{"verse":8,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: I will bring a sword against you. I will wipe out your people and your animals."},{"verse":9,"text":"The land of Egypt will become an empty wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD. You said, 'The Nile is mine. I made it.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So I am against you and against your rivers. I will turn the land of Egypt into a ruin. It will be an empty wasteland from Migdol to Syene, all the way to the border of Cush."},{"verse":11,"text":"No person or animal will walk through it. No one will live there for forty years."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make the land of Egypt the emptiest of all empty lands. Her cities will lie empty for forty years, among the ruined cities. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations. I will spread them out through many countries."},{"verse":13,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will bring Egypt back from captivity. I will bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land they came from. There they will be a weak kingdom."},{"verse":15,"text":"Egypt will be the weakest of kingdoms. It will never again lift itself up over the nations. I will make Egypt so small that it will never again rule over the nations."},{"verse":16,"text":"The people of Israel will never again trust Egypt. Instead, Egypt will remind them of the sin they did when they turned to the Egyptians for help. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"It was the twenty-seventh year, on the first day of the first month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army work very hard against Tyre. Every head was rubbed bald. Every shoulder was rubbed raw. But he and his army got no pay from Tyre for all the work they did there."},{"verse":19,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off its riches. He will take what he captures and carry away its loot. This will be the pay for his army."},{"verse":20,"text":"I have given him the land of Egypt as his reward for his work. For he did it for me, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":21,"text":"On that day I will make a horn grow for the people of Israel. And I will open your mouth to speak among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\"","note":"A horn is a picture of strength."}]},{"chapter":30,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Again the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, prophesy. Say that this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'Wail and say,\n\"How terrible that day will be!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"For the day is near.\nThe Day of the LORD is near.\nIt will be a day of clouds.\nIt will be a time of doom for the nations."},{"verse":4,"text":"A sword will come against Egypt.\nThere will be great pain in Cush\nwhen people are killed in Egypt.\nIts riches will be carried off.\nIts foundations will be torn down."},{"verse":5,"text":"Cush, Put, and Lud,\nand all the mixed peoples,\nalong with Libya and the people of the covenant land,\nwill be killed by the sword along with Egypt."},{"verse":6,"text":"For this is what the LORD says:\nThose who help Egypt will fall.\nHer proud strength will crumble.\nFrom Migdol to Syene\nthey will be killed by the sword in her,\ndeclares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":7,"text":"They will be the emptiest of empty lands.\nTheir cities will lie among ruined cities."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then they will know that I am the LORD.\nThis will happen when I set fire to Egypt\nand all her helpers are crushed."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day, messengers will go out from me in ships. They will frighten Cush, which feels so safe. Great pain will come on them on the day of Egypt's doom. For it is surely coming."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says:\nI will put an end to the crowds of Egypt\nby the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon."},{"verse":11,"text":"He and his army are the most cruel of the nations.\nThey will be brought in to destroy the land.\nThey will pull out their swords against Egypt.\nThey will fill the land with dead bodies."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make the streams dry up.\nI will sell the land to wicked people.\nBy the hands of foreigners\nI will make the land and everything in it empty.\nI, the LORD, have spoken."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says:\nI will destroy the idols.\nI will put an end to the carved images in Memphis.\nThere will no longer be a prince in Egypt.\nI will fill that land with fear."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will ruin Pathros.\nI will set fire to Zoan.\nI will punish Thebes."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will pour out my fury on Pelusium,\nthe fortress of Egypt.\nI will wipe out the crowds of Thebes."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will set fire to Egypt.\nPelusium will twist in pain.\nThebes will be broken open.\nMemphis will have trouble every day."},{"verse":17,"text":"The young men of On and Pi-beseth\nwill be killed by the sword.\nThe people of those cities will be taken away as captives."},{"verse":18,"text":"The day will turn dark in Tahpanhes\nwhen I break the yoke of Egypt.\nThen her proud strength will end.\nA cloud will cover her.\nHer daughters will be taken away as captives."},{"verse":19,"text":"So I will punish Egypt.\nThen they will know that I am the LORD.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"It was the eleventh year, on the seventh day of the first month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Look, no one has wrapped it up so it can heal. No one has put it in a splint to make it strong enough to hold a sword."},{"verse":22,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: Listen, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken. I will make the sword fall from his hand."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations. I will spread them out through many lands."},{"verse":24,"text":"I will make the arms of Babylon's king strong. I will put my sword in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh. He will groan in front of the king of Babylon like a man who is dying from his wounds."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will make the arms of Babylon's king strong. But Pharaoh's arms will hang weak. I will put my sword in the hand of Babylon's king. He will swing it against the land of Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations. I will spread them out through many lands. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":31,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the eleventh year, on the first day of the third month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, say this to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to all his people:\n'Who can be compared to you in greatness?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Look at Assyria.\nIt was like a cedar tree in Lebanon.\nIt had beautiful branches that shaded the forest.\nIt stood very tall.\nIts top was up among the clouds."},{"verse":4,"text":"The waters made it grow.\nThe deep springs made it tall.\nTheir streams flowed all around its roots.\nThey sent their channels\nto all the trees of the field."},{"verse":5,"text":"So it grew taller\nthan all the trees of the field.\nIt had more and more branches.\nIts limbs grew long as it spread them out,\nbecause it had plenty of water."},{"verse":6,"text":"All the birds of the sky\nbuilt nests in its branches.\nAll the wild animals had their young\nunder its limbs.\nAll the great nations\nlived in its shade."},{"verse":7,"text":"It was beautiful and great,\nwith its long limbs.\nFor its roots went down\nto plenty of water."},{"verse":8,"text":"The cedars in the garden of God\ncould not match it.\nThe cypress trees could not compare with its branches.\nThe plane trees could not match its limbs.\nNo tree in the garden of God\nwas as beautiful as it was."},{"verse":9,"text":"I made it beautiful\nwith its many branches.\nAll the trees of Eden in the garden of God\nwere jealous of it.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'It grew very tall. It put its top up among the clouds. And it became proud because it was so tall."},{"verse":11,"text":"So I handed it over to the ruler of the nations. He would deal with it as its wickedness deserved. I have thrown it out."},{"verse":12,"text":"Foreigners, the most cruel of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches fell on the mountains and in every valley. Its limbs lay broken in all the ravines of the earth. All the peoples of the earth left its shade and walked away from it."},{"verse":13,"text":"All the birds of the sky made nests on its fallen trunk. All the wild animals lived among its limbs."},{"verse":14,"text":"This happened so that no other trees by the waters would grow so tall. No other trees would put their tops up among the clouds. No other trees with plenty of water would grow that high. For all of them are headed for death. They will go to the deep places of the earth. They will be among the humans who go down to the Pit.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'On the day it was brought down to the grave, I caused mourning. I covered the deep waters because of it. I held back its rivers. Its many waters were stopped. I made Lebanon mourn for it. All the trees of the field fainted because of it.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":16,"text":"I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall. I threw it down to the grave with those who go down to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden were comforted in the world below. They were the finest and best trees of Lebanon, all the trees that had plenty of water.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":17,"text":"They also went down with it to the grave. They joined those killed by the sword. They had been its helpers. They had lived in its shade among the nations.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":18,"text":"Which of the trees of Eden was like you in glory and greatness? But you also will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the deep places of the earth. You will lie among the uncircumcised. You will be with those killed by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his people, declares the Lord GOD.'\""}]},{"chapter":32,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the twelfth year, on the first day of the twelfth month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, sing a sad song for Pharaoh king of Egypt. Say to him:\n'You are like a lion among the nations.\nYou are like a monster in the seas.\nYou thrash around in your rivers.\nYou stir up the waters with your feet.\nYou make the streams muddy.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says:\n'I will spread my net over you\nwith a crowd of many peoples.\nThey will pull you up in my net."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will leave you on the land.\nI will throw you into the open field.\nI will make all the birds of the sky land on you.\nI will let all the wild animals of the earth\neat all they want of you."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will spread your flesh on the mountains.\nI will fill the valleys with what is left of you."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will soak the land with your flowing blood,\nall the way to the mountains.\nThe ravines will be filled with it."},{"verse":7,"text":"When I blow you out like a flame,\nI will cover the skies\nand make their stars dark.\nI will cover the sun with a cloud.\nThe moon will not give its light."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will make all the shining lights in the sky\ngo dark over you.\nI will bring darkness on your land,'\ndeclares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":9,"text":"'I will trouble the hearts of many peoples\nwhen I bring about your ruin among the nations,\nin countries you have never known."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will make many peoples shocked at you.\nTheir kings will shake with horror because of you\nwhen I swing my sword in front of them.\nOn the day you fall,\neach of them will tremble every moment\nfor his own life.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says:\n'The sword of the king of Babylon\nwill come against you!"},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make your crowds fall\nby the swords of mighty men.\nThey are the most cruel of all the nations.\nThey will destroy the pride of Egypt.\nAll her crowds will be wiped out."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will kill all her cattle\nbeside her many waters.\nNo human foot will make them muddy again.\nNo cattle hooves will stir them up."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then I will let her waters settle and become clear.\nI will make her rivers flow smooth like oil,'\ndeclares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":15,"text":"'I will make the land of Egypt empty.\nI will strip it of everything that filled it.\nI will strike down all who live there.\nThen they will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"This is the sad song they will sing for her. The women of the nations will sing it. They will sing it over Egypt and all her crowds, declares the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"It was the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month. The LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Son of man, wail for the crowds of Egypt. Send her down to the deep places of the earth, along with the daughters of the mighty nations. Send them down with those who go down to the Pit."},{"verse":19,"text":"Who are you more beautiful than? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised!"},{"verse":20,"text":"They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is ready! Let them drag her away, along with all her crowds."},{"verse":21,"text":"From the middle of the grave, mighty leaders will speak about Egypt and those who helped her. They will say, 'They have come down. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.'","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":22,"text":"Assyria is there with her whole army. Their graves are all around her. All of them were killed. They fell by the sword."},{"verse":23,"text":"Her graves are in the deepest parts of the Pit. Her army lies all around her grave. All of them were killed. They fell by the sword. Once they made people afraid in the land of the living."},{"verse":24,"text":"Elam is there, with all her crowds around her grave. All of them were killed. They fell by the sword. They went down uncircumcised to the world below. Once they made people afraid in the land of the living. Now they carry their shame with those who go down to the Pit."},{"verse":25,"text":"A bed has been made for Elam among those who were killed. All her crowds are with her. Their graves are all around her. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword. Once they made people afraid in the land of the living. Now they carry their shame with those who go down to the Pit. They are laid among the dead."},{"verse":26,"text":"Meshech and Tubal are there with all their crowds. Their graves are all around them. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword. This is because they made people afraid in the land of the living."},{"verse":27,"text":"They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of long ago. Those warriors went down to the grave with their weapons of war. Their swords were placed under their heads. Their shields lay on their bones. Yet those mighty men also once made people afraid in the land of the living.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol"},{"verse":28,"text":"You too, Pharaoh, will be crushed. You will lie down among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword."},{"verse":29,"text":"Edom is there, with all her kings and princes. They were mighty, but they are laid among those killed by the sword. They lie down with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the Pit."},{"verse":30,"text":"All the leaders of the north are there, and all the people of Sidon. They went down in shame with the dead, even though their power made people afraid. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword. They carry their shame with those who go down to the Pit."},{"verse":31,"text":"Pharaoh will see them. He will be comforted about all his crowds who died. Pharaoh and all his army will be killed by the sword, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":32,"text":"For I will spread terror of me in the land of the living. Pharaoh and all his crowds will be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":33,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Again the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, 'Suppose I bring war against a land. The people of that land choose a man from among them. They make him their watchman."},{"verse":3,"text":"He sees the sword coming against that land. So he blows the ram's horn to warn the people."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then suppose someone hears the sound of the horn but does not pay attention to the warning. The sword comes and takes his life. Then he is to blame for his own death."},{"verse":5,"text":"He heard the sound of the horn but did not pay attention to the warning. So he is to blame for his own death. If he had paid attention to the warning, he would have saved his life."},{"verse":6,"text":"But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the horn to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes someone's life. That person will be taken away because of his sin. But I will hold the watchman responsible for his death.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel. So listen to the message from my mouth. Give them my warning."},{"verse":8,"text":"Suppose I say to a wicked man, 'Wicked man, you will surely die.' But you do not speak up to warn him to turn from his way. Then that wicked man will die because of his sin. But I will hold you responsible for his death."},{"verse":9,"text":"But suppose you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it. Then he will die because of his sin. But you will have saved your own life."},{"verse":10,"text":"Now, son of man, tell the people of Israel what they have been saying: 'Our wrongs and our sins weigh us down. We are wasting away because of them! How can we live?'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no joy when wicked people die. I would rather they turn from their ways and live. Turn back! Turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, people of Israel?'"},{"verse":12,"text":"So, son of man, say to your people, 'A righteous man's righteousness will not save him on the day he sins. And a wicked man's wickedness will not make him fall on the day he turns from it. A righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day he sins.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"Suppose I tell a righteous man that he will surely live. But then he trusts in his own righteousness and does wrong. Then none of the right things he did will be remembered. He will die because of the wrong he has done."},{"verse":14,"text":"Or suppose I tell a wicked man, 'You will surely die.' But then he turns from his sin and does what is fair and right."},{"verse":15,"text":"He gives back what he took to hold for a loan. He pays back what he stole. He follows the rules that give life, and he does no wrong. Then he will surely live. He will not die."},{"verse":16,"text":"None of the sins he has done will be held against him. He has done what is fair and right. He will surely live."},{"verse":17,"text":"Yet your people say, 'The way the Lord acts is not fair.' But it is their way that is not fair."},{"verse":18,"text":"If a righteous man turns away from doing what is right and does wrong, he will die for it."},{"verse":19,"text":"But if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is fair and right, he will live because of it."},{"verse":20,"text":"Yet you say, 'The way the Lord acts is not fair.' But I will judge each of you by your own ways, people of Israel.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"It was the twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth day of the tenth month. A man who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me. He said, \"The city has been captured!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The evening before he came, the hand of the LORD was on me. The LORD opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened, and I was no longer silent."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Son of man, the people living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one man, and yet he owned the land. But we are many. Surely the land has been given to us to own.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"So tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'You eat meat with the blood still in it. You look to your idols for help. You kill people. Should you then own the land?"},{"verse":26,"text":"You trust in your swords. You do disgusting things. Each of you sleeps with his neighbor's wife. Should you then own the land?'"},{"verse":27,"text":"Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'As surely as I live, those in the ruins will be killed by the sword. Those out in the open field I will give to wild animals to eat. Those in the forts and caves will die of disease."},{"verse":28,"text":"I will make the land an empty wasteland. Its proud strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so empty that no one will travel through them."},{"verse":29,"text":"I will make the land an empty wasteland because of all the disgusting things they have done. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you by the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. They say to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD!'"},{"verse":31,"text":"So my people come to you as they always do. They sit in front of you and listen to your words. But they do not do what you say. They speak words of love with their mouths. But their hearts chase after money they get by cheating."},{"verse":32,"text":"To them you are just like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well. They hear your words, but they do not do what you say."},{"verse":33,"text":"So when all this happens, and it surely will, they will know that a prophet has been among them.\""}]},{"chapter":34,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'How terrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who only feed themselves! Shouldn't shepherds feed their flock?"},{"verse":3,"text":"You eat the fat. You wear the wool. You kill the fattest sheep. But you do not feed the flock."},{"verse":4,"text":"You have not made the weak strong. You have not healed the sick. You have not wrapped up the hurt ones. You have not brought back the ones that wandered off. You have not looked for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them in a harsh and cruel way."},{"verse":5,"text":"They were scattered because they had no shepherd. When they were scattered, all the wild animals ate them."},{"verse":6,"text":"My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth. No one went to look for them or search for them.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"So, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"'As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, my flock has no shepherd. So my sheep have been caught and eaten by every wild animal. My shepherds did not look for my flock. Instead, they fed themselves."},{"verse":9,"text":"So, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!'"},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Listen, I am against the shepherds. I will hold them responsible for my flock. I will remove them from taking care of the flock. Then they can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths. My sheep will no longer be their food.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Listen, I myself will look for my flock. I will search for them."},{"verse":12,"text":"A shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is with his flock. In the same way, I will look for my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will bring them out from the peoples. I will gather them from the countries. I will bring them into their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the places where people live in the land."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will feed them in good pasture. The high mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land. They will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"I myself will take care of my flock. I will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will look for the lost. I will bring back the ones that wandered off. I will wrap up the hurt ones. I will make the weak ones strong. But I will destroy the fat and strong ones. I will take care of them with justice.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says to you, my flock: 'I will judge between one sheep and another. I will judge between the rams and the goats."},{"verse":18,"text":"Isn't it enough for you to eat the good grass? Must you also trample the rest of the grass with your feet? Isn't it enough for you to drink the clear water? Must you also make the rest muddy with your feet?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Why must my flock eat what your feet have trampled? Why must they drink what your feet have made muddy?'"},{"verse":20,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says to them: 'Listen, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the thin sheep."},{"verse":21,"text":"You push with your side and shoulder. You butt all the weak ones with your horns. You do it until you have driven them far away."},{"verse":22,"text":"So I will save my flock. They will no longer be caught and eaten. I will judge between one sheep and another."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will put one shepherd over them, my servant David. He will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd."},{"verse":24,"text":"I, the LORD, will be their God. My servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will make a covenant of peace with them. I will get rid of the wild animals in the land. Then they can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the forest."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing. I will send down rain at the right time. They will be showers of blessing."},{"verse":27,"text":"The trees in the field will give their fruit. The land will give its crops. My sheep will be safe in their land. I will break the bars of their yoke. I will rescue them from the hands of those who made them slaves. Then they will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":28,"text":"The nations will no longer catch them like prey. The wild animals will not eat them. They will live safely. No one will make them afraid."},{"verse":29,"text":"I will make a famous garden grow for them. They will no longer go hungry in the land. The nations will not make fun of them anymore."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them. They will know that they, the people of Israel, are my people,' declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":31,"text":"'You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God,' declares the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":35,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face toward Mount Seir. Prophesy against it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell it that this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am against you, Mount Seir. I will reach out my hand against you. I will make you an empty wasteland."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will turn your cities into ruins. You will become an empty waste. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Because you held on to a hatred from long ago, and because you handed the Israelites over to the sword when disaster struck them, at the time of their final punishment,"},{"verse":6,"text":"So as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will hand you over to bloodshed. It will chase you. You did not hate bloodshed, so bloodshed will chase you."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will make Mount Seir an empty wasteland. I will cut off from it all who come and go."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will fill its mountains with the dead. Those killed by the sword will fall on your hills. They will fall in your valleys and in all your ravines."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will make you a wasteland forever. No one will live in your cities. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"Because you said, 'These two nations and lands will be ours. We will take them for our own,' even though the LORD was there,"},{"verse":11,"text":"So as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will treat you with the same anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred for them. And I will make myself known among them when I judge you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard every scornful word you spoke against the mountains of Israel. You said, 'They are ruined! They are given to us to eat up!'"},{"verse":13,"text":"You bragged against me with your mouth. You said word after word against me. I heard it myself!"},{"verse":14,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: While the whole earth is glad, I will make you an empty waste."},{"verse":15,"text":"You were glad when the inheritance of the people of Israel was ruined. So I will do the same to you. You will become a wasteland, Mount Seir. All of Edom will too. Then they will know that I am the LORD."}]},{"chapter":36,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel. Say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: Because the enemy has said about you, 'Aha! The ancient heights belong to us now!'"},{"verse":3,"text":"So prophesy and say that this is what the Lord GOD says: Because they made you a wasteland and crushed you from every side, you became the property of the rest of the nations. And their talkers gossiped about you and told lies about you."},{"verse":4,"text":"So, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, and to the empty ruins and deserted cities. The rest of the nations around you have robbed them and laughed at them."},{"verse":5,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations. I have spoken against all of Edom. With great joy and deep scorn, they took my land as their own, so that they could rob its pastureland."},{"verse":6,"text":"So prophesy about the land of Israel. Tell the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, that this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I have spoken in my burning zeal. I spoke because you have suffered shame from the nations."},{"verse":7,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: I have raised my hand and made a promise. The nations around you will surely suffer shame of their own."},{"verse":8,"text":"But you, mountains of Israel, will grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel. For they will soon come home."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look, I am on your side. I will turn toward you. You will be plowed and planted."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will make the people on you grow in number. It will be all the people of Israel, every one of them. People will live in the cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will fill you with people and animals. They will grow in number and have many young. I will let people live on you as they did long ago. I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Yes, I will let my people Israel walk on you. They will own you, and you will be their inheritance. You will never again take their children from them."},{"verse":13,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, 'You eat up men. You take away your nation's children,'"},{"verse":14,"text":"So you will no longer eat up men or take away your nation's children, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will no longer let the mocking of the nations be heard against you. You will no longer suffer shame from the peoples. You will no longer make your nation stumble, declares the Lord GOD.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He said,"},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their own land, they made it unclean. They did it by the way they lived and the things they did. To me, the way they lived was as unclean as a woman during her monthly period."},{"verse":18,"text":"So I poured out my fury on them. I did it because of the blood they had spilled on the land. I also did it because they had made the land unclean with their idols."},{"verse":19,"text":"I scattered them among the nations. They were spread out through the lands. I judged them by the way they lived and the things they did."},{"verse":20,"text":"Everywhere they went among the nations, they dishonored my holy name. For people said about them, 'These are the LORD's people, yet they had to leave his land.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"But I cared about my holy name. The people of Israel had dishonored it among the nations where they had gone."},{"verse":22,"text":"So tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: People of Israel, I am not going to act for your sake. I will act for my holy name. You have dishonored it among the nations where you went."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will show how holy my great name is. It has been dishonored among the nations. You are the ones who dishonored it among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD. They will know it when I show my holiness in you before their eyes."},{"verse":24,"text":"For I will take you out from among the nations. I will gather you from all the countries. I will bring you back to your own land."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will make you clean from all your filth and from all your idols."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will give you a new heart. I will put a new spirit inside you. I will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."},{"verse":27,"text":"And I will put my Spirit inside you. I will cause you to walk in my laws and to be careful to obey my rules."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God."},{"verse":29,"text":"I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful. I will not send a famine on you."},{"verse":30,"text":"I will also make the fruit on the trees and the crops in the fields plentiful. Then you will no longer suffer shame among the nations because of famine."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then you will remember your evil ways and the wicked things you did. You will hate yourselves for your sins and your disgusting practices."},{"verse":32,"text":"I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Lord GOD. I want you to know that. Be ashamed and embarrassed by your ways, people of Israel!"},{"verse":33,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I make you clean from all your sins, I will let people live in the cities again. The ruins will be rebuilt."},{"verse":34,"text":"The empty land will be farmed again. It will no longer lie empty for everyone passing by to see."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then people will say, 'This land that was empty has become like the garden of Eden. The cities were once ruined, empty, and torn down. Now they have strong walls, and people live in them.'"},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the nations left around you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was torn down. They will know that I have planted again what was empty. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it."},{"verse":37,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will listen when the people of Israel ask me. I will do this for them: I will make their people as many as a flock."},{"verse":38,"text":"Think of the many flocks brought for sacrifices at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. In the same way, the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\""}]},{"chapter":37,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The hand of the LORD was on me. He brought me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley. It was full of bones."},{"verse":2,"text":"He led me all around among them. I saw a huge number of bones on the floor of the valley. And they were very dry."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then he asked me, \"Son of man, can these bones come to life?\" I answered, \"Lord GOD, only you know.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Prophesy to these bones. Tell them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!"},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will put tendons on you. I will make flesh grow on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So I prophesied as I had been told. As I was prophesying, there was suddenly a noise, a rattling sound. And the bones came together, bone to bone."},{"verse":8,"text":"As I watched, tendons appeared on them. Flesh grew, and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, breath! Breathe into these people who were killed, so they may live!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So I prophesied as he told me. The breath entered them, and they came to life. They stood up on their feet. They were a huge army."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Son of man, these bones are all the people of Israel. Look, they are saying, 'Our bones are dried up. Our hope is gone. We are cut off.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"So prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'My people, I will open your graves and bring you up out of them. I will bring you back to the land of Israel."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD. You will know it when I open your graves and bring you up out of them."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.'\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me again. He said,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"And you, son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'For Judah and the Israelites joined with him.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and for all the people of Israel joined with him.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"Then join them together into one stick. They will become one in your hand."},{"verse":18,"text":"When your people ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by these?'"},{"verse":19,"text":"Then tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in Ephraim's hand. I will take the tribes of Israel joined with him. I will put them together with the stick of Judah. I will make them into one stick, and they will become one in my hand.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"When the sticks you wrote on are in your hand, where the people can see them clearly,"},{"verse":21,"text":"Then tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around. I will bring them into their own land."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule over all of them. They will no longer be two nations. They will never again be split into two kingdoms."},{"verse":23,"text":"They will no longer make themselves unclean with their idols, their disgusting images, or any of their wrongs. I will save them from all the ways they turned from me and sinned. I will make them clean. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God."},{"verse":24,"text":"My servant David will be king over them. There will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my rules. They will be careful to obey my laws."},{"verse":25,"text":"They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever, with their children and grandchildren. My servant David will be their prince forever."},{"verse":26,"text":"I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be a covenant that lasts forever. I will make them secure and make them many. I will put my sanctuary among them forever."},{"verse":27,"text":"My home will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the nations will know that I, the LORD, make Israel holy. They will know it when my sanctuary is among them forever.'\""}]},{"chapter":38,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to me. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Son of man, turn your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog. He is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws. I will bring you out with your whole army. I will bring your horses and your horsemen in full armor. I will bring a great crowd of soldiers with large and small shields. All of them will be waving their swords."},{"verse":5,"text":"Persia, Cush, and Put will go with them. All of them will have shields and helmets."},{"verse":6,"text":"Gomer will come with all its troops. Beth-togarmah will come from the far north with all its troops. Many nations will be with you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Get ready. Prepare yourself, you and all the crowd gathered around you. You will be their guard."},{"verse":8,"text":"After a long time you will be called. In the years to come, you will march into a land that has healed from war. Its people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel. Those mountains had been empty a long time. The people were brought out from the nations, and now they all live in safety."},{"verse":9,"text":"You and all your troops and many peoples with you will go up. You will come on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will come into your mind. You will make an evil plan."},{"verse":11,"text":"You will say, 'I will attack a land of villages with no walls. I will come against a peaceful people who live in safety. All of them live without walls or bars or gates."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will go to grab their goods and carry off what I steal. I will turn my hand against the ruins where people now live. I will come against a people gathered from the nations. They have gotten livestock and goods, and they live at the center of the land.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its villages will ask you, 'Have you come to take the goods? Have you gathered your great crowds to carry off what you steal? Will you take away silver and gold? Will you take cattle and goods and grab a huge amount of loot?'"},{"verse":14,"text":"So prophesy, son of man. Tell Gog that this is what the Lord GOD says: On that day my people Israel will be living in safety. Won't you notice this?"},{"verse":15,"text":"You will come from your home in the far north. Many peoples will come with you, all riding horses. You will be a great crowd, a huge army."},{"verse":16,"text":"You will come against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. In the last days, Gog, I will bring you against my land. I will do this so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one I spoke about long ago? I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel. In those days they prophesied for years that I would bring you against Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day Gog will come against the land of Israel. Then my fury will blaze up, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":19,"text":"In my zeal and burning anger I declare this: On that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel."},{"verse":20,"text":"The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the animals in the field, and every creature that crawls on the ground will shake at my presence. All people on the face of the earth will shake too. The mountains will be thrown down. The cliffs will crumble. Every wall will fall to the ground."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will call for a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Lord GOD. Every man's sword will be against his brother."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will judge him with disease and bloodshed. I will pour down floods of rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur. They will fall on him and his troops and on the many nations with him."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will show how great and holy I am. I will make myself known while many nations watch. Then they will know that I am the LORD."}]},{"chapter":39,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Now you, son of man, prophesy against Gog. Say that this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal."},{"verse":2,"text":"I will turn you around and drive you forward. I will bring you up from the far north. I will send you against the mountains of Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand. I will make the arrows drop from your right hand."},{"verse":4,"text":"You will fall on the mountains of Israel. You and all your troops and the nations with you will fall. I will give you as food to every kind of hungry bird and wild animal."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will fall in the open field. For I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will send fire on Magog and on those who live safely along the coasts. Then they will know that I am the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel. I will not let it be dishonored anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel."},{"verse":8,"text":"Yes, it is coming! It will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD. This is the day I have spoken about."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the people who live in the cities of Israel will go out. They will light fires and burn up the weapons. They will burn the small and large shields, the bows and arrows, and the clubs and spears. They will use them as fuel for seven years."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut it from the forests. They will use the weapons for fuel. They will rob those who robbed them. They will take from those who took from them, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":11,"text":"On that day I will give Gog a place to be buried in Israel. It will be the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea. It will block the way of those who travel through. For Gog and all his crowds of soldiers will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.","note":"Hamon-gog means the crowd of Gog."},{"verse":12,"text":"The people of Israel will spend seven months burying them. They will do it to make the land clean."},{"verse":13,"text":"All the people of the land will bury them. It will bring them honor on the day I show my glory, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":14,"text":"Men will be hired to keep going through the land to make it clean. They will bury the invaders who are still lying on the ground. They will start their search at the end of the seven months."},{"verse":15,"text":"They will go through the land. Anyone who sees a human bone will set up a marker next to it. It will stay there until the gravediggers bury it in the Valley of Hamon-gog."},{"verse":16,"text":"(A city will also be named Hamonah there.) In this way they will make the land clean.","note":"Hamonah means crowd."},{"verse":17,"text":"And you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and every wild animal. Say, 'Gather together! Come from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you. It is a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood."},{"verse":18,"text":"You will eat the flesh of mighty men. You will drink the blood of the princes of the earth. It will be as if they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all fattened animals from Bashan."},{"verse":19,"text":"At the sacrifice I am preparing for you, you will eat fat until you are stuffed. You will drink blood until you are drunk."},{"verse":20,"text":"At my table you will eat all you want of horses and riders. You will eat mighty men and every kind of soldier,' declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":21,"text":"I will show my glory among the nations. All the nations will see how I judge. They will see the hand I lay on them."},{"verse":22,"text":"From that day on, the people of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God."},{"verse":23,"text":"And the nations will know why the people of Israel went into exile. It was because of their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them. I handed them over to their enemies, and they all died by the sword."},{"verse":24,"text":"I dealt with them as their uncleanness and their wrongs deserved. I hid my face from them."},{"verse":25,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will bring Jacob back from captivity. I will show mercy to all the people of Israel. I will be jealous for my holy name."},{"verse":26,"text":"They will forget their shame and all the ways they betrayed me. This will happen when they live safely in their land, with no one to make them afraid."},{"verse":27,"text":"I will bring them back from the peoples. I will gather them out of the lands of their enemies. Then I will show my holiness through them while many nations watch."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then they will know that I am the LORD their God. They will know it when I gather them again to their own land. I sent them into exile among the nations, but I will not leave any of them behind."},{"verse":29,"text":"I will no longer hide my face from them. For I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.\""}]},{"chapter":40,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the twenty-fifth year of our exile. It was the start of the year, on the tenth day of the month. It was the fourteenth year after Jerusalem had been struck down. On that very day the hand of the LORD was on me, and he took me there."},{"verse":2,"text":"In visions from God he took me to the land of Israel. He set me on a very high mountain. On its south side was a group of buildings that looked like a city."},{"verse":3,"text":"He took me there, and I saw a man who looked like he was made of bronze. He was standing in the gateway. He had a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand."},{"verse":4,"text":"The man said to me, \"Son of man, look with your eyes and listen with your ears. Pay attention to everything I am going to show you. That is why you were brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"I saw a wall all around the temple area. The measuring rod in the man's hand was about 10 1/2 feet long. He measured the wall. It was one rod thick and one rod high.","note":"Hebrew: six long cubits, each a cubit and a handbreadth. In Ezekiel's temple vision, a long cubit is about 21 inches."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he went to the gate that faced east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate. It was one rod deep."},{"verse":7,"text":"Each guardroom of the gate was one rod long and one rod wide. There were five cubits, about 9 feet, between the guardrooms. The inner threshold of the gate, next to the porch facing inward, was one rod deep.","note":"Hebrew: five cubits. The guardrooms are small rooms beside the gateway."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he measured the porch of the gateway on the inside."},{"verse":9,"text":"It was 14 feet deep. Its side posts were 3 1/2 feet thick. The porch of the gateway faced the temple.","note":"Hebrew: eight cubits; two cubits."},{"verse":10,"text":"There were three guardrooms on each side of the east gate. They were all the same size. The posts on each side were also the same size."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then he measured the gateway entrance. It was 17 1/2 feet wide and about 23 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: ten cubits; thirteen cubits."},{"verse":12,"text":"In front of each guardroom was a low wall 21 inches high. The guardrooms were 10 1/2 feet on each side.","note":"Hebrew: one cubit; six cubits."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one guardroom to the roof of the one across from it. It was about 44 feet from doorway to doorway.","note":"Hebrew: twenty-five cubits."},{"verse":14,"text":"Next he measured the gateposts. They were 105 feet high. The gateway reached around to the gatepost of the courtyard.","note":"Hebrew: sixty cubits."},{"verse":15,"text":"From the front entrance of the gateway to the far end of its inner porch was about 88 feet.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits."},{"verse":16,"text":"The guardrooms and their side pillars had narrow windows all around the inside of the gateway. The porches also had windows all around on the inside. Each side pillar was decorated with palm trees."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he brought me into the outer court. I saw rooms there, and a stone pavement laid all around the court. Thirty rooms faced the pavement."},{"verse":18,"text":"The pavement ran along the sides of the gateways. It was as long as the gates were. This was the lower pavement."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then he measured from the front of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner court. It was 175 feet on the east side and on the north side too.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":20,"text":"He also measured the length and width of the outer court's gateway that faced north."},{"verse":21,"text":"It had three guardrooms on each side. Its guardrooms, side pillars, and porch were the same size as those of the first gate. It was about 88 feet long and about 44 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits; twenty-five cubits."},{"verse":22,"text":"Its windows, porch, and palm trees were the same size as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps went up to it. Its porch was across from the steps."},{"verse":23,"text":"There was a gate to the inner court across from the north gate, just like the one on the east. He measured from one gateway to the other. It was 175 feet.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then he led me to the south side. I saw a gateway facing south. He measured its side pillars and its porch. They were the same size as the others."},{"verse":25,"text":"The gateway and its porch had windows all around, like the other windows. It was about 88 feet long and about 44 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits; twenty-five cubits."},{"verse":26,"text":"Seven steps went up to it. Its porch was across from the steps. It had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side."},{"verse":27,"text":"The inner court also had a gate facing south. He measured from that gateway to the outer gateway on the south. It was 175 feet.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":28,"text":"Next he brought me into the inner court through the south gate. He measured the south gate. It was the same size as the others."},{"verse":29,"text":"Its guardrooms, side pillars, and porch were the same size as the others. The gateway and its porch had windows all around. It was about 88 feet long and about 44 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits; twenty-five cubits."},{"verse":30,"text":"(The porches around the inner court were about 44 feet long and about 9 feet deep.)","note":"Hebrew: twenty-five cubits; five cubits."},{"verse":31,"text":"Its porch faced the outer court. Its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps went up to it."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. He measured the gateway. It was the same size as the others."},{"verse":33,"text":"Its guardrooms, side pillars, and porch were the same size as the others. The gateway and its porch had windows all around. It was about 88 feet long and about 44 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits; twenty-five cubits."},{"verse":34,"text":"Its porch faced the outer court. Its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps went up to it."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it. It was the same size as the others."},{"verse":36,"text":"So were its guardrooms, side pillars, and porch. It also had windows all around. It was about 88 feet long and about 44 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits; twenty-five cubits."},{"verse":37,"text":"Its porch faced the outer court. Its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps went up to it."},{"verse":38,"text":"There was a room with a door by the porch of each inner gateway. The burnt offering was to be washed there."},{"verse":39,"text":"Inside the porch of the gateway were two tables on each side. On them the burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings were to be killed."},{"verse":40,"text":"Outside, as you go up to the entrance of the north gateway, there were two tables on one side. There were two more tables on the other side of the gate's porch."},{"verse":41,"text":"So there were four tables inside the gateway and four outside. That made eight tables in all. The sacrifices were to be killed on them."},{"verse":42,"text":"There were also four tables of cut stone for the burnt offering. Each was about 32 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 21 inches high. The tools used to kill the burnt offerings and the other sacrifices were placed on them.","note":"Hebrew: a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit high."},{"verse":43,"text":"Hooks with two prongs, each about 3 inches long, were fastened all around the inside of the room. The meat of the offerings was to be placed on the tables.","note":"Hebrew: a handbreadth."},{"verse":44,"text":"Outside the inner gate, inside the inner court, were two rooms. One was beside the north gate and faced south. The other was beside the south gate and faced north."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then the man said to me, \"The room that faces south is for the priests who take care of the temple."},{"verse":46,"text":"The room that faces north is for the priests who take care of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok. They are the only Levites who may come near the LORD to serve him.\""},{"verse":47,"text":"Next he measured the court. It was a square, 175 feet long and 175 feet wide. The altar was in front of the temple.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":48,"text":"Then he brought me to the porch of the temple. He measured the side pillars of the porch. They were about 9 feet thick on each side. The gateway was 24 1/2 feet wide. Its side walls were about 5 feet thick on each side.","note":"Hebrew: five cubits; fourteen cubits; three cubits."},{"verse":49,"text":"The porch was 35 feet wide and 21 feet deep. Ten steps went up to it. There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side.","note":"Hebrew: twenty cubits; twelve cubits."}]},{"chapter":41,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the man brought me into the outer sanctuary. He measured the side pillars. They were 10 1/2 feet wide on each side.","note":"Hebrew: six cubits."},{"verse":2,"text":"The entrance was 17 1/2 feet wide. The walls on each side of the entrance were about 9 feet wide. He also measured the outer sanctuary. It was 70 feet long and 35 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: ten cubits; five cubits; forty cubits; twenty cubits."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then he went into the inner sanctuary. He measured the side pillars at the entrance. They were 3 1/2 feet wide. The entrance was 10 1/2 feet wide. The walls on each side were about 12 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: two cubits; six cubits; seven cubits."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he measured the room next to the inner sanctuary. It was 35 feet long and 35 feet wide. He said to me, \"This is the Most Holy Place.\"","note":"Hebrew: twenty cubits."},{"verse":5,"text":"Next he measured the wall of the temple. It was 10 1/2 feet thick. Each side room around the temple was 7 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: six cubits; four cubits."},{"verse":6,"text":"The side rooms were built one above another, in three levels. Each level had thirty rooms. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to hold up the side rooms. That way the supports would not be fastened into the temple wall itself."},{"verse":7,"text":"The side rooms around the temple got wider at each higher level. This is because the temple wall got thinner as it went up, step by step. A stairway went up from the lowest floor to the top floor, through the middle one."},{"verse":8,"text":"I saw that the temple had a raised base all around it. It was the foundation of the side rooms. It was a full rod high, about 10 1/2 feet.","note":"Hebrew: six long cubits."},{"verse":9,"text":"The outer wall of the side rooms was about 9 feet thick. There was an open area between the side rooms of the temple","note":"Hebrew: five cubits."},{"verse":10,"text":"and the outer rooms. It was 35 feet wide all around the temple.","note":"Hebrew: twenty cubits."},{"verse":11,"text":"The side rooms had doors that opened onto this area. One door was on the north and one was on the south. The open area was about 9 feet wide all around.","note":"Hebrew: five cubits."},{"verse":12,"text":"There was a building facing the temple courtyard on the west side. It was about 122 feet wide. Its wall was about 9 feet thick all around. It was about 158 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: seventy cubits; five cubits; ninety cubits."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he measured the temple. It was 175 feet long. The temple courtyard and the building with its walls were also 175 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":14,"text":"The temple courtyard on the east, along with the front of the temple, was 175 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":15,"text":"Next he measured the building facing the courtyard at the back of the temple. He included its balconies on each side. It was 175 feet long. The outer sanctuary, the inner sanctuary, and the porches facing the court","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits."},{"verse":16,"text":"were covered with wood on all sides. So were the thresholds, the narrow windows, and the balconies all around with their three levels across from the threshold. They had wood panels from the floor up to the windows. The windows were covered."},{"verse":17,"text":"There were carvings above the outside of the entrance to the inner sanctuary. They were on all the walls, spaced evenly all around the inner and outer sanctuary."},{"verse":18,"text":"The carvings were cherubim and palm trees, one after the other. Each cherub had two faces."},{"verse":19,"text":"A man's face looked toward the palm tree on one side. A young lion's face looked toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved all the way around the temple."},{"verse":20,"text":"Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary. They went from the floor to the space above the entrance."},{"verse":21,"text":"The outer sanctuary had a doorframe with four sides. The doorframe of the sanctuary looked the same."},{"verse":22,"text":"There was an altar made of wood. It was about 5 feet high and 3 1/2 feet on each side. Its corners, base, and sides were made of wood. The man told me, \"This is the table that stands before the LORD.\"","note":"Hebrew: three cubits high and two cubits square."},{"verse":23,"text":"The outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary each had double doors."},{"verse":24,"text":"Each door had two panels that swung open. There were two panels for one door and two for the other."},{"verse":25,"text":"Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the outer sanctuary, like those on the walls. There was a wooden roof over the front of the porch outside."},{"verse":26,"text":"There were narrow windows and palm trees on the side walls of the porch. The side rooms of the temple also had roofs over them."}]},{"chapter":42,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the man led me out north into the outer court. He brought me to the group of rooms across from the temple courtyard and across from the outer wall on the north side."},{"verse":2,"text":"The building with the door facing north was 175 feet long and about 88 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: a hundred cubits; fifty cubits."},{"verse":3,"text":"Balcony faced balcony on three levels. They were across from the 35-foot space that belonged to the inner court. They were also across from the pavement that belonged to the outer court.","note":"Hebrew: twenty cubits."},{"verse":4,"text":"In front of the rooms was an inner walkway. It was 17 1/2 feet wide and 175 feet long. Their doors were on the north side.","note":"Hebrew: ten cubits; a hundred cubits."},{"verse":5,"text":"The upper rooms were smaller. This is because the balconies took more space from them than from the rooms on the lower and middle floors of the building."},{"verse":6,"text":"The rooms were built in three stories. They had no pillars like the courts had. So the upper rooms were set farther back than the lower and middle floors."},{"verse":7,"text":"An outer wall stood in front of the rooms. It was about 88 feet long. It ran alongside the rooms and the outer court.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits."},{"verse":8,"text":"The rooms beside the outer court were about 88 feet long. The rooms facing the temple were 175 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: fifty cubits; a hundred cubits."},{"verse":9,"text":"Below these rooms was an entrance on the east side. It was where you go in from the outer court."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the south side there were rooms along the length of the wall of the outer court. They were next to the courtyard and across from the building."},{"verse":11,"text":"There was a walkway in front of them, just like the rooms on the north. They were just as long and wide. They had the same kind of exits and were the same size."},{"verse":12,"text":"There were doors to the rooms facing south. To match them, there was a door at the start of the walkway. The walkway ran alongside the wall that went east."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the man said to me, \"The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the holy rooms. That is where the priests who come near the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. They will put the most holy offerings there. These are the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. For the place is holy."},{"verse":14,"text":"When the priests go into the holy area, they must not go out to the outer court right away. First they must leave behind the clothes they wear when they serve, because these clothes are holy. They must put on other clothes before they go near the places for the people.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The man finished measuring the inside of the temple area. Then he led me out through the gate that faced east. He measured the area all around."},{"verse":16,"text":"He measured the east side with the measuring rod. It was 875 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: five hundred cubits."},{"verse":17,"text":"He measured the north side. It was 875 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: five hundred cubits."},{"verse":18,"text":"He measured the south side. It was 875 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: five hundred cubits."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then he turned and measured the west side. It was 875 feet long.","note":"Hebrew: five hundred cubits."},{"verse":20,"text":"So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall all around it, 875 feet long and 875 feet wide. The wall separated what was holy from what was common.","note":"Hebrew: five hundred cubits."}]},{"chapter":43,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the man brought me back to the gate that faces east."},{"verse":2,"text":"I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters. The earth shone with his glory."},{"verse":3,"text":"This vision was like the one I had seen when he came to destroy the city. It was also like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River. I fell with my face to the ground."},{"verse":4,"text":"The glory of the LORD came into the temple through the gate facing east."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court. The glory of the LORD filled the temple."},{"verse":6,"text":"The man was standing beside me. Then I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple."},{"verse":7,"text":"He said to me, \"Son of man, this is the place of my throne. This is the place for the soles of my feet. I will live here among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again make my holy name unclean. Neither they nor their kings will do it by their prostitution. They will not do it by the funeral offerings for their kings when they die.","note":"Prostitution here means unfaithful worship of other gods. Or: the dead bodies of their kings."},{"verse":8,"text":"They put their doorway next to my doorway. They put their doorposts beside my doorposts. Only a wall stood between me and them. They made my holy name unclean by the disgusting things they did. So I destroyed them in my anger."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now let them put their prostitution far away from me. Let them put away the funeral offerings for their kings. Then I will live among them forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of their sins. Let them measure the plan."},{"verse":11,"text":"If they are ashamed of all they have done, show them the design of the temple. Show them how it is laid out, with its exits and entrances. Show them its whole design and all its rules, forms, and laws. Write it down while they watch. Then they can keep its whole design and all its rules and do them."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is the law of the temple: All the land around it on top of the mountain will be most holy. Yes, this is the law of the temple."},{"verse":13,"text":"These are the measurements of the altar, using the long cubit. (A long cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth.) Its gutter must be one cubit deep and one cubit wide. It must have a rim one span wide around its edge. And this is the height of the altar:","note":"A long cubit is about 21 inches. A span is about 9 inches."},{"verse":14,"text":"From the gutter on the ground up to the lower ledge must be two cubits. That ledge must be one cubit wide. From the smaller ledge up to the larger ledge must be four cubits. That ledge must be one cubit wide."},{"verse":15,"text":"The altar hearth must be four cubits high. Four horns must stick up from the hearth.","note":"The hearth is the top part where the fire burns."},{"verse":16,"text":"The altar hearth must be square, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide."},{"verse":17,"text":"The ledge must also be square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide. It must have a rim of half a cubit and a gutter of one cubit all around it. The steps of the altar must face east.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then he said to me, \"Son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: 'These are the rules for the altar on the day it is built, so that burnt offerings may be sacrificed on it and blood may be splashed on it."},{"verse":19,"text":"You must give a young bull from the herd as a sin offering to the Levitical priests. They are from the family of Zadok. They come near me to serve me, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":20,"text":"Take some of its blood. Put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and all around the rim. In this way you will make the altar clean and make atonement for it."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then you must take away the bull for the sin offering. Burn it in the chosen place in the temple area, outside the sanctuary."},{"verse":22,"text":"On the second day you must bring a male goat with no defects as a sin offering. The altar must be made clean as it was with the bull."},{"verse":23,"text":"When you have finished making it clean, you must bring a young bull with no defects. You must also bring a ram from the flock with no defects."},{"verse":24,"text":"You must bring them before the LORD. The priests must sprinkle salt on them. They must sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the LORD."},{"verse":25,"text":"For seven days you must bring a male goat each day for a sin offering. You must also bring a young bull and a ram from the flock. Both must have no defects."},{"verse":26,"text":"For seven days the priests must make atonement for the altar and make it clean. In this way they will set it apart for God."},{"verse":27,"text":"When these days are over, from the eighth day on, the priests must offer your burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.'\""}]},{"chapter":44,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary that faced east. But it was shut."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to me, \"This gate must stay shut. It must not be opened. No man may go in through it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has gone in through it. So it must stay shut."},{"verse":3,"text":"Only the prince himself may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence of the LORD. He must come in through the porch of the gateway. He must go out the same way.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the man brought me through the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked and saw the glory of the LORD filling his temple. I fell with my face to the ground."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD said to me, \"Son of man, pay attention. Look closely with your eyes. Listen carefully with your ears to everything I tell you. It is about all the rules and laws of the house of the LORD. Take careful note of the entrance to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary."},{"verse":6,"text":"Say to the rebellious people of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I have had enough of all your disgusting practices, people of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"On top of all your other disgusting practices, you brought foreigners into my sanctuary. They were uncircumcised in heart and in body. You made my temple unclean when you offered me my food, the fat and the blood. You broke my covenant."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have not taken care of my holy things yourselves. Instead, you put others in charge of my sanctuary for you.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner who is uncircumcised in heart and body may enter my sanctuary. Not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites may enter."},{"verse":10,"text":"The Levites wandered away from me when Israel went astray. They wandered away from me to follow their idols. They will surely suffer for their sin."},{"verse":11,"text":"Yet they will serve in my sanctuary. They will guard the gates of the temple and serve there. They will kill the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people. They will stand before the people to serve them."},{"verse":12,"text":"They served the people in front of their idols. They made the people of Israel trip and fall into sin. So I have raised my hand and made a promise about them. They will suffer for their sin, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":13,"text":"They must not come near me to serve me as priests. They must not come near any of my holy things or my most holy things. They will carry the shame of the disgusting things they have done."},{"verse":14,"text":"Yet I will put them in charge of all the work of the temple and everything that must be done in it."},{"verse":15,"text":"But the Levitical priests who come from Zadok's family took care of my sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from me. They are the ones who may come near me to serve me. They will stand before me to offer me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":16,"text":"Only they may enter my sanctuary. Only they may come near my table to serve me. They will do the work I give them."},{"verse":17,"text":"When they go through the gates of the inner court, they must wear linen clothes. They must not wear anything made of wool while they serve at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple."},{"verse":18,"text":"They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen underwear around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat."},{"verse":19,"text":"When they go out to the people in the outer court, they must take off the clothes they wore while serving. They must leave them in the holy rooms and put on other clothes. That way they will not pass holiness to the people through their clothes."},{"verse":20,"text":"They must not shave their heads. They must not let their hair grow long. They must keep their hair carefully trimmed."},{"verse":21,"text":"No priest may drink wine before he goes into the inner court."},{"verse":22,"text":"They must not marry a widow or a divorced woman. They must marry a virgin from the families of Israel, or the widow of a priest."},{"verse":23,"text":"They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common. They must show them how to tell the clean from the unclean."},{"verse":24,"text":"When people disagree, the priests must act as judges. They must judge by my rules. They must keep my laws and rules about all my appointed feasts. They must keep my Sabbaths holy."},{"verse":25,"text":"A priest must not make himself unclean by going near a dead body. But he may do so if the dead person is his father or mother, his son or daughter, his brother, or his sister who was not married."},{"verse":26,"text":"After he is made clean, he must wait seven more days."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then on the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to serve in the sanctuary, he must offer his sin offering, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":28,"text":"The priests are to have no land of their own as an inheritance. I am their inheritance. You must give them no property in Israel. I am their property."},{"verse":29,"text":"They will eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel that is given over to the LORD will belong to them."},{"verse":30,"text":"The best of all the firstfruits will belong to the priests. So will the best of every gift from all your offerings. You must give the priest the first part of your dough. Then a blessing will rest on your homes."},{"verse":31,"text":"The priests must not eat any bird or animal that was found dead or was torn apart by wild animals."}]},{"chapter":45,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"When you cast lots to divide the land as an inheritance, you must set apart a part of the land for the LORD. It will be a holy part, about 8 miles long and about 6 1/2 miles wide. All of this land will be holy.","note":"Literally 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide (following the Greek; the Hebrew reads 10,000 cubits wide)."},{"verse":2,"text":"In this area there must be a square for the sanctuary, 875 feet on each side. Around it there must be open land 88 feet wide.","note":"Hebrew: 500 cubits; 50 cubits."},{"verse":3,"text":"From this holy part, you must measure off an area about 8 miles long and about 3 miles wide. The sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, will be in it.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits; 10,000 cubits."},{"verse":4,"text":"It will be a holy part of the land for the priests. They serve in the sanctuary and come near to serve the LORD. It will be a place for their houses. It will also be a holy place for the sanctuary."},{"verse":5,"text":"Next to it will be an area about 8 miles long and about 3 miles wide. It will belong to the Levites who serve in the temple. It will be their property, with towns for them to live in.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits; 10,000 cubits."},{"verse":6,"text":"You must set apart an area to be the city's property. It will be about 1 2/3 miles wide and about 8 miles long. It will be next to the holy area. It will belong to all the people of Israel.","note":"Hebrew: 5,000 cubits; 25,000 cubits."},{"verse":7,"text":"The prince will have the land on both sides of the holy area and the city's property. It will stretch west from the west side and east from the east side. It will run the whole length from the western border to the eastern border. Its length will match one of the tribes' parts."},{"verse":8,"text":"This land will be his property in Israel. Then my princes will no longer treat my people cruelly. They will give the rest of the land to the people of Israel by their tribes."},{"verse":9,"text":"For this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Enough, you princes of Israel! Stop your violence and cruelty. Do what is fair and right. Stop forcing my people off their land, declares the Lord GOD.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"You must use honest scales. You must use an honest ephah and an honest bath.","note":"An ephah was a dry measure, about 5 gallons. A bath was a liquid measure of about the same size."},{"verse":11,"text":"The ephah and the bath must be the same amount. A bath must hold one tenth of a homer. An ephah must also be one tenth of a homer. The homer will be the standard measure for both.","note":"A homer was about 50 gallons."},{"verse":12,"text":"A shekel will equal twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels will equal one mina.","note":"A shekel weighed about 2/5 ounce. A mina was 60 shekels, about 1 1/2 pounds."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is the gift you must offer: one sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat. Also give one sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley."},{"verse":14,"text":"The set share of oil, measured by the bath, is one tenth of a bath from each cor. (A cor is ten baths, or one homer, since ten baths equal a homer.)"},{"verse":15,"text":"One sheep must be given from each flock of two hundred from the well-watered pastures of Israel. These are for the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings. They will make atonement for the people, declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":16,"text":"All the people of the land must take part in giving this gift to the prince in Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"It will be the prince's job to supply the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings. He must supply them for the feasts, the New Moons, and the Sabbaths. He must supply them for all the appointed feasts of the people of Israel. He will supply the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings. They will make atonement for the people of Israel."},{"verse":18,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'On the first day of the first month, take a young bull with no defects. Use it to make the sanctuary pure."},{"verse":19,"text":"The priest must take some of the blood from the sin offering. He must put it on the doorposts of the temple and on the four corners of the altar's ledge. He must also put it on the gateposts of the inner court."},{"verse":20,"text":"You must do the same thing on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins by mistake or without knowing it. In this way you will make atonement for the temple."},{"verse":21,"text":"On the fourteenth day of the first month you must keep the Passover. It is a feast that lasts seven days. During that time you must eat bread made without yeast."},{"verse":22,"text":"On that day the prince must supply a bull as a sin offering. It will be for himself and for all the people of the land."},{"verse":23,"text":"Every day during the seven days of the feast, he must supply seven bulls and seven rams with no defects. They are a burnt offering to the LORD. He must also supply a male goat each day for a sin offering."},{"verse":24,"text":"He must also supply a grain offering. He must give an ephah of grain for each bull and an ephah for each ram. He must give a hin of olive oil with each ephah of grain.","note":"A hin was about 1 gallon."},{"verse":25,"text":"There is a feast that starts on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. During its seven days, he must supply the same things. He must give the same sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and oil.'"}]},{"chapter":46,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'The gate of the inner court that faces east must stay shut on the six work days. But it must be opened on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon."},{"verse":2,"text":"The prince must come in from outside through the porch of the gateway. He must stand by the gatepost while the priests sacrifice his burnt offerings and peace offerings. He must bow down and worship at the doorway of the gate. Then he must leave. But the gate must not be shut until evening."},{"verse":3,"text":"On the Sabbaths and New Moons, the people of the land must also bow down and worship before the LORD. They must do it at the entrance to that gateway."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the Sabbath day the prince must bring a burnt offering to the LORD. It must be six male lambs and a ram, all with no defects."},{"verse":5,"text":"The grain offering with the ram must be an ephah. The grain offering with the lambs may be as much as he is able to give. He must give a hin of oil with each ephah."},{"verse":6,"text":"On the day of the New Moon he must offer a young bull, six lambs, and a ram. They must all have no defects."},{"verse":7,"text":"He must supply a grain offering of an ephah with the bull and an ephah with the ram. With the lambs he may give as much as he is able. He must give a hin of oil with each ephah."},{"verse":8,"text":"When the prince comes in, he must go in through the porch of the gateway. He must go out the same way."},{"verse":9,"text":"The people of the land will come before the LORD at the appointed feasts. Whoever comes in by the north gate to worship must go out by the south gate. Whoever comes in by the south gate must go out by the north gate. No one may go back out through the gate he came in by. Each person must go out by the gate across from it."},{"verse":10,"text":"When the people go in, the prince must go in with them. When they go out, he must go out."},{"verse":11,"text":"At the festivals and appointed feasts, the grain offering must be an ephah with a bull and an ephah with a ram. With the lambs, it may be as much as a person is able to give. A hin of oil must be given with each ephah."},{"verse":12,"text":"The prince may choose to give a freewill offering to the LORD. It may be a burnt offering or a peace offering. Then the gate facing east must be opened for him. He must offer his burnt offering or peace offering just as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he must go out. After he goes out, the gate must be shut."},{"verse":13,"text":"Every day you must supply a lamb one year old with no defects. It is a burnt offering to the LORD. You must offer it every morning."},{"verse":14,"text":"Every morning you must also give a grain offering with it. It must be one sixth of an ephah of fine flour, with one third of a hin of oil to wet the flour. It is a grain offering to the LORD. This is a rule that will last forever."},{"verse":15,"text":"So they must supply the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil every morning. It will be a regular burnt offering.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: 'If the prince gives a gift to one of his sons as an inheritance, it will belong to his descendants. It will be their property to pass down."},{"verse":17,"text":"But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant only until the year of freedom. After that it will go back to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons. It will be theirs."},{"verse":18,"text":"The prince must not take any of the people's inheritance by forcing them off their property. He must give his sons their inheritance from his own property. Then none of my people will be forced off their land.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate. He took me into the holy rooms facing north, which belonged to the priests. He showed me a place there, at the far west end."},{"verse":20,"text":"He said to me, \"This is the place where the priests will boil the guilt offering and the sin offering. It is where they will bake the grain offering. That way they will not carry these things out into the outer court and pass holiness to the people.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he brought me into the outer court. He led me around to its four corners. In each corner I saw a separate court."},{"verse":22,"text":"In the four corners of the outer court there were closed-in courts. Each was 70 feet long and about 52 feet wide. All four corner areas were the same size.","note":"Hebrew: forty cubits long and thirty cubits wide."},{"verse":23,"text":"Around the inside of each of the four courts was a row of stonework. Ovens were built at the bottom of the walls on all sides."},{"verse":24,"text":"He said to me, \"These are the kitchens. The people who serve at the temple will cook the people's sacrifices here.\""}]},{"chapter":47,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I saw water flowing out from under the doorway of the temple. It flowed toward the east, because the temple faced east. The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar."},{"verse":2,"text":"Next he brought me out through the north gate. He led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east. There I saw the water trickling out from the south side."},{"verse":3,"text":"The man went east with a measuring line in his hand. He measured off about a third of a mile. Then he led me through water that came up to my ankles.","note":"Hebrew: a thousand cubits (about 1,750 feet). Also in verses 4 and 5."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he measured off another third of a mile and led me through water up to my knees. He measured another third of a mile and led me through water up to my waist."},{"verse":5,"text":"He measured off one more third of a mile. Now it was a river that I could not cross. The water had risen and was deep enough to swim in. It was a river no one could cross on foot."},{"verse":6,"text":"He asked me, \"Son of man, do you see this?\" Then he led me back to the bank of the river."},{"verse":7,"text":"When I got there, I saw a great many trees on both banks of the river."},{"verse":8,"text":"He said to me, \"This water flows out to the land in the east. It goes down into the Arabah. When it flows into the Dead Sea, the water there becomes fresh."},{"verse":9,"text":"Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures. There will be a great many fish, because the river flows there and makes the water fresh. So everything will thrive wherever the river flows."},{"verse":10,"text":"Fishermen will stand on the shore. From En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread out their nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.","note":"The Great Sea is the Mediterranean Sea."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh. They will be left for salt."},{"verse":12,"text":"All kinds of fruit trees will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not dry up, and their fruit will not run out. They will bear fruit every month, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves will be for healing.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says: \"These are the borders for dividing the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph will get two parts."},{"verse":14,"text":"You must divide it equally among them. I raised my hand and promised to give it to your ancestors. So this land will be yours as an inheritance."},{"verse":15,"text":"This will be the border of the land: On the north side it will run from the Great Sea by the Hethlon road, through Lebo-hamath to Zedad,"},{"verse":16,"text":"to Berothah, and to Sibraim. (Sibraim is on the border between Damascus and Hamath.) It will go as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran."},{"verse":17,"text":"So the border will run from the Sea to Hazar-enan, along the northern border of Damascus. The land of Hamath will be to the north. This will be the northern border."},{"verse":18,"text":"On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus. It will run along the Jordan River between Gilead and the land of Israel. It will go down to the Eastern Sea and as far as Tamar. This will be the eastern border.","note":"The Eastern Sea is the Dead Sea."},{"verse":19,"text":"On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh. Then it will run along the Brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the southern border."},{"verse":20,"text":"On the west side, the Great Sea will be the border. It will go up to a point across from Lebo-hamath. This will be the western border."},{"verse":21,"text":"You must divide this land among yourselves by the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"You must give it out as an inheritance for yourselves. Also give it to the foreigners who live among you and have children. You must treat them like Israelites who were born here. Along with you, they must be given an inheritance among the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whatever tribe a foreigner lives with, you must give him his inheritance there,\" declares the Lord GOD."}]},{"chapter":48,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"These are the names of the tribes. At the far north, Dan will have one part. It will run along the Hethlon road to Lebo-hamath. It will go on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north. It will stretch from the east side to the west side."},{"verse":2,"text":"Asher will have one part. It will border Dan's land from east to west."},{"verse":3,"text":"Naphtali will have one part. It will border Asher's land from east to west."},{"verse":4,"text":"Manasseh will have one part. It will border Naphtali's land from east to west."},{"verse":5,"text":"Ephraim will have one part. It will border Manasseh's land from east to west."},{"verse":6,"text":"Reuben will have one part. It will border Ephraim's land from east to west."},{"verse":7,"text":"Judah will have one part. It will border Reuben's land from east to west."},{"verse":8,"text":"Next to Judah's land, from east to west, will be the part you must set apart. It will be about 8 miles wide. Its length from east to west will be the same as one tribe's part. The sanctuary will be in the middle of it.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits. In this chapter a cubit is about 21 inches."},{"verse":9,"text":"The special part you set apart for the LORD must be about 8 miles long and about 3 miles wide.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits; 10,000 cubits."},{"verse":10,"text":"This will be the holy part for the priests. It will be about 8 miles long on the north side. It will be about 3 miles wide on the west side and 3 miles wide on the east side. It will be about 8 miles long on the south side. The sanctuary of the LORD will be in the middle of it.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits; 10,000 cubits."},{"verse":11,"text":"It will be for the priests who are set apart, the descendants of Zadok. They did the work I gave them. They did not go astray when the Israelites went astray, as the Levites did."},{"verse":12,"text":"It will be a special part for them, set apart from the land. It will be a most holy part, next to the Levites' land."},{"verse":13,"text":"Next to the priests' land, the Levites will have an area about 8 miles long and 3 miles wide. The whole length will be about 8 miles, and the width about 3 miles.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits; 10,000 cubits."},{"verse":14,"text":"They must not sell any of it or trade it. They must not hand over this best part of the land to others, for it is holy to the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"The area that is left will be about 1 2/3 miles wide and 8 miles long. It will be for the city's common use, for houses and for pastureland. The city will be in the middle of it.","note":"Hebrew: 5,000 cubits; 25,000 cubits."},{"verse":16,"text":"These will be the city's measurements: about 1 1/2 miles on the north side, 1 1/2 miles on the south side, 1 1/2 miles on the east side, and 1 1/2 miles on the west side.","note":"Hebrew: 4,500 cubits on each side."},{"verse":17,"text":"The city's pastureland will reach about 440 feet to the north, 440 feet to the south, 440 feet to the east, and 440 feet to the west.","note":"Hebrew: 250 cubits."},{"verse":18,"text":"What is left of the length next to the holy part will be about 3 miles on the east side and 3 miles on the west side. It will run alongside the holy part. Its crops will be food for the city's workers.","note":"Hebrew: 10,000 cubits."},{"verse":19,"text":"The city's workers who farm it will come from all the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":20,"text":"The whole part will be a square, about 8 miles on each side. You must set apart the holy part, along with the city's property.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits by 25,000 cubits."},{"verse":21,"text":"The land left on both sides of the holy part and the city's property will belong to the prince. His land will be next to the tribes' parts. It will stretch east from the 8-mile edge of the holy area to the eastern border. It will stretch west from the 8-mile edge to the western border. The holy part and the sanctuary of the temple will be in the middle of them.","note":"Hebrew: 25,000 cubits."},{"verse":22,"text":"So the Levites' property and the city's property will be in the middle of the prince's land. The prince's land will be between the borders of Judah and Benjamin."},{"verse":23,"text":"Here are the rest of the tribes. Benjamin will have one part. It will stretch from the east side to the west side."},{"verse":24,"text":"Simeon will have one part. It will border Benjamin's land from east to west."},{"verse":25,"text":"Issachar will have one part. It will border Simeon's land from east to west."},{"verse":26,"text":"Zebulun will have one part. It will border Issachar's land from east to west."},{"verse":27,"text":"Gad will have one part. It will border Zebulun's land from east to west."},{"verse":28,"text":"The southern border of Gad will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh. Then it will run along the Brook of Egypt and out to the Great Sea."},{"verse":29,"text":"This is the land you must give out as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel. These will be their parts,\" declares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":30,"text":"\"These will be the ways out of the city. Start with the north side. It will be about 1 1/2 miles long.","note":"Hebrew: 4,500 cubits. Also in verses 32-34."},{"verse":31,"text":"The gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. There will be three gates on the north side. They will be the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi."},{"verse":32,"text":"The east side will be about 1 1/2 miles long. It will have three gates. They will be the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan."},{"verse":33,"text":"The south side will be about 1 1/2 miles long. It will have three gates. They will be the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun."},{"verse":34,"text":"The west side will be about 1 1/2 miles long. It will have three gates. They will be the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali."},{"verse":35,"text":"The distance all around the city will be about 6 miles. And from that day on, the name of the city will be: THE LORD IS THERE.\"","note":"Hebrew: 18,000 cubits."}]}]},{"name":"Daniel","slug":"daniel","usfm":"DAN","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jehoiakim was king of Judah. In the third year of his rule, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem. He surrounded the city to attack it."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him. He also gave him some of the things from God's house. Nebuchadnezzar took these things away to the land of Shinar. He brought them to the temple of his god. He put them in the treasure house of his god."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the king gave an order to Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials. He told him to bring in some young men from Israel. They were to come from the royal family and from the noble families."},{"verse":4,"text":"They had to be young men with no flaws, and good-looking. They had to be wise in every way, know a lot, and learn quickly. They had to be fit to serve in the king's palace. Ashpenaz was to teach them the language and the writings of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":5,"text":"The king gave them a share of his own food and wine each day. They were to be trained for three years. After that, they would go to work for the king."},{"verse":6,"text":"Some of these young men were from Judah. They were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah."},{"verse":7,"text":"The chief official gave them new names. He named Daniel Belteshazzar. He named Hananiah Shadrach. He named Mishael Meshach. And he named Azariah Abednego."},{"verse":8,"text":"But Daniel made up his mind not to make himself unclean with the king's food or wine. So he asked the chief official to let him stay clean."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now God had caused the chief official to be kind to Daniel and to care about him."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the official said to Daniel, \"I'm afraid of my master the king. He's the one who chose your food and drink. What if he sees that your faces look thinner than the other young men your age? You would put my head in danger with the king!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The chief official had put a steward in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel spoke to this steward."},{"verse":12,"text":"He said, \"Please test us, your servants, for ten days. Give us only vegetables to eat and water to drink."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then compare how we look with the young men who eat the king's food. After that, treat us your servants based on what you see.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So the steward agreed. He tested them for ten days."},{"verse":15,"text":"At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and better fed than all the young men who ate the king's food."},{"verse":16,"text":"So the steward kept taking away their fine food and the wine they were supposed to drink. He gave them vegetables instead."},{"verse":17,"text":"God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding. They understood every kind of writing and wisdom. And Daniel could understand all kinds of visions and dreams."},{"verse":18,"text":"The king had set a time for the training to end. When that time came, the chief official brought all the young men to Nebuchadnezzar."},{"verse":19,"text":"The king talked with them. He found no one as good as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they went to work for the king."},{"verse":20,"text":"The king asked them about many things that needed wisdom and understanding. Each time, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and spell-casters in his whole kingdom."},{"verse":21,"text":"And Daniel stayed there until the first year of King Cyrus."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had dreams. They troubled his spirit, and he couldn't sleep."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the king called for his magicians, spell-casters, sorcerers, and astrologers. He wanted them to explain his dreams. They came and stood in front of the king."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said to them, \"I've had a dream. My spirit is troubled, and I want to know what it means.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic. \"O king, may you live forever! Tell us your servants the dream. Then we'll tell you what it means.\"","note":"From here through Daniel 7:28, the original text is written in Aramaic, not Hebrew."},{"verse":5,"text":"The king answered the astrologers, \"I have made up my mind. You must tell me the dream and what it means. If you don't, you'll be cut into pieces. And your houses will be turned into piles of rubble."},{"verse":6,"text":"But if you tell me the dream and what it means, I'll give you gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and what it means.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"They answered again, \"Let the king tell his servants the dream. Then we'll tell what it means.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The king answered, \"I know for sure what you're doing. You're trying to buy more time. You see that I have made up my mind."},{"verse":9,"text":"If you don't tell me the dream, there's only one punishment for you. You've agreed together to tell me lies and tricks. You hope things will change. So tell me the dream. Then I'll know you can tell me what it means.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The astrologers answered the king, \"No one on earth can do what the king asks! No king has ever asked such a thing of any magician, spell-caster, or astrologer. Not even the greatest and strongest king has done that."},{"verse":11,"text":"What the king asks is too hard. No one can tell it to the king except the gods. And they don't live among people.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"This answer made the king very angry. He was so furious that he ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be killed."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the order went out that the wise men were to be put to death. Men went looking for Daniel and his friends to kill them too."},{"verse":14,"text":"Arioch was the captain of the king's guard. He went out to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and good sense."},{"verse":15,"text":"Daniel asked him, \"Why did the king give such a harsh order?\" Then Arioch explained to Daniel what had happened."},{"verse":16,"text":"So Daniel went in to see the king. He asked the king to give him some time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Daniel went back home. He told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what was going on."},{"verse":18,"text":"He urged them to beg the God of heaven for mercy about this secret, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon."},{"verse":19,"text":"During the night, the secret was shown to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven."},{"verse":20,"text":"Daniel said,\n\"Praise the name of God forever and ever,\nfor wisdom and power belong to him."},{"verse":21,"text":"He changes the times and the seasons.\nHe takes kings away, and he sets kings up.\nHe gives wisdom to the wise.\nHe gives knowledge to those who understand."},{"verse":22,"text":"He shows deep and hidden things.\nHe knows what is in the darkness.\nAnd light lives with him."},{"verse":23,"text":"God of my fathers, I thank you and praise you,\nbecause you have given me wisdom and power.\nNow you have shown me what we asked of you.\nFor you have shown us the king's dream.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So Daniel went to Arioch. The king had chosen Arioch to kill the wise men of Babylon. Daniel said to him, \"Don't kill the wise men of Babylon! Take me to the king. I'll tell him what his dream means.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Arioch quickly took Daniel to the king. He said, \"I've found a man among the captives from Judah. He will tell the king what the dream means.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The king spoke to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar. He asked, \"Can you tell me what I saw in my dream? And can you tell me what it means?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Daniel answered the king, \"The king is asking about a secret. No wise man, spell-caster, medium, or magician can explain it to the king."},{"verse":28,"text":"But there is a God in heaven who shows secrets. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the last days. Here is your dream. Here are the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed."},{"verse":29,"text":"O king, as you lay on your bed, you began to think about the future. Then the One who shows secrets showed you what will happen."},{"verse":30,"text":"This secret has been shown to me too. But it's not because I'm wiser than anyone else alive. It's so that the king can know what the dream means. It's so you can understand the thoughts of your mind."},{"verse":31,"text":"O king, as you were watching, you saw a huge statue. It was large and bright, and it stood in front of you. It looked terrifying."},{"verse":32,"text":"The statue's head was made of pure gold. Its chest and arms were silver. Its belly and thighs were bronze."},{"verse":33,"text":"Its legs were iron. Its feet were partly iron and partly clay."},{"verse":34,"text":"As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It hit the statue on its feet of iron and clay. It crushed them."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold all broke into pieces. They became like chaff on a threshing floor in summer. The wind blew them away. Not a trace of them was left. But the stone that hit the statue became a huge mountain. It filled the whole earth."},{"verse":36,"text":"That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means."},{"verse":37,"text":"O king, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and glory."},{"verse":38,"text":"He has put people, wild animals, and birds into your hands, wherever they live. He has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold."},{"verse":39,"text":"After you, another kingdom will rise. It will not be as great as yours. Next, a third kingdom will rule the whole earth. It is the one made of bronze."},{"verse":40,"text":"Last, there will be a fourth kingdom. It will be as strong as iron, because iron breaks and smashes everything. And like iron that smashes everything, this kingdom will break and crush all the others."},{"verse":41,"text":"You saw that the feet and toes were partly baked clay and partly iron. So this will be a divided kingdom. Still, it will have some of the strength of iron, just as you saw iron mixed with clay."},{"verse":42,"text":"The toes were partly iron and partly clay. In the same way, this kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak and easy to break."},{"verse":43,"text":"You saw the iron mixed with clay. In the same way, the peoples will mix with each other. But they will not stay together, just as iron does not mix with clay."},{"verse":44,"text":"In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom. It will never be destroyed. It will never be given to another people. It will break all these kingdoms into pieces and bring them to an end. But it will last forever."},{"verse":45,"text":"You saw a stone cut out of the mountain, but not by human hands. It broke the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. This is how the great God has shown the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true. What it means can be trusted.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"When King Nebuchadnezzar heard this, he fell on his face. He bowed down to honor Daniel. He ordered that an offering and incense be given to him."},{"verse":47,"text":"The king said to Daniel, \"Your God really is the God of gods and the Lord of kings! He shows secrets. I know this because you were able to show me this secret.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"Then the king gave Daniel a high position. He gave him many rich gifts. He made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. He also put him in charge of all the wise men of Babylon."},{"verse":49,"text":"Daniel asked the king for a favor. So the king chose Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to run the province of Babylon. But Daniel stayed at the king's court."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. It was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.","note":"Aramaic: sixty cubits high and six cubits wide."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for all his leaders to gather. He called the satraps, high officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, and lawmen. He called all the other officials of the provinces too. They were to come to the special service for the statue he had set up."},{"verse":3,"text":"So all these leaders gathered. The satraps, high officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, lawmen, and all the rulers of the provinces came. They came to the special service for the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood in front of it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the king's messenger called out in a loud voice. \"People of every nation and language, here is your command."},{"verse":5,"text":"Soon you will hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music. As soon as you hear it, you must bow down. You must worship the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar has set up."},{"verse":6,"text":"Anyone who does not bow down and worship will be thrown right away into a blazing hot furnace.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music. As soon as they heard it, the people of every nation and language bowed down. They worshiped the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."},{"verse":8,"text":"At this time some astrologers came forward. They were full of hate, and they brought charges against the Jews."},{"verse":9,"text":"They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, \"O king, may you live forever!"},{"verse":10,"text":"O king, you gave an order. You said everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must bow down. They must worship the gold statue."},{"verse":11,"text":"And you said anyone who does not bow down and worship will be thrown into a blazing hot furnace."},{"verse":12,"text":"But there are some Jews you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. O king, these men pay no attention to you. They will not serve your gods. They will not worship the gold statue you have set up.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of rage. He sent for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought to the king."},{"verse":14,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar said to them, \"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true? Do you refuse to serve my gods? Do you refuse to worship the gold statue I have set up?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, will you be ready to bow down and worship the statue I made? If so, very good. But if you won't worship it, you'll be thrown at once into a blazing hot furnace. Then what god will be able to save you from my hands?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king. \"O Nebuchadnezzar, we don't need to defend ourselves to you about this."},{"verse":17,"text":"If the God we serve exists, then he is able to save us from the blazing hot furnace. He is able to save us from your hand, O king.","note":"Or: If it is so (if we are thrown in), the God we serve is able to save us. The Aramaic is hard to translate here."},{"verse":18,"text":"But even if he does not, we want you to know this, O king. We will not serve your gods. We will not worship the gold statue you have set up.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage. His face changed as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual."},{"verse":20,"text":"He ordered some very strong soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they were to throw them into the blazing hot furnace."},{"verse":21,"text":"So the three men were tied up. They still had on their robes, pants, turbans, and other clothes. Then they were thrown into the blazing hot furnace."},{"verse":22,"text":"The king's order was so urgent, and the furnace was so hot, that the flames killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego up to it."},{"verse":23,"text":"And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the blazing hot furnace. They were still tied up tight."},{"verse":24,"text":"Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped to his feet in shock. He asked his advisers, \"Didn't we throw three men into the fire? Weren't they tied up tight?\" \"Yes, O king, we did,\" they answered."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Look!\" he cried out. \"I see four men walking around in the fire! They're not tied up, and they're not hurt. And the fourth one looks like a son of the gods!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the door of the blazing hot furnace. He called out, \"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!\" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire."},{"verse":27,"text":"The satraps, high officials, governors, and royal advisers gathered around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed the bodies of these men. Not one hair on their heads was burned. Their robes were not harmed. They didn't even smell like smoke."},{"verse":28,"text":"Nebuchadnezzar said, \"Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel and saved his servants. They trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command. They were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god but their own God."},{"verse":29,"text":"So I make this law. People of any nation or language might say anything bad against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. If they do, they will be cut into pieces. Their houses will be turned into piles of rubble. For no other god can save like this.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego higher positions in the province of Babylon."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is from King Nebuchadnezzar. It is to the people of every nation and language who live in all the earth. May you have more and more peace and success."},{"verse":2,"text":"I'm glad to tell you about the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for me."},{"verse":3,"text":"How great his signs are!\nHow mighty his wonders are!\nHis kingdom is a kingdom that lasts forever.\nHis rule goes on from one generation to the next."},{"verse":4,"text":"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home and at peace. I was doing well in my palace."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I had a dream, and it frightened me. As I lay in bed, the pictures and visions in my mind terrified me."},{"verse":6,"text":"So I gave an order. All the wise men of Babylon were to be brought to me. They were to tell me what the dream meant."},{"verse":7,"text":"The magicians, spell-casters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in. I told them the dream. But they couldn't tell me what it meant."},{"verse":8,"text":"At last Daniel came to me. He is also called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god. The spirit of the holy gods is in him. I told him the dream."},{"verse":9,"text":"I said, \"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know the spirit of the holy gods is in you. I know no secret is too hard for you. So tell me the visions I saw in my dream. Tell me what they mean."},{"verse":10,"text":"These are the visions I saw in my mind as I lay in bed. I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was very tall."},{"verse":11,"text":"The tree grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. It could be seen from the ends of the earth."},{"verse":12,"text":"Its leaves were beautiful. It had lots of fruit, and there was food on it for everyone. Wild animals rested in its shade. Birds made nests in its branches. Every living thing got food from it."},{"verse":13,"text":"As I lay on my bed, I saw something else in the visions of my mind. A watcher, a holy one, was coming down from heaven."},{"verse":14,"text":"He called out in a loud voice, 'Cut down the tree! Chop off its branches! Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals run away from under it. Let the birds fly from its branches."},{"verse":15,"text":"But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew from the sky. Let him eat grass with the animals of the earth."},{"verse":16,"text":"Let his mind be changed so it's no longer a man's mind. Let him be given the mind of an animal. Let this last until seven periods of time pass by."},{"verse":17,"text":"The watchers have made this decision. The holy ones have given this ruling. It is so that all living people will know this: The Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives them to anyone he wants. He even puts the lowest of people in charge of them.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means. None of the wise men in my kingdom can tell me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar, was confused for a while. His thoughts frightened him. So the king said, \"Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its meaning frighten you.\" Belteshazzar answered, \"My lord, I wish the dream were about those who hate you! I wish its meaning were about your enemies!"},{"verse":20,"text":"You saw a tree that grew big and strong. Its top reached the sky. It could be seen by the whole earth."},{"verse":21,"text":"It had beautiful leaves and lots of fruit. It gave food for everyone. Wild animals lived under it. Birds made nests in its branches."},{"verse":22,"text":"O king, you are that tree! You have become great and strong. Your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky. Your rule reaches to the ends of the earth."},{"verse":23,"text":"O king, you saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He said, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Put a band of iron and bronze around it. Leave it in the soft grass of the field. Let him get wet with the dew from the sky. Let him eat grass with the wild animals until seven periods of time pass by.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"O king, this is what it means. The Most High has given this order against my lord the king."},{"verse":25,"text":"You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. You will get wet with the dew from the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by until you admit that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives them to anyone he wants."},{"verse":26,"text":"The order said to leave the stump of the tree with its roots. That means your kingdom will be given back to you. It will happen as soon as you admit that Heaven rules."},{"verse":27,"text":"So, O king, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Stop doing wrong and show mercy to those who are treated badly. Then maybe your good times will go on longer.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar."},{"verse":29,"text":"Twelve months later, the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon."},{"verse":30,"text":"He said, \"Isn't this Babylon the Great? I built it myself as my royal home. I built it by my own mighty power. I built it to show how glorious and great I am.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The words were still in the king's mouth when a voice came from heaven. \"King Nebuchadnezzar, this has been decided about you. Your kingdom has been taken from you."},{"verse":32,"text":"You will be driven away from people. You will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like an ox. Seven periods of time will pass by until you admit that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people. He gives them to anyone he wants.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Right away, what was said about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like an ox. His body got wet with the dew from the sky. At last his hair grew long like an eagle's feathers. His nails grew like a bird's claws."},{"verse":34,"text":"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My right mind came back to me. Then I praised the Most High. I honored and gave glory to the One who lives forever.\n\"For his rule lasts forever.\nHis kingdom goes on from one generation to the next."},{"verse":35,"text":"All the people of the earth are as nothing to him.\nHe does what he wants with the army of heaven\nand with the people of the earth.\nNo one can hold back his hand.\nNo one can say to him, 'What have you done?'\""},{"verse":36,"text":"At the same time my right mind came back, my honor and glory came back too. This brought glory to my kingdom. My advisers and nobles came looking for me. I was put back on my throne. I became even greater than before."},{"verse":37,"text":"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and lift up and give glory to the King of heaven, because everything he does is true. All his ways are fair. And he is able to humble those who live in pride."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Later, King Belshazzar gave a big feast for a thousand of his nobles. He drank wine with them."},{"verse":2,"text":"The wine went to Belshazzar's head, and he gave an order. He told them to bring in the gold and silver cups. His father Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from the temple in Jerusalem. The king wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines."},{"verse":3,"text":"So they brought in the gold cups that had been taken from the temple, God's house in Jerusalem. The king drank from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines."},{"verse":4,"text":"As they drank the wine, they praised their gods. These gods were made of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone."},{"verse":5,"text":"Right then the fingers of a human hand appeared. They wrote on the plaster of the wall in the royal palace, near the lampstand. The king watched the hand as it wrote."},{"verse":6,"text":"His face turned pale. His thoughts frightened him so much that his legs gave way. His knees knocked together."},{"verse":7,"text":"The king shouted for the spell-casters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought in. He said to these wise men of Babylon, \"Someone must read this writing and tell me what it means. Whoever does will be dressed in purple. A gold chain will be put around his neck. He will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So all the king's wise men came in. But they couldn't read the writing. They couldn't tell the king what it meant."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified. His face turned even paler. His nobles didn't know what to do."},{"verse":10,"text":"The queen heard the loud cries of the king and his nobles. So she came into the feast hall. \"O king, may you live forever!\" she said. \"Don't let your thoughts frighten you. Don't let your face be so pale."},{"verse":11,"text":"There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. When your father was king, this man was found to be wise. He had insight and understanding like the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, spell-casters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers. Yes, your own father the king did this."},{"verse":12,"text":"He did it because of Daniel, whom he named Belteshazzar. Daniel was found to have an amazing spirit. He had knowledge and understanding. He could explain dreams and riddles, and he could solve hard problems. So send for Daniel. He will tell you what the writing means.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So Daniel was brought to the king. The king asked him, \"Are you Daniel? Are you one of the captives my father the king brought from Judah?"},{"verse":14,"text":"I've heard that the spirit of the gods is in you. I've heard that you have insight and understanding and amazing wisdom."},{"verse":15,"text":"The wise men and spell-casters were brought to me to read this writing. I wanted them to tell me what it means. But they couldn't explain it."},{"verse":16,"text":"But I've heard about you. I've heard you can explain things and solve hard problems. So if you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you'll be dressed in purple. A gold chain will be put around your neck. And you'll be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Daniel answered the king, \"You can keep your gifts. Give your rewards to someone else. But I will still read the writing for the king. I will tell him what it means."},{"verse":18,"text":"O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom. He gave him greatness, glory, and honor."},{"verse":19,"text":"God made him very great. So people of every nation and language shook with fear in front of him. He killed anyone he wanted to kill. He let live anyone he wanted to let live. He raised up anyone he wanted. He brought down anyone he wanted."},{"verse":20,"text":"But his heart became proud. His spirit became hard and full of pride. So he was taken down from his royal throne. His glory was taken away from him."},{"verse":21,"text":"He was driven away from people. His mind became like an animal's mind. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox. His body got wet with the dew from the sky. This went on until he admitted that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people. God puts anyone he wants in charge of them."},{"verse":22,"text":"But you, Belshazzar, are his son. You knew all this. Yet you have not humbled your heart."},{"verse":23,"text":"Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. The cups from his house were brought to you. You and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them. You praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone. Those gods can't see or hear or understand anything. But you did not honor the God who holds your very breath in his hand. He controls everything you do."},{"verse":24,"text":"That's why God sent the hand that wrote these words."},{"verse":25,"text":"These are the words that were written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN."},{"verse":26,"text":"And this is what the words mean. MENE means God has counted the days of your rule. He has brought it to an end.","note":"MENE sounds like the Aramaic word for counted or numbered."},{"verse":27,"text":"TEKEL means you have been weighed on the scales. And you don't measure up.","note":"TEKEL sounds like the Aramaic word for weighed."},{"verse":28,"text":"PERES means your kingdom has been divided. It has been given to the Medes and Persians.\"","note":"PERES is the singular of PARSIN. It sounds like the Aramaic words for divided and for Persia."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Belshazzar gave the order. They dressed Daniel in purple. They put a gold chain around his neck. And they announced that he was the third highest ruler in the kingdom."},{"verse":30,"text":"That same night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed."},{"verse":31,"text":"And Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. He was 62 years old."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Darius decided to choose 120 satraps to rule all over the kingdom."},{"verse":2,"text":"Over them he put three leaders. Daniel was one of them. The satraps had to report to these leaders. That way the king would not lose anything."},{"verse":3,"text":"Daniel had an amazing spirit. Soon he stood out above the other leaders and the satraps. So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the leaders and satraps looked for a reason to accuse Daniel about how he ran the kingdom. But they couldn't find anything wrong or dishonest, because he could be trusted. He was never careless or dishonest."},{"verse":5,"text":"At last these men said, \"We'll never find a reason to accuse this Daniel. The only way is to find something to do with the law of his God.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the leaders and satraps went together to the king. They said, \"King Darius, may you live forever!"},{"verse":7,"text":"All the royal leaders, high officials, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed. The king should make a new law and make sure it's obeyed. For thirty days, no one may pray to any god or person except you, O king. Anyone who does will be thrown into the lions' den."},{"verse":8,"text":"So now, O king, make this law. Sign it in writing so it can't be changed. That's the law of the Medes and Persians. Their laws can't be canceled.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So King Darius signed the law in writing."},{"verse":10,"text":"Daniel found out that the law had been signed. Then he went home to his upstairs room. Its windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees. He prayed and gave thanks to his God, just as he had always done."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then these men went together and found Daniel. He was praying and asking his God for help."},{"verse":12,"text":"So they went to the king and asked him about his law. \"Didn't you sign a law about praying? It says that for thirty days no one may pray to any god or person except you, O king. If they do, they'll be thrown into the lions' den.\" The king answered, \"Yes, that order stands. It's the law of the Medes and Persians, and it can't be canceled.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then they told the king, \"Daniel is one of the captives from Judah. He pays no attention to you, O king. He ignores the law you signed. He still prays three times a day.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"When the king heard this, he was very upset. He made up his mind to save Daniel. He worked until sunset to find a way to rescue him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the men went together to the king. They said, \"Remember, O king, the law of the Medes and Persians. No law or order that the king makes can be changed.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So the king gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, \"You serve your God all the time. May he save you!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"A stone was brought and put over the opening of the den. The king sealed it with his own signet ring. He also sealed it with the rings of his nobles. That way, no one could change what was happening to Daniel."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the king went back to his palace. He didn't eat anything all night. He didn't let anyone entertain him. And he couldn't sleep."},{"verse":19,"text":"At the first light of morning, the king got up. He hurried to the lions' den."},{"verse":20,"text":"When he got near the den, he called out to Daniel. His voice was full of pain. \"Daniel, servant of the living God! You serve your God all the time. Was he able to save you from the lions?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Daniel answered, \"O king, may you live forever!"},{"verse":22,"text":"My God sent his angel. He shut the lions' mouths. They haven't hurt me. That's because God saw that I was innocent. And I've never done anything wrong to you, O king.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The king was filled with joy. He gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. When they lifted him out, they found no wounds on him at all. That's because he had trusted in his God."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the king gave an order. The men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in. They were thrown into the lions' den, along with their children and wives. Before they even reached the bottom of the den, the lions grabbed them. They crushed all their bones."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language in all the land. \"May you have more and more peace and success."},{"verse":26,"text":"I make this law. In every part of my kingdom, people must shake with fear before the God of Daniel.\nHe is the living God.\nHe lives forever.\nHis kingdom will never be destroyed.\nHis rule will never end."},{"verse":27,"text":"He saves and he rescues.\nHe does signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth.\nHe has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"So Daniel did well while Darius was king. He also did well while Cyrus the Persian was king."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the first year that Belshazzar ruled over Babylon. Daniel had a dream. Visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream. Here is the main part of what he wrote."},{"verse":2,"text":"Daniel said, \"I looked in my vision at night. Suddenly, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then four huge beasts came up out of the sea. Each one was different from the others."},{"verse":4,"text":"The first beast was like a lion, and it had an eagle's wings. I watched until its wings were torn off. It was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a man. And it was given the mind of a man."},{"verse":5,"text":"Suddenly I saw another beast. It looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat all the meat you want!'"},{"verse":6,"text":"After that, as I watched, another beast suddenly appeared. It was like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like a bird's wings. This beast also had four heads. It was given power to rule."},{"verse":7,"text":"After this, I kept watching in my vision at night. Suddenly a fourth beast appeared. It was terrifying and frightening and very strong. It had big iron teeth. It ate and crushed its victims. Then it stomped on whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it. And it had ten horns."},{"verse":8,"text":"I was thinking about the horns. Suddenly another horn came up among them. It was a little one. Three of the first horns were pulled up by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man's eyes. It had a mouth that bragged about itself."},{"verse":9,"text":"As I kept watching,\nthrones were set in place.\nThe Ancient of Days sat down.\nHis clothes were as white as snow.\nThe hair on his head was like pure wool.\nHis throne was flaming with fire.\nIts wheels were all on fire."},{"verse":10,"text":"A river of fire was flowing.\nIt came out from in front of him.\nThousands and thousands served him.\nTen thousand times ten thousand stood before him.\nThe court sat down to judge.\nAnd the books were opened."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I kept watching because of the proud words the horn was speaking. I kept watching until the beast was killed. Its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire."},{"verse":12,"text":"The other beasts had their power to rule taken away. But they were allowed to live a while longer, for a season and a time."},{"verse":13,"text":"In my vision at night I kept watching.\nI saw One like the Son of Man\ncoming with the clouds of heaven.\nHe came to the Ancient of Days\nand was led into his presence."},{"verse":14,"text":"He was given power and glory and a kingdom.\nPeople of every nation and language were to serve him.\nHis rule is a rule that lasts forever.\nIt will never pass away.\nHis kingdom will never be destroyed."},{"verse":15,"text":"I, Daniel, was troubled in my spirit. The visions in my mind frightened me."},{"verse":16,"text":"I went up to one of those standing there. I asked him what all this really meant. So he explained these things to me."},{"verse":17,"text":"He said, 'These four huge beasts are four kings. They will rise up from the earth."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom. They will have it forever. Yes, forever and ever.'","note":"Aramaic: the saints (holy ones) of the Most High."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then I wanted to know what the fourth beast really meant. It was different from all the others. It was very terrifying. It had iron teeth and bronze claws. It ate and crushed its victims. Then it stomped on whatever was left."},{"verse":20,"text":"I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head. And I wanted to know about the other horn that came up. Three of the horns fell in front of it. This horn looked more powerful than the others. It had eyes, and it had a mouth that bragged about itself."},{"verse":21,"text":"As I watched, this horn was making war against God's holy people. And it was winning."},{"verse":22,"text":"This went on until the Ancient of Days came. He judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. Then the time came for them to take over the kingdom."},{"verse":23,"text":"This is what he told me. 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom. It will appear on the earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms. It will eat up the whole earth. It will stomp it down and crush it."},{"verse":24,"text":"The ten horns are ten kings. They will rise from this kingdom. After them another king will rise. He will be different from the kings before him. He will defeat three kings."},{"verse":25,"text":"He will speak against the Most High. He will treat the holy people of the Most High cruelly. He will try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time."},{"verse":26,"text":"But the court will sit to judge. His power to rule will be taken away. It will be completely destroyed forever."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the kingdom and power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over. They will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever. All rulers will serve him and obey him.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"That is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me very much. My face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the third year that Belshazzar was king, I, Daniel, had a vision. It came after the vision I had before.","note":"From here to the end of the book, the original text is written in Hebrew again."},{"verse":2,"text":"In my vision I saw myself in the fortress city of Susa. It was in the province of Elam. In the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal."},{"verse":3,"text":"I looked up and saw a ram with two horns. It was standing beside the canal. Both horns were long. But one was longer than the other. The longer one grew up last."},{"verse":4,"text":"I watched the ram charge toward the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stand up to him. No one could be saved from his power. He did whatever he wanted, and he became great."},{"verse":5,"text":"I was thinking about all this. Suddenly a male goat came from the west. He had one big horn between his eyes. He crossed the whole earth without touching the ground."},{"verse":6,"text":"He came toward the ram with two horns. It was the ram I had seen standing beside the canal. The goat charged at him with great anger and power."},{"verse":7,"text":"I saw the goat attack the ram in a rage. He struck the ram and broke off his two horns. The ram had no power to stand up to him. The goat knocked him to the ground and stomped on him. No one could save the ram from his power."},{"verse":8,"text":"So the goat became very great. But when he was at his strongest, his big horn was broken off. Four large horns grew up in its place. They pointed toward the four winds of heaven."},{"verse":9,"text":"Out of one of these horns came a little horn. It grew very big. It grew toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land."},{"verse":10,"text":"It grew as high as the army of heaven. It threw some of that army and some of the stars down to the earth. Then it stomped on them."},{"verse":11,"text":"It made itself great. It even set itself up against the Prince of the army of heaven. It took away his daily sacrifice. It tore down the place of his holy temple."},{"verse":12,"text":"In the rebellion, the army and the daily sacrifice were handed over to the horn. It threw truth to the ground. It succeeded in everything it did."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to him, \"How long will it take for this vision to come true? It is about the daily sacrifice and the rebellion that brings ruin. It is about the holy place and the army being handed over to be stomped on.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"He said to me, \"It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings. Then the holy place will be made right again.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"I, Daniel, was watching the vision. I was trying to understand it. Then someone who looked like a man stood in front of me."},{"verse":16,"text":"And I heard a man's voice calling from between the banks of the Ulai. He said, \"Gabriel, tell this man what the vision means.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Gabriel came near the place where I was standing. I was terrified, and I fell on my face. \"Son of man,\" he said to me, \"understand this. The vision is about the time of the end.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face on the ground. Then he touched me. He helped me to my feet."},{"verse":19,"text":"He said, \"Listen! I will tell you what will happen later, in the time of God's anger, because it is about the set time of the end."},{"verse":20,"text":"You saw the ram with two horns. It stands for the kings of Media and Persia."},{"verse":21,"text":"The hairy goat stands for the king of Greece. The big horn between his eyes is the first king."},{"verse":22,"text":"Four horns took the place of the one that was broken. They stand for four kingdoms. These kingdoms will rise from his nation. But they won't have the same power."},{"verse":23,"text":"Near the end of their rule, the rebellion will grow as bad as it can get. Then a bold and fierce king will take the throne. He will be good at tricks and schemes."},{"verse":24,"text":"He will become very powerful, but not by his own power. He will cause terrible ruin. He will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy mighty men and God's holy people."},{"verse":25,"text":"He will be clever and use his power to make lying succeed. In his own mind he will think he is great. When people feel safe, he will destroy many of them. He will even stand against the Prince of princes. But he will be broken, and not by human hands."},{"verse":26,"text":"The vision about the evenings and the mornings that was told to you is true. But now you must seal up the vision, because it is about a time far in the future.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay sick for several days. Then I got up and went back to work for the king. But the vision troubled me. No one could understand it."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This happened in the first year of Darius son of Xerxes. Darius was a Mede by birth. He was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans."},{"verse":2,"text":"In the first year that he was king, I, Daniel, read the holy books. I understood from them what the LORD had told Jeremiah the prophet. Jerusalem would lie in ruins for seventy years."},{"verse":3,"text":"So I turned to the Lord God. I looked to him in prayer, and I begged him for help. I went without food. I wore sackcloth and sat in ashes."},{"verse":4,"text":"I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed our sins. I said,\n\"O Lord, you are the great and awesome God.\nYou keep your covenant of faithful love\nwith those who love you and obey your commands."},{"verse":5,"text":"We have sinned and done wrong.\nWe have done evil and turned against you.\nWe have turned away from your commands and your laws."},{"verse":6,"text":"We have not listened to your servants the prophets.\nThey spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, and our fathers.\nThey spoke to all the people of the land."},{"verse":7,"text":"Lord, you are righteous.\nBut today we are covered with shame.\nThis is true of the people of Judah and of Jerusalem.\nIt is true of all Israel, near and far.\nYou have driven us into all these countries\nbecause we were not faithful to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"O LORD, we are covered with shame.\nOur kings, our leaders, and our fathers are ashamed\nbecause we have sinned against you."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Lord our God is full of mercy and forgiveness,\neven though we have turned against him."},{"verse":10,"text":"We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.\nWe have not lived by his laws.\nHe gave us those laws through his servants the prophets."},{"verse":11,"text":"All Israel has broken your law and turned away.\nThey refused to obey your voice.\nSo the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses have been poured out on us.\nMoses was God's servant.\nThis has happened because we have sinned against you."},{"verse":12,"text":"You have done what you said you would do\nto us and to our rulers.\nYou brought a great disaster on us.\nNothing under all of heaven has ever been done\nlike what was done to Jerusalem."},{"verse":13,"text":"All this disaster has come on us,\njust as it is written in the Law of Moses.\nYet we have not asked the LORD our God to be kind to us.\nWe have not turned away from our sins.\nWe have not paid attention to your truth."},{"verse":14,"text":"So the LORD kept this disaster ready\nand brought it on us.\nFor the LORD our God is righteous in all he does.\nYet we have not obeyed his voice."},{"verse":15,"text":"O Lord our God, you brought your people out of Egypt\nwith your mighty hand.\nYou made your name famous, and it still is today.\nWe have sinned. We have done evil."},{"verse":16,"text":"O Lord, you always do what is right.\nSo please turn your anger and fury away from Jerusalem.\nIt is your city, your holy mountain.\nBecause of our sins and the sins of our fathers,\nJerusalem and your people are mocked\nby everyone around us."},{"verse":17,"text":"So now, our God, hear the prayers of your servant.\nHear me as I beg you for help.\nFor your own sake, O Lord,\nlet your face shine on your holy place, which lies in ruins."},{"verse":18,"text":"Turn your ear to us, my God, and hear.\nOpen your eyes and see our ruins.\nSee the city that is called by your name.\nWe don't ask you for help because we have done right.\nWe ask because your mercy is so great."},{"verse":19,"text":"Lord, listen! Lord, forgive!\nLord, hear us and act!\nFor your own sake, my God, don't wait,\nbecause your city and your people are called by your name.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"I was still speaking and praying. I was confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel. I was bringing my request to the LORD my God for his holy mountain."},{"verse":21,"text":"While I was still praying, Gabriel came to me. He was the man I had seen in the vision before. He came flying quickly to me. It was about the time of the evening sacrifice."},{"verse":22,"text":"He taught me and talked with me. He said, \"Daniel, I have come now to help you see and understand."},{"verse":23,"text":"As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given. I have come to tell it to you, because you are greatly loved. So think about the message, and understand the vision."},{"verse":24,"text":"Seventy weeks have been ordered for your people and your holy city. This time is set to stop their rebellion and put an end to sin. It is set to make atonement for wrongdoing and to bring in righteousness that lasts forever. It is set to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.","note":"Hebrew: seventy sevens. Each \"week\" is a period of seven, often understood as seven years."},{"verse":25,"text":"Know this and understand it. An order will go out to rebuild Jerusalem and make it like new. From that time until the Messiah, the Prince, comes, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and a moat. But it will be a time of trouble."},{"verse":26,"text":"After the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off. He will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the holy place. The end will come like a flood. War will go on until the end. Ruin has been ordered."},{"verse":27,"text":"He will make a firm covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple will come the disgusting thing that brings ruin. It will stay until the ordered destruction is poured out on him.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the third year that Cyrus was king of Persia, a message was shown to Daniel. Daniel was also called Belteshazzar. The message was true. It was about a great war. Daniel was given understanding of the message in a vision."},{"verse":2,"text":"At that time I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks."},{"verse":3,"text":"I didn't eat any fine food. No meat or wine came into my mouth. I didn't put any oil on myself. I did this until the three weeks were over."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris."},{"verse":5,"text":"I looked up, and I saw a man dressed in linen. He had a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist."},{"verse":6,"text":"His body was like a shining jewel called beryl. His face was as bright as lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze. His voice sounded like the noise of a huge crowd."},{"verse":7,"text":"I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision. The men with me didn't see it. But a great terror fell on them. They ran away and hid."},{"verse":8,"text":"So I was left alone, staring at this great vision. I had no strength left. My face turned as pale as death. I was helpless."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I heard the sound of his words. As I listened, I fell into a deep sleep with my face on the ground."},{"verse":10,"text":"Suddenly a hand touched me. It lifted me up, shaking, onto my hands and knees."},{"verse":11,"text":"He said to me, \"Daniel, you are greatly loved. Think carefully about the words I'm about to tell you. Stand up, because I've been sent to you now.\" When he said this to me, I stood up, shaking."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then he said, \"Don't be afraid, Daniel. From the first day you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come because of your words."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I had been left there with the kings of Persia."},{"verse":14,"text":"Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days, because the vision is about those days.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"While he was saying this to me, I bowed my face toward the ground. I couldn't speak."},{"verse":16,"text":"Suddenly someone who looked like a man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke to the one standing in front of me. I said, \"My lord, this vision has filled me with pain. I have no strength left."},{"verse":17,"text":"My lord, I am your servant. How can I talk with you? I have no strength now. There is no breath left in me.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Again the one who looked like a man touched me. He made me strong."},{"verse":19,"text":"He said, \"Don't be afraid. You are greatly loved. Peace be with you! Be strong now. Be very strong!\" As he spoke to me, I felt stronger. I said, \"Speak, my lord. You have made me strong.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"He said, \"Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must go back at once to fight against the prince of Persia. And when I leave, the prince of Greece will come."},{"verse":21,"text":"But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one is brave enough to stand with me against these princes except Michael, your prince."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to help him and protect him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now I will tell you the truth. Three more kings will rise up in Persia. Then a fourth king will come. He will be much richer than all the others. He will use the power of his riches to stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then a mighty king will rise up. He will rule with great power and do whatever he wants."},{"verse":4,"text":"But as soon as he has risen to power, his kingdom will be broken up. It will be divided toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his children and grandchildren. It will not have the power he ruled with. His kingdom will be pulled up by the roots and given to others."},{"verse":5,"text":"The king of the South will grow strong. But one of his commanders will grow even stronger. He will rule his own kingdom with great power."},{"verse":6,"text":"After some years, the two kings will make a treaty. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the deal. But she will not keep her power. And his strength will not last. At that time she will be handed over. So will the royal servants who came with her, and her father, and the one who helped her."},{"verse":7,"text":"But someone from her family will rise up in his place. He will attack the army of the king of the North. He will go into his fortress. He will fight them and win."},{"verse":8,"text":"He will even carry off their gods to Egypt. He will take their metal idols and their valuable silver and gold objects. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the king of the North will attack the land of the king of the South. But he will go back to his own land."},{"verse":10,"text":"His sons will prepare for war. They will gather a huge army. It will move forward with great force, sweeping through like a flood. And it will carry the fight all the way to his fortress again."},{"verse":11,"text":"The king of the South will be very angry. He will march out to fight the king of the North. The king of the North will gather a large army. But it will be handed over to his enemy."},{"verse":12,"text":"The army will be carried away. Then the king of the South will be filled with pride. He will kill tens of thousands of people. But he will not win in the end."},{"verse":13,"text":"For the king of the North will gather another army. It will be bigger than the first one. After some years he will march out with a huge army and lots of supplies."},{"verse":14,"text":"At that time many people will rise up against the king of the South. Violent men among your own people will lift themselves up, and so the vision will come true. But they will fail."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the king of the North will come. He will build a dirt ramp up to the walls and capture a strong city. The armies of the South will not be able to stand up to him. Even their best soldiers won't have the strength to fight back."},{"verse":16,"text":"The attacker will do whatever he wants. No one will be able to stand up to him. He will take over the Beautiful Land. He will have the power to destroy it."},{"verse":17,"text":"He will make up his mind to come with the strength of his whole kingdom. He will make a deal with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter to marry so he can destroy the kingdom. But his plan will not work. It will not help him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then he will turn to the lands along the coast. He will capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his proud insults. He will turn his insults back on him."},{"verse":19,"text":"After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land. But he will stumble and fall. He will be gone forever."},{"verse":20,"text":"Another king will take his place. He will send out a tax collector to keep up the royal glory. But in a few days he will be destroyed. It won't happen in anger or in battle."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then an evil, hated man will take his place. He will not be given the honor of a king. But he will come when people feel safe. He will take the kingdom by tricks and schemes."},{"verse":22,"text":"A flood of armies will be swept away before him and destroyed. A prince of the covenant will be destroyed too."},{"verse":23,"text":"Others will make a treaty with him. But he will lie and cheat, because he will rise to power with only a few people."},{"verse":24,"text":"When people feel safe, he will attack the richest provinces. He will do what his fathers and grandfathers never did. He will hand out stolen goods and riches to his followers. He will make plans to attack strong cities. But this will last only for a while."},{"verse":25,"text":"He will stir up his power and courage. He will march with a large army against the king of the South. The king of the South will gather a very large and strong army to fight. But he won't be able to stand, because of the plans made against him."},{"verse":26,"text":"Even those who eat food from the king's table will try to destroy him. His army will be swept away. Many will fall and be killed."},{"verse":27,"text":"The two kings will have evil in their hearts. They will sit at the same table and tell each other lies. But it won't do them any good. The end will still come at the set time."},{"verse":28,"text":"The king of the North will go back to his land with great riches. But his heart will be against the holy covenant. He will do damage. Then he will go back to his own land."},{"verse":29,"text":"At the set time he will attack the South again. But this time it won't turn out like the first time."},{"verse":30,"text":"Ships from Kittim will come against him, and he will lose courage. Then he will turn back. He will rage against the holy covenant and do damage. He will go back and be kind to those who turn away from the holy covenant."},{"verse":31,"text":"His armies will rise up. They will make the temple fortress unclean. They will stop the daily sacrifice. And they will set up the disgusting thing that brings ruin."},{"verse":32,"text":"He will use smooth words to lead astray those who break the covenant. But the people who know their God will stand strong against him."},{"verse":33,"text":"Those who are wise will teach many people. But for a time some of them will be killed by the sword or by fire. Some will be captured or robbed."},{"verse":34,"text":"When they fall, they will be given a little help. But many people who join them will not be sincere."},{"verse":35,"text":"Some of the wise will fall. This will make them pure and clean and without fault until the time of the end, because the end will still come at the set time."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will lift himself up. He will make himself greater than every god. He will say shocking things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of God's anger is over, because what has been decided must happen."},{"verse":37,"text":"He will not care about the gods of his fathers. He will not care about the god loved by women, or any other god. That is because he will make himself greater than all of them."},{"verse":38,"text":"Instead, he will honor a god of fortresses. His fathers never knew this god. He will honor it with gold, silver, jewels, and riches."},{"verse":39,"text":"He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. He will give great honor to those who accept him. He will make them rulers over many people. He will give out land for a price."},{"verse":40,"text":"At the time of the end, the king of the South will fight against him. But the king of the North will rush out against him like a storm. He will come with chariots, horsemen, and many ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood."},{"verse":41,"text":"He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall. But some will escape from his hand. These are Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites."},{"verse":42,"text":"He will reach out his power over many countries. Not even Egypt will escape."},{"verse":43,"text":"He will take control of the treasures of gold and silver. He will take all the riches of Egypt. The Libyans and Cushites will also give in to him."},{"verse":44,"text":"But news from the east and the north will frighten him. He will go out in a great rage to destroy many. He will set them apart to be completely destroyed."},{"verse":45,"text":"He will set up his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. But he will come to his end, and no one will help him."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time Michael will rise up. He is the great prince who protects your people. There will be a time of trouble. It will be worse than anything since nations began until that time. But at that time your people will be saved. Everyone whose name is found written in the book will be saved."},{"verse":2,"text":"Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake up. Some will wake up to life that lasts forever. Others will wake up to shame and to disgrace that lasts forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then those who are wise will shine like the bright sky. Those who lead many people to be right with God will shine like the stars forever and ever."},{"verse":4,"text":"But you, Daniel, close up these words. Seal the book until the time of the end. Many people will run here and there. And knowledge will grow.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I, Daniel, looked. I saw two others standing there. One was on this bank of the river. The other was on the far bank."},{"verse":6,"text":"One of them spoke to the man dressed in linen. He was above the waters of the river. He asked, \"How long will it be until these amazing things come true?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The man dressed in linen was above the waters of the river. He raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven. I heard him make a promise in the name of the One who lives forever. He said, \"It will be for a time, times, and half a time. The power of the holy people will finally be broken. Then all these things will be finished.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"I heard what he said, but I didn't understand. So I asked, \"My lord, how will all this turn out?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"He answered, \"Go on your way, Daniel. These words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end."},{"verse":10,"text":"Many will be made pure and clean and without fault. But the wicked will keep on doing evil. None of the wicked will understand. But those who are wise will understand."},{"verse":11,"text":"The daily sacrifice will be stopped. The disgusting thing that brings ruin will be set up. From that time there will be 1,290 days."},{"verse":12,"text":"Blessed is the one who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days."},{"verse":13,"text":"But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest. Then at the end of the days, you will rise up to receive your share.\""}]}]},{"name":"Hosea","slug":"hosea","usfm":"HOS","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri. It came when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. It was also when Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, he told him, \"Go and marry a prostitute. Have children of adultery. For this land is openly acting like a prostitute. It has turned away from the LORD.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Hosea went and married Gomer daughter of Diblaim. She became pregnant and had a son for him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD said to Hosea, \"Name him Jezreel. For soon I will make the house of Jehu pay for the blood they shed at Jezreel. And I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"On that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Gomer became pregnant again and had a daughter. The LORD said to Hosea, \"Name her Lo-ruhamah. For I will no longer show mercy to the house of Israel. I will not forgive them at all.","note":"Lo-ruhamah means \"no mercy\" or \"not pitied.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"But I will show mercy to the house of Judah, and I will save them. I will not save them by bow or sword or war, or by horses and horsemen. I will save them by the LORD their God.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"After Gomer stopped nursing Lo-ruhamah, she became pregnant and had a son."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the LORD said, \"Name him Lo-ammi. For you are not my people, and I am not your God.","note":"Lo-ammi means \"not my people.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand by the sea. No one can measure it or count it. In the very place where they were told, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'children of the living God.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will choose one leader for themselves. And they will go up out of the land. For the day of Jezreel will be great."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Call your brothers 'My People.'\nCall your sisters 'Loved One.'"},{"verse":2,"text":"Speak against your mother.\nSpeak out against her!\nFor she is not my wife,\nand I am not her husband.\nLet her take the adultery off her face.\nLet her take the unfaithfulness from between her breasts."},{"verse":3,"text":"If she does not, I will strip her naked.\nI will leave her bare as on the day she was born.\nI will make her like a desert.\nI will turn her into a dry land.\nI will let her die of thirst."},{"verse":4,"text":"I will have no mercy on her children,\nbecause they are children of adultery."},{"verse":5,"text":"For their mother has been a prostitute.\nShe became pregnant with them in shame.\nShe said, 'I will chase after my lovers.\nThey give me my bread and water,\nmy wool and linen, my oil and drink.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"So I will block her path with thorns.\nI will build a wall around her,\nso she cannot find her way."},{"verse":7,"text":"She will chase her lovers but not catch them.\nShe will look for them but not find them.\nThen she will say,\n'I will go back to my first husband.\nI was better off then than now.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"She does not admit that I was the one\nwho gave her grain, new wine, and oil.\nI gave her plenty of silver and gold,\nbut they used it to make things for Baal."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I will take back my grain at harvest time\nand my new wine in its season.\nI will take away my wool and linen\nthat I gave to cover her naked body."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then I will uncover her shame\nright in front of her lovers.\nNo one will rescue her from my hands."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will put an end to all her joy:\nher feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—\nall her appointed feasts."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will destroy her vines and fig trees.\nShe thinks they are the pay her lovers gave her.\nI will turn them into a thicket,\nand the wild animals will eat them up."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will punish her for the days of the Baals,\nwhen she burned incense to them.\nShe put on her rings and jewelry\nand went after her lovers.\nBut she forgot me,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"So I will draw her to me.\nI will lead her into the wilderness\nand speak tenderly to her."},{"verse":15,"text":"There I will give her vineyards back to her.\nI will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.\nThere she will answer me as she did when she was young,\nas on the day she came up out of Egypt.","note":"Achor means \"trouble.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"On that day,\" says the LORD,\n\"you will call me 'my Husband.'\nYou will no longer call me 'my Master.'","note":"Hebrew: \"my Baal,\" a word that means master or husband and is also the name of the false god."},{"verse":17,"text":"For I will take the names of the Baals from her lips.\nNo one will call on their names anymore."},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day I will make a covenant for them\nwith the wild animals and the birds in the sky\nand the creatures that crawl on the ground.\nI will remove bow and sword and battle from the land.\nI will let them lie down in safety."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will make you my bride forever.\nI will make you my bride with what is right and fair,\nwith faithful love and mercy."},{"verse":20,"text":"I will make you my bride with faithfulness,\nand you will know the LORD.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"On that day I will answer,\" says the LORD.\n\"I will answer the skies,\nand the skies will answer the earth."},{"verse":22,"text":"The earth will answer the grain,\nthe new wine, and the oil.\nAnd they will answer Jezreel.","note":"Jezreel means \"God plants.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"I will plant her for myself in the land.\nI will show mercy to 'No Mercy.'\nI will say to 'Not My People,' 'You are my people.'\nAnd they will say, 'You are my God.'\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Go and show love to your wife again. Do it even though another man loves her and she is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites. He loves them even though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about nine bushels of barley.","note":"Fifteen shekels is about 6 ounces. Hebrew: a homer and a lethech of barley."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then I told her, \"You must live with me for many days. You must not act like a prostitute or belong to another man. And I will do the same for you.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"For the Israelites will live for many days without a king or prince. They will have no sacrifice or sacred pillar. They will have no ephod or idol."},{"verse":5,"text":"After that, the people of Israel will come back. They will seek the LORD their God and David their king. In the last days they will come trembling to the LORD and to his goodness."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Hear the word of the LORD, you people of Israel.\nFor the LORD has a case against the people of the land:\n\"There is no truth and no faithful love.\nNo one in the land knows God!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Cursing and lying are everywhere.\nSo are murder, stealing, and adultery.\nOne killing follows another."},{"verse":3,"text":"So the land mourns.\nAll who live in it waste away,\nalong with the wild animals and the birds in the sky.\nEven the fish in the sea are disappearing."},{"verse":4,"text":"But let no one argue.\nLet no one blame anyone else.\nFor your people are like those who argue with a priest."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will stumble by day,\nand the prophet will stumble with you by night.\nSo I will destroy your mother—"},{"verse":6,"text":"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.\nYou have rejected knowledge,\nso I will reject you as my priests.\nYou have forgotten the law of your God,\nso I will also forget your children."},{"verse":7,"text":"The more they grew in number,\nthe more they sinned against me.\nThey traded their Glory for something shameful."},{"verse":8,"text":"They feed on the sins of my people.\nTheir hearts long for their wrongdoing."},{"verse":9,"text":"So it will be the same for people and priest.\nI will punish both of them for their ways.\nI will pay them back for what they have done."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will eat but not be full.\nThey will commit sexual sin but not grow in number.\nFor they have left the LORD\nto give themselves"},{"verse":11,"text":"to sexual sin, wine, and new wine.\nThese take away understanding."},{"verse":12,"text":"My people ask their wooden idols for advice.\nTheir divining rods give them answers.\nA spirit of prostitution leads them astray.\nThey have left their God to act like a prostitute."},{"verse":13,"text":"They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops.\nThey burn offerings on the hills,\nunder oak, poplar, and terebinth trees,\nbecause the shade is pleasant.\nSo your daughters turn to prostitution,\nand your sons' wives to adultery."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will not punish your daughters when they act as prostitutes.\nI will not punish your sons' wives when they commit adultery.\nFor the men themselves go off with prostitutes.\nThey offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes.\nSo a people without understanding will be ruined."},{"verse":15,"text":"Israel, though you act like a prostitute,\ndo not let Judah become guilty too!\nDo not go to Gilgal.\nDo not go up to Beth-aven.\nAnd do not swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives!'","note":"Beth-aven means \"house of wickedness,\" a mocking name for Bethel."},{"verse":16,"text":"For Israel is as stubborn\nas a stubborn young cow.\nCan the LORD now feed them like lambs\nin an open field?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Ephraim is joined to idols.\nLeave him alone!"},{"verse":18,"text":"When their drink is gone,\nthey turn to prostitution.\nTheir rulers dearly love what is shameful."},{"verse":19,"text":"A whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings.\nTheir sacrifices will bring them shame."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Hear this, you priests!\nPay attention, house of Israel!\nListen, royal house!\nThis judgment is against you.\nFor you have been a trap at Mizpah,\na net spread out on Tabor."},{"verse":2,"text":"The rebels are deep in killing,\nbut I will punish them all."},{"verse":3,"text":"I know all about Ephraim.\nIsrael is not hidden from me.\nFor now, Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution.\nIsrael is made unclean."},{"verse":4,"text":"Their deeds do not let them return to their God.\nFor a spirit of prostitution is in them,\nand they do not know the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Israel's pride speaks against them.\nIsrael and Ephraim stumble in their sin.\nJudah stumbles with them too."},{"verse":6,"text":"They go with their flocks and herds\nto seek the LORD,\nbut they do not find him.\nHe has pulled away from them."},{"verse":7,"text":"They have been unfaithful to the LORD.\nThey have had children by other men.\nNow the New Moon will eat them up,\nalong with their land."},{"verse":8,"text":"Blow the ram's horn in Gibeah!\nBlow the trumpet in Ramah!\nShout the battle cry in Beth-aven:\n'Lead on, Benjamin!'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Ephraim will be ruined\non the day of punishment.\nAmong the tribes of Israel\nI tell what will surely happen."},{"verse":10,"text":"The leaders of Judah are like those\nwho move boundary stones.\nI will pour out my anger on them like water."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ephraim is beaten down,\ncrushed in judgment.\nFor he is set on following worthless idols."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I am like a moth to Ephraim,\nand like rot to the house of Judah."},{"verse":13,"text":"Ephraim saw his sickness,\nand Judah saw his wound.\nThen Ephraim turned to Assyria\nand sent to the great king.\nBut he cannot cure you\nor heal your wound."},{"verse":14,"text":"For I am like a lion to Ephraim,\nlike a young lion to the house of Judah.\nI myself will tear them to pieces and then go away.\nI will carry them off,\nand no one will rescue them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then I will go back to my place\nuntil they admit their guilt\nand seek my face.\nIn their trouble they will search hard for me.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Come, let us return to the LORD.\nHe has torn us to pieces,\nbut he will heal us.\nHe has wounded us,\nbut he will bandage our wounds."},{"verse":2,"text":"After two days he will bring us back to life.\nOn the third day he will raise us up,\nso that we may live with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"So let us know the LORD.\nLet us press on to know him.\nAs surely as the sun rises,\nhe will appear.\nHe will come to us like the rain,\nlike the spring showers that water the earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"What should I do with you, Ephraim?\nWhat should I do with you, Judah?\nYour loyalty is like a morning mist,\nlike the early dew that goes away."},{"verse":5,"text":"That is why I cut them down by the prophets.\nI killed them by the words of my mouth.\nMy judgments flash out like lightning."},{"verse":6,"text":"For I want mercy, not sacrifice.\nI want you to know God more than I want burnt offerings."},{"verse":7,"text":"But like Adam, they have broken the covenant.\nThere they were unfaithful to me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Gilead is a city of evil people.\nIt is marked with bloody footprints."},{"verse":9,"text":"Robbers hide and wait to attack.\nA band of priests is just like them.\nThey murder people on the road to Shechem.\nThey surely have done terrible crimes."},{"verse":10,"text":"I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel.\nEphraim acts like a prostitute there,\nand Israel is made unclean."},{"verse":11,"text":"And for you, Judah, a harvest is set,\nwhen I bring my people back from captivity."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When I heal Israel,\nEphraim's sin will be uncovered,\nand so will the crimes of Samaria.\nFor they lie and cheat.\nThieves break in.\nBandits rob people in the streets."},{"verse":2,"text":"But they do not stop to think\nthat I remember all their evil.\nNow their deeds are all around them.\nThey are right in front of me."},{"verse":3,"text":"They make the king glad with their evil.\nThey make the leaders glad with their lies."},{"verse":4,"text":"They are all adulterers.\nThey are like an oven heated by a baker.\nHe does not need to stir the fire\nfrom the time he kneads the dough\nuntil it rises."},{"verse":5,"text":"On the day of our king,\nthe leaders are sick and hot with wine.\nSo the king joins hands with those who mock him."},{"verse":6,"text":"They make their hearts ready like an oven\nwhile they lie in wait.\nAll night their anger burns low.\nIn the morning it blazes like a flaming fire."},{"verse":7,"text":"All of them are hot as an oven.\nThey eat up their rulers.\nAll their kings fall.\nNot one of them calls on me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ephraim mixes with the nations.\nEphraim is like a flat cake not turned over."},{"verse":9,"text":"Foreigners eat up his strength,\nbut he does not notice.\nEven his hair is streaked with gray,\nbut he does not know it."},{"verse":10,"text":"Israel's pride speaks against them.\nYet they do not return to the LORD their God.\nIn spite of all this, they do not seek him."},{"verse":11,"text":"So Ephraim has become like a dove,\nsilly and without sense.\nThey call out to Egypt,\nthen turn to Assyria."},{"verse":12,"text":"As they go, I will throw my net over them.\nI will bring them down like birds of the air.\nWhen I hear them flocking together,\nI will punish them."},{"verse":13,"text":"How terrible for them, for they have wandered from me!\nRuin will come to them, for they have rebelled against me!\nI would redeem them,\nbut they speak lies against me."},{"verse":14,"text":"They do not cry out to me from their hearts\nwhen they wail on their beds.\nThey cut themselves for grain and new wine,\nbut they turn away from me."},{"verse":15,"text":"I trained them and made their arms strong,\nyet they plan evil against me."},{"verse":16,"text":"They turn, but not to the Most High.\nThey are like a bow that does not shoot straight.\nTheir leaders will fall by the sword\nbecause of the cursing of their tongues.\nFor this, people will laugh at them in the land of Egypt."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Put the ram's horn to your lips!\nAn eagle hovers over the house of the LORD.\nFor the people have broken my covenant\nand rebelled against my law."},{"verse":2,"text":"Israel cries out to me,\n\"Our God, we know you!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Israel has thrown away what is good.\nAn enemy will chase him."},{"verse":4,"text":"They set up kings, but not by me.\nThey chose leaders, but without my approval.\nThey made idols for themselves with their silver and gold.\nThis will destroy them."},{"verse":5,"text":"He has rejected your calf, Samaria.\nMy anger burns against them.\nHow long will they be unable to be pure?"},{"verse":6,"text":"This thing came from Israel!\nA craftsman made it.\nIt is not God.\nThat calf of Samaria\nwill be broken to pieces."},{"verse":7,"text":"They plant the wind,\nand they will harvest the whirlwind.\nNo grain is standing in the field.\nWhat sprouts will make no flour.\nEven if it did make some,\nforeigners would eat it all up."},{"verse":8,"text":"Israel is swallowed up!\nNow they are among the nations\nlike a worthless jar."},{"verse":9,"text":"For they have gone up to Assyria,\nlike a wild donkey wandering alone.\nEphraim has paid lovers."},{"verse":10,"text":"They hire friends among the nations,\nbut now I will round them up.\nThey will begin to grow weak\nunder the harsh rule of the king of princes."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ephraim built many altars for sin,\nbut they became altars for sinning."},{"verse":12,"text":"I wrote for them the great things of my law,\nbut they treated them as something strange."},{"verse":13,"text":"They offer sacrifices as gifts to me,\nand they eat the meat,\nbut the LORD does not accept them.\nNow he will remember their sin\nand punish their wrongs.\nThey will go back to Egypt."},{"verse":14,"text":"Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces.\nJudah has built many walled cities.\nBut I will send fire on their cities,\nand it will burn up their strong towers."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Do not rejoice, Israel.\nDo not shout for joy like the nations.\nFor you have left your God to act like a prostitute.\nYou have sold your love for pay\non every threshing floor."},{"verse":2,"text":"The threshing floor and the winepress will not feed them.\nThe new wine will fail them."},{"verse":3,"text":"They will not stay in the LORD's land.\nEphraim will go back to Egypt\nand eat unclean food in Assyria."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD.\nTheir sacrifices will not please him.\nTo them, these will be like bread eaten by mourners.\nAll who eat it will be made unclean.\nTheir bread will be for themselves alone.\nIt will not come into the house of the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"What will you do on the appointed day,\non the day of the LORD's feast?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Even if they escape being destroyed,\nEgypt will gather them up,\nand Memphis will bury them.\nThistles will take over their precious silver.\nThorns will fill their tents."},{"verse":7,"text":"The days of punishment have come.\nThe days of payback have arrived.\nLet Israel know it!\nThe prophet is called a fool.\nThe man of the spirit is called crazy.\nThis is because your sin is so great,\nand your hatred is so great."},{"verse":8,"text":"The prophet is Ephraim's watchman,\nalong with my God.\nYet a bird trap is set on all his paths.\nThere is hatred in the house of his God!"},{"verse":9,"text":"They have sunk deep into evil,\nas in the days of Gibeah.\nGod will remember their guilt.\nHe will punish their sins."},{"verse":10,"text":"When I found Israel,\nit was like finding grapes in the desert.\nWhen I saw your fathers,\nit was like seeing the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season.\nBut they went to Baal-peor\nand gave themselves to Shame.\nThey became as disgusting as the thing they loved.","note":"\"Shame\" stands for the idol Baal."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird.\nThere will be no birth,\nno carrying a child,\nand no becoming pregnant."},{"verse":12,"text":"Even if they raise children,\nI will take each one away from them.\nYes, how terrible it will be for them\nwhen I turn away from them!"},{"verse":13,"text":"I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre,\nplanted in a meadow.\nBut Ephraim will bring out his children to be killed."},{"verse":14,"text":"Give them, LORD—\nwhat will you give them?\nGive them wombs that lose their babies\nand breasts that are dry!"},{"verse":15,"text":"All their evil shows up at Gilgal,\nfor there I hated them.\nBecause of their wicked deeds,\nI will drive them out of my house.\nI will not love them anymore.\nAll their leaders are rebels."},{"verse":16,"text":"Ephraim is struck down.\nTheir root is dried up.\nThey cannot bear fruit.\nEven if they have children,\nI will kill the dear children of their wombs."},{"verse":17,"text":"My God will reject them,\nbecause they have not obeyed him.\nThey will be wanderers among the nations."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Israel was a rich, spreading vine,\nmaking fruit for himself.\nThe more his fruit grew,\nthe more altars he built.\nThe better his land did,\nthe finer he made his sacred pillars."},{"verse":2,"text":"Their hearts are false.\nNow they must carry their guilt.\nThe LORD will break down their altars\nand tear down their sacred pillars."},{"verse":3,"text":"Surely now they will say,\n\"We have no king,\nfor we do not fear the LORD.\nAnd what could a king do for us?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"They speak empty words.\nThey make covenants with false promises.\nSo judgment springs up\nlike poison weeds in a plowed field."},{"verse":5,"text":"The people of Samaria will be afraid\nfor the calf of Beth-aven.\nIts people will mourn over it.\nSo will its idol priests,\nwho were glad about its glory.\nFor it has been taken away from them into exile."},{"verse":6,"text":"Yes, it will be carried to Assyria\nas a payment to the great king.\nEphraim will be filled with shame.\nIsrael will be ashamed of its wooden idols."},{"verse":7,"text":"Samaria and her king will be carried off\nlike a twig floating on the water."},{"verse":8,"text":"The high places of Aven will be destroyed.\nThey are the sin of Israel.\nThorns and thistles will grow over their altars.\nThen they will say to the mountains, \"Cover us!\"\nThey will say to the hills, \"Fall on us!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Israel, you have sinned since the days of Gibeah,\nand there you have stayed.\nDid war not catch up with the wicked in Gibeah?"},{"verse":10,"text":"When I choose, I will punish them.\nNations will be gathered against them\nto put them in chains\nfor their double sin."},{"verse":11,"text":"Ephraim is a well-trained young cow\nthat loves to thresh grain.\nBut I will put a yoke on her fine neck.\nI will hitch up Ephraim.\nJudah will plow,\nand Jacob will break up the hard ground."},{"verse":12,"text":"Plant what is right for yourselves,\nand harvest the fruit of faithful love.\nBreak up your unplowed ground.\nFor it is time to seek the LORD,\nuntil he comes\nand rains down what is right on you."},{"verse":13,"text":"You have plowed evil\nand harvested what is unfair.\nYou have eaten the fruit of lies.\nBecause you have trusted in your own way\nand in your many mighty soldiers,"},{"verse":14,"text":"the roar of battle will rise against your people.\nAll your forts will be torn down,\nas Shalman wrecked Beth-arbel in the day of battle.\nThen mothers were smashed to pieces\nalong with their children."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what will be done to you, Bethel,\nbecause your evil is so great.\nWhen the day dawns,\nthe king of Israel will be completely destroyed."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When Israel was a child, I loved him.\nOut of Egypt I called my son."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the more I called Israel,\nthe farther they went from me.\nThey offered sacrifices to the Baals\nand burned incense to carved idols."},{"verse":3,"text":"I was the one who taught Ephraim to walk.\nI took them by the arms.\nBut they never knew\nthat I was the one who healed them."},{"verse":4,"text":"I led them with cords of kindness,\nwith ropes of love.\nI lifted the yoke from their necks.\nI bent down and fed them."},{"verse":5,"text":"Will they not go back to the land of Egypt?\nWill Assyria not rule over them?\nFor they refused to turn back to me."},{"verse":6,"text":"A sword will flash through their cities.\nIt will destroy the bars of their gates.\nIt will eat them up because of their own plans."},{"verse":7,"text":"My people are set on turning away from me.\nThey call out to the Most High,\nbut he will not lift them up at all."},{"verse":8,"text":"How can I give you up, Ephraim?\nHow can I hand you over, Israel?\nHow can I make you like Admah?\nHow can I treat you like Zeboiim?\nMy heart is turned over within me.\nMy compassion is stirred up!"},{"verse":9,"text":"I will not carry out the full force of my anger.\nI will not destroy Ephraim again.\nFor I am God, and not a man.\nI am the Holy One among you.\nI will not come in anger."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will follow the LORD.\nHe will roar like a lion.\nWhen he roars,\nhis children will come trembling from the west."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will come trembling like birds from Egypt,\nlike doves from the land of Assyria.\nThen I will settle them in their homes,\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Ephraim surrounds me with lies.\nThe house of Israel surrounds me with tricks.\nBut Judah still walks with God.\nJudah is faithful to the Holy One."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ephraim feeds on the wind.\nHe chases the east wind all day long.\nHe adds more and more lies and violence.\nHe makes a covenant with Assyria\nand sends olive oil to Egypt."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD has a charge against Judah.\nHe will punish Jacob for his ways.\nHe will pay him back for what he has done."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the womb Jacob grabbed his brother's heel.\nAs a strong man he wrestled with God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Yes, he struggled with the angel and won.\nHe wept and begged for his favor.\nHe found him at Bethel\nand spoke with him there—"},{"verse":5,"text":"the LORD God of Hosts.\nThe LORD is the name he is known by."},{"verse":6,"text":"But you must return to your God.\nHold on to love and justice.\nAnd always wait for your God."},{"verse":7,"text":"A merchant loves to cheat.\nHe holds dishonest scales in his hands."},{"verse":8,"text":"And Ephraim brags,\n\"How rich I have become!\nI have found wealth for myself.\nIn all my work they will find no wrong in me,\nnothing that is sin.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But I have been the LORD your God\never since you were in the land of Egypt.\nI will make you live in tents again,\nas in the days of the appointed feast."},{"verse":10,"text":"I spoke through the prophets.\nI gave them many visions.\nI gave parables through the prophets."},{"verse":11,"text":"Is there evil in Gilead?\nThey will surely come to nothing.\nDo they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?\nTheir altars will be piles of stones\nin the rows of a plowed field."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jacob ran away to the land of Aram.\nIsrael worked to get a wife.\nTo pay for a wife, he took care of sheep."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the LORD used a prophet\nto bring Israel out of Egypt.\nBy a prophet Israel was kept safe."},{"verse":14,"text":"Ephraim has made God bitterly angry.\nSo his Lord will leave the guilt of the blood he shed on him.\nHe will pay him back for his insults."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When Ephraim spoke, people trembled.\nHe was honored in Israel.\nBut he became guilty through Baal,\nand he died."},{"verse":2,"text":"Now they sin more and more.\nThey make metal idols for themselves.\nThey skillfully shape idols from their silver.\nAll of them are the work of craftsmen.\nPeople say of them,\n\"They offer human sacrifices\nand kiss the calves!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So they will be like the morning mist,\nlike the early dew that goes away,\nlike chaff blown from a threshing floor,\nlike smoke out of an open window."},{"verse":4,"text":"Yet I have been the LORD your God\never since you were in the land of Egypt.\nYou know no God but me.\nThere is no Savior besides me."},{"verse":5,"text":"I knew you in the wilderness,\nin the dry land with no rain."},{"verse":6,"text":"When they had pasture, they were full.\nWhen they were full, their hearts became proud.\nAnd so they forgot me."},{"verse":7,"text":"So I will pounce on them like a lion.\nLike a leopard I will hide and wait by the path."},{"verse":8,"text":"Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them.\nI will rip open their chests.\nThere I will eat them up like a lion,\nlike a wild animal tearing them apart."},{"verse":9,"text":"You are destroyed, Israel,\nbecause you are against me—\nagainst your helper."},{"verse":10,"text":"Where is your king now to save you\nin all your cities?\nWhere are the rulers you asked for?\nYou said, \"Give me a king and princes.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So in my anger I gave you a king,\nand in my fury I took him away."},{"verse":12,"text":"Ephraim's wrongs are wrapped up and kept.\nHis sin is stored away."},{"verse":13,"text":"Labor pains come on him,\nbut he is a foolish son.\nWhen it is time to be born,\nhe does not come out of the womb."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will pay to free them from the power of the grave.\nI will redeem them from Death.\nDeath, where are your plagues?\nGrave, where is your sting?\nPity is hidden from my eyes.","note":"\"The grave\" is Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":15,"text":"He may do well among his brothers,\nbut an east wind will come.\nIt is a wind from the LORD,\nrising up from the desert.\nHis fountain will fail,\nand his spring will dry up.\nThe wind will rob his storehouse\nof every precious thing."},{"verse":16,"text":"Samaria will carry her guilt,\nbecause she has rebelled against her God.\nThey will fall by the sword.\nTheir little ones will be smashed to pieces.\nTheir pregnant women will be ripped open."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Return, Israel, to the LORD your God.\nYour sin has made you stumble."},{"verse":2,"text":"Bring your words of confession\nand return to the LORD.\nSay to him,\n\"Take away all our sin.\nReceive us with grace,\nso that we may offer the fruit of our lips."},{"verse":3,"text":"Assyria will not save us.\nWe will not ride on horses.\nWe will never again say, 'Our gods!'\nto the work of our own hands.\nFor in you the fatherless find mercy.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"I will heal them of their turning away from me.\nI will love them freely,\nfor my anger has turned away from them."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will be like the dew to Israel.\nHe will bloom like the lily.\nHe will send down roots like the cedars of Lebanon."},{"verse":6,"text":"His young branches will spread out.\nHis beauty will be like the olive tree.\nHis sweet smell will be like the cedars of Lebanon."},{"verse":7,"text":"People will come back and live in his shade.\nThey will grow grain\nand bloom like the vine.\nHis fame will be like the wine of Lebanon."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ephraim, what more do I have to do with idols?\nI am the one who answers him and watches over him.\nI am like a green cypress tree.\nYour fruit comes from me."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things.\nWhoever has good sense, let him know them.\nFor the ways of the LORD are right.\nThe righteous walk in them,\nbut the rebels stumble in them."}]}]},{"name":"Joel","slug":"joel","usfm":"JOL","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hear this, you elders!\nListen, all who live in the land!\nHas anything like this ever happened in your days,\nor in the days of your fathers?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Tell your children about it.\nLet your children tell their children.\nAnd let their children tell the next generation."},{"verse":4,"text":"What the devouring locust left,\nthe swarming locust has eaten.\nWhat the swarming locust left,\nthe young locust has eaten.\nWhat the young locust left,\nthe destroying locust has eaten."},{"verse":5,"text":"Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!\nWail, all you who drink wine!\nWail because of the sweet wine,\nfor it has been taken from your mouths."},{"verse":6,"text":"For a nation has invaded my land.\nIt is powerful, and there are too many to count.\nIts teeth are the teeth of a lion.\nIts fangs are the fangs of a lioness."},{"verse":7,"text":"It has ruined my grapevine\nand broken my fig tree into splinters.\nIt has stripped off the bark and thrown it away.\nThe branches have turned white."},{"verse":8,"text":"Wail like a virgin dressed in sackcloth,\ngrieving for the husband of her youth."},{"verse":9,"text":"Grain offerings and drink offerings are cut off\nfrom the house of the LORD.\nThe priests are mourning,\nthose who serve before the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"The field is ruined.\nThe land mourns.\nFor the grain is destroyed,\nthe new wine is dried up,\nand the oil is gone."},{"verse":11,"text":"Be in despair, you farmers!\nWail, you who tend the vines!\nWail over the wheat and the barley,\nbecause the harvest of the field is lost."},{"verse":12,"text":"The grapevine is dried up.\nThe fig tree has withered.\nThe pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree—\nall the trees of the orchard—have withered.\nSurely people's joy has dried up."},{"verse":13,"text":"Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests!\nWail, you who serve at the altar!\nCome, spend the night in sackcloth,\nyou who serve my God.\nFor grain offerings and drink offerings\nare held back from the house of your God."},{"verse":14,"text":"Set apart a time to fast.\nCall a holy gathering!\nGather the elders\nand all who live in the land\nto the house of the LORD your God.\nAnd cry out to the LORD."},{"verse":15,"text":"Oh, what a terrible day!\nFor the Day of the LORD is near.\nIt will come like ruin from the Almighty."},{"verse":16,"text":"Hasn't the food been cut off right before our eyes?\nHaven't joy and gladness been cut off\nfrom the house of our God?"},{"verse":17,"text":"The seeds lie dried up under the clods of dirt.\nThe storehouses are in ruins.\nThe barns are broken down,\nfor the grain has dried up."},{"verse":18,"text":"How the cattle groan!\nThe herds wander around confused,\nbecause they have no pasture.\nEven the flocks of sheep are suffering."},{"verse":19,"text":"To you, LORD, I call out.\nFor fire has burned up the open pastures.\nFlames have burned all the trees of the field."},{"verse":20,"text":"Even the wild animals long for you,\nfor the streams of water have dried up.\nFire has burned up the open pastures."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Blow the ram's horn in Zion!\nSound the alarm on my holy mountain!\nLet all who live in the land tremble.\nFor the Day of the LORD is coming.\nYes, it is near—"},{"verse":2,"text":"a day of darkness and gloom,\na day of clouds and thick darkness.\nLike dawn spreading over the mountains,\na great and strong army comes.\nThere has never been one like it before.\nAnd there will never be one like it again\nin all the years to come."},{"verse":3,"text":"In front of them a fire burns everything up.\nBehind them a flame scorches.\nIn front of them the land is like the Garden of Eden.\nBehind them it is like an empty desert.\nSurely nothing will escape them."},{"verse":4,"text":"They look like horses.\nThey gallop like fast war horses."},{"verse":5,"text":"They leap over the mountaintops\nwith a sound like chariots.\nThey sound like the crackling of fire burning dry stalks.\nThey are like a mighty army lined up for battle."},{"verse":6,"text":"Nations shake in fear before them.\nEvery face turns pale."},{"verse":7,"text":"They charge like mighty soldiers.\nThey climb walls like men of war.\nEach one marches in line\nand does not turn aside from the path."},{"verse":8,"text":"They do not push one another.\nEach one goes straight ahead in his path.\nThey break through the defenses\nwithout ever getting out of line."},{"verse":9,"text":"They rush into the city.\nThey run along the wall.\nThey climb into houses.\nThey go in through windows like thieves."},{"verse":10,"text":"The earth shakes before them.\nThe sky trembles.\nThe sun and moon grow dark,\nand the stars lose their light."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD shouts out\nin front of his army.\nHis camp is very large,\nfor those who obey his command are mighty.\nFor the Day of the LORD is great and very terrible.\nWho can live through it?"},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Yet even now,\" says the LORD,\n\"return to me with all your heart.\nCome with fasting, weeping, and mourning.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Tear your hearts, and not your clothes.\nReturn to the LORD your God.\nFor he is gracious and full of compassion.\nHe is slow to get angry\nand full of faithful love.\nAnd he holds back from sending disaster."},{"verse":14,"text":"Who knows?\nHe may turn and hold back.\nHe may leave a blessing behind him—\ngrain offerings and drink offerings\nfor the LORD your God."},{"verse":15,"text":"Blow the ram's horn in Zion!\nSet apart a time to fast.\nCall a holy gathering."},{"verse":16,"text":"Gather the people.\nMake the whole group holy.\nBring together the old people.\nGather the children,\neven the babies who are nursing.\nLet the groom leave his room,\nand the bride her room too."},{"verse":17,"text":"Let the priests who serve before the LORD\nweep between the porch and the altar.\nLet them say, \"Spare your people, LORD.\nDo not let your own people become a disgrace,\na thing the nations make fun of.\nWhy should people among the nations say,\n'Where is their God?'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the LORD became jealous for his land,\nand he took pity on his people."},{"verse":19,"text":"The LORD answered his people,\n\"Look, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil.\nYou will be satisfied with them.\nI will never again make you a disgrace among the nations."},{"verse":20,"text":"I will drive the northern army far from you.\nI will push it into a dry and empty land.\nIts front lines will go into the Eastern Sea.\nIts back lines will go into the Western Sea.\nIts stink will rise up.\nIts bad smell will go up.\nFor he has done great things.","note":"The Eastern Sea is the Dead Sea. The Western Sea is the Mediterranean Sea."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not be afraid, land.\nBe glad and rejoice,\nfor the LORD has done great things."},{"verse":22,"text":"Do not be afraid, wild animals,\nfor the open pastures have turned green.\nThe trees are bearing their fruit.\nThe fig tree and the vine give their best."},{"verse":23,"text":"Be glad, people of Zion!\nRejoice in the LORD your God!\nFor he has given you the autumn rains\nto show you are in the right.\nHe sends you showers,\nboth autumn and spring rains, as before.","note":"Or: \"he has given you a teacher of what is right.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The threshing floors will be full of grain.\nThe vats will overflow with new wine and oil."},{"verse":25,"text":"I will pay you back for the years the locusts ate—\nthe swarming locust, the young locust,\nthe destroying locust, and the devouring locust.\nThey were my great army that I sent against you."},{"verse":26,"text":"You will have plenty to eat,\nuntil you are full.\nYou will praise the name of the LORD your God,\nwho has done wonders for you.\nMy people will never again be put to shame."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then you will know that I am here in Israel.\nYou will know that I am the LORD your God,\nand there is no other.\nMy people will never again be put to shame."},{"verse":28,"text":"And after this, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.\nYour sons and daughters will prophesy.\nYour old men will dream dreams.\nYour young men will see visions."},{"verse":29,"text":"Even on my male and female servants,\nI will pour out my Spirit in those days."},{"verse":30,"text":"I will show wonders in the sky and on the earth:\nblood and fire and columns of smoke."},{"verse":31,"text":"The sun will be turned to darkness,\nand the moon to blood,\nbefore the great and awesome Day of the LORD comes."},{"verse":32,"text":"And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.\nFor on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem\nthere will be rescue,\nas the LORD has promised.\nIt will be among the survivors whom the LORD calls."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Yes, in those days and at that time,\nwhen I bring Judah and Jerusalem back from captivity,"},{"verse":2,"text":"I will gather all the nations.\nI will bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.\nThere I will judge them\nfor what they did to my people,\nmy inheritance, Israel.\nThey scattered my people among the nations,\nand they divided up my land.","note":"Jehoshaphat means \"the LORD judges.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"They cast lots for my people.\nThey traded a boy for a prostitute.\nThey sold a girl for wine to drink."},{"verse":4,"text":"Now what do you have against me,\nTyre, Sidon, and all you regions of Philistia?\nAre you paying me back for something?\nIf you strike back at me,\nI will quickly and swiftly\nturn your payback onto your own heads."},{"verse":5,"text":"For you took my silver and gold.\nYou carried off my finest treasures\nto your temples."},{"verse":6,"text":"You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks.\nYou sent them far from their homeland."},{"verse":7,"text":"Look, I will stir them up\nfrom the places where you sold them.\nI will turn your payback onto your own heads."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will sell your sons and daughters\ninto the hands of the people of Judah.\nThey will sell them to the Sabeans,\na nation far away.\"\nThe LORD has spoken."},{"verse":9,"text":"Announce this among the nations:\n\"Get ready for war!\nStir up the mighty soldiers!\nLet all the men of war come near and attack!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Beat your plow blades into swords,\nand your pruning hooks into spears.\nLet the weak say, 'I am strong!'"},{"verse":11,"text":"Come quickly, all you nations from all around.\nGather yourselves together.\nLORD, bring down your mighty ones!"},{"verse":12,"text":"Let the nations be stirred up.\nLet them come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.\nFor there I will sit to judge\nall the nations on every side."},{"verse":13,"text":"Swing the sickle,\nfor the harvest is ripe.\nCome, stomp the grapes,\nfor the winepress is full.\nThe vats overflow,\nbecause their evil is great."},{"verse":14,"text":"Crowds, huge crowds\nin the valley of decision!\nFor the Day of the LORD is near\nin the valley of decision."},{"verse":15,"text":"The sun and moon will grow dark,\nand the stars will no longer shine."},{"verse":16,"text":"The LORD will roar from Zion.\nHe will shout from Jerusalem.\nHeaven and earth will shake.\nBut the LORD will be a safe place for his people,\na strong fortress for the people of Israel."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.\nI live in Zion, my holy mountain.\nJerusalem will be holy.\nForeigners will never again invade it."},{"verse":18,"text":"On that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,\nand the hills will flow with milk.\nAll the streams of Judah will run with water.\nA spring will flow out from the house of the LORD\nand water the Valley of Acacias."},{"verse":19,"text":"Egypt will become empty and ruined,\nand Edom will become a desert wasteland.\nThis is because of the violence done to the people of Judah.\nIn their land they spilled innocent blood."},{"verse":20,"text":"But people will live in Judah forever,\nand in Jerusalem through all generations."},{"verse":21,"text":"For I will avenge their blood,\nwhich I have not yet avenged.\"\nFor the LORD lives in Zion."}]}]},{"name":"Amos","slug":"amos","usfm":"AMO","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"These are the words of Amos. He was one of the sheep farmers of Tekoa. This is what he saw about Israel. It was two years before the earthquake. Uzziah was king of Judah then, and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said:\n\"The LORD roars from Zion.\nHe shouts from Jerusalem.\nThe shepherds' fields mourn,\nand the top of Carmel dries up.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Damascus has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause they crushed Gilead\nwith iron sleds for threshing grain."},{"verse":4,"text":"So I will send fire on the house of Hazael.\nIt will burn up the strong towers of Ben-hadad."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will break down the gates of Damascus.\nI will cut off the ruler in the Valley of Aven.\nI will cut off the one who holds the king's rod in Beth-eden.\nThe people of Aram will be taken away to Kir,\"\nsays the LORD.","note":"The king's rod is a scepter, a sign of a king's power."},{"verse":6,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Gaza has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause they carried off a whole people as captives\nand handed them over to Edom."},{"verse":7,"text":"So I will send fire on the walls of Gaza.\nIt will burn up its strong towers."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod.\nI will cut off the one who holds the king's rod in Ashkelon.\nI will turn my hand against Ekron.\nThe rest of the Philistines will die,\"\nsays the Lord GOD."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Tyre has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause they handed over a whole group of captives to Edom.\nThey broke a covenant made between brothers."},{"verse":10,"text":"So I will send fire on the walls of Tyre.\nIt will burn up its strong towers.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Edom has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause he chased his brother with the sword.\nHe choked off all pity.\nHis anger raged all the time.\nHis rage burned on and never stopped."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I will send fire on Teman.\nIt will burn up the strong towers of Bozrah.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"The Ammonites have sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead.\nThey did it to make their own land bigger."},{"verse":14,"text":"So I will light a fire in the walls of Rabbah.\nIt will burn up its strong towers.\nThere will be war cries on the day of battle.\nThere will be a wild wind on the day of the storm."},{"verse":15,"text":"Their king will be taken away as a captive.\nHe and his princes will go together,\"\nsays the LORD."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Moab has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause he burned the bones of Edom's king\nuntil they turned to lime."},{"verse":2,"text":"So I will send fire on Moab.\nIt will burn up the strong towers of Kerioth.\nMoab will die in the uproar of battle,\nwith war cries and the blast of the ram's horn."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will cut off the ruler of Moab.\nI will kill all its leaders with him,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Judah has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause they have turned away from the Law of the LORD.\nThey have not kept his rules.\nThey have been led off track by lies,\nthe same lies their fathers followed."},{"verse":5,"text":"So I will send fire on Judah.\nIt will burn up the strong towers of Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"Israel has sinned three times, even four.\nI will not take back my judgment,\nbecause they sell innocent people for silver.\nThey sell needy people for a pair of sandals."},{"verse":7,"text":"They stomp on the heads of the poor\nas if they were dirt on the ground.\nThey shove needy people out of the way.\nA man and his father sleep with the same girl.\nIn this way they treat my holy name as if it were not holy."},{"verse":8,"text":"They lie down by every altar\non clothes taken to make sure debts were paid.\nIn the house of their God\nthey drink wine paid for with fines."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Yet I was the one who wiped out the Amorite in front of them.\nHe was as tall as the cedar trees.\nHe was as strong as the oak trees.\nBut I destroyed him, from his fruit above to his roots below."},{"verse":10,"text":"I brought you up out of the land of Egypt.\nI led you for forty years in the wilderness.\nI did this so you could take over the land of the Amorite."},{"verse":11,"text":"I chose some of your sons to be prophets.\nI chose some of your young men to be Nazirites.\nIsn't this true, people of Israel?\"\ndeclares the LORD.","note":"Nazirites were people who made a special promise to set themselves apart for God. They did not drink wine."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"But you made the Nazirites drink wine.\nYou ordered the prophets not to prophesy."},{"verse":13,"text":"Look! I am about to crush you where you stand,\nthe way a cart full of grain crushes."},{"verse":14,"text":"Fast runners will not get away.\nStrong people will find their strength is no help.\nMighty soldiers will not save their own lives."},{"verse":15,"text":"The archer will not stand his ground.\nThe quick runner will not escape.\nThe horseman will not save his life."},{"verse":16,"text":"Even the bravest soldiers\nwill run away naked on that day,\"\ndeclares the LORD."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"People of Israel, listen to this word the LORD has spoken against you. It is against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Of all the families on earth,\nyou are the only ones I have known as my own.\nSo I will punish you for all your sins.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Can two people walk together\nif they have not agreed where to go?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Does a lion roar in the forest\nif he has no prey?\nDoes a young lion growl in his den\nif he has caught nothing?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Does a bird land in a trap\nif no bait has been set?\nDoes a trap spring up from the ground\nif it has nothing to catch?"},{"verse":6,"text":"If a ram's horn is blown in a city,\ndon't the people shake with fear?\nIf disaster comes to a city,\nisn't it the LORD who has caused it?"},{"verse":7,"text":"For sure, the Lord GOD does nothing\nwithout showing his plan to his servants the prophets."},{"verse":8,"text":"The lion has roared.\nWho will not be afraid?\nThe Lord GOD has spoken.\nWho will not prophesy?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Announce this to the strong towers of Ashdod\nand to the strong towers of Egypt:\n\"Gather on the mountains of Samaria.\nSee the great disorder in the city.\nSee how people are crushed and mistreated there.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"For they don't know how to do what is right,\"\ndeclares the LORD.\n\"They fill their strong towers\nwith things taken by violence and robbery.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So this is what the Lord GOD says:\n\"An enemy will surround the land.\nHe will pull down your forts.\nHe will rob your strong towers.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"A shepherd may pull out of a lion's mouth\nonly two legs or a piece of an ear.\nIn the same way, the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued.\nAll that will be left is the corner of a bed\nor the cushion of a couch."},{"verse":13,"text":"Listen, and give a warning against the family of Jacob,\"\ndeclares the Lord GOD, the God of Hosts."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"On the day I punish Israel for their sins,\nI will destroy the altars of Bethel.\nThe horns of the altar will be cut off.\nThey will fall to the ground."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will tear down the winter house\nalong with the summer house.\nThe houses decorated with ivory will be destroyed.\nThe great houses will come to an end,\"\ndeclares the LORD."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria!\nYou women crush the poor.\nYou stomp on the needy.\nYou say to your husbands,\n\"Bring us more to drink!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"The Lord GOD has made a promise by his own holiness:\n\"Look! The days are coming\nwhen you will be dragged away with hooks.\nThe last of you will be taken with fishhooks."},{"verse":3,"text":"You will go out through the holes in the walls.\nEach of you will go straight out.\nYou will be thrown out toward Harmon,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Go to Bethel and sin!\nGo to Gilgal and sin even more!\nBring your sacrifices every morning.\nBring your tithes, a tenth of what you have, every three days."},{"verse":5,"text":"Offer bread made with yeast as a thank offering.\nBrag loudly about the gifts you give freely.\nThat is what you love to do, people of Israel,\"\ndeclares the Lord GOD."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I gave you empty stomachs in all your cities.\nThere was no bread in all your towns.\nYet you did not come back to me,\"\ndeclares the LORD.","note":"Hebrew: cleanness of teeth."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"I also held back the rain from you\nwhen the harvest was still three months away.\nI sent rain on one city\nbut held it back from another.\nOne field got rain.\nAnother field got none and dried up."},{"verse":8,"text":"People wandered weakly from city to city to find water to drink.\nBut they did not get enough.\nYet you did not come back to me,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"I struck your gardens and vineyards with plant diseases and mold.\nLocusts ate up your fig trees and olive trees.\nYet you did not come back to me,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"I sent plagues on you like the ones in Egypt.\nI killed your young men with the sword.\nI killed your captured horses too.\nI filled your noses with the stink of your camps.\nYet you did not come back to me,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"I destroyed some of you\nas I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.\nYou were like a burning stick pulled out of a fire.\nYet you did not come back to me,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"So that is what I will do to you, Israel.\nAnd since I will do this to you,\nget ready to meet your God, Israel!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Look! He is the one who shapes the mountains.\nHe makes the wind.\nHe shows people his thoughts.\nHe turns the dawn into darkness.\nHe walks on the high places of the earth.\nThe LORD, the God of Hosts, is his name.\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Listen to this word, family of Israel.\nThis is a sad song I sing about you:"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Israel, the young woman, has fallen.\nShe will never get up again.\nShe lies left alone on her own land.\nThere is no one to help her up.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD says:\n\"A city that sends out a thousand soldiers\nwill have only a hundred left.\nA city that sends out a hundred\nwill have only ten left in the family of Israel.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"For this is what the LORD says to the family of Israel:\n\"Look to me and live!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not look to Bethel.\nDo not go to Gilgal.\nDo not travel to Beersheba.\nFor sure, Gilgal will be taken away as captives.\nBethel will come to nothing."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look to the LORD and live!\nIf you don't, he will sweep like fire through the family of Joseph.\nIt will burn up everything.\nNo one at Bethel will be able to put it out."},{"verse":7,"text":"Some of you turn justice into something bitter.\nYou throw what is right down to the ground.","note":"Hebrew: wormwood, a bitter plant."},{"verse":8,"text":"He made the stars of the Pleiades and Orion.\nHe turns darkness into morning.\nHe makes the day dark as night.\nHe calls for the waters of the sea\nand pours them out over the land.\nThe LORD is his name."},{"verse":9,"text":"He flashes destruction on the strong.\nHe brings ruin on the fort."},{"verse":10,"text":"Some of you hate the one who speaks up for what is right at the city gate.\nYou hate the one who tells the truth.","note":"The city gate was where courts met."},{"verse":11,"text":"You stomp on the poor.\nYou force them to pay you grain.\nSo you will never live in the stone houses you have built.\nYou will never drink wine from the rich vineyards you have planted."},{"verse":12,"text":"For I know how many your sins are.\nI know how great your wrongs are.\nYou crush people who do right by taking bribes.\nYou keep the poor from getting justice at the city gate."},{"verse":13,"text":"So wise people keep quiet at a time like this.\nFor these are evil days."},{"verse":14,"text":"Look for good, not evil,\nso that you may live.\nThen the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you,\njust as you say he is."},{"verse":15,"text":"Hate evil, and love good.\nMake sure there is justice at the city gate.\nMaybe the LORD, the God of Hosts,\nwill show kindness to those left of Joseph's family.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So this is what the LORD says.\nHe is the God of Hosts, the Lord:\n\"There will be crying in all the town squares.\nPeople will cry out, 'Oh no! Oh no!' in all the streets.\nThey will call the farmers to mourn.\nThey will call the paid mourners to weep."},{"verse":17,"text":"There will be crying in all the vineyards,\nfor I will pass through among you,\"\nsays the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"How terrible for you who long for the Day of the LORD!\nWhat will the Day of the LORD mean for you?\nIt will be darkness, not light."},{"verse":19,"text":"It will be like a man who runs from a lion,\nonly to meet a bear.\nOr he goes into his house\nand leans his hand on the wall,\nonly to be bitten by a snake."},{"verse":20,"text":"Won't the Day of the LORD be darkness, not light?\nIt will be gloomy, with no bright spot at all."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"I hate your feasts. I can't stand them!\nThe smell of your holy meetings makes me sick."},{"verse":22,"text":"You may bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings.\nBut I will not accept them.\nYou may bring peace offerings of fat cattle.\nBut I will not even look at them."},{"verse":23,"text":"Take the noise of your songs away from me!\nI will not listen to the music of your harps."},{"verse":24,"text":"Instead, let justice roll on like a river.\nLet what is right flow like a stream that never runs dry."},{"verse":25,"text":"Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings\nduring the forty years in the wilderness, family of Israel?"},{"verse":26,"text":"You have carried along Sakkuth your king\nand Kaiwan your star god.\nThey are idols you made for yourselves."},{"verse":27,"text":"So I will send you away as captives beyond Damascus,\"\nsays the LORD. His name is the God of Hosts."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible for you who live easy lives in Zion!\nHow terrible for you who feel safe on Mount Samaria!\nYou are the famous leaders of the greatest nation.\nThe family of Israel comes to you for help."},{"verse":2,"text":"Go over to Calneh and look.\nGo from there to the great city of Hamath.\nThen go down to Gath of the Philistines.\nAre you better than these kingdoms?\nIs their land bigger than yours?"},{"verse":3,"text":"You push away the thought of the day of disaster.\nYet you bring closer a time when violence rules."},{"verse":4,"text":"You lie on beds decorated with ivory.\nYou stretch out on your couches.\nYou eat lambs from the flock\nand calves from the stall."},{"verse":5,"text":"You make up songs on the harp like David.\nYou invent your own musical instruments."},{"verse":6,"text":"You drink wine by the bowlful.\nYou rub yourselves with the finest oils.\nBut you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now you will be the first to be taken away as captives.\nYour feasting and lazy lounging will come to an end."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Lord GOD has made a promise by his own self.\nThe LORD, the God of Hosts, has said:\n\"I hate Jacob's pride.\nI hate his strong towers.\nSo I will hand over the city and everything in it.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"If ten men are left in one house, they will die too."},{"verse":10,"text":"A relative will come to burn the bodies. When he picks them up to carry them out of the house, he will call to someone inside, \"Is anyone else with you?\" That person will answer, \"No one.\" Then the relative will say, \"Hush! We must not speak the name of the LORD.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"For the LORD gives a command:\n\"The big house will be smashed to pieces.\nThe small house will be broken into bits.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Do horses run on rocky cliffs?\nDoes anyone plow the sea with oxen?\nBut you have turned justice into poison.\nYou have turned the fruit of what is right into something bitter."},{"verse":13,"text":"You are happy about taking Lo-debar.\nYou say, 'Didn't we take Karnaim by our own strength?'","note":"Lo-debar sounds like \"nothing\" in Hebrew. Karnaim means \"horns,\" a sign of strength."},{"verse":14,"text":"For look! I will raise up a nation against you, family of Israel,\"\ndeclares the LORD, the God of Hosts.\n\"They will crush you\nfrom Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD showed me. He was getting swarms of locusts ready. It was just after the king's share of the harvest had been cut. The late spring crop was coming up."},{"verse":2,"text":"The locusts ate every green plant in the land. Then I said, \"Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So the LORD changed his mind about this. \"It will not happen,\" he said."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD showed me. The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. The fire dried up the great deep waters and burned up the land."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I said, \"Lord GOD, please stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the LORD changed his mind about this. \"This will not happen either,\" said the Lord GOD."},{"verse":7,"text":"This is what he showed me. The Lord was standing by a wall that was built perfectly straight. He held a plumb line in his hand.","note":"A plumb line is a string with a weight on the end. Builders used it to check if a wall was straight."},{"verse":8,"text":"The LORD asked me, \"Amos, what do you see?\" \"A plumb line,\" I answered. Then the Lord said, \"Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel. I will not spare them any longer."},{"verse":9,"text":"The high places of Isaac will be left empty.\nThe holy places of Israel will be ruined.\nI will rise up with my sword against the family of Jeroboam.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel. He said, \"Amos is plotting against you right in the middle of Israel. The land can't stand all the things he says."},{"verse":11,"text":"For this is what Amos has said: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword. And Israel will surely be taken away as captives, far from their homeland.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Amaziah said to Amos, \"Go away, you seer! Run off to the land of Judah. Earn your living there, and do your prophesying there."},{"verse":13,"text":"But never prophesy at Bethel again, because this is the king's holy place and the temple of the kingdom.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Amos answered, \"I was not a prophet. My father was not a prophet either. I was a herdsman. I also took care of sycamore-fig trees."},{"verse":15,"text":"But the LORD took me away from following the flock. He said to me, 'Go and prophesy to my people Israel.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"So now listen to the word of the LORD. You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel. Do not preach against the family of Isaac.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the city. Your sons and daughters will be killed by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up. You yourself will die in a land that does not worship God. And Israel will surely be taken away as captives, far from their homeland.'\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what the Lord GOD showed me. I saw a basket of summer fruit."},{"verse":2,"text":"He asked, \"Amos, what do you see?\" \"A basket of summer fruit,\" I answered. Then the LORD said to me, \"The end has come for my people Israel. I will not spare them any longer.\"","note":"In Hebrew, the word for \"summer fruit\" sounds like the word for \"end.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"\"On that day,\" declares the Lord GOD,\n\"the songs in the temple will turn to crying.\nThere will be many dead bodies.\nThey will be thrown out everywhere in silence!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Listen to this, you who stomp on the needy.\nYou try to get rid of the poor people of the land."},{"verse":5,"text":"You ask, \"When will the New Moon festival be over\nso we can sell grain?\nWhen will the Sabbath end\nso we can sell wheat?\nLet's make the measuring basket smaller\nand raise the price.\nLet's cheat with scales that are not honest.\"","note":"Hebrew: reduce the ephah and increase the shekel. An ephah was a measure for grain. A shekel was a weight used to weigh the silver paid."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Let's buy the poor with silver.\nLet's buy the needy for a pair of sandals.\nLet's even sell the husks along with the wheat!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD has made a promise by the Pride of Jacob:\n\"I will never forget anything they have done."},{"verse":8,"text":"Won't the land shake because of this?\nWon't everyone who lives in it mourn?\nThe whole land will rise like the Nile River.\nIt will be tossed up and then sink down\nlike the Nile in Egypt."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day,\" declares the Lord GOD,\n\"I will make the sun go down at noon.\nI will make the earth dark in the middle of the day."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will turn your feasts into times of sadness.\nI will turn all your songs into crying.\nI will make all of you wear sackcloth.\nI will make you shave your heads.\nI will make it like the sadness for an only son who has died.\nThe end of it will be like a bitter day."},{"verse":11,"text":"Look! The days are coming,\" declares the Lord GOD,\n\"when I will send a famine on the land.\nIt will not be a hunger for bread\nor a thirst for water.\nIt will be a hunger for hearing the words of the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"People will wander weakly from sea to sea.\nThey will roam from the north to the east.\nThey will search for the word of the LORD,\nbut they will not find it."},{"verse":13,"text":"On that day the lovely young women\nand the young men too\nwill faint from thirst."},{"verse":14,"text":"Some people make promises by the guilt of Samaria.\nThey say, 'As surely as your god lives, Dan,'\nor, 'As surely as the way to Beersheba lives.'\nThey will fall and never get up again.\"","note":"The guilt of Samaria probably means an idol worshiped there."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I saw the Lord standing beside the altar. He said:\n\"Strike the tops of the pillars\nso that the doorways shake.\nBring them down on the heads of all the people.\nI will kill the rest with the sword.\nNot one of them who runs will get away.\nNot one of them will escape."},{"verse":2,"text":"They may dig down to the grave,\nbut my hand will take them from there.\nThey may climb up to heaven,\nbut I will pull them down from there.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":3,"text":"They may hide on top of Mount Carmel,\nbut I will hunt them down and grab them there.\nThey may hide from me at the bottom of the sea,\nbut I will order the serpent to bite them there."},{"verse":4,"text":"Their enemies may drive them away as captives,\nbut I will order the sword to kill them there.\nI will keep my eyes on them\nto bring them harm and not good.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The Lord GOD of Hosts touches the earth, and it melts.\nAll who live in it mourn.\nThe whole land rises like the Nile River.\nThen it sinks down like the river of Egypt."},{"verse":6,"text":"He builds his high rooms in the heavens.\nHe sets the dome of the sky over the earth.\nHe calls for the waters of the sea\nand pours them out over the land.\nThe LORD is his name."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"People of Israel, aren't you the same to me as the Cushites?\"\ndeclares the LORD.\n\"I brought Israel up from the land of Egypt.\nBut didn't I also bring the Philistines from Caphtor\nand the Arameans from Kir?"},{"verse":8,"text":"For sure, the eyes of the Lord GOD are watching this sinful kingdom.\nI will wipe it off the face of the earth.\nBut I will not wipe out the family of Jacob completely,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"For sure, I will give the command.\nI will shake the family of Israel among all the nations,\nthe way grain is shaken in a sieve.\nBut not one pebble will fall to the ground."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the sinners among my people will die by the sword.\nThey are the ones who say,\n'Trouble will never come near us or meet us.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"\"On that day I will set up again the fallen tent of David.\nI will fix the holes in it.\nI will rebuild what was ruined.\nI will build it again as it was long ago."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will do this so that they will take over what is left of Edom\nand all the nations that are called by my name,\"\ndeclares the LORD, who will do this."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Look! The days are coming,\" declares the LORD,\n\"when the one plowing will catch up with the one harvesting.\nThe one stomping grapes will catch up with the one planting seed.\nSweet wine will drip from the mountains.\nIt will flow down all the hills."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will bring my people Israel back from captivity.\nThey will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.\nThey will plant vineyards and drink their wine.\nThey will plant gardens and eat their fruit."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will plant them firmly in their own land.\nThey will never again be pulled up\nfrom the land I have given them,\"\nsays the LORD your God."}]}]},{"name":"Obadiah","slug":"obadiah","usfm":"OBA","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the vision of Obadiah.\nThis is what the Lord GOD says about Edom.\nWe have heard a message from the LORD.\nA messenger has been sent to the nations to say,\n\"Get up! Let's go to battle against Edom!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Look! I will make you small among the nations.\nPeople will hate you very much."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your proud heart has fooled you.\nYou live in the cracks of the rocks.\nYou make your home up high.\nYou say to yourself,\n'Who can bring me down to the ground?'"},{"verse":4,"text":"You may fly high like the eagle.\nYou may build your nest among the stars.\nBut I will bring you down even from there,\"\ndeclares the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"If thieves came to you,\nif robbers came at night,\noh, how you will be ruined!\nWouldn't they steal only what they wanted?\nIf grape pickers came to you,\nwouldn't they leave a few grapes behind?"},{"verse":6,"text":"But Esau will be robbed of everything!\nAll his hidden treasures will be searched out!"},{"verse":7,"text":"All your partners will push you out to the border.\nYour friends will trick you and beat you.\nThose who eat your bread will set a trap for you.\nYou will not even know it."},{"verse":8,"text":"On that day,\" declares the LORD,\n\"won't I destroy the wise men of Edom?\nWon't I destroy the men of understanding in the mountains of Esau?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Then your mighty soldiers, Teman, will be terrified.\nSo everyone in the mountains of Esau\nwill be cut down and killed."},{"verse":10,"text":"You did violence to your brother Jacob.\nSo you will be covered with shame.\nYou will be wiped out forever."},{"verse":11,"text":"On the day you stood off to the side,\nstrangers carried away his riches.\nForeigners came in through his gate.\nThey cast lots for Jerusalem.\nAnd you were just like one of them."},{"verse":12,"text":"You should not gloat on that day,\nthe day your brother had trouble.\nYou should not be glad about the people of Judah\non the day they were destroyed.\nYou should not brag\non the day of their distress."},{"verse":13,"text":"You should not march through the gate of my people\non the day of their disaster.\nYou should not gloat over their suffering\non the day of their disaster.\nYou should not take their riches\non the day of their disaster."},{"verse":14,"text":"You should not stand where the roads cross\nto cut down those who were running away.\nYou should not hand over their survivors\non the day of their distress."},{"verse":15,"text":"For the Day of the LORD is near for all the nations.\nWhat you have done will be done to you.\nWhat you deserve will come back on your own head."},{"verse":16,"text":"For just as you drank on my holy mountain,\nso all the nations will drink without stopping.\nThey will drink and swallow it down.\nThey will be as if they had never been."},{"verse":17,"text":"But on Mount Zion there will be rescue.\nIt will be holy.\nThe family of Jacob will take back what belongs to them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the family of Jacob will be a blazing fire.\nThe family of Joseph will be a flame.\nBut the family of Esau will be dry straw.\nJacob will set it on fire and burn it up.\nSo no one from the family of Esau will be left alive.\"\nFor the LORD has spoken."},{"verse":19,"text":"People from the Negev will take over the mountains of Esau.\nPeople from the hills in the west will take over the land of the Philistines.\nThey will take over the fields of Ephraim and Samaria.\nBenjamin will take over Gilead."},{"verse":20,"text":"The captives from this army of Israelites\nwill take over the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath.\nThe captives from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad\nwill take over the towns of the Negev."},{"verse":21,"text":"Those who rescue will go up on Mount Zion.\nThey will rule over the mountains of Esau.\nAnd the kingdom will belong to the LORD."}]}]},{"name":"Jonah","slug":"jonah","usfm":"JON","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh. Preach against it, because I have seen how evil its people are.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But Jonah got up and ran away from the LORD. He headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and got on board. He was sailing to Tarshish to get away from the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD threw a strong wind onto the sea. A wild storm came up. The ship was about to break apart."},{"verse":5,"text":"The sailors were afraid. Each one cried out to his own god. They threw the ship's cargo into the sea to make it lighter. But Jonah had gone down into the bottom of the ship. He lay down there and fell into a deep sleep."},{"verse":6,"text":"The captain went to him and said, \"How can you sleep? Get up and call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we will not perish.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the sailors said to each other, \"Come on! Let's cast lots. Then we'll find out who is to blame for this trouble that has come on us.\" So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Tell us,\" they said. \"Who is to blame for this trouble that has come on us? What is your work? Where do you come from? What is your country? Who are your people?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jonah answered, \"I am a Hebrew. I worship the LORD, the God of heaven. He made the sea and the dry land.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the men were even more afraid. They said to him, \"What have you done?\" They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had told them."},{"verse":11,"text":"The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked Jonah, \"What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Pick me up and throw me into the sea,\" he answered. \"Then it will calm down for you. I know it's my fault that this terrible storm has come on you.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But the men rowed hard to get back to land. They couldn't do it, because the sea was getting wilder and wilder."},{"verse":14,"text":"So they cried out to the LORD, \"Please, LORD, don't let us perish for taking this man's life! Don't hold us guilty for killing an innocent man! For you, LORD, have done what you wanted.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea. And the wild sea became calm."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the men were filled with great fear of the LORD. They offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made promises to him."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD had sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said:\n\"When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD,\nand he answered me.\nFrom deep in the grave I called for help,\nand you heard my voice.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":3,"text":"You threw me into the deep waters,\ninto the middle of the seas.\nThe current swirled around me.\nAll your crashing waves rolled over me."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I said, 'I have been sent away from your sight.\nYet I will look again toward your holy temple.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"The waters closed over me to take my life.\nThe deep sea was all around me.\nSeaweed was wrapped around my head."},{"verse":6,"text":"I sank down to the roots of the mountains.\nThe earth locked its gates behind me forever!\nBut you brought my life up from the pit,\nLORD my God!"},{"verse":7,"text":"As my life was slipping away,\nI remembered the LORD.\nMy prayer rose up to you,\nto your holy temple."},{"verse":8,"text":"People who hold on to worthless idols\nturn away from God's faithful love."},{"verse":9,"text":"But I will sing thanks to you\nand offer a sacrifice to you.\nI will do what I promised.\nSalvation comes from the LORD!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the LORD gave an order to the fish. And it threw up Jonah onto dry land."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said, \"Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce to it the message I give you.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, just as the LORD said. Nineveh was a very large city. It took three days to go through it."},{"verse":4,"text":"On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He shouted, \"Forty more days, and Nineveh will be destroyed!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The people of Nineveh believed God. They announced a fast. They all put on sackcloth, from the most important to the least important."},{"verse":6,"text":"News of this reached the king of Nineveh. He got up from his throne. He took off his royal robe. He covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in ashes."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he sent out an announcement in Nineveh: \"This is an order from the king and his nobles. No person or animal, no herd or flock, may taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink."},{"verse":8,"text":"Both people and animals must be covered with sackcloth. Everyone must cry out to God with all their heart. Each one must turn from his evil ways. Each must stop the violence he does with his hands."},{"verse":9,"text":"Who knows? God may turn and change his mind. He may turn away from his burning anger, so that we will not perish.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"God saw what they did. He saw that they turned from their evil ways. So he changed his mind. He did not bring on them the disaster he had warned about."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But Jonah was very upset, and he became angry."},{"verse":2,"text":"So he prayed to the LORD. He said, \"LORD, isn't this just what I said when I was still at home? That's why I was so quick to run away to Tarshish. I knew you are a kind and caring God. You are slow to get angry. You are full of faithful love. You hold back from sending disaster."},{"verse":3,"text":"So now, LORD, please take my life. It's better for me to die than to live.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But the LORD answered, \"Is it right for you to be angry?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of it. He made a shelter for himself there. He sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the LORD God sent a vine. It grew up over Jonah to give shade for his head. It made him feel better. Jonah was very happy about the plant."},{"verse":7,"text":"But at dawn the next day, God sent a worm. It chewed the plant, and the plant dried up."},{"verse":8,"text":"When the sun came up, God sent a burning hot east wind. The sun beat down on Jonah's head. He grew weak and wanted to die. He said, \"It's better for me to die than to live.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then God asked Jonah, \"Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?\" \"Yes, it is,\" Jonah answered. \"I'm angry enough to die!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But the LORD said, \"You cared about this plant. Yet you did not take care of it or make it grow. It came up in one night and died in one night."},{"verse":11,"text":"So shouldn't I care about the great city of Nineveh? It has more than 120,000 people who can't tell their right hand from their left. And it has many animals too.\""}]}]},{"name":"Micah","slug":"micah","usfm":"MIC","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah from Moresheth. It came during the time when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. This is what he saw about Samaria and Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"Listen, all you peoples!\nPay attention, earth and everyone in it!\nLet the Lord GOD be a witness against you,\nthe Lord from his holy temple."},{"verse":3,"text":"For look! The LORD is coming out from his home.\nHe will come down and walk on the high places of the earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"The mountains will melt under him.\nThe valleys will split open.\nThey will be like wax near a fire,\nlike water rushing down a hill."},{"verse":5,"text":"All this is because of Jacob's sin\nand the sins of the family of Israel.\nWhat is Jacob's sin?\nIsn't it Samaria?\nWhat is Judah's high place?\nIsn't it Jerusalem?"},{"verse":6,"text":"So I will make Samaria a pile of rubble in an open field.\nIt will be a place to plant vineyards.\nI will pour her stones down into the valley.\nI will leave her foundations bare."},{"verse":7,"text":"All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces.\nAll the pay she earned will be burned in the fire.\nI will destroy all her idols.\nShe collected it as the pay of a prostitute.\nSo it will be used again to pay a prostitute."},{"verse":8,"text":"Because of this I will cry and weep.\nI will walk around barefoot and naked.\nI will howl like a jackal.\nI will moan like an ostrich."},{"verse":9,"text":"For her wound can't be healed.\nIt has spread even to Judah.\nIt has come to the gate of my people,\nall the way to Jerusalem itself."},{"verse":10,"text":"Don't tell about it in Gath.\nDon't cry at all.\nRoll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.","note":"Micah 1:10-15 is full of word plays on the town names. Beth-leaphrah means \"house of dust.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Go away naked and ashamed,\nyou who live in Shaphir.\nThose who live in Zaanan will not come out.\nBeth-ezel is mourning.\nIts help has been taken away from you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Those who live in Maroth longed for good things.\nBut disaster came down from the LORD,\nall the way to the gate of Jerusalem."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hook up the horses to your chariots,\nyou who live in Lachish.\nYou were where sin began for the Daughter of Zion,\nfor the sins of Israel were found in you."},{"verse":14,"text":"So give goodbye gifts to Moresheth-gath.\nThe houses of Achzib will trick the kings of Israel.","note":"Achzib sounds like the Hebrew word for \"deceptive.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"I will once again bring a conqueror against you,\nyou who live in Mareshah.\nThe glory of Israel will come to Adullam."},{"verse":16,"text":"Shave your heads.\nCut off your hair to mourn for the children you love.\nMake yourselves as bald as an eagle.\nFor they will be taken away from you as captives."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible for those who plan wrong!\nThey lie in bed thinking up evil.\nWhen morning comes, they do it,\nbecause they have the power to do it."},{"verse":2,"text":"They want fields, so they grab them.\nThey want houses, so they take them.\nThey rob a man of his home.\nThey rob a person of the land his family passed down to him."},{"verse":3,"text":"So this is what the LORD says:\n\"I am planning disaster against this nation.\nYou will not be able to pull your necks free from it.\nThen you will not walk around so proudly.\nFor it will be a time of trouble."},{"verse":4,"text":"On that day people will make up a saying about you.\nThey will make fun of you with this bitter, sad song:\n'We are completely ruined!\nHe has given away my people's share of land.\nHow he has taken it from me!\nHe has handed our fields over to traitors.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So none of you will be in the LORD's assembly\nto divide up the land by casting lots."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Don't preach,\" their preachers say.\n\"Don't preach about these things.\nShame will not catch up with us.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Family of Jacob, should people say,\n\"Is the Spirit of the LORD running out of patience?\nDoes he really do things like this?\"\nDon't my words do good\nfor the one who lives an honest life?"},{"verse":8,"text":"But lately my people have risen up like an enemy.\nYou tear the fine robes off people passing by.\nThey thought they were safe,\nlike men coming home from a war."},{"verse":9,"text":"You drive the women of my people\nout of the homes they love.\nYou take my blessing\naway from their children forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"Get up and leave!\nThis is not your place to rest.\nIt has been made unclean, and that brings ruin,\na terrible ruin!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Suppose a man full of empty talk came and lied,\n\"I will preach to you about wine and beer.\"\nHe would be just the right preacher for these people!"},{"verse":12,"text":"Jacob, I will surely gather all of you.\nI will bring together those left of Israel.\nI will bring them together like sheep in a pen,\nlike a flock in its field.\nThere will be a noisy crowd of people."},{"verse":13,"text":"The one who breaks open the way will go up ahead of them.\nThey will break through the gate and go out.\nTheir King will go through ahead of them.\nThe LORD will lead them."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I said:\n\"Listen, you leaders of Jacob,\nyou rulers of the family of Israel.\nShouldn't you know what justice is?"},{"verse":2,"text":"You hate good and love evil.\nYou tear the skin off my people.\nYou strip the flesh from their bones."},{"verse":3,"text":"You eat the flesh of my people.\nYou strip off their skin and break their bones.\nYou chop them up like meat for the cooking pot,\nlike meat in a big kettle.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then they will cry out to the LORD,\nbut he will not answer them.\nAt that time he will hide his face from them\nbecause of the evil they have done."},{"verse":5,"text":"This is what the LORD says about the prophets\nwho lead my people the wrong way:\n\"When they have something to chew on,\nthey say, 'Peace!'\nBut if someone does not feed them,\nthey declare war against him."},{"verse":6,"text":"So night will come over you, and you will have no visions.\nDarkness will come, and you will not be able to tell the future.\nThe sun will go down on these prophets.\nThe day will turn black over them."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the seers will be ashamed.\nThose who tell the future will be disgraced.\nThey will all cover their mouths,\nbecause there is no answer from God.\"","note":"Hebrew: cover their mustaches, a sign of shame."},{"verse":8,"text":"But as for me, I am filled with power\nby the Spirit of the LORD.\nI am filled with justice and courage.\nSo I can tell Jacob what he has done wrong.\nI can tell Israel about his sin."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now listen to this, you leaders of the family of Jacob\nand rulers of the family of Israel.\nYou hate justice.\nYou twist everything that is right."},{"verse":10,"text":"You build Zion by killing people.\nYou build Jerusalem by doing wrong."},{"verse":11,"text":"Her leaders judge for a bribe.\nHer priests teach for a price.\nHer prophets tell the future for money.\nYet they lean on the LORD and say,\n\"Isn't the LORD with us?\nNo disaster can happen to us.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So because of you,\nZion will be plowed like a field.\nJerusalem will become a pile of rubble.\nThe temple hill will be covered with trees."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the last days, the mountain of the LORD's house\nwill be set up as the highest of the mountains.\nIt will be raised above the hills.\nPeoples will stream to it."},{"verse":2,"text":"Many nations will come and say,\n\"Come, let's go up to the mountain of the LORD,\nto the house of the God of Jacob.\nHe will teach us his ways,\nso we can walk in his paths.\"\nFor the law will go out from Zion.\nThe word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem."},{"verse":3,"text":"He will judge between many peoples.\nHe will settle arguments for strong nations near and far.\nThey will hammer their swords into plows.\nThey will hammer their spears into pruning tools.\nNation will no longer pick up the sword against nation.\nThey will not train for war anymore."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each person will sit under his own grapevine\nand under his own fig tree.\nNo one will make him afraid.\nFor the LORD of Hosts has spoken."},{"verse":5,"text":"All the nations may walk in the name of their gods.\nBut we will walk in the name of the LORD our God\nforever and ever."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"On that day,\" declares the LORD,\n\"I will gather the lame.\nI will bring together those who were driven away,\neven those I have made to suffer."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will make the lame into a people who remain.\nI will make those driven away into a strong nation.\nThen the LORD will rule over them on Mount Zion\nfrom that day on and forever."},{"verse":8,"text":"And you, watchtower of the flock,\nyou fort of the Daughter of Zion,\nyour power from before will come back to you.\nThe right to rule will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Why are you crying out loud now?\nDon't you have a king?\nHas your adviser died?\nIs that why pain grips you like a woman giving birth?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Twist in pain, Daughter of Zion,\nlike a woman giving birth.\nFor now you will leave the city\nand camp out in the open fields.\nYou will go to Babylon.\nThere you will be rescued.\nThere the LORD will redeem you\nfrom the power of your enemies!"},{"verse":11,"text":"But now many nations have gathered against you.\nThey say, \"Let her be made unclean!\nLet's stare at Zion and enjoy it!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But they don't know what the LORD is thinking.\nThey don't understand his plan.\nHe has gathered them like bundles of grain\nto the threshing floor."},{"verse":13,"text":"Get up and thresh, Daughter of Zion!\nFor I will give you horns of iron.\nI will give you hooves of bronze.\nYou will crush many peoples to pieces.\nThen you will give what they took to the LORD.\nYou will give their riches to the Lord of all the earth."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now gather your troops, city of troops.\nAn enemy has surrounded us to attack!\nThey will strike the judge of Israel\non the cheek with a rod."},{"verse":2,"text":"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,\nyou are small among the clans of Judah.\nYet out of you will come for me\none who will rule over Israel.\nHis beginnings are from long ago,\nfrom the days of eternity."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Israel will be left alone\nuntil the woman in labor gives birth.\nThen the rest of his brothers\nwill come back to the people of Israel."},{"verse":4,"text":"He will stand and take care of his flock like a shepherd.\nHe will do it in the strength of the LORD,\nin the great name of the LORD his God.\nAnd they will live safely,\nfor then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth."},{"verse":5,"text":"And he will be our peace\nwhen Assyria attacks our land\nand marches through our strong towers.\nWe will raise up seven shepherds against them,\neven eight leaders of men."},{"verse":6,"text":"They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword.\nThey will rule the land of Nimrod with swords drawn.\nSo he will rescue us from Assyria\nwhen it attacks our land\nand marches across our borders."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then those left of Jacob's people\nwill be among many peoples.\nThey will be like dew from the LORD,\nlike showers on the grass.\nShowers do not wait for anyone.\nThey do not stay waiting for people."},{"verse":8,"text":"Those left of Jacob's people will be among the nations,\nin the middle of many peoples.\nThey will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,\nlike a young lion among flocks of sheep.\nIt stomps and tears them as it goes through.\nNo one can rescue them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Your hand will be raised up over your enemies.\nAll your enemies will be wiped out."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"On that day,\" declares the LORD,\n\"I will take away your horses from among you.\nI will wreck your chariots."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will remove the cities of your land.\nI will tear down all your forts."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will take away the magic spells from your hands.\nYou will have no more fortune-tellers."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will also destroy your carved idols\nand your sacred stone pillars from among you.\nYou will no longer bow down\nto things your own hands have made."},{"verse":14,"text":"I will pull up the Asherah poles from among you.\nI will tear down your cities."},{"verse":15,"text":"In anger and rage I will pay back\nthe nations that have not obeyed me.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now listen to what the LORD says:\n\"Get up! Argue your case in front of the mountains.\nLet the hills hear your voice."},{"verse":2,"text":"Listen, you mountains, to the LORD's charges.\nListen, you strong foundations of the earth.\nFor the LORD has a case against his people.\nHe will argue it against Israel."},{"verse":3,"text":"'My people, what have I done to you?\nHow have I made you tired of me?\nTell me!'"},{"verse":4,"text":"For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt.\nI redeemed you from the land where you were slaves.\nI sent Moses to lead you.\nI also sent Aaron and Miriam."},{"verse":5,"text":"My people, remember what Balak king of Moab planned.\nRemember what Balaam son of Beor answered him.\nRemember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,\nso that you will know that the LORD is righteous.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"What should I bring when I come before the LORD?\nWhat should I bring when I bow down before God on high?\nShould I come to him with burnt offerings,\nwith calves a year old?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams?\nWould he be pleased with ten thousand rivers of oil?\nShould I give my firstborn child for my wrongs?\nShould I give a child of my own body for my sin?"},{"verse":8,"text":"He has shown you, O man, what is good.\nAnd what does the LORD ask of you?\nTo act justly,\nto love mercy,\nand to walk humbly with your God."},{"verse":9,"text":"The voice of the LORD calls out to the city.\n(It is wise to fear your name.)\n\"Pay attention to the rod of punishment\nand to the One who sent it."},{"verse":10,"text":"House of the wicked, can I forget any longer\nthe treasures you got by evil?\nCan I forget your measuring basket that is too small?\nIt is cursed.","note":"Hebrew: the short ephah. An ephah was a measure for grain."},{"verse":11,"text":"Can I let off people who use cheating scales\nor bags of false weights?"},{"verse":12,"text":"For the rich people of the city are full of violence.\nThe people who live there tell lies.\nThe words in their mouths are false."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I am striking you hard.\nI am ruining you because of your sins."},{"verse":14,"text":"You will eat, but you will not be full.\nYou will still be hungry.\nYou will store things up, but you will not keep them.\nAnd what you save, I will give to the sword."},{"verse":15,"text":"You will plant, but you will not harvest.\nYou will press olives,\nbut you will not rub yourselves with the oil.\nYou will crush grapes,\nbut you will not drink the wine."},{"verse":16,"text":"You have kept the rules of Omri.\nYou have done all the things Ahab's family did.\nYou have followed their advice.\nSo I will make you a ruin.\nI will make your people a joke.\nYou will be mocked by the nations.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How sad I am!\nI am like someone gathering summer fruit\nafter the vineyard has been picked.\nThere is no bunch of grapes to eat.\nThere is none of the early figs I long for."},{"verse":2,"text":"Godly people have disappeared from the earth.\nNo one is honest anymore.\nThey all hide and wait to kill.\nThey hunt each other with nets."},{"verse":3,"text":"Both their hands are good at doing evil.\nThe prince and the judge ask for bribes.\nThe powerful man says what evil thing he wants.\nThen they all plot it together."},{"verse":4,"text":"The best of them is like a thorny bush.\nThe most honest is worse than a thorn hedge.\nThe day your watchmen warned about has come.\nIt is the day God will punish you.\nNow is the time they will be confused."},{"verse":5,"text":"Don't depend on a friend.\nDon't trust a close companion.\nBe careful what you say,\neven to the woman who lies in your arms."},{"verse":6,"text":"For a son dishonors his father.\nA daughter turns against her mother.\nA daughter-in-law turns against her mother-in-law.\nA man's enemies are the people of his own house."},{"verse":7,"text":"But as for me, I will look to the LORD.\nI will wait for the God who saves me.\nMy God will hear me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Don't be glad about my trouble, my enemy!\nI have fallen, but I will get up.\nI sit in darkness,\nbut the LORD will be my light."},{"verse":9,"text":"I have sinned against the LORD.\nSo I must put up with his anger\nuntil he takes up my case\nand gives me justice.\nHe will bring me out into the light.\nI will see his righteousness."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then my enemy will see it.\nShe will be covered with shame.\nShe said to me,\n\"Where is the LORD your God?\"\nMy eyes will see her.\nThen she will be stomped on like mud in the streets."},{"verse":11,"text":"The day will come for rebuilding your walls.\nIt will be the day for making your borders wider."},{"verse":12,"text":"On that day people will come to you\nfrom Assyria and the cities of Egypt.\nThey will come from Egypt to the Euphrates River,\nfrom sea to sea and from mountain to mountain."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the earth will become empty and ruined\nbecause of the people who live there.\nIt will be the result of what they have done."},{"verse":14,"text":"Shepherd your people with your staff.\nThey are the flock that belongs to you.\nThey live alone in a forest,\nwith rich fields all around.\nLet them eat grass in Bashan and Gilead,\nas they did long ago."},{"verse":15,"text":"As in the days when you came out of Egypt,\nI will show my wonders."},{"verse":16,"text":"Nations will see it and be ashamed.\nAll their power will be taken away.\nThey will put their hands over their mouths.\nTheir ears will become deaf."},{"verse":17,"text":"They will lick the dust like a snake,\nlike creatures that crawl on the ground.\nThey will come out of their forts shaking\nbefore the LORD our God.\nThey will be afraid of you and tremble."},{"verse":18,"text":"Who is a God like you?\nYou forgive sin.\nYou pass over the wrongs of those left among your people.\nYou don't stay angry forever,\nbecause you love to show faithful love."},{"verse":19,"text":"He will again show us his tender care.\nHe will stomp our sins under his feet.\nYou will throw all our sins\ninto the deepest part of the sea."},{"verse":20,"text":"You will be faithful to Jacob.\nYou will show faithful love to Abraham.\nYou promised this to our fathers\nlong ago."}]}]},{"name":"Nahum","slug":"nahum","usfm":"NAM","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is a heavy message against Nineveh. It is the book of the vision of Nahum, who was from Elkosh.","note":"Hebrew: burden or oracle."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD is a jealous God who pays back wrong.\nThe LORD pays back, and he is full of anger.\nThe LORD takes revenge on his foes.\nHe keeps his anger stored up for his enemies."},{"verse":3,"text":"The LORD is slow to get angry, and his power is great.\nThe LORD will never let the guilty go unpunished.\nHe makes his path in the whirlwind and the storm.\nThe clouds are the dust under his feet."},{"verse":4,"text":"He scolds the sea, and it dries up.\nHe makes all the rivers run dry.\nBashan and Carmel dry up.\nThe flowers of Lebanon droop and fade."},{"verse":5,"text":"The mountains shake in front of him.\nThe hills melt away.\nThe earth trembles when he is there.\nThe whole world and all who live in it shake."},{"verse":6,"text":"Who can stand up to his anger?\nWho can bear his burning anger?\nHis anger pours out like fire.\nEven the rocks are smashed in front of him."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD is good.\nHe is a safe fortress on the day of trouble.\nHe cares for those who trust in him."},{"verse":8,"text":"But he will put an end to Nineveh with a huge flood.\nHe will chase his enemies into darkness."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whatever you plan against the LORD, he will bring it to an end.\nTrouble will not rise up a second time."},{"verse":10,"text":"For they will be tangled up as if in thorns.\nThey will be swallowed up like a drunkard's drink.\nThey will burn up like straw that is fully dry."},{"verse":11,"text":"Nineveh, someone has come out from you who plans evil against the LORD.\nHe gives wicked advice."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is what the LORD says:\n\"They may have allies, and there may be many of them.\nBut they will be cut down and pass away.\nJudah, I have made you suffer.\nBut I will not make you suffer anymore."},{"verse":13,"text":"For now I will break their yoke off your neck.\nI will tear off your chains.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Nineveh, the LORD has given a command about you:\n\"You will have no children to carry on your name.\nI will destroy the carved idols and metal idols in the house of your gods.\nI will get your grave ready, because you are worthless.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Look to the mountains!\nSee the feet of someone who brings good news and announces peace!\nJudah, celebrate your feasts.\nDo what you promised in your vows.\nFor the wicked will never march through you again.\nThey will be cut off completely."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Nineveh, someone who scatters is coming to attack you.\nGuard the fortress!\nWatch the road!\nGet ready!\nGather all your strength!"},{"verse":2,"text":"For the LORD will bring back the glory of Jacob, like the glory of Israel.\nHe will do this even though destroyers have ruined them\nand wrecked the branches of their vine."},{"verse":3,"text":"The shields of his mighty men are red.\nHis brave warriors are dressed in bright red.\nThe metal on the chariots flashes like fire on the day they are made ready.\nThe spears made of cypress wood are waved in the air."},{"verse":4,"text":"The chariots race wildly through the streets.\nThey rush back and forth in the city squares.\nThey look like torches.\nThey dart around like lightning."},{"verse":5,"text":"He calls for his nobles.\nThey stumble as they come forward.\nThey run to the city wall.\nThe shield for protection is set in place."},{"verse":6,"text":"The gates by the river are thrown open.\nThe palace falls down."},{"verse":7,"text":"It has been ordered that the city be taken away as captives.\nHer servant girls moan like doves.\nThey beat their chests in sorrow."},{"verse":8,"text":"All her days, Nineveh has been like a pool of water.\nBut now the water is draining away.\n\"Stop! Stop!\" they cry.\nBut no one turns back."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Take the silver!\nTake the gold!\"\nThe treasure never ends.\nThere are piles of every kind of precious thing."},{"verse":10,"text":"She is empty!\nYes, she is ruined and wasted!\nHearts melt with fear, and knees knock.\nBodies shake, and every face turns pale!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Where is the lions' den now?\nWhere is the place where the young lions fed?\nThe lion and lioness walked there with their cubs.\nNothing scared them away."},{"verse":12,"text":"The lion killed enough for its cubs.\nIt choked prey for the lioness.\nIt filled its dens with what it killed.\nIt filled its caves with torn-up prey."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Look, I am against you,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"I will burn up your chariots in smoke.\nThe sword will kill your young lions.\nI will cut off your prey from the earth.\nNo one will hear the voices of your messengers anymore.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for the city of blood!\nIt is full of lies and full of stolen goods.\nIt never stops hunting for victims."},{"verse":2,"text":"Hear the crack of the whip and the rumble of wheels!\nHear the horses gallop and the chariots bounce!"},{"verse":3,"text":"Horsemen charge.\nSwords flash, and spears shine.\nThere are piles of the dead and heaps of bodies.\nThe dead bodies never end.\nPeople trip over the dead."},{"verse":4,"text":"All this is because of the many acts of prostitution of the prostitute.\nShe is a charming woman who is a master of witchcraft.\nShe trapped nations with her prostitution.\nShe trapped whole families of people with her magic spells."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Look, I am against you,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"I will pull your skirts up over your face.\nI will show the nations your nakedness.\nI will show the kingdoms your shame."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will throw filth at you.\nI will treat you with disgust.\nI will make you a show for all to stare at."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then all who see you will run away from you.\nThey will say, 'Nineveh is ruined. Who will cry for her?'\nWhere can I find anyone to comfort you?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Are you better than the city of Thebes?\nIt sat by the Nile River with water all around it.\nThe river was its protection.\nThe water was its wall."},{"verse":9,"text":"Cush and Egypt gave her endless strength.\nPut and Libya were her helpers."},{"verse":10,"text":"Yet Thebes was taken away.\nHer people went into captivity.\nHer babies were smashed to death at the corner of every street.\nEnemies cast lots for her important men.\nAll her leaders were tied up in chains."},{"verse":11,"text":"Nineveh, you too will get drunk.\nYou will hide.\nYou will look for a safe place away from the enemy."},{"verse":12,"text":"All your fortresses are like fig trees with the first ripe figs.\nWhen the trees are shaken, the figs fall right into the mouth of the one who eats them!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Look at your soldiers.\nThey are as weak as your women!\nThe gates of your land are wide open to your enemies.\nFire burns up the bars of your gates."},{"verse":14,"text":"Get water for when the enemy surrounds you!\nMake your fortresses stronger!\nWork the clay and stomp the mortar.\nFix the oven for making bricks!"},{"verse":15,"text":"But there the fire will burn you up.\nThe sword will cut you down.\nIt will eat you up like young locusts eat plants.\nMultiply like young locusts!\nMultiply like swarming locusts!"},{"verse":16,"text":"You have made your traders more than the stars in the sky.\nThe young locust strips the land bare and flies away."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your guards are like swarming locusts.\nYour officials are like clouds of locusts.\nThey rest on the walls on a cold day.\nBut when the sun comes up, they fly away.\nNo one knows where they went."},{"verse":18,"text":"King of Assyria, your shepherds are asleep.\nYour officers sleep too.\nYour people are scattered on the mountains.\nThere is no one to gather them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Nothing can heal your injury.\nYour wound is very bad.\nAll who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall.\nFor who has not felt your cruelty again and again?"}]}]},{"name":"Habakkuk","slug":"habakkuk","usfm":"HAB","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the heavy message that Habakkuk the prophet received in a vision.","note":"Hebrew: burden or oracle."},{"verse":2,"text":"LORD, how long must I call for help?\nYou do not listen.\nHow long must I cry out to you, \"Violence!\"?\nYou do not save."},{"verse":3,"text":"Why do you make me look at sin?\nWhy do you put up with wrongdoing?\nDestruction and violence are all around me.\nFighting goes on and on, and arguments are everywhere."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the law has no power.\nJustice never wins.\nFor the wicked surround the people who do right.\nSo justice gets twisted."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Look at the nations and watch.\nBe totally amazed!\nFor I am doing something in your lifetime that you would not believe.\nYou would not believe it even if someone told you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Look, I am raising up the Chaldeans.\nThey are a cruel nation that acts fast and without thinking.\nThey march across the whole wide earth.\nThey take over homes that are not theirs."},{"verse":7,"text":"People are terrified of them.\nThey make up their own rules of justice.\nThey answer to no one but themselves."},{"verse":8,"text":"Their horses are faster than leopards.\nThey are fiercer than wolves at night.\nTheir horsemen charge ahead.\nTheir riders come from far away.\nThey fly like a vulture diving down to eat."},{"verse":9,"text":"All of them come ready for violence.\nTheir crowds move forward like the east wind.\nThey gather prisoners like sand."},{"verse":10,"text":"They make fun of kings.\nThey laugh at rulers.\nThey laugh at every fortress.\nThey pile up dirt ramps to attack it and take it."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then they sweep past like the wind and go on.\nThey are guilty people.\nTheir own strength is their god.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"LORD, haven't you lived forever?\nYou are my God, my Holy One.\nWe will not die.\nLORD, you have chosen them to bring judgment.\nYou are our Rock.\nYou have set them in place to correct us."},{"verse":13,"text":"Your eyes are too pure to look at evil.\nYou cannot put up with wrongdoing.\nSo why do you put up with people who betray?\nWhy are you silent while the wicked swallow up people who are more righteous than they are?"},{"verse":14,"text":"You have made people like fish in the sea.\nThey are like crawling creatures that have no ruler."},{"verse":15,"text":"The enemy pulls all of them up with a hook.\nHe catches them in his big net.\nHe gathers them in his fishing net.\nSo he is very happy and glad."},{"verse":16,"text":"So he offers sacrifices to his big net.\nHe burns incense to his fishing net.\nFor these things give him a rich life and fine food."},{"verse":17,"text":"So will he keep emptying his net?\nWill he keep killing nations without mercy?"}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I will stand at my guard post.\nI will take my place on the city walls.\nI will watch to see what God will say to me.\nI will see how I should answer when I am corrected."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then the LORD answered me:\n\"Write down this vision.\nWrite it clearly on tablets.\nThen a messenger can run with it."},{"verse":3,"text":"For the vision is waiting for the time I have set.\nIt speaks about the end, and it does not lie.\nIt may seem slow, but wait for it.\nFor it will surely come.\nIt will not be late."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look at the proud person.\nHis heart is not right.\nBut the righteous will live by faith."},{"verse":5,"text":"Wealth betrays him too.\nHe is a proud man who is never at rest.\nHis hunger is as wide as the grave.\nLike death, he is never satisfied.\nHe gathers all the nations to himself.\nHe collects all the peoples as his own.","note":"Hebrew: Sheol."},{"verse":6,"text":"Won't all these people make fun of him?\nThey will mock him and laugh at him with a saying:\n'How terrible it will be for him who piles up what is not his!\nHe makes himself rich with many loans.\nHow long will this go on?'"},{"verse":7,"text":"Won't the people you owe suddenly rise up?\nWon't those who make you shake wake up?\nThen they will rob you."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have robbed many nations.\nSo the people who are left will rob you.\nThis is because you killed people.\nYou did violence to the land, the cities, and everyone who lives in them."},{"verse":9,"text":"How terrible it will be for him who builds his house with money gained by cheating!\nHe sets his nest up high to escape the power of disaster."},{"verse":10,"text":"You have planned shame for your own house.\nYou wiped out many peoples.\nBy doing this, you have lost your own life."},{"verse":11,"text":"For the stones in the wall will cry out.\nThe wooden beams will echo it back."},{"verse":12,"text":"How terrible it will be for him who builds a city by killing people!\nHe sets up a town by doing wrong."},{"verse":13,"text":"Isn't it the LORD of Hosts who has made it so?\nThe work of the people only feeds the fire.\nThe nations wear themselves out for nothing."},{"verse":14,"text":"For the earth will be filled with knowing the glory of the LORD.\nIt will be as full as the waters that cover the sea."},{"verse":15,"text":"How terrible it will be for him who gives his neighbors drinks!\nHe pours wine from the wineskin until they are drunk.\nHe does it so he can stare at their naked bodies."},{"verse":16,"text":"You will be filled with shame instead of glory.\nNow it is your turn to drink and show that you are uncircumcised!\nThe cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you.\nDeep shame will cover your glory."},{"verse":17,"text":"You did violence to Lebanon, and it will crush you.\nYou destroyed the animals, and it will terrify you.\nThis is because you killed people.\nYou did violence to the land, the cities, and everyone who lives in them."},{"verse":18,"text":"What good is an idol that a craftsman carves?\nWhat good is a metal image that teaches lies?\nThe one who made it trusts in what he made.\nHe makes idols that cannot speak."},{"verse":19,"text":"How terrible it will be for him who says to wood, 'Wake up!'\nHe says to stone that cannot speak, 'Get up!'\nCan it teach anyone?\nLook, it is covered with gold and silver.\nBut there is no breath in it at all.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But the LORD is in his holy temple.\nLet all the earth be silent before him."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. It is set to shigionoth.","note":"Shigionoth is probably a musical term."},{"verse":2,"text":"LORD, I have heard the news about you.\nLORD, I am in awe of what you have done.\nDo those things again in our days.\nMake them known in our time.\nWhen you are angry, remember to show mercy!"},{"verse":3,"text":"God came from Teman.\nThe Holy One came from Mount Paran.\nSelah\nHis glory covered the heavens.\nThe earth was full of his praise."},{"verse":4,"text":"His brightness was like the sunlight.\nRays of light flashed from his hand.\nThat is where his power is hidden."},{"verse":5,"text":"Sickness went ahead of him.\nFever followed close behind him."},{"verse":6,"text":"He stood and measured the earth.\nHe looked, and the nations jumped in fear.\nThe ancient mountains crumbled.\nThe hills that had always been there fell down.\nHis ways last forever."},{"verse":7,"text":"I saw the tents of Cushan in trouble.\nThe tent curtains of Midian were shaking."},{"verse":8,"text":"LORD, were you angry at the rivers?\nWas your anger against the streams?\nWere you furious at the sea?\nYou rode on your horses.\nYou rode on your chariots that bring victory."},{"verse":9,"text":"You pulled out your bow.\nYou called for many arrows.\nSelah\nYou split the earth with rivers."},{"verse":10,"text":"The mountains saw you and shook.\nRushing water swept by.\nThe deep sea roared.\nIt lifted its waves high like hands."},{"verse":11,"text":"The sun and moon stood still in the sky.\nYour arrows flashed as they flew.\nYour spear shined brightly."},{"verse":12,"text":"You marched across the earth in anger.\nYou stomped on the nations in your fury, like grain on a threshing floor."},{"verse":13,"text":"You went out to save your people.\nYou came to save your anointed one.\nYou crushed the head of the house of the wicked.\nYou stripped him bare from head to toe.\nSelah"},{"verse":14,"text":"With his own spear you pierced his head.\nHis warriors rushed out to scatter us.\nThey were gloating, as if ready to eat up the weak in secret."},{"verse":15,"text":"You stomped on the sea with your horses.\nYou stirred up the great waters."},{"verse":16,"text":"I heard, and my insides shook.\nMy lips trembled at the sound.\nMy bones began to rot.\nMy legs shook where I stood.\nBut I must wait quietly for the day of trouble.\nIt will come to the people who attack us."},{"verse":17,"text":"The fig tree may not bloom.\nThere may be no grapes on the vines.\nThe olive crop may fail.\nThe fields may grow no food.\nThe sheep may be gone from the pen.\nThere may be no cattle in the barns."},{"verse":18,"text":"But I will celebrate in the LORD!\nI will be joyful in God, who saves me!"},{"verse":19,"text":"The Lord GOD is my strength.\nHe makes my feet like the feet of a deer.\nHe lets me walk on the high places!\nFor the choir director. To be played on stringed instruments."}]}]},{"name":"Zephaniah","slug":"zephaniah","usfm":"ZEP","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the message from the LORD that came to Zephaniah. He was the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah. This message came when Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"I will sweep away people and animals.\nI will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea.\nI will sweep away the idols and the wicked people who worship them.\nI will cut off people from the face of the earth,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I will reach out my hand against Judah.\nI will strike all who live in Jerusalem.\nI will cut off from this place every last trace of Baal.\nI will wipe out the names of the idol priests and the pagan priests."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will cut off those who bow down on their rooftops to worship the stars in the sky.\nI will cut off those who bow down and make promises by the LORD but also make promises by Milcom."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will cut off those who turn away from following the LORD.\nThey do not look for the LORD or ask him for help.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Be silent before the Lord GOD,\nfor the Day of the LORD is near.\nThe LORD has prepared a sacrifice.\nHe has made his guests holy."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"On the day of the LORD's sacrifice, I will punish the leaders.\nI will punish the king's sons.\nI will punish all who dress in clothes from foreign lands."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day I will punish all who jump over the doorway.\nThey fill their master's house with violence and lies."},{"verse":10,"text":"On that day,\" says the LORD,\n\"a cry will rise from the Fish Gate.\nPeople will wail in the Second District.\nA loud crash will come from the hills."},{"verse":11,"text":"Wail, you who live in the Hollow!\nFor all your traders will be silenced.\nAll who weigh out silver will be cut off."},{"verse":12,"text":"At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps.\nI will punish the people who are settled and too comfortable.\nThey say to themselves, 'The LORD will do nothing, good or bad.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"Their riches will be stolen.\nTheir houses will be ruined.\nThey will build houses but never live in them.\nThey will plant vineyards but never drink the wine."},{"verse":14,"text":"The great Day of the LORD is near.\nIt is near, and it is coming fast.\nListen! It is the Day of the LORD!\nOn that day even strong warriors will cry out bitterly."},{"verse":15,"text":"That day will be a day of anger.\nIt will be a day of trouble and pain.\nIt will be a day of ruin and emptiness.\nIt will be a day of darkness and gloom.\nIt will be a day of clouds and deep blackness."},{"verse":16,"text":"It will be a day of trumpet blasts and battle cries.\nThey will be against the strong, walled cities and the tall corner towers."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will bring so much trouble on people that they will walk like the blind.\nThis is because they have sinned against the LORD.\nTheir blood will be poured out like dust.\nTheir bodies will be thrown out like dung."},{"verse":18,"text":"Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day of the LORD's anger.\nThe whole earth will be burned up by the fire of his jealousy.\"\nFor he will make a sudden end of everyone who lives on the earth."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Gather together!\nCome together, you nation without shame,"},{"verse":2,"text":"before the order is carried out,\nand that day blows away like chaff,\nbefore the burning anger of the LORD comes on you,\nbefore the day of the LORD's anger comes on you."},{"verse":3,"text":"Seek the LORD, all you humble people of the earth who carry out his justice.\nSeek what is right.\nSeek to be humble.\nMaybe you will be kept safe on the day of the LORD's anger."},{"verse":4,"text":"For Gaza will be left empty.\nAshkelon will be left in ruins.\nThe people of Ashdod will be driven out at noon.\nEkron will be pulled up by the roots."},{"verse":5,"text":"How terrible it will be for you who live by the sea, you nation of the Cherethites!\nThe LORD has spoken against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines:\n\"I will destroy you, and no one will be left.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the land by the sea will become fields for grazing.\nThere will be wells for shepherds and pens for sheep."},{"verse":7,"text":"The coast will belong to the people of Judah who are left.\nThey will find grassy fields there.\nIn the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon.\nFor the LORD their God will take care of them.\nHe will bring back their captives."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"I have heard Moab's shameful words.\nI have heard the insults of the Ammonites.\nThey made fun of my people.\nThey threatened to take their land."},{"verse":9,"text":"So, as surely as I live,\" says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel,\n\"Moab will surely become like Sodom.\nThe Ammonites will become like Gomorrah.\nThey will be a place of weeds and salt pits.\nThey will be empty land forever.\nMy people who are left will rob them.\nThe rest of my nation will take their land.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what they will get for their pride.\nThey made fun of the people of the LORD of Hosts and mocked them."},{"verse":11,"text":"The LORD will be terrifying to them.\nHe will starve all the gods of the earth.\nThen the nations on every shore will bow down and worship him.\nEach will worship him in its own land."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"You people of Cush will also be killed by my sword.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"He will reach out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria.\nHe will make Nineveh an empty ruin.\nIt will be as dry as a desert."},{"verse":14,"text":"Herds of animals of every kind will lie down in the middle of her.\nThe desert owl and the screech owl will sit on top of her pillars.\nTheir hoots will sound from the windows.\nRubble will lie in the doorways.\nFor he will strip her cedar beams bare."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is the city that had no cares and felt so safe.\nShe said to herself, \"I am the one, and there is no one else but me.\"\nBut what a ruin she has become!\nShe is a place where wild animals rest.\nEveryone who passes by hisses and shakes a fist at her."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"How terrible it will be for the city that crushes people!\nShe rebels, and she is unclean!"},{"verse":2,"text":"She listens to no one.\nShe will not be corrected.\nShe does not trust in the LORD.\nShe has not come close to her God."},{"verse":3,"text":"Her leaders are roaring lions.\nHer judges are wolves in the evening.\nThey leave nothing for the morning."},{"verse":4,"text":"Her prophets are careless men who cannot be trusted.\nHer priests treat the holy place as if it were common.\nThey break the law and twist it."},{"verse":5,"text":"The LORD who lives in her is righteous.\nHe does nothing wrong.\nMorning after morning he brings his justice.\nEvery dawn he does not fail.\nBut the people who do wrong feel no shame."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I have cut off nations.\nTheir corner towers are destroyed.\nI have left their streets empty, with no one walking through them.\nTheir cities are ruined.\nNo one is left, and no one lives there."},{"verse":7,"text":"I said, 'Surely you will fear me and accept correction.'\nThen her home would not be cut off, in spite of all the ways I punished her.\nBut they were eager to do evil in everything they did."},{"verse":8,"text":"So wait for me,\" says the LORD.\n\"Wait for the day I rise up to be a witness.\nFor I have decided to gather nations and bring kingdoms together.\nI will pour out my anger on them, all my burning anger.\nFor the whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealousy."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I will give the peoples pure lips again.\nThen all of them will call on the name of the LORD.\nThey will serve him side by side."},{"verse":10,"text":"My worshipers, my scattered people, will come from beyond the rivers of Cush.\nThey will bring me an offering."},{"verse":11,"text":"On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrong things you did against me.\nFor then I will remove from among you the people who brag in their pride.\nYou will never be proud again on my holy mountain."},{"verse":12,"text":"But I will leave in you a gentle and humble people.\nThey will trust in the name of the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"The people of Israel who are left will not do wrong anymore.\nThey will not tell lies.\nNo lying tongue will be found in their mouths.\nThey will eat and lie down to rest.\nNo one will make them afraid.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Sing for joy, Daughter Zion!\nShout loudly, Israel!\nBe glad and celebrate with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!"},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD has taken away your punishment.\nHe has turned your enemy away.\nThe LORD, the King of Israel, is with you.\nYou will never again be afraid of any harm."},{"verse":16,"text":"On that day they will say to Jerusalem,\n\"Do not be afraid, Zion.\nDo not let your hands hang down weak."},{"verse":17,"text":"The LORD your God is with you.\nHe is a mighty one who saves.\nHe will be glad over you with joy.\nHe will quiet you with his love.\nHe will celebrate over you with singing.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"I will gather those of you who are sad about the appointed feasts. Then you will not have to carry shame anymore."},{"verse":19,"text":"Look, at that time I will deal with all who hurt you.\nI will save the lame.\nI will gather those who were scattered.\nThey were put to shame all over the earth.\nBut I will give them praise and honor."},{"verse":20,"text":"At that time I will bring you home.\nYes, at that time I will gather you.\nFor I will make you famous and praised among all the peoples of the earth\nwhen I bring back your captives while you watch,\" says the LORD."}]}]},{"name":"Haggai","slug":"haggai","usfm":"HAG","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the second year that Darius was king. On the first day of the sixth month, the LORD gave a message through Haggai the prophet. It was for Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah. It was also for Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. The message said"},{"verse":2,"text":"that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"These people say, 'It is not yet time to rebuild the house of the LORD.'\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message through Haggai the prophet:"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Is it time for you to live in your fine houses with wooden walls? Is it time while this house lies in ruins?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Think carefully about how you are living."},{"verse":6,"text":"You have planted a lot, but you have harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough. You drink, but you are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but you are never warm. You earn money, but it is like putting it in a bag with holes.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Think carefully about how you are living."},{"verse":8,"text":"Go up into the hills and bring down wood. Build the house. Then I will be pleased with it, and I will be honored,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"You hoped for a lot, but look, you got little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?\" says the LORD of Hosts. \"Because my house is still in ruins. Yet each of you is busy with your own house."},{"verse":10,"text":"So because of you, the sky has held back its dew. The earth has held back its crops."},{"verse":11,"text":"I have called for a drought on the fields and on the mountains. It is on the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil. It is on everything the ground grows. It is on people and animals. It is on all the work of your hands.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God. So did all the rest of the people. They obeyed the words of Haggai the prophet, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave the people the LORD's message: \"I am with you,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah. He stirred up the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. He also stirred up the spirit of all the rest of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD of Hosts, their God."},{"verse":15,"text":"This was on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year that Darius was king."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the LORD gave a message through Haggai the prophet. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah. Speak to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Speak also to the rest of the people. Ask them,"},{"verse":3,"text":"'Who among you is left who saw this house in its first glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn't it seem like nothing to you compared to that?'"},{"verse":4,"text":"But now be strong, Zerubbabel,\" says the LORD. \"Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,\" says the LORD. \"Work! For I am with you,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit is still with you. Do not be afraid.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"In a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth one more time. I will shake the sea and the dry land."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will shake all the nations. They will come with all their treasures. And I will fill this house with glory,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"The glory of this new house will be greater than the glory of the old one,\" says the LORD of Hosts. \"And in this place I will give peace,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the LORD gave a message to Haggai the prophet. He said,"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Ask the priests what the law says."},{"verse":12,"text":"Suppose a man carries holy meat in the fold of his robe. And suppose the robe touches some bread, stew, wine, olive oil, or any other food. Does that food become holy?'\" The priests answered, \"No.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Haggai asked, \"Suppose someone is unclean because he touched a dead body. If he touches any of these foods, does the food become unclean?\" The priests answered, \"Yes, it becomes unclean.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Haggai said, \"It is the same with this people and this nation in my sight,\" says the LORD. \"It is the same with everything they do. Whatever they offer there is unclean."},{"verse":15,"text":"Now think carefully from this day on. Think about the time before one stone was set on another in the LORD's temple."},{"verse":16,"text":"Back then, a person came to a pile expecting twenty measures of grain, but there were only ten. A person came to the winepress to draw out fifty measures, but there were only twenty.","note":"Hebrew: twenty ephahs; fifty baths."},{"verse":17,"text":"I struck you and all the work of your hands with crop disease, mold, and hail. But you did not turn to me,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Think carefully from this day on. Think about the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. That is the day the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. Think carefully."},{"verse":19,"text":"Is there still seed in the barn? The grapevine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yet produced fruit. But from this day on, I will bless you.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"On that same day, the twenty-fourth day of the month, the LORD gave a message to Haggai a second time. He said,"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth."},{"verse":22,"text":"I will turn over the thrones of kings. I will destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will turn over chariots and their drivers. Horses and their riders will fall. Each one will be killed by the sword of his brother."},{"verse":23,"text":"On that day,\" says the LORD of Hosts, \"I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,\" says the LORD. \"I will make you like my signet ring. For I have chosen you,\" says the LORD of Hosts."}]}]},{"name":"Zechariah","slug":"zechariah","usfm":"ZEC","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the eighth month of the second year that Darius was king. The LORD gave a message to the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo. The LORD said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"The LORD was very angry with your ancestors."},{"verse":3,"text":"So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Come back to me,' says the LORD of Hosts, 'and I will come back to you,' says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":4,"text":"Do not be like your ancestors. The earlier prophets told them, 'This is what the LORD of Hosts says: Turn away now from your evil ways and evil deeds.' But they did not listen. They paid no attention to me, says the LORD."},{"verse":5,"text":"Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever?"},{"verse":6,"text":"But my words and my laws, which I gave to my servants the prophets, caught up with your ancestors, didn't they? Then they turned back to God. They said, 'The LORD of Hosts planned to do to us what our ways and deeds deserved. And he has done just that.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD gave a message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo. It was the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat. It was the second year that Darius was king."},{"verse":8,"text":"I looked out into the night. I saw a man riding a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley. Behind him were red, brown, and white horses."},{"verse":9,"text":"I asked, \"Sir, what are these?\" The angel who was talking with me answered, \"I will show you what they are.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained. He said, \"They are the ones the LORD has sent to go all over the earth and watch it.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The riders spoke to the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees. They said, \"We have gone all over the earth. Look, the whole earth is at rest and quiet.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD said, \"LORD of Hosts, how long will you hold back your mercy from Jerusalem and the towns of Judah? You have been angry with them for these seventy years.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was talking with me."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the angel who was talking with me said, \"Announce this message. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion."},{"verse":15,"text":"But I am very angry with the nations that feel safe and relaxed. For I was only a little angry, but they made the trouble much worse.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"So this is what the LORD says: 'I will come back to Jerusalem with mercy. My house will be rebuilt there,' says the LORD of Hosts. 'And a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"Announce this too. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'My towns will again overflow with good things. The LORD will again comfort Zion. He will again choose Jerusalem.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then I looked up and saw four horns."},{"verse":19,"text":"So I asked the angel who was talking with me, \"What are these?\" He told me, \"These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen."},{"verse":21,"text":"I asked, \"What are these men coming to do?\" He answered, \"These are the horns that scattered Judah. They scattered it so badly that no one could lift up his head. But the craftsmen have come to terrify those nations. They have come to throw down the horns of the nations. Those nations lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I looked up and saw a man. He had a measuring line in his hand."},{"verse":2,"text":"I asked, \"Where are you going?\" He answered, \"I am going to measure Jerusalem. I want to see how wide and how long it is.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the angel who was talking with me went out. Another angel came out to meet him."},{"verse":4,"text":"He said to him, \"Run and tell that young man, 'Jerusalem will be a city without walls. There will be too many people and animals in it for walls."},{"verse":5,"text":"I myself will be a wall of fire all around it,' says the LORD. 'And I will be the glory inside it.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Get up! Get up! Run away from the land of the north,\" says the LORD. \"For I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Get up, Zion! Escape, you who live with Daughter Babylon!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"His Glory has sent me against the nations that robbed you. For whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. After that,"},{"verse":9,"text":"I will surely raise my hand against them. Then they will be robbed by their own slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Shout for joy and be glad, Daughter Zion! For I am coming to live among you,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD. They will become my people. I will live among you. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you."},{"verse":12,"text":"The LORD will take Judah as his own share in the Holy Land. He will choose Jerusalem once again."},{"verse":13,"text":"Be silent before the LORD, all people. For he has gotten up from his holy home.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest. He was standing in front of the angel of the LORD. Satan was standing at Joshua's right side to accuse him."},{"verse":2,"text":"The LORD said to Satan, \"The LORD scolds you, Satan! Yes, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem scolds you! Isn't this man like a burning stick pulled out of the fire?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Joshua was wearing very dirty clothes as he stood in front of the angel."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the angel spoke to those standing in front of him. He said, \"Take off his dirty clothes!\" Then he said to Joshua, \"Look, I have taken away your sin. I will dress you in fine robes.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I said, \"Let them put a clean turban on his head.\" So they put a clean turban on his head and dressed him. The angel of the LORD stood nearby."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the angel of the LORD gave Joshua this command:"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'If you walk in my ways and obey my commands, then you will rule my house. You will also be in charge of my courtyards. And I will give you a place among these who are standing here."},{"verse":8,"text":"Listen now, Joshua the high priest. Listen, you and your friends who sit in front of you. They are a sign of things to come. Look, I am going to bring my servant, the Branch."},{"verse":9,"text":"Look at the stone I have set in front of Joshua. There are seven eyes on that one stone. Look, I will carve words on it,' says the LORD of Hosts. 'And I will take away the sin of this land in one day."},{"verse":10,"text":"On that day,' says the LORD of Hosts, 'each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your own vine and fig tree.'\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the angel who was talking with me came back. He woke me up, like a man who is woken from sleep."},{"verse":2,"text":"He asked me, \"What do you see?\" I answered, \"I see a lampstand made of solid gold. It has a bowl at the top. There are seven lamps on it, and there are seven spouts for the lamps."},{"verse":3,"text":"There are also two olive trees beside it. One is on the right side of the bowl. The other is on its left side.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"I asked the angel who was talking with me, \"Sir, what are these?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The angel answered, \"Don't you know what they are?\" I said, \"No, sir.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So he said to me, \"This is the LORD's message to Zerubbabel: 'It is not by strength or by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"What are you, you great mountain? In front of Zerubbabel you will become flat ground. Then he will bring out the top stone. People will shout, 'Grace, grace to it!'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD gave me this message:"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Zerubbabel's hands have laid the foundation of this house. His hands will also finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"Who has looked down on the day of small beginnings? These seven eyes of the LORD look over the whole earth. They will be glad when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I asked the angel, \"What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"I asked him another question: \"What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes? Golden oil pours out of those pipes.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"He asked, \"Don't you know what these are?\" I answered, \"No, sir.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So he said, \"These are the two anointed ones. They stand beside the Lord of all the earth.\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I looked up again. In front of me I saw a flying scroll."},{"verse":2,"text":"The angel asked, \"What do you see?\" I answered, \"I see a flying scroll. It is 30 feet long and 15 feet wide.\"","note":"Hebrew: 20 cubits long and 10 cubits wide."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then he told me, \"This is the curse that is going out over the whole land. One side of the scroll says that every thief will be removed. The other side says that everyone who lies under oath will be removed."},{"verse":4,"text":"'I will send the curse out,' says the LORD of Hosts. 'It will go into the house of the thief. It will go into the house of anyone who makes a false promise using my name. It will stay in his house and destroy it, even its wood and stones.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the angel who was talking with me came forward. He said to me, \"Now look up and see what is coming.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"I asked, \"What is it?\" He answered, \"It is a basket for measuring grain going out.\" Then he said, \"This is their sin all over the land.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the lead cover was lifted. And I saw a woman sitting inside the basket."},{"verse":8,"text":"He said, \"This is Wickedness.\" Then he pushed her back down into the basket. He pushed the lead cover down over its opening."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I looked up and saw two women coming. The wind was in their wings. They had wings like a stork's wings. They lifted up the basket between heaven and earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"I asked the angel who was talking with me, \"Where are they taking the basket?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"He told me, \"They are going to build a house for it in the land of Shinar. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there on its stand.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I looked up again. I saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains. The mountains were made of bronze."},{"verse":2,"text":"The first chariot had red horses. The second had black horses."},{"verse":3,"text":"The third had white horses. The fourth had spotted horses. All of them were strong."},{"verse":4,"text":"So I asked the angel who was talking with me, \"Sir, what are these?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The angel told me, \"These are the four spirits of heaven. They are going out from where they stand before the Lord of all the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"The chariot with the black horses is going toward the land of the north. The one with the white horses is going toward the west. The one with the spotted horses is going toward the south.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The strong horses went out. They were eager to go and patrol the earth. The LORD said, \"Go and patrol the earth.\" So they went all over the earth."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD called to me. He said, \"Look, the ones going to the land of the north have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The LORD also gave me this message:"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Take a gift from the exiles. Take it from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon. Go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Take silver and gold and make a fancy crown. Put it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak."},{"verse":12,"text":"Tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Here is a man whose name is the Branch. He will branch out from his place. He will build the temple of the LORD."},{"verse":13,"text":"Yes, he will build the temple of the LORD. He will be dressed in royal glory. He will sit on his throne and rule. He will be a priest on his throne. And there will be peace and agreement between the two.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"The crown will stay in the temple of the LORD. It will help people remember Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the kind son of Zephaniah."},{"verse":15,"text":"Even people who live far away will come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the fourth year that Darius was king, the LORD gave a message to Zechariah. It was on the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, along with their men. They came to ask the LORD for his favor."},{"verse":3,"text":"They asked the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts and the prophets a question. They said, \"Should I cry and fast in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the LORD of Hosts gave me this message:"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Ask all the people of the land and the priests this: 'For these seventy years, you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months. But was it really for me that you fasted?"},{"verse":6,"text":"And when you ate and drank, weren't you just doing it for yourselves?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Aren't these the same words the LORD announced through the earlier prophets? Back then Jerusalem and the towns around it were full of people and doing well. People lived in the Negev and in the foothills too.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the LORD gave this message to Zechariah:"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'Judge fairly and truly. Show faithful love and kindness to one another."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not be cruel to widows or orphans. Do not be cruel to foreigners or poor people. And do not make evil plans in your hearts against each other.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"But they refused to pay attention. They stubbornly turned their backs. They covered their ears so they would not hear."},{"verse":12,"text":"They made their hearts as hard as stone. They would not listen to the law. They would not listen to the words the LORD of Hosts had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD of Hosts became very angry."},{"verse":13,"text":"'Just as I called and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":14,"text":"'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations they did not know. The land they left behind was ruined. No one could come or go. That is how they turned the pleasant land into an empty ruin.'\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The LORD of Hosts gave me another message. He said:"},{"verse":2,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"I am jealous for Zion with great passion. I am burning with jealousy for her.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"This is what the LORD says: \"I will come back to Zion. I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth. The mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem. Each of them will hold a walking stick because they are so old."},{"verse":5,"text":"And the city streets will be full of boys and girls playing there.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"If this seems impossible to the people who are left in these days, should it also seem impossible to me?\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":7,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"I will save my people from the lands of the east and from the lands of the west."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people. And I will be their God, faithful and righteous.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Let your hands be strong! You are now hearing the words of the prophets. These prophets were there when the foundation was laid to rebuild the temple, the house of the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":10,"text":"Before that time, no one was paid for work, and no animal was paid for its work either. No one who came or went was safe from the enemy. For I had turned everyone against his neighbor."},{"verse":11,"text":"But now I will not treat the people who are left the way I did in the past,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"The seeds will grow well. The vine will give its fruit. The ground will give its crops. The sky will give its dew. I will give all these things to the people who are left. They will be theirs to keep."},{"verse":13,"text":"House of Judah and house of Israel, just as you have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid. Let your hands be strong.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Just as I decided to bring disaster on you when your ancestors made me angry, and I did not change my mind,\" says the LORD of Hosts,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"so now I have decided to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid."},{"verse":16,"text":"These are the things you must do. Tell each other the truth. In your courts at the city gates, judge in ways that are true and fair."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not make evil plans in your hearts against your neighbor. Do not love to make false promises. For I hate all these things,\" says the LORD."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the LORD of Hosts gave me this message:"},{"verse":19,"text":"\"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The people of Judah fast in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months. But those fasts will become times of joy and gladness. They will be happy feasts. So love truth and peace.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"Peoples will still come. People from many cities will come."},{"verse":21,"text":"The people of one city will go to another city and say, 'Let's go right away to ask the LORD for his favor. Let's go to seek the LORD of Hosts. I'm going myself.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"Many peoples and strong nations will come to Jerusalem. They will come to seek the LORD of Hosts and to ask the LORD for his favor.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"This is what the LORD of Hosts says: \"In those days ten men from nations of every language will hold tight to the robe of a Jew. They will say, 'Let us go with you. We have heard that God is with you.'\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is a heavy message, the word of the LORD.\nIt is against the land of Hadrach.\nIt will come to rest on Damascus.\nFor the eyes of all people and of all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD.","note":"Hebrew: burden or oracle."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is also against Hamath, which is next to it.\nIt is against Tyre and Sidon too, even though they are very clever."},{"verse":3,"text":"Tyre has built herself a strong fortress.\nShe has piled up silver like dust.\nShe has piled up gold like dirt in the streets."},{"verse":4,"text":"But look, the Lord will take away all she owns.\nHe will throw her riches into the sea.\nShe will be burned up by fire."},{"verse":5,"text":"Ashkelon will see it and be afraid.\nGaza will twist in pain.\nEkron will too, because her hope will dry up.\nGaza will not have a king anymore.\nNo one will live in Ashkelon."},{"verse":6,"text":"People of mixed races will take over Ashdod.\nI will cut off the pride of the Philistines."},{"verse":7,"text":"I will take the blood out of their mouths.\nI will take the disgusting food from between their teeth.\nThen they too will be people who are left for our God.\nThey will become like a family group in Judah.\nEkron will be like the Jebusites."},{"verse":8,"text":"But I will camp around my house to guard it from armies.\nI will guard it from those who march back and forth.\nNo cruel ruler will ever again overrun my people.\nFor now I am watching with my own eyes."},{"verse":9,"text":"Be very glad, Daughter Zion!\nShout in victory, Daughter Jerusalem!\nLook, your King is coming to you.\nHe is righteous, and he wins the victory.\nHe is humble, riding on a donkey.\nHe rides on a colt, the young one of a donkey."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will take away the chariots from Ephraim.\nI will take away the war horses from Jerusalem.\nThe bows used in war will be broken.\nThen he will announce peace to the nations.\nHe will rule from sea to sea.\nHe will rule from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth."},{"verse":11,"text":"As for you, I will set your prisoners free from the pit with no water.\nI will do this because of the blood of my covenant with you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Come back to your fortress, you prisoners who have hope!\nEven today I promise that I will give you back twice as much."},{"verse":13,"text":"I will bend Judah like my bow.\nI will load it with Ephraim like an arrow.\nZion, I will wake up your sons to fight against the sons of Greece.\nI will make you like the sword of a mighty warrior."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then the LORD will appear over them.\nHis arrow will shoot out like lightning.\nThe Lord GOD will blow the ram's horn.\nHe will march out in the storms from the south."},{"verse":15,"text":"The LORD of Hosts will protect them.\nThey will destroy their enemies and beat them with stones from slings.\nThey will drink and shout as if they had drunk wine.\nThey will be full like the bowls used for sprinkling.\nThey will be soaked like the corners of the altar."},{"verse":16,"text":"On that day the LORD their God will save them.\nHe will save them as the flock of his people.\nThey will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown."},{"verse":17,"text":"How lovely and beautiful they will be!\nGrain will make the young men grow strong.\nNew wine will make the young women grow strong."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime.\nThe LORD makes the storm clouds.\nHe will give everyone showers of rain.\nHe will give everyone plants in the field."},{"verse":2,"text":"For idols tell lies.\nFortune-tellers see visions that are not real.\nThey tell dreams that are false.\nThey give comfort that is empty.\nSo the people wander like sheep.\nThey suffer because they have no shepherd."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"I am very angry with the shepherds.\nI will punish the leaders.\nFor the LORD of Hosts takes care of his flock, the people of Judah.\nHe will make them like his proud war horse in battle."},{"verse":4,"text":"The cornerstone will come from Judah.\nThe tent peg will come from him.\nThe bow for battle will come from him.\nEvery ruler will come from him too."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will be like mighty warriors in battle.\nThey will stomp the enemy into the mud of the streets.\nThey will fight because the LORD is with them.\nThey will put the enemy horsemen to shame."},{"verse":6,"text":"I will make the people of Judah strong.\nI will save the people of Joseph.\nI will bring them back because I care about them deeply.\nIt will be as if I had never turned them away.\nFor I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The people of Ephraim will be like mighty warriors.\nTheir hearts will be happy as if from wine.\nTheir children will see it and be full of joy.\nTheir hearts will be glad in the LORD."},{"verse":8,"text":"I will whistle for them and gather them in.\nFor I have redeemed them.\nThere will be as many of them as there were before."},{"verse":9,"text":"Though I scatter them like seeds among the nations,\nin faraway lands they will remember me.\nThey and their children will live, and they will come back."},{"verse":10,"text":"I will bring them back from Egypt.\nI will gather them from Assyria.\nI will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon.\nThere will not be enough room for them all."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will pass through the sea of trouble.\nThe waves of the sea will be struck down.\nAll the deep places of the Nile will dry up.\nThe pride of Assyria will be brought down.\nEgypt's power to rule will go away."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make them strong in the LORD.\nThey will live by his name,\" says the LORD."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Open your doors, Lebanon,\nso that fire can burn up your cedar trees!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Cry out, you cypress trees, for the cedar has fallen!\nThe great trees are ruined!\nCry out, you oak trees of Bashan!\nThe thick forest has been cut down!"},{"verse":3,"text":"Listen to the shepherds crying!\nTheir glory is ruined.\nListen to the young lions roaring!\nThe thick bushes by the Jordan River are destroyed."},{"verse":4,"text":"This is what the LORD my God says: \"Take care of the flock that is set apart to be killed."},{"verse":5,"text":"The people who buy them kill them and feel no guilt. The people who sell them say, 'Praise the LORD, I am rich!' Even their own shepherds do not feel sorry for them."},{"verse":6,"text":"For I will no longer feel sorry for the people of the land,\" says the LORD. \"Look, I will hand each person over to his neighbor and to his king. They will crush the land, and I will not save it from them.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So I took care of the flock that was set apart to be killed. I cared most of all for the hurting ones in the flock. I took two shepherd's staffs. I named one Favor and the other Union. Then I took care of the flock."},{"verse":8,"text":"In one month I got rid of three shepherds. I grew tired of the flock, and they hated me too."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then I said, \"I will not be your shepherd anymore. Let those who are dying die. Let those who are perishing perish. Let those who are left eat each other's flesh.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Next I took my staff called Favor and broke it in two. This broke the covenant I had made with all the nations."},{"verse":11,"text":"It was broken on that day. The hurting ones in the flock were watching me. So they knew it was a message from the LORD."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then I said to them, \"If you think it is right, pay me what I earned. But if not, keep it.\" So they weighed out my pay. It was thirty pieces of silver."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Throw it to the potter.\" That was the great price they thought I was worth! So I took the thirty pieces of silver. I threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.","note":"\"Great price\" is said with bitter irony."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then I broke my second staff, called Union, in two. This broke the family bond between Judah and Israel."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the LORD said to me, \"Once more, take the tools of a foolish shepherd."},{"verse":16,"text":"For look, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land. He will not care for the lost. He will not look for the young. He will not heal the hurt. He will not feed the healthy. Instead, he will eat the meat of the best sheep. He will even tear off their hooves."},{"verse":17,"text":"How terrible it will be for the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!\nMay a sword strike his arm and his right eye!\nMay his arm wither away completely!\nMay his right eye go totally blind!\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is a heavy message, the word of the LORD about Israel. The LORD stretches out the heavens. He lays the foundation of the earth. He forms the spirit inside every person. This is what he says:","note":"Hebrew: burden or oracle."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Look, I will make Jerusalem like a cup that makes all the nations around her drunk and dizzy. Judah will be surrounded by enemies, and Jerusalem will be too."},{"verse":3,"text":"On that day all the nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem. Then I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who try to lift it away will badly hurt themselves."},{"verse":4,"text":"On that day,\" says the LORD, \"I will make every horse panic. I will make every rider go crazy. I will keep a careful eye on the people of Judah. But I will make all the horses of the nations blind."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, 'The people of Jerusalem are my strength. For the LORD of Hosts is their God.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"On that day I will make the family groups of Judah like a pot of fire in a pile of wood. They will be like a burning torch among bundles of grain. They will burn up all the peoples around them on the right and on the left. But the people of Jerusalem will stay safe there."},{"verse":7,"text":"The LORD will save the tents of Judah first. He will do this so that the glory of David's family and of the people of Jerusalem will not be greater than Judah's."},{"verse":8,"text":"On that day the LORD will protect the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest of them will be like David. And David's family will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going ahead of them."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come to attack Jerusalem."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then I will pour out on David's family and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer. They will look on me, the one they have pierced. They will mourn for him like someone mourns for an only child. They will cry bitterly for him like someone cries for a firstborn son."},{"verse":11,"text":"On that day the crying in Jerusalem will be very great. It will be like the crying of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo."},{"verse":12,"text":"The land will mourn, each family group by itself. The family of David will mourn by themselves, and their wives by themselves. The family of Nathan will mourn by themselves, and their wives by themselves."},{"verse":13,"text":"The family of Levi will mourn by themselves, and their wives by themselves. The family of Shimei will mourn by themselves, and their wives by themselves."},{"verse":14,"text":"All the other family groups will mourn by themselves, and their wives by themselves."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"On that day a fountain will be opened for David's family and the people of Jerusalem. It will wash them clean from sin and uncleanness."},{"verse":2,"text":"On that day,\" says the LORD of Hosts, \"I will wipe out the names of the idols from the land. No one will remember them anymore. I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land."},{"verse":3,"text":"If anyone still prophesies, his own father and mother will say to him, 'You must die, because you have told lies in the name of the LORD.' When he prophesies, his own father and mother will stab him."},{"verse":4,"text":"On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies. He will not put on a prophet's hairy cloak to trick people."},{"verse":5,"text":"He will say, 'I am not a prophet. I am a farmer. I was bought as a servant when I was young.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"Someone may ask him, 'What are these wounds on your chest?' He will answer, 'I got these wounds at the house of my friends.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Wake up, sword, against my Shepherd!\nAttack the man who is close to me,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.\nI will turn my hand against the little ones."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the whole land,\" says the LORD,\n\"two-thirds of the people will be cut off and die.\nBut one-third will be left in it."},{"verse":9,"text":"I will bring this third through the fire.\nI will make them pure like silver.\nI will test them like gold.\nThey will call on my name, and I will answer them.\nI will say, 'They are my people.'\nAnd they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Look, a day of the LORD is coming. On that day the things taken from you will be divided up right in front of you."},{"verse":2,"text":"For I will gather all the nations to fight against Jerusalem. The city will be captured. The houses will be robbed, and the women will be raped. Half of the city will be taken away as captives. But the rest of the people will not be taken from the city."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations. He will fight as he does on a day of battle."},{"verse":4,"text":"On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives will split in two from east to west. It will make a huge valley. Half of the mountain will move to the north, and half will move to the south."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will run away through my mountain valley, because it will reach all the way to Azal. You will run away like you ran from the earthquake when Uzziah was king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones will be with him."},{"verse":6,"text":"On that day there will be no light. There will be no cold or frost."},{"verse":7,"text":"It will be one special day that only the LORD knows. There will be no day or night. But when evening comes, there will be light."},{"verse":8,"text":"On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem. Half of it will flow east to the Dead Sea. The other half will flow west to the Mediterranean Sea. It will flow in summer and in winter.","note":"Hebrew: the Eastern Sea and the Western Sea."},{"verse":9,"text":"On that day the LORD will be King over the whole earth. The LORD will be the only one, and his name will be the only name."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the land from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become flat land. But Jerusalem will be lifted up high. It will stay in its place. It will reach from the Benjamin Gate to where the First Gate was, and on to the Corner Gate. It will reach from the Tower of Hananel to the king's winepresses."},{"verse":11,"text":"People will live there. It will never be completely destroyed again. Jerusalem will be safe."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is the sickness the LORD will strike on all the peoples who fought against Jerusalem. Their flesh will rot while they are still standing. Their eyes will rot in their heads. Their tongues will rot in their mouths."},{"verse":13,"text":"On that day the LORD will fill them with great panic. Each one will grab another's hand. They will raise their hands to fight each other."},{"verse":14,"text":"Judah will also fight at Jerusalem. The riches of all the nations around will be gathered up. There will be huge amounts of gold, silver, and clothing."},{"verse":15,"text":"The same kind of sickness will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys. It will strike all the animals in those camps."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then all the people who are left from the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up there every year. They will go to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts. They will go to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."},{"verse":17,"text":"Some of the families of the earth may not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts. If so, no rain will fall on them."},{"verse":18,"text":"The people of Egypt may not go up and come in. If so, no rain will fall on them. The LORD will strike them with the sickness he uses on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."},{"verse":19,"text":"This will be the punishment of Egypt. It will be the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."},{"verse":20,"text":"On that day the words HOLY TO THE LORD will be written on the bells of the horses. The cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the sprinkling bowls in front of the altar."},{"verse":21,"text":"Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD of Hosts. All who offer sacrifices will come and take some of the pots and cook in them. On that day there will no longer be any Canaanite in the house of the LORD of Hosts.","note":"Or: trader."}]}]},{"name":"Malachi","slug":"malachi","usfm":"MAL","testament":"OT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is a heavy message.\nIt is the word of the LORD to Israel.\nIt came through Malachi.","note":"Hebrew massa, a burden or oracle."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I have loved you,\" says the LORD.\nBut you ask, \"How have you loved us?\"\n\"Was not Esau Jacob's brother?\" says the LORD.\n\"Yet I have loved Jacob,"},{"verse":3,"text":"but I have hated Esau.\nI have made his mountains a wasteland.\nI have left the land he was given to the desert jackals.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Edom may say, \"We have been crushed, but we will rebuild the ruins.\"\nBut this is what the LORD of Hosts says:\n\"They may build, but I will tear down.\nThey will be called the Land of Evil.\nThey will be called a people the LORD is angry with forever."},{"verse":5,"text":"You will see this with your own eyes.\nAnd you will say, 'The LORD is great, even beyond the borders of Israel!'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"\"A son honors his father, and a servant honors his master.\nIf I am a father, where is my honor?\nIf I am a master, where is your fear of me?\"\nThe LORD of Hosts says this to you priests who look down on my name.\n\"But you ask, 'How have we looked down on your name?'"},{"verse":7,"text":"You do it by bringing unclean food to my altar.\nBut you ask, 'How have we made you unclean?'\nYou do it by saying the table of the LORD is not worth respect."},{"verse":8,"text":"You offer blind animals as a sacrifice. Is that not wrong?\nYou bring animals that are lame and sick. Is that not wrong?\nTry giving them to your governor!\nWould he be pleased with you? Would he be kind to you?\" asks the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"So now go and beg God for his favor.\nWill he be kind to us?\nSince this has come from your hands,\nwill he show you favor?\" asks the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Oh, I wish one of you would shut the temple doors!\nThen you would stop lighting useless fires on my altar.\nI am not pleased with you,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"I will not accept any offering from your hands."},{"verse":11,"text":"My name will be great among the nations,\nfrom where the sun rises to where it sets.\nIn every place, incense and pure offerings will be brought in my name.\nFor my name will be great among the nations,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"But you dishonor my name when you say,\n'The table of the Lord is unclean.\nIts fruit, its food, is not worth respect.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"You also say, 'Oh, what a bother!'\nAnd you turn up your nose at it,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"You bring offerings that were stolen, or are lame or sick!\nShould I accept these from your hands?\" asks the LORD."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"But cursed is the cheater who has a good male animal in his flock.\nHe makes a vow to give it.\nBut then he sacrifices an animal with defects to the Lord.\nFor I am a great King,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"My name is to be feared among the nations."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"And now, you priests, this command is for you."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"If you do not listen,\nand if you do not set your heart on honoring my name,\" says the LORD of Hosts,\n\"I will send a curse on you.\nI will curse your blessings.\nYes, I have already begun to curse them,\nbecause you are not taking this to heart."},{"verse":3,"text":"Look, I will rebuke your descendants.\nI will smear dung on your faces, the waste from your feasts.\nAnd you will be carried off with it."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then you will know that I sent you this command.\nI sent it so that my covenant with Levi may go on,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"My covenant with Levi was one of life and peace.\nI gave these things to him.\nThe covenant called for deep respect, and he respected me.\nHe stood in awe of my name."},{"verse":6,"text":"True teaching was in his mouth.\nNothing false was found on his lips.\nHe walked with me in peace and in what is right.\nAnd he turned many people away from sin."},{"verse":7,"text":"A priest's lips should guard knowledge.\nPeople should look to his mouth for teaching.\nFor he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":8,"text":"But you have turned away from the right path.\nYour teaching has caused many to stumble.\nYou have broken the covenant of Levi,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"So I have made you looked down on and shamed in front of all the people.\nThis is because you have not kept my ways.\nYou have played favorites when you teach the law.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Do we not all have one Father?\nDid not one God create us?\nThen why do we break faith with one another?\nBy doing this, we dishonor the covenant of our fathers."},{"verse":11,"text":"Judah has broken faith.\nA disgusting thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem.\nFor Judah has dishonored the holy place the LORD loves.\nJudah did this by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.","note":"That is, a woman who worships another god."},{"verse":12,"text":"As for the man who does this,\nmay the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who is awake and aware.\nMay this happen even if he brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts.","note":"The Hebrew phrase \"awake and aware\" is hard to understand. It may mean \"anyone at all.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Here is another thing you do.\nYou cover the altar of the LORD with tears.\nYou weep and groan,\nbecause he no longer looks at your offerings.\nHe no longer accepts them gladly from your hands."},{"verse":14,"text":"Yet you ask, \"Why?\"\nIt is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife you married when you were young.\nYou have broken faith with her.\nBut she is your partner and your wife by covenant."},{"verse":15,"text":"Did not the LORD make them one?\nThey have a portion of the Spirit.\nAnd why one?\nBecause he is looking for godly children.\nSo guard yourselves in your spirit.\nDo not break faith with the wife you married when you were young."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"For I hate divorce,\" says the LORD, the God of Israel.\n\"The man who divorces his wife covers his clothing with violence,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\nSo guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not break faith."},{"verse":17,"text":"You have made the LORD tired with your words.\nYet you ask, \"How have we made him tired?\"\nYou do it by saying, \"All who do evil are good in the LORD's eyes, and he is pleased with them.\"\nOr you ask, \"Where is the God of justice?\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Look, I will send my messenger.\nHe will prepare the way before me.\nThen the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his temple.\nThe Messenger of the covenant, the one you delight in, is coming.\nLook, he is coming!\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":2,"text":"But who can bear the day he comes?\nWho can stand when he appears?\nFor he will be like a refiner's fire.\nHe will be like a launderer's strong soap."},{"verse":3,"text":"He will sit like a refiner who makes silver pure.\nHe will make the sons of Levi pure.\nHe will refine them like gold and silver.\nThen they will bring offerings to the LORD in the right way."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD,\nas they did in days long ago, in years gone by."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Then I will come near to you to judge.\nI will be quick to witness against sorcerers and adulterers.\nI will witness against those who lie under oath.\nI will witness against those who mistreat widows and orphans.\nI will witness against those who cheat workers out of their pay.\nI will witness against those who deny justice to the foreigner.\nThey do not fear me,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"I, the LORD, do not change.\nThat is why you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed."},{"verse":7,"text":"Ever since the days of your fathers, you have turned away from my laws.\nYou have not kept them.\nReturn to me, and I will return to you,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"But you ask, 'How can we return?'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Will a man rob God?\nYet you are robbing me!\nBut you ask, 'How do we rob you?'\nYou rob me in tithes and offerings."},{"verse":9,"text":"You are under a curse.\nYet you, the whole nation, are still robbing me."},{"verse":10,"text":"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse,\nso that there may be food in my house.\nTest me in this,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"See if I will not open the windows of heaven.\nSee if I will not pour out on you a blessing too great to measure.","note":"A tithe is a tenth of a person's crops or herds."},{"verse":11,"text":"I will rebuke the devourer for you,\nso that it will not destroy the crops of your land.\nAnd the vine in your field will not fail to bear fruit,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Then all the nations will call you blessed.\nFor you will be a land of delight,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Your words against me have been harsh,\" says the LORD.\n\"Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'"},{"verse":14,"text":"You have said, 'It is useless to serve God.\nWhat did we gain by keeping his rules?\nWhat did we gain by walking in sorrow before the LORD of Hosts?"},{"verse":15,"text":"So now we call the proud blessed.\nPeople who do evil not only do well.\nThey even test God and get away with it.'\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then those who feared the LORD talked with one another.\nThe LORD listened and heard them.\nSo a scroll of remembrance was written before him.\nIt was about those who feared the LORD and honored his name."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"They will be mine,\" says the LORD of Hosts,\n\"on the day when I make ready my treasured possession.\nI will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked.\nYou will see the difference between those who serve God and those who do not.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"For look, the day is coming. It will burn like a furnace.\nAll the proud and all who do evil will be like dry stubble.\nThe day is coming when I will set them on fire,\" says the LORD of Hosts.\n\"Not a root or a branch will be left to them.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.\nYou will go out and leap like calves let out of the stall."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then you will trample the wicked,\nfor they will be ashes under the soles of your feet\non the day I am preparing,\" says the LORD of Hosts."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Remember the law of my servant Moses.\nRemember the rules and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"Look, I will send you Elijah the prophet\nbefore the great and awesome Day of the LORD comes."},{"verse":6,"text":"He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children,\nand the hearts of the children to their fathers.\nIf not, I will come and strike the land with a curse.\""}]}]},{"name":"Matthew","slug":"matthew","usfm":"MAT","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the family record of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."},{"verse":2,"text":"Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers."},{"verse":3,"text":"Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, and their mother was Tamar. Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram."},{"verse":4,"text":"Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon."},{"verse":5,"text":"Salmon was the father of Boaz, and Boaz's mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed's mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesse was the father of King David. Next, David was the father of Solomon, and Solomon's mother had been Uriah's wife."},{"verse":7,"text":"Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa."},{"verse":8,"text":"Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram. Joram was the father of Uzziah."},{"verse":9,"text":"Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah."},{"verse":10,"text":"Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah."},{"verse":11,"text":"Josiah was the father of Jeconiah and his brothers. This was at the time the people were taken away to Babylon."},{"verse":12,"text":"After the people were taken away to Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel."},{"verse":13,"text":"Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor."},{"verse":14,"text":"Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Achim. Achim was the father of Eliud."},{"verse":15,"text":"Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah."},{"verse":17,"text":"So in all, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David. There were fourteen from David to the time the people were taken to Babylon. And there were fourteen from that time to the Messiah."},{"verse":18,"text":"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was promised in marriage to Joseph. But before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":19,"text":"Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man. He did not want to shame her in public. Because of this, he decided to divorce her quietly."},{"verse":20,"text":"But after he had thought about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, \"Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child inside her is from the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":21,"text":"She will give birth to a son. You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Look, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son. And they will call him Immanuel.\" (This name means \"God with us.\")"},{"verse":24,"text":"When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him. He took Mary as his wife."},{"verse":25,"text":"But he did not have marriage relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And Joseph named him Jesus."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea while Herod was king. After that, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.","note":"The Magi were wise men who studied the stars."},{"verse":2,"text":"They asked, \"Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east. We have come to worship him.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"When King Herod heard this, he was upset. So was everyone in Jerusalem."},{"verse":4,"text":"Herod called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people. He asked them where the Messiah was to be born."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"In Bethlehem in Judea,\" they answered. \"This is what the prophet wrote:"},{"verse":6,"text":"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah. For a ruler will come out of you. He will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Herod called the Magi in secret. He found out from them the exact time the star had appeared."},{"verse":8,"text":"He sent them to Bethlehem and said, \"Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, come and tell me. Then I can go and worship him too.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"After they heard the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them. It stopped over the place where the child was."},{"verse":10,"text":"When they saw the star, they were filled with great joy."},{"verse":11,"text":"They came to the house and saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure boxes. They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."},{"verse":12,"text":"They had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country by another road."},{"verse":13,"text":"After the Magi left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. \"Get up!\" the angel said. \"Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So Joseph got up. During the night, he took the child and his mother and left for Egypt."},{"verse":15,"text":"He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: \"Out of Egypt I called my Son.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Herod saw that the Magi had tricked him, and he became very angry. He sent orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and the area around it. He killed every boy two years old and under. He went by the time he had learned from the Magi."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true:"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted, because they are gone.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Get up!\" the angel said. \"Take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. Those who were trying to kill the child are dead now.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Joseph got up. He took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel."},{"verse":22,"text":"But then he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod. So he was afraid to go there. He was warned in a dream, and he went to the area of Galilee instead."},{"verse":23,"text":"He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So what the prophets had said came true: \"He will be called a Nazarene.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days John the Baptist came. He preached in the wilderness of Judea."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said, \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"John is the one the prophet Isaiah spoke about. He said, \"A voice is calling out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey."},{"verse":5,"text":"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all of Judea. They came from the whole area around the Jordan."},{"verse":6,"text":"They confessed their sins, and John baptized them in the Jordan River."},{"verse":7,"text":"But John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing. He said to them, \"You family of snakes! Who warned you to run from the anger that is coming?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Then show by the fruit of your lives that you have repented."},{"verse":9,"text":"Don't think you can say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham out of these stones."},{"verse":10,"text":"The axe is ready at the roots of the trees. Every tree that does not make good fruit will be cut down. It will be thrown into the fire."},{"verse":11,"text":"I baptize you with water for repentance. But someone more powerful than I am will come after me. I am not even worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."},{"verse":12,"text":"His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn. But he will burn up the chaff with a fire that never goes out.\"","note":"A winnowing fork tossed grain in the air so the wind blew away the chaff, the useless husks."},{"verse":13,"text":"At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan. He came to be baptized by John."},{"verse":14,"text":"But John tried to stop him. He said, \"I need to be baptized by you. So why do you come to me?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Let it be this way for now. It is right for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.\" Then John agreed."},{"verse":16,"text":"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. All at once the heavens opened. He saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting on him."},{"verse":17,"text":"And a voice from heaven said, \"This is my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with him!\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jesus went without food for forty days and forty nights. After that, he was hungry."},{"verse":3,"text":"The tempter came to him and said, \"If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into bread.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the devil took him to the holy city. He set him on the highest point of the temple."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"If you are the Son of God,\" he said, \"throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels to take care of you. They will lift you up in their hands, so you won't hit your foot on a stone.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus answered, \"It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"I will give you all this,\" he said, \"if you will bow down and worship me.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Go away, Satan!\" Jesus told him. \"For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the devil left him. And angels came and took care of him."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus heard that John had been put in prison. So he went back to Galilee."},{"verse":13,"text":"He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum. This town is by the sea, in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali."},{"verse":14,"text":"This fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had said:"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles."},{"verse":16,"text":"The people living in darkness have seen a great light. Light has dawned on those living in the land of the shadow of death.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"From that time on, Jesus began to preach. He said, \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea, because they were fishermen."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Come, follow me,\" Jesus said, \"and I will make you fishers of men.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Right away they left their nets and followed him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, fixing their nets. Jesus called them."},{"verse":22,"text":"Right away they left the boat and their father and followed him."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus went all over Galilee. He taught in their synagogues. He preached the good news of the kingdom. And he healed every disease and sickness among the people."},{"verse":24,"text":"News about him spread all over Syria. People brought him all who were sick with many kinds of diseases. They brought those in great pain, those who had demons, those who had seizures, and those who could not move. And he healed them."},{"verse":25,"text":"Large crowds followed him. They came from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the land beyond the Jordan.","note":"The Decapolis was an area of ten Greek cities."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus saw the crowds, so he went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him."},{"verse":2,"text":"And he began to teach them. He said:"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."},{"verse":4,"text":"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."},{"verse":5,"text":"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."},{"verse":6,"text":"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right, for they will be filled."},{"verse":7,"text":"Blessed are those who show mercy, for they will be shown mercy."},{"verse":8,"text":"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."},{"verse":9,"text":"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."},{"verse":10,"text":"Blessed are those who are treated badly for doing what is right, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."},{"verse":11,"text":"Blessed are you when people insult you and treat you badly because of me. Blessed are you when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Be full of joy and be glad, because your reward in heaven is great. For they treated the prophets before you badly in the same way."},{"verse":13,"text":"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how can it be made salty again? It is not good for anything anymore. It is thrown out, and people walk on it."},{"verse":14,"text":"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can't be hidden."},{"verse":15,"text":"People don't light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house."},{"verse":16,"text":"In the same way, let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will give glory to your Father in heaven."},{"verse":17,"text":"Don't think that I have come to do away with the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to do away with them. I have come to fulfill them."},{"verse":18,"text":"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away, not one tiny letter will disappear from the Law. Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear until everything is done."},{"verse":19,"text":"So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But anyone who obeys them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."},{"verse":20,"text":"I tell you, your goodness must be greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees. If it is not, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.","note":"Greek: righteousness."},{"verse":21,"text":"You have heard that it was said to people long ago, 'Do not murder.' And, 'Anyone who murders will face judgment.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will face judgment. Anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.","note":"Raca was an insult meaning \"empty-headed.\" The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish court."},{"verse":23,"text":"So suppose you are offering your gift at the altar. And there you remember that your brother has something against you."},{"verse":24,"text":"Leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and make peace with your brother. Then come back and offer your gift."},{"verse":25,"text":"Make peace quickly with the person who has a case against you. Do it while you are still on the way to court. If you don't, he may hand you over to the judge. The judge may hand you over to the officer. And you may be thrown into prison."},{"verse":26,"text":"I tell you the truth, you won't get out until you have paid the last penny."},{"verse":27,"text":"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."},{"verse":29,"text":"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."},{"verse":30,"text":"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."},{"verse":31,"text":"It has also been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.'"},{"verse":32,"text":"But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."},{"verse":33,"text":"Again, you have heard that it was said to people long ago, 'Do not break your oath. Keep the promises you make to the Lord.'"},{"verse":34,"text":"But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne."},{"verse":35,"text":"Do not swear by the earth, for it is where he rests his feet. Do not swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King."},{"verse":36,"text":"And do not swear by your head. You can't make even one hair white or black."},{"verse":37,"text":"Just let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more than this comes from the evil one."},{"verse":38,"text":"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'"},{"verse":39,"text":"But I tell you, do not fight back against an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him too."},{"verse":40,"text":"If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak too."},{"verse":41,"text":"If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles with him."},{"verse":42,"text":"Give to the one who asks you. Don't turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."},{"verse":43,"text":"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor' and 'Hate your enemy.'"},{"verse":44,"text":"But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly."},{"verse":45,"text":"Do this so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good. He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."},{"verse":46,"text":"If you love only those who love you, what reward will you get? Don't even tax collectors do that?"},{"verse":47,"text":"And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Don't even Gentiles do that?"},{"verse":48,"text":"So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Be careful not to do your good deeds in front of people just so they will see you. If you do, you will get no reward from your Father in heaven."},{"verse":2,"text":"So when you give to the poor, don't blow a trumpet to announce it. That is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets. They want people to praise them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward."},{"verse":3,"text":"But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then your giving will be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."},{"verse":5,"text":"And when you pray, don't be like the hypocrites. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward."},{"verse":6,"text":"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door. Pray to your Father, who can't be seen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."},{"verse":7,"text":"And when you pray, don't keep babbling like pagans do. They think they will be heard because they use so many words."},{"verse":8,"text":"Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."},{"verse":9,"text":"So this is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy."},{"verse":10,"text":"May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."},{"verse":11,"text":"Give us today our daily bread."},{"verse":12,"text":"And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven those who owe us."},{"verse":13,"text":"And lead us not into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"For if you forgive people when they sin against you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if you do not forgive people their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."},{"verse":16,"text":"When you fast, don't look gloomy like the hypocrites do. They make their faces look miserable to show people they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward."},{"verse":17,"text":"But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then people won't see that you are fasting. Only your Father, who can't be seen, will know. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."},{"verse":19,"text":"Don't store up treasures for yourselves on earth. Here moths and rust destroy them. Here thieves break in and steal them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven. There moths and rust do not destroy. There thieves do not break in and steal."},{"verse":21,"text":"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."},{"verse":22,"text":"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light."},{"verse":23,"text":"But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light inside you is really darkness, how deep that darkness is!"},{"verse":24,"text":"No one can serve two masters. He will hate one and love the other. Or he will be loyal to one and look down on the other. You can't serve both God and money."},{"verse":25,"text":"So I tell you, don't worry about your life. Don't worry about what you will eat or drink. Don't worry about your body and what you will wear. Isn't life more than food? Isn't the body more than clothes?"},{"verse":26,"text":"Look at the birds in the sky. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than they are?"},{"verse":27,"text":"Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying?"},{"verse":28,"text":"And why do you worry about clothes? Think about how the wild lilies grow. They don't work or make cloth."},{"verse":29,"text":"Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed as well as one of these."},{"verse":30,"text":"If that is how God dresses the grass of the field, won't he dress you even better? The grass is here today, and tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small!"},{"verse":31,"text":"So don't worry. Don't say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'"},{"verse":32,"text":"For the Gentiles chase after all these things. And your Father in heaven knows that you need them."},{"verse":33,"text":"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."},{"verse":34,"text":"So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Do not judge others, or you will be judged."},{"verse":2,"text":"You will be judged in the same way you judge others. The measure you use for others will be used for you."},{"verse":3,"text":"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye? Why don't you notice the wooden beam in your own eye?"},{"verse":4,"text":"How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye'? All the time there is a beam in your own eye."},{"verse":5,"text":"You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."},{"verse":6,"text":"Don't give what is holy to dogs. Don't throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet. Then they may turn and tear you to pieces."},{"verse":7,"text":"Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And the door will be opened to the one who knocks."},{"verse":9,"text":"Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you would give him a stone?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Or if he asks for a fish, would you give him a snake?"},{"verse":11,"text":"You are evil, but you still know how to give good gifts to your children. If so, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"},{"verse":12,"text":"So in everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This sums up the Law and the Prophets."},{"verse":13,"text":"Go in through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction. And many go in through it."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to life. And only a few find it."},{"verse":15,"text":"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you dressed like sheep. But inside they are hungry wolves."},{"verse":16,"text":"You will know them by their fruit. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes? Do they pick figs from thistles?"},{"verse":17,"text":"In the same way, every good tree grows good fruit. But a bad tree grows bad fruit."},{"verse":18,"text":"A good tree can't grow bad fruit. And a bad tree can't grow good fruit."},{"verse":19,"text":"Every tree that does not grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."},{"verse":20,"text":"So you will know them by their fruit."},{"verse":21,"text":"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only the one who does what my Father in heaven wants will enter."},{"verse":22,"text":"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we drive out demons in your name? Didn't we do many miracles in your name?'"},{"verse":23,"text":"Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's law!'"},{"verse":24,"text":"So everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man. He built his house on the rock."},{"verse":25,"text":"The rain came down. The floods rose. The winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on the rock."},{"verse":26,"text":"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man. He built his house on sand."},{"verse":27,"text":"The rain came down. The floods rose. The winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a great crash!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jesus finished saying these things. And the crowds were amazed at his teaching."},{"verse":29,"text":"This was because he taught like someone who had authority. He did not teach like their scribes."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus came down from the mountain, and large crowds followed him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of him. He said, \"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. \"I am willing,\" he said. \"Be clean!\" Right away the man's leprosy was gone, and he was clean."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Jesus told him, \"Make sure you don't tell anyone. But go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the gift that Moses commanded. This will be a witness to them.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus went into Capernaum. A centurion came to him and begged him for help.","note":"A centurion was a Roman officer over about 100 soldiers."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Lord,\" he said, \"my servant is lying at home. He can't move, and he is in terrible pain.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I will go and heal him.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The centurion answered, \"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."},{"verse":9,"text":"I am a man under authority myself, and I have soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes. I tell another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He said to the people following him, \"I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."},{"verse":11,"text":"I tell you, many will come from the east and the west. They will share the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."},{"verse":12,"text":"But those who should have had the kingdom will be thrown outside into the darkness. There people will weep and grind their teeth.\"","note":"Greek: the sons of the kingdom."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Jesus said to the centurion, \"Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.\" And his servant was healed at that very hour."},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus came to Peter's house. There he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever."},{"verse":15,"text":"He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve him."},{"verse":16,"text":"When evening came, many people who had demons were brought to Jesus. He drove out the spirits with a word. And he healed all the sick."},{"verse":17,"text":"This fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had said: \"He took up our weaknesses and carried our diseases.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Jesus saw a large crowd around him. So he gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then one of the scribes came to him. He said, \"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Another of his disciples said, \"Lord, first let me go and bury my father.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"But Jesus told him, \"Follow me. Let the dead bury their own dead.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus got into the boat, and his disciples followed him."},{"verse":24,"text":"Suddenly a wild storm came up on the sea. The waves were covering the boat. But Jesus was sleeping."},{"verse":25,"text":"The disciples went and woke him up. They said, \"Lord, save us! We are perishing!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Your faith is so small! Why are you so afraid?\" Then he got up and ordered the winds and the sea to stop. And it was completely calm."},{"verse":27,"text":"The men were amazed. They asked, \"What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jesus came to the other side, to the area of the Gadarenes. Two men with demons came out of the tombs to meet him. They were so violent that no one could go down that road."},{"verse":29,"text":"\"What do you want with us, Son of God?\" they shouted. \"Have you come here to torture us before the set time?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Some distance away, a large herd of pigs was eating."},{"verse":31,"text":"So the demons begged Jesus, \"If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"\"Go!\" he told them. So the demons came out and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea. And they died in the water."},{"verse":33,"text":"The men taking care of the pigs ran off into the town. They told everything that had happened, and what happened to the men who had demons."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their area."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus got into a boat and crossed over the sea. He came to his own town."},{"verse":2,"text":"Just then some men brought him a man who could not move. He was lying on a mat. Jesus saw their faith. He said to the man, \"Be brave, son. Your sins are forgiven.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"When some of the scribes saw this, they said to themselves, \"This man is speaking evil against God!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said, \"Why do you think evil thoughts in your hearts?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Get up and walk'?"},{"verse":6,"text":"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.\" Then he said to the man who could not move, \"Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"And the man got up and went home."},{"verse":8,"text":"When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe. They praised God, who had given such authority to men."},{"verse":9,"text":"As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew. He was sitting at the booth where taxes were paid. \"Follow me,\" Jesus told him. And Matthew got up and followed him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Later, Jesus was eating at Matthew's house. Many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Pharisees saw this. They asked his disciples, \"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus heard this. He said, \"Healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people do."},{"verse":13,"text":"Go and learn what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call those who are righteous. I have come to call sinners.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then John's disciples came to Jesus. They asked, \"We and the Pharisees fast often. Why don't your disciples fast?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Jesus answered, \"How can the guests of the groom be sad while he is with them? But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast."},{"verse":16,"text":"No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old coat. The new patch will shrink and pull away from the coat. Then the tear will get worse."},{"verse":17,"text":"People don't pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst. The wine will spill out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins. Then both are kept safe.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"While Jesus was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt in front of him. \"My daughter has just died,\" he said. \"But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Jesus got up and went with him. His disciples went too."},{"verse":20,"text":"Just then a woman came up behind Jesus. She had been sick with bleeding for twelve years. She touched the edge of his cloak."},{"verse":21,"text":"She said to herself, \"If I just touch his cloak, I will be healed.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Jesus turned and saw her. \"Be brave, daughter,\" he said. \"Your faith has healed you.\" And the woman was healed from that very moment."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus went into the synagogue leader's house. He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Go away,\" he told them. \"The girl is not dead. She is sleeping.\" And they laughed at him."},{"verse":25,"text":"After the crowd was sent outside, Jesus went in. He took the girl by the hand, and she got up."},{"verse":26,"text":"News about this spread all over that area."},{"verse":27,"text":"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him. They called out, \"Have mercy on us, Son of David!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jesus went into the house, and the blind men came to him. He asked them, \"Do you believe that I am able to do this?\" \"Yes, Lord,\" they answered."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then he touched their eyes. He said, \"It will be done for you just as you believe.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them strongly, \"Make sure no one finds out about this!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"But they went out and spread the news about him all over that land."},{"verse":32,"text":"As they were leaving, a man was brought to Jesus. He had a demon and could not talk."},{"verse":33,"text":"Jesus drove out the demon, and the man began to talk. The crowds were amazed. They said, \"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"But the Pharisees said, \"He drives out demons by the power of the prince of demons.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus went through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues. He preached the good news of the kingdom. And he healed every disease and sickness."},{"verse":36,"text":"When he saw the crowds, he felt deep pity for them, because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then he said to his disciples, \"The harvest is big, but the workers are few."},{"verse":38,"text":"So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus called his twelve disciples to him. He gave them authority over unclean spirits, so they could drive them out. He also gave them power to heal every disease and sickness."},{"verse":2,"text":"These are the names of the twelve apostles. First there was Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. Then there was James son of Zebedee, and his brother John."},{"verse":3,"text":"There were Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector. There were James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus."},{"verse":4,"text":"There were Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus sent out these twelve men. He gave them these orders: \"Don't go on the road to where the Gentiles live. Don't go into any town of the Samaritans."},{"verse":6,"text":"Go instead to the lost sheep of Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Make the lepers clean. Drive out demons. You received freely, so give freely."},{"verse":9,"text":"Don't take any gold or silver or copper coins in your belts."},{"verse":10,"text":"Don't take a bag for the trip, or an extra tunic, or sandals, or a walking stick. A worker deserves to be given what he needs."},{"verse":11,"text":"When you go into a town or village, find someone there who is worthy. Stay at his house until you leave."},{"verse":12,"text":"As you go into the home, greet the people who live there."},{"verse":13,"text":"If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it. If it is not, let your peace come back to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town."},{"verse":15,"text":"I tell you the truth, it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."},{"verse":16,"text":"Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves."},{"verse":17,"text":"But watch out for people. They will hand you over to their councils. They will whip you in their synagogues."},{"verse":18,"text":"Because of me, you will be brought before governors and kings. You will be witnesses to them and to the Gentiles."},{"verse":19,"text":"But when they hand you over, don't worry about how to answer or what to say. At that time you will be given what to say."},{"verse":20,"text":"It won't be you speaking. It will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Brother will hand over brother to be killed. A father will hand over his child. Children will turn against their parents and have them put to death."},{"verse":22,"text":"Everyone will hate you because of my name. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."},{"verse":23,"text":"When they treat you badly in one town, run to the next. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."},{"verse":24,"text":"A student is not above his teacher. A servant is not above his master."},{"verse":25,"text":"It is enough for a student to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more will the people of his house be called evil names!","note":"Beelzebul was a name for Satan."},{"verse":26,"text":"So don't be afraid of them. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered. Nothing is hidden that will not be made known."},{"verse":27,"text":"What I tell you in the dark, say in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops."},{"verse":28,"text":"Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."},{"verse":29,"text":"Aren't two sparrows sold for one small coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unless your Father allows it."},{"verse":30,"text":"Even the hairs on your head are all counted."},{"verse":31,"text":"So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."},{"verse":32,"text":"So whoever says in front of people that he belongs to me, I will also say before my Father in heaven that he belongs to me."},{"verse":33,"text":"But whoever says in front of people that he does not know me, I will also say before my Father in heaven that I do not know him."},{"verse":34,"text":"Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."},{"verse":35,"text":"For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."},{"verse":36,"text":"A man's enemies will be the people in his own home.'"},{"verse":37,"text":"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."},{"verse":38,"text":"And anyone who does not pick up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."},{"verse":39,"text":"Whoever finds his life will lose it. And whoever loses his life for me will find it."},{"verse":40,"text":"Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me."},{"verse":41,"text":"Whoever welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will get a prophet's reward. Whoever welcomes a righteous man because he is righteous will get a righteous man's reward."},{"verse":42,"text":"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, that person will never lose his reward.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus finished giving orders to his twelve disciples. Then he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns."},{"verse":2,"text":"John was in prison. He heard about the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples"},{"verse":3,"text":"to ask Jesus, \"Are you the one who was to come? Or should we look for someone else?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Go back and tell John what you hear and see."},{"verse":5,"text":"The blind can see. The lame can walk. Those with leprosy are made clean. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to the poor."},{"verse":6,"text":"Blessed is anyone who does not fall away because of me.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. \"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed blowing in the wind?"},{"verse":8,"text":"If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, people who wear fine clothes live in kings' palaces."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet."},{"verse":10,"text":"He is the one it is written about: 'Look, I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way before you.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"I tell you the truth, no one born of a woman has been greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is."},{"verse":12,"text":"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence. And violent people try to take hold of it."},{"verse":13,"text":"All the Prophets and the Law spoke about what was coming until John came."},{"verse":14,"text":"If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was to come."},{"verse":15,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen."},{"verse":16,"text":"What can I compare the people of today to? They are like children sitting in the market. They call out to other children,"},{"verse":17,"text":"'We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We sang a sad song, and you didn't cry.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"John came and did not eat or drink like others. And they say, 'He has a demon!'"},{"verse":19,"text":"The Son of Man came eating and drinking. And they say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is proved right by what she does.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Jesus began to speak strongly against the towns where he had done most of his miracles. He did this because they did not repent."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. They would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."},{"verse":22,"text":"But I tell you, it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you."},{"verse":23,"text":"And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom. It would still be here today."},{"verse":24,"text":"But I tell you, it will be easier for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"At that time Jesus said, \"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and educated. And you have shown them to little children."},{"verse":26,"text":"Yes, Father, this is what pleased you."},{"verse":27,"text":"My Father has given all things to me. No one knows the Son except the Father. And no one knows the Father except the Son. Others know him only if the Son chooses to show him to them."},{"verse":28,"text":"Come to me, all of you who are tired and carry heavy loads. I will give you rest."},{"verse":29,"text":"Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. And you will find rest for your souls."},{"verse":30,"text":"For my yoke is easy, and my load is light.\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time Jesus walked through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry. They began to pick some heads of grain and eat them."},{"verse":2,"text":"The Pharisees saw this. They said to Jesus, \"Look! Your disciples are doing what is against the law on the Sabbath.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Haven't you read what David did when he and his men were hungry?"},{"verse":4,"text":"He went into the house of God. He and his men ate the holy bread. That was against the law for them. Only the priests were allowed to eat it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Or haven't you read in the Law about the priests? On the Sabbath they work in the temple and break the Sabbath. Yet they are not guilty."},{"verse":6,"text":"But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here."},{"verse":7,"text":"You don't know what this means: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice.' If you did, you would not have judged the innocent as guilty."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jesus went on from there and went into their synagogue."},{"verse":10,"text":"A man with a shriveled hand was there. Some people wanted a reason to accuse Jesus. So they asked him, \"Does the law allow healing on the Sabbath?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"He answered, \"Suppose one of you has a sheep, and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath. Won't you grab it and lift it out?"},{"verse":12,"text":"A man is worth so much more than a sheep! So the law allows doing good on the Sabbath.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Jesus said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" So he stretched it out. It was made completely well, just like the other one."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the Pharisees went out and made plans to kill Jesus."},{"verse":15,"text":"Jesus knew about this, so he left that place. Large crowds followed him, and he healed all of them."},{"verse":16,"text":"He warned them not to tell others about him."},{"verse":17,"text":"This fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah had said:"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Here is my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is the one I love. My soul is pleased with him. I will put my Spirit on him. He will announce justice to the nations."},{"verse":19,"text":"He will not argue or shout. No one will hear his voice in the streets."},{"verse":20,"text":"He will not break a bent reed. He will not put out a dimly burning wick. He will keep on until he makes justice win."},{"verse":21,"text":"The nations will put their hope in his name.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then a man with a demon was brought to Jesus. The man was blind and could not talk. Jesus healed him, so he could talk and see."},{"verse":23,"text":"All the people were amazed. They asked, \"Could this be the Son of David?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"But the Pharisees heard this. They said, \"This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to them, \"Every kingdom that fights against itself will be ruined. Every city or family that fights against itself will not stand."},{"verse":26,"text":"If Satan drives out Satan, he is fighting against himself. So how can his kingdom stand?"},{"verse":27,"text":"And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So they will be your judges.","note":"Greek: your sons."},{"verse":28,"text":"But suppose I drive out demons by the Spirit of God. Then the kingdom of God has come to you."},{"verse":29,"text":"Or think about this. How can anyone go into a strong man's house and steal his things? First he must tie up the strong man. Then he can rob his house."},{"verse":30,"text":"Whoever is not with me is against me. And whoever does not gather with me scatters."},{"verse":31,"text":"So I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and every evil word against God. But speaking evil against the Spirit will not be forgiven.","note":"Greek: blasphemy."},{"verse":32,"text":"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. He will not be forgiven in this age or in the age to come."},{"verse":33,"text":"Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Or make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. A tree is known by its fruit."},{"verse":34,"text":"You family of snakes! You are evil, so how can you say anything good? For the mouth speaks what fills the heart."},{"verse":35,"text":"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him. An evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."},{"verse":36,"text":"But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will have to answer for every careless word they have said."},{"verse":37,"text":"By your words you will be found not guilty. And by your words you will be found guilty.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, \"Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Jesus answered, \"An evil and unfaithful generation asks for a sign! But none will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.","note":"Greek: adulterous."},{"verse":40,"text":"Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights."},{"verse":41,"text":"The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with the people of today. And they will condemn them. For the people of Nineveh repented when Jonah preached. And now one greater than Jonah is here."},{"verse":42,"text":"The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of today. And she will condemn them. She came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom. And now one greater than Solomon is here."},{"verse":43,"text":"When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it goes through dry places. It looks for a place to rest, but it does not find one."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then it says, 'I will go back to the house I left.' When it comes back, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. And in the end that man is worse off than he was at first. That is how it will be with this evil generation.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"While Jesus was still talking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside. They wanted to speak to him."},{"verse":47,"text":"Someone told him, \"Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to speak to you.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?\""},{"verse":49,"text":"He pointed to his disciples and said, \"Here are my mother and my brothers."},{"verse":50,"text":"For whoever does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother and sister and mother.\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"That same day Jesus went out of the house. He sat down by the sea."},{"verse":2,"text":"Very large crowds gathered around him. So he got into a boat and sat down. All the people stood on the shore."},{"verse":3,"text":"He told them many things in parables. He said, \"A farmer went out to plant his seed."},{"verse":4,"text":"As he was scattering it, some seed fell along the path. The birds came and ate it up."},{"verse":5,"text":"Some fell on rocky ground where there was not much soil. It sprang up fast because the soil was not deep."},{"verse":6,"text":"But when the sun came up, the young plants were burned. They dried up because they had no roots."},{"verse":7,"text":"Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked the young plants."},{"verse":8,"text":"Still other seed fell on good soil. It made a crop. Some made a hundred times what was planted. Some made sixty times, and some thirty times."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever has ears, let him hear.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the disciples came to Jesus. They asked, \"Why do you speak to the people in parables?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"He answered, \"You have been given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. But they have not."},{"verse":12,"text":"Whoever has will be given more. He will have plenty. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is why I speak to them in parables. 'They look, but they do not see. They listen, but they do not hear or understand.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"In them, what Isaiah the prophet said comes true: 'You will keep on hearing but never understand. You will keep on seeing but never really see."},{"verse":15,"text":"For the hearts of these people have grown hard. They can barely hear with their ears. They have shut their eyes. If they did not, they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears and understand with their hearts. They might turn, and I would heal them.'"},{"verse":16,"text":"But blessed are your eyes, because they see. And blessed are your ears, because they hear."},{"verse":17,"text":"I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see. But they did not see it. They longed to hear what you hear. But they did not hear it."},{"verse":18,"text":"So listen to what the parable of the farmer means."},{"verse":19,"text":"Someone hears the message about the kingdom but does not understand it. Then the evil one comes. He snatches away what was planted in that person's heart. This is the seed planted along the path."},{"verse":20,"text":"The seed planted on rocky ground is the person who hears the word. Right away he takes it in with joy."},{"verse":21,"text":"But he has no root, so he lasts only a short time. Trouble or hard treatment comes because of the word. Then he quickly falls away."},{"verse":22,"text":"The seed planted among the thorns is the person who hears the word. But the worries of this life choke the word. So do the false promises of riches. Then the word bears no fruit."},{"verse":23,"text":"But the seed planted on good soil is the person who hears the word and understands it. He truly bears fruit and makes a crop. Some make a hundred times what was planted. Some make sixty times, and some thirty times.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Jesus told them another parable. \"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who planted good seed in his field."},{"verse":25,"text":"But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came. He planted weeds among the wheat and sneaked away."},{"verse":26,"text":"The wheat came up and formed heads of grain. Then the weeds showed up too."},{"verse":27,"text":"The owner's servants came to him. They said, 'Sir, didn't you plant good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?'"},{"verse":28,"text":"'An enemy did this,' he answered. So the servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'"},{"verse":29,"text":"'No,' he said. 'If you pull up the weeds now, you might pull up the wheat with them."},{"verse":30,"text":"Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the workers what to do. First gather the weeds. Tie them in bundles to be burned. Then bring the wheat into my barn.'\""},{"verse":31,"text":"He told them another parable. \"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. A man took it and planted it in his field."},{"verse":32,"text":"It is the smallest of all seeds. Yet it grows into the largest of garden plants. It becomes a tree. Then the birds come and make nests in its branches.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"He told them still another parable. \"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast. A woman took it and mixed it into a big batch of flour. Then the yeast worked all through the dough.\"","note":"Greek: three measures (about 60 pounds of flour); \"yeast\" is literally \"leaven.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable."},{"verse":35,"text":"This made come true what was spoken through the prophet: \"I will open my mouth in parables. I will speak about things hidden since the world was made.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Then Jesus sent the crowds away and went into the house. His disciples came to him. They said, \"Tell us what the parable of the weeds in the field means.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"He answered, \"The one who plants the good seed is the Son of Man."},{"verse":38,"text":"The field is the world. The good seed stands for the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one."},{"verse":39,"text":"The enemy who plants them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age. And the workers who bring in the harvest are angels."},{"verse":40,"text":"The weeds are gathered and burned in the fire. It will be like that at the end of the age."},{"verse":41,"text":"The Son of Man will send out his angels. They will pull out of his kingdom everything that causes sin. They will also pull out all who do evil and break God's law."},{"verse":42,"text":"The angels will throw them into the blazing furnace. There will be crying and grinding of teeth there."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then those who are right with God will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. Whoever has ears, let him hear."},{"verse":44,"text":"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it and hid it again. Full of joy, he went and sold everything he had. Then he bought that field."},{"verse":45,"text":"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a trader who was looking for fine pearls."},{"verse":46,"text":"He found one pearl that was worth a great deal. He went away and sold everything he had. Then he bought it."},{"verse":47,"text":"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net. It was thrown into the sea and caught all kinds of fish."},{"verse":48,"text":"When it was full, the men pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down. They put the good fish into baskets, but they threw the bad ones away."},{"verse":49,"text":"That is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come. They will separate the wicked from those who are right with God."},{"verse":50,"text":"They will throw the wicked into the blazing furnace. There will be crying and grinding of teeth there."},{"verse":51,"text":"Have you understood all these things?\" \"Yes,\" they answered."},{"verse":52,"text":"Then he said to them, \"So every scribe who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house. He brings new treasures out of his storeroom, and old ones too.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"Jesus finished telling these parables. Then he left that place."},{"verse":54,"text":"He came to his hometown. He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. \"Where did this man get such wisdom and power to do miracles?\" they asked."},{"verse":55,"text":"\"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother named Mary? Aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?"},{"verse":56,"text":"Aren't all his sisters here with us too? So where did this man get all these things?\""},{"verse":57,"text":"And they were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, \"A prophet gets honor everywhere except in his hometown and in his own home.\""},{"verse":58,"text":"So he did not do many miracles there, because they did not believe."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time Herod the ruler of that region heard the news about Jesus.","note":"Greek: Herod the tetrarch, a ruler over one part of a land."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said to his servants, \"This is John the Baptist! He has risen from the dead! That is why he has the power to do miracles.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Herod had arrested John earlier. He had tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip."},{"verse":4,"text":"This was because John had kept telling Herod, \"It is against the law for you to have her.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Herod wanted to kill John. But he was afraid of the people, because they believed John was a prophet."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then came Herod's birthday. The daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. She pleased Herod"},{"verse":7,"text":"so much that he made a promise with an oath. He would give her anything she asked for."},{"verse":8,"text":"Her mother told her what to say. So she said, \"Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a plate.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The king was upset. But he had made oaths, and his guests were there. So he ordered that she be given what she asked for."},{"verse":10,"text":"He sent men to cut off John's head in the prison."},{"verse":11,"text":"John's head was brought in on a plate and given to the girl. She carried it to her mother."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then John's disciples came and took his body. They buried it. Then they went and told Jesus."},{"verse":13,"text":"When Jesus heard about John, he left by boat. He went by himself to a quiet place. But the crowds heard about it. They followed him on foot from the towns."},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus stepped out on the shore and saw a large crowd. He felt deep pity for them, and he healed their sick."},{"verse":15,"text":"When evening came, the disciples came to him. They said, \"This is a lonely place, and it's already late. Send the crowds away. Then they can go to the villages and buy some food.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"They don't need to go away,\" Jesus answered. \"You give them something to eat.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish,\" they answered."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Bring them here to me,\" Jesus said."},{"verse":19,"text":"He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."},{"verse":20,"text":"They all ate as much as they wanted. Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces."},{"verse":21,"text":"About five thousand men were fed. Women and children were fed too."},{"verse":22,"text":"Right away Jesus made the disciples get into the boat. He sent them ahead of him to the other side. Meanwhile he sent the crowds away."},{"verse":23,"text":"After he sent them away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone."},{"verse":24,"text":"By now the boat was far from land. The waves were beating against it, because the wind was blowing against it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Between three and six in the morning, Jesus went out to them. He was walking on the sea.","note":"Greek: the fourth watch of the night."},{"verse":26,"text":"The disciples saw him walking on the sea, and they were terrified. \"It's a ghost!\" they said. They cried out in fear."},{"verse":27,"text":"But Jesus spoke to them right away. \"Be brave! It is I. Don't be afraid.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Lord, if it's you,\" Peter answered, \"tell me to come to you on the water.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Come,\" Jesus said. So Peter got down out of the boat. He walked on the water and came toward Jesus."},{"verse":30,"text":"But then Peter saw how strong the wind was. He was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, \"Lord, save me!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Right away Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. \"Your faith is so small,\" he said. \"Why did you doubt?\""},{"verse":32,"text":"They climbed back into the boat, and the wind died down."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then those in the boat worshiped him. They said, \"You really are the Son of God!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"They crossed over the lake and landed at Gennesaret."},{"verse":35,"text":"The men of that place knew who Jesus was. So they sent word all through the area around them. People brought all their sick to him."},{"verse":36,"text":"They begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak. And all who touched him were healed."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem. They asked him,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Why do your disciples break the rules handed down by the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus answered, \"And why do you break God's command to keep your own rules?"},{"verse":4,"text":"God said, 'Honor your father and mother.' He also said, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"But you say something else. You say a person can tell his father or mother, 'What I would have given to help you is a gift set apart for God.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"Then he does not have to honor his father or mother with it. So you cancel God's word to keep your own rules."},{"verse":7,"text":"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he spoke about you. He said,"},{"verse":8,"text":"'These people honor me with their lips,\nbut their hearts are far from me."},{"verse":9,"text":"Their worship of me is for nothing.\nThey teach human rules as if they were God's teaching.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus called the crowd to him. He said, \"Listen and understand."},{"verse":11,"text":"What goes into a person's mouth does not make him unclean. It is what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the disciples came to him. They said, \"Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Every plant that my Father in heaven did not plant will be pulled up by its roots."},{"verse":14,"text":"Leave them alone! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Peter said to him, \"Tell us what this parable means.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Do you still not understand?\" Jesus asked."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Don't you see yet? Whatever goes into the mouth goes into the stomach. Then it passes out of the body."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart. These things make a person unclean."},{"verse":19,"text":"Out of the heart come evil thoughts and murder. Out of it come adultery and sexual sin. Out of it come stealing, lying about others in court, and saying hurtful lies about people."},{"verse":20,"text":"These are what make a person unclean. But eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus left that place. He went away to the area of Tyre and Sidon."},{"verse":22,"text":"A Canaanite woman from that area came to him. She cried out, \"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! A demon has hold of my daughter. She is suffering terribly.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Jesus did not say a word to her. So his disciples came and begged him, \"Send her away. She keeps crying out after us.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"He answered, \"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The woman came and knelt in front of him. \"Lord, help me!\" she said."},{"verse":26,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Yes, Lord,\" she said. \"But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Woman,\" Jesus answered, \"your faith is great! You will get what you want.\" And her daughter was healed at that very moment."},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountain and sat down."},{"verse":30,"text":"Large crowds came to him. They brought people who could not walk. They brought the blind, the crippled, those who could not speak, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them."},{"verse":31,"text":"The crowd was amazed. People who could not speak were talking. The crippled were made well. The lame were walking, and the blind could see. And the people praised the God of Israel."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then Jesus called his disciples to him. He said, \"I feel deep pity for this crowd. They have been with me three days already, and they have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry. They might faint on the way.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The disciples answered, \"We're out in a lonely place. Where could we find enough bread to feed such a big crowd?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"\"How many loaves do you have?\" Jesus asked. \"Seven,\" they answered, \"and a few small fish.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"He told the crowd to sit down on the ground."},{"verse":36,"text":"He took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."},{"verse":37,"text":"They all ate as much as they wanted. Then the disciples picked up seven baskets full of leftover pieces."},{"verse":38,"text":"Four thousand men in all were fed. Women and children were fed too."},{"verse":39,"text":"Jesus sent the crowds away. Then he got into the boat and went to the area of Magadan."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus. They asked him to show them a sign from heaven."},{"verse":2,"text":"But he answered, \"In the evening you say, 'The weather will be good, because the sky is red.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"And in the morning you say, 'Today there will be a storm, because the sky is red and cloudy.' You know how to read the look of the sky. But you can't read the signs of the times."},{"verse":4,"text":"An evil people who are not faithful to God ask for a sign. But no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.\" Then he left them and went away.","note":"Greek: a wicked and adulterous generation."},{"verse":5,"text":"The disciples crossed to the other side of the lake. But they had forgotten to bring bread."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Watch out!\" Jesus told them. \"Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\"","note":"Greek: leaven."},{"verse":7,"text":"They talked about this with each other. They decided, \"He said this because we didn't bring any bread.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Jesus knew what they were saying. He said, \"Your faith is so small! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread?"},{"verse":9,"text":"Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand? Don't you remember how many baskets you filled with leftovers?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Or don't you remember the seven loaves for the four thousand? And how many baskets you filled?"},{"verse":11,"text":"How can you not understand? I was not talking to you about bread. But be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then they understood. He was not telling them to watch out for the yeast used in bread. He meant the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi. He asked his disciples, \"Who do people say the Son of Man is?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"They answered, \"Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. And still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"But what about you?\" Jesus asked. \"Who do you say I am?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Simon Peter answered, \"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.\"","note":"Greek: the Christ."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! No human being showed this to you. My Father in heaven showed it to you."},{"verse":18,"text":"And I tell you that you are Peter. On this rock I will build my church. And the gates of Hades will not overpower it.","note":"The name Peter means \"rock.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then he warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah."},{"verse":21,"text":"From then on, Jesus began to show his disciples what must happen. He must go to Jerusalem. There he must suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes. He must be killed. And on the third day he must be raised to life."},{"verse":22,"text":"Peter took him off to the side and began to scold him. \"Never, Lord!\" he said. \"This will never happen to you!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Jesus turned and said to Peter, \"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. You are not thinking about the things of God. You are thinking about human things.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me."},{"verse":25,"text":"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for me will find it."},{"verse":26,"text":"What good is it if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul? Or what can a man give in trade for his soul?"},{"verse":27,"text":"For the Son of Man will come in his Father's glory with his angels. Then he will pay back each person for what he has done."},{"verse":28,"text":"I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.\"","note":"Greek: will not taste death."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James with him. He led them up a high mountain by themselves."},{"verse":2,"text":"There his appearance was changed in front of them. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became as white as the light.","note":"Greek: he was transfigured."},{"verse":3,"text":"All at once Moses and Elijah appeared in front of them. They were talking with Jesus."},{"verse":4,"text":"Peter said to Jesus, \"Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will set up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Peter was still speaking when a bright cloud covered them. A voice from the cloud said, \"This is my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"When the disciples heard this, they fell with their faces to the ground. They were terrified."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then Jesus came over and touched them. \"Get up,\" he said. \"Don't be afraid.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus."},{"verse":9,"text":"They were coming down the mountain. Jesus gave them an order. \"Don't tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The disciples asked him, \"Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus answered, \"It's true that Elijah comes. And he will make all things right again."},{"verse":12,"text":"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. They did not know who he was. Instead, they did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist."},{"verse":14,"text":"They came to the crowd. A man came up to Jesus and knelt in front of him."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Lord, have mercy on my son,\" he said. \"He has seizures, and he is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water."},{"verse":16,"text":"I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"You people have no faith, and you are so twisted!\" Jesus answered. \"How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jesus spoke sharply to the demon. It came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment on."},{"verse":19,"text":"Later the disciples came to Jesus in private. They asked, \"Why couldn't we drive it out?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Because your faith is so small,\" he answered. \"For I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":22,"text":"They gathered together in Galilee. Jesus told them, \"The Son of Man is about to be handed over to people."},{"verse":23,"text":"They will kill him. And on the third day he will be raised to life.\" The disciples were filled with deep sorrow."},{"verse":24,"text":"Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. The men who collected the temple tax came to Peter. They asked, \"Doesn't your Teacher pay the temple tax?\"","note":"Greek: the two-drachma tax, about two days' pay, paid each year for the temple."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Yes, he does,\" Peter answered. Peter went into the house. Jesus spoke to him first. \"What do you think, Simon?\" he asked. \"The kings of the earth collect duties and taxes. Who do they collect them from? Their own sons, or others?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"\"From others,\" Peter answered. \"Then the sons don't have to pay,\" Jesus said to him."},{"verse":27,"text":"\"But we don't want to offend them. So go to the sea and throw out a hook. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin worth the tax for two. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.\"","note":"Greek: a four-drachma coin."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time the disciples came to Jesus. They asked, \"Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Jesus called a little child to stand among them."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"I tell you the truth,\" he said, \"you must change and become like little children. If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."},{"verse":4,"text":"So whoever makes himself humble like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."},{"verse":5,"text":"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."},{"verse":6,"text":"These little ones believe in me. Suppose anyone causes one of them to stumble into sin. It would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck. It would be better for him to be drowned in the deep sea."},{"verse":7,"text":"How terrible it will be for the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come. But how terrible it will be for the person who causes them!"},{"verse":8,"text":"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the fire that never ends."},{"verse":9,"text":"And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."},{"verse":10,"text":"Be careful not to look down on any of these little ones. I tell you, their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."},{"verse":11,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":12,"text":"What do you think? Suppose a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away. Won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hills? Won't he go and look for the one that is lost?"},{"verse":13,"text":"And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander away."},{"verse":14,"text":"In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want any of these little ones to perish."},{"verse":15,"text":"If your brother sins against you, go and talk to him about it, just the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back."},{"verse":16,"text":"But if he will not listen, take one or two others with you. Then 'every matter can be proven by what two or three witnesses say.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would treat a pagan or a tax collector."},{"verse":18,"text":"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."},{"verse":19,"text":"Again, I tell you the truth. Suppose two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for. My Father in heaven will do it for you."},{"verse":20,"text":"For where two or three gather together in my name, I am there with them.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Peter came to Jesus. He asked, \"Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!","note":"Or seventy times seven."},{"verse":23,"text":"Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants."},{"verse":24,"text":"As he began to settle them, a man was brought to him who owed ten thousand talents.","note":"A talent was worth about twenty years of a worker's pay; ten thousand talents was a huge sum no servant could ever repay."},{"verse":25,"text":"The man could not pay. So the master ordered that he be sold to pay the debt. His wife and children and everything he owned were to be sold too."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the servant fell on his knees in front of him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"His master felt deep pity for him. He canceled the debt and let him go."},{"verse":28,"text":"But then that servant went out and found one of the other servants. This man owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he said.","note":"A denarius was a day's pay, so this was about a hundred days' pay."},{"verse":29,"text":"So the other servant fell down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay what he owed."},{"verse":31,"text":"The other servants saw what had happened, and they were very upset. They went and told their master all about it."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then the master called the man in. He said, 'You evil servant! I canceled all your debt because you begged me."},{"verse":33,"text":"Shouldn't you have had mercy on the other servant, just as I had mercy on you?'"},{"verse":34,"text":"His master was angry. He handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he paid back all he owed."},{"verse":35,"text":"This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.\""}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus finished saying these things. Then he left Galilee. He went into the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan."},{"verse":2,"text":"Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there."},{"verse":3,"text":"Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, \"Does the law allow a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Haven't you read the Scriptures? From the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"And he said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two will become one flesh.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"So they are not two anymore. They are one flesh. So no one should separate what God has joined together.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Then why did Moses order a man to give his wife a paper of divorce and send her away?\" they asked."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Moses let you divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning."},{"verse":9,"text":"I tell you that whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. The only exception is when she has been guilty of sexual sin.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"His disciples said to him, \"If that is how it is between a man and his wife, it is better not to marry.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Not everyone can accept this teaching,\" he answered. \"Only those who have been given it can."},{"verse":12,"text":"Some men are eunuchs because they were born that way. Others were made that way by men. And still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.\"","note":"A eunuch was a man who could not father children."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then people brought little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the people who brought them."},{"verse":14,"text":"But Jesus said, \"Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them! The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"He placed his hands on them. Then he went on from there."},{"verse":16,"text":"Just then a man came up to Jesus. He asked, \"Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Why do you ask me about what is good?\" Jesus answered. \"There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Which ones?\" the man asked. Jesus answered, \"'Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others in court."},{"verse":19,"text":"Honor your father and mother. And love your neighbor as yourself.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"I have obeyed all these,\" the young man said. \"What else do I need?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus told him, \"If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own. Give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."},{"verse":24,"text":"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"When the disciples heard this, they were completely amazed. They asked, \"Then who can be saved?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus looked at them and said, \"With people this is impossible. But with God all things are possible.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Look,\" Peter answered, \"we have left everything to follow you. So what will we get?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, all things will be made new. Then the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne. And you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones. You will judge the twelve tribes of Israel."},{"verse":29,"text":"Some have left homes or brothers or sisters for me. Some have left father or mother or wife or children or fields for me. Everyone who has done this will get a hundred times as much. And they will receive eternal life."},{"verse":30,"text":"But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner. He went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard."},{"verse":2,"text":"He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day. Then he sent them into his vineyard.","note":"A denarius was the usual pay for one day's work."},{"verse":3,"text":"About nine in the morning he went out again. He saw others standing in the market doing nothing.","note":"Greek: the third hour."},{"verse":4,"text":"He told them, 'You go and work in my vineyard too. I will pay you whatever is right.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon. He did the same thing.","note":"Greek: the sixth hour and the ninth hour."},{"verse":6,"text":"About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?'","note":"Greek: the eleventh hour."},{"verse":7,"text":"'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. So he told them, 'You go and work in my vineyard too.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard spoke to the man in charge. 'Call the workers and pay them,' he said. 'Start with the last ones hired. Then go on to the first.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came. Each one got a denarius."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the workers who were hired first came. They thought they would get more. But each of them also got a denarius."},{"verse":11,"text":"When they got their pay, they began to complain against the landowner."},{"verse":12,"text":"'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said. 'And you have made them equal to us. We did the hard work all day in the burning heat.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for one denarius?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Don't I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Or are you jealous because I am generous?'"},{"verse":16,"text":"So the last will be first, and the first will be last.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the twelve disciples off by themselves. He said to them,"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will sentence him to death."},{"verse":19,"text":"They will hand him over to the Gentiles. The Gentiles will make fun of him, whip him, and crucify him. And on the third day he will be raised to life.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"What do you want?\" he asked. She answered, \"Promise that these two sons of mine may sit next to you in your kingdom. Let one sit at your right side and the other at your left.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"You don't know what you are asking,\" Jesus answered. \"Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?\" \"We can,\" the brothers answered."},{"verse":23,"text":"\"You will drink from my cup, it's true,\" Jesus said. \"But it is not for me to say who will sit at my right or left. These places belong to those my Father has prepared them for.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The other ten disciples heard about this. They were angry with the two brothers."},{"verse":25,"text":"But Jesus called them together and said, \"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles boss their people around. And their important men order them about."},{"verse":26,"text":"It must not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."},{"verse":27,"text":"And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave."},{"verse":28,"text":"In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve. He came to give his life as the price to set many people free.\"","note":"Greek: as a ransom for many."},{"verse":29,"text":"As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him."},{"verse":30,"text":"Two blind men were sitting by the road. They heard that Jesus was passing by. So they cried out, \"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The crowd scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they cried out even louder, \"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Jesus stopped and called them. \"What do you want me to do for you?\" he asked."},{"verse":33,"text":"\"Lord,\" they answered, \"we want our eyes to be opened.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus felt deep pity for them. He touched their eyes. Right away they could see, and they followed him."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"They came near Jerusalem. They came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus sent out two disciples."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said to them, \"Go into the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to me."},{"verse":3,"text":"If anyone asks you about it, tell him that the Lord needs them. Then he will send them right away.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"This happened to make come true what was spoken through the prophet:"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Say to the Daughter of Zion,\n'Look, your King is coming to you.\nHe is gentle and riding on a donkey,\non a colt, the young of a donkey.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the disciples went and did what Jesus had told them."},{"verse":7,"text":"They brought the donkey and the colt. They laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them."},{"verse":8,"text":"A huge crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road."},{"verse":9,"text":"Some of the crowds went ahead of him, and some followed. They were all shouting, \"Hosanna to the Son of David!\" \"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\" \"Hosanna in the highest heaven!\"","note":"Hosanna is a Hebrew shout of praise that means \"Save us!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus entered Jerusalem. The whole city was stirred up. People asked, \"Who is this?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The crowds answered, \"This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jesus went into the temple courts. He drove out all who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the money changers. He turned over the seats of those selling doves."},{"verse":13,"text":"He said to them, \"It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer.' But you are making it 'a den of robbers.'\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them."},{"verse":15,"text":"But the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things he did. They also saw the children shouting in the temple courts, \"Hosanna to the Son of David!\" This made them angry."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Do you hear what these children are saying?\" they asked him. \"Yes,\" Jesus answered. \"Haven't you ever read this? 'You have made children and babies sing your praise.'\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany. He spent the night there."},{"verse":18,"text":"In the morning, Jesus was going back to the city. He was hungry."},{"verse":19,"text":"He saw a fig tree by the road. He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. \"May you never bear fruit again!\" he said to it. And right away the tree dried up."},{"verse":20,"text":"The disciples saw this, and they were amazed. They asked, \"How did the fig tree dry up so fast?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"I tell you the truth,\" Jesus answered, \"if you have faith and do not doubt, you will do what was done to the fig tree. And you will do even more. Even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen."},{"verse":22,"text":"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for when you pray.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus went back to the temple courts and began to teach. The chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him. \"What right do you have to do these things?\" they asked. \"Who gave you this right?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"\"I will ask you one question too,\" Jesus answered. \"If you answer me, I will tell you what right I have to do these things."},{"verse":25,"text":"Where did John's baptism come from? Was it from heaven, or from people?\" They talked it over among themselves. They said, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'"},{"verse":26,"text":"But if we say, 'From people,' we are afraid of the crowd. They all think John was a prophet.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So they answered Jesus, \"We don't know.\" Then he said, \"Then I won't tell you what right I have to do these things either."},{"verse":28,"text":"But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first one and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"'I won't,' the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the father went to the second son and said the same thing. 'I will, sir,' he answered. But he did not go."},{"verse":31,"text":"Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?\" \"The first,\" they answered. Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you."},{"verse":32,"text":"John came to show you the right way to live, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. Even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."},{"verse":33,"text":"Listen to another parable. A landowner planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress and built a tower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a trip."},{"verse":34,"text":"Harvest time came near. So he sent his servants to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit."},{"verse":35,"text":"But the farmers grabbed his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third."},{"verse":36,"text":"Again, he sent other servants to them, more than the first time. But the farmers did the same to them."},{"verse":37,"text":"Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said."},{"verse":38,"text":"But the farmers saw the son. They said to each other, 'This is the one who will get the vineyard someday. Come, let's kill him and take what he would get.'"},{"verse":39,"text":"So they grabbed him and threw him out of the vineyard. Then they killed him."},{"verse":40,"text":"So when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those farmers?\""},{"verse":41,"text":"\"He will put those evil men to a terrible death,\" they answered. \"Then he will rent the vineyard to other farmers. They will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"Haven't you ever read this in the Scriptures?\n'The stone the builders rejected\nhas become the cornerstone.\nThe Lord has done this,\nand it is wonderful to see.'"},{"verse":43,"text":"So I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a people who will produce its fruit."},{"verse":44,"text":"Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. But anyone it falls on will be crushed.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"The chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables. They knew Jesus was talking about them."},{"verse":46,"text":"They wanted to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowds, because the people believed he was a prophet."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Once again Jesus spoke to them in parables. He said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding feast for his son."},{"verse":3,"text":"He sent his servants to call the people he had invited to the feast. But they would not come."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he sent some more servants. He said, 'Tell those who are invited that I have made my dinner ready. My oxen and fat cattle have been killed. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"But the people paid no attention and went off. One went to his field. Another went to his business."},{"verse":6,"text":"The rest grabbed his servants. They treated them badly and killed them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The king was furious. He sent his army to destroy those murderers and burn their city."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready. But the people I invited did not deserve to come."},{"verse":9,"text":"So go to the places where the roads meet. Invite everyone you can find to the feast.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So the servants went out into the streets. They gathered everyone they could find, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the king came in to see the guests. He saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes."},{"verse":12,"text":"'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But the man had nothing to say."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then the king told the servants, 'Tie his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth there.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"For many are invited, but few are chosen.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the Pharisees went out and made plans to trap Jesus by what he said."},{"verse":16,"text":"They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. \"Teacher,\" they said, \"we know that you are honest. You teach the way of God truthfully. You don't try to please anyone, because you don't care how important people seem."},{"verse":17,"text":"So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"But Jesus knew their evil plan. He said, \"You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Show me the coin used to pay the tax.\" They brought him a denarius.","note":"A denarius was a Roman silver coin worth a day's pay."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Whose picture is this?\" he asked. \"And whose name is written on it?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Caesar's,\" they answered. So Jesus told them, \"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give to God what belongs to God.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away."},{"verse":23,"text":"That same day the Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. They say that the dead do not rise again."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Teacher,\" they said, \"Moses told us what to do if a man dies without having children. His brother must marry the widow. Then he must have children for the brother who died."},{"verse":25,"text":"Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died. He had no children, so he left his wife to his brother."},{"verse":26,"text":"The same thing happened to the second brother and the third. It happened all the way to the seventh."},{"verse":27,"text":"Last of all, the woman died."},{"verse":28,"text":"So when the dead rise again, whose wife will she be of the seven? All of them were married to her.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus answered, \"You are wrong, because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God."},{"verse":30,"text":"When the dead rise again, people will not marry. They will not be given to be married. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven."},{"verse":31,"text":"But what about the dead rising again? Haven't you read what God said to you?"},{"verse":32,"text":"He said, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching."},{"verse":34,"text":"The Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees with nothing to say. So they met together."},{"verse":35,"text":"One of them was an expert in the law. He tested Jesus with a question."},{"verse":36,"text":"\"Teacher, which commandment in the Law is the greatest?\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Jesus said, \"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"},{"verse":38,"text":"This is the first and greatest commandment."},{"verse":39,"text":"And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"},{"verse":40,"text":"All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question."},{"verse":42,"text":"\"What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?\" \"David's son,\" they answered.","note":"Greek: the Christ."},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"Then why does David call him 'Lord'? David was speaking by the Spirit when he said,"},{"verse":44,"text":"'The Lord said to my Lord,\n\"Sit at my right hand\nuntil I put your enemies under your feet.\"'"},{"verse":45,"text":"So if David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be David's son?\""},{"verse":46,"text":"No one could say a word to answer him. And from that day on, no one dared to ask him any more questions."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat."},{"verse":3,"text":"So do and obey everything they tell you. But do not do what they do. They do not practice what they teach."},{"verse":4,"text":"They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry. They put them on people's shoulders. But they won't lift a finger to help move them."},{"verse":5,"text":"Everything they do is done for people to see. They make their prayer boxes wide and the tassels on their clothes long.","note":"Greek: phylacteries, small boxes holding Scripture verses, worn on the forehead and arm."},{"verse":6,"text":"They love the places of honor at feasts. They love the most important seats in the synagogues."},{"verse":7,"text":"They love to be greeted with respect in the markets. They love to be called 'Rabbi.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi.' You have only one Teacher, and you are all brothers."},{"verse":9,"text":"And do not call anyone on earth your father. You have one Father, and he is in heaven."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not let people call you teachers either. You have one Teacher, the Messiah."},{"verse":11,"text":"The greatest among you will be your servant."},{"verse":12,"text":"Whoever lifts himself up will be brought low. And whoever makes himself low will be lifted up."},{"verse":13,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You don't go in yourselves. And you won't let in those who are trying to go in."},{"verse":14,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":15,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win one person to your faith. Then when he joins you, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.","note":"Greek: twice as much a son of hell."},{"verse":16,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone makes a promise by the temple, it means nothing. But if anyone makes a promise by the gold of the temple, he must keep it.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"You blind fools! Which is greater? Is it the gold? Or is it the temple that makes the gold holy?"},{"verse":18,"text":"You also say, 'If anyone makes a promise by the altar, it means nothing. But if anyone makes a promise by the gift on the altar, he must keep it.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"You blind men! Which is greater? Is it the gift? Or is it the altar that makes the gift holy?"},{"verse":20,"text":"So anyone who makes a promise by the altar makes a promise by it and by everything on it."},{"verse":21,"text":"And anyone who makes a promise by the temple makes a promise by it and by the One who lives in it."},{"verse":22,"text":"And anyone who makes a promise by heaven makes a promise by God's throne and by the One who sits on it."},{"verse":23,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill, and cumin. But you have ignored the more important parts of the law. You have ignored justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have done these things without ignoring the others."},{"verse":24,"text":"You blind guides! You strain out a gnat from your drink, but you swallow a camel."},{"verse":25,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish. But inside they are full of greed and selfish living."},{"verse":26,"text":"Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will be clean too."},{"verse":27,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like tombs painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But inside they are full of dead people's bones and every kind of filth."},{"verse":28,"text":"In the same way, on the outside you seem to do what is right. But on the inside you are full of pretending and evil."},{"verse":29,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets. You decorate the graves of the righteous."},{"verse":30,"text":"And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the prophets.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"So you are speaking against yourselves. You show that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets."},{"verse":32,"text":"Go ahead, then! Finish the sin your ancestors started!"},{"verse":33,"text":"You snakes! You family of poisonous snakes! How will you escape being sentenced to hell?"},{"verse":34,"text":"So I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify. Others you will whip in your synagogues. You will chase them from town to town."},{"verse":35,"text":"And so all the righteous blood spilled on earth will come upon you. It goes from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah. You murdered him between the temple and the altar."},{"verse":36,"text":"I tell you the truth, all these things will come on the people living now."},{"verse":37,"text":"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You throw stones at those who are sent to you. How often I have wanted to gather your children together! I wanted to be like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings. But you were not willing!"},{"verse":38,"text":"Look, your house is left to you empty."},{"verse":39,"text":"I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'\""}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus left the temple and was walking away. His disciples came up to him. They wanted to point out the temple buildings to him."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Do you see all these things?\" he asked. \"I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on top of another. Every one will be thrown down.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Later Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives. The disciples came to him alone. \"Tell us,\" they said. \"When will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Be careful that no one fools you."},{"verse":5,"text":"This is because many will come in my name. They will say, 'I am the Messiah.' And they will fool many people."},{"verse":6,"text":"You will hear of wars and stories about wars. But make sure you are not afraid. These things must happen. But the end is still to come."},{"verse":7,"text":"Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be times of hunger and earthquakes in many places."},{"verse":8,"text":"All these things are only the beginning of the birth pains."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then people will hand you over to be hurt and killed. All nations will hate you because of my name."},{"verse":10,"text":"At that time many will fall away from the faith. They will turn on each other and hate each other."},{"verse":11,"text":"Many false prophets will rise up and fool many people."},{"verse":12,"text":"Evil will grow more and more. Because of this, the love of most people will grow cold."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the one who keeps going to the end will be saved."},{"verse":14,"text":"And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world. It will be told to all nations as a witness. Then the end will come."},{"verse":15,"text":"The prophet Daniel spoke of 'the awful thing that brings ruin.' So when you see it standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),","note":"Traditionally: \"the abomination of desolation\" (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11)."},{"verse":16,"text":"then those who are in Judea must run away to the mountains."},{"verse":17,"text":"Anyone on the roof must not go down to get anything from his house."},{"verse":18,"text":"Anyone in the field must not go back for his coat."},{"verse":19,"text":"How awful those days will be for women who are pregnant or nursing babies!"},{"verse":20,"text":"Pray that you will not have to run away in the winter or on the Sabbath."},{"verse":21,"text":"This is because at that time there will be great trouble. Nothing like it has happened from the beginning of the world until now. And nothing like it will ever happen again."},{"verse":22,"text":"If those days had not been made shorter, no one would be saved. But those days will be made shorter for the sake of God's chosen people."},{"verse":23,"text":"At that time someone may say to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' Or, 'There he is!' Do not believe it."},{"verse":24,"text":"This is because false messiahs and false prophets will come. They will do great signs and wonders. They will try to fool even God's chosen people, if that were possible."},{"verse":25,"text":"See, I have told you ahead of time."},{"verse":26,"text":"So if they tell you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out there. Or if they say, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it."},{"verse":27,"text":"Lightning flashes in the east and shines all the way to the west. Just like that, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."},{"verse":28,"text":"Wherever there is a dead body, the vultures will gather there."},{"verse":29,"text":"Right after the trouble of those days,\n'The sun will be made dark.\nThe moon will not give its light.\nThe stars will fall from the sky.\nAnd the powers of the heavens will be shaken.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. All the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky. He will come with power and great glory."},{"verse":31,"text":"He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call. They will gather his chosen people from the four winds. They will gather them from one end of the heavens to the other."},{"verse":32,"text":"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. When its branches get soft and grow leaves, you know summer is near."},{"verse":33,"text":"It's the same with you. When you see all these things, you will know that he is near. He is right at the door."},{"verse":34,"text":"I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened."},{"verse":35,"text":"Heaven and earth will pass away. But my words will never pass away."},{"verse":36,"text":"No one knows the day or hour when it will happen. Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know either. Only the Father knows."},{"verse":37,"text":"Think of how it was in the days of Noah. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes."},{"verse":38,"text":"In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking. They were getting married and giving their children in marriage. They kept on doing this up to the day Noah went into the ark."},{"verse":39,"text":"They had no idea what was coming until the flood came and swept them all away. That's how it will be when the Son of Man comes."},{"verse":40,"text":"Two men will be in the field. One will be taken and the other left."},{"verse":41,"text":"Two women will be grinding grain at the mill. One will be taken and the other left."},{"verse":42,"text":"So keep watch, because you do not know the day your Lord will come."},{"verse":43,"text":"But understand this. Suppose the owner of a house had known what time of night the thief was coming. Then he would have stayed awake. He would not have let his house be broken into.","note":"Greek: \"in which watch of the night.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."},{"verse":45,"text":"Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? His master has put him in charge of the house. He is to give the other servants their food at the right time."},{"verse":46,"text":"That servant is blessed if his master comes back and finds him doing his job."},{"verse":47,"text":"I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of everything he owns."},{"verse":48,"text":"But suppose that servant is wicked. He says to himself, 'My master will be gone a long time.'"},{"verse":49,"text":"Then he begins to beat the other servants. He eats and drinks with drunks."},{"verse":50,"text":"The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect. He will come at an hour he does not know."},{"verse":51,"text":"Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will give him a place with the hypocrites. There people will weep and grind their teeth."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young virgins. They took their lamps and went out to meet the groom."},{"verse":2,"text":"Five of them were foolish, and five were wise."},{"verse":3,"text":"The foolish ones took their lamps. But they did not take any extra oil with them."},{"verse":4,"text":"But the wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps."},{"verse":5,"text":"The groom was late in coming. So they all got sleepy and fell asleep."},{"verse":6,"text":"At midnight someone cried out, 'Here is the groom! Come out to meet him!'"},{"verse":7,"text":"Then all the virgins woke up. They got their lamps ready."},{"verse":8,"text":"The foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"'No,' the wise ones said. 'If we do, there may not be enough for both us and you. Go to the people who sell oil instead. Buy some for yourselves.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"So they went to buy oil. But while they were on their way, the groom came. The ones who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast. Then the door was shut."},{"verse":11,"text":"Later the other virgins came. 'Lord, lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!'"},{"verse":12,"text":"But he answered, 'I tell you the truth, I do not know you.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"So keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."},{"verse":14,"text":"For it is like a man who was going on a trip. He called his servants and put them in charge of his wealth."},{"verse":15,"text":"He gave five talents to one servant. He gave two talents to another and one talent to another. He gave each one as much as he was able to handle. Then he went on his trip.","note":"A talent was a huge sum, about 20 years of a worker's pay."},{"verse":16,"text":"The servant who got the five talents went right away and put the money to work. He gained five more."},{"verse":17,"text":"In the same way, the one with two talents gained two more."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the servant who got one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground. He hid his master's money there."},{"verse":19,"text":"After a long time the master of those servants came back. He settled accounts with them."},{"verse":20,"text":"The servant who had gotten five talents came. He brought five more. 'Master,' he said, 'you trusted me with five talents. Look, I have gained five more.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"His master said, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's joy!'"},{"verse":22,"text":"The servant who had gotten two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you trusted me with two talents. Look, I have gained two more.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"His master said, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's joy!'"},{"verse":24,"text":"Last, the servant who had gotten one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest where you have not planted. You gather crops where you have not scattered seed."},{"verse":25,"text":"So I was afraid. I went out and hid your talent in the ground. Look, here is what belongs to you.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"His master answered, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not planted? You knew that I gather where I have not scattered seed?"},{"verse":27,"text":"Then you should have put my money in the bank. When I came back, I would have gotten it back with interest."},{"verse":28,"text":"So take the talent from him. Give it to the one who has ten talents."},{"verse":29,"text":"For everyone who has will be given more. He will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."},{"verse":30,"text":"And throw that worthless servant outside into the darkness. There people will weep and grind their teeth.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"The Son of Man will come in his glory. All the angels will come with him. Then he will sit on his glorious throne."},{"verse":32,"text":"All the nations will be gathered in front of him. He will separate the people from each other. He will do it like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."},{"verse":33,"text":"He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Take your inheritance, the kingdom that was made ready for you. It was prepared for you since the world was made."},{"verse":35,"text":"This is because I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me in."},{"verse":36,"text":"I needed clothes, and you gave them to me. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me.'"},{"verse":37,"text":"Then the people who are right with God will answer him. 'Lord,' they will say, 'when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?"},{"verse":38,"text":"When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you?"},{"verse":39,"text":"When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"},{"verse":40,"text":"The King will answer, 'I tell you the truth, anything you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"},{"verse":41,"text":"Then he will speak to those on his left. He will say, 'Go away from me, you who are cursed! Go into the fire that lasts forever. It was prepared for the devil and his angels."},{"verse":42,"text":"This is because I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink."},{"verse":43,"text":"I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me in. I needed clothes, and you did not give them to me. I was sick and in prison, and you did not take care of me.'"},{"verse":44,"text":"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty? When did we see you as a stranger, or needing clothes, or sick, or in prison? When did we not help you?'"},{"verse":45,"text":"The King will answer, 'I tell you the truth, anything you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"},{"verse":46,"text":"Then they will go away to be punished forever. But the people who are right with God will go into life that lasts forever.\""}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he told his disciples,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"You know that the Passover is two days from now. And the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"At that time the chief priests and the elders of the people met together. They met in the courtyard of the high priest. His name was Caiaphas."},{"verse":4,"text":"They made a secret plan to arrest Jesus and kill him."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"But not during the feast,\" they said. \"The people might start a riot.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper."},{"verse":7,"text":"A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Jesus was leaning at the table to eat. She poured the perfume on his head."},{"verse":8,"text":"When the disciples saw this, they were angry. \"Why waste this?\" they asked."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"This perfume could have been sold for a lot of money. Then the money could have been given to the poor.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus knew what they were saying. He asked, \"Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me."},{"verse":11,"text":"You will always have the poor with you. But you will not always have me."},{"verse":12,"text":"She poured this perfume on my body. By doing this, she has made me ready to be buried."},{"verse":13,"text":"I tell you the truth, this good news will be preached all over the world. And wherever it is, what she has done will also be told. People will remember her.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then one of the Twelve went to the chief priests. He was the one called Judas Iscariot."},{"verse":15,"text":"He asked, \"What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?\" So they counted out thirty pieces of silver for him."},{"verse":16,"text":"From then on, Judas watched for a chance to betray Jesus."},{"verse":17,"text":"It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. \"Where do you want us to get the Passover meal ready for you?\" they asked."},{"verse":18,"text":"He answered, \"Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says: My time is near. I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So the disciples did what Jesus had told them. They got the Passover meal ready."},{"verse":20,"text":"When evening came, Jesus was leaning at the table with the twelve disciples."},{"verse":21,"text":"While they were eating, he said to them, \"I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"They were very sad. One by one they began to ask him, \"Surely it isn't me, Lord?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus answered, \"The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me."},{"verse":24,"text":"The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had never been born.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Judas, the one who would betray him, spoke up. \"Surely it isn't me, Rabbi?\" he asked. Jesus answered, \"You have said it yourself.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He said a blessing and broke it. He gave it to the disciples and said, \"Take and eat. This is my body.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then he took the cup and gave thanks. He gave it to them and said, \"All of you drink from it."},{"verse":28,"text":"This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins."},{"verse":29,"text":"I tell you, I will not drink this fruit of the vine again until a certain day. On that day I will drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"This very night all of you will fall away because of me. It is written,\n'I will strike the Shepherd,\nand the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'"},{"verse":32,"text":"But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Peter said to him, \"Even if all the others fall away because of you, I never will.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"\"I tell you the truth,\" Jesus answered. \"This very night, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"But Peter said, \"Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you.\" And all the other disciples said the same thing."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He told them, \"Sit here while I go over there and pray.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. He began to be very sad and troubled."},{"verse":38,"text":"Then he said to them, \"My soul is so full of sorrow that I feel close to death. Stay here and keep watch with me.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"He went on a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground and prayed. \"My Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me. But let it be what you want, not what I want.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Then Jesus came back to the disciples. He found them sleeping. \"Couldn't you keep watch with me for one hour?\" he asked Peter."},{"verse":41,"text":"\"Watch and pray so that you won't fall into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"He went away a second time and prayed. \"My Father,\" he said, \"if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, may what you want be done.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus came back again. He found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy."},{"verse":44,"text":"So he left them and went away once more. He prayed a third time, saying the same thing."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then he came back to the disciples. He said, \"Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near. The Son of Man is being handed over to sinners."},{"verse":46,"text":"Get up! Let's go! Look, the one who is betraying me is coming!\""},{"verse":47,"text":"Jesus was still speaking when Judas came. He was one of the Twelve. A large crowd was with him. They carried swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them."},{"verse":48,"text":"Now Judas, the betrayer, had given them a signal. \"The one I kiss is the man,\" he had said. \"Arrest him.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"Judas went straight to Jesus. \"Greetings, Rabbi!\" he said. And he kissed him."},{"verse":50,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Friend, do what you came to do.\" Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him."},{"verse":51,"text":"At that, one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear."},{"verse":52,"text":"\"Put your sword back in its place,\" Jesus said to him. \"For all who use the sword will die by the sword."},{"verse":53,"text":"Don't you know I could call on my Father? He would send me more than twelve armies of angels right away.","note":"Greek: \"twelve legions.\" A Roman legion had about 6,000 soldiers."},{"verse":54,"text":"But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen this way.\""},{"verse":55,"text":"At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. \"Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me?\" he asked. \"Do you think I'm an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts. And you did not arrest me."},{"verse":56,"text":"But all this has happened so that what the prophets wrote would come true.\" Then all the disciples left him and ran away."},{"verse":57,"text":"The men who had arrested Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and the elders had gathered there."},{"verse":58,"text":"But Peter followed him from far away. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He went in and sat down with the guards. He wanted to see what would happen."},{"verse":59,"text":"The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false witnesses against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death."},{"verse":60,"text":"But they did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two men came forward."},{"verse":61,"text":"They said, \"This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of God and build it again in three days.'\""},{"verse":62,"text":"Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, \"Aren't you going to answer? What are these men saying against you?\""},{"verse":63,"text":"But Jesus stayed quiet. The high priest said to him, \"I order you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.\""},{"verse":64,"text":"\"You have said it yourself,\" Jesus answered. \"But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power. You will see him coming on the clouds of heaven.\""},{"verse":65,"text":"Then the high priest tore his clothes. \"He has spoken against God!\" he said. \"Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard him speak against God."},{"verse":66,"text":"What do you think?\" \"He deserves to die,\" they answered."},{"verse":67,"text":"Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him."},{"verse":68,"text":"They said, \"Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit you?\""},{"verse":69,"text":"Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him. \"You were with Jesus of Galilee too,\" she said."},{"verse":70,"text":"But in front of all of them, Peter said it wasn't true. \"I don't know what you're talking about,\" he said."},{"verse":71,"text":"Then Peter went out to the gate. There another servant girl saw him. She said to the people there, \"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.\""},{"verse":72,"text":"Again he said it wasn't true. He swore an oath and said, \"I don't know the man!\""},{"verse":73,"text":"A little while later, those standing nearby came up to Peter. \"You must be one of them,\" they said. \"The way you talk gives you away.\""},{"verse":74,"text":"Then Peter began to call down curses and swear to them. \"I don't know the man!\" he said. Right away a rooster crowed."},{"verse":75,"text":"Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: \"Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me.\" And Peter went outside and cried bitterly."}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made plans against Jesus. They planned to put him to death."},{"verse":2,"text":"They tied him up and led him away. They handed him over to Pilate, the governor."},{"verse":3,"text":"Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus had been sentenced to die. Then Judas was filled with regret. He brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and the elders."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"I have sinned,\" he said. \"I have betrayed a man who did nothing wrong.\" \"What do we care?\" they answered. \"That's your problem.\"","note":"Greek: \"innocent blood.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself."},{"verse":6,"text":"The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver. They said, \"It's against the law to put this into the temple treasury. It is money paid for blood.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"They talked it over. Then they used the money to buy the potter's field. They made it a place to bury foreigners."},{"verse":8,"text":"That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then what Jeremiah the prophet had said came true. He said, \"They took the thirty pieces of silver. That was the price the people of Israel set on him."},{"verse":10,"text":"They used the silver to buy the potter's field, as the Lord had commanded me.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Meanwhile Jesus stood in front of the governor. The governor asked him, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\" \"You have said so,\" Jesus answered."},{"verse":12,"text":"The chief priests and the elders made charges against him. But he did not answer."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Pilate asked him, \"Don't you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But Jesus did not answer, not even to a single charge. The governor was very surprised."},{"verse":15,"text":"It was the governor's custom at the feast to set one prisoner free. The crowd got to choose the prisoner."},{"verse":16,"text":"At that time they were holding a well-known prisoner. His name was Barabbas."},{"verse":17,"text":"So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, \"Which one do you want me to set free for you? Barabbas? Or Jesus who is called the Messiah?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"He knew the leaders had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous."},{"verse":19,"text":"Pilate was sitting in the judge's seat. While he sat there, his wife sent him a message. It said, \"Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. For I have suffered a lot today in a dream because of him.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But the chief priests and the elders talked the crowds into asking for Barabbas. They wanted Jesus put to death."},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?\" asked the governor. \"Barabbas,\" they answered."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?\" Pilate asked. They all answered, \"Crucify him!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"\"Why?\" asked Pilate. \"What wrong has he done?\" But they shouted even louder, \"Crucify him!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere. Instead, a riot was starting. So he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. \"I am not guilty of this man's blood,\" he said. \"It is your responsibility.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"All the people answered, \"Let his blood be on us and on our children!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So Pilate set Barabbas free for them. But he had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be crucified."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium. They gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.","note":"The Praetorium was the governor's headquarters."},{"verse":28,"text":"They took off his clothes and put a scarlet robe on him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then they twisted thorns together to make a crown. They put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and made fun of him. \"Hail, King of the Jews!\" they said."},{"verse":30,"text":"They spit on him. They took the staff and hit him on the head again and again."},{"verse":31,"text":"After they had made fun of him, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him."},{"verse":32,"text":"On their way out, they found a man from Cyrene. His name was Simon. They forced him to carry the cross of Jesus."},{"verse":33,"text":"They came to a place called Golgotha. The name means The Place of the Skull."},{"verse":34,"text":"There they offered Jesus wine to drink. It was mixed with gall. But after he tasted it, he would not drink it.","note":"Gall was a bitter substance."},{"verse":35,"text":"They crucified him. Then they divided up his clothes by casting lots."},{"verse":36,"text":"And they sat down and kept watch over him there."},{"verse":37,"text":"Above his head they put up a written charge against him. It said: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."},{"verse":38,"text":"Two robbers were crucified with him. One was on his right and one was on his left."},{"verse":39,"text":"People who passed by shouted insults at him. They shook their heads"},{"verse":40,"text":"and said, \"You were going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!\""},{"verse":41,"text":"In the same way, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders made fun of him. They said,"},{"verse":42,"text":"\"He saved others, but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now. Then we will believe in him."},{"verse":43,"text":"He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him. After all, he said, 'I am the Son of God.'\""},{"verse":44,"text":"In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with him insulted him."},{"verse":45,"text":"From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land."},{"verse":46,"text":"At about three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, \"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?\" That means, \"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\""},{"verse":47,"text":"Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, \"He's calling for Elijah.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"One of them quickly ran and got a sponge. He filled it with sour wine. He put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink."},{"verse":49,"text":"But the others said, \"Leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Jesus cried out again in a loud voice. Then he gave up his spirit."},{"verse":51,"text":"At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks split apart."},{"verse":52,"text":"The tombs broke open. The bodies of many of God's people who had died were raised to life.","note":"Greek: \"saints who had fallen asleep.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"They came out of the tombs after Jesus rose from the dead. They went into the holy city and appeared to many people."},{"verse":54,"text":"The centurion and the men with him were guarding Jesus. They saw the earthquake and all that had happened. They were terrified. They said, \"He really was the Son of God!\""},{"verse":55,"text":"Many women were there, watching from far away. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to take care of his needs."},{"verse":56,"text":"Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph. The mother of Zebedee's sons was there too."},{"verse":57,"text":"When evening came, a rich man from Arimathea came. His name was Joseph. He himself was a disciple of Jesus."},{"verse":58,"text":"He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate ordered that it be given to him."},{"verse":59,"text":"So Joseph took the body. He wrapped it in a clean linen cloth."},{"verse":60,"text":"He placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a big stone in front of the opening of the tomb. And he went away."},{"verse":61,"text":"Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there across from the tomb."},{"verse":62,"text":"The next day was the day after Preparation Day. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate together."},{"verse":63,"text":"\"Sir,\" they said, \"we remember something that liar said while he was still alive. He said, 'After three days I will rise again.'"},{"verse":64,"text":"So give the order to make the tomb secure until the third day. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. Then they will tell the people he has risen from the dead. This last lie would be worse than the first one.\""},{"verse":65,"text":"\"You have a guard,\" Pilate answered. \"Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how.\""},{"verse":66,"text":"So they went and made the tomb secure. They put a seal on the stone and placed the guard there."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Sabbath was over. At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb."},{"verse":2,"text":"Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven. He rolled the stone away and sat on it."},{"verse":3,"text":"He looked like lightning. His clothes were as white as snow."},{"verse":4,"text":"The guards were so afraid of him that they shook. They became like dead men."},{"verse":5,"text":"The angel said to the women, \"Don't be afraid, because I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified."},{"verse":6,"text":"He is not here! He has risen, just as he said he would! Come and see the place where he lay."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' Now I have told you.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the women hurried away from the tomb. They were afraid but filled with joy. They ran to tell his disciples."},{"verse":9,"text":"Suddenly Jesus met them. \"Greetings!\" he said. They came to him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"Don't be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The women were on their way. Meanwhile, some of the guards went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened."},{"verse":12,"text":"The chief priests met with the elders and made a plan. They gave the soldiers a large amount of money."},{"verse":13,"text":"They told them, \"You must say, 'His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were sleeping.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"If the governor hears about this, we will calm him down. We will keep you out of trouble.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the soldiers took the money and did as they were told. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this very day."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee. They went to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go."},{"verse":17,"text":"When they saw him, they worshiped him. But some of them doubted."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jesus came to them. He said, \"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."},{"verse":19,"text":"So go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":20,"text":"Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\""}]}]},{"name":"Mark","slug":"mark","usfm":"MRK","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God."},{"verse":2,"text":"It is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: \"Look, I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"\"A voice of someone is calling out in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness. He preached that people should be baptized to show they repent, so that their sins would be forgiven."},{"verse":5,"text":"People went out to him from all over Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. They confessed their sins, and John baptized them in the Jordan River."},{"verse":6,"text":"John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey."},{"verse":7,"text":"He announced, \"After me, someone will come who is more powerful than I am. I am not even good enough to bend down and untie the straps of his sandals."},{"verse":8,"text":"I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan."},{"verse":10,"text":"As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens tearing open. He saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove."},{"verse":11,"text":"And a voice came from heaven. \"You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Right away the Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness."},{"verse":13,"text":"He was there for forty days, and Satan tempted him. He was with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him."},{"verse":14,"text":"After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. He announced the good news of God."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"The time has come,\" he said. \"The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the sea. They were fishermen."},{"verse":17,"text":"\"Come, follow me,\" Jesus said. \"I will make you fishers of people.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Right away they left their nets and followed him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus went on a little farther. He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, fixing their nets."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jesus called them right away. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and they followed Jesus."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Jesus and his friends went to Capernaum. On the Sabbath, Jesus went right into the synagogue and began to teach."},{"verse":22,"text":"The people were amazed at his teaching. He taught like someone who had authority. He did not teach like the scribes."},{"verse":23,"text":"Suddenly a man in the synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out."},{"verse":24,"text":"\"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"But Jesus spoke sharply to the spirit. \"Be quiet!\" he said. \"Come out of him!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then the unclean spirit shook the man hard. It let out a loud scream and came out of him."},{"verse":27,"text":"All the people were amazed. They began to ask each other, \"What is this? It's a new teaching, and it has authority! He even gives orders to unclean spirits, and they obey him!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"The news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole area of Galilee."},{"verse":29,"text":"As soon as Jesus and his friends left the synagogue, they went to the home of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them."},{"verse":30,"text":"Simon's mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. Right away they told Jesus about her."},{"verse":31,"text":"So he went to her. He took her by the hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them."},{"verse":32,"text":"That evening after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and all who had demons."},{"verse":33,"text":"The whole town gathered at the door."},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus healed many people who had all kinds of diseases. He also drove out many demons. But he would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was."},{"verse":35,"text":"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up. He went out to a place where he could be alone to pray."},{"verse":36,"text":"Simon and his friends went to look for him."},{"verse":37,"text":"When they found him, they said, \"Everyone is looking for you!\""},{"verse":38,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"Let's go on to the nearby towns. I need to preach there too. That is why I have come.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"So he traveled all through Galilee. He preached in their synagogues and drove out demons."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then a man with leprosy came to Jesus. He got down on his knees and begged him. \"If you are willing, you can make me clean.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Jesus was filled with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched the man. \"I am willing,\" he said. \"Be clean!\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Right away the leprosy left him, and the man was made clean."},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning."},{"verse":44,"text":"\"Be sure you don't tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the gifts that Moses commanded for your cleansing. This will be a witness to them.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"But the man went out and began to tell everyone. He spread the news openly. Because of this, Jesus could no longer go into a town where people could see him. He stayed outside in lonely places. Still, people came to him from everywhere."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A few days later Jesus went back to Capernaum. The people heard that he was home."},{"verse":2,"text":"So many people gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door. And Jesus spoke the word to them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then some people brought him a man who could not move his body. Four men were carrying him."},{"verse":4,"text":"They could not get to Jesus because of the crowd. So they took apart the roof above him. They made an opening and let the man down on his mat."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus saw their faith. He said to the man, \"Son, your sins are forgiven.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But some of the scribes were sitting there. They were thinking to themselves,"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Why does this man talk like this? He is speaking against God! Who can forgive sins but God alone?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Right away Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking. \"Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?\" he asked."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Which is easier to say to this man? Is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven'? Or is it easier to say, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'?"},{"verse":10,"text":"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.\" Then he spoke to the man who could not move."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"I tell you, get up. Pick up your mat and go home.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Right away the man got up. He picked up his mat and walked out while everyone watched. They were all amazed, and they praised God. \"We have never seen anything like this!\" they said."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus went out beside the sea again. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them there."},{"verse":14,"text":"As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. \"Follow me,\" Jesus told him. Levi got up and followed him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples. There were many who followed him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Some scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people. They asked his disciples, \"Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus heard this. He told them, \"Healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people do. I have not come to call good people. I have come to call sinners.\"","note":"Greek: \"the righteous.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So some people came and asked Jesus, \"John's disciples fast, and so do the Pharisees' disciples. Why don't your disciples fast?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus answered, \"How can the wedding guests fast while the groom is with them? They can't fast as long as he is with them."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast."},{"verse":21,"text":"No one sews a patch of new cloth on old clothes. If he does, the new patch will shrink and pull away from the old cloth. Then the tear will get worse."},{"verse":22,"text":"And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins. Then the wine and the skins will both be ruined. No, new wine is poured into new wineskins.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"One Sabbath Jesus was walking through the grainfields. As his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the Pharisees said to him, \"Look! Why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Haven't you ever read what David did? He and his men were hungry and in need."},{"verse":26,"text":"It was when Abiathar was high priest. David went into the house of God and ate the holy bread. Only the priests were allowed to eat it. And David gave some to his men too.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"The Sabbath was made for people. People were not made for the Sabbath."},{"verse":28,"text":"So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Another time Jesus went into the synagogue. A man was there whose hand was shriveled."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some people were watching Jesus closely. They wanted to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so they could accuse him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, \"Stand up here in front of everyone.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then he asked them, \"What does the law allow on the Sabbath? Is it to do good or to do evil? Is it to save life or to destroy it?\" But they said nothing."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus looked around at them in anger. He was sad that their hearts were so hard. Then he said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" So he stretched it out, and his hand was healed."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the Pharisees went out. They began making plans with the Herodians to kill Jesus."},{"verse":7,"text":"So Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea. A large crowd from Galilee followed him. People came from Judea,"},{"verse":8,"text":"Jerusalem, Idumea, and the land across the Jordan. They also came from the area around Tyre and Sidon. This large crowd came to him because they heard about all the great things he was doing."},{"verse":9,"text":"Jesus asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him. That way the crowd would not crush him."},{"verse":10,"text":"This was because he had healed so many people. So everyone with a disease was pushing forward to touch him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down in front of him. They shouted, \"You are the Son of God!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But he strongly warned them not to tell who he was."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Jesus went up on the mountain. He called the ones he wanted, and they came to him."},{"verse":14,"text":"He chose twelve of them and called them apostles. They were to be with him, and he would send them out to preach."},{"verse":15,"text":"They would also have authority to drive out demons."},{"verse":16,"text":"These are the twelve he chose: Simon, whom he named Peter,"},{"verse":17,"text":"James son of Zebedee, and his brother John. He gave James and John the name Boanerges, which means \"Sons of Thunder.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The others were Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,"},{"verse":19,"text":"and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then Jesus went home. Once again a crowd gathered. So many came that he and his disciples could not even eat."},{"verse":21,"text":"His family heard about this. They went to take charge of him. They said, \"He is out of his mind.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Some scribes had come down from Jerusalem. They said, \"Beelzebul lives in him!\" They also said, \"He drives out demons by the power of the prince of demons.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So Jesus called them over. He began to speak to them in parables. \"How can Satan drive out Satan?"},{"verse":24,"text":"If a kingdom fights against itself, that kingdom cannot stand."},{"verse":25,"text":"If a family fights against itself, that family cannot stand."},{"verse":26,"text":"If Satan fights against himself and is divided, he cannot stand. His end has come."},{"verse":27,"text":"In fact, no one can go into a strong man's house and steal his things unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house."},{"verse":28,"text":"I tell you the truth, people will be forgiven for all their sins. They will be forgiven for every evil thing they say against God."},{"verse":29,"text":"But whoever speaks evil against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of a sin that lasts forever.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus said this because they were saying, \"He has an unclean spirit.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Jesus' mother and brothers came. They stood outside and sent someone in to call him."},{"verse":32,"text":"A crowd was sitting around him. Someone told him, \"Look, your mother and brothers are outside. They are asking for you.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Who are my mother and my brothers?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"He looked at the people sitting in a circle around him. \"Here are my mother and my brothers!\" he said."},{"verse":35,"text":"\"Anyone who does what God wants is my brother and sister and mother.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus began to teach beside the sea again. A huge crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat on the water and sat down in it. All the people stayed on the shore."},{"verse":2,"text":"He taught them many things by using parables. As he taught, he said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Listen! A farmer went out to plant his seed."},{"verse":4,"text":"As he was scattering the seed, some fell on the path. The birds came and ate it up."},{"verse":5,"text":"Some seed fell on rocky ground where there wasn't much soil. It came up quickly because the soil was not deep."},{"verse":6,"text":"But when the sun came up, the young plants were burned. They dried up because they had no roots."},{"verse":7,"text":"Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked the plants, so they didn't produce any grain."},{"verse":8,"text":"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew, and produced a crop. Some plants made 30 times more than was planted. Some made 60 times more, and some made 100 times more.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"Whoever has ears to hear should listen.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Later Jesus was alone with the Twelve and the others around him. They asked him about the parable."},{"verse":11,"text":"He answered, \"The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside, everything is told in parables."},{"verse":12,"text":"That way, 'they will look and look, but never see. They will listen and listen, but never understand. If they did, they might turn and be forgiven.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"Don't you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?"},{"verse":14,"text":"The farmer plants the word."},{"verse":15,"text":"Some people are like the seed on the path, where the word is planted. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes. He takes away the word that was planted in them."},{"verse":16,"text":"Some people are like the seed planted on rocky ground. They hear the word and accept it with joy right away."},{"verse":17,"text":"But they have no roots, so they last only a short time. Trouble or persecution comes because of the word. Then they quickly fall away."},{"verse":18,"text":"Others are like the seed planted among thorns. They hear the word."},{"verse":19,"text":"But the worries of this life come in. So do the false promise of riches and the desire for other things. These choke the word, and it produces no fruit."},{"verse":20,"text":"Still others are like the seed planted on good soil. They hear the word and accept it. They produce a crop 30, 60, or even 100 times more than was planted.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus also said to them, \"Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? No! You put it on a stand."},{"verse":22,"text":"Everything that is hidden will be shown. Everything that is secret will be brought out into the light."},{"verse":23,"text":"If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"He went on, \"Pay attention to what you hear. The measure you use is the measure that will be used for you. And even more will be given to you."},{"verse":25,"text":"Whoever has something will be given more. But whoever has nothing will lose even what he has.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus also said, \"The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground."},{"verse":27,"text":"Night and day he sleeps and gets up. Meanwhile, the seed sprouts and grows, but he doesn't know how."},{"verse":28,"text":"The ground makes the crop grow all by itself. First comes the stalk, then the head. Then the full grain ripens in the head."},{"verse":29,"text":"As soon as the grain is ripe, he cuts it with his sickle, because harvest time has come.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then Jesus asked, \"What can we compare the kingdom of God to? What parable can we use to describe it?"},{"verse":31,"text":"It is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all the seeds planted in the ground."},{"verse":32,"text":"But once it is planted, it grows bigger than all the other garden plants. It grows large branches. Then the birds can make nests in its shade.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Jesus spoke the word to them using many parables like these. He taught them as much as they could understand."},{"verse":34,"text":"He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything."},{"verse":35,"text":"That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, \"Let's go across to the other side.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"They left the crowd behind. Jesus was already in the boat, so they took him along. Other boats were with him too."},{"verse":37,"text":"Soon a fierce windstorm came up. The waves were crashing into the boat. It was filling up with water."},{"verse":38,"text":"But Jesus was in the back of the boat, sleeping on a cushion. So they woke him up. \"Teacher,\" they said, \"don't you care that we're about to die?\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Jesus got up and gave an order to the wind and the sea. \"Quiet!\" he said. \"Be still!\" The wind stopped, and everything was completely calm."},{"verse":40,"text":"\"Why are you so afraid?\" he asked. \"Do you still have no faith?\""},{"verse":41,"text":"They were terrified. They asked each other, \"Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"They went across the sea to the area of the Gerasenes."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jesus got out of the boat. Right away a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs to meet him."},{"verse":3,"text":"This man lived in the tombs. No one could hold him down anymore, not even with chains."},{"verse":4,"text":"People had often tied him up with chains on his hands and feet. But he broke the chains apart and smashed the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to control him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Night and day he kept screaming among the tombs and in the hills. He cut himself with stones."},{"verse":6,"text":"The man saw Jesus from far away. He ran and fell on his knees in front of him."},{"verse":7,"text":"He shouted in a loud voice, \"What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God's name, I beg you, don't torture me!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"He said this because Jesus had already told him, \"Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"What is your name?\" Jesus asked. \"My name is Legion,\" he answered, \"because there are many of us.\"","note":"A legion was a Roman army unit of thousands of soldiers."},{"verse":10,"text":"He begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of that area."},{"verse":11,"text":"A large herd of pigs was eating on the hillside nearby."},{"verse":12,"text":"So the demons begged Jesus, \"Send us to the pigs. Let us go into them.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus let them go. The unclean spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea. There were about 2,000 pigs, and they drowned in the water."},{"verse":14,"text":"The men taking care of the pigs ran off. They told the news in the town and in the countryside. So the people went out to see what had happened."},{"verse":15,"text":"They came to Jesus. There they saw the man who had been controlled by the legion of demons. He was sitting there with his clothes on, and his mind was clear. And the people were afraid."},{"verse":16,"text":"Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the man with demons. They told about the pigs too."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the people began to beg Jesus to leave their area."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jesus was getting into the boat. The man who had been controlled by demons begged to go with him."},{"verse":19,"text":"But Jesus would not let him. \"Go home to your own people,\" he said. \"Tell them how much the Lord has done for you. Tell them how he has shown you mercy.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So the man went away. He began to tell people all over the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.","note":"Decapolis means \"Ten Cities,\" a region east of the Sea of Galilee."},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus went back across the sea by boat to the other side. A large crowd gathered around him by the sea."},{"verse":22,"text":"A leader of the synagogue named Jairus came there. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet."},{"verse":23,"text":"He begged Jesus over and over. \"My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her. Then she will be healed and live.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pushed in all around him."},{"verse":25,"text":"A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years."},{"verse":26,"text":"She had suffered a lot from many doctors. She had spent all her money, but it did not help. Instead, she only got worse."},{"verse":27,"text":"She heard about Jesus. So she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak."},{"verse":28,"text":"She kept telling herself, \"If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Right away her bleeding stopped. She could feel in her body that she was healed of her suffering."},{"verse":30,"text":"At once Jesus knew that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, \"Who touched my clothes?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"His disciples answered, \"You see the crowd pushing in all around you. And you ask, 'Who touched me?'\""},{"verse":32,"text":"But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it."},{"verse":33,"text":"The woman knew what had happened to her. She came and fell down in front of him, shaking with fear. She told him the whole truth."},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Daughter,\" Jesus said, \"your faith has healed you. Go in peace. You are free from your suffering.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus. \"Your daughter is dead,\" they said. \"Why bother the Teacher anymore?\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Jesus heard what they said. He told Jairus, \"Don't be afraid. Just believe.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"He did not let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James."},{"verse":38,"text":"They came to the home of the synagogue leader. Jesus saw a lot of noise and confusion. People were crying and wailing loudly."},{"verse":39,"text":"He went inside and asked, \"Why all this noise and crying? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"But they laughed at him. Jesus sent them all outside. Then he took the child's father and mother and his own friends. He went in where the child was."},{"verse":41,"text":"He took her by the hand and said, \"Talitha koum!\" That means, \"Little girl, I tell you, get up!\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Right away the girl stood up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old. At once everyone was completely amazed."},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about this. Then he told them to give her something to eat."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus left there and went to his hometown. His disciples went with him."},{"verse":2,"text":"When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many people who heard him were amazed. \"Where did this man get these things?\" they asked. \"What is this wisdom he has been given? How can he do such miracles?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't he Mary's son? Isn't he the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?\" And they were offended by him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown. His own relatives and his own family do not honor him.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So he could not do any miracles there. He only put his hands on a few sick people and healed them."},{"verse":6,"text":"He was amazed that they did not believe. Then Jesus went around from village to village, teaching the people."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus called the Twelve to him. He began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over unclean spirits."},{"verse":8,"text":"He told them to take nothing for the trip except a walking stick. They should take no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts."},{"verse":9,"text":"They could wear sandals, but they should not take an extra tunic."},{"verse":10,"text":"He told them, \"When you go into a house, stay there until you leave that town."},{"verse":11,"text":"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place. This will be a witness against them.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So they went out and preached that people should repent."},{"verse":13,"text":"They drove out many demons. They also poured oil on many sick people and healed them."},{"verse":14,"text":"King Herod heard about this, because Jesus had become well known. Some people were saying, \"John the Baptist has come back from the dead! That's why he has power to do miracles.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Others said, \"He is Elijah.\" Still others said, \"He is a prophet, like one of the prophets long ago.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But when Herod heard about it, he said, \"I cut off John's head. Now he has come back from the dead!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Herod himself had given orders to arrest John. He had John tied up and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She had been the wife of Herod's brother Philip, but Herod had married her."},{"verse":18,"text":"John had been telling Herod, \"It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So Herodias held a grudge against John. She wanted to kill him, but she could not."},{"verse":20,"text":"Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod listened to John, he was very confused. Still, he liked to listen to him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then Herodias got her chance. It was Herod's birthday. He gave a big dinner for his top officials, his army commanders, and the leading men of Galilee."},{"verse":22,"text":"The daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, \"Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"He even made a promise to her with an oath. \"I'll give you anything you ask for, up to half my kingdom!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"She went out and asked her mother, \"What should I ask for?\" Her mother answered, \"The head of John the Baptist.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Right away the girl hurried back to the king. \"I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter right now,\" she said."},{"verse":26,"text":"The king was very sad. But he had made promises in front of his guests. So he did not want to say no to her."},{"verse":27,"text":"So the king acted right away. He sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went to the prison and cut off John's head."},{"verse":28,"text":"He brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother."},{"verse":29,"text":"John's disciples heard about this. They came and took his body and laid it in a tomb."},{"verse":30,"text":"The apostles came back and gathered around Jesus. They told him all they had done and taught."},{"verse":31,"text":"So many people were coming and going that they didn't even have time to eat. So Jesus said to them, \"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place. Let's rest for a while.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So they went away by themselves in a boat to a quiet place."},{"verse":33,"text":"But many people saw them leaving and knew who they were. People from all the towns ran there on foot. They got there ahead of them."},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus stepped on shore and saw a large crowd. He felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things."},{"verse":35,"text":"By then it was already late in the day. So the disciples came to Jesus. \"This is a lonely place,\" they said, \"and it's already late."},{"verse":36,"text":"Send the people away. Then they can go to the farms and villages around here. They can buy themselves something to eat.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"You give them something to eat.\" They asked him, \"Should we go and spend 200 days' pay on bread to feed them all?\"","note":"Greek: \"200 denarii.\" A denarius was about a day's pay."},{"verse":38,"text":"\"Go and see how many loaves you have,\" he told them. They checked and said, \"Five, and two fish.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Then Jesus told them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass."},{"verse":40,"text":"So they sat down in groups of 100 and groups of 50."},{"verse":41,"text":"Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. Then he broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to hand out to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all."},{"verse":42,"text":"They all ate and had plenty."},{"verse":43,"text":"Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces of bread and fish."},{"verse":44,"text":"The number of men who had eaten was 5,000."},{"verse":45,"text":"Right away Jesus made his disciples get into the boat. He had them go on ahead of him to Bethsaida. Meanwhile, he sent the crowd away."},{"verse":46,"text":"After he said goodbye to them, he went up on a mountain to pray."},{"verse":47,"text":"When evening came, the boat was out in the middle of the sea. Jesus was alone on land."},{"verse":48,"text":"He saw that the disciples were working hard to row, because the wind was against them. Sometime between three and six in the morning, Jesus went out to them. He was walking on the sea. He was about to pass by them.","note":"Greek: \"the fourth watch of the night.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"But they saw him walking on the sea. They thought he was a ghost, and they screamed."},{"verse":50,"text":"They all saw him and were terrified. But right away Jesus spoke to them. \"Be brave! It is I. Don't be afraid.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind stopped. The disciples were completely amazed."},{"verse":52,"text":"That was because they had not understood what the loaves meant. Their hearts had been made hard."},{"verse":53,"text":"They went across the sea and came to land at Gennesaret. There they tied up the boat."},{"verse":54,"text":"As soon as they got out of the boat, people knew who Jesus was."},{"verse":55,"text":"They ran through that whole area. They carried sick people on mats to any place they heard he was."},{"verse":56,"text":"He went into villages, towns, and the countryside. Everywhere he went, people laid the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak. And everyone who touched him was healed."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Pharisees and some of the scribes had come from Jerusalem. They gathered around Jesus."},{"verse":2,"text":"They saw some of his disciples eating with unclean hands. That means their hands were not washed in the special way."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Pharisees and all the Jews follow the traditions of the elders. They don't eat unless they wash their hands in a special religious way."},{"verse":4,"text":"When they come back from the market, they don't eat unless they wash. They follow many other traditions too. They wash cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches used for meals."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, \"Why don't your disciples live by the traditions of the elders? They eat with unclean hands.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesus answered them, \"You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you. He wrote, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away from me."},{"verse":7,"text":"Their worship of me is useless. They teach human rules as if they were God's teachings.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"You have let go of God's command. Instead, you hold on to human traditions.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"He went on, \"You have a clever way of setting aside God's command. You do it so you can keep your own traditions."},{"verse":10,"text":"Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother.' He also said, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"But you say something else. A man might say to his father or mother, 'I was going to help you, but this is Corban.' Corban means a gift given to God."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother."},{"verse":13,"text":"So you cancel God's word by the traditions you pass down. And you do many other things like that.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Once again Jesus called the crowd to him. \"Listen to me, all of you,\" he said. \"Understand this."},{"verse":15,"text":"Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It is what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jesus left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples asked him about this parable."},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Are you still so slow to understand?\" he asked. \"Don't you see? Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean."},{"verse":19,"text":"That is because it doesn't go into his heart. It goes into his stomach and then out of his body.\" (So all foods are clean.)"},{"verse":20,"text":"He went on, \"What comes out of a person is what makes him unclean."},{"verse":21,"text":"Evil things come from inside, from people's hearts. These include evil thoughts, sexual sin, stealing, murder, adultery,"},{"verse":22,"text":"greed, evil acts, lying, wild living, jealousy, slander, pride, and foolishness."},{"verse":23,"text":"All these evil things come from inside. They are what make a person unclean.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Jesus left there and went to the area around Tyre. He went into a house. He did not want anyone to know he was there. But he could not keep it a secret."},{"verse":25,"text":"Soon a woman heard about him. Her little daughter had an unclean spirit. The woman came and fell at his feet."},{"verse":26,"text":"She was a Greek woman, born in Syrophoenicia. She kept begging Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter."},{"verse":27,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"First let the children eat all they want. It isn't right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Yes, Lord,\" she answered. \"But even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Jesus told her, \"Because you gave this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"She went home and found her child lying on the bed. The demon was gone."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Jesus left the area around Tyre. He went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the area of the Decapolis."},{"verse":32,"text":"Some people brought a man to him. The man was deaf and could hardly speak. They begged Jesus to put his hand on him."},{"verse":33,"text":"So Jesus took him away from the crowd, where they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue."},{"verse":34,"text":"He looked up to heaven and let out a deep sigh. He said to the man, \"Ephphatha!\" That means, \"Be opened!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Right away the man's ears were opened. His tongue was set free, and he began to speak clearly."},{"verse":36,"text":"Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he told them not to, the more they kept telling people about it."},{"verse":37,"text":"The people were completely amazed. \"He has done everything well!\" they said. \"He even makes deaf people hear and people who can't speak talk!\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days another large crowd gathered. They had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples to him and said,"},{"verse":2,"text":"\"I have compassion for these people. That is because they have already been with me three days, and they have nothing to eat."},{"verse":3,"text":"If I send them home hungry, they will pass out on the way. Some of them have come from far away.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"His disciples answered, \"This is a lonely place. Where could anyone get enough bread to feed all these people?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"How many loaves do you have?\" Jesus asked. \"Seven,\" they answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He broke them and gave them to his disciples to hand out. So they gave them to the crowd."},{"verse":7,"text":"They also had a few small fish. Jesus blessed them too. He told the disciples to hand them out as well."},{"verse":8,"text":"The people ate and had plenty. Then the disciples picked up seven baskets full of leftover pieces."},{"verse":9,"text":"About 4,000 men were there. Then Jesus sent the crowd away."},{"verse":10,"text":"Right away he got into the boat with his disciples. He went to the area of Dalmanutha."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus. They wanted to test him. So they asked him for a sign from heaven."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit. He said, \"Why do the people of today ask for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to them.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he left them. He got back into the boat and went across to the other side."},{"verse":14,"text":"The disciples had forgotten to bring bread. They had only one loaf with them in the boat."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Be careful!\" Jesus warned them. \"Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So they began talking with each other about having no bread."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus knew what they were saying. He asked them, \"Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don't you see or understand yet? Are your hearts so hard?"},{"verse":18,"text":"You have eyes. Can't you see? You have ears. Can't you hear? Don't you remember?"},{"verse":19,"text":"I broke the five loaves for the 5,000. How many baskets of leftover pieces did you pick up?\" \"Twelve,\" they answered."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"And I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000. How many baskets of leftover pieces did you pick up?\" \"Seven,\" they said."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he asked them, \"Don't you understand yet?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus. They begged Jesus to touch him."},{"verse":23,"text":"So Jesus took the blind man by the hand. He led him outside the village. Then he spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him. \"Can you see anything?\" he asked."},{"verse":24,"text":"The man looked up. \"I see people,\" he said. \"But they look like trees walking around.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Once again Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then the man's eyes were opened, and his sight came back. He could see everything clearly."},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus sent him home. He told him, \"Don't go back into the village.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he asked them, \"Who do people say I am?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"They answered, \"Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say you are one of the prophets.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"\"But what about you?\" Jesus asked. \"Who do you say I am?\" Peter answered, \"You are the Messiah.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then he began to teach them about what would happen to the Son of Man. He must suffer many things. The elders, the chief priests, and the scribes would reject him. He must be killed, and after three days he would rise again."},{"verse":32,"text":"He spoke about this very plainly. So Peter took him aside and began to scold him."},{"verse":33,"text":"But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples. Then he scolded Peter. \"Get behind me, Satan!\" he said. \"You are not thinking about the things of God. You are thinking about human things.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Jesus called the crowd to him, along with his disciples. He said, \"If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me."},{"verse":35,"text":"Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for me and for the good news will save it."},{"verse":36,"text":"What good is it if a person gains the whole world but loses his soul?"},{"verse":37,"text":"Or what can a person give in trade for his soul?"},{"verse":38,"text":"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words among these unfaithful and sinful people, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him too. That will happen when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, some of you standing here will not die before you see the kingdom of God come with power.\"","note":"Greek: \"will not taste death.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. He led them up a high mountain, where they were alone. There Jesus' appearance was changed in front of them.","note":"Traditionally called the transfiguration."},{"verse":3,"text":"His clothes became shining white. They were whiter than anyone on earth could ever bleach them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Elijah and Moses appeared in front of them. They were talking with Jesus."},{"verse":5,"text":"Peter said to Jesus, \"Rabbi, it's good for us to be here. Let's put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"They were all so afraid that Peter didn't know what else to say."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then a cloud appeared and covered them. A voice came from the cloud. \"This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Suddenly they looked around. They no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus."},{"verse":9,"text":"They were coming down the mountain. Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen. They must wait until the Son of Man had risen from the dead."},{"verse":10,"text":"So they kept it to themselves. But they talked about what \"rising from the dead\" meant."},{"verse":11,"text":"They asked Jesus, \"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"He answered, \"It's true that Elijah comes first. He makes all things right again. Then why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected?"},{"verse":13,"text":"But I tell you, Elijah has already come. And they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"They came back to the other disciples. They saw a large crowd around them. Some scribes were arguing with them."},{"verse":15,"text":"As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with wonder. They ran to greet him."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"What are you arguing with them about?\" he asked."},{"verse":17,"text":"A man in the crowd answered, \"Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that keeps him from talking."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whenever it takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth. His body becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they couldn't.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"You people have no faith!\" Jesus answered. \"How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"So they brought the boy. When the spirit saw Jesus, it right away made the boy shake wildly. He fell to the ground. He rolled around, foaming at the mouth."},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus asked the boy's father, \"How long has this been happening to him?\" \"Since he was a child,\" he answered."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"It often throws him into fire or into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"\"'If you can'?\" Jesus said. \"All things are possible for the one who believes!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Right away the boy's father cried out, \"I do believe! Help me with my unbelief!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Jesus saw that a crowd was running toward them. So he gave an order to the unclean spirit. \"You spirit that makes him deaf and unable to talk,\" he said, \"I command you to come out of him. Never go into him again!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The spirit screamed. It shook the boy hard and then came out. The boy looked like he was dead. Many people said, \"He's dead.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up. And the boy stood up."},{"verse":28,"text":"Later Jesus went into the house. His disciples asked him in private, \"Why couldn't we drive it out?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus answered, \"This kind can come out only by prayer.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"They left that place and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were."},{"verse":31,"text":"This was because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, \"The Son of Man will be handed over to people. They will kill him. After three days he will rise.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"But they did not understand what he meant. And they were afraid to ask him about it."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then they came to Capernaum. When Jesus was in the house, he asked them, \"What were you talking about on the road?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"But they did not answer. On the road they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus sat down and called the Twelve to him. He said, \"Anyone who wants to be first must be the last of all. He must be the servant of all.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Then he had a little child stand among them. He took the child in his arms and said to them,"},{"verse":37,"text":"\"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes not only me. He also welcomes the one who sent me.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"John said to Jesus, \"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he is not one of our group.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"\"Don't stop him,\" Jesus said. \"No one who does a miracle in my name can soon turn around and say bad things about me."},{"verse":40,"text":"Whoever is not against us is for us."},{"verse":41,"text":"Someone might give you just a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah. I tell you the truth, that person will never lose his reward.","note":"Greek: \"because you bear the name of Christ.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"These little ones believe in me. Suppose someone causes one of them to stumble into sin. It would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the sea."},{"verse":43,"text":"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell. There the fire never goes out."},{"verse":44,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":45,"text":"If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell."},{"verse":46,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":47,"text":"If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell."},{"verse":48,"text":"In hell, 'their worm never dies, and the fire never goes out.'"},{"verse":49,"text":"Everyone will be salted with fire."},{"verse":50,"text":"Salt is good. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves. And live in peace with each other.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jesus left that place. He went into the area of Judea beyond the Jordan. Again crowds came to him. As usual, he taught them."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some Pharisees came to test him. They asked, \"Does the law allow a man to divorce his wife?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"\"What did Moses command you?\" he answered."},{"verse":4,"text":"They said, \"Moses allowed a man to write his wife a paper of divorce and send her away.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus told them, \"Moses wrote this command for you because your hearts were hard."},{"verse":6,"text":"But at the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"'That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife."},{"verse":8,"text":"And the two will become one body.' So they are no longer two, but one body.","note":"Greek: \"one flesh.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So no one should separate what God has joined together.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Later, when they were back in the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this."},{"verse":11,"text":"He told them, \"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her."},{"verse":12,"text":"And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"People were bringing little children to Jesus so he could put his hands on them. But the disciples scolded the people who brought them."},{"verse":14,"text":"When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He told them, \"Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them! The kingdom of God belongs to people like these."},{"verse":15,"text":"I tell you the truth, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then he took the children in his arms. He put his hands on them and blessed them."},{"verse":17,"text":"As Jesus was starting on his way, a man ran up to him. He got down on his knees in front of Jesus. \"Good Teacher,\" he asked, \"what must I do to inherit eternal life?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"Why do you call me good?\" Jesus answered. \"No one is good except God alone."},{"verse":19,"text":"You know the commandments. 'Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Do not cheat. Honor your father and mother.'\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Teacher,\" the man said, \"I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus looked at him and loved him. He said to him, \"You are missing one thing. Go and sell everything you own. Give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. After that, come and follow me.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"When the man heard this, his face fell. He went away sad, because he was very rich."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, \"How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The disciples were amazed at what he said. But Jesus said again, \"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!"},{"verse":25,"text":"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The disciples were even more amazed. They said to each other, \"Then who can be saved?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Jesus looked at them and said, \"For people, this is impossible. But not for God. For all things are possible with God.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Peter spoke up. \"Look,\" he said, \"we have left everything to follow you.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"\"I tell you the truth,\" Jesus answered. \"Some people have left home for me and for the good news. They may have left brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or fields."},{"verse":30,"text":"Every one of them will receive 100 times as much in this life. They will receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. They will also be persecuted. And in the world to come, they will receive eternal life."},{"verse":31,"text":"But many who are first will be last. And the last will be first.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"They were on the road going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. Again Jesus took the Twelve aside. He began to tell them what was going to happen to him."},{"verse":33,"text":"\"Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles."},{"verse":34,"text":"The Gentiles will make fun of him and spit on him. They will beat him with whips and kill him. After three days he will rise again.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. \"Teacher,\" they said, \"we want you to do for us whatever we ask.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"\"What do you want me to do for you?\" he asked."},{"verse":37,"text":"They answered, \"When you are in your glory, let one of us sit at your right hand. Let the other sit at your left.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"\"You don't know what you are asking,\" Jesus said. \"Can you drink the cup I will drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism I will go through?\""},{"verse":39,"text":"\"We can,\" the brothers answered. Jesus said, \"You will drink the cup I drink. You will be baptized with the baptism I go through."},{"verse":40,"text":"But I am not the one who decides who will sit at my right or left. Those places belong to the ones they have been prepared for.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"The other ten disciples heard about this. They became angry with James and John."},{"verse":42,"text":"So Jesus called them together. He said, \"You know about the rulers of the Gentiles. They act like bosses over their people. Their high officials use their power over them."},{"verse":43,"text":"It must not be like that with you. Instead, anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant."},{"verse":44,"text":"And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone."},{"verse":45,"text":"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others. He came to give his life as a ransom for many.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"Then they came to Jericho. Later Jesus and his disciples were leaving the city with a large crowd. A blind man named Bartimaeus was sitting by the road, begging. He was the son of Timaeus."},{"verse":47,"text":"He heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth. So he began to shout, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\""},{"verse":48,"text":"Many people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, \"Son of David, have mercy on me!\""},{"verse":49,"text":"Jesus stopped and said, \"Call him.\" So they called to the blind man. \"Cheer up!\" they said. \"Get up! He is calling you.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Bartimaeus threw off his cloak. He jumped up and came to Jesus."},{"verse":51,"text":"\"What do you want me to do for you?\" Jesus asked. The blind man said, \"Rabboni, I want to see again.\"","note":"Rabboni means \"my teacher.\""},{"verse":52,"text":"\"Go,\" said Jesus. \"Your faith has healed you.\" Right away he could see. And he followed Jesus along the road."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"They came near Jerusalem. They reached Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent out two of his disciples."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said to them, \"Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you go in, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever sat on it. Untie it and bring it here.","note":"Greek: colt, here a young donkey."},{"verse":3,"text":"If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it. He will send it back here soon.'\""},{"verse":4,"text":"So they went. They found the colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. They untied it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Some people standing there asked, \"Why are you untying the colt?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The disciples answered the way Jesus had told them. And the people let them go."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then they led the colt to Jesus. They threw their cloaks over it, and he sat on it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Many people in the crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others spread branches they had cut from the fields."},{"verse":9,"text":"Some people went ahead of him, and some followed. They were all shouting, \"Hosanna!\" \"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\"","note":"Hosanna is a Hebrew shout of praise. It means \"Save us!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!\" \"Hosanna in the highest!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Jesus went into Jerusalem. He went into the temple courts and looked around at everything. But it was already late. So he went out to Bethany with the Twelve."},{"verse":12,"text":"The next day they left Bethany. Jesus was hungry."},{"verse":13,"text":"Far off he saw a fig tree with leaves on it. He went to see if it had any fruit. But when he got to it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then he said to the tree, \"May no one ever eat fruit from you again.\" And his disciples heard him say it."},{"verse":15,"text":"They came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the temple courts. He began to drive out the people who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the money changers. He turned over the seats of the people selling doves."},{"verse":16,"text":"And he would not let anyone carry goods for sale through the temple courts."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jesus began to teach them. He said, \"Isn't it written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"The chief priests and the scribes heard this. They began to look for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."},{"verse":19,"text":"When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city."},{"verse":20,"text":"In the morning they were walking back. They saw the fig tree. It had dried up all the way to its roots."},{"verse":21,"text":"Peter remembered and said, \"Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Have faith in God,\" Jesus said to them."},{"verse":23,"text":"\"I tell you the truth. Someone may say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea.' If he has no doubt in his heart, but believes it will happen, it will be done for him."},{"verse":24,"text":"So I tell you, whatever you ask for when you pray, believe that you have received it. Then it will be yours."},{"verse":25,"text":"And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive it. Do this so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":27,"text":"They went back to Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in the temple courts. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came up to him."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"What right do you have to do these things?\" they asked. \"And who gave you the right to do them?\"","note":"Or: By what authority."},{"verse":29,"text":"\"I will ask you one question,\" Jesus answered. \"If you answer me, I will tell you what right I have to do these things."},{"verse":30,"text":"John's baptism, was it from heaven or from men? Answer me!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"They talked it over with each other. What should they answer? \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'"},{"verse":32,"text":"But what if we say, 'From men'...\" They were afraid of the people. Everyone believed that John really was a prophet."},{"verse":33,"text":"So they answered, \"We don't know.\" And Jesus said, \"Then I won't tell you what right I have to do these things either.\""}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables. \"A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress. He built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some farmers and went away on a trip."},{"verse":2,"text":"At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers. The servant was to collect the owner's share of the fruit from the vineyard."},{"verse":3,"text":"But they grabbed the servant and beat him. They sent him away with nothing."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the owner sent them another servant. They hit this one on the head and treated him shamefully."},{"verse":5,"text":"He sent yet another, and they killed this one. He sent many others. Some they beat, and some they killed."},{"verse":6,"text":"He had one son left, whom he loved. At last he sent him to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said."},{"verse":7,"text":"But the farmers said to one another, 'This is the heir. He will get everything someday. Come, let's kill him. Then everything he would get will be ours.'","note":"Greek: This is the heir ... the inheritance will be ours."},{"verse":8,"text":"So they grabbed the son and killed him. They threw him out of the vineyard."},{"verse":9,"text":"So what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those farmers. He will give the vineyard to others."},{"verse":10,"text":"Haven't you ever read this Scripture? 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Lord has done this, and it is wonderful in our eyes.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the leaders wanted to arrest Jesus, because they knew he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away."},{"verse":13,"text":"Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to trap him with his own words."},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Teacher,\" they said, \"we know that you are honest. You don't try to win anyone's favor. You treat all people the same. You teach the way of God truthfully. Does the law allow us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But Jesus saw that they were pretending. He said, \"Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius so I can look at it.\"","note":"A denarius was a silver coin, about a day's pay."},{"verse":16,"text":"So they brought one. He asked them, \"Whose picture is this? And whose words are written on it?\" \"Caesar's,\" they answered."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Jesus told them, \"Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give to God what belongs to God.\" And they were amazed at him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then the Sadducees came to Jesus. They say that the dead do not rise again. They asked him a question."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Teacher, Moses wrote a law for us. If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry his brother's widow. He must have children for his brother."},{"verse":20,"text":"Now there were seven brothers. The first one got married. He died and left no children."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the second one married the widow. But he died too and left no children. The third one did the same."},{"verse":22,"text":"So none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too."},{"verse":23,"text":"So when the dead rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"Aren't you wrong because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God?"},{"verse":25,"text":"When the dead rise, they will not marry. They will not be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven."},{"verse":26,"text":"Now, about the dead rising. Haven't you read in the Book of Moses about the burning bush? God told Moses, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are very wrong!\""},{"verse":28,"text":"One of the scribes had come up and heard them arguing. He saw how well Jesus had answered them. So he asked him, \"Which commandment is the most important of all?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus answered, \"This is the most important one: 'Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord is One."},{"verse":30,"text":"Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love him with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"\"That's right, Teacher,\" the scribe said. \"You have said it truly. God is One, and there is no other but him."},{"verse":33,"text":"You said we must love him with all our heart, with all our understanding, and with all our strength. And we must love our neighbor as ourselves. This is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely. He said to him, \"You are not far from the kingdom of God.\" After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus was teaching in the temple courts. He asked, \"How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David?"},{"verse":36,"text":"David himself spoke by the Holy Spirit. He said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.\"'"},{"verse":37,"text":"David himself calls him 'Lord.' So how can he be David's son?\" The large crowd listened to him with joy."},{"verse":38,"text":"As Jesus taught, he also said, \"Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes. They like people to greet them in the marketplaces."},{"verse":39,"text":"They like to have the best seats in the synagogues. They like the places of honor at big dinners."},{"verse":40,"text":"They cheat widows out of their houses. They make long prayers to show off. These men will be punished more.\"","note":"Or: will receive greater condemnation."},{"verse":41,"text":"Jesus sat down across from the temple offering box. He watched the crowd putting money into it. Many rich people put in large amounts.","note":"Greek: the treasury."},{"verse":42,"text":"Then a poor widow came. She put in two very small copper coins. They were worth only a tiny part of a day's pay.","note":"Greek: a small fraction of a denarius."},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus called his disciples to him. He said, \"I tell you the truth. This poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others."},{"verse":44,"text":"For they all gave out of what they had extra. But she is poor, and she put in everything she had to live on.\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus was leaving the temple. One of his disciples said to him, \"Teacher, look at these huge stones and wonderful buildings!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Do you see all these great buildings?\" Jesus answered. \"Not one stone here will be left on top of another. Every one will be thrown down.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Later Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, across from the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him in private,"},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to come true?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus began by telling them, \"Be careful that no one fools you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Many will come in my name. They will say, 'I am he.' They will fool many people."},{"verse":7,"text":"You will hear about wars and stories of wars. Don't be afraid. These things must happen, but the end is still to come."},{"verse":8,"text":"Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places. There will be times of hunger too. These are only the beginning of the birth pains."},{"verse":9,"text":"So watch out. People will hand you over to the councils. They will beat you in the synagogues. Because of me, you will stand in front of governors and kings. You will be witnesses to them."},{"verse":10,"text":"And first the good news must be preached to all the nations."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will arrest you and hand you over. When they do, don't worry ahead of time about what to say. Just say whatever is given to you at that time. For it will not be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":12,"text":"Brother will hand over brother to be killed. A father will hand over his child. Children will turn against their parents and have them put to death."},{"verse":13,"text":"Everyone will hate you because of my name. But the one who keeps going to the end will be saved."},{"verse":14,"text":"You will see 'the horrible thing that destroys' standing where it should not be. (Let the reader understand.) When you see it, those in Judea must run away to the mountains.","note":"Traditionally: the abomination of desolation."},{"verse":15,"text":"Someone may be on the roof of his house. He must not go back inside to get anything from his house."},{"verse":16,"text":"Someone may be out in the field. He must not go back to get his cloak."},{"verse":17,"text":"How awful those days will be for women who are pregnant or nursing babies!"},{"verse":18,"text":"Pray that this won't happen in the winter."},{"verse":19,"text":"For those will be days of terrible trouble. There has been nothing like it since God first made the world until now. And there will never be anything like it again."},{"verse":20,"text":"If the Lord had not cut those days short, no one would be saved. But he has cut them short for the sake of the people he has chosen."},{"verse":21,"text":"At that time, if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!' don't believe it."},{"verse":22,"text":"For false messiahs and false prophets will show up. They will do signs and wonders to fool even God's chosen people, if that were possible."},{"verse":23,"text":"So watch out! I have told you everything ahead of time."},{"verse":24,"text":"But in those days, after that time of trouble,\n'The sun will grow dark,\nand the moon will not give its light."},{"verse":25,"text":"The stars will fall from the sky,\nand the powers in the heavens will be shaken.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"Then people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds. He will come with great power and glory."},{"verse":27,"text":"He will send out the angels. They will gather his chosen people from the four winds. They will gather them from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven."},{"verse":28,"text":"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. When its branches get soft and grow leaves, you know summer is near."},{"verse":29,"text":"It's the same with you. When you see these things happening, you will know that he is near. He is right at the door."},{"verse":30,"text":"I tell you the truth. This generation will not pass away until all these things have happened."},{"verse":31,"text":"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."},{"verse":32,"text":"No one knows the day or hour when it will happen. Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son doesn't know. Only the Father knows."},{"verse":33,"text":"Watch out! Stay awake! For you don't know when the time God has set will come."},{"verse":34,"text":"It's like a man who goes on a trip. He leaves his house. He puts each of his servants in charge of their own job. He tells the man at the door to keep watch."},{"verse":35,"text":"So keep watch, because you don't know when the owner of the house will come back. It might be in the evening or at midnight. It might be when the rooster crows or in the morning."},{"verse":36,"text":"If not, he may come suddenly and find you sleeping."},{"verse":37,"text":"What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a secret way to arrest Jesus and kill him."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"But not during the feast,\" they said. \"The people might start a riot.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus was in Bethany. He was eating at the home of Simon the Leper. A woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume made of pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus' head.","note":"Greek: reclining at the table, the way people ate at a meal then."},{"verse":4,"text":"But some of the people there were angry. They said to each other, \"Why waste this perfume?"},{"verse":5,"text":"It could have been sold for more than a year's pay. The money could have been given to the poor.\" And they scolded her.","note":"Greek: more than 300 denarii. A denarius was about a day's pay."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Jesus said, \"Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me."},{"verse":7,"text":"You will always have the poor with you. You can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me."},{"verse":8,"text":"She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body ahead of time to get it ready to be buried."},{"verse":9,"text":"I tell you the truth. The good news will be preached all over the world. Wherever it is, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests. He went to hand Jesus over to them."},{"verse":11,"text":"They were very glad to hear this. They promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for a chance to hand Jesus over."},{"verse":12,"text":"It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On that day the Passover lamb was killed as a sacrifice. Jesus' disciples asked him, \"Where do you want us to go and get things ready for you to eat the Passover?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So he sent two of his disciples. He told them, \"Go into the city. A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will go into a house. Say to the owner of that house, 'The Teacher asks, \"Where is my guest room? Where can I eat the Passover with my disciples?\"'"},{"verse":15,"text":"He will show you a large upstairs room. It will have what you need and be ready. Get things ready for us there.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So the disciples left and went into the city. They found everything just as Jesus had told them. And they got the Passover meal ready."},{"verse":17,"text":"When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve."},{"verse":18,"text":"They were at the table eating. Then Jesus said, \"I tell you the truth. One of you will turn against me and hand me over. He is eating with me now.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"They became very sad. One after another, they said to him, \"It isn't me, is it?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"He answered, \"It is one of the Twelve. He is the one dipping his hand into the bowl with me."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Son of Man will go, just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the man who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had never been born.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He said a blessing and broke it. He gave it to the disciples and said, \"Take it. This is my body.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and gave it to them. They all drank from it."},{"verse":24,"text":"He said to them, \"This is my blood of the covenant. It is poured out for many."},{"verse":25,"text":"I tell you the truth. I will not drink wine again until that day. On that day I will drink it new in the kingdom of God.\"","note":"Greek: the fruit of the vine."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then they sang a hymn. And they went out to the Mount of Olives."},{"verse":27,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"You will all turn away. It is written,\n'I will strike the Shepherd,\nand the sheep will be scattered.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Peter said, \"Even if everyone else turns away, I never will.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"\"I tell you the truth,\" Jesus answered. \"Tonight, before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"But Peter kept saying, \"Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you.\" And all the others said the same thing."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, \"Sit here while I pray.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"He took Peter, James, and John with him. He began to be very troubled and upset."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then he said to them, \"My soul is so full of sorrow that I feel close to death. Stay here and keep watch.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"He went a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass him by."},{"verse":36,"text":"\"Abba, Father,\" he said, \"you can do all things. Take this cup away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.\"","note":"Abba is the Aramaic word for father."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then Jesus came back and found them sleeping. \"Simon, are you asleep?\" he asked. \"Couldn't you keep watch for one hour?"},{"verse":38,"text":"Watch and pray so that you won't fall into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"He went away again and prayed. He said the same thing."},{"verse":40,"text":"Jesus came back again and found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They didn't know what to say to him."},{"verse":41,"text":"Jesus came back the third time. He said, \"Are you still sleeping and resting? That's enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is being handed over to sinners."},{"verse":42,"text":"Get up! Let's go. Look, the one who is handing me over is coming!\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus was still speaking when Judas arrived. Judas was one of the Twelve. A crowd came with him carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests, the scribes, and the elders had sent them."},{"verse":44,"text":"Judas had planned a signal with them. \"The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and take him away under guard.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Judas went right up to Jesus. He said, \"Rabbi!\" and kissed him."},{"verse":46,"text":"Then the men grabbed Jesus and arrested him."},{"verse":47,"text":"One of the people standing there pulled out his sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear."},{"verse":48,"text":"Jesus asked the crowd, \"Am I a criminal? Is that why you came out with swords and clubs to arrest me?"},{"verse":49,"text":"Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts. And you didn't arrest me. But this has happened so the Scriptures would come true.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Then everyone left him and ran away."},{"verse":51,"text":"A young man was following Jesus. He was wearing only a linen cloth around his body. They grabbed him,"},{"verse":52,"text":"but he slipped out of the linen cloth and ran away naked."},{"verse":53,"text":"They took Jesus to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes gathered there."},{"verse":54,"text":"Peter followed Jesus from far behind. He went right into the courtyard of the high priest. He sat with the guards and warmed himself by the fire."},{"verse":55,"text":"The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for proof against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. But they didn't find any.","note":"The Sanhedrin was the Jewish ruling council."},{"verse":56,"text":"For many people told lies about Jesus. But their stories did not agree."},{"verse":57,"text":"Then some men stood up. They told lies against him. They said,"},{"verse":58,"text":"\"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made by human hands. In three days I will build another one, not made by hands.'\""},{"verse":59,"text":"But even their stories did not agree."},{"verse":60,"text":"So the high priest stood up in front of them. He asked Jesus, \"Aren't you going to answer? What are these men saying against you?\""},{"verse":61,"text":"But Jesus stayed silent. He gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, \"Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?\""},{"verse":62,"text":"\"I am,\" said Jesus. \"And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see him coming with the clouds of heaven.\"","note":"Greek: the right hand of Power."},{"verse":63,"text":"Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, \"Why do we need any more witnesses?"},{"verse":64,"text":"You have heard him speak against God. What do you decide?\" They all judged that he should be put to death.","note":"Greek: the blasphemy."},{"verse":65,"text":"Then some of them began to spit on him. They covered his eyes and hit him with their fists. They said to him, \"Prophesy!\" And the guards took him and slapped him in the face."},{"verse":66,"text":"Peter was down below in the courtyard. One of the high priest's servant girls came by."},{"verse":67,"text":"She saw Peter warming himself there. She looked closely at him and said, \"You were with Jesus from Nazareth too.\""},{"verse":68,"text":"But Peter said it wasn't true. \"I don't know or even understand what you're talking about,\" he said. Then he went out to the gateway. And the rooster crowed.","note":"Some manuscripts do not include \"And the rooster crowed.\""},{"verse":69,"text":"The servant girl saw him there. Again she said to the people standing nearby, \"This man is one of them.\""},{"verse":70,"text":"But again Peter said it wasn't true. After a little while, the people standing nearby said to Peter again, \"You must be one of them. You are from Galilee too.\""},{"verse":71,"text":"Then Peter began to call down curses and to swear. \"I don't know this man you're talking about!\""},{"verse":72,"text":"Right away the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: \"Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me.\" And he broke down and cried."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Early in the morning, the chief priests made a plan. The elders, the scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin made it with them. They tied Jesus up and led him away. They handed him over to Pilate."},{"verse":2,"text":"Pilate asked him, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\" \"You have said so,\" Jesus answered."},{"verse":3,"text":"The chief priests began to accuse him of many things."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Pilate asked him again, \"Aren't you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But Jesus still did not answer. Pilate was amazed."},{"verse":6,"text":"Every year at the feast, Pilate would set one prisoner free for the people. They got to choose which one."},{"verse":7,"text":"A man named Barabbas was in prison. He was there with the rebels who had murdered people during an uprising."},{"verse":8,"text":"So the crowd came up. They began asking Pilate to do what he always did for them."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Do you want me to set the King of the Jews free for you?\" Pilate asked."},{"verse":10,"text":"He knew the chief priests had handed Jesus over because they were jealous."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the chief priests stirred up the crowd. They got the crowd to ask Pilate to set Barabbas free for them instead."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Pilate asked them again, \"Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the King of the Jews?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"They shouted back, \"Crucify him!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Why?\" Pilate asked. \"What evil has he done?\" But they shouted even louder, \"Crucify him!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Pilate wanted to please the crowd. So he set Barabbas free for them. He had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be crucified."},{"verse":16,"text":"The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace, called the Praetorium. They called the whole group of soldiers together."},{"verse":17,"text":"They put a purple robe on him. They twisted thorns together into a crown and put it on his head."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then they began to salute him. \"Hail, King of the Jews!\" they said."},{"verse":19,"text":"Again and again they hit him on the head with a staff. They spit on him. They got down on their knees and bowed to him."},{"verse":20,"text":"When they were done making fun of him, they took off the purple robe. They put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him."},{"verse":21,"text":"A man named Simon from Cyrene was passing by. He was coming in from the country. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross."},{"verse":22,"text":"They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha. The name means The Place of the Skull."},{"verse":23,"text":"There they offered him wine mixed with myrrh. But he did not take it."},{"verse":24,"text":"And they crucified him. They divided up his clothes by casting lots. That's how they chose what each one would take."},{"verse":25,"text":"It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.","note":"Greek: the third hour."},{"verse":26,"text":"The sign with the charge against him said: THE KING OF THE JEWS."},{"verse":27,"text":"They crucified two robbers with him. One was on his right, and one was on his left."},{"verse":28,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":29,"text":"The people passing by shouted insults at him. They shook their heads and said, \"Ha! You were going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days."},{"verse":30,"text":"So come down from the cross and save yourself!\""},{"verse":31,"text":"The chief priests and the scribes made fun of him in the same way. They said to each other, \"He saved others, but he can't save himself!"},{"verse":32,"text":"Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now. Then we will see and believe!\" Even the men crucified with him insulted him."},{"verse":33,"text":"At noon, darkness came over the whole land. It lasted until three in the afternoon.","note":"Greek: from the sixth hour until the ninth hour."},{"verse":34,"text":"At three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, \"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?\" This means, \"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\"","note":"Greek: the ninth hour."},{"verse":35,"text":"Some of the people standing nearby heard this. They said, \"Listen, he's calling Elijah.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Someone ran and soaked a sponge in sour wine. He put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink. He said, \"Leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down.\"","note":"Greek: a reed."},{"verse":37,"text":"But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last breath."},{"verse":38,"text":"And the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."},{"verse":39,"text":"A centurion was standing there in front of Jesus. He saw how Jesus died. He said, \"This man really was the Son of God!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Some women were also watching from far away. Mary Magdalene was there. Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses was there. Salome was there too."},{"verse":41,"text":"These women had followed Jesus in Galilee and taken care of him there. Many other women were there too. They had come up to Jerusalem with him."},{"verse":42,"text":"It was already evening. It was Preparation Day, the day before the Sabbath."},{"verse":43,"text":"So Joseph of Arimathea came. He was an important member of the Council. He himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. He bravely went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus."},{"verse":44,"text":"Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. So he called the centurion and asked him if this was true."},{"verse":45,"text":"The centurion told Pilate it was true. Then Pilate gave the body to Joseph."},{"verse":46,"text":"So Joseph bought a linen cloth. He took down the body of Jesus and wrapped it in the cloth. He put it in a tomb that had been cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the opening of the tomb."},{"verse":47,"text":"Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where his body was laid."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Sabbath ended. Then Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices. They wanted to go and put them on Jesus' body."},{"verse":2,"text":"Very early on the first day of the week, just after the sun came up, they went to the tomb."},{"verse":3,"text":"They were asking each other, \"Who will roll the stone away from the opening of the tomb for us?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. And it was very large."},{"verse":5,"text":"They went into the tomb. They saw a young man wearing a white robe. He was sitting on the right side. They were afraid."},{"verse":6,"text":"But he said to them, \"Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here! See the place where they laid him."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now go. Tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the women left the tomb and ran away. They were shaking and confused. They were so afraid that they didn't say a word to anyone."},{"verse":9,"text":"[Early on the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead. He showed himself first to Mary Magdalene. He had driven seven demons out of her.","note":"The earliest manuscripts do not include this passage."},{"verse":10,"text":"She went and told the people who had been with him. They were mourning and crying."},{"verse":11,"text":"They heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him. But they did not believe it."},{"verse":12,"text":"After this, Jesus showed himself in a different form to two of them. They were walking along in the country."},{"verse":13,"text":"They went back and told the others. But the others did not believe them either."},{"verse":14,"text":"Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were eating. He scolded them because they did not believe and their hearts were hard. They had not believed the people who saw him after he had risen."},{"verse":15,"text":"He said to them, \"Go into all the world. Preach the good news to every creature."},{"verse":16,"text":"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. But whoever does not believe will be condemned."},{"verse":17,"text":"These signs will go with those who believe. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak in new languages.","note":"Or: new tongues."},{"verse":18,"text":"They will pick up snakes with their hands. If they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them. They will put their hands on sick people, and the sick will get well.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The Lord Jesus finished speaking to them. Then he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere. The Lord worked with them. He showed that their message was true by the signs that went with it.]"}]}]},{"name":"Luke","slug":"luke","usfm":"LUK","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Many people have tried to write down the story of the things that have come true among us."},{"verse":2,"text":"They wrote them just as they were passed down to us. These things came from the people who saw them from the start. They were also servants of the word."},{"verse":3,"text":"So I also looked into everything with care, right from the beginning. Then I decided it would be good to write it all down in order for you, most honored Theophilus."},{"verse":4,"text":"I want you to know for sure that the things you have been taught are true."},{"verse":5,"text":"Herod was king of Judea at that time. There was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was also from the family line of Aaron."},{"verse":6,"text":"Both of them were righteous in God's sight. They followed all the Lord's commands and rules, and no one could blame them for anything."},{"verse":7,"text":"But they had no children, because Elizabeth was not able to have a baby. And they were both very old."},{"verse":8,"text":"One day Zechariah's group was on duty. He was serving as a priest in front of God."},{"verse":9,"text":"The priests had a custom of casting lots to choose who would serve. Zechariah was chosen by lot to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense."},{"verse":10,"text":"When it was time to burn the incense, all the people were praying outside."},{"verse":11,"text":"Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah. The angel was standing at the right side of the altar of incense."},{"verse":12,"text":"When Zechariah saw him, he was shocked and filled with fear."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the angel said to him, \"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son for you. You are to name him John."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will bring you joy and gladness. And many people will be glad that he was born."},{"verse":15,"text":"For he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never drink wine or any other strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb."},{"verse":16,"text":"He will turn many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God."},{"verse":17,"text":"He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children. He will turn people who disobey to the wisdom of the righteous. He will get a people ready for the Lord.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Zechariah asked the angel, \"How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is very old too.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The angel answered, \"I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news."},{"verse":20,"text":"But you did not believe my words. So now you will be silent. You won't be able to speak until the day this happens. My words will come true at the right time.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah. They wondered why he was staying so long in the temple."},{"verse":22,"text":"When he came out, he could not speak to them. Then they knew he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them, but he still could not speak."},{"verse":23,"text":"When his days of service were over, he went back home."},{"verse":24,"text":"After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. For five months she stayed hidden at home. She said,"},{"verse":25,"text":"\"The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has been kind to me. He has taken away my shame among the people.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth."},{"verse":27,"text":"He was sent to a virgin who was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. Joseph came from the family of David. The virgin's name was Mary."},{"verse":28,"text":"The angel came to her and said, \"Greetings! God has shown you great favor. The Lord is with you.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Mary was very troubled by his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be."},{"verse":30,"text":"So the angel told her, \"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."},{"verse":31,"text":"Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You are to name him Jesus."},{"verse":32,"text":"He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David."},{"verse":33,"text":"He will rule over the people of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Mary asked the angel, \"How can this happen? I am a virgin.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"The angel answered, \"The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you like a shadow. So the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God."},{"verse":36,"text":"Look, even your relative Elizabeth is going to have a son, though she is old. People said she could not have children. But now she is in her sixth month."},{"verse":37,"text":"For no word from God will ever fail.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Mary answered, \"I am the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me just as you have said.\" Then the angel left her."},{"verse":39,"text":"In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah."},{"verse":40,"text":"There she went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth."},{"verse":41,"text":"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped inside her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":42,"text":"She called out in a loud voice, \"Blessed are you among women! And blessed is the child inside you!"},{"verse":43,"text":"Why am I so honored? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me?"},{"verse":44,"text":"For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the baby inside me jumped for joy."},{"verse":45,"text":"You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said to you.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"Then Mary said, \"My soul praises the greatness of the Lord."},{"verse":47,"text":"My spirit is full of joy in God my Savior!"},{"verse":48,"text":"For he has looked with kindness on his humble servant. From now on, all people of every age will call me blessed."},{"verse":49,"text":"For the Mighty One has done great things for me. His name is holy."},{"verse":50,"text":"His mercy reaches those who fear him, from parents to children, age after age."},{"verse":51,"text":"He has done mighty things with his arm. He has scattered those who are proud in their hearts and thoughts."},{"verse":52,"text":"He has pulled rulers down from their thrones. But he has lifted up the humble."},{"verse":53,"text":"He has filled the hungry with good things. But he has sent the rich away with nothing."},{"verse":54,"text":"He has helped his servant Israel. He has remembered to show mercy,"},{"verse":55,"text":"just as he promised our fathers. He promised it to Abraham and his children forever.\""},{"verse":56,"text":"Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she went back home."},{"verse":57,"text":"When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son."},{"verse":58,"text":"Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy. And they shared her joy."},{"verse":59,"text":"On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah, after his father."},{"verse":60,"text":"But his mother said, \"No! He will be called John.\""},{"verse":61,"text":"They said to her, \"None of your relatives has that name.\""},{"verse":62,"text":"So they made signs to his father. They wanted to find out what he wanted to name the child."},{"verse":63,"text":"Zechariah asked for a writing tablet. He wrote, \"His name is John.\" And they were all amazed."},{"verse":64,"text":"Right away Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was set free. He began to speak, and he praised God."},{"verse":65,"text":"All their neighbors were filled with awe. People all through the hill country of Judea were talking about these things."},{"verse":66,"text":"Everyone who heard about it wondered in their hearts. They asked, \"What will this child grow up to be?\" For the Lord's hand was with him."},{"verse":67,"text":"Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. He spoke this message from God:"},{"verse":68,"text":"\"Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them."},{"verse":69,"text":"He has raised up a mighty Savior for us. He comes from the family of his servant David.","note":"Greek: a horn of salvation."},{"verse":70,"text":"He said he would do this long ago. He spoke through his holy prophets."},{"verse":71,"text":"He promised to save us from our enemies. He promised to save us from the power of all who hate us."},{"verse":72,"text":"He did this to show mercy to our fathers. He did it to remember his holy covenant."},{"verse":73,"text":"This was the promise he made with an oath to our father Abraham. He promised to give us"},{"verse":74,"text":"rescue from the hands of our enemies. Then we can serve him without fear."},{"verse":75,"text":"We can be holy and do what is right in his sight for all our days."},{"verse":76,"text":"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him."},{"verse":77,"text":"You will teach his people how they can be saved. They will be saved by having their sins forgiven."},{"verse":78,"text":"This will happen because our God's mercy is so tender. Because of it, the Dawn from heaven will come to us."},{"verse":79,"text":"He will shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. He will guide our feet onto the path of peace.\""},{"verse":80,"text":"The child grew and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness until the day he showed himself to Israel."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days Caesar Augustus gave an order. He ordered that a list be made of all the people in the whole empire."},{"verse":2,"text":"This was the first time a list like this was made. It happened while Quirinius was governor of Syria."},{"verse":3,"text":"So everyone went to their own hometown to sign up."},{"verse":4,"text":"Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee. He went to Judea, to Bethlehem, the city of David. He went there because he came from the family and line of David."},{"verse":5,"text":"He went there to sign up with Mary. She was promised to him in marriage, and she was going to have a baby."},{"verse":6,"text":"While they were there, the time came for her baby to be born."},{"verse":7,"text":"She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth. Then she laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."},{"verse":8,"text":"There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. They were watching over their flocks at night."},{"verse":9,"text":"Just then an angel of the Lord stood in front of them. The glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they were terrified."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the angel said to them, \"Do not be afraid! Listen, I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people."},{"verse":11,"text":"Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord!"},{"verse":12,"text":"Here is how you will know. You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Suddenly a huge army of angels from heaven appeared with the angel. They were praising God and saying,"},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Glory to God in the highest heaven! And on earth peace to the people he is pleased with!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The angels left them and went back into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, \"Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So they hurried off. They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger."},{"verse":17,"text":"After they saw the child, they spread the news they had been told about him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them."},{"verse":19,"text":"But Mary kept all these things like treasure. She thought about them deeply in her heart."},{"verse":20,"text":"The shepherds went back. They gave glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them."},{"verse":21,"text":"Eight days later, it was time for the baby to be circumcised. He was named Jesus. This was the name the angel gave him before he was conceived."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then came the time for the cleansing ceremony required by the Law of Moses. When it was over, Jesus' parents took him to Jerusalem. They went to present him to the Lord."},{"verse":23,"text":"(The Law of the Lord says, \"Every firstborn boy must be set apart for the Lord.\")"},{"verse":24,"text":"They also went to offer the sacrifice the Law of the Lord required. It said: \"A pair of doves or two young pigeons.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"There was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and faithful to God. He was waiting for God to comfort Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him."},{"verse":26,"text":"The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah."},{"verse":27,"text":"The Spirit led him into the temple courts. Jesus' parents brought in the child to do for him what the Law required."},{"verse":28,"text":"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God. He said,"},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Lord and Master, you have kept your promise. Now let your servant go in peace."},{"verse":30,"text":"For my eyes have seen your salvation."},{"verse":31,"text":"You have prepared it in the sight of all people."},{"verse":32,"text":"It is a light to show your truth to the Gentiles. And it is glory for your people Israel.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, the child's mother, \"Listen. This child is chosen to cause many in Israel to fall and to rise. He will be a sign that many people speak against."},{"verse":35,"text":"So the thoughts of many hearts will be shown. And a sword will cut through your own soul too.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had been married for seven years."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then her husband died, and she lived as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple. She worshiped God night and day, going without food and praying."},{"verse":38,"text":"She came up to them at that very moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to everyone who was waiting for God to redeem Jerusalem."},{"verse":39,"text":"Jesus' parents did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth."},{"verse":40,"text":"The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him."},{"verse":41,"text":"Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover."},{"verse":42,"text":"When he was twelve years old, they went up to the feast as they always did."},{"verse":43,"text":"When the feast was over, his parents started back home. But the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know he had stayed."},{"verse":44,"text":"They thought he was with the group they were traveling with. So they traveled for a whole day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends."},{"verse":45,"text":"When they could not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him."},{"verse":46,"text":"At last, after three days, they found him in the temple courts. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions."},{"verse":47,"text":"Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood and at his answers."},{"verse":48,"text":"When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked, \"Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been so worried. We've been looking everywhere for you.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"\"Why were you looking for me?\" he asked. \"Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?\""},{"verse":50,"text":"But they did not understand what he was saying to them."},{"verse":51,"text":"Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. And his mother kept all these things like treasure in her heart."},{"verse":52,"text":"Jesus grew in wisdom and in size. And God and people were more and more pleased with him."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was the fifteenth year that Tiberius Caesar was ruling. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Herod was ruler of Galilee. His brother Philip was ruler of Ituraea and Trachonitis. And Lysanias was ruler of Abilene."},{"verse":2,"text":"Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness."},{"verse":3,"text":"John went all through the land around the Jordan River. He preached that people should repent and be baptized so their sins would be forgiven."},{"verse":4,"text":"It was just as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:\n\"A voice of someone calling out in the wilderness,\n'Prepare the way for the Lord.\nMake straight paths for him."},{"verse":5,"text":"Every valley will be filled in.\nEvery mountain and hill will be made low.\nThe crooked roads will be made straight.\nThe rough roads will be made smooth."},{"verse":6,"text":"And all people will see how God saves.'\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Crowds were coming out to be baptized by John. He said to them, \"You family of snakes! Who warned you to run from the anger of God that is coming?"},{"verse":8,"text":"So produce fruit that shows you have repented. And don't start saying to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' For I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham out of these stones."},{"verse":9,"text":"The axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree that does not make good fruit will be cut down. It will be thrown into the fire.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The crowds asked him, \"Then what should we do?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"John answered, \"If you have two tunics, share with the person who has none. If you have food, do the same.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Even tax collectors came to be baptized. \"Teacher,\" they asked, \"what should we do?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"He answered them, \"Don't collect more money than you are told to.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then some soldiers asked him, \"And what should we do?\" He said, \"Don't take money from people by force. Don't lie about people to get money. Be happy with your pay.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The people were waiting and hoping. They were all wondering in their hearts if John might be the Messiah."},{"verse":16,"text":"John answered all of them, \"I baptize you with water. But someone more powerful than I am will come. I am not good enough even to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."},{"verse":17,"text":"His pitchfork is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor. He will gather the wheat into his barn. But he will burn up the chaff with a fire that never goes out.\"","note":"Greek: winnowing fork, a tool for tossing grain into the air to separate it from the chaff."},{"verse":18,"text":"John said many other things like this to urge the people on. And he told them the good news."},{"verse":19,"text":"But John told Herod the ruler that he was wrong. He spoke against him for taking Herodias, his brother's wife. He also spoke against all the other evil things Herod had done."},{"verse":20,"text":"So Herod added one more evil thing to all the rest. He locked John up in prison."},{"verse":21,"text":"One day all the people were being baptized, and Jesus was baptized too. As he was praying, heaven opened."},{"verse":22,"text":"The Holy Spirit came down on him in a body like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: \"You are my Son, whom I love. I am very pleased with you.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. People thought he was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Heli,"},{"verse":24,"text":"the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,"},{"verse":25,"text":"the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,"},{"verse":26,"text":"the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,"},{"verse":27,"text":"the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,"},{"verse":28,"text":"the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,"},{"verse":29,"text":"the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,"},{"verse":30,"text":"the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,"},{"verse":31,"text":"the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,"},{"verse":32,"text":"the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,"},{"verse":33,"text":"the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,"},{"verse":34,"text":"the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,"},{"verse":35,"text":"the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,"},{"verse":36,"text":"the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,"},{"verse":37,"text":"the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,"},{"verse":38,"text":"the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. He came back from the Jordan River. Then the Spirit led him into the wilderness."},{"verse":2,"text":"There the devil tempted him for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during those days. When they were over, he was hungry."},{"verse":3,"text":"The devil said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"It is written: 'People do not live on bread alone.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the devil led him up to a high place. In a single moment he showed him all the kingdoms of the world."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said to Jesus, \"I will give you power over all these kingdoms and all their glory. It has been handed over to me. I can give it to anyone I want."},{"verse":7,"text":"So if you worship me, it will all be yours.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God. Serve only him.'\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the devil led him to Jerusalem. He set him on the highest point of the temple. He said, \"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here."},{"verse":10,"text":"For it is written: 'He will command his angels about you. They will guard you with care."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won't hit your foot against a stone.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"It also says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'\""},{"verse":13,"text":"When the devil had finished all his tempting, he left Jesus until a better time came."},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus went back to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. News about him spread all through the land around it."},{"verse":15,"text":"He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up. On the Sabbath he went into the synagogue, as he always did. He stood up to read."},{"verse":17,"text":"Someone handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled it and found the place where it was written:"},{"verse":18,"text":"\"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,\nbecause he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.\nHe has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners\nand to give sight back to the blind.\nHe has sent me to set free those who are crushed,"},{"verse":19,"text":"and to announce the year when the Lord shows his favor.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Then he rolled up the scroll. He gave it back to the helper and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was staring at him."},{"verse":21,"text":"He began by saying to them, \"Today this Scripture has come true as you listened.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Everyone spoke well of him. They were amazed at the kind and gracious words he spoke. \"Isn't this Joseph's son?\" they asked."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"I'm sure you will quote this saying to me: 'Doctor, heal yourself!' You will say, 'We heard what you did in Capernaum. Do the same things here in your hometown.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then he added, \"I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown."},{"verse":25,"text":"I tell you truly, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah. The sky was shut for three and a half years. There was a terrible famine all over the land."},{"verse":26,"text":"But Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent to a widow in Zarephath, in the land of Sidon."},{"verse":27,"text":"And there were many people with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. But not one of them was made clean, except Naaman the Syrian.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue became very angry."},{"verse":29,"text":"They got up and forced him out of the town. The town was built on a hill. They took him to the edge of the hill. They wanted to throw him off the cliff."},{"verse":30,"text":"But Jesus walked right through the crowd and went on his way."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee. On the Sabbath he began to teach the people."},{"verse":32,"text":"They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority."},{"verse":33,"text":"In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon in him. He cried out in a loud voice,"},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"But Jesus spoke sharply to the demon. \"Be quiet!\" he said. \"Come out of him!\" Then the demon threw the man down in front of everyone. It came out of him without hurting him."},{"verse":36,"text":"All the people were amazed. They said to one another, \"What kind of words are these? He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power. And they come out!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"And the news about Jesus spread all through the land around there."},{"verse":38,"text":"Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon's home. Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. So they asked Jesus to help her."},{"verse":39,"text":"He stood over her and ordered the fever to leave, and it left her. She got up right away and began to serve them."},{"verse":40,"text":"When the sun was setting, people brought to Jesus all who were sick with many kinds of diseases. He placed his hands on each one, and he healed them."},{"verse":41,"text":"Demons also came out of many people. They shouted, \"You are the Son of God!\" But he spoke sharply to the demons. He would not let them speak, because they knew he was the Messiah."},{"verse":42,"text":"At dawn, Jesus went out to a quiet place by himself. The crowds were looking for him. They came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them."},{"verse":43,"text":"But Jesus said to them, \"I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too. That is why I was sent.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. The crowd was pushing in around him to hear the word of God."},{"verse":2,"text":"He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them. They were washing their nets."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon. He asked Simon to push out a little way from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat."},{"verse":4,"text":"When Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon, \"Go out into deep water. Let down your nets to catch some fish.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Simon answered, \"Master, we worked hard all night and didn't catch anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"When they did this, they caught so many fish that their nets began to tear."},{"verse":7,"text":"So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. The partners came. They filled both boats so full that the boats began to sink."},{"verse":8,"text":"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' knees. He said, \"Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"For he and all the men with him were amazed at the fish they had caught."},{"verse":10,"text":"His partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, \"Don't be afraid. From now on you will catch people.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So they brought their boats up on shore. Then they left everything and followed him."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus was in one of the towns. A man came by who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground. He begged him, \"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. \"I am willing,\" he said. \"Be clean!\" And right away the leprosy left him."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Jesus told him, \"Don't tell anyone. But go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the gift that Moses commanded for your cleansing. This will be a witness to them.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But the news about Jesus spread even more. Large crowds came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses."},{"verse":16,"text":"But Jesus often slipped away to the wilderness to pray."},{"verse":17,"text":"One day Jesus was teaching. Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick."},{"verse":18,"text":"Just then some men came carrying a man on a mat. The man could not move his body. They tried to bring him inside and lay him in front of Jesus."},{"verse":19,"text":"But they could not find a way in because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. They lowered him on his mat through the roof tiles. He came down into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus."},{"verse":20,"text":"When Jesus saw their faith, he said, \"Friend, your sins are forgiven.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees began thinking to themselves, \"Who is this man? He is speaking against God! Who can forgive sins but God alone?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Jesus knew what they were thinking. He asked, \"Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?"},{"verse":23,"text":"Which is easier to say? 'Your sins are forgiven'? Or 'Get up and walk'?"},{"verse":24,"text":"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.\" So he spoke to the man who could not move. \"I tell you, get up. Pick up your mat and go home.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Right away the man stood up in front of them. He picked up the mat he had been lying on. Then he went home, praising God."},{"verse":26,"text":"Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe. They said, \"We have seen amazing things today.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"After this, Jesus went out. He saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the booth where he collected taxes. \"Follow me,\" Jesus told him."},{"verse":28,"text":"Levi got up, left everything, and followed him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Levi held a big dinner for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there. Other people were eating with them too."},{"verse":30,"text":"But the Pharisees and their teachers of the law complained to Jesus' disciples. They said, \"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Jesus answered them, \"Healthy people don't need a doctor. Sick people do."},{"verse":32,"text":"I have not come to call people who are right with God. I have come to call sinners to repent.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Then they said to him, \"John's disciples often go without food and pray. So do the disciples of the Pharisees. But yours keep on eating and drinking.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Can you make the guests of the groom go without food while he is with them?"},{"verse":35,"text":"But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them. Then they will go without food.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"He also told them a story. \"No one tears a piece of cloth from new clothes to sew on old clothes. If he does, he will ruin the new clothes. And the patch from the new will not match the old."},{"verse":37,"text":"And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins. The wine will spill out, and the skins will be ruined."},{"verse":38,"text":"No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins."},{"verse":39,"text":"And after drinking old wine, no one wants the new. He says, 'The old is better.'\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One Sabbath Jesus was walking through the grainfields. His disciples began to pick some heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate them."},{"verse":2,"text":"But some of the Pharisees asked, \"Why are you doing what the law says not to do on the Sabbath?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus answered them, \"Haven't you read what David did? He and his men were hungry."},{"verse":4,"text":"He went into the house of God. He took the holy bread and ate it. He also gave some to his men. But the law says only the priests may eat it.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"On another Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there whose right hand was shriveled."},{"verse":7,"text":"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. So they watched him closely. They wanted to see if he would heal on the Sabbath."},{"verse":8,"text":"But Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to the man with the shriveled hand, \"Get up and stand here in front of everyone.\" So the man got up and stood there."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"Let me ask you something. What does the law allow on the Sabbath? Doing good or doing evil? Saving a life or destroying it?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"He looked around at all of them. Then he said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" The man did, and his hand was made well again."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the teachers of the law and the Pharisees were furious. They began to talk with one another about what they could do to Jesus."},{"verse":12,"text":"In those days Jesus went out to a mountain to pray. He spent the whole night praying to God."},{"verse":13,"text":"When morning came, he called his disciples to him. He chose twelve of them and also named them apostles."},{"verse":14,"text":"They were Simon, whom he named Peter, and Simon's brother Andrew. There were James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew."},{"verse":15,"text":"There were Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot."},{"verse":16,"text":"There were Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus went down the mountain with them and stood on a flat place. A large crowd of his disciples was there. A great many people were there too. They came from all over Judea and Jerusalem. They came from the coast near Tyre and Sidon."},{"verse":18,"text":"They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. People who were troubled by unclean spirits were made well."},{"verse":19,"text":"The whole crowd was trying to touch him. Power was coming out from him, and it was healing all of them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jesus looked at his disciples and said,\n\"Blessed are you who are poor,\nfor the kingdom of God is yours."},{"verse":21,"text":"Blessed are you who are hungry now,\nfor you will be filled.\nBlessed are you who cry now,\nfor you will laugh."},{"verse":22,"text":"Blessed are you when people hate you.\nBlessed are you when they shut you out and insult you.\nBlessed are you when they say your name is evil\nbecause of the Son of Man."},{"verse":23,"text":"When that happens, be glad and jump for joy, because your reward in heaven is great. For their ancestors treated the prophets the same way."},{"verse":24,"text":"But how terrible it will be for you who are rich,\nfor you have already had your comfort!"},{"verse":25,"text":"How terrible for you who are full now,\nfor you will be hungry!\nHow terrible for you who laugh now,\nfor you will mourn and cry!"},{"verse":26,"text":"How terrible for you when everyone speaks well of you!\nFor their ancestors treated the false prophets the same way."},{"verse":27,"text":"But I say this to you who are listening. Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you."},{"verse":28,"text":"Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who treat you badly."},{"verse":29,"text":"If someone hits you on one cheek, turn the other cheek to him too. If someone takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your tunic too."},{"verse":30,"text":"Give to everyone who asks you. If anyone takes what belongs to you, don't ask for it back."},{"verse":31,"text":"Do to others what you would want them to do to you."},{"verse":32,"text":"Suppose you love those who love you. Why should you be praised for that? Even sinners love those who love them."},{"verse":33,"text":"And suppose you do good to those who are good to you. Why should you be praised for that? Even sinners do that."},{"verse":34,"text":"Suppose you lend to people you expect to pay you back. Why should you be praised for that? Even sinners lend to sinners. They expect to be paid back in full."},{"verse":35,"text":"But love your enemies. Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great. You will be children of the Most High. For he is kind to people who are not thankful and to people who are evil."},{"verse":36,"text":"Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy."},{"verse":37,"text":"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."},{"verse":38,"text":"Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and spilling over. For the measure you use for others is the measure that will be used for you.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Jesus also told them a story. \"Can a blind man lead another blind man? Won't they both fall into a pit?"},{"verse":40,"text":"A student is not greater than his teacher. But everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."},{"verse":41,"text":"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye? Why don't you notice the log in your own eye?"},{"verse":42,"text":"How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye'? You don't even see the log in your own eye! You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."},{"verse":43,"text":"A good tree doesn't grow bad fruit. And a bad tree doesn't grow good fruit."},{"verse":44,"text":"Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't pick figs from thornbushes. And they don't pick grapes from briers."},{"verse":45,"text":"A good person brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what fills the heart."},{"verse":46,"text":"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I say?"},{"verse":47,"text":"Some people come to me, hear my words, and do what I say. I will show you what they are like."},{"verse":48,"text":"They are like a man building a house. He dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the rushing water crashed against that house. But it could not shake the house, because it was built well."},{"verse":49,"text":"But others hear my words and don't do what I say. They are like a man who built a house on the ground with no foundation. When the rushing water crashed against that house, it fell at once. And it was completely destroyed!\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus finished saying all these things to the people. Then he went to Capernaum."},{"verse":2,"text":"There a centurion had a servant he valued highly. The servant was sick and about to die."},{"verse":3,"text":"The centurion heard about Jesus. So he sent some Jewish elders to him. He asked them to have Jesus come and heal his servant."},{"verse":4,"text":"They came to Jesus and begged him with all their hearts. They said, \"This man deserves to have you do this for him."},{"verse":5,"text":"He loves our nation, and he built our synagogue.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends with a message. It said, \"Lord, don't trouble yourself. I am not good enough to have you come under my roof."},{"verse":7,"text":"That is why I did not think I was good enough to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am a man under authority myself. And I have soldiers under me. I tell one, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another, 'Come,' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at the centurion. He turned to the crowd following him. He said, \"I tell you, I have not found faith this great even in Israel.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the men who had been sent went back to the house. They found the servant well."},{"verse":11,"text":"Soon after that, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with him, and a large crowd went along too."},{"verse":12,"text":"He came near the town gate. Just then a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her."},{"verse":13,"text":"When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her. He said to her, \"Don't cry.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then he went up and touched the coffin. The men carrying it stood still. He said, \"Young man, I tell you, get up!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The dead man sat up and began to talk! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother."},{"verse":16,"text":"Everyone was filled with awe, and they praised God. \"A great prophet has come among us!\" they said. \"God has come to help his people!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"This news about Jesus spread all through Judea and the whole land around it."},{"verse":18,"text":"John's disciples told him about all these things."},{"verse":19,"text":"So John called two of his disciples. He sent them to ask the Lord, \"Are you the one who was going to come? Or should we look for someone else?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The men came to Jesus and said, \"John the Baptist sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who was going to come? Or should we look for someone else?'\""},{"verse":21,"text":"At that very time Jesus healed many people of their diseases and sicknesses. He freed many from evil spirits. And he gave sight to many who were blind."},{"verse":22,"text":"So he answered the men, \"Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard. Blind people see. Lame people walk. People with leprosy are made clean. Deaf people hear. Dead people are raised to life. And the good news is preached to the poor."},{"verse":23,"text":"Blessed is anyone who does not stumble and turn away because of me.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"After John's messengers left, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. \"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A tall grass blowing in the wind?"},{"verse":25,"text":"If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, people who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are in palaces."},{"verse":26,"text":"So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you. And he is more than a prophet."},{"verse":27,"text":"John is the one the Scriptures talk about. They say, 'Look, I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way in front of you.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"I tell you, no one ever born of a woman is greater than John. But even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"All the people who heard this agreed that God's way was right. Even the tax collectors agreed. For they had been baptized by John."},{"verse":30,"text":"But the Pharisees and the experts in the law turned down God's plan for them, because they had not been baptized by John."},{"verse":31,"text":"\"What can I compare the people of today to? What are they like?"},{"verse":32,"text":"They are like children sitting in the marketplace. They call out to each other, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a sad funeral song, but you did not cry.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"John the Baptist came. He did not eat bread or drink wine. And you say, 'He has a demon!'"},{"verse":34,"text":"The Son of Man came eating and drinking. And you say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'"},{"verse":35,"text":"But wisdom is proved right by all her children.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So Jesus went to the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table."},{"verse":37,"text":"A woman in that town had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume."},{"verse":38,"text":"She stood behind Jesus at his feet, crying. Her tears began to wet his feet. She wiped them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them."},{"verse":39,"text":"The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, \"If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Jesus answered him, \"Simon, I have something to tell you.\" \"Tell me, Teacher,\" he said."},{"verse":41,"text":"\"Two men owed money to a man who lent money. One owed him five hundred silver coins. The other owed him fifty.","note":"Greek: denarii. A denarius was about a day's pay."},{"verse":42,"text":"Neither of them could pay him back. So he canceled the debts of both of them. Now which of them will love him more?\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Simon answered, \"I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.\" \"You have judged rightly,\" Jesus said."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, \"Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair."},{"verse":45,"text":"You did not greet me with a kiss. But she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in."},{"verse":46,"text":"You did not put oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet."},{"verse":47,"text":"So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But the one who has been forgiven little loves only a little.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"Then Jesus said to her, \"Your sins are forgiven.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"The other guests began to say among themselves, \"Who is this who even forgives sins?\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Jesus said to the woman, \"Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Soon after this, Jesus traveled from one town and village to the next. He preached and told the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some women were with him too. They had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary, called Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her."},{"verse":3,"text":"Joanna was there. She was the wife of Chuza, who managed Herod's household. Susanna was there too, and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his disciples."},{"verse":4,"text":"A large crowd was gathering. People were coming to Jesus from one town after another. He told them this story:"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it, some seed fell on the path. People stepped on it, and the birds ate it up."},{"verse":6,"text":"Some seed fell on rocky ground. When it came up, the young plants dried up because they had no water."},{"verse":7,"text":"Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and choked the young plants."},{"verse":8,"text":"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and made a crop, a hundred times more than was planted.\" When Jesus said this, he called out, \"Whoever has ears to hear should listen.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"His disciples asked him what this story meant."},{"verse":10,"text":"He said, \"You have been given the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others I speak in stories, so that, 'though they look, they may not see. Though they hear, they may not understand.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"This is what the story means. The seed is the word of God."},{"verse":12,"text":"The seed on the path stands for people who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes the word away from their hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved."},{"verse":13,"text":"The seed on rocky ground stands for people who hear the word and accept it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when hard testing comes, they fall away."},{"verse":14,"text":"The seed that fell among thorns stands for people who hear. But as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries of life. They are choked by riches and pleasures too. So their fruit never ripens."},{"verse":15,"text":"But the seed on good soil stands for people with a good and honest heart. They hear the word and hold on to it. They keep going, and they make a crop."},{"verse":16,"text":"No one lights a lamp and then hides it under a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand. Then people who come in can see the light."},{"verse":17,"text":"Everything that is hidden will be shown. Everything that is secret will be made known and brought out into the light."},{"verse":18,"text":"So be careful how you listen. Whoever has something will be given more. But whoever has nothing will lose even what he thinks he has.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. But they could not get near him because of the crowd."},{"verse":20,"text":"Someone told him, \"Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see you.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But he answered, \"My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"One day Jesus said to his disciples, \"Let's go across to the other side of the lake.\" So he got into a boat with them, and they started out."},{"verse":23,"text":"As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A storm with strong winds came down on the lake. Water was filling the boat, and they were in great danger."},{"verse":24,"text":"The disciples went and woke him up. They said, \"Master, Master, we're going to die!\" Jesus got up. He gave an order to the wind and the wild waves. The storm died down, and everything was calm."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Where is your faith?\" he asked them. They were afraid and amazed. They asked one another, \"Who is this? He gives orders even to the winds and the water, and they obey him!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then they sailed to the land of the Gerasenes. It is across the lake from Galilee."},{"verse":27,"text":"When Jesus stepped onto the shore, he was met by a man from the town who had demons in him. For a long time this man had not worn clothes. He had not lived in a house. He lived among the tombs."},{"verse":28,"text":"When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down in front of him. He shouted in a loud voice, \"What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"For Jesus had ordered the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had taken hold of him. People kept him chained hand and foot. But he would break the chains. Then the demon would drive him out into lonely places."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus asked him, \"What is your name?\" \"Legion,\" he answered. He said this because many demons had gone into him.","note":"A legion was a Roman army unit of thousands of soldiers."},{"verse":31,"text":"The demons kept begging Jesus not to order them into the Abyss."},{"verse":32,"text":"A large herd of pigs was eating there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he let them."},{"verse":33,"text":"So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs. The herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned."},{"verse":34,"text":"The men taking care of the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and told about it in the town and in the countryside."},{"verse":35,"text":"So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus. They found the man the demons had left. He was sitting at Jesus' feet. He had clothes on, and his mind was clear. And the people were afraid."},{"verse":36,"text":"Those who had seen it told the others how the man with demons had been healed."},{"verse":37,"text":"Then all the people of the land of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were filled with great fear. So he got into the boat and started back."},{"verse":38,"text":"The man the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But Jesus sent him away. He said,"},{"verse":39,"text":"\"Go back home. Tell how much God has done for you.\" So the man went away. He told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him."},{"verse":40,"text":"When Jesus came back, the crowd welcomed him. They had all been waiting for him."},{"verse":41,"text":"Just then a man named Jairus came. He was a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus' feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house."},{"verse":42,"text":"He begged because his only daughter was dying. She was about twelve years old. As Jesus went with him, the crowds pushed in around him."},{"verse":43,"text":"A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on doctors. But no one could heal her."},{"verse":44,"text":"She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak. Right away her bleeding stopped."},{"verse":45,"text":"\"Who touched me?\" Jesus asked. Everyone said they had not. Peter said, \"Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"But Jesus said, \"Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.\""},{"verse":47,"text":"The woman saw that she could not stay hidden. She came shaking with fear and fell down in front of him. In front of all the people, she told why she had touched him. She told how she had been healed right away."},{"verse":48,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. \"Your daughter is dead,\" he told Jairus. \"Don't bother the Teacher anymore.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"But Jesus heard this. He said to Jairus, \"Don't be afraid. Just believe, and she will be healed.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"When he came to the house, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother."},{"verse":52,"text":"All the people were crying and mourning for her. But Jesus said, \"Stop crying. She is not dead. She is asleep.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead."},{"verse":54,"text":"But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, \"My child, get up!\""},{"verse":55,"text":"Her spirit came back, and she got up right away. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat."},{"verse":56,"text":"Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jesus called the Twelve together. He gave them power and authority over all demons. He also gave them power to cure diseases."},{"verse":2,"text":"He sent them out to tell about the kingdom of God and to heal the sick."},{"verse":3,"text":"He told them, \"Take nothing for the trip. Take no walking stick, no bag, no bread, no money, and no extra shirt.","note":"Greek: tunic, a long shirt worn under a cloak."},{"verse":4,"text":"When you go into a house, stay there until you leave that area."},{"verse":5,"text":"If people don't welcome you, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that town. That will be a warning against them.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So they set out. They went from village to village. They preached the good news and healed people everywhere."},{"verse":7,"text":"Herod the ruler heard about all that was happening, and he was puzzled. Some people were saying that John had risen from the dead.","note":"Greek: tetrarch, a ruler over part of a country."},{"verse":8,"text":"Others said that Elijah had appeared. Still others said that a prophet from long ago had come back to life."},{"verse":9,"text":"Herod said, \"I had John's head cut off. So who is this man I keep hearing about?\" And he kept trying to see Jesus."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the apostles came back and told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and went off alone with them to a town called Bethsaida."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the crowds found out and followed him. Jesus welcomed them. He talked to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed healing."},{"verse":12,"text":"Late in the day, the Twelve came to Jesus. They said, \"Send the crowd away. Then they can go to the villages and farms nearby to find a place to stay and food to eat. For we're out here in a lonely place.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Jesus told them, \"You give them something to eat.\" They answered, \"We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. That is all we have, unless we go and buy food for all these people.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"(There were about 5,000 men there.) Jesus told his disciples, \"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The disciples did this, and everyone sat down."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks, and he broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to hand out to the people."},{"verse":17,"text":"They all ate and were full. Then the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces."},{"verse":18,"text":"One day Jesus was praying alone, and his disciples were with him. He asked them, \"Who do the crowds say I am?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"They answered, \"Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say a prophet from long ago has come back to life.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Jesus asked, \"But what about you? Who do you say I am?\" Peter answered, \"You are God's Messiah.\"","note":"Greek: the Christ of God."},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus gave them a strong warning not to tell this to anyone."},{"verse":22,"text":"He said, \"The Son of Man must suffer many things. He must be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. He must be killed, and on the third day he must be raised to life.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Jesus said to all of them, \"If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross every day and follow me."},{"verse":24,"text":"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for me will save it."},{"verse":25,"text":"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose or give up his own self?"},{"verse":26,"text":"Someone may be ashamed of me and my words. If so, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes. He will come in his glory, in the glory of the Father, and in the glory of the holy angels."},{"verse":27,"text":"I tell you the truth, some people standing here will not die before they see the kingdom of God.\"","note":"Greek: will not taste death."},{"verse":28,"text":"About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James with him. They went up on a mountain to pray."},{"verse":29,"text":"While Jesus was praying, the look of his face changed. His clothes became a shining, bright white."},{"verse":30,"text":"All at once two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with Jesus."},{"verse":31,"text":"They appeared in glory. They talked about his departure, which he was about to carry out in Jerusalem.","note":"Greek: his departure (literally, exodus)."},{"verse":32,"text":"Meanwhile Peter and the others with him had fallen into a deep sleep. But when they woke up, they saw the glory of Jesus and the two men standing with him."},{"verse":33,"text":"As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, \"Master, it's good for us to be here. Let's set up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\" (He didn't know what he was saying.)"},{"verse":34,"text":"While Peter was speaking, a cloud came and covered them. They were afraid as they went into the cloud."},{"verse":35,"text":"A voice came from the cloud. It said, \"This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!\""},{"verse":36,"text":"After the voice spoke, they saw that Jesus was there alone with them. The disciples kept quiet about this. In those days they didn't tell anyone what they had seen."},{"verse":37,"text":"The next day they came down from the mountain, and a large crowd met Jesus."},{"verse":38,"text":"All at once a man in the crowd shouted, \"Teacher, please look at my son! He's my only child."},{"verse":39,"text":"A spirit keeps grabbing him, and all of a sudden he screams. It throws him into fits, and he foams at the mouth. It keeps hurting him and hardly ever leaves him alone."},{"verse":40,"text":"I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't do it.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Jesus answered, \"You people of today have no faith, and you have turned from what is right! How long must I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a fit. But Jesus ordered the evil spirit to stop. He healed the boy and gave him back to his father.","note":"Greek: unclean spirit."},{"verse":43,"text":"Everyone was amazed at how great God is. While they were all amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he spoke to his disciples."},{"verse":44,"text":"He said, \"Listen closely to what I'm about to tell you. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to men.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"But they didn't understand what he meant. It was hidden from them, so they could not grasp it. And they were afraid to ask him about it."},{"verse":46,"text":"Then the disciples began to argue about which of them would be the greatest."},{"verse":47,"text":"But Jesus knew what they were thinking in their hearts. So he had a little child stand beside him."},{"verse":48,"text":"He said to them, \"Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the greatest.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"John said, \"Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he isn't one of our group.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Don't stop him. For whoever is not against you is for you.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"The time was coming near for Jesus to be taken up to heaven. So he made up his mind and set out for Jerusalem."},{"verse":52,"text":"He sent messengers ahead of him. They went into a village of the Samaritans to get things ready for him."},{"verse":53,"text":"But the people there would not welcome him, because he was on his way to Jerusalem."},{"verse":54,"text":"The disciples James and John saw this. They asked, \"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?\"","note":"Some manuscripts add: as Elijah did."},{"verse":55,"text":"But Jesus turned and scolded them.","note":"Some manuscripts add words of Jesus here and in verse 56."},{"verse":56,"text":"Then he and his disciples went on to another village."},{"verse":57,"text":"As they were walking along the road, a man said to Jesus, \"I will follow you anywhere you go.\""},{"verse":58,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Foxes have holes to live in, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.\""},{"verse":59,"text":"Jesus said to another man, \"Follow me.\" But the man said, \"Lord, first let me go and bury my father.\""},{"verse":60,"text":"Jesus told him, \"Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and tell everyone about the kingdom of God.\""},{"verse":61,"text":"Still another man said, \"Lord, I will follow you. But first let me go and say goodbye to my family.\""},{"verse":62,"text":"Jesus said, \"No one who starts to plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.\"","note":"Greek: puts his hand to the plow."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this, the Lord chose seventy-two other followers. He sent them out two by two ahead of him. They went to every town and place where he was about to go.","note":"Some manuscripts say seventy; also in verse 17."},{"verse":2,"text":"He told them, \"The harvest is large, but there are only a few workers. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field."},{"verse":3,"text":"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."},{"verse":4,"text":"Don't take a money bag, a travel bag, or sandals. Don't stop to greet anyone on the road."},{"verse":5,"text":"When you go into a house, first say, 'May there be peace in this house.'"},{"verse":6,"text":"If a person of peace lives there, your peace will rest on him. If not, your peace will come back to you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Stay in that same house. Eat and drink whatever they give you. For a worker has earned his pay. Don't keep moving from house to house."},{"verse":8,"text":"If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat whatever they put in front of you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Heal the sick people there. Tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"But if you go into a town and they don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say,"},{"verse":11,"text":"'We wipe off even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. We do this as a warning against you. But you can be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"I tell you, on that day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town."},{"verse":13,"text":"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! Suppose the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon. Then they would have repented long ago. They would have sat in sackcloth and ashes."},{"verse":14,"text":"But at the judgment it will be easier for Tyre and Sidon than for you."},{"verse":15,"text":"And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!"},{"verse":16,"text":"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the One who sent me.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The seventy-two came back full of joy. They said, \"Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Jesus told them, \"I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning."},{"verse":19,"text":"Listen, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions. You have authority over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will hurt you."},{"verse":20,"text":"But don't be glad that the spirits obey you. Be glad that your names are written in heaven.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"At that time Jesus was filled with joy in the Holy Spirit. He said, \"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from people who are wise and learned. You have shown them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what pleased you."},{"verse":22,"text":"My Father has given all things to me. No one knows who the Son is except the Father. And no one knows who the Father is except the Son. Others know him only if the Son chooses to show him to them.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then Jesus turned to his disciples. He said to them alone, \"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see."},{"verse":24,"text":"For I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, but they didn't see it. They wanted to hear what you hear, but they didn't hear it.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"One day an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He asked, \"Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?\"","note":"Greek: inherit eternal life."},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus answered, \"What is written in the Law? What do you read there?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The man answered, \"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.' And, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jesus said, \"You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"But the man wanted to show that he was in the right. So he asked Jesus, \"And who is my neighbor?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus answered with a story. \"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers attacked him. They took his clothes and beat him. Then they went away and left him almost dead."},{"verse":31,"text":"It happened that a priest was going down that same road. When he saw the man, he passed by on the other side."},{"verse":32,"text":"A Levite also came to that place and saw him. He too passed by on the other side."},{"verse":33,"text":"But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the man was. When he saw him, he felt sorry for him."},{"verse":34,"text":"He went to him. He poured oil and wine on his wounds and wrapped them up. Then he put the man on his own animal. He brought him to an inn and took care of him."},{"verse":35,"text":"The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Take care of him,' he said. 'When I come back, I will pay you for anything more you spend.'","note":"Greek: two denarii, about two days' pay."},{"verse":36,"text":"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man the robbers attacked?\""},{"verse":37,"text":"The expert in the law answered, \"The one who showed him mercy.\" Jesus told him, \"Go and do the same.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he came to a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home."},{"verse":39,"text":"She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he said."},{"verse":40,"text":"But Martha was busy with all the work that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, \"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!\""},{"verse":41,"text":"The Lord answered, \"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things."},{"verse":42,"text":"But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples asked him, \"Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So Jesus told them, \"When you pray, say this: 'Father, may your name be honored as holy. May your kingdom come.","note":"Traditional wording: hallowed be your name."},{"verse":3,"text":"Give us each day the bread we need for the day."},{"verse":4,"text":"Forgive us our sins, because we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And do not lead us into temptation.'\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"Suppose one of you goes to a friend at midnight. You say, 'Friend, please lend me three loaves of bread."},{"verse":6,"text":"It's because a friend of mine has come to me on a trip, and I have nothing to give him to eat.'"},{"verse":7,"text":"And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"I tell you, he won't get up and give him the bread just because he is his friend. But because the man keeps on asking, he will get up. He will give him as much as he needs."},{"verse":9,"text":"So I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And the door will be opened to the one who knocks."},{"verse":11,"text":"Which father among you would give his son a snake if he asked for a fish?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Or if he asked for an egg, would you give him a scorpion?"},{"verse":13,"text":"So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"One day Jesus was driving out a demon that kept a man from talking. When the demon was gone, the man who couldn't talk began to speak. The crowds were amazed."},{"verse":15,"text":"But some of them said, \"He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Others tested Jesus. They demanded that he show them a sign from heaven."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to them, \"Any kingdom that fights against itself will be ruined. And a family that fights against itself will fall."},{"verse":18,"text":"If Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? I say this because you claim I drive out demons by Beelzebul."},{"verse":19,"text":"If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whose power do your followers drive them out? So they will be your judges.","note":"Greek: your sons."},{"verse":20,"text":"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you."},{"verse":21,"text":"When a strong man has all his weapons and guards his house, the things he owns are safe."},{"verse":22,"text":"But suppose someone stronger attacks him and beats him. Then he takes away the armor the man trusted in. And he divides up what he took from him."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whoever is not with me is against me. And whoever does not gather with me scatters."},{"verse":24,"text":"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through dry places looking for rest. But it doesn't find any. Then it says, 'I will go back to the house I left.'","note":"Greek: unclean spirit."},{"verse":25,"text":"When it comes back, it finds the house swept clean and put in order."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. In the end, that man is worse off than he was at first.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out. She said, \"Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you!\"","note":"Greek: Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that nursed you."},{"verse":28,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"The crowds kept growing. Jesus said, \"The people of today are evil. They ask for a sign. But no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jonah was a sign to the people of Nineveh. In the same way, the Son of Man will be a sign to the people of today."},{"verse":31,"text":"The Queen of the South will stand up at the judgment with the people of today. She will show they are guilty. For she came from the ends of the earth to hear Solomon's wisdom. And now someone greater than Solomon is here."},{"verse":32,"text":"The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with the people of today. They will show they are guilty. For they repented when Jonah preached. And now someone greater than Jonah is here."},{"verse":33,"text":"No one lights a lamp and then hides it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he puts it on a stand. Then those who come in can see the light."},{"verse":34,"text":"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light. But when your eyes are bad, your body is full of darkness."},{"verse":35,"text":"So be careful that the light inside you is not darkness."},{"verse":36,"text":"Your whole body may be full of light, with no part of it dark. Then you will shine brightly, as if a lamp were shining on you.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to eat with him. So Jesus went in and took his place at the table.","note":"Greek: reclined at the table, as people did at meals then."},{"verse":38,"text":"But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not wash before the meal.","note":"This was a religious washing ritual, not just for cleanliness."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then the Lord said to him, \"You Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish. But inside you are full of greed and evil."},{"verse":40,"text":"You foolish people! Didn't the One who made the outside make the inside too?"},{"verse":41,"text":"But give to the poor what is inside you. Then everything will be clean for you."},{"verse":42,"text":"How terrible for you Pharisees! You give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and every other herb. But you ignore justice and the love of God. You should have done justice and loved God, and still given your tenth."},{"verse":43,"text":"How terrible for you Pharisees! You love the most important seats in the synagogues. You love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces."},{"verse":44,"text":"How terrible for you! You are like graves that have no markers. People walk over them without even knowing it.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"One of the experts in the law said to Jesus, \"Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"Jesus answered, \"How terrible for you experts in the law too! You put heavy loads on people. But you won't lift one finger to help them carry those loads."},{"verse":47,"text":"How terrible for you! You build tombs for the prophets. But it was your own ancestors who killed them."},{"verse":48,"text":"So you show that you agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs."},{"verse":49,"text":"That is why the wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them. They will hurt and chase down others.'","note":"Greek: the wisdom of God said."},{"verse":50,"text":"So the people of today will be held guilty for the blood of all the prophets. This is all the blood spilled since the world was made."},{"verse":51,"text":"It goes from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah. He was killed between the altar and the holy place. Yes, I tell you, the people of today will be held guilty for all of it."},{"verse":52,"text":"How terrible for you experts in the law! You have taken away the key that opens the door to knowledge. You yourselves have not gone in. And you have stopped those who were trying to go in.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"When Jesus left there, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees began to fight against him fiercely. They threw many questions at him about all kinds of things."},{"verse":54,"text":"They were waiting to trap him in something he might say."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many that they were stepping on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. He said, \"Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I mean their acting like they are good when they are not.","note":"Greek: leaven, which is hypocrisy."},{"verse":2,"text":"Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered. Nothing is hidden that will not be made known."},{"verse":3,"text":"What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered in back rooms will be shouted from the rooftops."},{"verse":4,"text":"My friends, I tell you, don't be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can't do anything more."},{"verse":5,"text":"But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear the One who has the power to throw you into hell after you have been killed. Yes, I tell you, fear him!","note":"Greek: Gehenna."},{"verse":6,"text":"Aren't five sparrows sold for two small coins? But God does not forget even one of them.","note":"Greek: two assaria, coins worth very little."},{"verse":7,"text":"In fact, he has counted every hair on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows."},{"verse":8,"text":"I tell you, whoever says in front of people that they know me, the Son of Man will also say he knows them in front of God's angels."},{"verse":9,"text":"But whoever says in front of people that they don't know me will be disowned in front of God's angels."},{"verse":10,"text":"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."},{"verse":11,"text":"People will bring you in front of synagogues, rulers, and leaders. When they do, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say."},{"verse":12,"text":"For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, \"Teacher, tell my brother to share our family's property with me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"Man, who made me a judge over you two? Who gave me the job of dividing your property?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then he said to them, \"Watch out! Guard yourselves against every kind of greed. For a person's life is not about how many things he owns.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then he told them a story. \"A rich man had some land that grew a very large crop."},{"verse":17,"text":"He thought to himself, 'What should I do? I have no place to store my crops.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. There I will store all my grain and my other goods."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then I'll say to myself, \"You have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and have fun!\"'"},{"verse":20,"text":"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be taken from you. Then who will get all the things you have saved up?'"},{"verse":21,"text":"That is how it will be for anyone who saves up riches for himself but is not rich toward God.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"So I tell you, don't worry about your life and what you will eat. Don't worry about your body and what you will wear."},{"verse":23,"text":"For life is more than food. And the body is more than clothes."},{"verse":24,"text":"Think about the ravens. They don't plant or harvest. They don't have a storeroom or a barn. Yet God feeds them. And you are worth so much more than birds!"},{"verse":25,"text":"Can any of you add even one hour to your life by worrying?"},{"verse":26,"text":"So if you can't do even a small thing like that, why do you worry about the rest?"},{"verse":27,"text":"Think about how the lilies grow. They don't work or make cloth. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these flowers."},{"verse":28,"text":"God dresses the grass in the field like this. It is here today, and tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. If God does that, how much more will he dress you! You have so little faith!"},{"verse":29,"text":"Don't keep thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don't worry about it."},{"verse":30,"text":"For the people of the world who don't know God run after all these things. And your Father knows that you need them.","note":"Greek: the Gentiles (nations) of the world."},{"verse":31,"text":"Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well."},{"verse":32,"text":"Don't be afraid, little flock. Your Father is happy to give you the kingdom."},{"verse":33,"text":"Sell what you own and give to the poor. Get money bags for yourselves that won't wear out. Store up riches in heaven that will never run out. No thief can come near there, and no moth can destroy anything."},{"verse":34,"text":"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be too."},{"verse":35,"text":"Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to come home from a wedding feast. That way, when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him right away."},{"verse":37,"text":"Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he comes back. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve. He will have them sit at the table, and he himself will come and serve them."},{"verse":38,"text":"He may come late at night or even in the early morning hours. If he finds them ready, those servants will be blessed.","note":"Greek: in the second or third watch of the night."},{"verse":39,"text":"But understand this. Suppose the owner of the house had known what hour the thief was coming. Then he would not have let his house be broken into."},{"verse":40,"text":"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you don't expect him.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Peter asked, \"Lord, are you telling this story just to us, or to everyone?\""},{"verse":42,"text":"The Lord answered, \"Who then is the faithful and wise manager? The master puts him in charge of his servants, to give them their share of food at the right time."},{"verse":43,"text":"Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing this when he comes back."},{"verse":44,"text":"I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of everything he owns."},{"verse":45,"text":"But suppose that servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time to come back.' Then he begins to beat the other servants, both men and women. He eats and drinks and gets drunk."},{"verse":46,"text":"The master of that servant will come on a day he doesn't expect. He will come at an hour he doesn't know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send him to the place where unbelievers go."},{"verse":47,"text":"A servant may know what his master wants but not get ready or do what he was told. That servant will be beaten with many blows."},{"verse":48,"text":"But another servant may not know and still do things that deserve punishment. He will be beaten with only a few blows. Much will be asked of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be asked of the one who has been trusted with much."},{"verse":49,"text":"I have come to bring fire on the earth. How I wish it were already burning!"},{"verse":50,"text":"But I have a baptism to go through. And how troubled I am until it is finished!"},{"verse":51,"text":"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I came to divide people."},{"verse":52,"text":"From now on, five people in one family will be divided. Three will be against two, and two against three."},{"verse":53,"text":"They will be divided. Father will be against son, and son against father. Mother will be against daughter, and daughter against mother. Mother-in-law will be against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.\""},{"verse":54,"text":"Then Jesus said to the crowds, \"When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, 'It's going to rain.' And it does."},{"verse":55,"text":"When the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot.' And it is."},{"verse":56,"text":"You hypocrites! You know how to understand the signs of the earth and sky. So why don't you know how to understand what is happening right now?"},{"verse":57,"text":"Why don't you decide for yourselves what is right?"},{"verse":58,"text":"Suppose someone is taking you to court. Do your best to make peace with him while you are on the way. If you don't, he may drag you off to the judge. The judge may hand you over to the officer. And the officer may throw you into prison."},{"verse":59,"text":"I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.\"","note":"Greek: lepton, the smallest copper coin."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At that time some people there told Jesus about some Galileans. Pilate had killed them and mixed their blood with their sacrifices."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?"},{"verse":3,"text":"No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish."},{"verse":4,"text":"Or what about the eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were more sinful than everyone else living in Jerusalem?"},{"verse":5,"text":"No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then Jesus told this story. \"A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but he didn't find any."},{"verse":7,"text":"So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'Look, for three years I've come looking for fruit on this fig tree. And I haven't found any. So cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'"},{"verse":8,"text":"The man answered, 'Sir, leave it alone for one more year. I'll dig around it and put fertilizer on it."},{"verse":9,"text":"If it grows fruit next year, good. If not, then you can cut it down.'\""},{"verse":10,"text":"One Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues."},{"verse":11,"text":"A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not stand up straight."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus saw her and called her over. He said, \"Woman, you are set free from what has crippled you.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he put his hands on her. Right away she stood up straight and began to praise God."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the leader of the synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He told the crowd, \"There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The Lord answered him, \"You hypocrites! On the Sabbath, each of you unties his ox or donkey from its stall. Then you lead it out to get water, don't you?"},{"verse":16,"text":"This woman is a daughter of Abraham. Satan has kept her tied up for eighteen long years. Shouldn't she be set free from what held her on the Sabbath day?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"When Jesus said this, all the people who were against him were put to shame. But the whole crowd was full of joy at all the wonderful things he was doing."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then Jesus asked, \"What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to?"},{"verse":19,"text":"It is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree. And the birds came and made nests in its branches.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Again he asked, \"What can I compare the kingdom of God to?"},{"verse":21,"text":"It is like yeast that a woman mixed into a large amount of flour. It worked its way through all the dough.\"","note":"Greek: three measures (about 60 pounds) of flour."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Jesus went through the towns and villages. He taught as he made his way toward Jerusalem."},{"verse":23,"text":"Someone asked him, \"Lord, will only a few people be saved?\" Jesus answered them,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Try very hard to go in through the narrow door. For I tell you, many will try to go in and will not be able to."},{"verse":25,"text":"The owner of the house will get up and close the door. Then you will stand outside knocking. You will say, 'Lord, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know where you come from.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you. You taught in our streets.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"But he will answer, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all of you who do evil!'"},{"verse":28,"text":"There will be crying and grinding of teeth there. You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God. But you yourselves will be thrown out."},{"verse":29,"text":"People will come from east and west and north and south. They will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God."},{"verse":30,"text":"And it's true that some who are last will be first. And some who are first will be last.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Right then some Pharisees came to Jesus. They told him, \"Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"Go and tell that fox, 'Listen, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow. And on the third day I will reach my goal.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"Even so, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day. For it isn't right for a prophet to die outside of Jerusalem!"},{"verse":34,"text":"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets. You throw stones at those God sends to you. How often I have wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you were not willing!"},{"verse":35,"text":"Look, your house is left empty. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'\""}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One Sabbath day, Jesus went to eat at the home of an important Pharisee. The people there were watching him closely."},{"verse":2,"text":"Right there in front of him was a man whose body was badly swollen with fluid.","note":"Greek: dropsy."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, \"Is it allowed by the law to heal on the Sabbath or not?\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But they said nothing. So Jesus took hold of the man and healed him. Then he sent him on his way."},{"verse":5,"text":"He asked them, \"Suppose your son or your ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day. Wouldn't you pull him out right away?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"They could not answer these questions."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table. So he told them a story."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, don't sit in the place of honor. A person more important than you may have been invited."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then you will be ashamed as you move to the lowest place."},{"verse":10,"text":"Instead, when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place. Then your host will come and say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests."},{"verse":11,"text":"For everyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And the one who makes himself low will be lifted up.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, \"When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you back. Then you will be paid back."},{"verse":13,"text":"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then you will be blessed. Because they can't pay you back, you will be paid back when those who are right with God rise from the dead.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"One of the people at the table with Jesus heard this. He said to Jesus, \"Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus answered, \"A man was preparing a big dinner, and he invited many guests."},{"verse":17,"text":"When it was time for the dinner, he sent his servant to the people he had invited. The servant told them, 'Come, because everything is ready now.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"But one by one they all began to make excuses. The first one said, 'I just bought a field, and I need to go and see it. Please excuse me.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"Another said, 'I just bought five pairs of oxen. I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"The servant came back and told his master all this. Then the owner of the house became angry. He told his servant, 'Hurry! Go out into the streets and alleys of the city. Bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"The servant said, 'Sir, I've done what you told me. But there is still room.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country paths. Make the people come in, so that my house will be full."},{"verse":24,"text":"For I tell you, not one of those men I invited will taste my dinner.'\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned and said to them,"},{"verse":26,"text":"\"Suppose someone comes to me but does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, and his brothers and sisters. Suppose he does not even hate his own life. Then he cannot be my disciple.","note":"\"Hate\" here means to love much less by comparison."},{"verse":27,"text":"Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."},{"verse":28,"text":"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. First you would sit down and figure out how much it will cost. You would see if you have enough money to finish it."},{"verse":29,"text":"If you don't, you might lay the foundation but not be able to finish. Then everyone who sees it will make fun of you."},{"verse":30,"text":"They will say, 'This man started to build, but he couldn't finish.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. First he will sit down and think. He has 10,000 men. Can he fight the king coming against him with 20,000 men?"},{"verse":32,"text":"If he can't, he will send some men to the other king while he is still far away. They will ask how they can make peace."},{"verse":33,"text":"In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple."},{"verse":34,"text":"Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how can it be made salty again?"},{"verse":35,"text":"It is no good for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.\""}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain. They said, \"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Jesus told them this story."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he leave the 99 in the field? Won't he go after the lost one until he finds it?"},{"verse":5,"text":"When he finds it, he is full of joy. He puts it on his shoulders"},{"verse":6,"text":"and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together. He says, 'Be happy with me! I have found my lost sheep!'"},{"verse":7,"text":"I tell you, it is the same in heaven. There will be more joy over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need to repent.","note":"Greek: repents; ninety-nine righteous ones."},{"verse":8,"text":"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one of them. Won't she light a lamp and sweep the house? Won't she look carefully until she finds it?","note":"Greek: drachmas; each was about a day's pay."},{"verse":9,"text":"When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together. She says, 'Be happy with me! I have found my lost coin.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in front of God's angels over one sinner who repents.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"There was a man who had two sons."},{"verse":12,"text":"The younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the family property.' So the father divided his property between his two sons."},{"verse":13,"text":"A few days later, the younger son packed up all he had. He went on a trip to a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living."},{"verse":14,"text":"He spent everything he had. Then a terrible famine spread over that whole country. And he began to be in need."},{"verse":15,"text":"So he went and got a job working for a man who lived in that country. The man sent him to his fields to feed the pigs."},{"verse":16,"text":"He wished he could fill his stomach with the pods the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything."},{"verse":17,"text":"At last he came to his senses. He said, 'My father's hired workers have more than enough food. But here I am, starving to death!"},{"verse":18,"text":"I will get up and go back to my father. I will say to him, \"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you."},{"verse":19,"text":"I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.\"'"},{"verse":20,"text":"So he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His father was filled with love and pity for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him."},{"verse":21,"text":"The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."},{"verse":23,"text":"Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate."},{"verse":24,"text":"For this son of mine was dead, and now he is alive again! He was lost, and now he is found!' So they began to celebrate."},{"verse":25,"text":"Meanwhile, the older son was out in the field. As he came near the house, he heard music and dancing."},{"verse":26,"text":"So he called one of the servants. He asked him what was going on."},{"verse":27,"text":"The servant said, 'Your brother has come home. Your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and well.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"The older brother became angry and would not go in. So his father went out and begged him to come in."},{"verse":29,"text":"But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've worked for you like a slave. I've never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends."},{"verse":30,"text":"But this son of yours wasted your money on prostitutes. Now he comes home, and you kill the fattened calf for him!'"},{"verse":31,"text":"The father said, 'My son, you are always with me. Everything I have is yours."},{"verse":32,"text":"But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead, and now he is alive again. He was lost, and now he is found.'\""}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus also told his disciples this story. \"There was a rich man who had a manager. People said the manager was wasting the rich man's things."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the rich man called him in. He asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of how you have handled my things. You can't be my manager any longer.'"},{"verse":3,"text":"The manager said to himself, 'What will I do now? My master is taking my job away from me. I'm not strong enough to dig. And I'm too ashamed to beg."},{"verse":4,"text":"I know what I'll do! Then when I lose my job, people will welcome me into their homes.'"},{"verse":5,"text":"So he called in each person who owed his master something. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe my master?'"},{"verse":6,"text":"He answered, '800 gallons of olive oil.' The manager told him, 'Take your bill. Sit down quickly and write 400.'","note":"Greek: 100 baths, about 800 gallons; 50 baths, about 400 gallons."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he asked another one, 'And how much do you owe?' He answered, '1,000 bushels of wheat.' The manager told him, 'Take your bill and write 800.'","note":"Greek: 100 cors, about 1,000 bushels; 80 cors, about 800 bushels."},{"verse":8,"text":"The master praised the dishonest manager because he had acted wisely for himself. For the people of this world are wiser in dealing with their own kind than the people of the light are.","note":"Greek: the sons of this age ... the sons of light."},{"verse":9,"text":"I tell you, use the money of this world to make friends for yourselves. Then when it's gone, they will welcome you into homes that last forever."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. And whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."},{"verse":11,"text":"So if you can't be trusted with the money of this world, who will trust you with true riches?"},{"verse":12,"text":"And if you can't be trusted with what belongs to someone else, who will give you things of your own?"},{"verse":13,"text":"No servant can serve two masters. He will hate one and love the other. Or he will be loyal to one and look down on the other. You cannot serve both God and money.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The Pharisees loved money. They heard all this and made fun of Jesus."},{"verse":15,"text":"So Jesus said to them, \"You try to make yourselves look right in front of people. But God knows your hearts. For what people think is great is hateful in God's eyes."},{"verse":16,"text":"The Law and the Prophets were preached until John came. Since then, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached. And everyone is pushing hard to get into it."},{"verse":17,"text":"But it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest mark of a pen to drop out of the Law."},{"verse":18,"text":"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery. And the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."},{"verse":19,"text":"There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen. Every day he lived in luxury and enjoyed himself."},{"verse":20,"text":"A beggar named Lazarus was lying at his gate. His body was covered with sores."},{"verse":21,"text":"He wished he could eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."},{"verse":22,"text":"One day the beggar died. The angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried."},{"verse":23,"text":"In Hades, the rich man was in great pain. He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side."},{"verse":24,"text":"So he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in terrible pain in this fire.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"But Abraham answered, 'My child, remember that you got good things during your life. But Lazarus got bad things. Now he is comforted here, and you are in terrible pain."},{"verse":26,"text":"Besides all this, a deep, wide gap has been set between us and you. So those who want to cross from here to you can't. And no one can cross from there to us.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"The rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house."},{"verse":28,"text":"For I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so they won't also come to this place of pain.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"But Abraham answered, 'They have the writings of Moses and the Prophets. Your brothers should listen to them.'"},{"verse":30,"text":"He said, 'No, father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"Abraham said to him, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the Prophets, they won't be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'\""}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus said to his disciples, \"Things that cause people to sin are sure to come. But how terrible it will be for the person who causes them!"},{"verse":2,"text":"It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. That would be better than causing one of these little ones to sin."},{"verse":3,"text":"Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, tell him he is wrong. If he repents, forgive him."},{"verse":4,"text":"He may sin against you seven times in one day. And he may come back to you seven times and say, 'I'm sorry, I repent.' Even then, you must forgive him.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The apostles said to the Lord, \"Make our faith bigger!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The Lord answered, \"Your faith may be as small as a mustard seed. Even so, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and planted in the sea.' And it would obey you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep in the field. Would you say to him, 'Come right away and sit down to eat'?"},{"verse":8,"text":"No. You would say to him, 'Fix my dinner. Get dressed and serve me while I eat and drink. After that you can eat and drink.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"Would you thank the servant for doing what he was told to do?"},{"verse":10,"text":"It's the same with you. When you have done everything you were told to do, you should say, 'We are servants who don't deserve anything. We have only done our job.'\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. He was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee."},{"verse":12,"text":"As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood far away from him."},{"verse":13,"text":"They called out in loud voices, \"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus saw them and said, \"Go and show yourselves to the priests.\" And while they were on their way, they were made clean."},{"verse":15,"text":"One of them saw that he was healed. He came back, praising God in a loud voice."},{"verse":16,"text":"He threw himself with his face to the ground at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus asked, \"Weren't all ten made clean? Where are the other nine?"},{"verse":18,"text":"Did no one come back to give praise to God except this man from another country?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then Jesus said to him, \"Get up and go. Your faith has made you well!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. He answered, \"The kingdom of God does not come with signs you can watch for."},{"verse":21,"text":"People won't say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' You see, the kingdom of God is among you.\"","note":"Or: within you."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then he said to the disciples, \"The time is coming when you will wish you could see one of the days of the Son of Man. But you won't see it."},{"verse":23,"text":"People will tell you, 'Look, there he is!' or 'Look, here he is!' Don't go out and run after them."},{"verse":24,"text":"Lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. That is how the Son of Man will be in his day."},{"verse":25,"text":"But first he must suffer many things. The people of today will reject him."},{"verse":26,"text":"It will be in the days of the Son of Man just as it was in the days of Noah."},{"verse":27,"text":"People were eating and drinking. They were getting married and giving their daughters to be married. This went on until the day Noah went into the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all."},{"verse":28,"text":"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking. They were buying and selling, planting and building."},{"verse":29,"text":"But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven. It destroyed them all."},{"verse":30,"text":"It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is shown to the world."},{"verse":31,"text":"On that day, someone may be on the roof of his house, with his things inside. He should not go down to get them. In the same way, someone in the field should not go back for anything he left behind."},{"verse":32,"text":"Remember Lot's wife!"},{"verse":33,"text":"Whoever tries to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life will keep it safe."},{"verse":34,"text":"I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed. One will be taken and the other left."},{"verse":35,"text":"Two women will be grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other left.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":37,"text":"They asked, \"Where, Lord?\" Jesus answered, \"Where there is a dead body, the vultures will gather.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jesus told his disciples a story. He wanted to show them that they should always pray and not give up."},{"verse":2,"text":"He said, \"In a certain town there was a judge. He didn't fear God, and he didn't care what people thought."},{"verse":3,"text":"In that town there was a widow. She kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my enemy.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"For a while the judge refused. But later he said to himself, 'I don't fear God, and I don't care about people."},{"verse":5,"text":"But this widow keeps bothering me. So I will see that she gets justice. If I don't, she will wear me out by coming again and again!'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"The Lord said, \"Listen to what the unfair judge says."},{"verse":7,"text":"God's chosen people cry out to him day and night. Won't he see that they get justice? Will he keep putting off helping them?"},{"verse":8,"text":"I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Some people trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and they looked down on everyone else. Jesus told them this story."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee. The other was a tax collector."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people. They cheat, they do evil, and they commit adultery. I thank you that I'm not even like this tax collector."},{"verse":12,"text":"I fast two times a week. I give a tenth of everything I get.'"},{"verse":13,"text":"But the tax collector stood far away. He would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he beat his chest and said, 'God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner!'"},{"verse":14,"text":"I tell you, this man went home made right with God, not the Pharisee. For everyone who lifts himself up will be brought down. And the one who makes himself low will be lifted up.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"People were even bringing their babies to Jesus so he would put his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they scolded the people who brought them."},{"verse":16,"text":"But Jesus called the children to him. He said, \"Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them! For the kingdom of God belongs to people like them."},{"verse":17,"text":"I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then a ruler asked Jesus, \"Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?\"","note":"Greek: inherit eternal life."},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."},{"verse":20,"text":"You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Honor your father and mother.'\"","note":"Greek: do not bear false witness."},{"verse":21,"text":"The man said, \"I have obeyed all these since I was a boy.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"When Jesus heard this, he told him, \"You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you own and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich."},{"verse":24,"text":"Jesus saw how sad the man was. He said, \"How hard it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!"},{"verse":25,"text":"In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"The people who heard this asked, \"Then who can be saved?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Jesus said, \"What people can't do, God can do.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Peter said, \"Look, we have left everything we had to follow you.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I tell you the truth. Someone may have left home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the kingdom of God."},{"verse":30,"text":"That person will receive many times more in this life. And in the age to come, he will receive eternal life.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Then Jesus took the Twelve aside. He said to them, \"Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem. Everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will come true."},{"verse":32,"text":"He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will make fun of him, insult him, and spit on him."},{"verse":33,"text":"They will whip him and kill him. And on the third day he will rise again.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"But the disciples didn't understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them. They didn't know what he was talking about."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus was coming near Jericho. A blind man was sitting by the side of the road, begging."},{"verse":36,"text":"He heard the crowd going by and asked what was happening."},{"verse":37,"text":"They told him, \"Jesus of Nazareth is going by.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"So the blind man shouted, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\""},{"verse":39,"text":"The people at the front of the crowd told him to be quiet. But he shouted even louder, \"Son of David, have mercy on me!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Jesus stopped and told them to bring the man to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him,"},{"verse":41,"text":"\"What do you want me to do for you?\" He said, \"Lord, I want to see again.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Jesus said to him, \"Then see! Your faith has healed you.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Right away he could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Jesus came into Jericho and was passing through the town."},{"verse":2,"text":"A man named Zacchaeus lived there. He was a chief tax collector, and he was very rich."},{"verse":3,"text":"He was trying to see who Jesus was. But he was a short man, and he couldn't see over the crowd."},{"verse":4,"text":"So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him. Jesus was about to come that way."},{"verse":5,"text":"When Jesus reached that spot, he looked up and said, \"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Jesus with joy."},{"verse":7,"text":"Everyone who saw this began to grumble. \"He has gone to be the guest of a sinner!\" they said."},{"verse":8,"text":"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, \"Look, Lord! I'm giving half of everything I own to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay them back four times as much.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jesus said to him, \"Today salvation has come to this house, because this man is a son of Abraham too."},{"verse":10,"text":"For the Son of Man came to look for the lost and to save them.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The people were listening to this. So Jesus went on to tell them a story. He did this because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was about to appear right away."},{"verse":12,"text":"He said, \"A man from a noble family went to a faraway country. He went there to be made king and then come back."},{"verse":13,"text":"Before he left, he called ten of his servants. He gave them ten minas. 'Do business with this money until I come back,' he told them.","note":"A mina was a large sum of money, worth about 100 days' pay."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the people of his land hated him. They sent a group of messengers after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"He was made king, and then he came back. He sent for the servants he had given the money to. He wanted to find out what each one had earned."},{"verse":16,"text":"The first servant came and said, 'Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"His master said, 'Well done, good servant! You have been faithful with a very small thing. So you will be in charge of ten cities.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"The second servant came and said, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"The master said to this one, 'You will be in charge of five cities.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"Then another servant came and said, 'Master, here is your mina. I kept it put away in a piece of cloth."},{"verse":21,"text":"I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you didn't put in. You harvest what you didn't plant.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"His master said, 'You wicked servant! I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I'm a hard man? You knew I take out what I didn't put in and harvest what I didn't plant?"},{"verse":23,"text":"Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then when I came back, I could have gotten it back with interest.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"Then he said to the people standing nearby, 'Take the mina away from him. Give it to the servant who has ten minas.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"'Master,' they said, 'he already has ten!'"},{"verse":26,"text":"He answered, 'I tell you, everyone who has something will be given more. But the one who has nothing will lose even what he has."},{"verse":27,"text":"And bring here these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king. Kill them in front of me.'\""},{"verse":28,"text":"After Jesus said this, he went on ahead of them, going up to Jerusalem."},{"verse":29,"text":"He came near Bethphage and Bethany, at the hill called the Mount of Olives. Then he sent out two of his disciples."},{"verse":30,"text":"He said, \"Go into the village ahead of you. As you go in, you will find a young donkey tied there. No one has ever ridden it. Untie it and bring it here."},{"verse":31,"text":"If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So the two who were sent went off. They found everything just as Jesus had told them."},{"verse":33,"text":"As they were untying the young donkey, its owners asked, \"Why are you untying the donkey?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"They answered, \"The Lord needs it.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then they brought the donkey to Jesus. They threw their cloaks over it and put Jesus on it."},{"verse":36,"text":"As he rode along, people spread their cloaks on the road."},{"verse":37,"text":"He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives. Then the whole crowd of his disciples began to praise God with joy. They praised him with loud voices for all the miracles they had seen."},{"verse":38,"text":"\"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!\" \"Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!\""},{"verse":39,"text":"But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, \"Teacher, tell your disciples to stop!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"\"I tell you,\" he answered, \"if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will shout out.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Jesus came near Jerusalem. When he saw the city, he cried over it."},{"verse":42,"text":"He said, \"If only you had known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes."},{"verse":43,"text":"The days are coming when your enemies will build walls against you. They will surround you and close you in on every side."},{"verse":44,"text":"They will knock you flat to the ground, you and the children inside your walls. They won't leave one stone on top of another. This will happen because you didn't see that God had come to visit you.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Then Jesus went into the temple courts. He began to drive out the people who were selling things there."},{"verse":46,"text":"He said to them, \"It is written, 'My house will be a house of prayer.' But you have made it 'a hideout for robbers.'\""},{"verse":47,"text":"Every day Jesus was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were trying to kill him."},{"verse":48,"text":"Still, they couldn't find a way to do it, because all the people were listening closely to every word he said."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts. He was telling them the good news. Then the chief priests and scribes came up to him, along with the elders."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Tell us,\" they said. \"What authority do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I will ask you a question too. Tell me this:"},{"verse":4,"text":"John's baptism, did it come from heaven, or from people?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"They talked it over among themselves. They said, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe John?'"},{"verse":6,"text":"But if we say, 'From people,' all the people will stone us. That's because they are sure that John was a prophet.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So they answered that they didn't know where it came from."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things either.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Jesus went on to tell the people this story: \"A man planted a vineyard. He rented it out to some farmers and went away for a long time."},{"verse":10,"text":"At harvest time, he sent a servant to the farmers. The servant was to collect the owner's share of the grapes. But the farmers beat the servant and sent him away with nothing."},{"verse":11,"text":"So the owner sent another servant. But they beat him too and treated him shamefully. They sent him away with nothing."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then he sent a third servant. But they hurt him badly and threw him out."},{"verse":13,"text":"The owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my son, whom I love. Maybe they will respect him.'"},{"verse":14,"text":"But when the farmers saw the son, they talked it over among themselves. 'This is the one who will get the vineyard someday,' they said. 'Let's kill him. Then it will be ours.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?"},{"verse":16,"text":"He will come and kill those farmers. Then he will give the vineyard to others.\" When the people heard this, they said, \"May that never happen!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But Jesus looked right at them and said, \"Then what does this Scripture mean? 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'"},{"verse":18,"text":"Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. And anyone it falls on will be crushed.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The scribes and chief priests knew that Jesus had told this story against them. So they wanted to arrest him right then. But they were afraid of the people."},{"verse":20,"text":"So they watched Jesus closely. They sent spies who pretended to be honest. They hoped to trap him by something he said. Then they could hand him over to the power and authority of the governor."},{"verse":21,"text":"The spies asked him, \"Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is right. You don't play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully."},{"verse":22,"text":"Does the law allow us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But Jesus saw through their tricks. He said to them,"},{"verse":24,"text":"\"Show me a denarius. Whose picture and name are on it?\" \"Caesar's,\" they answered.","note":"A denarius was a silver coin, about a day's pay."},{"verse":25,"text":"So Jesus told them, \"Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give to God what belongs to God.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"They couldn't trap him by anything he said in front of the people. They were amazed at his answer, and they became silent."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then some of the Sadducees came to ask Jesus a question. The Sadducees say that no one rises from the dead."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"Teacher,\" they said, \"Moses wrote a law for us. Suppose a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children. Then the man must marry his brother's widow. He must have children for his brother."},{"verse":29,"text":"Now there were seven brothers. The first one got married, but he died without children."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the second brother married the widow,"},{"verse":31,"text":"and then the third. In the same way, all seven died and left no children."},{"verse":32,"text":"Last of all, the woman died too."},{"verse":33,"text":"So when the dead rise again, whose wife will she be? All seven were married to her.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus answered, \"The people of this age get married and are given to be married."},{"verse":35,"text":"But some will be counted worthy to share in the age to come and in the rising from the dead. Those people won't marry or be given to be married."},{"verse":36,"text":"In fact, they can't die anymore, because they are like the angels. They are children of the resurrection, so they are God's children.","note":"Greek: sons of the resurrection ... sons of God."},{"verse":37,"text":"Even Moses shows that the dead are raised. He shows it in the story about the burning bush. There he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'"},{"verse":38,"text":"He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living, because to him all are alive.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Some of the scribes said, \"Teacher, you have spoken well!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"After that, they didn't dare to ask him any more questions."},{"verse":41,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"How can people say that the Messiah is the Son of David?"},{"verse":42,"text":"David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand"},{"verse":43,"text":"until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\"'"},{"verse":44,"text":"So David calls him 'Lord.' Then how can he be David's son?\""},{"verse":45,"text":"All the people were listening. Then Jesus said to his disciples,"},{"verse":46,"text":"\"Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes. They love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. They love the most important seats in the synagogues. And they love the places of honor at feasts."},{"verse":47,"text":"They cheat widows out of their houses. Then they make long prayers to show off. These men will be punished all the more.\""}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Jesus looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the temple offering box."},{"verse":2,"text":"He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said, \"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others."},{"verse":4,"text":"They all gave out of what they had left over. But she is poor, and she put in everything she had to live on.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Some of the disciples were talking about the temple. They talked about how it was decorated with beautiful stones and with gifts given to God. Then Jesus said,"},{"verse":6,"text":"\"You see all this. But the time will come when not one stone will be left on top of another. Every one will be torn down.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Teacher,\" they asked, \"when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to happen?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Be careful that no one fools you. Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Don't follow them."},{"verse":9,"text":"When you hear about wars and uprisings, don't be afraid. These things must happen first. But the end won't come right away.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then he said to them, \"Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom."},{"verse":11,"text":"There will be great earthquakes. There will be times of hunger and sickness in many places. There will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven."},{"verse":12,"text":"But before all this happens, people will grab you and hurt you. Because of my name, they will hand you over to the synagogues and put you in prison. They will bring you in front of kings and governors."},{"verse":13,"text":"This will be your chance to be witnesses."},{"verse":14,"text":"So make up your minds not to worry ahead of time about how you will defend yourselves."},{"verse":15,"text":"I will give you words and wisdom. None of your enemies will be able to stand against them or argue with them."},{"verse":16,"text":"Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn you in. And some of you will be put to death."},{"verse":17,"text":"Everyone will hate you because of my name."},{"verse":18,"text":"But not even one hair on your head will perish."},{"verse":19,"text":"If you stay strong and patient, you will gain your souls."},{"verse":20,"text":"When you see armies surrounding Jerusalem, you will know that the city will soon be destroyed."},{"verse":21,"text":"At that time, those in Judea must run away to the mountains. Those in the city must get out. And those out in the country must not go into the city."},{"verse":22,"text":"For these are the days of punishment, so that everything that is written will come true."},{"verse":23,"text":"How awful those days will be for women who are pregnant or nursing babies! For there will be great trouble in the land and anger against this people."},{"verse":24,"text":"They will be killed by the sword. They will be taken away as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be crushed under the feet of the Gentiles. This will go on until the times of the Gentiles are over."},{"verse":25,"text":"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the earth, the nations will be in great fear. They will be confused by the roar of the sea and the crashing of the waves."},{"verse":26,"text":"People will faint from fear. They will worry about what is coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."},{"verse":28,"text":"When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is coming near.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Then Jesus told them a story: \"Look at the fig tree and all the other trees."},{"verse":30,"text":"When they start to grow leaves, you can see it for yourselves. You know that summer is near."},{"verse":31,"text":"In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near."},{"verse":32,"text":"I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened."},{"verse":33,"text":"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."},{"verse":34,"text":"But be careful. Don't let your hearts be weighed down by wild living, drunkenness, and the worries of life. If you do, that day will catch you by surprise, like a trap."},{"verse":35,"text":"It will come on everyone who lives on the whole earth."},{"verse":36,"text":"So always stay alert. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all that is about to happen. And pray that you will be able to stand in front of the Son of Man.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Every day Jesus taught at the temple. And every evening he went out and spent the night on the Mount of Olives."},{"verse":38,"text":"Early each morning all the people came to the temple to hear him."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was coming near."},{"verse":2,"text":"The chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to kill Jesus, because they were afraid of the people."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot. Judas was one of the Twelve."},{"verse":4,"text":"Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard. He talked with them about how he could hand Jesus over to them."},{"verse":5,"text":"They were very glad, and they agreed to give him money."},{"verse":6,"text":"Judas agreed. He began to watch for a chance to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was around."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the day of Unleavened Bread came. On this day the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jesus sent Peter and John. He said, \"Go and get things ready for us to eat the Passover meal.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Where do you want us to get it ready?\" they asked."},{"verse":10,"text":"He answered, \"When you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he goes into."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, \"Where is the guest room? Where can I eat the Passover meal with my disciples?\"'"},{"verse":12,"text":"He will show you a large upstairs room that is already set up. Get things ready there.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So they went and found everything just as Jesus had told them. And they got the Passover meal ready."},{"verse":14,"text":"When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table with his apostles."},{"verse":15,"text":"He said to them, \"I have wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer."},{"verse":16,"text":"I tell you, I won't eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he took a cup and gave thanks. He said, \"Take this and share it among yourselves."},{"verse":18,"text":"I tell you, from now on I won't drink wine from the vine until the kingdom of God comes.\"","note":"Greek: the fruit of the vine."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then he took the bread and gave thanks. He broke it and gave it to them. He said, \"This is my body, given for you. Do this in memory of me.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"In the same way, after supper he took the cup. He said, \"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."},{"verse":21,"text":"But look! The hand of the man who will hand me over is with mine on the table."},{"verse":22,"text":"The Son of Man will go the way that has been planned. But how terrible it will be for the man who hands him over!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then they began to ask each other which of them would do this."},{"verse":24,"text":"The disciples also started to argue. They argued about which of them was the most important."},{"verse":25,"text":"So Jesus said, \"The kings of the Gentiles boss their people around. And those who rule over them call themselves 'friends of the people.'","note":"Greek: benefactors."},{"verse":26,"text":"But you must not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest. The one who leads should be like the one who serves."},{"verse":27,"text":"Who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves him? Isn't it the one at the table? But I am here among you as one who serves."},{"verse":28,"text":"You are the ones who have stayed with me in my times of testing."},{"verse":29,"text":"And I give you a kingdom, just as my Father gave one to me."},{"verse":30,"text":"I do this so that you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel."},{"verse":31,"text":"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat."},{"verse":32,"text":"But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith won't fail. And when you have turned back, make your brothers strong.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Peter said, \"Lord, I'm ready to go with you to prison, and even to die.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"But Jesus answered, \"I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will say three times that you don't know me.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then Jesus asked them, \"I sent you out without a money bag, a travel bag, or sandals. Did you need anything?\" \"Nothing,\" they answered."},{"verse":36,"text":"He said to them, \"But now, if you have a money bag, take it. Take a travel bag too. And if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."},{"verse":37,"text":"I tell you, this Scripture must come true in me: 'He was counted among the lawbreakers.' Because what is written about me is coming true.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"The disciples said, \"Look, Lord, here are two swords.\" \"That's enough,\" he answered."},{"verse":39,"text":"Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives as he usually did. His disciples followed him."},{"verse":40,"text":"When he got to the place, he said to them, \"Pray that you won't fall into temptation.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Then he went a short distance away from them, about as far as you could throw a stone. There he knelt down and prayed."},{"verse":42,"text":"\"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Then an angel from heaven came to him and made him strong.","note":"Some early manuscripts do not include verses 43 and 44."},{"verse":44,"text":"He was in great pain of heart, and he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then Jesus got up from praying and went back to the disciples. He found them asleep. They were worn out from being so sad."},{"verse":46,"text":"\"Why are you sleeping?\" he asked them. \"Get up and pray, so that you won't fall into temptation.\""},{"verse":47,"text":"While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. The man named Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him."},{"verse":48,"text":"But Jesus asked him, \"Judas, are you handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?\""},{"verse":49,"text":"The men around Jesus saw what was about to happen. They said, \"Lord, should we fight with our swords?\""},{"verse":50,"text":"One of them struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear."},{"verse":51,"text":"But Jesus said, \"Stop! No more of this!\" Then he touched the man's ear and healed him."},{"verse":52,"text":"The chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders had come for Jesus. He said to them, \"Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber?"},{"verse":53,"text":"Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you didn't lay a hand on me. But this is your hour. It is the time when the power of darkness rules.\""},{"verse":54,"text":"Then they grabbed Jesus and led him away. They took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed far behind."},{"verse":55,"text":"Some people built a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together. Peter sat down with them."},{"verse":56,"text":"A servant girl saw him sitting there in the light of the fire. She looked closely at him and said, \"This man was with Jesus too.\""},{"verse":57,"text":"But Peter said it wasn't true. \"Woman, I don't know him,\" he said."},{"verse":58,"text":"A little later, someone else saw him. He said, \"You are one of them too.\" But Peter said, \"Man, I am not!\""},{"verse":59,"text":"About an hour later, another man kept saying, \"This man was with him for sure, because he's from Galilee too.\""},{"verse":60,"text":"Peter answered, \"Man, I don't know what you're talking about!\" Right then, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed."},{"verse":61,"text":"The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him: \"Before the rooster crows today, you will say three times that you don't know me.\""},{"verse":62,"text":"And Peter went outside and cried very hard."},{"verse":63,"text":"The men who were guarding Jesus began to make fun of him and beat him."},{"verse":64,"text":"They covered his eyes and kept saying, \"Prophesy! Who hit you?\""},{"verse":65,"text":"And they said many other evil and insulting things against him."},{"verse":66,"text":"When morning came, the council of the elders of the people met together. Both the chief priests and the scribes were there. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,","note":"The Sanhedrin was the Jewish high council."},{"verse":67,"text":"\"If you are the Messiah, tell us.\" Jesus answered, \"If I tell you, you won't believe me."},{"verse":68,"text":"And if I ask you a question, you won't answer."},{"verse":69,"text":"But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.\""},{"verse":70,"text":"They all asked, \"So are you the Son of God?\" He answered, \"You say that I am.\""},{"verse":71,"text":"Then they said, \"Why do we need any more witnesses? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.\""}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the whole council got up and took Jesus to Pilate."},{"verse":2,"text":"They began to accuse him. They said, \"We found this man leading our nation astray. He tells people not to pay taxes to Caesar. And he says he is the Messiah, a king.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Pilate asked him, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\" Jesus answered, \"You have said so.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, \"I don't find any reason to charge this man with a crime.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But they kept insisting. \"His teaching stirs up the people all over Judea,\" they said. \"He started in Galilee, and now he has come all the way here.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was from Galilee."},{"verse":7,"text":"He learned that Jesus was from the land Herod ruled. So he sent Jesus to Herod. Herod was also in Jerusalem at that time."},{"verse":8,"text":"Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He had heard about Jesus, and he hoped to see him do a miracle."},{"verse":9,"text":"Herod asked Jesus many questions. But Jesus didn't answer him at all."},{"verse":10,"text":"The chief priests and scribes were standing there. They were accusing him angrily."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Herod and his soldiers also laughed at Jesus and made fun of him. They dressed him in a fine robe and sent him back to Pilate."},{"verse":12,"text":"Herod and Pilate had been enemies before this. But that day they became friends."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people."},{"verse":14,"text":"He said to them, \"You brought this man to me. You said he was turning the people against the government. I have questioned him here in front of you. I find that he is not guilty of the things you say he did."},{"verse":15,"text":"And Herod didn't find him guilty either, because he sent him back to us. You can see that this man has done nothing that deserves death."},{"verse":16,"text":"So I will have him whipped, and then I will let him go.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":18,"text":"But the whole crowd shouted together, \"Take this man away! Let Barabbas go free for us!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"(Barabbas had been put in prison for murder and for starting a riot against the government in the city.)"},{"verse":20,"text":"Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. So he spoke to the crowd again."},{"verse":21,"text":"But they kept shouting, \"Crucify him! Crucify him!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Pilate spoke to them a third time. \"Why? What evil has this man done?\" he asked. \"I have found no reason to put him to death. So I will have him whipped, and then I will let him go.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"But they kept pushing. They shouted loudly for Jesus to be crucified. And their shouting won."},{"verse":24,"text":"So Pilate decided to give them what they asked for."},{"verse":25,"text":"He set free the man they asked for, the one in prison for a riot and murder. And he handed Jesus over to them to do what they wanted."},{"verse":26,"text":"The soldiers led Jesus away. On the way, they grabbed a man named Simon from Cyrene. He was coming into the city from the country. They put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus."},{"verse":27,"text":"A large crowd of people followed Jesus. Among them were women who kept crying and wailing over him."},{"verse":28,"text":"But Jesus turned to them and said, \"Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children."},{"verse":29,"text":"Listen, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the women who can't have children! Blessed are the wombs that never had babies, and the breasts that never fed them!'"},{"verse":30,"text":"At that time, 'people will say to the mountains, \"Fall on us!\" And they will say to the hills, \"Cover us!\"'"},{"verse":31,"text":"If people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Two other men, who were criminals, were also led out to be killed with Jesus."},{"verse":33,"text":"They came to the place called The Skull. There they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also crucified the criminals, one on his right and one on his left."},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus said, \"Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.\" And the soldiers divided up his clothes by casting lots.","note":"Some early manuscripts do not include the first sentence of this verse."},{"verse":35,"text":"The people stood there watching. And the rulers made fun of him. They said, \"He saved others. Let him save himself if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"The soldiers also made fun of him. They came up and offered him sour wine."},{"verse":37,"text":"They said, \"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!\""},{"verse":38,"text":"A sign was put up above him. It said: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."},{"verse":39,"text":"One of the criminals hanging there shouted insults at him. \"Aren't you the Messiah?\" he said. \"Then save yourself and us!\""},{"verse":40,"text":"But the other criminal told him to stop. He said, \"Don't you even fear God, since you are getting the same punishment?"},{"verse":41,"text":"We are being punished fairly. We are getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man hasn't done anything wrong.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Then he said, \"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!\""},{"verse":43,"text":"Jesus answered him, \"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"It was now about noon. Darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon."},{"verse":45,"text":"The sun stopped shining. And the curtain in the temple was torn down the middle."},{"verse":46,"text":"Jesus called out with a loud voice, \"Father, into your hands I give my spirit.\" After he said this, he took his last breath."},{"verse":47,"text":"The centurion saw what had happened, and he praised God. He said, \"This man really was righteous.\"","note":"Or innocent."},{"verse":48,"text":"Crowds of people had come together to watch this sight. When they saw what had happened, they beat their chests in sorrow and went home."},{"verse":49,"text":"But all the people who knew Jesus stood far away, watching these things. The women who had followed him from Galilee were with them."},{"verse":50,"text":"There was a man named Joseph who was a member of the Council. He was a good and righteous man."},{"verse":51,"text":"He had not agreed with what the Council decided and did. He came from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was waiting for the kingdom of God."},{"verse":52,"text":"Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body."},{"verse":53,"text":"Then he took the body down and wrapped it in a linen cloth. He put it in a tomb cut out of rock. No one had ever been buried there."},{"verse":54,"text":"It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin."},{"verse":55,"text":"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed. They saw the tomb and how Jesus' body was laid in it."},{"verse":56,"text":"Then they went home and got spices and perfumes ready. But they rested on the Sabbath, as the law commanded."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Very early on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb. They took the spices they had made ready."},{"verse":2,"text":"They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb."},{"verse":3,"text":"But when they went in, they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus."},{"verse":4,"text":"They were wondering about this. Suddenly two men in shining clothes stood beside them."},{"verse":5,"text":"The women were terrified and bowed down with their faces to the ground. The two men asked them, \"Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?"},{"verse":6,"text":"He is not here. He has risen! Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee."},{"verse":7,"text":"He said, 'The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men. He must be crucified. And on the third day he must rise again.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the women remembered what Jesus had said."},{"verse":9,"text":"They came back from the tomb. They told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others."},{"verse":10,"text":"The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. They and the other women with them told these things to the apostles."},{"verse":11,"text":"But the apostles thought their words were nonsense. They didn't believe the women."},{"verse":12,"text":"But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and looked in. He saw only the strips of linen cloth. Then he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.","note":"Some early manuscripts do not include this verse."},{"verse":13,"text":"That same day, two of Jesus' followers were walking to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem."},{"verse":14,"text":"They were talking with each other about everything that had happened."},{"verse":15,"text":"As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself came up and walked with them."},{"verse":16,"text":"But their eyes were kept from knowing who he was."},{"verse":17,"text":"He asked them, \"What are you talking about so seriously as you walk along?\" They stood still, and their faces were sad."},{"verse":18,"text":"One of them, named Cleopas, said to him, \"Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know? Haven't you heard what has happened there these last few days?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"What things?\" Jesus asked. \"The things about Jesus of Nazareth,\" they answered. \"He was a prophet. His words and actions were powerful in the eyes of God and all the people."},{"verse":20,"text":"Our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death. And they crucified him."},{"verse":21,"text":"But we had hoped that he was the one who would redeem Israel. Besides all this, it's now the third day since these things happened."},{"verse":22,"text":"Also, some of the women in our group amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning."},{"verse":23,"text":"But they didn't find his body. They came back and told us they had seen a vision of angels. The angels said that Jesus was alive."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then some of our friends went to the tomb. They found it just as the women had said. But they didn't see him.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Jesus said to them, \"How foolish you are! Your hearts are so slow to believe everything the prophets said!"},{"verse":26,"text":"Didn't the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then he began with Moses and all the Prophets. He explained to them what all the Scriptures said about himself."},{"verse":28,"text":"They came near the village where they were going. Jesus acted as if he was going on farther."},{"verse":29,"text":"But they begged him, \"Stay with us. It's almost evening, and the day is nearly over.\" So he went in to stay with them."},{"verse":30,"text":"He took his place at the table with them. Then he took the bread and blessed it. He broke it and gave it to them."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then their eyes were opened, and they knew it was Jesus. And he disappeared from their sight."},{"verse":32,"text":"They said to each other, \"Weren't our hearts burning inside us while he talked with us on the road? Weren't they burning while he explained the Scriptures to us?\""},{"verse":33,"text":"They got up right away and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and the others with them, gathered together."},{"verse":34,"text":"They were saying, \"It's true! The Lord has risen! He has appeared to Simon!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then the two told what had happened on the road. They told how they knew it was Jesus when he broke the bread."},{"verse":36,"text":"While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them. He said, \"Peace be with you.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"But they were startled and afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost."},{"verse":38,"text":"Jesus asked them, \"Why are you upset? Why do you have doubts in your hearts?"},{"verse":39,"text":"Look at my hands and my feet. It's really me! Touch me and see. A ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see I have.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"After he said this, he showed them his hands and feet."},{"verse":41,"text":"They were so full of joy and amazement that they still couldn't believe it. So he asked them, \"Do you have anything here to eat?\""},{"verse":42,"text":"They gave him a piece of cooked fish."},{"verse":43,"text":"He took it and ate it while they watched."},{"verse":44,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must come true.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures."},{"verse":46,"text":"He told them, \"This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer. And he will rise from the dead on the third day."},{"verse":47,"text":"In his name, the message to repent and be forgiven of sins will be preached to all nations. It will start in Jerusalem."},{"verse":48,"text":"You are witnesses of these things."},{"verse":49,"text":"Listen, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been filled with power from heaven.\"","note":"Greek: clothed with power from on high."},{"verse":50,"text":"Jesus led them out as far as Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them."},{"verse":51,"text":"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven."},{"verse":52,"text":"Then they worshiped him and went back to Jerusalem with great joy."},{"verse":53,"text":"They stayed at the temple all the time, praising God."}]}]},{"name":"John","slug":"john","usfm":"JHN","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God."},{"verse":2,"text":"He was with God in the beginning."},{"verse":3,"text":"All things were made through him. Nothing that has been made was made without him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Life was in him. And that life was the light for all people.","note":"Greek: the light of men."},{"verse":5,"text":"The Light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overcome it.","note":"Or: has not understood it."},{"verse":6,"text":"A man came who was sent from God. His name was John."},{"verse":7,"text":"He came as a witness to tell about the Light. He came so that everyone might believe through him."},{"verse":8,"text":"John himself was not the Light. He came to tell about the Light."},{"verse":9,"text":"The true Light was coming into the world. He gives light to everyone."},{"verse":10,"text":"He was in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know who he was."},{"verse":11,"text":"He came to his own people, but his own people did not welcome him."},{"verse":12,"text":"But some people did welcome him. They believed in his name. To all of them, he gave the right to become children of God."},{"verse":13,"text":"They are children who were not born from blood, or from human desire, or from a man's will. They were born of God."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Word became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father. He is full of grace and truth.","note":"Greek: became flesh."},{"verse":15,"text":"John told about him. He called out, \"This is the one I was talking about. I said, 'He comes after me, but he is greater than me. That's because he was before me.'\""},{"verse":16,"text":"From all that he is, we have all received grace after grace.","note":"Greek: From his fullness."},{"verse":17,"text":"For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."},{"verse":18,"text":"No one has ever seen God. But the one and only Son, who is God himself, is at the Father's side. He has made God known.","note":"Some manuscripts: the one and only Son."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is what John told the Jewish leaders. They sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, \"Who are you?\"","note":"Greek: the Jews of Jerusalem."},{"verse":20,"text":"John did not refuse to answer. He said plainly, \"I am not the Messiah.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Then who are you?\" they asked. \"Are you Elijah?\" He said, \"I am not.\" \"Are you the Prophet?\" He answered, \"No.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So they said to him, \"Who are you? We need an answer for the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"John answered with the words of Isaiah the prophet. He said, \"I am a voice of someone calling out in the wilderness, 'Make the road straight for the Lord.'\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the Pharisees who had been sent"},{"verse":25,"text":"asked him, \"Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"\"I baptize with water,\" John answered. \"But someone is standing among you that you do not know."},{"verse":27,"text":"He is the one who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the straps of his sandals.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"All this happened at Bethany, across the Jordan River. That's where John was baptizing."},{"verse":29,"text":"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. He said, \"Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"},{"verse":30,"text":"This is the one I was talking about. I said, 'A man comes after me, but he is greater than me. That's because he was before me.'"},{"verse":31,"text":"I myself did not know him. But I came baptizing with water for this reason: so that he might be shown to Israel.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Then John told them, \"I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. It stayed on him."},{"verse":33,"text":"I myself did not know him. But the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'"},{"verse":34,"text":"I have seen this. And I tell you that this is the Son of God.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"The next day John was there again with two of his disciples."},{"verse":36,"text":"He saw Jesus walking by. He said, \"Look! The Lamb of God!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus."},{"verse":38,"text":"Jesus turned and saw them following. \"What do you want?\" he asked. They said, \"Rabbi\" (which means Teacher), \"where are you staying?\""},{"verse":39,"text":"\"Come and see,\" he answered. So they went and saw where he was staying. They spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.","note":"Greek: the tenth hour."},{"verse":40,"text":"Andrew was one of the two who heard what John said and followed Jesus. He was Simon Peter's brother."},{"verse":41,"text":"The first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon. He told him, \"We have found the Messiah\" (which means Christ)."},{"verse":42,"text":"Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, \"You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas\" (which means Peter).","note":"Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock."},{"verse":43,"text":"The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, \"Follow me.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"Philip was from Bethsaida. It was the same town Andrew and Peter came from."},{"verse":45,"text":"Philip found Nathanael and told him, \"We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law. The prophets wrote about him too. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.\""},{"verse":46,"text":"\"Can anything good come from Nazareth?\" Nathanael asked. \"Come and see,\" said Philip."},{"verse":47,"text":"Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him. He said about him, \"Here is a true Israelite. There is nothing false in him.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"\"How do you know me?\" Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, \"I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"\"Rabbi,\" Nathanael answered, \"you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Jesus said to him, \"I told you I saw you under the fig tree. Do you believe just because of that? You will see greater things than these.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"Then he said, \"I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open. You will see the angels of God going up and coming down on the Son of Man.\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there,"},{"verse":2,"text":"and Jesus and his disciples had been invited to the wedding too."},{"verse":3,"text":"When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, \"They have no more wine.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"\"Woman, what does this have to do with you and me?\" Jesus answered. \"My time has not come yet.\"","note":"\"Woman\" was a polite way to speak to a woman then. Greek: My hour."},{"verse":5,"text":"His mother said to the servants, \"Do whatever he tells you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Six stone water jars were standing nearby. The Jews used them for their washing rituals. Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons."},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus told the servants, \"Fill the jars with water.\" So they filled them to the top."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Now dip some out,\" he said. \"Take it to the man in charge of the feast.\" They did that,"},{"verse":9,"text":"and the man in charge tasted the water that had become wine. He didn't know where it came from. But the servants who had dipped out the water knew. Then he called the groom over"},{"verse":10,"text":"and said, \"Everyone serves the best wine first. Then they serve the cheap wine after the guests are drunk. But you have saved the best wine until now!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"This was the first of Jesus' signs. He did it at Cana in Galilee. In this way he showed his glory, and his disciples believed in him."},{"verse":12,"text":"After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples. They stayed there a few days."},{"verse":13,"text":"When the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem."},{"verse":14,"text":"In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. Money changers were sitting at their tables."},{"verse":15,"text":"So he made a whip out of cords. He drove them all out of the temple courts, along with the sheep and cattle. He dumped out the money changers' coins and turned over their tables."},{"verse":16,"text":"He said to the men selling doves, \"Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!\""},{"verse":17,"text":"His disciples remembered that it is written, \"My deep love for your house will burn me up.\"","note":"Psalm 69:9. Greek: Zeal for your house will consume me."},{"verse":18,"text":"Because of this, the Jewish leaders asked him, \"What sign can you show us? Prove you have the right to do these things.\"","note":"Greek: the Jews."},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up again in three days.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"The Jewish leaders answered, \"It took 46 years to build this temple. And you are going to raise it up in three days?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But the temple Jesus was talking about was his body."},{"verse":22,"text":"After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast. While he was there, many people saw the signs he was doing. They believed in his name."},{"verse":24,"text":"But Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all people."},{"verse":25,"text":"He did not need anyone to tell him about people. He knew what was in each person's heart.","note":"Greek: he knew what was in a man."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"There was a man named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee and a leader of the Jews."},{"verse":2,"text":"He came to Jesus at night and said, \"Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. No one could do the signs you are doing unless God was with him.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.\"","note":"Or: born from above."},{"verse":4,"text":"\"How can a man be born when he is old?\" Nicodemus asked. \"Can he go back into his mother's womb a second time and be born?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."},{"verse":6,"text":"Flesh gives birth to flesh. But the Spirit gives birth to spirit.","note":"Here flesh means human nature."},{"verse":7,"text":"Don't be surprised that I said, 'You must be born again.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"The wind blows wherever it wants. You hear its sound. But you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.\"","note":"The Greek word for wind also means spirit."},{"verse":9,"text":"\"How can this be?\" Nicodemus asked."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"You are Israel's teacher,\" said Jesus. \"And you don't understand these things?"},{"verse":11,"text":"I tell you the truth, we talk about what we know. We tell about what we have seen. But you people do not accept what we tell you."},{"verse":12,"text":"If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?"},{"verse":13,"text":"No one has gone up into heaven except the one who came down from heaven. He is the Son of Man."},{"verse":14,"text":"Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. In the same way, the Son of Man must be lifted up,"},{"verse":15,"text":"so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."},{"verse":16,"text":"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.","note":"Greek: shall not perish."},{"verse":17,"text":"For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty. He sent him to save the world through him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever believes in him is not judged guilty. But whoever does not believe is already judged guilty. That's because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."},{"verse":19,"text":"And this is the judgment: The Light has come into the world. But people loved the darkness more than the Light, because the things they did were evil."},{"verse":20,"text":"Everyone who does evil hates the Light. He won't come into the Light, because he is afraid his deeds will be seen."},{"verse":21,"text":"But whoever lives by the truth comes into the Light. Then everyone can clearly see that what he has done was done through God.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the countryside of Judea. He spent some time with them there, and he baptized people."},{"verse":23,"text":"John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People kept coming to be baptized."},{"verse":24,"text":"(This was before John was thrown into prison.)"},{"verse":25,"text":"Then John's disciples began to argue with a Jewish man about washing rituals."},{"verse":26,"text":"So John's disciples came to him and said, \"Rabbi, look! The man who was with you across the Jordan is baptizing. You told everyone about him. Now everyone is going to him.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"John answered, \"A person can only receive what is given to him from heaven."},{"verse":28,"text":"You yourselves heard me say, 'I am not the Messiah. I am sent ahead of him.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"The bride belongs to the groom. The groom's friend stands and listens for him. He is full of joy when he hears the groom's voice. That joy is mine, and now it is full."},{"verse":30,"text":"He must become greater. I must become less."},{"verse":31,"text":"The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth. He talks like someone from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all."},{"verse":32,"text":"He tells what he has seen and heard. Yet no one accepts what he says."},{"verse":33,"text":"Whoever accepts what he says has shown that God is true."},{"verse":34,"text":"The one God has sent speaks God's words. For God gives the Spirit without limit."},{"verse":35,"text":"The Father loves the Son. He has put everything into his hands."},{"verse":36,"text":"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever refuses the Son will not see life. Instead, God's anger stays on him.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Pharisees had heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John. Jesus knew they had heard this."},{"verse":2,"text":"(But Jesus himself was not baptizing. His disciples were.)"},{"verse":3,"text":"So he left Judea and went back to Galilee."},{"verse":4,"text":"He had to go through Samaria on the way."},{"verse":5,"text":"So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar. It was near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jacob's well was there. Jesus was tired from his trip, so he sat down by the well. It was about noon.","note":"Greek: the sixth hour."},{"verse":7,"text":"A Samaritan woman came to get water. Jesus said to her, \"Give me a drink.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)"},{"verse":9,"text":"The woman said, \"You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?\" (Jews don't have anything to do with Samaritans.)"},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus answered, \"You don't know God's gift. You don't know who is asking you for a drink. If you did, you would have asked him. And he would have given you living water.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Sir,\" the woman said, \"you have nothing to get water with, and the well is deep. So where will you get this living water?"},{"verse":12,"text":"Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us this well. He drank from it himself, and so did his sons and his animals.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again."},{"verse":14,"text":"But whoever drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty. The water I give him will become a spring of water inside him. It will bubble up into eternal life.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The woman said to him, \"Sir, give me this water! Then I won't get thirsty. And I won't have to keep coming here to get water.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus told her, \"Go, call your husband and come back.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"I don't have a husband,\" the woman answered. Jesus said to her, \"You are right when you say you have no husband."},{"verse":18,"text":"The fact is, you have had five husbands. And the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Sir,\" the woman said, \"I can see that you are a prophet."},{"verse":20,"text":"Our fathers worshiped on this mountain. But you Jews say that people must worship in Jerusalem.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Believe me, woman,\" Jesus answered, \"a time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem."},{"verse":22,"text":"You people worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation comes from the Jews."},{"verse":23,"text":"But a time is coming, and it is already here. The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father is looking for people like that to worship him."},{"verse":24,"text":"God is Spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"The woman said, \"I know that the Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I am he, the one speaking to you.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Just then his disciples came back. They were surprised that he was talking with a woman. But no one asked him, \"What do you want from her?\" or \"Why are you talking with her?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the woman left her water jar and went back into the town. She said to the people,"},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could he be the Messiah?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So the people left the town and went out toward Jesus."},{"verse":31,"text":"In the meantime, the disciples kept asking him, \"Rabbi, eat something.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"But he told them, \"I have food to eat that you don't know about.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"So the disciples asked each other, \"Did someone bring him food?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus said, \"My food is to do what the one who sent me wants. My food is to finish his work."},{"verse":35,"text":"Don't you say, 'Four more months, and then the harvest comes'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."},{"verse":36,"text":"Already the one who harvests is getting paid. He is gathering a crop for eternal life. So the one who plants and the one who harvests can be glad together."},{"verse":37,"text":"The saying is true here: 'One person plants and another harvests.'"},{"verse":38,"text":"I sent you to harvest a crop you did not work for. Others did the hard work, and now you have joined in their work.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"Many Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of what the woman said. She told them, \"He told me everything I ever did.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"So the Samaritans came to him and asked him to stay with them. He stayed two days."},{"verse":41,"text":"And many more people believed because of his message."},{"verse":42,"text":"They told the woman, \"Now we believe, and not just because of what you said. We have heard him ourselves. We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"After the two days, Jesus left for Galilee."},{"verse":44,"text":"Jesus himself had said that a prophet gets no honor in his own hometown."},{"verse":45,"text":"But when he got to Galilee, the people there welcomed him. They had seen all the great things he did in Jerusalem at the feast. They had gone to the feast too."},{"verse":46,"text":"So Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee. That's where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum."},{"verse":47,"text":"The official heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee. So he went to Jesus and begged him to come down and heal his son. The boy was about to die."},{"verse":48,"text":"Jesus said to him, \"You people will never believe unless you see signs and wonders.\""},{"verse":49,"text":"\"Sir,\" the official said, \"please come down before my child dies.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"\"Go,\" said Jesus. \"Your son will live.\" The man believed what Jesus said, and he left."},{"verse":51,"text":"While he was still on his way home, his servants met him. They told him his boy was alive."},{"verse":52,"text":"He asked them what time his son got better. They told him, \"The fever left him yesterday at one in the afternoon.\"","note":"Greek: the seventh hour."},{"verse":53,"text":"Then the father knew that this was the exact time Jesus had told him, \"Your son will live.\" So he and his whole family believed."},{"verse":54,"text":"This was the second sign Jesus did after he came from Judea to Galilee."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Some time later there was a Jewish feast. Jesus went up to Jerusalem for it."},{"verse":2,"text":"In Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate there is a pool. In Hebrew it is called Bethesda. It has five covered porches.","note":"Or: covered rows of columns."},{"verse":3,"text":"Many sick people lay on these porches. There were people who were blind, people who couldn't walk well, and people who couldn't move at all."},{"verse":4,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":5,"text":"One man there had been sick and weak for 38 years.","note":"Greek: had been an invalid."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesus saw him lying there. He knew the man had been like this for a long time. So Jesus asked him, \"Do you want to get well?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Sir,\" the sick man answered, \"I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I'm trying to get there, someone else goes in ahead of me.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Jesus told him, \"Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Right away the man was healed. He picked up his mat and began to walk. This happened on the Sabbath day,"},{"verse":10,"text":"so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, \"This is the Sabbath! The law says you can't carry your mat.\"","note":"Greek: the Jews."},{"verse":11,"text":"But he answered, \"The man who healed me told me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Who is this man who told you to pick it up and walk?\" they asked."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the man who was healed didn't know who it was. Jesus had slipped away while the crowd was there."},{"verse":14,"text":"Later Jesus found the man at the temple. He said to him, \"Look, you are well now. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The man went away. He told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath. So the Jewish leaders began to persecute him."},{"verse":17,"text":"But Jesus answered them, \"My Father is always at his work, even today. And I am working too.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Because of this, the Jewish leaders tried even harder to kill him. He was breaking the Sabbath. But even more, he was calling God his own Father. He was making himself equal with God."},{"verse":19,"text":"So Jesus answered, \"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He can only do what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does."},{"verse":20,"text":"The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does. And he will show him even greater works than these. You will be amazed."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Father raises the dead and gives them life. In the same way, the Son gives life to anyone he wants."},{"verse":22,"text":"Also, the Father judges no one. He has given all judging to the Son,"},{"verse":23,"text":"so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him."},{"verse":24,"text":"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes the one who sent me has eternal life. He will not be judged. He has already crossed over from death to life."},{"verse":25,"text":"I tell you the truth, a time is coming, and it is already here. The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. And those who hear will live."},{"verse":26,"text":"The Father has life in himself. In the same way, he has let the Son have life in himself."},{"verse":27,"text":"And he has given the Son the power to judge, because he is the Son of Man."},{"verse":28,"text":"Don't be amazed at this. A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice"},{"verse":29,"text":"and come out. Those who have done good will rise to live. Those who have done evil will rise to be judged."},{"verse":30,"text":"I can do nothing by myself. I judge only as I hear. And my judging is fair, because I don't try to do what I want. I do what the one who sent me wants."},{"verse":31,"text":"If I tell about myself, what I say is not valid."},{"verse":32,"text":"But someone else tells about me. And I know that what he says about me is true."},{"verse":33,"text":"You sent people to John, and he told them the truth."},{"verse":34,"text":"I do not accept proof from people. Even so, I say these things so that you may be saved."},{"verse":35,"text":"John was a lamp that burned and gave light. For a while you were happy to enjoy his light."},{"verse":36,"text":"But I have proof that is greater than John's. The Father has given me works to finish. These very works that I am doing tell about me. They show that the Father has sent me."},{"verse":37,"text":"And the Father who sent me has told about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen what he looks like,"},{"verse":38,"text":"and his word does not live in you. That's because you do not believe the one he sent."},{"verse":39,"text":"You study the Scriptures closely because you think they give you eternal life. These are the very words that tell about me,"},{"verse":40,"text":"yet you refuse to come to me to have life."},{"verse":41,"text":"I don't accept praise from people,"},{"verse":42,"text":"but I know you. I know you don't have the love of God in you."},{"verse":43,"text":"I have come in my Father's name, and you have not welcomed me. But if someone else comes in his own name, you will welcome him."},{"verse":44,"text":"How can you believe if you accept praise from each other, but don't look for the praise that comes from the only God?"},{"verse":45,"text":"Don't think that I will accuse you in front of the Father. Moses is the one who accuses you. And he is the one you have put your hope in."},{"verse":46,"text":"If you had believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me."},{"verse":47,"text":"But you don't believe what he wrote. So how will you believe what I say?\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. (It is also called the Sea of Tiberias.)"},{"verse":2,"text":"A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was doing by healing the sick."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with his disciples."},{"verse":4,"text":"The Jewish Feast of the Passover was near."},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him. He said to Philip, \"Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But he was asking this to test Philip. He already knew what he was going to do."},{"verse":7,"text":"Philip answered, \"Two hundred days' pay would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a little piece.\"","note":"Greek: Two hundred denarii. A denarius was a day's pay."},{"verse":8,"text":"Andrew, one of his disciples, spoke up. He was Simon Peter's brother. He said to Jesus,"},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. But what good are they with so many people?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Have the people sit down,\" Jesus said. There was a lot of grass in that place. So the men sat down. There were about 5,000 of them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. He handed them out to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish. They had as much as they wanted."},{"verse":12,"text":"When everyone was full, he said to his disciples, \"Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So they gathered them. They filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves. These were left over by the people who had eaten."},{"verse":14,"text":"The people saw the sign Jesus had done. They began to say, \"This really is the Prophet who is coming into the world!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Jesus knew they were about to come and force him to be their king. So he went off again to a mountain by himself."},{"verse":16,"text":"When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea."},{"verse":17,"text":"They got into a boat and started across the sea to Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them."},{"verse":18,"text":"A strong wind was blowing, and the waves grew rough."},{"verse":19,"text":"They had rowed about three or four miles. Then they saw Jesus walking on the sea, coming near the boat. They were terrified."},{"verse":20,"text":"But Jesus called out, \"It is I. Don't be afraid.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Then they were glad to take him into the boat. Right away the boat reached the shore where they were going."},{"verse":22,"text":"The next day, the crowd was still on the other side of the sea. They knew that only one boat had been there. They knew Jesus had not gotten into it with his disciples. The disciples had gone away by themselves."},{"verse":23,"text":"But some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread. That was where the Lord had given thanks."},{"verse":24,"text":"The crowd saw that Jesus and his disciples were not there. So they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus."},{"verse":25,"text":"They found him on the other side of the sea. They asked him, \"Rabbi, when did you get here?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I tell you the truth, you are not looking for me because you saw the signs. You are looking for me because you ate the loaves and were full."},{"verse":27,"text":"Don't work for food that spoils. Work for food that lasts for eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then they asked, \"What must we do to do the works God wants?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus answered, \"This is the work God wants: to believe in the one he has sent.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So they asked him, \"Then what sign will you do so we can see it and believe you? What will you do?"},{"verse":31,"text":"Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven."},{"verse":33,"text":"The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven. He gives life to the world.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Sir,\" they said, \"give us this bread all the time.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."},{"verse":36,"text":"But as I told you, you have seen me, and still you do not believe."},{"verse":37,"text":"Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. And I will never send away anyone who comes to me."},{"verse":38,"text":"I have come down from heaven. I did not come to do what I want. I came to do what the one who sent me wants."},{"verse":39,"text":"And this is what the one who sent me wants. I must not lose any of the people he has given me. I must raise them up on the last day."},{"verse":40,"text":"My Father wants everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him to have eternal life. And I will raise him up on the last day.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Then the Jews began to grumble about Jesus. That's because he had said, \"I am the bread that came down from heaven.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"They said, \"Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. So how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?\""},{"verse":43,"text":"\"Stop grumbling to each other,\" Jesus answered."},{"verse":44,"text":"\"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."},{"verse":45,"text":"It is written in the Prophets, 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me."},{"verse":46,"text":"This doesn't mean anyone has seen the Father. Only the one who is from God has seen the Father."},{"verse":47,"text":"I tell you the truth, the one who believes has eternal life."},{"verse":48,"text":"I am the bread of life."},{"verse":49,"text":"Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, but they still died."},{"verse":50,"text":"This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat it and not die."},{"verse":51,"text":"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh. I will give it for the life of the world.\""},{"verse":52,"text":"Then the Jews began to argue with each other. They said, \"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?\""},{"verse":53,"text":"So Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, you must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood. If you don't, you have no life in you."},{"verse":54,"text":"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. And I will raise him up on the last day."},{"verse":55,"text":"My flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink."},{"verse":56,"text":"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood stays in me, and I stay in him."},{"verse":57,"text":"The living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father. In the same way, the one who feeds on me will live because of me."},{"verse":58,"text":"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your fathers ate the manna and died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.\""},{"verse":59,"text":"Jesus said this while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum."},{"verse":60,"text":"When many of his disciples heard it, they said, \"This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?\""},{"verse":61,"text":"Jesus knew his disciples were grumbling about this teaching. So he asked them, \"Does this upset you?"},{"verse":62,"text":"Then what if you see the Son of Man go up to where he was before?"},{"verse":63,"text":"The Spirit gives life. The flesh is no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life.","note":"Here flesh means human nature without the Spirit."},{"verse":64,"text":"But some of you do not believe.\" (Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe. He also knew who would betray him.)"},{"verse":65,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"That is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father allows him to.\""},{"verse":66,"text":"From then on, many of his disciples turned back. They didn't follow him anymore."},{"verse":67,"text":"So Jesus asked the Twelve, \"Do you want to leave too?\""},{"verse":68,"text":"Simon Peter answered, \"Lord, who would we go to? You have the words of eternal life."},{"verse":69,"text":"We believe, and we know that you are the Holy One of God.\""},{"verse":70,"text":"Jesus answered them, \"Didn't I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!\""},{"verse":71,"text":"He was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the Twelve, but later he would betray Jesus."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish leaders there were trying to kill him.","note":"Greek: the Jews."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near.","note":"Also called the Feast of Shelters or Booths."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Jesus' brothers said to him, \"Leave here and go to Judea. Then your disciples there can see the works you are doing."},{"verse":4,"text":"No one who wants to be known does things in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Even his own brothers did not believe in him."},{"verse":6,"text":"So Jesus told them, \"My time has not come yet. But for you, any time is right."},{"verse":7,"text":"The world can't hate you. But it hates me, because I tell it that the things it does are evil."},{"verse":8,"text":"You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, because my time has not come yet.\"","note":"Some manuscripts: not yet going up."},{"verse":9,"text":"After he said this, Jesus stayed in Galilee."},{"verse":10,"text":"But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, he went too. He did not go openly. He went in secret."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Jewish leaders were looking for him at the feast. They kept asking, \"Where is he?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Many people in the crowds were whispering about him. Some said, \"He is a good man.\" But others answered, \"No, he fools the people.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But no one would talk about him openly, because they were afraid of the Jews."},{"verse":14,"text":"When the feast was about half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Jewish leaders were amazed. They asked, \"How did this man learn so much? He never went to school.\"","note":"Greek: without having studied."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"What I teach is not my own,\" Jesus answered. \"It comes from the one who sent me."},{"verse":17,"text":"If anyone wants to do God's will, he will know where my teaching comes from. He will know if it is from God or if I speak on my own."},{"verse":18,"text":"The one who speaks on his own is looking for glory for himself. But the one who looks for glory for the one who sent him is a man of truth. There is nothing false in him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Didn't Moses give you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill me?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"\"You have a demon,\" the crowd answered. \"Who is trying to kill you?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus answered them, \"I did one miracle, and you are all amazed."},{"verse":22,"text":"But Moses gave you circumcision, so you circumcise a boy even on the Sabbath. (It really didn't start with Moses. It started with the patriarchs.)"},{"verse":23,"text":"If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won't be broken, why are you angry with me? I made a whole man well on the Sabbath."},{"verse":24,"text":"Stop judging by how things look on the outside. Start judging fairly.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then some of the people of Jerusalem began to say, \"Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?"},{"verse":26,"text":"But here he is, speaking openly. And they aren't saying anything to him. Have the rulers really come to know that he is the Messiah?"},{"verse":27,"text":"But we know where this man is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Jesus was still teaching in the temple courts. He called out, \"You know me, and you know where I am from. But I have not come on my own. The one who sent me is true. You do not know him,"},{"verse":29,"text":"but I know him, because I am from him and he sent me.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So they tried to grab him. But no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not come yet.","note":"Greek: his hour."},{"verse":31,"text":"But many in the crowd believed in him. They said, \"When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?\""},{"verse":32,"text":"The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus. So they and the chief priests sent temple guards to arrest him.","note":"Greek: officers."},{"verse":33,"text":"So Jesus said, \"I am with you for only a little while longer. Then I am going to the one who sent me."},{"verse":34,"text":"You will look for me, but you will not find me. You cannot come where I am.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then the Jewish leaders said to each other, \"Where is he planning to go that we won't find him? Will he go to the Jews who are scattered among the Greeks? Will he teach the Greeks?"},{"verse":36,"text":"What does he mean when he says, 'You will look for me, but you will not find me'? And what does he mean by, 'You cannot come where I am'?\""},{"verse":37,"text":"It was the last and greatest day of the feast. Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, \"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."},{"verse":38,"text":"Whoever believes in me, just as the Scripture says, 'Rivers of living water will flow from inside him.'\""},{"verse":39,"text":"He was talking about the Spirit. The people who believed in him would receive the Spirit later. The Spirit had not been given yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified."},{"verse":40,"text":"When some of the people heard these words, they said, \"This man really is the Prophet.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Others said, \"He is the Messiah.\" But others asked, \"How can the Messiah come from Galilee?"},{"verse":42,"text":"Doesn't the Scripture say the Messiah will come from David's family? Doesn't it say he will come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?\""},{"verse":43,"text":"So the crowd was divided because of Jesus."},{"verse":44,"text":"Some of them wanted to grab him, but no one laid a hand on him."},{"verse":45,"text":"Then the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees. The leaders asked them, \"Why didn't you bring him in?\""},{"verse":46,"text":"\"No one has ever spoken like this man!\" the guards answered."},{"verse":47,"text":"\"Have you been fooled too?\" the Pharisees answered."},{"verse":48,"text":"\"Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in him?"},{"verse":49,"text":"But this crowd doesn't know the law. They are under a curse.\""},{"verse":50,"text":"Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees. He was the one who had gone to Jesus before. He asked them,"},{"verse":51,"text":"\"Does our law judge a man guilty before it hears from him? Doesn't it first find out what he has done?\""},{"verse":52,"text":"\"Are you from Galilee too?\" they answered. \"Look into it. You will see that no prophet comes from Galilee.\""},{"verse":53,"text":"[Then each of them went to his own home.","note":"The earliest manuscripts do not include this passage."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives."},{"verse":2,"text":"Early in the morning he went back into the temple courts. All the people came to him. He sat down and taught them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to him. She had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in front of them all"},{"verse":4,"text":"and said, \"Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery."},{"verse":5,"text":"In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone a woman like this. So what do you say?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"They said this to test him. They wanted a reason to accuse him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger."},{"verse":7,"text":"They kept asking him questions. So he stood up and said to them, \"Let the one among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then he bent down again and wrote on the ground."},{"verse":9,"text":"When they heard this, they began to leave one by one. The older ones left first. At last only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Jesus stood up and asked her, \"Woman, where are the people who accused you? Has no one judged you guilty?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"\"No one, Lord,\" she answered. \"Then I don't judge you guilty either,\" Jesus said. \"Now go, and don't sin anymore.\"]"},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, \"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. He will have the light of life.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"So the Pharisees said to him, \"You are speaking for yourself. What you say about yourself proves nothing.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Even if I speak for myself, what I say is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you don't know where I came from or where I am going."},{"verse":15,"text":"You judge by human standards. I don't judge anyone.","note":"Greek: according to the flesh."},{"verse":16,"text":"But even if I do judge, my judging is true. That's because I am not alone. I am with the Father who sent me."},{"verse":17,"text":"It is written even in your own Law that what two men say together is true."},{"verse":18,"text":"I am one who speaks about myself. And the Father who sent me speaks about me too.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Where is your Father?\" they asked him. \"You do not know me or my Father,\" Jesus answered. \"If you knew me, you would know my Father too.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"He said these words while he was teaching in the temple courts, near the place where offerings were given. But no one grabbed him, because his time had not come yet.","note":"Greek: near the treasury; his hour."},{"verse":21,"text":"Again Jesus said to them, \"I am going away. You will look for me, but you will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So the Jewish leaders began to ask, \"Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'You cannot come where I am going'?\"","note":"Greek: the Jews."},{"verse":23,"text":"Then he told them, \"You are from below. I am from above. You belong to this world. I do not belong to this world."},{"verse":24,"text":"That's why I told you that you would die in your sins. You must believe that I am he. If you don't, you will die in your sins.\"","note":"Greek: that I am. Compare Exodus 3:14."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"Who are you?\" they asked. \"I am just what I have been telling you from the beginning,\" Jesus answered."},{"verse":26,"text":"\"I have a lot to say about you and a lot to judge. But the one who sent me is true. And I tell the world what I have heard from him.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"They didn't understand that he was telling them about the Father."},{"verse":28,"text":"So Jesus said, \"When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he. You will know that I do nothing on my own. I say just what the Father has taught me."},{"verse":29,"text":"The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"While Jesus was saying these things, many people believed in him."},{"verse":31,"text":"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, \"If you keep living by my word, you really are my disciples."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"\"We are Abraham's children,\" they answered. \"We have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say we will be set free?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."},{"verse":35,"text":"A slave doesn't stay in the family forever. But a son belongs to it forever."},{"verse":36,"text":"So if the Son sets you free, you will really be free."},{"verse":37,"text":"I know you are Abraham's children. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no place in you."},{"verse":38,"text":"I tell what I have seen with the Father. And you do what you have heard from your father.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"\"Abraham is our father,\" they answered. \"If you were Abraham's children,\" said Jesus, \"you would do what Abraham did."},{"verse":40,"text":"But now you are trying to kill me. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham never did anything like that."},{"verse":41,"text":"You are doing what your own father does.\" \"We are not children born outside of marriage,\" they said. \"Our only Father is God himself.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"If God were your Father, you would love me. I have come here from God. I did not come on my own. He sent me."},{"verse":43,"text":"Why don't you understand what I am saying? It's because you are not able to accept my message."},{"verse":44,"text":"You belong to your father, the devil. You want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He refuses to stand for the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he is speaking his own language, because he is a liar and the father of lies."},{"verse":45,"text":"But I tell the truth, so you don't believe me!"},{"verse":46,"text":"Can any of you prove I am guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me?"},{"verse":47,"text":"Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. You don't hear because you don't belong to God.\""},{"verse":48,"text":"The Jewish leaders answered him, \"Aren't we right to say you are a Samaritan and have a demon?\""},{"verse":49,"text":"\"I don't have a demon,\" Jesus answered. \"I honor my Father, but you dishonor me."},{"verse":50,"text":"I am not looking for glory for myself. But there is one who wants glory for me, and he is the Judge."},{"verse":51,"text":"I tell you the truth, if anyone obeys my word, he will never see death.\""},{"verse":52,"text":"The Jewish leaders said, \"Now we know you have a demon! Abraham died, and so did the prophets. But you say anyone who obeys your word will never taste death."},{"verse":53,"text":"Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?\""},{"verse":54,"text":"Jesus answered, \"If I give glory to myself, my glory means nothing. My Father is the one who gives me glory. You say about him, 'He is our God.'"},{"verse":55,"text":"You don't know him, but I know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word."},{"verse":56,"text":"Your father Abraham was full of joy that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.\""},{"verse":57,"text":"Then the Jewish leaders said to him, \"You aren't even fifty years old. And you have seen Abraham?\""},{"verse":58,"text":"\"I tell you the truth,\" Jesus said, \"before Abraham was born, I am!\"","note":"\"I am\" echoes God's name in Exodus 3:14."},{"verse":59,"text":"Then they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden, and he went out of the temple area."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind since he was born."},{"verse":2,"text":"His disciples asked him, \"Rabbi, who sinned and made this man be born blind? Was it this man or his parents?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus answered, \"This man did not sin, and his parents did not sin. This happened so that God's works could be shown in him."},{"verse":4,"text":"While it is day, we must do the works of the one who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."},{"verse":5,"text":"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"After he said this, Jesus spit on the ground and made some mud. He put it on the man's eyes."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he told him, \"Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam\" (which means \"Sent\"). So the man went and washed. And he came back able to see."},{"verse":8,"text":"His neighbors and others who had seen him begging before began to ask, \"Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Some said he was. Others said, \"No, he just looks like him.\" But the man kept saying, \"I am the one.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Then how were your eyes opened?\" they asked."},{"verse":11,"text":"He answered, \"The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Where is he?\" they asked. \"I don't know,\" he answered."},{"verse":13,"text":"They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees."},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes on a Sabbath day."},{"verse":15,"text":"So the Pharisees also asked him how he got his sight. The man answered, \"He put mud on my eyes. I washed, and now I can see.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So some of the Pharisees said, \"This man is not from God. He doesn't keep the Sabbath.\" But others said, \"How can a sinner do signs like these?\" So they were divided."},{"verse":17,"text":"So they asked the man who had been blind again, \"It was your eyes he opened. What do you say about him?\" \"He is a prophet,\" the man answered."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Jewish leaders still didn't believe that the man had been blind and now could see. So they called for his parents.","note":"Greek: the Jews."},{"verse":19,"text":"They asked them, \"Is this your son? Is he the one you say was born blind? Then how can he see now?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"His parents answered, \"We know he is our son. And we know he was born blind."},{"verse":21,"text":"But we don't know how he can see now. We don't know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. The leaders had already decided something. Anyone who said Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue."},{"verse":23,"text":"That's why his parents said, \"He is old enough. Ask him.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"So for a second time they called the man who had been blind. They said, \"Give glory to God! We know this man is a sinner.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"He answered, \"I don't know if he is a sinner. But I do know one thing. I was blind, but now I see!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"\"What did he do to you?\" they asked. \"How did he open your eyes?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"He answered, \"I already told you, and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then they shouted insults at him. They said, \"You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses."},{"verse":29,"text":"We know that God spoke to Moses. But we don't even know where this man comes from.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"\"That's amazing!\" the man said. \"You don't know where he comes from. Yet he opened my eyes."},{"verse":31,"text":"We know that God doesn't listen to sinners. But he does listen to the one who worships him and does what he wants."},{"verse":32,"text":"No one has ever heard of anyone opening the eyes of a man who was born blind."},{"verse":33,"text":"If this man were not from God, he couldn't do anything like this.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"They answered, \"You were born full of sin! And you are trying to teach us?\" And they threw him out."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out. So he found him and said, \"Do you believe in the Son of Man?\""},{"verse":36,"text":"\"Who is he, sir?\" the man answered. \"Tell me so I can believe in him.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"\"You have already seen him,\" Jesus answered. \"He is the one talking with you.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"\"Lord, I believe,\" he said. And he worshiped Jesus."},{"verse":39,"text":"Then Jesus said, \"I have come into this world to bring judgment. I came so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this. They asked him, \"Are we blind too?\""},{"verse":41,"text":"\"If you were blind,\" Jesus answered, \"you would not be guilty of sin. But now you say you can see. So your guilt stays.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"I tell you the truth. Suppose someone does not go into the sheep pen through the gate. Instead he climbs in some other way. That person is a thief and a robber."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the one who goes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep."},{"verse":3,"text":"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him. The sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."},{"verse":4,"text":"When he has brought out all his own sheep, he walks on ahead of them. His sheep follow him because they know his voice."},{"verse":5,"text":"But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him, because they don't know his voice.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesus told them this word picture. But they didn't understand what he was telling them."},{"verse":7,"text":"So Jesus spoke to them again. \"I tell you the truth. I am the gate for the sheep."},{"verse":8,"text":"All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them."},{"verse":9,"text":"I am the gate. If anyone comes in through me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out, and he will find grass to eat."},{"verse":10,"text":"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life. I want them to have it in all its fullness."},{"verse":11,"text":"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives up his life for the sheep."},{"verse":12,"text":"The hired man is not the shepherd. The sheep are not his own. So when he sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf jumps on them and scatters the flock."},{"verse":13,"text":"The man runs away because he is only hired to work. He doesn't care about the sheep."},{"verse":14,"text":"I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me,"},{"verse":15,"text":"just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give up my life for the sheep."},{"verse":16,"text":"I have other sheep too. They are not from this pen. I must bring them in as well. They will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is why the Father loves me. I give up my life so that I may take it back again."},{"verse":18,"text":"No one takes my life from me. I give it up because I choose to. I have the right to give it up. And I have the right to take it back again. My Father gave me this command.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Once again the Jews were split into groups because of what Jesus said."},{"verse":20,"text":"Many of them said, \"He has a demon in him, and he's crazy. Why would you listen to him?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But others said, \"A man with a demon in him doesn't talk like this. Can a demon make blind people see?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then it was time for the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus was walking in the temple courts, in Solomon's Porch.","note":"Greek: Solomon's Colonnade, a covered walkway with rows of columns."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the Jews gathered around him. \"How long will you keep us guessing?\" they asked. \"If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"\"I already told you,\" Jesus answered. \"But you don't believe. I do my works in my Father's name. They speak for me."},{"verse":26,"text":"But you are not my sheep. That is why you won't believe."},{"verse":27,"text":"My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me."},{"verse":28,"text":"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can grab them out of my hand."},{"verse":29,"text":"My Father has given them to me. He is greater than all. No one can grab them out of my Father's hand."},{"verse":30,"text":"I and the Father are one.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"When he said this, the Jews picked up stones again to stone him."},{"verse":32,"text":"But Jesus said to them, \"I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which one of these are you stoning me for?\""},{"verse":33,"text":"\"We are not stoning you for any good work,\" the Jews answered. \"We are stoning you for blasphemy. You are only a man, but you claim to be God.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Isn't it written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?"},{"verse":35,"text":"If he called them 'gods,' the people God's word came to, and the Scripture can't be broken,"},{"verse":36,"text":"then what about the One the Father set apart and sent into the world? How can you say I am speaking blasphemy because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?"},{"verse":37,"text":"If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me."},{"verse":38,"text":"But if I am doing them, believe the works themselves, even if you don't believe me. Then you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"When he said this, they tried again to grab him. But he got away from them."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then Jesus went back across the Jordan River. He went to the place where John had first been baptizing people. And he stayed there."},{"verse":41,"text":"Many people came to him. They said, \"John never did a miraculous sign. But everything John said about this man was true.\""},{"verse":42,"text":"And many people there believed in Jesus."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany. This was the village of Mary and her sister Martha."},{"verse":2,"text":"(Lazarus was the brother of this Mary. She was the one who would later pour perfume on the Lord and wipe his feet with her hair.)"},{"verse":3,"text":"So the sisters sent a message to Jesus. \"Lord, the one you love is sick.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"When Jesus heard this, he said, \"This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory. It is so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus."},{"verse":6,"text":"So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he said to his disciples, \"Let's go back to Judea.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Rabbi,\" they said, \"the Jews just tried to stone you. And you're going back there?\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? If anyone walks in the daytime, he won't trip, because he sees by the light of this world."},{"verse":10,"text":"But if anyone walks at night, he will trip, because he has no light.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"After he said this, he told them, \"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to wake him up.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"His disciples said, \"Lord, if he's sleeping, he will get better.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"They thought Jesus meant normal sleep. But he was talking about Lazarus's death."},{"verse":14,"text":"So Jesus told them plainly, \"Lazarus is dead."},{"verse":15,"text":"And for your sake I am glad I wasn't there, so that you may believe. But let's go to him.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Thomas, who was called the Twin, spoke to the other disciples. \"Let's go too,\" he said. \"Then we can die with him.\"","note":"Greek: Didymus, which means Twin."},{"verse":17,"text":"When Jesus got there, he found out that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days."},{"verse":18,"text":"Bethany was close to Jerusalem. It was a little less than two miles away."},{"verse":19,"text":"Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary. They came to comfort them because their brother had died."},{"verse":20,"text":"Martha heard that Jesus was coming, so she went out to meet him. But Mary stayed at home."},{"verse":21,"text":"Martha said to Jesus, \"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."},{"verse":22,"text":"But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask him for.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"Your brother will rise again.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Martha answered, \"I know he will rise again. He will rise when the dead are raised on the last day.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though he dies."},{"verse":26,"text":"And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"\"Yes, Lord,\" she said. \"I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. You are the One who was to come into the world.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"After Martha said this, she went back home. She called her sister Mary to come away from the others. \"The Teacher is here,\" she said. \"He is asking for you.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus had not come into the village yet. He was still at the place where Martha had met him."},{"verse":31,"text":"Some Jews were in the house comforting Mary. They saw her get up quickly and go out. So they followed her. They thought she was going to the tomb to cry there."},{"verse":32,"text":"Mary came to the place where Jesus was. When she saw him, she fell down at his feet. She said, \"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Jesus saw her crying. He saw that the Jews who came with her were crying too. Then he was deeply moved in his spirit, and he was troubled."},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Where have you put him?\" he asked. \"Come and see, Lord,\" they answered."},{"verse":35,"text":"Jesus wept."},{"verse":36,"text":"Then the Jews said, \"See how much he loved him!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"But some of them said, \"This man opened the eyes of the blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying too?\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Once again Jesus was deeply moved. He came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone across the opening."},{"verse":39,"text":"\"Take away the stone,\" Jesus said. Martha, the dead man's sister, spoke up. \"Lord, by now there will be a bad smell,\" she said. \"He has been in there four days.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believed?\""},{"verse":41,"text":"So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, \"Father, thank you for hearing me."},{"verse":42,"text":"I knew that you always hear me. But I said this for the good of the people standing here. I want them to believe that you sent me.\""},{"verse":43,"text":"After Jesus said this, he called out in a loud voice, \"Lazarus, come out!\""},{"verse":44,"text":"The man who had been dead came out. His hands and feet were tied up with strips of linen cloth. A cloth was wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, \"Take off the grave clothes and let him go.\""},{"verse":45,"text":"Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary saw what Jesus did. So they believed in him."},{"verse":46,"text":"But some of them went to the Pharisees. They told them what Jesus had done."},{"verse":47,"text":"Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. \"What are we going to do?\" they asked. \"This man is doing many miraculous signs."},{"verse":48,"text":"If we let him keep doing this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come. They will take away both our place and our nation.\"","note":"\"Our place\" most likely means the temple."},{"verse":49,"text":"One of them was named Caiaphas. He was high priest that year. He said to them, \"You don't know anything at all!"},{"verse":50,"text":"You don't see that it's better for you if one man dies for the people. That is better than for the whole nation to perish.\""},{"verse":51,"text":"Caiaphas didn't say this on his own. He was high priest that year. So he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation."},{"verse":52,"text":"And Jesus would not die only for that nation. He would also die for God's children who were scattered. He would bring them together and make them one."},{"verse":53,"text":"So from that day on, they made plans to kill Jesus."},{"verse":54,"text":"Because of this, Jesus no longer moved around openly among the Jews. Instead, he went away to a town called Ephraim. It was near the wilderness. He stayed there with his disciples."},{"verse":55,"text":"It was almost time for the Jewish Passover. Many people went up from the country to Jerusalem. They went to make themselves clean before the Passover."},{"verse":56,"text":"They kept looking for Jesus. They stood in the temple courts and asked each other, \"What do you think? Will he even come to the feast?\""},{"verse":57,"text":"But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders. Anyone who knew where Jesus was had to report it. Then they could arrest him."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany. This was the hometown of Lazarus. Jesus had raised him from the dead."},{"verse":2,"text":"So they gave a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served the food. Lazarus was one of the people reclining at the table with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Mary took about a pint of costly perfume. It was made of pure nard. She poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair. The whole house was filled with the sweet smell of the perfume."},{"verse":4,"text":"But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, spoke up. He was the one who would later betray Jesus. He asked,"},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Why wasn't this perfume sold? It was worth three hundred denarii. The money could have been given to the poor.\"","note":"A denarius was a day's pay, so this was about a year's pay."},{"verse":6,"text":"Judas didn't say this because he cared about the poor. He said it because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money bag. He used to take some of the money that was put into it."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Leave her alone,\" Jesus answered. \"She has saved this perfume to get ready for the day of my burial."},{"verse":8,"text":"You will always have the poor with you. But you will not always have me.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Meanwhile, a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there. They came not only because of Jesus. They also came to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead."},{"verse":10,"text":"So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too."},{"verse":11,"text":"Because of Lazarus, many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus."},{"verse":12,"text":"The next day the great crowd that had come for the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem."},{"verse":13,"text":"They took palm branches and went out to meet him. They shouted, \"Hosanna!\" \"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\" \"Blessed is the King of Israel!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. This was just as it is written:"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Do not be afraid, Daughter of Zion.\nLook, your King is coming,\nsitting on a donkey's colt.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"At first his disciples didn't understand these things. But later, after Jesus was glorified, they remembered what had been done to him. Then they saw that these very things had also been written about him."},{"verse":17,"text":"Many people had been with Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the tomb. They saw him raise Lazarus from the dead. These people kept telling others what they had seen."},{"verse":18,"text":"That is also why the crowd went out to meet him. They had heard that he had done this miraculous sign."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then the Pharisees said to each other, \"You can see this is getting you nowhere. Look, the whole world is following him!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Some Greeks were among the people who went up to worship at the feast."},{"verse":21,"text":"They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They asked him, \"Sir, we want to see Jesus.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Philip went and told Andrew. Then both of them went and told Jesus."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus answered them, \"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."},{"verse":24,"text":"I tell you the truth. Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it stays only one seed. But if it dies, it makes much fruit."},{"verse":25,"text":"Anyone who loves his life will lose it. But anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."},{"verse":26,"text":"Anyone who serves me must follow me. And where I am, my servant will be too. My Father will honor anyone who serves me."},{"verse":27,"text":"Now my soul is troubled. What should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, this is the very reason I came to this hour."},{"verse":28,"text":"Father, bring glory to your name!\" Then a voice came from heaven. \"I have brought glory to it, and I will bring glory to it again.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"The crowd standing there heard it. Some said it had thundered. Others said an angel had spoken to him."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus answered, \"This voice was not for my good. It was for yours."},{"verse":31,"text":"Now is the time for this world to be judged. Now the prince of this world will be thrown out."},{"verse":32,"text":"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die."},{"verse":34,"text":"The crowd answered, \"We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will live forever. So how can you say the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then Jesus told them, \"The Light will be with you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the Light. Then darkness won't catch you. The one who walks in the dark doesn't know where he is going."},{"verse":36,"text":"Believe in the Light while you have the Light. Then you may become children of light.\" After Jesus said these things, he went away and hid from them.","note":"Greek: sons of light."},{"verse":37,"text":"Jesus had done so many miraculous signs right in front of them. But they still didn't believe in him."},{"verse":38,"text":"This happened to make the words of Isaiah the prophet come true:\n\"Lord, who has believed our message?\nAnd to whom has the arm of the Lord been shown?\""},{"verse":39,"text":"This is why they could not believe. For Isaiah also says:"},{"verse":40,"text":"\"He has blinded their eyes\nand made their hearts hard.\nSo they can't see with their eyes\nor understand with their hearts\nor turn, so that I would heal them.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus' glory. He spoke about him."},{"verse":42,"text":"Still, many of the leaders believed in him. But they were afraid of the Pharisees. So they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid they would be thrown out of the synagogue."},{"verse":43,"text":"This was because they loved praise from people more than praise from God."},{"verse":44,"text":"Then Jesus called out, \"Anyone who believes in me doesn't believe in me alone. He also believes in the One who sent me."},{"verse":45,"text":"And anyone who sees me sees the One who sent me."},{"verse":46,"text":"I have come into the world as a light. So no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."},{"verse":47,"text":"Someone may hear my words and not obey them. I do not judge that person, because I did not come to judge the world. I came to save the world."},{"verse":48,"text":"There is a judge for the one who turns away from me and won't accept my words. The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day."},{"verse":49,"text":"I have not spoken on my own. The Father who sent me commanded me what to say. He told me how to say it."},{"verse":50,"text":"And I know that his command leads to eternal life. So I say exactly what the Father has told me to say.\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that his hour had come. It was time for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. He had loved his own people who were in the world. Now he loved them to the very end."},{"verse":2,"text":"The evening meal was going on. The devil had already put the idea into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. It was the idea to betray Jesus."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands. He knew that he had come from God and was going back to God."},{"verse":4,"text":"So he got up from the meal and took off his outer clothes. He wrapped a towel around his waist."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then he poured water into a bowl. He began to wash his disciples' feet. He dried them with the towel he had wrapped around himself."},{"verse":6,"text":"He came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, \"Lord, are you going to wash my feet?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus answered, \"You don't understand now what I am doing. But later you will understand.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"\"No,\" Peter said. \"You will never wash my feet!\" Jesus answered, \"Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"\"Then, Lord,\" Simon Peter answered, \"don't wash only my feet. Wash my hands and my head too!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus told him, \"A person who has already had a bath only needs to wash his feet. Then his whole body is clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus knew who was going to betray him. That is why he said not all of them were clean."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus finished washing their feet. Then he put his outer clothes back on and reclined at the table again. \"Do you understand what I have done for you?\" he asked them."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord.' You are right, because that is what I am."},{"verse":14,"text":"So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, then you also should wash each other's feet."},{"verse":15,"text":"I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you."},{"verse":16,"text":"I tell you the truth. No servant is greater than his master. And no messenger is greater than the one who sent him."},{"verse":17,"text":"If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."},{"verse":18,"text":"I am not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this happens to make the Scripture come true: 'The one who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"I am telling you now, before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe that I am He."},{"verse":20,"text":"I tell you the truth. Anyone who welcomes the one I send welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"After Jesus said this, he was troubled in his spirit. He said plainly, \"I tell you the truth. One of you is going to betray me.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The disciples looked at each other. They had no idea which one of them he meant."},{"verse":23,"text":"One of his disciples was reclining next to him. He was the disciple whom Jesus loved."},{"verse":24,"text":"Simon Peter made a sign to this disciple. He wanted him to ask Jesus which one he meant."},{"verse":25,"text":"So that disciple leaned back against Jesus. He asked him, \"Lord, who is it?\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus answered, \"It is the one I will give this piece of bread to after I dip it in the dish.\" Then he dipped the piece of bread. He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot."},{"verse":27,"text":"As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, \"What you are about to do, do it quickly.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"But no one at the table understood why Jesus said this to him."},{"verse":29,"text":"Judas was in charge of the money bag. So some of them thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast. Or they thought he was telling him to give something to the poor."},{"verse":30,"text":"As soon as Judas took the bread, he went out. And it was night."},{"verse":31,"text":"After Judas left, Jesus said, \"Now the Son of Man is glorified. And God is glorified in him."},{"verse":32,"text":"If God is glorified in the Son, God will also glorify the Son in himself. And he will glorify him right away."},{"verse":33,"text":"My little children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me. I told the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' Now I say the same thing to you."},{"verse":34,"text":"I give you a new command: Love one another. You must love one another just as I have loved you."},{"verse":35,"text":"If you love one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Simon Peter asked him, \"Lord, where are you going?\" Jesus answered, \"Where I am going, you can't follow me now. But you will follow me later.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Peter asked, \"Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will give up my life for you.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Will you really give up your life for me? I tell you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me too."},{"verse":2,"text":"There are many rooms in my Father's house. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?"},{"verse":3,"text":"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. I will take you to be with me. Then you also will be where I am."},{"verse":4,"text":"You know the way to the place where I am going.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Thomas said to him, \"Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way?\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."},{"verse":7,"text":"If you had really known me, you would know my Father too. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Philip said to him, \"Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Philip, I have been with you all this time. Don't you know me yet? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not my own. It is the Father living in me. He is doing his works."},{"verse":11,"text":"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the works themselves."},{"verse":12,"text":"I tell you the truth. Anyone who believes in me will also do the works I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."},{"verse":13,"text":"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."},{"verse":14,"text":"If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it."},{"verse":15,"text":"If you love me, you will obey my commands."},{"verse":16,"text":"And I will ask the Father. He will give you another Helper to be with you forever.","note":"Greek: Paraclete, meaning Advocate, Helper, or Counselor."},{"verse":17,"text":"He is the Spirit of truth. The world can't accept him, because it doesn't see him or know him. But you do know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you."},{"verse":19,"text":"In a little while the world won't see me anymore. But you will see me. Because I live, you will live too."},{"verse":20,"text":"On that day you will know that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in me, and I am in you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Whoever has my commands and obeys them is the one who loves me. My Father will love the one who loves me. I will love him too, and I will show myself to him.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said to him, \"Lord, why will you show yourself to us and not to the world?\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus answered, \"Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him. We will come to him and make our home with him."},{"verse":24,"text":"Anyone who does not love me does not obey my teaching. The words you hear are not my own. They belong to the Father who sent me."},{"verse":25,"text":"I have told you all this while I am still with you."},{"verse":26,"text":"But the Father will send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, in my name. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have told you."},{"verse":27,"text":"I leave peace with you. I give you my peace. I don't give it to you the way the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid."},{"verse":28,"text":"You heard me say, 'I am going away, and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father. For the Father is greater than I am."},{"verse":29,"text":"I have told you now, before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe."},{"verse":30,"text":"I won't talk with you much longer. The prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me."},{"verse":31,"text":"But I do exactly what the Father has commanded me. I do it so the world will know that I love the Father. Get up! Let's leave this place."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener who cares for the vineyard."},{"verse":2,"text":"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. And he trims every branch that does bear fruit. He does this so it will bear even more fruit."},{"verse":3,"text":"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. In the same way, you can't bear fruit unless you remain in me."},{"verse":5,"text":"I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit. For without me you can do nothing."},{"verse":6,"text":"If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like that are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned."},{"verse":7,"text":"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want. It will be done for you."},{"verse":8,"text":"This brings glory to my Father, when you bear much fruit. It shows that you are my disciples."},{"verse":9,"text":"I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love."},{"verse":10,"text":"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I remain in his love."},{"verse":11,"text":"I have told you these things so that my joy will be in you. I want your joy to be complete."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you."},{"verse":13,"text":"No one has greater love than this: to give up his life for his friends."},{"verse":14,"text":"You are my friends if you do what I command you."},{"verse":15,"text":"I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. Instead, I have called you friends. That is because I have told you everything I learned from my Father."},{"verse":16,"text":"You did not choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name."},{"verse":17,"text":"This is my command to you: Love one another."},{"verse":18,"text":"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first."},{"verse":19,"text":"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. But you don't belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."},{"verse":20,"text":"Remember what I told you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they were cruel to me, they will be cruel to you too. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours too.","note":"Greek: persecuted."},{"verse":21,"text":"But they will treat you this way because of my name, since they don't know the One who sent me."},{"verse":22,"text":"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin."},{"verse":23,"text":"Anyone who hates me also hates my Father."},{"verse":24,"text":"I did works among them that no one else ever did. If I had not, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these works. And they have hated both me and my Father."},{"verse":25,"text":"But this happened to make what is written in their Law come true: 'They hated me for no reason.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"I will send the Helper to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth who comes out from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me."},{"verse":27,"text":"And you also must tell about me, because you have been with me from the beginning."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"I have told you these things so that you won't fall away."},{"verse":2,"text":"They will throw you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when people will kill you. And they will think they are serving God by doing it."},{"verse":3,"text":"They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me."},{"verse":4,"text":"But I have told you these things for a reason. When their time comes, you will remember that I warned you. I didn't tell you these things at the beginning, because I was with you."},{"verse":5,"text":"But now I am going to the One who sent me. Yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'"},{"verse":6,"text":"Instead, your hearts are full of sadness because I have told you these things."},{"verse":7,"text":"But I tell you the truth. It is good for you that I am going away. If I don't go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."},{"verse":8,"text":"When he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin, about what is right, and about judgment."},{"verse":9,"text":"He will prove them wrong about sin, because they don't believe in me."},{"verse":10,"text":"He will prove them wrong about what is right, because I am going to the Father. You will not see me anymore."},{"verse":11,"text":"And he will prove them wrong about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged guilty."},{"verse":12,"text":"I still have many things to tell you. But they would be too much for you to handle right now."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the Spirit of truth will come. He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears. And he will tell you what is still to come."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will bring glory to me. He will take what is mine and make it known to you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Everything that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take what is mine and make it known to you."},{"verse":16,"text":"In a little while you won't see me anymore. Then after a little while you will see me again.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Some of his disciples asked each other, \"What does he mean? He says, 'In a little while you won't see me, and then after a little while you will see me.' He also says, 'Because I am going to the Father.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"They kept asking, \"What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus knew they wanted to ask him about it. So he said to them, \"Are you asking each other what I meant? I said, 'In a little while you won't see me, and then after a little while you will see me.'"},{"verse":20,"text":"I tell you the truth. You will cry and be very sad, but the world will be glad. You will be full of grief. But your grief will turn into joy."},{"verse":21,"text":"A woman has pain when she gives birth, because her time has come. But when her baby is born, she forgets the pain. She is so happy that a child has been born into the world."},{"verse":22,"text":"It's the same with you. You are sad now. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be glad. No one will take your joy away from you."},{"verse":23,"text":"On that day you won't ask me for anything. I tell you the truth. My Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name."},{"verse":24,"text":"Until now you haven't asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive. Then your joy will be complete."},{"verse":25,"text":"I have told you these things using word pictures. But a time is coming when I won't talk this way anymore. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father."},{"verse":26,"text":"On that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father for you."},{"verse":27,"text":"The Father himself loves you. He loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."},{"verse":28,"text":"I came from the Father and entered the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"His disciples said, \"Look, now you are speaking plainly. You aren't using word pictures."},{"verse":30,"text":"Now we understand that you know all things. You don't even need anyone to ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"\"Do you believe at last?\" Jesus answered."},{"verse":32,"text":"\"Listen, a time is coming, and it has already come. You will be scattered, each one to his own home. You will leave me all alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me."},{"verse":33,"text":"I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have overcome the world!\""}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After Jesus said these things, he looked up toward heaven. He prayed, \"Father, the hour has come. Bring glory to your Son, so that your Son may bring glory to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"You gave him authority over all people. You did this so he could give eternal life to all those you have given him."},{"verse":3,"text":"And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."},{"verse":4,"text":"I have brought you glory on earth. I did it by finishing the work you gave me to do."},{"verse":5,"text":"And now, Father, bring me into glory with you. Give me the glory I had with you before the world began."},{"verse":6,"text":"You gave me some people out of the world. I have shown them who you are. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me. And they have obeyed your word.","note":"Greek: I have revealed your name."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you."},{"verse":8,"text":"I gave them the words you gave me, and they accepted them. They knew for sure that I came from you. And they believed that you sent me."},{"verse":9,"text":"I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world. I am praying for those you have given me, because they belong to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them."},{"verse":11,"text":"I won't be in the world any longer. But they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of your name. It is the name you gave me. Then they will be one, just as we are one."},{"verse":12,"text":"While I was with them, I kept them safe by your name. It is the name you gave me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost. Only the son of destruction was lost. This happened so the Scripture would come true."},{"verse":13,"text":"But now I am coming to you. I am saying these things while I am still in the world. I want them to have my joy, filled up inside them."},{"verse":14,"text":"I have given them your word. And the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world."},{"verse":15,"text":"I am not asking you to take them out of the world. I am asking you to keep them safe from the evil one."},{"verse":16,"text":"They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world."},{"verse":17,"text":"Make them holy by the truth. Your word is truth.","note":"Greek: Sanctify them."},{"verse":18,"text":"You sent me into the world. In the same way, I have sent them into the world."},{"verse":19,"text":"For their sake I set myself apart. Then they too can be made holy by the truth."},{"verse":20,"text":"I am not praying only for them. I am also praying for those who will believe in me because of their message."},{"verse":21,"text":"I pray that all of them will be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me."},{"verse":22,"text":"I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they may be one, just as we are one."},{"verse":23,"text":"I am in them, and you are in me. May they be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me. It will know that you have loved them just as you have loved me."},{"verse":24,"text":"Father, you have given them to me. I want them to be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory. You gave me this glory because you loved me before the world was made."},{"verse":25,"text":"Righteous Father, the world has not known you. But I know you. And these people know that you sent me."},{"verse":26,"text":"I have made your name known to them. And I will keep making it known. Then the love you have for me will be in them. And I myself will be in them.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When Jesus had finished praying, he left with his disciples. They crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and they went into it."},{"verse":2,"text":"Judas, the one who betrayed him, also knew the place. Jesus had often met there with his disciples."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Judas brought a group of soldiers there. He also brought some officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to him. So he stepped forward and asked them, \"Who are you looking for?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Jesus of Nazareth,\" they answered. Jesus said, \"I am he.\" Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them."},{"verse":6,"text":"When Jesus said, \"I am he,\" they stepped back and fell to the ground."},{"verse":7,"text":"So he asked them again, \"Who are you looking for?\" \"Jesus of Nazareth,\" they said."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jesus answered, \"I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"This happened so that the words he had spoken would come true: \"I have not lost one of the people you gave me.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then Simon Peter pulled out his sword. He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus."},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus said to Peter, \"Put your sword away! Shouldn't I drink the cup the Father has given me?\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the soldiers, their commander, and the Jewish officers arrested Jesus. They tied him up."},{"verse":13,"text":"They took him first to Annas. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year."},{"verse":14,"text":"Caiaphas was the one who had told the Jews it would be better if one man died for the people."},{"verse":15,"text":"Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. The high priest knew that other disciple. So he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard."},{"verse":16,"text":"But Peter had to stand outside at the door. So the other disciple, the one the high priest knew, came back out. He spoke to the girl at the door and brought Peter in."},{"verse":17,"text":"The servant girl at the door asked Peter, \"Aren't you one of this man's disciples too?\" \"I am not,\" he answered."},{"verse":18,"text":"It was cold. The servants and officers had made a fire of charcoal to keep warm. They stood around it. Peter was standing with them, warming himself too."},{"verse":19,"text":"Meanwhile, the high priest asked Jesus questions about his disciples and his teaching."},{"verse":20,"text":"\"I have spoken openly to the world,\" Jesus answered. \"I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple. All the Jews come together there. I said nothing in secret."},{"verse":21,"text":"Why are you asking me? Ask the people who heard me. They know what I said.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"When Jesus said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped him in the face. \"Is that how you answer the high priest?\" he asked."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus answered, \"If I said something wrong, tell everyone what was wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you hit me?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Annas sent Jesus, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest."},{"verse":25,"text":"Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, \"Aren't you one of his disciples too?\" He said no. \"I am not,\" he said."},{"verse":26,"text":"One of the high priest's servants was there. He was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off. He asked Peter, \"Didn't I see you with him in the garden?\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Again Peter said no. And right then a rooster crowed."},{"verse":28,"text":"Then the Jews took Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was now early morning. The Jews did not go into the Praetorium. They did not want to become unclean, because then they could not eat the Passover meal.","note":"The Praetorium was the Roman governor's headquarters."},{"verse":29,"text":"So Pilate came out to them. He asked, \"What charges are you bringing against this man?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"They answered, \"If he weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"Pilate told them, \"You take him. Judge him by your own law.\" The Jews answered, \"We aren't allowed to put anyone to death.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"This happened to make Jesus' words come true. He had said what kind of death he was going to die."},{"verse":33,"text":"Pilate went back into the Praetorium. He called Jesus to him and asked, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Jesus asked, \"Is that your own idea? Or did others tell you about me?\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Pilate answered, \"Am I a Jew? Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?\""},{"verse":36,"text":"Jesus answered, \"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight. They would keep the Jews from arresting me. But my kingdom is not from this place.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"\"So you are a king!\" Pilate said. Jesus answered, \"You say that I am a king. I was born for this reason. I came into the world to tell about the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"\"What is truth?\" Pilate asked. After he said this, he went out to the Jews again. He told them, \"I find no reason to charge him with a crime."},{"verse":39,"text":"But you have a custom. Each year at the Passover I set one prisoner free for you. So do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?\""},{"verse":40,"text":"They shouted back, \"No, not him! Give us Barabbas!\" (Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.)"}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped."},{"verse":2,"text":"The soldiers twisted thorny branches together to make a crown. They put it on his head. They dressed him in a purple robe."},{"verse":3,"text":"They kept coming up to him and saying, \"Hail, King of the Jews!\" And they slapped him in the face."},{"verse":4,"text":"Once again Pilate came out. He said to the Jews, \"Look, I am bringing him out to you. I want you to know that I find no reason to charge him with a crime.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, \"Here is the man!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"As soon as the chief priests and officers saw him, they shouted, \"Crucify him! Crucify him!\" Pilate answered, \"You take him and crucify him. I find no reason to charge him with a crime.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The Jews answered, \"We have a law. That law says he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid."},{"verse":9,"text":"He went back inside the Praetorium. \"Where do you come from?\" he asked Jesus. But Jesus did not answer him."},{"verse":10,"text":"So Pilate said to him, \"Won't you talk to me? Don't you know I have power to set you free? I also have power to crucify you.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus answered, \"You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the Jews kept shouting, \"If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is against Caesar.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. He sat down on the judge's seat. It was at a place called the Stone Pavement. In Hebrew it is called Gabbatha."},{"verse":14,"text":"It was the day of Preparation for the Passover. It was about noon. Pilate said to the Jews, \"Here is your King!\"","note":"Greek: about the sixth hour."},{"verse":15,"text":"But they shouted, \"Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!\" \"Do you want me to crucify your King?\" Pilate asked. The chief priests answered, \"We have no king but Caesar.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. So the soldiers took him away."},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus carried his own cross. He went out to a place called the Place of the Skull. In Hebrew it is called Golgotha."},{"verse":18,"text":"There they crucified him. They also crucified two other men with him. One was on each side, and Jesus was in the middle."},{"verse":19,"text":"Pilate also had a sign put up on the cross. It said: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."},{"verse":20,"text":"Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek."},{"verse":21,"text":"The chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, \"Don't write, 'The King of the Jews.' Write that this man said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Pilate answered, \"What I have written, I have written.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes. They divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic. It had no seam. It was woven in one piece from top to bottom."},{"verse":24,"text":"So they said to each other, \"Let's not tear it. Let's cast lots to see who gets it.\" This happened to make the Scripture come true: \"They divided my clothes among them. They cast lots for what I wore.\" So that is what the soldiers did."},{"verse":25,"text":"Some women stood near the cross of Jesus. His mother was there, and so was her sister. Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene were there too."},{"verse":26,"text":"Jesus saw his mother there. He saw the disciple he loved standing nearby. He said to his mother, \"Woman, here is your son.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then he said to the disciple, \"Here is your mother.\" From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."},{"verse":28,"text":"After this, Jesus knew that everything was now done. And to make the Scripture come true, he said, \"I am thirsty.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"A jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in it. They put the sponge on a stalk of hyssop and lifted it up to his mouth."},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus drank the sour wine. Then he said, \"It is finished.\" He bowed his head and gave up his spirit."},{"verse":31,"text":"It was the day of Preparation. The next day was a special Sabbath. The Jews did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during the Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to have the men's legs broken and the bodies taken down."},{"verse":32,"text":"So the soldiers came. They broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus. Then they broke the legs of the other man."},{"verse":33,"text":"But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. So they did not break his legs."},{"verse":34,"text":"Instead, one of the soldiers stuck a spear into Jesus' side. Right away, blood and water flowed out."},{"verse":35,"text":"The man who saw it has told about it, and what he says is true. He knows he is telling the truth. He tells it so that you also may believe."},{"verse":36,"text":"These things happened so that the Scripture would come true: \"Not one of his bones will be broken.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"And another Scripture says, \"They will look at the One they have pierced.\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could take away Jesus' body. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. But he kept it secret because he was afraid of the Jews. Pilate said yes. So Joseph came and took the body away."},{"verse":39,"text":"Nicodemus came too. He was the man who had come to Jesus at night before. Nicodemus brought a mix of myrrh and aloes. It weighed about seventy-five pounds."},{"verse":40,"text":"The two men took Jesus' body. They wrapped it in strips of linen cloth with the spices. This was the Jewish way of burying people."},{"verse":41,"text":"There was a garden at the place where Jesus was crucified. In the garden was a new tomb. No one had ever been put in it."},{"verse":42,"text":"It was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was close by. So they laid Jesus there."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. It was still dark. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the opening."},{"verse":2,"text":"So she ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. She said, \"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb! We don't know where they have put him!\""},{"verse":3,"text":"So Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb."},{"verse":4,"text":"The two of them were running together. But the other disciple ran faster than Peter. He got to the tomb first."},{"verse":5,"text":"He bent down and looked in. He saw the strips of linen lying there. But he did not go in."},{"verse":6,"text":"Simon Peter came right after him. He went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there."},{"verse":7,"text":"He also saw the cloth that had been around Jesus' head. It was rolled up and lying by itself, away from the linen."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed."},{"verse":9,"text":"They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then the disciples went back to their homes."},{"verse":11,"text":"But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb."},{"verse":12,"text":"She saw two angels dressed in white. They were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head, and the other was at the feet."},{"verse":13,"text":"They asked her, \"Woman, why are you crying?\" \"They have taken my Lord away,\" she said. \"And I don't know where they have put him.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"When she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't know that it was Jesus."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Woman, why are you crying?\" Jesus asked. \"Who are you looking for?\" She thought he was the gardener. So she said, \"Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you put him. Then I will go and get him.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus said to her, \"Mary.\" She turned toward him and said in Hebrew, \"Rabboni!\" (This means \"Teacher.\")"},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus said, \"Don't hold on to me. I have not yet gone up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. \"I have seen the Lord!\" she said. And she told them what he had said to her."},{"verse":19,"text":"It was the evening of that first day of the week. The disciples were together. They had locked the doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Then Jesus came and stood among them. He said, \"Peace be with you!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord."},{"verse":21,"text":"Again Jesus said, \"Peace be with you! The Father has sent me. In the same way, I am sending you.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"After he said this, he breathed on them. He said, \"Receive the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":23,"text":"If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Thomas was one of the Twelve. He was also called the Twin. He was not with the disciples when Jesus came.","note":"Greek: Didymus, which means Twin."},{"verse":25,"text":"So the other disciples told him, \"We have seen the Lord!\" But Thomas said, \"First I must see the nail marks in his hands. I must put my finger where the nails were. I must put my hand into his side. If I don't, I will never believe.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Eight days later, his disciples were inside again with the doors locked. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, \"Peace be with you!\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Then he said to Thomas, \"Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Thomas said to him, \"My Lord and my God!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Jesus told him, \"You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and still believe.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Jesus did many other miraculous signs while his disciples were with him. They are not written down in this book."},{"verse":31,"text":"But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. And by believing, you may have life in his name."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Later, Jesus showed himself to his disciples again. It was by the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some of the disciples were together. Simon Peter was there, and so was Thomas, who was called the Twin. Nathanael from Cana in Galilee was there. The sons of Zebedee were there too, and two other disciples."},{"verse":3,"text":"Simon Peter told them, \"I'm going fishing.\" They said, \"We'll go with you.\" So they went out and got into the boat. But they didn't catch anything that night."},{"verse":4,"text":"Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples didn't know it was Jesus."},{"verse":5,"text":"He called out to them, \"Children, do you have any fish?\" \"No,\" they answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"He said, \"Throw your net on the right side of the boat. You will find some fish there.\" So they did. Then they couldn't pull the net in because there were so many fish."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, \"It is the Lord!\" Simon Peter heard him say this. So he put his outer clothes back on, because he had taken them off. Then he jumped into the water."},{"verse":8,"text":"The other disciples came to shore in the boat. They dragged the net full of fish. They were not far from land, only about a hundred yards."},{"verse":9,"text":"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals. There was fish cooking on it, and there was some bread."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"Bring some of the fish you just caught.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Simon Peter climbed into the boat. He dragged the net to shore. It was full of large fish. There were 153 of them. But even with so many fish, the net did not tear."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jesus said to them, \"Come and have breakfast.\" None of the disciples dared to ask him, \"Who are you?\" They knew it was the Lord."},{"verse":13,"text":"Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish."},{"verse":14,"text":"This was now the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead."},{"verse":15,"text":"When they had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. \"Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?\" \"Yes, Lord,\" Peter said. \"You know that I love you.\" Jesus said, \"Feed my lambs.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Jesus asked him a second time, \"Simon son of John, do you love me?\" \"Yes, Lord,\" he answered. \"You know that I love you.\" Jesus said, \"Take care of my sheep.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Jesus asked him a third time, \"Simon son of John, do you love me?\" Peter was very hurt that Jesus asked him a third time, \"Do you love me?\" He said, \"Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.\" Jesus said, \"Feed my sheep."},{"verse":18,"text":"I tell you the truth. When you were young, you got yourself dressed. You went wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands. Someone else will dress you. They will lead you where you don't want to go.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Jesus said this to show the kind of death Peter would die to bring glory to God. Then Jesus said to him, \"Follow me!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them. This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper. He had asked, \"Lord, who is going to betray you?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"When Peter saw him, he asked, \"Lord, what about him?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Jesus answered, \"If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Because of this, a story spread among the brothers. They said this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He only said, \"If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?\""},{"verse":24,"text":"This is the disciple who tells about these things. He is the one who wrote them down. And we know that what he says is true."},{"verse":25,"text":"Jesus did many other things too. If every one of them were written down, I suppose even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."}]}]},{"name":"Acts","slug":"acts","usfm":"ACT","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Dear Theophilus, in my first book I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach,"},{"verse":2,"text":"up to the day he was taken up to heaven. Before that, he gave orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen."},{"verse":3,"text":"After he suffered, he showed himself to them. He gave them many clear proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over forty days. He talked with them about the kingdom of God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Once, while they were together, he gave them a command. \"Don't leave Jerusalem,\" he said. \"Wait for the gift the Father promised. You've heard me talk about it."},{"verse":5,"text":"For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So when they met together, they asked him, \"Lord, is this the time you'll give the kingdom back to Israel?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Jesus answered, \"It's not for you to know the times or dates. The Father has set them by his own authority."},{"verse":8,"text":"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all of Judea and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"After he said this, they watched as he was taken up. Then a cloud hid him from their sight."},{"verse":10,"text":"They kept staring up at the sky as he went. All at once, two men dressed in white stood beside them."},{"verse":11,"text":"\"Men of Galilee,\" they said, \"why are you standing here looking up at the sky? This same Jesus has been taken from you into heaven. He will come back the same way you saw him go.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Then they went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. That hill is near the city. It was about as far as the law let people walk on a Sabbath day.","note":"Greek: a Sabbath day's journey, a little more than half a mile."},{"verse":13,"text":"When they got there, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Those there were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James."},{"verse":14,"text":"They all joined together as one and kept on praying. The women were with them. So were Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers."},{"verse":15,"text":"In those days, Peter stood up among the believers. About 120 people were there. He said,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Brothers, the Scripture had to come true. Long ago the Holy Spirit spoke through David about Judas. Judas led the way for the men who arrested Jesus."},{"verse":17,"text":"He was one of us. He had a share in this work.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"(Judas bought a field with the money he got for his evil act. There he fell head first. His body burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out."},{"verse":19,"text":"Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this. So in their own language they called that field Akeldama. That means \"Field of Blood.\")"},{"verse":20,"text":"\"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'May his home be empty. Let no one live in it.' It also says, 'Let someone else take his place as leader.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"So we must choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time. They were with us all the time the Lord Jesus lived among us."},{"verse":22,"text":"That time began when John baptized people. It lasted until the day Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these men must join us as a witness that Jesus rose from the dead.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So they named two men. One was Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus. The other was Matthias."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then they prayed, \"Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen"},{"verse":25,"text":"to take over this work as an apostle. Judas left it to go to the place where he belongs.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The day of Pentecost came. The believers were all together in one place."},{"verse":2,"text":"All at once a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong, rushing wind. It filled the whole house where they were sitting."},{"verse":3,"text":"They saw what looked like tongues of fire. The flames split apart and rested on each one of them."},{"verse":4,"text":"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them the power to speak."},{"verse":5,"text":"At that time, Jews who feared God were staying in Jerusalem. They came from every nation in the world."},{"verse":6,"text":"When they heard this sound, a crowd came together. They were confused because each one heard the believers speaking in his own language."},{"verse":7,"text":"They were amazed and stunned. They asked, \"Aren't all these people who are speaking from Galilee?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Then how can each of us hear them in the language we grew up speaking?"},{"verse":9,"text":"We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. We live in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,"},{"verse":10,"text":"Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are visitors from Rome."},{"verse":11,"text":"Some are Jews, and some have become Jews. Some are from Crete, and some are Arabs. We hear them telling the great things God has done in our own languages!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"They were amazed and puzzled. They asked each other, \"What does this mean?\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But others made fun of them. They said, \"They've had too much new wine!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven. He raised his voice and spoke to the crowd. \"Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem,\" he said, \"let me explain this to you. Listen closely to what I say."},{"verse":15,"text":"These men are not drunk, as you think. It's only nine in the morning!"},{"verse":16,"text":"No, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:"},{"verse":17,"text":"'God says, In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams."},{"verse":18,"text":"In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants, both men and women. And they will prophesy."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will show wonders in the sky above. I will show signs on the earth below. There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke."},{"verse":20,"text":"The sun will turn dark, and the moon will turn red like blood. Then the great and glorious Day of the Lord will come."},{"verse":21,"text":"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"},{"verse":22,"text":"People of Israel, listen to this! God showed you that he approved of Jesus of Nazareth. He did this through miracles, wonders, and signs. God did them among you through Jesus. You know this yourselves."},{"verse":23,"text":"Jesus was handed over by God's set plan. God knew it all ahead of time. And you, with the help of lawless men, put him to death. You had him nailed to the cross."},{"verse":24,"text":"But God raised him from the dead. He set him free from the pain of death, because it was not possible for death to keep its hold on him."},{"verse":25,"text":"David says this about him: 'I always saw the Lord in front of me. He is at my right hand, so I will not be shaken."},{"verse":26,"text":"So my heart is glad, and my tongue is full of joy. My body also will rest in hope,"},{"verse":27,"text":"because you will not leave my soul in Hades. You will not let your Holy One rot away."},{"verse":28,"text":"You have shown me the paths of life. You will fill me with joy when I am with you.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"Brothers, I can tell you for sure that our great father David died. He was buried, and his tomb is still here with us today."},{"verse":30,"text":"But David was a prophet. He knew God had made him a promise with an oath. God promised to put one of David's descendants on his throne."},{"verse":31,"text":"David saw what was ahead. So he spoke about the Messiah rising from the dead. He said the Messiah was not left in Hades. His body did not rot."},{"verse":32,"text":"God has raised this Jesus to life. We are all witnesses of this."},{"verse":33,"text":"Jesus has been lifted up to the right hand of God. He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father, as God promised. He has poured out what you now see and hear."},{"verse":34,"text":"For David did not go up into heaven. But he himself says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand"},{"verse":35,"text":"until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\"'"},{"verse":36,"text":"So let all Israel know this for sure. God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah. He is the one you crucified!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"When the people heard this, it hurt them deep in their hearts. They asked Peter and the other apostles, \"Brothers, what should we do?\""},{"verse":38,"text":"Peter answered, \"Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":39,"text":"This promise is for you and your children. It is for all who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God will call to himself.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"Peter told them many other things to prove what he said. He begged them, \"Be saved from these evil people of today!\""},{"verse":41,"text":"Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day."},{"verse":42,"text":"They gave themselves to what the apostles taught. They shared life together. They broke bread together, and they prayed."},{"verse":43,"text":"Everyone was filled with awe. The apostles did many wonders and signs."},{"verse":44,"text":"All the believers were together. They shared everything they had."},{"verse":45,"text":"They sold their land and the things they owned. Then they shared with anyone who was in need."},{"verse":46,"text":"Every day they kept meeting together as one in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes. They ate their meals together with glad and sincere hearts."},{"verse":47,"text":"They praised God, and all the people liked them. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple. It was three o'clock, the time for prayer."},{"verse":2,"text":"A man who had been lame since birth was being carried to the temple gate. It was called the Beautiful Gate. Every day he was put there to beg from the people going into the temple courts."},{"verse":3,"text":"He saw Peter and John about to go in. So he asked them for money."},{"verse":4,"text":"Peter looked straight at him, and so did John. Then Peter said, \"Look at us!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"So the man looked at them. He expected to get something from them."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Peter said, \"I don't have silver or gold. But I'll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up. Right away the man's feet and ankles became strong."},{"verse":8,"text":"He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts. He was walking and jumping and praising God."},{"verse":9,"text":"All the people saw him walking and praising God."},{"verse":10,"text":"They knew he was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."},{"verse":11,"text":"The man held on to Peter and John. All the people were amazed. They ran to them at the covered walkway called Solomon's Colonnade."},{"verse":12,"text":"When Peter saw this, he spoke to the people. \"People of Israel, why are you surprised at this? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we made this man walk by our own power or goodness?"},{"verse":13,"text":"The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has done this. He is the God of our fathers. He has given glory to his servant Jesus. You handed Jesus over. You turned against him in front of Pilate, even though Pilate had decided to let him go."},{"verse":14,"text":"You turned against the Holy and Righteous One. You asked for a murderer to be set free instead."},{"verse":15,"text":"You killed the Author of life. But God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this."},{"verse":16,"text":"This man you see and know was made strong by faith in the name of Jesus. It's Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that healed this man. He is now well in front of all of you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now, brothers, I know you didn't understand what you were doing. Neither did your leaders."},{"verse":18,"text":"But this is how God made happen what he told through all the prophets long ago. He said his Messiah would suffer."},{"verse":19,"text":"So repent, and turn back to God, so that your sins may be wiped away."},{"verse":20,"text":"Then times of refreshing may come from the Lord's presence. And he may send Jesus, the Messiah, who was chosen for you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Jesus must stay in heaven until the time comes for God to restore all things. God told about this long ago through his holy prophets."},{"verse":22,"text":"For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me. He will come from among your own people. You must listen to everything he tells you."},{"verse":23,"text":"Anyone who does not listen to him will be cut off from his people and destroyed.'"},{"verse":24,"text":"In fact, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel on, told about these days."},{"verse":25,"text":"You are heirs of the prophets. You are heirs of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all the families on earth will be blessed.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"God raised up his Servant. He sent him to you first to bless you. He did this by turning each of you away from your evil ways.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Peter and John were still speaking to the people. Then the priests came up to them. The captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came too."},{"verse":2,"text":"They were very upset because Peter and John were teaching the people. They were saying that in Jesus the dead will rise."},{"verse":3,"text":"They grabbed Peter and John. It was already evening, so they put them in jail until the next day."},{"verse":4,"text":"But many who heard the message believed. The number of men who believed grew to about 5,000."},{"verse":5,"text":"The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem."},{"verse":6,"text":"Annas the high priest was there. So were Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest's family."},{"verse":7,"text":"They had Peter and John brought in. Then they began to question them. \"By what power did you do this?\" they asked. \"In whose name did you do it?\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said to them, \"Rulers and elders of the people!"},{"verse":9,"text":"If we are being questioned today about a kind act we did for a man who was lame, and how he was healed,"},{"verse":10,"text":"then all of you should know this, and all the people of Israel too. This man stands in front of you healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. You crucified Jesus, but God raised him from the dead."},{"verse":11,"text":"This Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected. It has become the cornerstone.'"},{"verse":12,"text":"Salvation is found in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The leaders saw how bold Peter and John were. They knew these were plain, ordinary men who had not gone to school. So they were amazed. They saw that these men had been with Jesus."},{"verse":14,"text":"They also saw the man who had been healed standing there with them. So there was nothing they could say."},{"verse":15,"text":"So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin. Then they talked it over among themselves."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"What should we do with these men?\" they asked. \"Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they've done an amazing miracle. We can't say it didn't happen."},{"verse":17,"text":"But we must stop this message from spreading any more among the people. So we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name again.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then they called them back in. They ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus."},{"verse":19,"text":"But Peter and John answered, \"You decide what is right in God's eyes. Should we listen to you or to God?"},{"verse":20,"text":"For we can't stop telling about what we have seen and heard.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The leaders threatened them some more. Then they let them go. They couldn't find a way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened."},{"verse":22,"text":"For the man who was healed by this miracle was more than forty years old."},{"verse":23,"text":"After they were let go, Peter and John went back to their own people. They told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them."},{"verse":24,"text":"When the believers heard this, they all prayed to God together as one. \"Lord who rules over all,\" they said, \"you made the heavens and the earth and the sea. You made everything in them."},{"verse":25,"text":"You spoke by the Holy Spirit through your servant, our father David. He said, 'Why are the nations so angry? Why do the peoples make useless plans?"},{"verse":26,"text":"The kings of the earth get ready to fight. The rulers join together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'"},{"verse":27,"text":"And it really happened, right here in this city. Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They joined with the Gentiles and the people of Israel."},{"verse":28,"text":"They did what your power and your will had already decided would happen."},{"verse":29,"text":"Now, Lord, look at how they threaten us. Help your servants to speak your word very boldly,"},{"verse":30,"text":"as you reach out your hand to heal and to do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they spoke the word of God boldly."},{"verse":32,"text":"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one said that anything he owned was his own. Instead, they shared everything they had."},{"verse":33,"text":"The apostles kept telling with great power that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And God's grace was richly on them all."},{"verse":34,"text":"No one among them was in need, because those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales"},{"verse":35,"text":"and laid it at the apostles' feet. Then it was given out to anyone who needed it."},{"verse":36,"text":"Joseph was a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means \"Son of Encouragement.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"He sold a field he owned. He brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira also sold a piece of land."},{"verse":2,"text":"His wife knew all about it. He kept some of the money for himself. He brought the rest and laid it at the apostles' feet."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Peter said, \"Ananias, how did you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit. You kept back some of the money from the land."},{"verse":4,"text":"Didn't the land belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money yours to use? How could you think of doing such a thing? You haven't lied to people. You have lied to God!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Great fear came over all who heard what had happened."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the young men came forward and wrapped up his body. They carried him out and buried him."},{"verse":7,"text":"About three hours later his wife came in too. She didn't know what had happened."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"Tell me,\" Peter said, \"is this the price you and your husband got for the land?\" \"Yes,\" she answered. \"That's the price.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Peter said to her, \"How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The men who buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out too.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Right then she fell down at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband."},{"verse":11,"text":"Great fear came over the whole church. It also came over all who heard about these things."},{"verse":12,"text":"The apostles did many signs and wonders among the people. All the believers met together as one at Solomon's Colonnade."},{"verse":13,"text":"The people thought very highly of them. But no one else dared to join them."},{"verse":14,"text":"Still, more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord. Large numbers of men and women came."},{"verse":15,"text":"So people carried the sick out into the streets. They laid them on cots and mats. They hoped that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he went by."},{"verse":16,"text":"Crowds also came from the towns around Jerusalem. They brought the sick and those troubled by evil spirits. And all of them were healed."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the high priest and all his friends became very jealous. They belonged to the group called the Sadducees. They went out"},{"verse":18,"text":"and arrested the apostles. They put them in the public jail."},{"verse":19,"text":"But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail. He brought them out and said,"},{"verse":20,"text":"\"Go and stand in the temple courts. Tell the people the whole message about this new life.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"At sunrise the apostles went into the temple courts, as they had been told. They began to teach the people. Then the high priest and his friends arrived. They called the Sanhedrin together. That was the full council of the elders of Israel. Then they sent to the jail to have the apostles brought in."},{"verse":22,"text":"But when the officers got to the jail, the apostles weren't there. So the officers went back and reported,"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"We found the jail locked up tight. The guards were standing at the doors. But when we opened them, no one was inside.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report. They were puzzled. They wondered what was going on."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then someone came in and said, \"Listen! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts. They're teaching the people!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles in. But they didn't use force. They were afraid the people would stone them."},{"verse":27,"text":"They brought the apostles in and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. There the high priest questioned them."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,\" he said. \"But you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are set on blaming us for this man's death.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"But Peter and the other apostles answered, \"We must obey God, not people."},{"verse":30,"text":"You killed Jesus by hanging him on a tree. But the God of our fathers raised him from the dead."},{"verse":31,"text":"God lifted him up to his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this to give Israel the gift of turning back to God and having their sins forgiven."},{"verse":32,"text":"We are witnesses of these things. So is the Holy Spirit. God has given the Spirit to those who obey him.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"When the members of the Council heard this, they were furious. They decided to kill the apostles."},{"verse":34,"text":"But a Pharisee named Gamaliel stood up in the Sanhedrin. He was a teacher of the law, and all the people respected him. He ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while."},{"verse":35,"text":"Then he said, \"Men of Israel, think carefully about what you plan to do to these men."},{"verse":36,"text":"Some time ago a man named Theudas showed up. He said he was someone important. About 400 men joined him. But he was killed. All his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing."},{"verse":37,"text":"After him, Judas from Galilee showed up. It was in the days when the people were counted. He led people to follow him. He also died, and all his followers were scattered."},{"verse":38,"text":"So in this case, here's my advice. Leave these men alone. Let them go! If their plan or work comes from people, it will fail."},{"verse":39,"text":"But if it comes from God, you won't be able to stop them. You might even find yourselves fighting against God.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"So they agreed with Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them whipped. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go."},{"verse":41,"text":"The apostles left the Sanhedrin full of joy. They had been counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name."},{"verse":42,"text":"Every day they kept on teaching in the temple courts and from house to house. They never stopped telling the good news that Jesus is the Messiah."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In those days the number of disciples was growing. Some of them were Jews who spoke Greek. Others were Jews who spoke Hebrew. The Greek-speaking Jews began to complain about the others. They said their widows were being left out when food was handed out each day."},{"verse":2,"text":"So the Twelve called all the disciples together. They said, \"It isn't right for us to stop teaching the word of God so we can serve food at tables."},{"verse":3,"text":"So, brothers, choose seven men from among you. They must be known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this job."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then we will give our time to prayer and to teaching the word.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"This plan pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas. And they chose Nicolas from Antioch, who had become a Jew."},{"verse":6,"text":"They brought these seven men to the apostles. The apostles prayed and placed their hands on them."},{"verse":7,"text":"So the word of God kept spreading. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew quickly. A large number of priests also came to obey the faith."},{"verse":8,"text":"Stephen was full of grace and power. He was doing great wonders and signs among the people."},{"verse":9,"text":"But some men stood against him. They were from a group called the Synagogue of the Freedmen. There were Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria. There were also men from Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen."},{"verse":10,"text":"But they could not stand up against his wisdom. They could not stand against the Spirit who helped him speak."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then they secretly got some men to say, \"We heard Stephen speak evil words against Moses and against God.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So they stirred up the people, the elders, and the teachers of the law. They went after Stephen and grabbed him. They took him to the Sanhedrin."},{"verse":13,"text":"There they brought in false witnesses. These witnesses said, \"This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law."},{"verse":14,"text":"We have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place. He said Jesus will change the customs Moses handed down to us.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Everyone sitting in the Sanhedrin stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face of an angel."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the high priest asked Stephen, \"Are these charges true?\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Stephen answered, \"Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham. Abraham was still in Mesopotamia then. That was before he lived in Haran."},{"verse":3,"text":"God told him, 'Leave your country and your relatives. Go to the land I will show you.'"},{"verse":4,"text":"So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God moved him from there. God brought him to this land where you live now."},{"verse":5,"text":"God gave him no land of his own here. He didn't give him even a foot of ground. But God promised that Abraham and his descendants would own the land. He promised this even though Abraham had no child yet."},{"verse":6,"text":"God told him that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land. They would be made slaves there. They would be treated badly for 400 years."},{"verse":7,"text":"God said, 'But I will punish the nation that makes them slaves. After that, they will come out and worship me in this place.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. Abraham became the father of Isaac. He circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old. Isaac became the father of Jacob. And Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs."},{"verse":9,"text":"The patriarchs were jealous of Joseph. So they sold him as a slave, and he was taken to Egypt. But God was with him."},{"verse":10,"text":"God rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and made Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, like him. So Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over Egypt and over his whole palace."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then a famine came over all of Egypt and Canaan. It caused great suffering. Our fathers could not find food."},{"verse":12,"text":"Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt. So he sent our fathers there on their first trip."},{"verse":13,"text":"On their second trip, Joseph told his brothers who he was. And Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives. There were 75 of them in all."},{"verse":15,"text":"So Jacob went down to Egypt. There he and our fathers died."},{"verse":16,"text":"Their bones were carried back to Shechem. They were placed in the tomb Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem. He had paid for it with silver."},{"verse":17,"text":"The time came near for God to keep his promise to Abraham. By then our people in Egypt had grown to be very many."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then a new king came to rule over Egypt. He knew nothing about Joseph."},{"verse":19,"text":"He took advantage of our people and treated our fathers cruelly. He forced them to leave their babies outside so they would die."},{"verse":20,"text":"That was when Moses was born. He was a beautiful child in God's eyes. For three months he was cared for in his father's house."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then he was put outside. Pharaoh's daughter took him and raised him as her own son."},{"verse":22,"text":"So Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was powerful in what he said and did."},{"verse":23,"text":"When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the children of Israel."},{"verse":24,"text":"He saw one of them being treated badly by an Egyptian. So Moses went to help him. He got even for him by killing the Egyptian."},{"verse":25,"text":"Moses thought his own people would understand that God was using him to rescue them. But they didn't understand."},{"verse":26,"text":"The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to make peace between them. He said, 'Men, you are brothers. Why are you hurting each other?'"},{"verse":27,"text":"But the man who was hurting the other pushed Moses away. He said, 'Who made you our ruler and judge?"},{"verse":28,"text":"Do you want to kill me like you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'"},{"verse":29,"text":"When Moses heard this, he ran away to the land of Midian. He lived there as a foreigner and had two sons."},{"verse":30,"text":"Forty years went by. Then an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush. This was in the desert near Mount Sinai."},{"verse":31,"text":"When Moses saw it, he was amazed at what he saw. He went closer to look. Then he heard the voice of the Lord."},{"verse":32,"text":"'I am the God of your fathers,' the Lord said. 'I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses shook with fear. He didn't dare to look."},{"verse":33,"text":"Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy ground."},{"verse":34,"text":"I have truly seen how my people in Egypt are being crushed. I have heard their groans. I have come down to rescue them. Now come. I will send you back to Egypt.'"},{"verse":35,"text":"The people had turned this Moses away. They had said, 'Who made you ruler and judge?' But God sent him to be their ruler and redeemer. God sent him through the angel who appeared to him in the bush."},{"verse":36,"text":"Moses led them out. He did wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and at the Red Sea. He did them for forty years in the wilderness too."},{"verse":37,"text":"This is the same Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me. He will come from among your own people.'"},{"verse":38,"text":"Moses was with the people gathered in the wilderness. He was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. He was with our fathers too. And he received living words to pass on to us."},{"verse":39,"text":"But our fathers refused to obey him. They turned him away. In their hearts they turned back to Egypt."},{"verse":40,"text":"They said to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will lead us! We don't know what happened to this Moses who led us out of Egypt.'"},{"verse":41,"text":"That was when they made an idol shaped like a calf. They offered a sacrifice to it. They celebrated what their own hands had made."},{"verse":42,"text":"But God turned away from them. He let them worship the sun, moon, and stars. This is just what is written in the book of the prophets: 'People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for forty years in the wilderness?"},{"verse":43,"text":"You carried along the tent of the god Molech. You carried the star of your god Rephan. These were the idols you made to worship. So I will send you away as captives, even farther than Babylon.'"},{"verse":44,"text":"Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was built just as God had told Moses. He made it like the pattern he had seen."},{"verse":45,"text":"Our fathers received the tabernacle. Later they brought it with them when they came in with Joshua. They took the land from the nations God drove out in front of them. The tabernacle stayed there until the time of David."},{"verse":46,"text":"God was pleased with David. David asked if he could build a home for the God of Jacob."},{"verse":47,"text":"But it was Solomon who built the house for God."},{"verse":48,"text":"But the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says,"},{"verse":49,"text":"'Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Where will my resting place be?"},{"verse":50,"text":"Didn't my hand make all these things?'"},{"verse":51,"text":"You stubborn people! Your hearts and ears are like those of people who don't belong to God. You always fight against the Holy Spirit, just like your fathers did.","note":"Greek: stiff-necked, with uncircumcised hearts and ears."},{"verse":52,"text":"Was there ever a prophet your fathers didn't hurt? They even killed those who told ahead of time that the Righteous One would come. And now you have turned him over and murdered him."},{"verse":53,"text":"You received the law that was given through angels. But you have not obeyed it.\""},{"verse":54,"text":"When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious. They ground their teeth at him in anger."},{"verse":55,"text":"But Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit. He looked up into heaven. He saw the glory of God. He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God."},{"verse":56,"text":"\"Look!\" he said. \"I see heaven open. I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.\""},{"verse":57,"text":"When they heard this, they covered their ears. They yelled at the top of their voices. Then they all rushed at him."},{"verse":58,"text":"They dragged him out of the city and began to throw stones at him. The witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul."},{"verse":59,"text":"While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, \"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.\""},{"verse":60,"text":"Then he fell on his knees. He cried out in a loud voice, \"Lord, don't hold this sin against them.\" When he had said this, he fell asleep in death."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Saul was there, and he agreed that Stephen should be killed. On that day a great wave of attacks broke out against the church in Jerusalem. All the believers except the apostles were scattered all over Judea and Samaria."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some men who feared God buried Stephen. They cried loudly and mourned for him."},{"verse":3,"text":"But Saul began trying to destroy the church. He went from house to house. He dragged men and women away and put them in prison."},{"verse":4,"text":"The believers who had been scattered preached the word everywhere they went."},{"verse":5,"text":"Philip went down to a city in Samaria. He told the people there about the Messiah."},{"verse":6,"text":"The crowds all listened closely to what Philip said. They saw the signs he did, and they paid close attention."},{"verse":7,"text":"Evil spirits came out of many people, screaming loudly. And many people who could not move or walk were healed."},{"verse":8,"text":"So there was great joy in that city."},{"verse":9,"text":"Before that time, a man named Simon had been doing magic in the city. He amazed the people of Samaria. He said he was someone great."},{"verse":10,"text":"All the people listened to him, from the least important to the most important. They said, \"This man is the power of God called the Great Power.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"They followed him closely because he had amazed them with his magic for a long time."},{"verse":12,"text":"But then Philip preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. The people believed him. Both men and women were baptized."},{"verse":13,"text":"Even Simon believed and was baptized. He stayed close to Philip everywhere he went. He was amazed by the great signs and miracles he saw."},{"verse":14,"text":"The apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's word. So they sent Peter and John to them."},{"verse":15,"text":"When Peter and John got there, they prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":16,"text":"For the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Peter and John placed their hands on them. And they received the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":18,"text":"Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands on people. So he offered them money."},{"verse":19,"text":"\"Give me this power too,\" he said. \"Then everyone I place my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But Peter answered, \"May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy God's gift with money!"},{"verse":21,"text":"You have no part or share in our work, because your heart is not right with God."},{"verse":22,"text":"So turn away from this evil and turn back to God. Pray to the Lord. Maybe he will forgive you for what you had in your heart."},{"verse":23,"text":"For I can see that you are full of bitter poison. You are a prisoner of sin.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"Then Simon answered, \"Pray to the Lord for me. Pray that none of the things you said will happen to me.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Peter and John told what they had seen. They spoke the word of the Lord. Then they went back to Jerusalem. On the way, they preached the good news in many Samaritan villages."},{"verse":26,"text":"Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip. \"Get up and go south,\" he said. \"Go to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"So Philip started out. On his way he met a man from Ethiopia. He was a eunuch and an important official. He was in charge of all the money of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship."},{"verse":28,"text":"Now he was going home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of Isaiah the prophet."},{"verse":29,"text":"The Spirit told Philip, \"Go to that chariot and stay near it.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So Philip ran up to the chariot. He heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. \"Do you understand what you're reading?\" Philip asked."},{"verse":31,"text":"\"How can I,\" the man said, \"unless someone explains it to me?\" So he asked Philip to come up and sit with him."},{"verse":32,"text":"The eunuch was reading this part of Scripture: \"He was led like a sheep to be killed. A lamb is silent while its wool is cut. In the same way, he did not open his mouth."},{"verse":33,"text":"He was put to shame and was not treated fairly. Who can tell about his descendants? His life was taken away from the earth.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"The eunuch said to Philip, \"Tell me, who is the prophet talking about? Is he talking about himself or someone else?\""},{"verse":35,"text":"Then Philip started with that very Scripture. He told him the good news about Jesus."},{"verse":36,"text":"As they went down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, \"Look, here's water! What's stopping me from being baptized?\""},{"verse":37,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":38,"text":"He ordered the chariot to stop. Then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water. And Philip baptized him."},{"verse":39,"text":"They came up out of the water. Then the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch did not see him again. But he went on his way full of joy."},{"verse":40,"text":"Philip showed up at Azotus. He traveled through that area and preached the good news in all the towns. He did this until he came to Caesarea."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Meanwhile, Saul was still making threats to kill the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest"},{"verse":2,"text":"and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus. Then if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he could bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners."},{"verse":3,"text":"On his trip, Saul came near Damascus. All at once a light from heaven flashed around him."},{"verse":4,"text":"He fell to the ground. He heard a voice say to him, \"Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Who are you, Lord?\" Saul asked. \"I am Jesus, the one you are attacking,\" he answered."},{"verse":6,"text":"\"Now get up and go into the city. There you will be told what you must do.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The men traveling with Saul stood there and couldn't say a word. They heard the voice, but they didn't see anyone."},{"verse":8,"text":"Saul got up from the ground. But when he opened his eyes, he couldn't see anything. So they led him by the hand into Damascus."},{"verse":9,"text":"For three days he was blind. He didn't eat or drink anything."},{"verse":10,"text":"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision. \"Ananias!\" he said. \"Here I am, Lord,\" Ananias answered."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Lord told him, \"Get up! Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying right now."},{"verse":12,"text":"In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him. He saw him do this so he could see again.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"But Ananias answered, \"Lord, many people have told me about this man. They told me about all the harm he has done to your people in Jerusalem."},{"verse":14,"text":"And now he has come here with power from the chief priests. He has come to arrest everyone who calls on your name.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But the Lord said, \"Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will carry my name to the Gentiles and their kings. He will carry it to the people of Israel too."},{"verse":16,"text":"I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So Ananias went to the house. When he got there, he placed his hands on Saul. \"Brother Saul,\" he said, \"the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so you can see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Right away, something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes. He could see again. He got up and was baptized."},{"verse":19,"text":"After he ate some food, he got his strength back. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus."},{"verse":20,"text":"Right away Saul began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. He said, \"Jesus is the Son of God.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"All who heard him were amazed. They asked, \"Isn't this the man who caused so much harm in Jerusalem? He attacked those who call on this name. Didn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"But Saul grew more and more powerful. He proved that Jesus is the Messiah. The Jews living in Damascus couldn't argue back."},{"verse":23,"text":"After many days had gone by, the Jews made a plan to kill Saul."},{"verse":24,"text":"But Saul found out about their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates so they could kill him."},{"verse":25,"text":"But one night his followers took him. They let him down in a basket through an opening in the city wall."},{"verse":26,"text":"When Saul got to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they were all afraid of him. They didn't believe he was really a disciple."},{"verse":27,"text":"Then Barnabas took him to the apostles. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus. He told them the Lord had spoken to Saul. And he told them how Saul had spoken boldly in Damascus in the name of Jesus."},{"verse":28,"text":"So Saul stayed with them. He went all around Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord."},{"verse":29,"text":"He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke Greek. But they tried to kill him."},{"verse":30,"text":"The believers found out about this. So they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus."},{"verse":31,"text":"Then the church all through Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. It grew stronger, and more people joined it. The believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And the Holy Spirit gave them comfort and courage."},{"verse":32,"text":"Peter traveled all around the area. He went to visit God's people in Lydda."},{"verse":33,"text":"There he found a man named Aeneas. He could not move his body, and he had been stuck in bed for eight years."},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Aeneas,\" Peter said to him, \"Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and roll up your mat.\" Right away Aeneas got up."},{"verse":35,"text":"All who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. And they turned to the Lord."},{"verse":36,"text":"In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha. In Greek her name is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people."},{"verse":37,"text":"But about that time she got sick and died. Her body was washed and laid in an upstairs room."},{"verse":38,"text":"Lydda was near Joppa. The disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, \"Please come to us right away!\""},{"verse":39,"text":"So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him, crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made while she was still with them."},{"verse":40,"text":"Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He got down on his knees and prayed. Then he turned toward her body and said, \"Tabitha, get up!\" She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up."},{"verse":41,"text":"Peter took her by the hand and helped her stand up. Then he called God's people and the widows. He showed them that she was alive."},{"verse":42,"text":"People all over Joppa heard about this. And many people believed in the Lord."},{"verse":43,"text":"Peter stayed in Joppa for several days. He stayed with a man named Simon, who worked with leather."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius. He was a centurion, an army officer in what was called the Italian Regiment."},{"verse":2,"text":"He and everyone in his house loved and feared God. He gave a lot to people in need. He prayed to God often."},{"verse":3,"text":"One day at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He clearly saw an angel of God come to him. The angel said, \"Cornelius!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Cornelius stared at him in fear. \"What is it, Lord?\" he asked. The angel answered, \"Your prayers and gifts to the poor have gone up to God. He has remembered them like an offering."},{"verse":5,"text":"Now send men to Joppa. Have them bring back a man named Simon. He is also called Peter."},{"verse":6,"text":"He is staying with Simon, a man who works with leather. His house is by the sea.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The angel who spoke to him left. Then Cornelius called two of his servants. He also called a soldier who served him and who loved God."},{"verse":8,"text":"He told them everything that had happened. Then he sent them to Joppa."},{"verse":9,"text":"About noon the next day, the men were on their way and getting close to the city. Peter went up on the roof to pray."},{"verse":10,"text":"He got hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being made, he fell into a trance."},{"verse":11,"text":"He saw heaven open. Something like a large sheet was being let down to earth by its four corners."},{"verse":12,"text":"In it were all kinds of animals with four feet. There were also reptiles and birds."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then a voice said to him, \"Get up, Peter. Kill and eat!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"\"No, Lord!\" Peter answered. \"I have never eaten anything that is not pure or clean.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The voice spoke to him a second time. \"Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"This happened three times. Then right away the sheet was taken back up into heaven."},{"verse":17,"text":"Peter was still wondering what the vision meant. Just then the men Cornelius had sent found Simon's house. They stood at the gate."},{"verse":18,"text":"They called out and asked if Simon, also called Peter, was staying there."},{"verse":19,"text":"Peter was still thinking about the vision. Then the Spirit said to him, \"Look, three men are looking for you."},{"verse":20,"text":"So get up! Go downstairs. Don't doubt; go with them, because I have sent them.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So Peter went down to the men. He said, \"I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?\""},{"verse":22,"text":"\"Cornelius the centurion sent us,\" they said. \"He is a good man who does what is right and fears God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house. He wants to hear what you have to say.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So Peter asked them in to stay as his guests. The next day he got ready and went with them. Some of the believers from Joppa went along too."},{"verse":24,"text":"The day after that, he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had invited his relatives and close friends."},{"verse":25,"text":"Peter was about to go into the house. Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him."},{"verse":26,"text":"But Peter helped him up. \"Stand up,\" he said. \"I'm only a man myself.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Peter kept talking with him as he went inside. There he found a large group of people gathered."},{"verse":28,"text":"He said to them, \"You know it's against our law for a Jew to spend time with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I shouldn't call anyone unholy or unclean."},{"verse":29,"text":"So when I was invited, I came without arguing. Now may I ask why you sent for me?\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Cornelius answered, \"Four days ago I was praying in my house. It was at this same time, three in the afternoon. All at once a man in shining clothes stood in front of me."},{"verse":31,"text":"He said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer. He has remembered your gifts to the poor."},{"verse":32,"text":"So send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon, a man who works with leather. His house is by the sea.'"},{"verse":33,"text":"So I sent for you right away. It was good of you to come. Now we are all here before God. We want to hear everything the Lord has told you to say to us.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Then Peter began to speak. \"Now I truly understand that God doesn't treat some people better than others."},{"verse":35,"text":"He accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right."},{"verse":36,"text":"God sent this message to the people of Israel. It is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all."},{"verse":37,"text":"You know what has happened all over Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached about baptism."},{"verse":38,"text":"You know how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went around doing good. He healed all who were under the power of the devil. He did this because God was with him."},{"verse":39,"text":"We saw everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree."},{"verse":40,"text":"But God raised him from the dead on the third day. He let him be seen."},{"verse":41,"text":"Not all the people saw him. He was seen by the witnesses God had already chosen. We are those witnesses. We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead."},{"verse":42,"text":"He ordered us to preach to the people. He told us to tell them that God has chosen him to judge the living and the dead."},{"verse":43,"text":"All the prophets tell about him. They say that everyone who believes in him has their sins forgiven through his name.\""},{"verse":44,"text":"Peter was still speaking these words. Then the Holy Spirit came down on all who were listening to the message."},{"verse":45,"text":"All the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed. The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles!"},{"verse":46,"text":"For they heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Then Peter said,"},{"verse":47,"text":"\"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like we have!\""},{"verse":48,"text":"So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The apostles and the believers all over Judea soon heard the news. The Gentiles had also accepted God's word."},{"verse":2,"text":"So Peter went up to Jerusalem. There the believers who were circumcised argued with him."},{"verse":3,"text":"They said, \"You went into the homes of men who are not circumcised. And you ate with them!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"But Peter began at the beginning. He told them everything just as it happened."},{"verse":5,"text":"\"I was praying in the city of Joppa. In a trance I saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was being let down from heaven by its four corners. It came right down to me."},{"verse":6,"text":"I looked at it closely. I saw animals with four feet, wild animals, reptiles, and birds."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then I heard a voice say to me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"I said, 'No, Lord! Nothing unholy or unclean has ever gone into my mouth.'"},{"verse":9,"text":"But the voice spoke from heaven a second time. It said, 'Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.'"},{"verse":10,"text":"This happened three times. Then it was all pulled back up into heaven."},{"verse":11,"text":"Right then three men came to the house where I was staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea."},{"verse":12,"text":"The Spirit told me to go with them and not to doubt. These six believers went with me too. We went into the man's home."},{"verse":13,"text":"He told us he had seen an angel standing in his house. The angel said, 'Send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter."},{"verse":14,"text":"He will bring you a message. Through it, you and everyone in your house will be saved.'"},{"verse":15,"text":"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them. He came just as he had come on us at the beginning."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then I remembered what the Lord had said. 'John baptized with water. But you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?\""},{"verse":18,"text":"When they heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God. They said, \"So God has let even the Gentiles turn back to him and live!\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Meanwhile, some believers had been scattered by the attacks that began when Stephen was killed. They traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They told the message only to Jews."},{"verse":20,"text":"But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. They went to Antioch and began speaking to Greeks too. They told them the good news about the Lord Jesus."},{"verse":21,"text":"The Lord's power was with them. A large number of people believed and turned to the Lord."},{"verse":22,"text":"The church in Jerusalem heard about this. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch."},{"verse":23,"text":"When he got there, he saw what God's grace had done. He was very glad. He encouraged them all to stay true to the Lord with all their hearts."},{"verse":24,"text":"Barnabas was a good man. He was full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people were brought to the Lord."},{"verse":25,"text":"Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul."},{"verse":26,"text":"When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians."},{"verse":27,"text":"In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch."},{"verse":28,"text":"One of them was named Agabus. He stood up and spoke through the Spirit. He said a great famine would spread over the whole world. (This happened while Claudius was emperor.)"},{"verse":29,"text":"The disciples decided to send help to the believers living in Judea. Each one would give as much as he could."},{"verse":30,"text":"And they did it. They sent their gifts to the elders through Barnabas and Saul."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"About that time, King Herod began to hurt some people who belonged to the church."},{"verse":2,"text":"He had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword."},{"verse":3,"text":"Herod saw that this pleased the Jews. So he went on to arrest Peter too. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread."},{"verse":4,"text":"After he arrested Peter, he put him in prison. He handed him over to four groups of soldiers to guard him. Each group had four soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter out to the people after the Passover."},{"verse":5,"text":"So Peter was kept in prison. But the church kept praying hard to God for him."},{"verse":6,"text":"It was the night before Herod planned to put Peter on trial. Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. He was tied up with two chains. Guards stood at the prison door."},{"verse":7,"text":"All at once an angel of the Lord appeared. A light shone in the cell. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. \"Get up quickly,\" he said. And the chains fell off Peter's wrists."},{"verse":8,"text":"The angel said, \"Get dressed and put on your sandals.\" Peter did. Then the angel told him, \"Wrap your coat around you and follow me.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So Peter followed him out. But he didn't know that what the angel was doing was really happening. He thought he was seeing a vision."},{"verse":10,"text":"They walked past the first and second guards. They came to the iron gate that led into the city. It opened for them by itself. They went outside and walked down one street. Then all at once the angel left him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Peter woke up to what was happening. He said, \"Now I know for sure that the Lord sent his angel. He rescued me from Herod's power. He saved me from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen to me.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"When Peter understood this, he went to the house of Mary. She was the mother of John, who was also called Mark. Many people had gathered there and were praying."},{"verse":13,"text":"Peter knocked at the outside gate. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it."},{"verse":14,"text":"She knew Peter's voice. She was so happy that she forgot to open the gate. Instead, she ran inside and said, \"Peter is standing at the gate!\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"You're out of your mind,\" they told her. But she kept saying it was true. So they said, \"It must be his angel.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But Peter kept on knocking. When they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed."},{"verse":17,"text":"Peter waved his hand for them to be quiet. He told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. \"Tell James and the other believers about this,\" he said. Then he left for another place."},{"verse":18,"text":"In the morning the soldiers were very upset. They wondered what had happened to Peter."},{"verse":19,"text":"Herod had a search made for Peter, but they didn't find him. So Herod questioned the guards. He ordered that they be put to death. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there for a while."},{"verse":20,"text":"Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came together to see him. They got Blastus to take their side. He was a trusted servant of the king. Then they asked for peace. They did this because their land got its food from the king's country."},{"verse":21,"text":"On the chosen day, Herod put on his royal robes. He sat on his throne and gave a speech to the people."},{"verse":22,"text":"The people began to shout, \"This is the voice of a god, not a man!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Herod did not give glory to God. So right away an angel of the Lord struck him down. He was eaten by worms and died."},{"verse":24,"text":"But the word of God kept spreading and growing."},{"verse":25,"text":"Barnabas and Saul finished their work in Jerusalem. Then they went back, and they took John with them. He was also called Mark."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, and Saul. Manaen had grown up with Herod the tetrarch."},{"verse":2,"text":"They were worshiping the Lord and fasting. Then the Holy Spirit said, \"Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me. Set them apart for the work I have called them to do.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"They fasted and prayed. Then they laid their hands on them and sent them off."},{"verse":4,"text":"So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus."},{"verse":5,"text":"They came to Salamis. There they preached the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper."},{"verse":6,"text":"They went across the whole island as far as Paphos. There they found a Jewish man who did magic. He was a false prophet named Bar-Jesus."},{"verse":7,"text":"He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul was a wise man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God."},{"verse":8,"text":"But Elymas the sorcerer worked against them. That is what his name means. He tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then Saul, who was also called Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked right at Elymas"},{"verse":10,"text":"and said, \"You child of the devil! You are an enemy of all that is right. You are full of every kind of lie and trick! Will you never stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord?"},{"verse":11,"text":"Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you. You will be blind for a time. You won't be able to see the light of the sun.\" Right away mist and darkness came over him. He felt his way around, looking for someone to lead him by the hand."},{"verse":12,"text":"The proconsul saw what had happened, and he believed. He believed because he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."},{"verse":13,"text":"Paul and the men with him set sail from Paphos. They came to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and went back to Jerusalem."},{"verse":14,"text":"From Perga they went inland to Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went into the synagogue and sat down."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Law and the Prophets were read. Then the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them. \"Brothers,\" they said, \"if you have a word to cheer and help the people, please speak.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Paul stood up and waved his hand. Then he began to speak. \"Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!"},{"verse":17,"text":"The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers. He made them into a great people while they lived in Egypt. With a lifted arm he led them out of that land."},{"verse":18,"text":"For about forty years he put up with the way they acted in the wilderness."},{"verse":19,"text":"He wiped out seven nations in Canaan. Then he gave their land to his people as an inheritance."},{"verse":20,"text":"All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges. They led until the time of Samuel the prophet."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the people asked for a king. God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin. He ruled for forty years."},{"verse":22,"text":"God took Saul away. Then he made David their king. God said this about him: 'I have found David son of Jesse. He is a man after my own heart. He will do all that I want him to do.'"},{"verse":23,"text":"God has brought Israel a Savior from this man's family. He is Jesus. God had promised to send him."},{"verse":24,"text":"Before Jesus came, John preached to all the people of Israel. He told them to repent and be baptized."},{"verse":25,"text":"John was coming to the end of his work. He said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the One. But someone is coming after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.'"},{"verse":26,"text":"Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God! This message about being saved has been sent to us."},{"verse":27,"text":"The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not know who Jesus was. But when they condemned him, they made the prophets' words come true. Those words are read every Sabbath."},{"verse":28,"text":"They found no reason to put him to death. Still, they asked Pilate to have him killed."},{"verse":29,"text":"They did everything that was written about him. Then they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb."},{"verse":30,"text":"But God raised him from the dead."},{"verse":31,"text":"For many days he was seen by those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are his witnesses to our people."},{"verse":32,"text":"And now we bring you the good news. God made a promise to our fathers."},{"verse":33,"text":"He has kept that promise for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. It is written in the second Psalm: 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.'"},{"verse":34,"text":"God raised him from the dead, and his body will never rot. God has said, 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings I promised to David.'"},{"verse":35,"text":"So he also says in another Psalm, 'You will not let your Holy One's body rot.'"},{"verse":36,"text":"For David served God's plan in his own time. Then he fell asleep in death. He was buried with his fathers, and his body rotted away."},{"verse":37,"text":"But the One God raised from the dead did not rot."},{"verse":38,"text":"So, brothers, I want you to know this. Through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is being told to you."},{"verse":39,"text":"Through Jesus, everyone who believes is made right with God from everything. The law of Moses could not make you right with God from those things."},{"verse":40,"text":"So be careful! Don't let what the prophets said happen to you:"},{"verse":41,"text":"'Look, you who mock, be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days. You would never believe it, even if someone told you.'\""},{"verse":42,"text":"Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue. The people begged them to say more about this on the next Sabbath."},{"verse":43,"text":"The meeting broke up. Many Jews and faithful people who had become Jews followed Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas talked with them. They urged them to keep living in the grace of God."},{"verse":44,"text":"On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came to hear the word of the Lord."},{"verse":45,"text":"But the Jews saw the crowds and were filled with jealousy. They spoke against what Paul was saying, and they spoke evil words."},{"verse":46,"text":"Then Paul and Barnabas boldly answered them. \"We had to speak the word of God to you first. But you push it away. You judge yourselves not worthy of eternal life. So now we are turning to the Gentiles."},{"verse":47,"text":"For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles. You will bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'\""},{"verse":48,"text":"The Gentiles heard this and were glad. They praised the word of the Lord. All who were appointed for eternal life believed."},{"verse":49,"text":"And the word of the Lord spread through that whole area."},{"verse":50,"text":"But the Jews stirred up the leading women who worshiped God. They also stirred up the leading men of the city. They started to attack Paul and Barnabas, and they drove them out of their area."},{"verse":51,"text":"So Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them. Then they went to Iconium."},{"verse":52,"text":"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue as usual. They spoke so well that a great many Jews and Greeks believed."},{"verse":2,"text":"But the Jews who did not believe stirred up the Gentiles. They turned their minds against the brothers."},{"verse":3,"text":"So Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time. They spoke boldly for the Lord. He showed that the message of his grace was true. He let them do signs and wonders."},{"verse":4,"text":"The people of the city were split. Some took the side of the Jews. Others took the side of the apostles."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the Gentiles and Jews and their rulers made a plan. They wanted to hurt Paul and Barnabas and stone them."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Paul and Barnabas found out about it. They ran to Lystra and Derbe, cities in Lycaonia, and to the land around them."},{"verse":7,"text":"There they kept on preaching the good news."},{"verse":8,"text":"In Lystra there sat a man whose feet were crippled. He had been lame from birth and had never walked."},{"verse":9,"text":"This man was listening to Paul speak. Paul looked closely at him. He saw that the man had faith to be healed."},{"verse":10,"text":"Paul called out in a loud voice, \"Stand up on your feet!\" And the man jumped up and began to walk."},{"verse":11,"text":"The crowds saw what Paul had done. They shouted in the Lycaonian language, \"The gods have come down to us! They look like men!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"They called Barnabas Zeus. They called Paul Hermes, because he did most of the talking."},{"verse":13,"text":"The temple of Zeus was just outside the city. Its priest brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. He and the crowds wanted to offer a sacrifice."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. They tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd. They shouted,"},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Men, why are you doing this? We are only men, human just like you. We are bringing you good news. You should turn away from these useless things to the living God. He made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them."},{"verse":16,"text":"In the past, he let all nations go their own way."},{"verse":17,"text":"But he has always shown that he is good. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills your hearts with food and joy.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas could hardly stop the crowds from offering sacrifices to them."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium. They won the crowds over to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city. They thought he was dead."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the disciples gathered around him. Then he got up and went back into the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe."},{"verse":21,"text":"They preached the good news in that city and made many disciples. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch."},{"verse":22,"text":"They made the disciples' souls stronger. They urged them to stay true to the faith. \"We must go through many hard times to enter the kingdom of God,\" they said."},{"verse":23,"text":"Paul and Barnabas chose elders for them in each church. With prayer and fasting, they placed them in the care of the Lord. The people had put their trust in him."},{"verse":24,"text":"They went through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia."},{"verse":25,"text":"They spoke the word in Perga. Then they went down to Attalia."},{"verse":26,"text":"From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch. That was where they had been placed in God's grace for the work they had now finished."},{"verse":27,"text":"When they got there, they gathered the church together. They told all that God had done through them. They told how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles."},{"verse":28,"text":"And they stayed there a long time with the disciples."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then some men came down from Judea. They were teaching the brothers, \"You must be circumcised, as Moses taught. If not, you cannot be saved.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Paul and Barnabas argued hard with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some other believers were chosen to go up to Jerusalem. They would see the apostles and elders about this question."},{"verse":3,"text":"The church sent them on their way. They went through Phoenicia and Samaria. They told how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made all the brothers very happy."},{"verse":4,"text":"They came to Jerusalem. The church and the apostles and elders welcomed them. Then they told them all that God had done through them."},{"verse":5,"text":"But some believers who belonged to the Pharisees stood up. They said, \"The Gentiles must be circumcised. They must be told to obey the law of Moses.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So the apostles and elders met to look into this question."},{"verse":7,"text":"They talked about it for a long time. Then Peter stood up and spoke to them. \"Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you. He chose me to tell the Gentiles the message of the good news. He wanted them to hear it from me and believe."},{"verse":8,"text":"God knows the heart. He showed that he accepted them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did for us."},{"verse":9,"text":"He made no difference between us and them, for he made their hearts clean by faith."},{"verse":10,"text":"So why are you testing God now? Why put a heavy yoke on the necks of the disciples? Neither we nor our fathers have been able to carry it."},{"verse":11,"text":"No! We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"The whole group became quiet. They listened to Barnabas and Paul. The two told about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them."},{"verse":13,"text":"When they finished, James spoke up. \"Brothers, listen to me!"},{"verse":14,"text":"Simon has told us how God first came to the Gentiles. He took from them a people to be his own."},{"verse":15,"text":"The words of the prophets agree with this. It is written:"},{"verse":16,"text":"'After this I will come back. I will rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will make it new again."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will do this so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name. This is what the Lord says, who does these things."},{"verse":18,"text":"They have been known for ages.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"So here is what I think. We should not make things hard for the Gentiles who are turning to God."},{"verse":20,"text":"Instead, we should write to them. We should tell them to stay away from food made unclean by idols. They should stay away from sexual sin. They should not eat the meat of animals that were strangled, or eat blood."},{"verse":21,"text":"For a long time, the law of Moses has been preached in every city. It is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then the apostles and elders and the whole church made a choice. They decided to pick some of their own men to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas. These two were leaders among the brothers."},{"verse":23,"text":"They sent them with this letter: From the apostles and the elders, your brothers. To the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings."},{"verse":24,"text":"We have heard that some men went out from us without our permission. They upset you and troubled your minds by what they said."},{"verse":25,"text":"So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you. They will come with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul."},{"verse":26,"text":"Barnabas and Paul have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":27,"text":"So we are sending Judas and Silas. They will tell you in person the same things we are writing."},{"verse":28,"text":"The Holy Spirit and we have decided not to put any heavy load on you. We ask only these needed things:"},{"verse":29,"text":"Stay away from food offered to idols. Do not eat blood or the meat of strangled animals. Stay away from sexual sin. You will do well to avoid these things. Goodbye."},{"verse":30,"text":"So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch. There they gathered the church together and gave them the letter."},{"verse":31,"text":"The people read it. They were glad for its message, because it encouraged them."},{"verse":32,"text":"Judas and Silas were prophets too. They said many things to encourage the brothers and make them strong."},{"verse":33,"text":"They stayed there for a while. Then the brothers sent them off in peace. They went back to those who had sent them."},{"verse":34,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":35,"text":"But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord."},{"verse":36,"text":"Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, \"Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we preached the word of the Lord. Let's see how they are doing.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"Barnabas wanted to take John along. John was also called Mark."},{"verse":38,"text":"But Paul did not think it was wise to take him, because Mark had left them in Pamphylia. He had not kept going with them in the work."},{"verse":39,"text":"They argued so hard about it that they went separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus."},{"verse":40,"text":"But Paul chose Silas and left. The brothers placed him in the grace of the Lord."},{"verse":41,"text":"Paul went through Syria and Cilicia. He made the churches stronger."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy lived there. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was Greek."},{"verse":2,"text":"The brothers in Lystra and Iconium said good things about him."},{"verse":3,"text":"Paul wanted Timothy to go with him. So he took him and circumcised him. He did this because of the Jews who lived in that area. They all knew that Timothy's father was Greek."},{"verse":4,"text":"They went from town to town. They gave the people the rules the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had decided on. The people were to obey them."},{"verse":5,"text":"So the churches grew strong in the faith. They grew in number every day."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Holy Spirit kept them from speaking the word in the province of Asia. So they went through the area of Phrygia and Galatia."},{"verse":7,"text":"They came to the border of Mysia. They tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them."},{"verse":8,"text":"So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas."},{"verse":9,"text":"During the night Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia stood there begging him, \"Come over to Macedonia and help us.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"After Paul saw the vision, we got ready right away to leave for Macedonia. We were sure God had called us to preach the good news to them."},{"verse":11,"text":"We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace. The next day we went on to Neapolis."},{"verse":12,"text":"From there we went to Philippi. It was a Roman colony and the leading city of that part of Macedonia. We stayed there several days."},{"verse":13,"text":"On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river. We expected to find a place of prayer there. We sat down and talked to the women who had gathered there."},{"verse":14,"text":"One of the women listening was named Lydia. She was from the city of Thyatira, and she sold purple cloth. She worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to accept Paul's message."},{"verse":15,"text":"She and the people of her house were baptized. Then she begged us, \"If you think I truly believe in the Lord, come and stay at my house.\" And she talked us into it."},{"verse":16,"text":"One day we were going to the place of prayer. A slave girl met us. She had a spirit that let her tell the future. She made a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes."},{"verse":17,"text":"This girl followed Paul and the rest of us. She kept shouting, \"These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you the way to be saved!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"She kept doing this for many days. At last Paul became so upset that he turned around. He said to the spirit, \"In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!\" And the spirit left her at that very moment."},{"verse":19,"text":"The girl's owners saw that their hope of making money was gone. So they grabbed Paul and Silas. They dragged them to the marketplace to face the officials."},{"verse":20,"text":"They brought them to the judges and said, \"These men are Jews. They are throwing our city into an uproar."},{"verse":21,"text":"They are teaching customs that we Romans are not allowed to accept or follow.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. The judges ordered that their clothes be torn off and that they be beaten with rods."},{"verse":23,"text":"They were hit many times. Then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to guard them closely."},{"verse":24,"text":"When he got this order, he put them in the inner cell. He locked their feet in the stocks."},{"verse":25,"text":"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening to them."},{"verse":26,"text":"Suddenly there was a strong earthquake. It shook the prison down to its base. At once all the doors flew open. Everyone's chains came loose."},{"verse":27,"text":"The jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open. He thought the prisoners had escaped. So he pulled out his sword to kill himself."},{"verse":28,"text":"But Paul shouted, \"Don't hurt yourself! We are all here!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"The jailer called for lights and rushed in. Shaking with fear, he fell down in front of Paul and Silas."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then he brought them out and asked, \"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?\""},{"verse":31,"text":"They answered, \"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Then Paul and Silas told the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house."},{"verse":33,"text":"At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. Right away he and everyone in his house were baptized."},{"verse":34,"text":"Then he brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He and everyone in his house were filled with joy. They had come to believe in God."},{"verse":35,"text":"In the morning the judges sent their officers with an order: \"Let those men go.\""},{"verse":36,"text":"The jailer told Paul, \"The judges have sent orders to let you go. Now you can leave. Go in peace.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"But Paul said to the officers, \"They beat us in public without a trial. They threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now they want to send us away in secret? Certainly not! Let them come here themselves and walk us out!\""},{"verse":38,"text":"The officers told this to the judges. The judges were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens."},{"verse":39,"text":"So they came and tried to make peace with them. They led them out of the prison. Then they asked them to leave the city."},{"verse":40,"text":"Paul and Silas came out of the prison. They went to Lydia's house. There they saw the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left the city."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Paul and Silas went through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Then they came to Thessalonica. There was a Jewish synagogue there."},{"verse":2,"text":"Paul went into the synagogue, as he usually did. On three Sabbaths he talked with them from the Scriptures."},{"verse":3,"text":"He explained and proved that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. \"This Jesus I am telling you about is the Messiah,\" he said."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some of the Jews believed and joined Paul and Silas. So did a large number of Greeks who feared God and quite a few leading women."},{"verse":5,"text":"But the Jews became jealous. So they got some troublemakers from the marketplace. They formed a mob and threw the city into an uproar. They broke into Jason's house looking for Paul and Silas. They wanted to bring them out to the crowd."},{"verse":6,"text":"But they could not find them. So they dragged Jason and some other brothers to the city officials. They shouted, \"These men have turned the world upside down! Now they have come here,"},{"verse":7,"text":"and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all going against Caesar's laws. They say there is another king, named Jesus!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"When the crowd and city officials heard this, they were very upset."},{"verse":9,"text":"They made Jason and the others pay money as a promise. Then they let them go."},{"verse":10,"text":"As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they got there, they went into the Jewish synagogue."},{"verse":11,"text":"The people of Berea were more noble than the people of Thessalonica. That is because they were very eager to hear the message. Every day they studied the Scriptures. They wanted to see if what Paul said was true."},{"verse":12,"text":"So many of them believed. Quite a few important Greek women and men believed too."},{"verse":13,"text":"But the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea too. So they went there to stir up the crowds and upset them."},{"verse":14,"text":"Right away the brothers sent Paul to the coast. But Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea."},{"verse":15,"text":"The men who went with Paul took him to Athens. Then they went back with a message for Silas and Timothy. They were to join Paul as soon as they could."},{"verse":16,"text":"Paul was waiting for them in Athens. He was very troubled in his spirit. He saw that the city was full of idols."},{"verse":17,"text":"So he talked in the synagogue with the Jews and with Gentiles who feared God. Every day he also talked in the marketplace with anyone he met."},{"verse":18,"text":"Some Epicurean and Stoic thinkers also started to argue with him. Some of them asked, \"What is this babbler trying to say?\" Others said, \"He seems to be talking about foreign gods.\" They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and his rising from the dead."},{"verse":19,"text":"So they took Paul to the Areopagus. There they asked him, \"May we know what this new teaching is that you're giving?"},{"verse":20,"text":"You are telling us some strange ideas. We want to know what they mean.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"All the people of Athens and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but hearing and talking about the newest ideas."},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus. He said, \"Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way."},{"verse":23,"text":"As I walked around, I looked closely at the things you worship. I even found an altar with these words on it: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So what you worship as something unknown, I am now telling you about."},{"verse":24,"text":"God made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made by human hands."},{"verse":25,"text":"Human hands do not serve him as if he needed anything. That is because he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else."},{"verse":26,"text":"From one man he made every nation of people. He made them to live all over the earth. He set the times when they would live and the edges of their lands."},{"verse":27,"text":"God did this so they would seek him. Maybe they would reach out for him and find him. Yet he is not far from any one of us."},{"verse":28,"text":"'For in him we live and move and are who we are.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his children.'"},{"verse":29,"text":"So since we are God's children, we should not think God is like gold or silver or stone. He is not an idol shaped by a man's skill and ideas."},{"verse":30,"text":"In the past, God overlooked the times when people did not know better. But now he commands all people everywhere to repent."},{"verse":31,"text":"For he has set a day when he will judge the world fairly. He will do it through the Man he has chosen. He has proved this to everyone by raising him from the dead.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"They heard Paul talk about the dead rising. Some of them began to make fun of him. But others said, \"We want to hear you talk about this again.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Then Paul left the Areopagus."},{"verse":34,"text":"But some people joined him and believed. One was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus. Another was a woman named Damaris. Some others were with them."}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth."},{"verse":2,"text":"There he met a Jew named Aquila, who was born in Pontus. Aquila and his wife Priscilla had just come from Italy. Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them."},{"verse":3,"text":"They made tents for a living, just as Paul did. So he stayed and worked with them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Every Sabbath he talked with people in the synagogue. He tried to win over both Jews and Greeks."},{"verse":5,"text":"Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia. Then Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He told the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah."},{"verse":6,"text":"But they turned against him and spoke evil of him. So he shook out his clothes. He told them, \"Your blood is on your own heads! I am not to blame. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So Paul left the synagogue. He went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a man who worshiped God."},{"verse":8,"text":"Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord. So did everyone in his house. Many of the people of Corinth heard the message. They believed and were baptized."},{"verse":9,"text":"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. \"Do not be afraid. Keep on speaking. Do not be silent."},{"verse":10,"text":"For I am with you. No one will attack you or hurt you, because I have many people in this city.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So Paul stayed there for a year and a half. He taught the word of God to the people of Corinth."},{"verse":12,"text":"At that time Gallio was the proconsul of Achaia. The Jews joined together and attacked Paul. They took him to the court."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"This man is talking people into worshiping God in ways that go against the law,\" they said."},{"verse":14,"text":"Paul was about to speak. But Gallio said to the Jews, \"Listen, you Jews. If this were about some wrong or a terrible crime, it would make sense for me to hear you."},{"verse":15,"text":"But this is an argument about words and names and your own law. Settle it yourselves. I won't be the judge of such things.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"And he sent them away from the court."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the crowd grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue. They beat him in front of the court. But Gallio did not care at all about any of this."},{"verse":18,"text":"Paul stayed in Corinth a long time. Then he said goodbye to the brothers. In Cenchrea he had his head shaved because of a vow he had made. Then he sailed for Syria. Priscilla and Aquila went with him."},{"verse":19,"text":"They came to Ephesus, and Paul left Priscilla and Aquila there. He himself went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews."},{"verse":20,"text":"They asked him to stay longer, but he said no."},{"verse":21,"text":"But as he left, he said, \"I will come back to you if God wants me to.\" Then he set sail from Ephesus."},{"verse":22,"text":"Paul landed at Caesarea. He went up and greeted the church in Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch."},{"verse":23,"text":"Paul spent some time in Antioch. Then he went from place to place through Galatia and Phrygia. He made all the disciples stronger."},{"verse":24,"text":"At that time a Jew named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was from Alexandria. He was a good speaker, and he knew the Scriptures well."},{"verse":25,"text":"He had been taught the way of the Lord. He spoke with a burning spirit. He taught the facts about Jesus correctly. But he knew only about John's baptism."},{"verse":26,"text":"He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Priscilla and Aquila heard him. They took him aside and explained the way of God to him more clearly."},{"verse":27,"text":"Apollos decided to go over to Achaia. The brothers encouraged him. They wrote to the disciples there and asked them to welcome him. When he got there, he was a great help to those who had believed by grace."},{"verse":28,"text":"For he argued strongly against the Jews in public and proved them wrong. He used the Scriptures to show that Jesus is the Messiah."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland area and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples."},{"verse":2,"text":"He asked them, \"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?\" \"No,\" they answered. \"We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Then what baptism did you receive?\" Paul asked. \"John's baptism,\" they answered."},{"verse":4,"text":"Paul explained, \"John's baptism was for people who repented. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him. That One is Jesus.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."},{"verse":6,"text":"Paul placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in tongues and prophesied."},{"verse":7,"text":"There were about twelve men in all."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Paul went into the synagogue. He spoke boldly there for three months. He tried to convince people about the kingdom of God."},{"verse":9,"text":"But some of them were stubborn. They refused to believe, and they said bad things about the Way in public. So Paul left the synagogue and took the disciples with him. Every day he taught and talked with people in the lecture hall of Tyrannus."},{"verse":10,"text":"This went on for two years. So everyone who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. Both Jews and Greeks heard it."},{"verse":11,"text":"God did amazing miracles through Paul's hands."},{"verse":12,"text":"Even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick. Then their sicknesses left them, and evil spirits went out of them."},{"verse":13,"text":"Some Jews went from place to place driving out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over people who had evil spirits. They would say, \"I command you by Jesus, the one Paul preaches about.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Seven sons of Sceva were doing this. Sceva was a Jewish chief priest."},{"verse":15,"text":"But one day the evil spirit answered them, \"I know Jesus, and I know about Paul. But who are you?\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them. He beat them all. He hurt them so badly that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding."},{"verse":17,"text":"All the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this. They were all filled with fear. So the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored."},{"verse":18,"text":"Many who had believed now came forward. They openly told the wrong things they had done."},{"verse":19,"text":"Many who had practiced magic brought their books together. They burned them in front of everyone. They added up what the books were worth. The total was fifty thousand drachmas.","note":"A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day's pay."},{"verse":20,"text":"So the word of the Lord kept spreading with power and growing strong."},{"verse":21,"text":"After all this, Paul decided in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. He planned to go through Macedonia and Achaia. \"After I have been there,\" he said, \"I must see Rome too.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia. But he stayed a while longer in the province of Asia."},{"verse":23,"text":"About that time there was a big uproar about the Way."},{"verse":24,"text":"It started with a silversmith named Demetrius. He made little silver shrines of the goddess Artemis. He brought a lot of business to the craftsmen."},{"verse":25,"text":"Demetrius called the craftsmen together. He also called the workers in other trades like theirs. \"Men,\" he said, \"you know we make good money from this business."},{"verse":26,"text":"You can see and hear what this Paul is doing. He has talked a great many people into turning away. He has done it not only in Ephesus, but in almost the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by hands are not gods at all."},{"verse":27,"text":"There is danger that our business will get a bad name. And there is more. The temple of the great goddess Artemis will be thought of as nothing. She will lose her greatness. Yet all the province of Asia and the whole world worship her.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"When the men heard this, they were very angry. They began to shout, \"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people rushed together into the theater. They dragged Gaius and Aristarchus with them. These men were from Macedonia and were traveling with Paul."},{"verse":30,"text":"Paul wanted to go in and face the crowd. But the disciples would not let him."},{"verse":31,"text":"Some of Paul's friends were officials of the province of Asia. They sent him a message too. They begged him not to go into the theater."},{"verse":32,"text":"The crowd was in confusion. Some were shouting one thing and some another. Most of them did not even know why they were there."},{"verse":33,"text":"The Jews in the crowd pushed a man named Alexander to the front to explain. He waved his hand for quiet. He wanted to defend himself to the people."},{"verse":34,"text":"But they found out he was a Jew. Then they all shouted together for about two hours, \"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!\""},{"verse":35,"text":"At last the city clerk calmed the crowd. He said, \"Men of Ephesus, everyone knows that Ephesus guards the temple of the great Artemis. Ephesus also guards her image that fell from heaven."},{"verse":36,"text":"No one can say these things are not true. So you should be calm. Don't do anything foolish."},{"verse":37,"text":"You have brought these men here. But they have not robbed our temple or spoken evil against our goddess."},{"verse":38,"text":"Demetrius and his craftsmen may have a complaint against someone. If so, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. They can bring charges against each other there."},{"verse":39,"text":"If you want anything more than this, it must be settled in a lawful meeting."},{"verse":40,"text":"As it is, we are in danger of being charged with a riot because of today. We have no good reason to give for this uproar.\""},{"verse":41,"text":"After he said this, he sent the crowd away."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples. He encouraged them and said goodbye. Then he left for Macedonia."},{"verse":2,"text":"He went through that area and said many things to encourage the people. Then he came to Greece."},{"verse":3,"text":"He stayed there three months. He was about to sail for Syria. But the Jews made a plan against him. So he decided to go back through Macedonia."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some men went with Paul. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica. Gaius from Derbe and Timothy went too. So did Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia."},{"verse":5,"text":"These men went on ahead. They waited for us in Troas."},{"verse":6,"text":"After the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi. Five days later we joined them in Troas. We stayed there seven days."},{"verse":7,"text":"On the first day of the week we met together to break bread. Paul planned to leave the next day. So he spoke to the people, and he kept on talking until midnight."},{"verse":8,"text":"There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting."},{"verse":9,"text":"A young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window. Paul talked on and on, and Eutychus got very sleepy. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third floor. They picked him up dead."},{"verse":10,"text":"But Paul went down and threw himself on the young man. He put his arms around him. \"Don't be afraid!\" he said. \"He is still alive!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then Paul went back upstairs. He broke bread and ate. He kept talking until the sun came up. Then he left."},{"verse":12,"text":"The people took the young man home alive, and they were greatly comforted."},{"verse":13,"text":"We went on ahead to the ship. We sailed to Assos, where we were going to pick up Paul. He had planned it this way because he was going there on foot."},{"verse":14,"text":"He met us at Assos, and we took him on board. Then we went on to Mitylene."},{"verse":15,"text":"We sailed on from there. The next day we came near Chios. The day after that we came to Samos. On the next day we came to Miletus."},{"verse":16,"text":"Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus. He did not want to spend time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost, if he could."},{"verse":17,"text":"From Miletus, Paul sent a message to Ephesus. He asked the elders of the church to come to him."},{"verse":18,"text":"When they came, he said to them, \"You know how I lived the whole time I was with you. You know it from the first day I came to the province of Asia."},{"verse":19,"text":"I served the Lord humbly and with tears. I had many trials because of the plots of the Jews."},{"verse":20,"text":"I did not hold back from telling you anything that would help you. I taught you in public and from house to house."},{"verse":21,"text":"I told both Jews and Greeks that they must turn back to God. I told them to have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":22,"text":"And now the Spirit is pushing me to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what will happen to me there."},{"verse":23,"text":"I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me. He tells me that chains and troubles are waiting for me."},{"verse":24,"text":"But my life means nothing to me. I only want to finish my race. I want to complete the work the Lord Jesus gave me. That work is to tell the good news of God's grace."},{"verse":25,"text":"I have gone among you preaching the kingdom. Now I know that none of you will ever see my face again."},{"verse":26,"text":"So I tell you today that I am not to blame for anyone's blood."},{"verse":27,"text":"For I did not hold back from telling you all of God's plan."},{"verse":28,"text":"Watch over yourselves and the whole flock. The Holy Spirit has made you overseers of it. Be shepherds of the church of God. He bought it with his own blood."},{"verse":29,"text":"I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come in among you. They will not spare the flock."},{"verse":30,"text":"Even some men from your own group will rise up. They will twist the truth to pull disciples away to follow them."},{"verse":31,"text":"So stay alert! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you. I did it night and day with tears."},{"verse":32,"text":"And now I give you into God's care. I give you to the word of his grace. It can build you up. It can give you an inheritance among all those who are made holy."},{"verse":33,"text":"I have not wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothes."},{"verse":34,"text":"You yourselves know that I worked with these hands. I met my own needs and the needs of the people with me."},{"verse":35,"text":"In everything I showed you that we must work hard like this to help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus himself. He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'\""},{"verse":36,"text":"When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed."},{"verse":37,"text":"They all cried hard. They hugged Paul and kissed him."},{"verse":38,"text":"What made them saddest was what he said about never seeing his face again. Then they went with him to the ship."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"We had to pull ourselves away from them. Then we sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara."},{"verse":2,"text":"We found a ship going over to Phoenicia. We got on board and set sail."},{"verse":3,"text":"We came in sight of Cyprus and passed south of it. Then we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where the ship was going to unload its cargo."},{"verse":4,"text":"We looked for the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem."},{"verse":5,"text":"But when our time there was over, we left and went on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children walked with us out of the city. There on the beach we all knelt down and prayed."},{"verse":6,"text":"We said goodbye to each other. Then we got on the ship, and they went back home."},{"verse":7,"text":"We finished our trip from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais. There we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day."},{"verse":8,"text":"The next day we left and went on to Caesarea. We stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist. He was one of the Seven."},{"verse":9,"text":"He had four daughters who were not married. They prophesied."},{"verse":10,"text":"We had been there several days. Then a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea."},{"verse":11,"text":"He came over to us and took Paul's belt. He tied his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, \"The Holy Spirit says, 'This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the owner of this belt. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"When we heard this, we and the people there begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then Paul answered, \"Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I am ready to be tied up in Jerusalem. I am even ready to die there for the name of the Lord Jesus.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"He would not change his mind. So we stopped trying and said, \"May the Lord's will be done.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"After this, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem."},{"verse":16,"text":"Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to stay at the home of Mnason. He was from Cyprus and had been a disciple from the early days."},{"verse":17,"text":"When we came to Jerusalem, the brothers gladly welcomed us."},{"verse":18,"text":"The next day Paul went with us to see James. All the elders were there."},{"verse":19,"text":"Paul greeted them. Then he told them one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his work."},{"verse":20,"text":"When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, \"You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed. And all of them are eager to keep the law."},{"verse":21,"text":"But they have been told something about you. They heard that you teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses. They heard you tell them not to circumcise their children or keep our customs."},{"verse":22,"text":"So what should we do? They will surely hear that you have come."},{"verse":23,"text":"So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow."},{"verse":24,"text":"Take these men and go through the cleansing ceremony with them. Pay their costs so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that these stories about you are not true. They will see that you also obey the law."},{"verse":25,"text":"As for the Gentile believers, we have written them what we decided. They must stay away from food offered to idols. They must not eat blood or the meat of strangled animals. And they must stay away from sexual sin.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So the next day Paul took the men and was made clean along with them. Then he went into the temple. He gave notice of the date when their days of cleansing would end. On that day an offering would be made for each of them."},{"verse":27,"text":"The seven days were almost over. Then some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed him."},{"verse":28,"text":"They shouted, \"Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people. He teaches against our law and this place. He has even brought Greeks into the temple. He has made this holy place unclean.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"For they had seen Trophimus from Ephesus with Paul in the city before. They thought Paul had brought him into the temple."},{"verse":30,"text":"The whole city was stirred up, and the people came running. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple. At once the gates were shut."},{"verse":31,"text":"They were trying to kill him. Then the commander of the Roman troops heard that all Jerusalem was in an uproar."},{"verse":32,"text":"Right away he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. The people saw the commander and the soldiers. Then they stopped beating Paul."},{"verse":33,"text":"The commander came up and arrested Paul. He ordered him to be tied with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done."},{"verse":34,"text":"Some in the crowd shouted one thing, and some shouted another. The commander could not find out the truth because of the noise. So he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks."},{"verse":35,"text":"Paul got to the steps. Then the soldiers had to carry him because the mob was so violent."},{"verse":36,"text":"For the crowd following him kept shouting, \"Get rid of him!\""},{"verse":37,"text":"The soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks. He asked the commander, \"May I say something to you?\" \"Do you speak Greek?\" the commander asked."},{"verse":38,"text":"\"Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago? Didn't you lead four thousand Assassins out into the wilderness?\""},{"verse":39,"text":"But Paul answered, \"I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people.\""},{"verse":40,"text":"The commander gave him permission. Paul stood on the steps and waved his hand to the crowd. Everyone became very quiet. Then he spoke to them in Hebrew:"}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Brothers and fathers, listen now as I defend myself to you.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"They heard him speaking to them in Hebrew. So they became even quieter. Then Paul said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"I am a Jew. I was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but I grew up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel. He taught me to keep the law of our fathers very strictly. I was just as eager to serve God as any of you are today."},{"verse":4,"text":"I attacked the people of this Way, even to the point of death. I arrested both men and women and threw them into prison."},{"verse":5,"text":"The high priest and the whole Council can tell you this is true. I even got letters from them to their brothers in Damascus. I went there to arrest these people. I was going to bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished."},{"verse":6,"text":"About noon I was coming near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed all around me."},{"verse":7,"text":"I fell to the ground. I heard a voice say to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me?'"},{"verse":8,"text":"'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are attacking,' he answered."},{"verse":9,"text":"The men with me saw the light. But they did not understand the voice of the one speaking to me."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?' 'Get up and go into Damascus,' he told me. 'There you will be told all that you have been chosen to do.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"The light was so bright that it made me blind. So the men with me led me by the hand into Damascus."},{"verse":12,"text":"A man named Ananias lived there. He was a faithful man who obeyed the law. All the Jews living there thought well of him."},{"verse":13,"text":"He came and stood beside me. 'Brother Saul,' he said, 'receive your sight!' At that moment I could see him."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you. You will know his will. You will see the Righteous One and hear his voice."},{"verse":15,"text":"You will be his witness to everyone. You will tell what you have seen and heard."},{"verse":16,"text":"So what are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Call on his name, and wash your sins away.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"Later I went back to Jerusalem. I was praying at the temple, and I fell into a trance."},{"verse":18,"text":"I saw the Lord. He said to me, 'Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept what you tell them about me.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"'Lord,' I answered, 'they know very well what I did. I went from synagogue to synagogue. I put those who believed in you in prison and beat them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Your witness Stephen was killed, and his blood was spilled. I stood there and agreed with it. I watched the coats of those who killed him.'"},{"verse":21,"text":"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they began to shout, \"Get rid of him! Wipe him off the earth! He doesn't deserve to live!\""},{"verse":23,"text":"They were shouting and throwing off their coats. They were throwing dust into the air."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He said Paul should be whipped and questioned. He wanted to find out why the people were shouting at him like this."},{"verse":25,"text":"They stretched him out and tied him down to whip him. Then Paul said to the centurion standing there, \"Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen? He hasn't even had a trial!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him. \"What are you going to do?\" he asked. \"This man is a Roman citizen.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The commander went to Paul and asked, \"Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?\" \"Yes, I am,\" Paul answered."},{"verse":28,"text":"\"I paid a lot of money to become a citizen,\" the commander said. \"But I was born a citizen,\" Paul answered."},{"verse":29,"text":"Right away the men who were going to question Paul backed away. The commander himself was afraid. He knew he had put a Roman citizen in chains."},{"verse":30,"text":"The commander wanted to find out the real reason the Jews were accusing Paul. So the next day he set him free. He ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to meet. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand in front of them."}]},{"chapter":23,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin. He said, \"Brothers, I have lived my life before God with a clear conscience up to this day.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"When he said this, the high priest Ananias gave an order. He told the men standing near Paul to hit him on the mouth."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then Paul said to him, \"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me by the law. Yet you break the law yourself by ordering them to hit me!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"The men standing nearby said, \"How dare you insult God's high priest!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"\"Brothers,\" Paul answered, \"I did not know he was the high priest. For it is written, 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Paul knew that some of them were Sadducees and the others were Pharisees. So he called out in the Sanhedrin, \"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am on trial because I hope that the dead will rise.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"As soon as he said this, the Pharisees and Sadducees began to argue. The group was split."},{"verse":8,"text":"For the Sadducees say that the dead do not rise. They say there are no angels or spirits. But the Pharisees believe in all of these."},{"verse":9,"text":"There was a great uproar. Some scribes who were Pharisees stood up. They argued hard. \"We find nothing wrong with this man,\" they said. \"What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"The argument became so violent that the commander was afraid. He thought they would tear Paul to pieces. So he ordered the soldiers to go down and take Paul away from them by force. They were to bring him into the barracks."},{"verse":11,"text":"The next night the Lord stood near Paul. He said, \"Be brave! Just as you have told about me in Jerusalem, so you must tell about me in Rome too.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"In the morning the Jews made a secret plan. They made a promise with an oath. They would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul."},{"verse":13,"text":"More than forty men were part of this plot."},{"verse":14,"text":"They went to the chief priests and elders. They said, \"We have made a solemn oath. We will not eat anything until we have killed Paul."},{"verse":15,"text":"So you and the Sanhedrin must ask the commander to bring him down to you. Pretend you want to look into his case more closely. We are ready to kill him on the way.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But the son of Paul's sister heard about the plot. He went into the barracks and told Paul."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Paul called one of the centurions. He said, \"Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So the centurion took him to the commander. He said, \"Paul the prisoner called me. He asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"The commander took the young man by the hand. He led him off to one side and asked, \"What do you need to tell me?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"He said, \"The Jews have agreed to ask you a favor. They want you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow. They will pretend they want to learn more about him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Don't let them talk you into it, because more than forty men are hiding and waiting to attack him. They have made an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now. They are just waiting for you to say yes.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"The commander sent the young man away. He told him, \"Don't tell anyone that you told me this.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"Then he called two of his centurions. He said, \"Get two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also get seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen."},{"verse":24,"text":"Have horses ready for Paul to ride. Take him safely to Governor Felix.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Then the commander wrote this letter:"},{"verse":26,"text":"From Claudius Lysias. To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings."},{"verse":27,"text":"The Jews grabbed this man and were about to kill him. But I came with my troops and saved him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen."},{"verse":28,"text":"I wanted to know why they were accusing him. So I brought him to their Sanhedrin."},{"verse":29,"text":"I found that the charges were about questions of their own law. But he had done nothing that deserved death or prison."},{"verse":30,"text":"Then I was told about a plot against the man. So I sent him to you at once. I also ordered the men accusing him to bring their case against him to you."},{"verse":31,"text":"So the soldiers did as they were ordered. During the night they took Paul to Antipatris."},{"verse":32,"text":"The next day the soldiers went back to the barracks. They let the horsemen go on with Paul."},{"verse":33,"text":"The horsemen came to Caesarea. They gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him."},{"verse":34,"text":"The governor read the letter. He asked what province Paul was from. He learned that Paul was from Cilicia."},{"verse":35,"text":"So he said, \"I will hear your case when the men accusing you get here.\" Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.","note":"Greek: Praetorium, the governor's headquarters."}]},{"chapter":24,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Five days later the high priest Ananias came down. Some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus came with him. Tertullus brought their charges against Paul to the governor."},{"verse":2,"text":"Paul was called in. Then Tertullus began to accuse him. He said to Felix, \"Because of you, we have had peace for a long time. Your wise planning has made things better for this nation."},{"verse":3,"text":"Most excellent Felix, we gladly accept this in every way and in every place. We are very thankful."},{"verse":4,"text":"But I don't want to take up any more of your time. So please be kind and hear us for a short while."},{"verse":5,"text":"We have found that this man is a troublemaker, like a plague. He stirs up fights among the Jews all over the world. He is a leader of the group called the Nazarenes."},{"verse":6,"text":"He even tried to make the temple unclean. So we arrested him."},{"verse":7,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":8,"text":"Ask him questions yourself. Then you can learn the truth about all the charges we are bringing against him.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The Jews joined in. They said that these charges were true."},{"verse":10,"text":"The governor waved for Paul to speak. Paul answered, \"I know you have been a judge over this nation for many years. So I am glad to defend myself before you."},{"verse":11,"text":"You can check this for yourself. No more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship."},{"verse":12,"text":"The men accusing me did not find me arguing with anyone in the temple. They did not find me stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or in the city."},{"verse":13,"text":"And they cannot prove to you any of the things they say against me."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I do admit this to you. I worship the God of our fathers by following the Way. They call it a sect. I believe everything the Law says. I believe everything written in the Prophets."},{"verse":15,"text":"I have the same hope in God that these men have. I believe that the dead will rise, both the righteous and the wicked."},{"verse":16,"text":"Because of this hope, I always try to keep a clear conscience before God and people."},{"verse":17,"text":"After being away for several years, I came back to Jerusalem. I brought gifts for the poor among my people and came to give offerings."},{"verse":18,"text":"When they found me in the temple, I had been made clean by our religious rules. I was not stirring up a crowd or causing a riot. But some Jews from the province of Asia were there."},{"verse":19,"text":"They are the ones who should be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me."},{"verse":20,"text":"If not, let these men here tell what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin."},{"verse":21,"text":"Maybe it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in front of them: 'I am on trial before you today because I believe the dead will rise.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Felix knew a lot about the Way. So he put off the hearing. He said, \"When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard. But he told him to give Paul some freedom. He was to let Paul's friends take care of his needs."},{"verse":24,"text":"Several days later Felix came back with his wife Drusilla. She was Jewish. Felix sent for Paul. He listened to Paul talk about faith in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":25,"text":"Paul talked about doing what is right, about self-control, and about the judgment that is coming. Felix became afraid. He said, \"You may go for now. When I have time, I will send for you.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"At the same time, he hoped Paul would give him money as a bribe. So he sent for Paul often and talked with him."},{"verse":27,"text":"Two years went by. Then Porcius Festus took Felix's place. Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he left Paul in prison."}]},{"chapter":25,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Festus came to the province. Three days later, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem."},{"verse":2,"text":"There the chief priests and Jewish leaders came to him. They brought their case against Paul. They begged Festus"},{"verse":3,"text":"to do them a favor and have Paul brought to Jerusalem. They asked this because they were planning to hide along the road and kill him on the way."},{"verse":4,"text":"But Festus answered, \"Paul is being held in Caesarea. I'm going there soon myself."},{"verse":5,"text":"So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me. They can accuse him there.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Festus stayed with them no more than eight or ten days. Then he went down to Caesarea. The next day he sat in the judge's seat. He gave orders for Paul to be brought in."},{"verse":7,"text":"When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him. But they could not prove any of them."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then Paul spoke up for himself. \"I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews,\" he said. \"I have done nothing wrong against the temple or against Caesar.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"But Festus wanted to do the Jews a favor. So he asked Paul, \"Will you go up to Jerusalem? Will you stand trial before me there on these charges?\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Paul answered, \"I'm standing before Caesar's court. This is where I should be judged. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews. You know that very well yourself."},{"verse":11,"text":"If I am guilty of something that earns death, I don't refuse to die. But if their charges against me are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Festus talked it over with his advisers. Then he answered, \"You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Several days went by. Then King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. They came to greet Festus and pay their respects."},{"verse":14,"text":"They were staying there several days. So Festus told the king about Paul's case. He said, \"There's a man here whom Felix left in prison."},{"verse":15,"text":"When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish elders brought charges against him. They asked me to judge him guilty."},{"verse":16,"text":"I told them that this is not the Roman way. We don't hand a man over before he has a chance to face the people accusing him. He must get to answer their charges."},{"verse":17,"text":"So they came here with me, and I didn't wait. The next day I sat in the judge's seat. I gave orders for the man to be brought in."},{"verse":18,"text":"His accusers stood up to speak. But they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected."},{"verse":19,"text":"They only had some arguments with him about their own religion. They also argued about a man named Jesus who had died. But Paul said that Jesus is alive."},{"verse":20,"text":"I didn't know how to look into these things. So I asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem. He could be tried there on these charges."},{"verse":21,"text":"But Paul asked to be kept under guard until the Emperor could decide his case. So I ordered him to be held until I could send him to Caesar.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Then Agrippa said to Festus, \"I'd like to hear this man myself.\" \"Tomorrow you will hear him,\" Festus said."},{"verse":23,"text":"The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great show and fanfare. They went into the meeting hall. The army commanders and the leading men of the city came with them. Then Festus gave orders, and Paul was brought in."},{"verse":24,"text":"Festus said, \"King Agrippa and everyone here with us, you see this man. All the Jewish people have begged me to act against him. They did it here and in Jerusalem. They shout that he should not live any longer."},{"verse":25,"text":"But I found that he had done nothing that earns death. And now he has appealed to the Emperor. So I decided to send him."},{"verse":26,"text":"But I have nothing clear to write about him to our ruler. So I have brought him here before all of you. I've brought him most of all before you, King Agrippa. After we look into his case, I may have something to write."},{"verse":27,"text":"It makes no sense to me to send a prisoner without saying what the charges against him are.\""}]},{"chapter":26,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Agrippa said to Paul, \"You may now speak for yourself.\" So Paul held out his hand. He began to defend himself."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"King Agrippa, I think I am blessed to stand before you today. I get to defend myself against all the charges of the Jews."},{"verse":3,"text":"And you know all the Jewish customs and the things they argue about. So I beg you to listen to me patiently."},{"verse":4,"text":"All the Jews know how I have lived ever since I was a small child. I lived among my own people and also in Jerusalem."},{"verse":5,"text":"They have known me a long time. If they are willing, they can tell you this. I lived as a Pharisee. That is the strictest group in our religion."},{"verse":6,"text":"And now I am on trial because of my hope. I hope in the promise God made to our fathers."},{"verse":7,"text":"Our twelve tribes hope to see this promise come true as they serve God with all their hearts, day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that the Jews accuse me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Why do any of you think it is hard to believe that God raises the dead?"},{"verse":9,"text":"I too once was sure I should do all I could to fight against the name of Jesus of Nazareth."},{"verse":10,"text":"And that is what I did in Jerusalem. The chief priests gave me power to do it. I put many of God's people in prison. When they were sentenced to death, I voted against them."},{"verse":11,"text":"Many times I had them punished in the synagogues. I tried to make them speak against God. I was wild with anger against them. I even went to cities in other lands to hunt them down."},{"verse":12,"text":"That's why I was on my way to Damascus. The chief priests had given me power and orders to go."},{"verse":13,"text":"At about noon, O king, I was on the road. I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. It shone all around me and the men with me."},{"verse":14,"text":"We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew. It said, 'Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me? It is hard for you to kick against the ox goads.'","note":"A goad was a pointed stick used to drive oxen. Kicking against it only hurt the animal."},{"verse":15,"text":"I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' The Lord answered, 'I am Jesus, the one you are attacking."},{"verse":16,"text":"Now get up and stand on your feet. I have shown myself to you for a reason. I have chosen you to be my servant. You will tell others what you have seen of me. You will also tell what I will show you."},{"verse":17,"text":"I will save you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them"},{"verse":18,"text":"to open their eyes. Then they can turn from darkness to light. They can turn from the power of Satan to God. Then their sins can be forgiven. And they can have a share among those who are made holy by faith in me.'"},{"verse":19,"text":"So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven."},{"verse":20,"text":"First I preached to the people in Damascus and in Jerusalem. Then I preached to everyone in the land of Judea. Then I preached to the Gentiles. I told them to repent and turn to God. I told them to show they had repented by the way they lived."},{"verse":21,"text":"That's why the Jews grabbed me in the temple courts and tried to kill me."},{"verse":22,"text":"But God has helped me up to this very day. So I stand here and tell everyone, both small and great. I say nothing more than what the prophets and Moses said would happen."},{"verse":23,"text":"They said that the Messiah would suffer. He would be the first to rise from the dead. And he would bring the message of light to our people and to the Gentiles.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"While Paul was still defending himself, Festus shouted, \"You're out of your mind, Paul! All your learning is driving you crazy!\""},{"verse":25,"text":"But Paul answered, \"I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. What I'm saying is true and makes good sense."},{"verse":26,"text":"The king knows about these things. So I can speak openly to him. I'm sure he has heard about all of this, because it didn't happen off in a corner."},{"verse":27,"text":"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Then Agrippa said to Paul, \"Do you think you can talk me into being a Christian so quickly?\""},{"verse":29,"text":"Paul answered, \"Quickly or not, I pray to God for this. I pray that you and everyone listening to me today would become like me. But I don't wish these chains on you.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"Then the king stood up, and so did the governor. Bernice and those sitting with them stood up too."},{"verse":31,"text":"As they were leaving, they said to each other, \"This man has done nothing that earns death or prison.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"Agrippa said to Festus, \"This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.\""}]},{"chapter":27,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"It was decided that we would sail for Italy. So Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius. He was part of the Emperor's Regiment."},{"verse":2,"text":"We got on a ship from Adramyttium. It was about to sail to ports along the coast of Asia. So we set out to sea. Aristarchus was with us. He was a Macedonian from Thessalonica."},{"verse":3,"text":"The next day we landed at Sidon. Julius was kind to Paul. He let Paul visit his friends so they could take care of his needs."},{"verse":4,"text":"We set out to sea again from there. The winds were against us. So we sailed close to Cyprus, on the side that blocked the wind."},{"verse":5,"text":"We sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Then we came to Myra in Lycia."},{"verse":6,"text":"There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria that was sailing to Italy. He put us on board."},{"verse":7,"text":"We sailed slowly for many days. At last we came near Cnidus. The wind kept us from going on. So we sailed close to Crete, on the side that blocked the wind. We went past Salmone."},{"verse":8,"text":"It was hard work to move along the coast. Then we came to a place called Fair Havens. It was near the town of Lasea."},{"verse":9,"text":"We had lost a lot of time. Sailing had now become dangerous, because the Fast was already over. So Paul gave them a warning.","note":"The Fast is the Day of Atonement, in the fall. After it, storms made sea travel risky."},{"verse":10,"text":"\"Men,\" he said, \"I can see that this trip will end in disaster. We will lose a lot. We'll lose the ship and the cargo. We will lose our own lives too.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"But the centurion didn't listen to Paul. He listened to the pilot and to the owner of the ship instead."},{"verse":12,"text":"The harbor was not a good place to spend the winter. So most of the men decided to sail on. They hoped to reach Phoenix somehow and spend the winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete. It faced both southwest and northwest."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then a gentle south wind began to blow. They thought they had the chance they wanted. So they pulled up the anchor. They sailed along, staying close to the shore of Crete."},{"verse":14,"text":"But before long, a wild storm wind came down from the island. It was called the Northeaster."},{"verse":15,"text":"The storm caught the ship. It could not turn and face the wind. So we gave up and let the wind drive us along."},{"verse":16,"text":"We passed by a small island called Cauda. It blocked the wind a little. There we were barely able to make the lifeboat safe."},{"verse":17,"text":"The men pulled the lifeboat up on board. Then they tied ropes under the ship to hold it together. They were afraid of getting stuck on the sandbars of Syrtis. So they let down the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along."},{"verse":18,"text":"The storm tossed us so hard that the next day the men began to throw the cargo overboard."},{"verse":19,"text":"On the third day, they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands."},{"verse":20,"text":"For many days we couldn't see the sun or the stars. The great storm kept beating against us. At last we gave up all hope of being saved."},{"verse":21,"text":"The men had gone a long time without food. Then Paul stood up among them. He said, \"Men, you should have listened to me. You should not have sailed from Crete. Then you would have escaped this damage and loss."},{"verse":22,"text":"But now I beg you to be brave, because not one of you will lose your life. Only the ship will be lost."},{"verse":23,"text":"Last night an angel stood beside me. He came from the God I belong to and serve."},{"verse":24,"text":"The angel said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar. And look! God has given you the lives of everyone sailing with you.'"},{"verse":25,"text":"So be brave, men! I trust God. It will happen just as he told me."},{"verse":26,"text":"But we must run aground on some island.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"On the fourteenth night, the storm was still driving us across the Adriatic Sea. At about midnight, the sailors felt that we were getting close to land."},{"verse":28,"text":"They dropped a weighted line to measure how deep the water was. It was 120 feet deep. A little later they measured again. This time it was 90 feet deep.","note":"Greek: twenty fathoms, then fifteen fathoms."},{"verse":29,"text":"They were afraid we would crash on the rocks. So they dropped four anchors from the back of the ship. Then they prayed for morning to come."},{"verse":30,"text":"Meanwhile, the sailors tried to escape from the ship. They let the lifeboat down into the sea. They pretended they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship."},{"verse":31,"text":"But Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, \"These men must stay with the ship. If they don't, you can't be saved.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat. They let it drift away."},{"verse":33,"text":"Just before dawn, Paul kept begging them all to eat. \"For fourteen days you have been waiting and worrying,\" he said. \"You have gone without food all this time."},{"verse":34,"text":"So I beg you to eat something. You need it to stay alive. Eat, because not one hair on your heads will be lost.\""},{"verse":35,"text":"After Paul said this, he took some bread. He thanked God for it in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat."},{"verse":36,"text":"This gave them all new hope. So they ate some food too."},{"verse":37,"text":"There were 276 of us on the ship in all."},{"verse":38,"text":"The men ate all they wanted. Then they made the ship lighter by throwing the grain into the sea."},{"verse":39,"text":"When daylight came, they didn't know what land it was. But they saw a bay with a sandy beach. They decided to run the ship onto the beach if they could."},{"verse":40,"text":"They cut the anchors loose and left them in the sea. At the same time, they untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they raised the front sail to catch the wind. And they headed for the beach."},{"verse":41,"text":"But the ship hit a sandbar and got stuck. The front of the ship stuck fast and would not move. The back of the ship was being broken to pieces by the pounding waves."},{"verse":42,"text":"The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners. They didn't want any of them to swim away and escape."},{"verse":43,"text":"But the centurion wanted to save Paul's life. So he stopped them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land."},{"verse":44,"text":"The rest were to follow on boards or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone made it safely to land."}]},{"chapter":28,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Once we were safe on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta."},{"verse":2,"text":"The people who lived on the island were very kind to us. It was raining and cold. So they built a fire and welcomed all of us."},{"verse":3,"text":"Paul gathered a bundle of sticks. He was putting them on the fire when a poisonous snake crawled out. The heat had driven it out. It bit down on his hand and held on."},{"verse":4,"text":"The islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand. They said to each other, \"This man must be a murderer! He escaped from the sea. But Justice won't let him live.\"","note":"Justice was the name of a goddess the islanders believed in."},{"verse":5,"text":"But Paul shook the snake off into the fire. He was not hurt at all."},{"verse":6,"text":"The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall over dead. They waited a long time. But they saw nothing strange happen to him. So they changed their minds. They said he was a god."},{"verse":7,"text":"Nearby there was land that belonged to Publius. He was the chief official of the island. He welcomed us into his home. For three days he took good care of us as his guests."},{"verse":8,"text":"The father of Publius was sick in bed. He had a fever and a bad stomach sickness. Paul went in to see him. He prayed and put his hands on the man. Then he healed him."},{"verse":9,"text":"After this happened, the rest of the sick people on the island came. They were healed too."},{"verse":10,"text":"The islanders honored us in many ways. When we were ready to sail, they gave us the things we needed."},{"verse":11,"text":"After three months we set sail. We went on a ship from Alexandria that had spent the winter at the island. The ship had the Twin Brothers carved on its front.","note":"The Twin Brothers were Castor and Pollux, gods that sailors trusted to protect them."},{"verse":12,"text":"We stopped at Syracuse and stayed there three days."},{"verse":13,"text":"From there we pulled up anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind started to blow. On the second day we arrived at Puteoli."},{"verse":14,"text":"There we found some believers. They asked us to stay with them for a week. And so we came to Rome."},{"verse":15,"text":"The believers in Rome had heard we were coming. They traveled all the way to the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw them, he felt encouraged. He thanked God."},{"verse":16,"text":"When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself. A soldier stayed with him to guard him."},{"verse":17,"text":"After three days, Paul called the Jewish leaders together. When they came, he said to them, \"Brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have done nothing against the customs of our fathers. But I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Romans questioned me. They wanted to set me free. They found no reason that I should be put to death."},{"verse":19,"text":"But the Jews were against it. So I had to appeal to Caesar. But I don't have any charge to bring against my own nation."},{"verse":20,"text":"That's why I asked to see you and talk with you. I'm wearing this chain because of the hope of Israel.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"The leaders answered, \"We haven't gotten any letters about you from Judea. None of our brothers from there has reported anything bad about you. They haven't even said anything bad."},{"verse":22,"text":"But we want to hear what you think, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this group.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"So they chose a day to meet with Paul. Many people came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, he explained things to them. He told them about the kingdom of God. He tried to convince them about Jesus. He used the Law of Moses and the books of the Prophets."},{"verse":24,"text":"Some of them believed what he said. But others would not believe."},{"verse":25,"text":"They didn't agree with each other. They began to leave after Paul said one last thing: \"The Holy Spirit was right when he spoke to your fathers. He spoke through Isaiah the prophet. He said,"},{"verse":26,"text":"'Go to this people and say, \"You will hear and hear, but never understand. You will look and look, but never see.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"These people's hearts have grown hard. They can barely hear with their ears. They have shut their eyes. If not, they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears. They might understand with their hearts and turn. Then I would heal them.'"},{"verse":28,"text":"So I want you to know this. God has sent his salvation to the Gentiles. And they will listen!\""},{"verse":29,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":30,"text":"Paul stayed there two whole years in a house he rented. He welcomed everyone who came to see him."},{"verse":31,"text":"He preached about the kingdom of God. He taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. He did it boldly, and no one stopped him."}]}]},{"name":"Romans","slug":"romans","usfm":"ROM","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul. I am a servant of Christ Jesus. God called me to be an apostle. He set me apart to share the good news of God."},{"verse":2,"text":"God promised this good news long ago. He promised it through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures."},{"verse":3,"text":"The good news is about his Son. As a man, his Son came from the family of David."},{"verse":4,"text":"Through the Spirit of holiness, he was shown with power to be the Son of God. This was shown when he rose from the dead. He is Jesus Christ our Lord."},{"verse":5,"text":"Through him and for the sake of his name, we were given grace and made apostles. We are sent to call people from all the Gentiles to obey God. This obeying comes from faith."},{"verse":6,"text":"And you are among those called to belong to Jesus Christ."},{"verse":7,"text":"I am writing to all of you in Rome whom God loves. He has called you to be God's people. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":8,"text":"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because people all over the world are talking about your faith."},{"verse":9,"text":"I serve God with all my spirit by preaching the good news about his Son. God knows that I always remember you. He is my witness."},{"verse":10,"text":"I always pray for you. And I ask that now at last, if God wants it, I may finally be able to come to you."},{"verse":11,"text":"I really want to see you. I want to give you some gift from the Spirit to make you strong."},{"verse":12,"text":"What I mean is this. I want us to encourage each other by the faith we share. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I want you to know something. Many times I planned to come to you. But until now I have been kept from coming. I wanted to see a harvest among you. I have seen this harvest among the other Gentiles."},{"verse":14,"text":"I have a duty to everyone. I owe it to Greeks and to those who are not Greeks. I owe it to the wise and to the foolish."},{"verse":15,"text":"That's why I want so much to preach the good news to you in Rome too."},{"verse":16,"text":"I am not ashamed of the good news. It is God's power to save everyone who believes. It is first for the Jew, and then for the Greek."},{"verse":17,"text":"The good news shows how God makes people right with him. It is by faith from start to finish. As it is written, \"The one who is right with God will live by faith.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"God's anger is being shown from heaven. It is against all the godless and wicked things people do. By their wicked ways they hold back the truth."},{"verse":19,"text":"What can be known about God is plain to them, because God himself has made it plain to them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Since God made the world, people have clearly seen what he is like. No one can see him. But they can see his eternal power and that he is God. They can understand this from the things he made. So people have no excuse."},{"verse":21,"text":"They knew God. But they did not honor him as God. They did not thank him. Instead, their thinking became useless. Their foolish hearts were filled with darkness."},{"verse":22,"text":"They said they were wise, but they became fools."},{"verse":23,"text":"They traded the glory of God, who lives forever, for idols. These idols looked like people, who die. They also looked like birds, animals, and reptiles."},{"verse":24,"text":"So God gave them over to the desires of their hearts. He gave them over to impure things. So they brought shame on their bodies with one another."},{"verse":25,"text":"They traded the truth of God for a lie. They worshiped and served created things instead of the Creator. He is worthy of praise forever! Amen."},{"verse":26,"text":"That is why God gave them over to shameful desires. Even their women traded natural sexual relations for ones that are not natural."},{"verse":27,"text":"In the same way, the men gave up natural relations with women. They burned with desire for one another. Men did shameful acts with other men. And in their own bodies they received the punishment they deserved for their wrong."},{"verse":28,"text":"They did not think it was worth it to know God. So God gave them up to twisted minds. They do things that should not be done."},{"verse":29,"text":"They are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and sin. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lies, and hate. They gossip."},{"verse":30,"text":"They tell lies about others. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and boastful. They think up new ways to do evil. They don't obey their parents."},{"verse":31,"text":"They have no sense. They can't be trusted. They have no love and no mercy."},{"verse":32,"text":"They know God's fair law. It says that people who do these things deserve to die. Yet they keep on doing them. And they also cheer on others who do them."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So you have no excuse when you judge someone else. When you judge another person, you judge yourself guilty. That is because you who judge do the very same things."},{"verse":2,"text":"We know that God judges people who do such things. And his judgment is based on the truth."},{"verse":3,"text":"So you judge others, but you do the same things yourself. Do you think you will escape God's judgment?"},{"verse":4,"text":"Or do you think little of God's great kindness? Do you look down on how he puts up with you and is patient? Don't you know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to turn back to him?"},{"verse":5,"text":"But your heart is hard. You will not turn back to God. So you are storing up anger against yourself. It will come on the day of God's anger. On that day his fair judgment will be shown."},{"verse":6,"text":"God \"will pay back each person for what he has done.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Some people keep on doing good. They seek glory, honor, and a life that never ends. God will give them eternal life."},{"verse":8,"text":"But some people care only about themselves. They turn away from the truth and follow what is evil. They will face God's anger and fury."},{"verse":9,"text":"There will be trouble and suffering for every person who does evil. It will be first for the Jew, and then for the Greek."},{"verse":10,"text":"But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good. It will be first for the Jew, and then for the Greek."},{"verse":11,"text":"God does not favor one person over another."},{"verse":12,"text":"Some people sin without having the law. They will also perish without the law. Others sin while living under the law. They will be judged by the law."},{"verse":13,"text":"It's not those who hear the law who are right with God. It's those who obey the law who will be called right with God."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Gentiles don't have the law. But sometimes they do what the law says on their own. Then they are a law for themselves, even though they don't have the law."},{"verse":15,"text":"They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts. Their consciences agree with this. Their thoughts sometimes blame them and sometimes defend them."},{"verse":16,"text":"This will happen on the day when God judges people's secrets through Christ Jesus. That is what my good news says."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now what about you? Suppose you call yourself a Jew. Suppose you trust in the law and brag about God."},{"verse":18,"text":"Suppose you know what God wants. Suppose you approve of what is best because the law has taught you."},{"verse":19,"text":"Suppose you are sure that you are a guide for the blind and a light for those in darkness."},{"verse":20,"text":"You think you can teach the foolish and the young. You have the law, and in it you have the very form of knowledge and truth."},{"verse":21,"text":"So you teach others. Why don't you teach yourself? You preach that people should not steal. Do you steal?"},{"verse":22,"text":"You say people should not commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You hate idols. Do you rob temples?"},{"verse":23,"text":"You brag about the law. Do you bring shame to God by breaking the law?"},{"verse":24,"text":"As it is written, \"Because of you, the Gentiles speak evil of God's name.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Circumcision is worth something if you obey the law. But if you break the law, it is as if you were never circumcised."},{"verse":26,"text":"Suppose a man is not circumcised, but he keeps what the law requires. Won't God count him as if he were circumcised?"},{"verse":27,"text":"Someone may not be circumcised in his body, yet he obeys the law. He will judge you guilty. You have the written law and you are circumcised. Yet you break the law."},{"verse":28,"text":"A man is not a true Jew just because of how he is on the outside. And true circumcision is not only something done to the body on the outside."},{"verse":29,"text":"No, a true Jew is one on the inside. True circumcision is done to the heart. It is done by the Spirit, not by the written law. Such a person gets praise from God, not from people."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So what is the good of being a Jew? What is the value of being circumcised?"},{"verse":2,"text":"There is a lot of good in every way. First of all, the Jews were trusted with the very words of God."},{"verse":3,"text":"What if some of them did not have faith? Will their lack of faith cancel out God's faithfulness?"},{"verse":4,"text":"No way! God is always true, even if every person is a liar. As it is written, \"This is so that you will be shown to be right when you speak, and win when you judge.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"But what if our wrongdoing shows even more clearly that God is righteous? What should we say then? Is God unfair to bring his anger on us? I'm talking the way people talk."},{"verse":6,"text":"No way! If that were true, how could God judge the world?"},{"verse":7,"text":"But what if my lies make God's truth shine even more? What if that brings him more glory? Then why am I still judged as a sinner?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Why not say, \"Let's do evil so that good will come of it\"? Some people tell lies about us and claim that we say this. They deserve to be judged!"},{"verse":9,"text":"So what? Are we any better? Not at all. We have already said that Jews and Greeks are all under the power of sin."},{"verse":10,"text":"As it is written, \"There is no one righteous. Not even one."},{"verse":11,"text":"No one understands. No one looks for God."},{"verse":12,"text":"All of them have turned away. Together they have become useless. No one does good. Not even one.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Their throats are open graves. Their tongues tell lies.\" \"The poison of snakes is on their lips.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"\"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitter words.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Their feet run fast to kill people."},{"verse":16,"text":"They leave ruin and misery wherever they go."},{"verse":17,"text":"They do not know the way of peace.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"\"They have no fear of God at all.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"We know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law. So every mouth will be shut. And the whole world will have to answer to God."},{"verse":20,"text":"So no one will be made right with God by doing what the law says. The law only shows us that we have sinned."},{"verse":21,"text":"But now God has shown a way to be right with him without the law. The Law and the Prophets told about it."},{"verse":22,"text":"God makes people right with him through faith in Jesus Christ. He does this for all who believe. There is no difference between people."},{"verse":23,"text":"Everyone has sinned. Everyone falls short of God's glory."},{"verse":24,"text":"And by his grace, God makes them right with him as a free gift. He does this through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":25,"text":"God presented Jesus as an atoning sacrifice by his blood, through faith. God did this to show that he is righteous. He did it because in his patience he had passed over the sins people did before."},{"verse":26,"text":"He did this to show that he is righteous at this present time. So he is fair, and he also makes right with him the one who has faith in Jesus."},{"verse":27,"text":"So where is our bragging? There is no room for it. Why not? Because of works? No, because of faith."},{"verse":28,"text":"We hold that a person is made right with God by faith. It is not by doing what the law says."},{"verse":29,"text":"Is God only the God of the Jews? Isn't he the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, he is the God of the Gentiles too."},{"verse":30,"text":"There is only one God. He will make the circumcised right with him by faith. He will make the uncircumcised right with him through that same faith."},{"verse":31,"text":"So does this faith cancel the law? No way! Instead, we hold up the law."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So what should we say about Abraham? He is our forefather by birth. What did he find out?"},{"verse":2,"text":"If Abraham was made right with God by what he did, he had something to brag about. But he could not brag before God."},{"verse":3,"text":"What does the Scripture say? \"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"When a person works, his pay is not counted as a gift. It is something he is owed."},{"verse":5,"text":"But suppose a person does not work. Instead, he trusts God, who makes ungodly people right with him. That person's faith is credited as righteousness."},{"verse":6,"text":"David says the same thing. He tells how happy a person is when God counts him right without anything he has done. David says,"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven. Blessed are those whose sins are covered."},{"verse":8,"text":"Blessed is the person whose sin the Lord will never count against him.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Is this blessing only for those who are circumcised? Or is it also for those who are not? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness."},{"verse":10,"text":"When was it counted to him? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after. It was before!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Abraham was given circumcision as a sign. It was a seal to show that he was right with God by faith. He had this faith before he was circumcised. So he is the father of all who believe but are not circumcised. That way they too can be counted right with God."},{"verse":12,"text":"He is also the father of those who are circumcised. But they must do more than be circumcised. They must also walk in the steps of faith. That is the faith our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."},{"verse":13,"text":"God promised Abraham and his children that they would receive the world. This promise did not come through the law. It came because Abraham was right with God by faith."},{"verse":14,"text":"Suppose those who live by the law are the ones who get what God promised. Then faith is useless, and the promise is worth nothing."},{"verse":15,"text":"That is because the law brings God's anger. But where there is no law, there is no breaking of the law."},{"verse":16,"text":"So the promise comes by faith. That way it rests on grace. And it is sure for all of Abraham's children. It is not only for those who have the law. It is also for those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all."},{"verse":17,"text":"As it is written, \"I have made you a father of many nations.\" He is our father in God's sight. Abraham believed in God, who gives life to the dead. God speaks, and things that did not exist come to be."},{"verse":18,"text":"There was no reason to hope. But Abraham still hoped and believed. So he became the father of many nations. God had told him, \"That is how many children you will have.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Abraham's faith did not grow weak. He knew his body was as good as dead. He was about 100 years old. He knew that Sarah could not have children."},{"verse":20,"text":"But he did not doubt God's promise or stop believing. Instead, his faith grew strong. And he gave glory to God."},{"verse":21,"text":"He was fully sure that God could do what he had promised."},{"verse":22,"text":"That is why \"it was credited to him as righteousness.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"The words \"it was credited to him\" were not written only for Abraham."},{"verse":24,"text":"They were written for us too. God will count us as right with him. That is for us who believe in God, who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead."},{"verse":25,"text":"Jesus was handed over to die for our sins. He was raised to life to make us right with God."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So we have been made right with God through faith. Now we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":2,"text":"Through Jesus, by faith, we have come into this grace where we now stand. And we are full of joy because of our hope. We hope to share in God's glory."},{"verse":3,"text":"And that's not all. We are also full of joy when we suffer. We know that suffering helps us learn to keep going."},{"verse":4,"text":"Keeping going builds strong character. And strong character brings hope."},{"verse":5,"text":"And hope does not let us down, because God has poured his love into our hearts. He did this through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."},{"verse":6,"text":"We were still helpless. But at just the right time, Christ died for ungodly people."},{"verse":7,"text":"It is very rare for anyone to die for a righteous person. For a good person, someone might be brave enough to die."},{"verse":8,"text":"But God shows his love for us in this way. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."},{"verse":9,"text":"We have now been made right with God by the blood of Christ. So we will be saved from God's anger through him. How much more sure that is!"},{"verse":10,"text":"We were God's enemies. But we were made friends with God through the death of his Son. Now that we are his friends, we will be saved through his life. How much more sure that is!"},{"verse":11,"text":"And that's not all. We also have joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have now been made friends with God."},{"verse":12,"text":"So sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin. In the same way, death spread to all people, because all sinned."},{"verse":13,"text":"Sin was in the world before the law was given. But sin is not counted when there is no law."},{"verse":14,"text":"Still, death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. It ruled even over those who did not sin the way Adam did when he broke God's command. Adam was a picture of the One who was coming."},{"verse":15,"text":"But God's gift is not like Adam's sin. Many people died because of the sin of one man. But God's grace is much greater. The gift that came by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, has overflowed to many people!"},{"verse":16,"text":"Again, God's gift is not like the result of one man's sin. One sin was judged, and it brought guilt. But the gift came after many sins, and it makes people right with God."},{"verse":17,"text":"Because of one man's sin, death ruled through that one man. But some people receive God's overflowing grace. They receive the gift of being right with God. How much more will they rule in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"},{"verse":18,"text":"So one sin brought a guilty verdict for all people. In the same way, one right act brought being made right with God, and life, for all people."},{"verse":19,"text":"One man disobeyed, and many people were made sinners. In the same way, one man obeyed, and many people will be made right with God."},{"verse":20,"text":"The law came so that sin would grow. But where sin grew, grace grew even more."},{"verse":21,"text":"This happened so that grace would rule, just as sin ruled in death. Grace rules by making people right with God. It brings eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So what should we say? Should we keep on sinning so that grace will grow?"},{"verse":2,"text":"No way! We have died to sin. How can we keep on living in it?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"},{"verse":4,"text":"So when we were baptized, we were buried with him into death. This was so that we too can live a new life, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father."},{"verse":5,"text":"If we have been joined with him like this in his death, we will surely also be joined with him in rising from the dead."},{"verse":6,"text":"We know that our old self was nailed to the cross with him. This was so the body ruled by sin would lose its power. Then we would no longer be slaves to sin."},{"verse":7,"text":"Anyone who has died has been set free from sin."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him."},{"verse":9,"text":"We know that Christ was raised from the dead. He can't die again. Death no longer has any power over him."},{"verse":10,"text":"When he died, he died to sin once for all time. But now the life he lives, he lives for God."},{"verse":11,"text":"In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to sin. But you are alive to God in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":12,"text":"So don't let sin rule your body, which will die someday. Don't obey its evil desires."},{"verse":13,"text":"Don't give any part of your body to sin to be used as a tool for evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. So give every part of your body to him. Let them be tools for doing what is right."},{"verse":14,"text":"Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You are under grace."},{"verse":15,"text":"So what? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? No way!"},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't you know this? When you give yourselves to obey someone like slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey. You can be slaves to sin, which leads to death. Or you can be slaves to obeying God, which leads to doing what is right."},{"verse":17,"text":"But thank God! You used to be slaves to sin. But you obeyed with all your heart the pattern of teaching that you were handed over to."},{"verse":18,"text":"You have been set free from sin. And now you have become slaves to what is right."},{"verse":19,"text":"I'm using an everyday example because your human nature is weak. You used to give the parts of your body as slaves to impure things. You gave them to more and more evil. In the same way, now give them as slaves to what is right. This leads to a holy life."},{"verse":20,"text":"When you were slaves to sin, you didn't have to do what is right."},{"verse":21,"text":"What good did you get back then from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things end in death."},{"verse":22,"text":"But now you have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to God. The good you get from this leads to a holy life. And in the end you get eternal life."},{"verse":23,"text":"For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I am speaking to people who know the law. Don't you know that the law has power over a person only as long as he lives?"},{"verse":2,"text":"For example, a married woman is joined by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law of marriage."},{"verse":3,"text":"So if she goes with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then if she marries another man, she is not an adulteress."},{"verse":4,"text":"My brothers and sisters, it is the same with you. You died to the law through the body of Christ. Now you can belong to someone else. You belong to Christ, who was raised from the dead. So now we can produce good fruit for God."},{"verse":5,"text":"We used to be controlled by our sinful nature. Back then, the law stirred up sinful desires in us. These desires worked in our bodies. They produced fruit that leads to death."},{"verse":6,"text":"But now we have died to what once held us. We have been set free from the law. So now we serve in the new way of the Spirit. We don't serve in the old way of the written law."},{"verse":7,"text":"So what should we say? Is the law sin? No way! But I would not have known what sin was without the law. I wouldn't have known what coveting was if the law had not said, \"Do not covet.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But sin used the command to get its chance. It made me want all kinds of things that were not mine. Without the law, sin is dead."},{"verse":9,"text":"Once I was alive without the law. But when the command came, sin came to life. And I died."},{"verse":10,"text":"So I found out something. The very command that was meant to bring life brought death instead."},{"verse":11,"text":"Sin used the command to get its chance. It tricked me. And through the command it killed me."},{"verse":12,"text":"So the law is holy. And the command is holy, right, and good."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then did something good become death to me? No way! Sin used what was good to bring death to me. This was so that sin would be shown to be sin. So through the command, sin would become completely sinful."},{"verse":14,"text":"We know that the law is spiritual. But I am not spiritual. I am sold as a slave to sin."},{"verse":15,"text":"I don't understand what I do. I don't do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate."},{"verse":16,"text":"If I do what I don't want to do, I agree that the law is good."},{"verse":17,"text":"So it is no longer I who do it. It is sin living in me that does it."},{"verse":18,"text":"I know that nothing good lives in me. That is, nothing good lives in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I can't do it."},{"verse":19,"text":"I don't do the good things I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I don't want to do."},{"verse":20,"text":"If I do what I don't want to do, it is no longer I who do it. It is sin living in me that does it."},{"verse":21,"text":"So this is the rule I have found. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me."},{"verse":22,"text":"Deep inside, I love God's law."},{"verse":23,"text":"But I see another law at work in my body. It fights against the law of my mind. It makes me a prisoner of the law of sin that lives in me."},{"verse":24,"text":"What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body of death?"},{"verse":25,"text":"Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So with my mind I serve God's law. But with my sinful nature I serve the law of sin."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So now there is no guilty verdict for those who are in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":2,"text":"In Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free. It set you free from the law of sin and death."},{"verse":3,"text":"The law had no power to save us. It was weak because of our sinful nature. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like that of sinful people. He came as an offering for sin. In this way, God condemned sin in a human body."},{"verse":4,"text":"He did this so that what the law requires would come true in us. We don't live by the sinful nature. We live by the Spirit."},{"verse":5,"text":"Those who live by the sinful nature set their minds on what the sinful nature wants. But those who live by the Spirit set their minds on what the Spirit wants."},{"verse":6,"text":"A mind ruled by the sinful nature leads to death. But a mind ruled by the Spirit brings life and peace."},{"verse":7,"text":"That is because a mind ruled by the sinful nature is at war with God. It does not obey God's law. And it can't obey it."},{"verse":8,"text":"Those who are ruled by the sinful nature can't please God."},{"verse":9,"text":"But you are not ruled by the sinful nature. You are ruled by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ."},{"verse":10,"text":"But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin. Yet your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God."},{"verse":11,"text":"God raised Jesus from the dead. If his Spirit is living in you, then God, who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, will also give life to your bodies that die. He will do it through his Spirit, who lives in you."},{"verse":12,"text":"So, brothers and sisters, we owe something. But we don't owe it to the sinful nature. We don't have to live the way it wants."},{"verse":13,"text":"If you live by the sinful nature, you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the evil things the body does, you will live."},{"verse":14,"text":"All who are led by the Spirit of God are God's children."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves who are afraid again. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption as God's children. By him we cry out, \"Abba! Father!\"","note":"Abba is an Aramaic word for \"father.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to tell us that we are God's children."},{"verse":17,"text":"And if we are his children, then we are heirs. We are heirs of God, and heirs together with Christ. This is true if we really suffer with him, so that we will also share in his glory."},{"verse":18,"text":"I think that what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory we will have. That glory will be shown in us."},{"verse":19,"text":"All of creation is waiting and longing. It waits for God to show who his children are."},{"verse":20,"text":"Creation was made to be empty and useless. It didn't choose this. God made it this way. But he did it in hope"},{"verse":21,"text":"that creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay. It will be brought into the glorious freedom of God's children."},{"verse":22,"text":"We know that all of creation has been groaning together until now. It is like the pain of a woman giving birth."},{"verse":23,"text":"And that's not all. We have the Spirit as the firstfruits of what is to come. But we also groan inside. We are waiting eagerly for our adoption as God's children. That is when our bodies will be redeemed."},{"verse":24,"text":"We were saved in this hope. But if you can see what you hope for, it is not hope. Who hopes for what he already sees?"},{"verse":25,"text":"But if we hope for what we don't see yet, we wait for it patiently."},{"verse":26,"text":"In the same way, the Spirit helps us when we are weak. We don't know what we should pray for. But the Spirit himself prays for us. He prays with groans too deep for words."},{"verse":27,"text":"God looks deep into our hearts. He knows what the Spirit is thinking, because the Spirit prays for God's people just as God wants."},{"verse":28,"text":"And we know that God makes all things work together for good for those who love him. They are the ones he has called according to his purpose."},{"verse":29,"text":"Those God knew ahead of time, he also chose ahead of time to become like his Son. This was so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."},{"verse":30,"text":"Those he chose ahead of time, he also called. Those he called, he also made right with him. Those he made right with him, he also gave his glory."},{"verse":31,"text":"So what should we say about all this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"},{"verse":32,"text":"God did not hold back his own Son. He gave him up for all of us. So won't he also freely give us all things along with his Son?"},{"verse":33,"text":"Who can bring any charge against God's chosen people? God is the one who makes us right with him."},{"verse":34,"text":"Who can judge us guilty? Christ Jesus died. More than that, he was raised to life. He is at God's right hand. And he is praying for us."},{"verse":35,"text":"Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble or hard times? Can cruel attacks or hunger? Can having no clothes? Can danger or the sword?"},{"verse":36,"text":"As it is written, \"Because of you we face death all day long. We are thought of as sheep to be killed.\""},{"verse":37,"text":"No! In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."},{"verse":38,"text":"For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things now nor things to come, nor any powers,"},{"verse":39,"text":"neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I am telling the truth in Christ. I am not lying. My conscience agrees, guided by the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":2,"text":"My heart is full of deep sadness and pain that never stops."},{"verse":3,"text":"I could even wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ. I would do it for the sake of my own people, my own flesh and blood."},{"verse":4,"text":"They are the people of Israel. God adopted them as his children. They have his glory and his covenants. They were given the law. They have the temple worship and the promises."},{"verse":5,"text":"The great fathers of our nation belong to them. And Christ came from their family line as a man. He is God over all, worthy of praise forever! Amen."},{"verse":6,"text":"It is not that God's word has failed. Not everyone born into Israel is truly Israel."},{"verse":7,"text":"And not all of Abraham's descendants are his true children. Instead, God said, \"Your children will be counted through Isaac.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"So the children born in the natural way are not God's children. It is the children of the promise who are counted as Abraham's children."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is what God promised: \"At the set time I will come back. And Sarah will have a son.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"And that's not all. Rebecca's children had one father, our father Isaac."},{"verse":11,"text":"The twins had not been born yet. They had not done anything good or bad. This was so that God's plan of choosing would stand."},{"verse":12,"text":"It did not depend on what they did. It depended on God, who calls. So Rebecca was told, \"The older will serve the younger.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"As it is written, \"I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"So what should we say? Is God unfair? No way!"},{"verse":15,"text":"He says to Moses, \"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So it does not depend on what people want or how hard they try. It depends on God's mercy."},{"verse":17,"text":"The Scripture says to Pharaoh, \"I raised you up for this very reason. I wanted to show my power in you. I wanted my name to be made known in all the earth.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So God has mercy on anyone he wants to. And he hardens anyone he wants to harden."},{"verse":19,"text":"One of you will say to me, \"Then why does God still blame us? Who can fight against what he wants?\""},{"verse":20,"text":"But who are you, a mere human, to talk back to God? Can a thing that was made say to the one who made it, \"Why did you make me like this?\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Doesn't the potter have the right to use the same lump of clay as he wants? He can make one pot for special use. He can make another for everyday use."},{"verse":22,"text":"God wanted to show his anger and make his power known. What if he was very patient with the people who were objects of his anger? They were made ready to be destroyed."},{"verse":23,"text":"What if he did this to show his great glory to the people who are objects of his mercy? He made them ready ahead of time for glory."},{"verse":24,"text":"That includes us. He called us, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles."},{"verse":25,"text":"As God says in Hosea, \"I will call those who were not my people 'My People.' I will call her who was not loved 'My Loved One.'\""},{"verse":26,"text":"And, \"In the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'children of the living God.'\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Isaiah cries out about Israel, \"The people of Israel may be as many as the sand by the sea. But only a few who are left will be saved."},{"verse":28,"text":"The Lord will carry out his sentence on the earth. He will do it fully and quickly.\""},{"verse":29,"text":"It is just as Isaiah said before, \"The Lord of Hosts left us some children. If he had not, we would have become like Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.\""},{"verse":30,"text":"So what should we say? The Gentiles were not trying to be right with God. But they were made right with him by faith."},{"verse":31,"text":"But Israel tried to be right with God by keeping a law. Yet they did not reach that goal."},{"verse":32,"text":"Why not? Because they did not try by faith. They tried as if they could do it by what they did. They tripped over the stone that makes people trip."},{"verse":33,"text":"As it is written, \"Look! I am placing a stone in Zion that makes people trip. It is a rock that makes them fall. But the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.\""}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I long with all my heart for the people of Israel to be saved. I pray to God for this."},{"verse":2,"text":"I can tell you that they are very eager to serve God. But their eagerness is not based on knowing the truth."},{"verse":3,"text":"They did not know how God makes people right with him. They tried to make their own way. So they did not accept God's way of making them right."},{"verse":4,"text":"Christ is the end of the law. So everyone who believes can be made right with God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Moses writes about being right with God by the law. He says, \"The person who does these things will live by them.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But being right with God by faith says this: \"Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up into heaven?'\" (That means to bring Christ down.)"},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Or, 'Who will go down into the Abyss?'\" (That means to bring Christ up from the dead.)"},{"verse":8,"text":"But what does it say? \"The word is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart.\" That is the message of faith we are preaching."},{"verse":9,"text":"It says that if you declare with your mouth, \"Jesus is Lord,\" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."},{"verse":10,"text":"With your heart you believe and are made right with God. With your mouth you say what you believe and are saved."},{"verse":11,"text":"As the Scripture says, \"Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"There is no difference between Jew and Greek. The same Lord is Lord of all. He gives richly to all who call on him."},{"verse":13,"text":"For, \"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"But how can people call on him if they have not believed in him? How can they believe in him if they have not heard about him? How can they hear unless someone preaches to them?"},{"verse":15,"text":"And how can anyone preach unless he is sent? As it is written, \"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But not all of them accepted the good news. Isaiah says, \"Lord, who has believed our message?\""},{"verse":17,"text":"So faith comes from hearing the message. And the message is heard through the word about Christ."},{"verse":18,"text":"But I ask, didn't they hear? Of course they did! \"Their voice has gone out into all the earth. Their words have gone to the ends of the world.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Again I ask, didn't Israel understand? First, Moses says, \"I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation. I will make you angry with a nation that has no understanding.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"And Isaiah boldly says, \"I was found by those who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who did not ask for me.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"But about Israel he says, \"All day long I have held out my hands to a people who disobey and are stubborn.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So I ask, did God turn away his people? No way! I am an Israelite myself. I come from Abraham's family and from the tribe of Benjamin."},{"verse":2,"text":"God did not turn away his people, whom he knew ahead of time. Don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? He complained to God about Israel. He said,"},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have torn down your altars. I am the only one left. And they are trying to kill me too.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"And how did God answer him? \"I have kept for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed down to Baal.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"It is the same now. There are a few people left whom God has chosen by his grace."},{"verse":6,"text":"And if it is by grace, then it is not by what they have done. If it were, grace would not be grace anymore."},{"verse":7,"text":"So what? Israel did not get what it was looking for. But the people God chose did get it. The others were hardened."},{"verse":8,"text":"As it is written, \"God made them sleepy in spirit. He gave them eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear. It is still this way today.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"And David says,\n\"Let their table become a snare and a trap.\nLet it make them trip and pay them back."},{"verse":10,"text":"Let their eyes grow dark so they can't see.\nLet their backs be bent forever.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"So I ask, did they trip so that they fell and can never get up? No way! But because they sinned, salvation has come to the Gentiles. This is to make Israel jealous."},{"verse":12,"text":"If their sin brings riches to the world, and their failure brings riches to the Gentiles, think how much greater riches their fullness will bring!","note":"Fullness may mean their full number or their full return to God."},{"verse":13,"text":"Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. I am the apostle to the Gentiles. So I make much of my work."},{"verse":14,"text":"I hope that somehow I can make my own people jealous. Then I can save some of them."},{"verse":15,"text":"When God turned them away, the world was made friends with God. So what will happen when God accepts them? It will be like life from the dead!"},{"verse":16,"text":"If the first part of the dough is holy, then the whole batch is holy. If the root of a tree is holy, then the branches are holy too."},{"verse":17,"text":"Some of the branches have been broken off. You are like a wild olive shoot. You have been joined to the tree among the other branches. Now you share the rich food that comes from the olive root."},{"verse":18,"text":"So don't brag that you are better than those branches. If you do, remember this. You don't hold up the root. The root holds you up."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then you will say, \"Branches were broken off so that I could be joined in.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"That's true. They were broken off because they did not believe. But you stand by faith. So don't be proud. Be afraid."},{"verse":21,"text":"God did not spare the natural branches. So he will surely not spare you either."},{"verse":22,"text":"So think about how kind God is. Think about how strict he is too. He is strict with those who fell. But he is kind to you, if you keep living in his kindness. If you don't, you will be cut off too."},{"verse":23,"text":"And if the Israelites stop refusing to believe, they will be joined back in. God is able to join them in again."},{"verse":24,"text":"You were cut from a wild olive tree. Then, against nature, you were joined to a garden olive tree. So these natural branches can be joined back into their own olive tree even more easily!"},{"verse":25,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery. Then you won't think too highly of yourselves. A hardening in part has come to Israel. This will last until the full number of Gentiles has come in."},{"verse":26,"text":"And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, \"The one who saves will come from Zion. He will take away godlessness from Jacob."},{"verse":27,"text":"And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"As far as the good news goes, they are enemies for your sake. But as far as God's choice goes, they are loved because of their great fathers."},{"verse":29,"text":"God never takes back his gifts or his call."},{"verse":30,"text":"At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because they did not obey."},{"verse":31,"text":"In the same way, they have now disobeyed. This is so that they too may now receive mercy, through the mercy shown to you."},{"verse":32,"text":"God has locked everyone up as prisoners of disobedience. He did this so that he could have mercy on everyone."},{"verse":33,"text":"Oh, how deep are the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge! No one can search out how he judges. No one can trace the paths he takes."},{"verse":34,"text":"\"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has ever given him advice?\""},{"verse":35,"text":"\"Who has ever given to God first, so that God must pay him back?\""},{"verse":36,"text":"All things come from him. All things exist through him and for him. May the glory be his forever! Amen."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So I urge you, brothers and sisters, because of God's mercy, to give your bodies to him. Give them as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual way to worship."},{"verse":2,"text":"Do not copy the ways of this world. Instead, let God change you by making your mind new. Then you will be able to test and approve what God wants. His will is good and pleasing and perfect."},{"verse":3,"text":"By the grace God gave me, I say this to every one of you. Do not think of yourself as better than you should. Think about yourself with sound sense. Measure yourself by the faith God has given you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each of us has one body with many parts. And not all the parts do the same job."},{"verse":5,"text":"In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are one body. Each part belongs to all the others."},{"verse":6,"text":"We have different gifts, based on the grace God gave us. If your gift is to prophesy, do it as much as your faith allows."},{"verse":7,"text":"If it is to serve, then serve. If it is to teach, then teach."},{"verse":8,"text":"If it is to encourage, then encourage. If it is to give, then give freely. If it is to lead, then lead with care and hard work. If it is to show mercy, then do it gladly."},{"verse":9,"text":"Love must be real. Hate what is evil. Hold on tight to what is good."},{"verse":10,"text":"Love each other deeply, like family. Try to beat each other at showing honor."},{"verse":11,"text":"Don't let your eager spirit cool down. Keep your spirit on fire as you serve the Lord."},{"verse":12,"text":"Be joyful in hope. Be patient in trouble. Keep on praying."},{"verse":13,"text":"Share with God's people who are in need. Make a habit of welcoming guests into your home."},{"verse":14,"text":"Bless those who hurt you for your faith. Bless them, and do not curse them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Be glad with those who are glad. Cry with those who cry."},{"verse":16,"text":"Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud. Be friends with people who are humble and poor. Do not think you are so smart."},{"verse":17,"text":"Do not pay anyone back evil for evil. Think hard about doing what everyone can see is right."},{"verse":18,"text":"If you can, as far as it is up to you, live at peace with everyone."},{"verse":19,"text":"Dear friends, do not get even. Leave room for God's anger. For it is written, \"Getting even is mine. I will pay them back, says the Lord.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Instead, \"If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. For when you do this, you will heap burning coals on his head.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Do not let evil win over you. Instead, win over evil with good."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Everyone must obey the leaders who rule over them. For there is no power to rule except what comes from God. The leaders we have were put in place by God."},{"verse":2,"text":"So anyone who fights against the leaders is fighting what God has set up. And those who do this will bring judgment on themselves."},{"verse":3,"text":"Rulers do not scare people who do good. They scare people who do bad. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in charge? Then do what is right, and he will praise you."},{"verse":4,"text":"For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid. He does not carry the sword for nothing. He is God's servant who brings punishment on the one who does wrong."},{"verse":5,"text":"So you must obey the leaders. Do it not just to stay out of trouble, but also because your conscience tells you to."},{"verse":6,"text":"This is also why you pay taxes. The leaders are God's servants, and they give their time to their work."},{"verse":7,"text":"Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay taxes. If you owe fees, pay fees. If you owe respect, give respect. If you owe honor, give honor."},{"verse":8,"text":"Do not owe anything to anyone, except to love one another. For whoever loves his neighbor has kept the law."},{"verse":9,"text":"Think of the commands \"Do not commit adultery,\" \"Do not murder,\" \"Do not steal,\" and \"Do not covet.\" These and any other commands are summed up in this one rule: \"Love your neighbor as yourself.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Love does no wrong to its neighbor. So love does all that the law asks."},{"verse":11,"text":"Do this because you know what time it is. The hour has come for you to wake up from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."},{"verse":12,"text":"The night is almost over. The day is almost here. So let us take off the deeds of darkness like clothes. Let us put on the armor of light."},{"verse":13,"text":"Let us live in a proper way, as people do in the daytime. Do not go to wild parties or get drunk. Do not be part of sexual sin or shameless living. Do not fight or be jealous."},{"verse":14,"text":"Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ like clothing. Do not make plans to feed the desires of your sinful nature."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Welcome the person whose faith is weak. Do not argue with him about his opinions."},{"verse":2,"text":"One person's faith lets him eat anything. But another person, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables."},{"verse":3,"text":"The one who eats everything must not look down on the one who does not. And the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does. For God has welcomed him."},{"verse":4,"text":"Who are you to judge someone else's servant? It is his own master who decides if he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."},{"verse":5,"text":"One person thinks one day is more special than the others. Someone else thinks every day is the same. Each one should be fully sure in his own mind."},{"verse":6,"text":"The one who keeps a special day does it for the Lord. The one who eats does it for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. And the one who does not eat does it for the Lord, and he also gives thanks to God."},{"verse":7,"text":"For none of us lives only for himself. And none of us dies only for himself."},{"verse":8,"text":"If we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is why Christ died and came back to life. He did it so that he would be Lord of both the dead and the living."},{"verse":10,"text":"So why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? We will all stand in front of God's judgment seat."},{"verse":11,"text":"It is written, \"As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me. Every tongue will confess to God.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"So each of us will explain himself to God."},{"verse":13,"text":"So let us stop judging each other. Instead, make up your mind not to put anything in your brother's way that would make him trip or fall."},{"verse":14,"text":"I know and am fully sure in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean by itself. But if anyone thinks something is unclean, then for him it is unclean."},{"verse":15,"text":"Your brother may be upset by what you eat. If so, you are no longer acting in love. Do not ruin your brother by what you eat. Christ died for him."},{"verse":16,"text":"So do not let what you think is good be called evil."},{"verse":17,"text":"For the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking. It is about doing what is right, and about peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":18,"text":"Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God. And people approve of him too."},{"verse":19,"text":"So let us go after what brings peace. Let us work at what builds each other up."},{"verse":20,"text":"Do not tear down God's work just because of food. All food is clean. But it is wrong for a person to eat something that makes someone else trip and fall."},{"verse":21,"text":"It is better not to eat meat or drink wine. It is better not to do anything that makes your brother fall."},{"verse":22,"text":"Keep what you believe about these things between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself guilty for what he approves."},{"verse":23,"text":"But the one who has doubts is judged guilty if he eats. That's because his eating does not come from faith. And everything that does not come from faith is sin."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"We who are strong should put up with the weak spots of those who are weak. We should not just please ourselves."},{"verse":2,"text":"Each of us should please his neighbor for his good. We should help build him up."},{"verse":3,"text":"For even Christ did not please himself. As it is written, \"The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Everything that was written long ago was written to teach us. The Scriptures help us keep going and cheer us on. So through them we can have hope."},{"verse":5,"text":"God gives the strength to keep going, and he gives comfort. May he help you live in peace with each other in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then with one mind and one voice you can give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":7,"text":"So welcome each other, just as Christ welcomed you. Do this to bring glory to God."},{"verse":8,"text":"I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews, who are circumcised. He did this to show that God tells the truth. He came to make sure the promises to our early fathers came true."},{"verse":9,"text":"He also came so that the Gentiles would give glory to God for his mercy. As it is written, \"So I will praise you among the Gentiles. I will sing songs to your name.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Again it says, \"Be glad, you Gentiles, along with his people.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"And again, \"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Let all the peoples praise him.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"And once more, Isaiah says, \"The Root of Jesse will come. He will rise up to rule over the Gentiles. The Gentiles will put their hope in him.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"God is the God of hope. May he fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":14,"text":"My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. You are filled with knowledge. You are able to teach each other."},{"verse":15,"text":"But I have written to you boldly about some things to remind you of them. I did this because of the grace God has given me."},{"verse":16,"text":"His grace made me a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve like a priest as I share God's good news. I do this so that the Gentiles might become an offering that pleases God. They are made holy by the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":17,"text":"So in Christ Jesus I am proud of my work for God."},{"verse":18,"text":"I will not dare to talk about anything except what Christ has done through me. He has used me to lead the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done."},{"verse":19,"text":"He did it by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of God's Spirit. So I have fully preached the good news of Christ. I have gone from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum."},{"verse":20,"text":"In this way, I have wanted to preach the good news where people did not know about Christ. I did not want to build on what someone else had started."},{"verse":21,"text":"Instead, it is as it is written: \"Those who were not told about him will see. And those who have not heard will understand.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"That is why I have often been kept from coming to you."},{"verse":23,"text":"But now there is no more work for me to do in these places. And for many years I have wanted to visit you."},{"verse":24,"text":"I hope to see you as I travel to Spain. After I have enjoyed being with you for a while, you can help me on my way."},{"verse":25,"text":"But right now I am going to Jerusalem to serve God's people there."},{"verse":26,"text":"For the believers in Macedonia and Achaia were glad to give a gift. It is for the poor among God's people in Jerusalem."},{"verse":27,"text":"They were glad to do it. And they really do owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they should serve them by sharing their earthly blessings."},{"verse":28,"text":"So I will finish this task and make sure they safely get this gift. Then I will set out for Spain and visit you on the way."},{"verse":29,"text":"I know that when I come to you, I will come with the full blessing of Christ."},{"verse":30,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I urge you by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit. Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me."},{"verse":31,"text":"Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who do not believe. And pray that God's people in Jerusalem will welcome the help I bring."},{"verse":32,"text":"Then, if God wants it, I can come to you with joy. And together with you I can be refreshed."},{"verse":33,"text":"May the God of peace be with all of you. Amen."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I want to tell you good things about our sister Phoebe. She is a servant of the church in Cenchrea."},{"verse":2,"text":"Welcome her in the Lord in a way that is right for God's people. Help her with anything she needs from you. She has been a great help to many people, and to me too."},{"verse":3,"text":"Greet Prisca and Aquila. They work with me in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":4,"text":"They put their lives at risk for me. I am thankful for them. And so are all the Gentile churches."},{"verse":5,"text":"Also greet the church that meets in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person in the province of Asia to believe in Christ."},{"verse":6,"text":"Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you."},{"verse":7,"text":"Greet Andronicus and Junia. They are Jews like me, and they were in prison with me. They are well known among the apostles. They were in Christ before I was."},{"verse":8,"text":"Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord."},{"verse":9,"text":"Greet Urbanus, who works with us in Christ. And greet my dear friend Stachys."},{"verse":10,"text":"Greet Apelles, who has been tested and proven in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus."},{"verse":11,"text":"Greet Herodion, who is a Jew like me. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord."},{"verse":12,"text":"Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa. These women have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis. She has worked very hard in the Lord."},{"verse":13,"text":"Greet Rufus, who is chosen in the Lord. And greet his mother, who has been a mother to me too."},{"verse":14,"text":"Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, and Hermas. Greet the brothers and sisters who are with them."},{"verse":15,"text":"Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas. Greet all of God's people who are with them."},{"verse":16,"text":"Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings."},{"verse":17,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I urge you to watch out for people who cause splits and put things in your way. They go against the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them."},{"verse":18,"text":"People like this are not serving our Lord Christ. They are serving their own stomachs. With smooth talk and praise that is not true, they fool people who don't know better."},{"verse":19,"text":"Everyone has heard about how you obey. So I am full of joy over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good. And I want you to stay innocent about what is evil."},{"verse":20,"text":"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Timothy, who works with me, sends you greetings. So do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, who are Jews like me."},{"verse":22,"text":"I, Tertius, wrote down this letter. I greet you in the Lord."},{"verse":23,"text":"Gaius sends you greetings. I am staying at his home, and the whole church meets there. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings. So does our brother Quartus."},{"verse":24,"text":"","note":"Some later manuscripts include a verse here."},{"verse":25,"text":"Now to God, who is able to make you strong by my good news and by the preaching about Jesus Christ. This agrees with the mystery God has shown. It was hidden for long ages in the past."},{"verse":26,"text":"But now it has been shown and made known through the writings of the prophets. This happened by the command of the God who lives forever. He did it to lead all nations to obey him because they believe."},{"verse":27,"text":"To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."}]}]},{"name":"1 Corinthians","slug":"1-corinthians","usfm":"1CO","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul, who was called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. It is also from our brother Sosthenes."},{"verse":2,"text":"We are writing to the church of God in Corinth. You have been made holy in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people. We also write to all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is their Lord and ours."},{"verse":3,"text":"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":4,"text":"I always thank my God for you. I thank him for the grace he has given you in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":5,"text":"In him you have been made rich in every way. You have been given all kinds of speech and all kinds of knowledge."},{"verse":6,"text":"This is because what we told you about Christ was proven true among you."},{"verse":7,"text":"So you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait eagerly for our Lord Jesus Christ to be shown."},{"verse":8,"text":"He will keep you strong to the end. Then no one will be able to blame you on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":9,"text":"God is faithful. He has called you to share life with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."},{"verse":10,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I beg you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to agree with each other. Don't let there be splits among you. Be joined together in the same mind and the same purpose."},{"verse":11,"text":"My brothers and sisters, some people from Chloe's household have told me that you are arguing with each other."},{"verse":12,"text":"Here is what I mean. Some of you are saying, \"I follow Paul.\" Others say, \"I follow Apollos,\" or \"I follow Cephas,\" or \"I follow Christ.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Has Christ been split into parts? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?"},{"verse":14,"text":"I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius."},{"verse":15,"text":"So no one can say that you were baptized in my name."},{"verse":16,"text":"Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides them, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else."},{"verse":17,"text":"For Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to preach the good news. And he did not send me to use wise and clever words, so that the cross of Christ would not lose its power."},{"verse":18,"text":"The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God."},{"verse":19,"text":"For it is written, \"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will block the plans of the smart.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the great thinker of this age? Hasn't God made the wisdom of the world look foolish?"},{"verse":21,"text":"In God's wisdom, the world did not know him by using its own wisdom. So God was pleased to save those who believe. He did it through the message we preach, which seems foolish."},{"verse":22,"text":"Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom."},{"verse":23,"text":"But we preach Christ, who was crucified. This makes Jews stumble, and to Gentiles it sounds foolish."},{"verse":24,"text":"But to those God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God."},{"verse":25,"text":"For what seems foolish about God is wiser than human wisdom. And what seems weak about God is stronger than human strength."},{"verse":26,"text":"Brothers and sisters, think about who you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise by human standards. Not many were powerful. Not many came from important families."},{"verse":27,"text":"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong."},{"verse":28,"text":"He chose the lowly things of the world, the things people look down on. He chose the things that are nothing, to bring to nothing the things that are something."},{"verse":29,"text":"He did this so that no one can brag in front of him."},{"verse":30,"text":"It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus. Christ has become God's wisdom for us. Through him we are made right with God, made holy, and redeemed."},{"verse":31,"text":"So, as it is written, \"Let the one who brags, brag about the Lord.\""}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come with fancy speech or great wisdom. I came to tell you the truth about God."},{"verse":2,"text":"For while I was with you, I decided to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified."},{"verse":3,"text":"I came to you weak and afraid, and I was shaking a lot."},{"verse":4,"text":"My message and my preaching did not use wise words to win you over. Instead, they showed the power of the Spirit."},{"verse":5,"text":"This was so that your faith would not rest on human wisdom. It would rest on God's power."},{"verse":6,"text":"But we do speak a message of wisdom to those who are mature. It is not the wisdom of this age. It is not the wisdom of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing."},{"verse":7,"text":"No, we speak of God's wisdom. It is a mystery that was hidden. Before time began, God planned it for our glory."},{"verse":8,"text":"None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."},{"verse":9,"text":"But as it is written, \"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But God has shown it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."},{"verse":11,"text":"Who knows a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit inside him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."},{"verse":12,"text":"We have not received the spirit of the world. We have received the Spirit who comes from God. Now we can understand what God has freely given us."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is what we speak about. We do not use words taught by human wisdom. We use words taught by the Spirit. We explain spiritual truths with spiritual words."},{"verse":14,"text":"A person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. They seem foolish to him. He cannot understand them, because they can only be understood through the Spirit."},{"verse":15,"text":"The person with the Spirit can judge all things. But no one else can judge him."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"Who has known the mind of the Lord well enough to teach him?\" But we have the mind of Christ."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as people who live by the Spirit. I had to talk to you as people of the world. You were like babies in Christ."},{"verse":2,"text":"I gave you milk, not solid food. You were not ready for solid food yet. And you are still not ready."},{"verse":3,"text":"You are still living like people of the world. There is jealousy and fighting among you. Doesn't that show you are worldly? Aren't you living just like everyone else?"},{"verse":4,"text":"One of you says, \"I follow Paul.\" Another says, \"I follow Apollos.\" Aren't you acting like mere humans?"},{"verse":5,"text":"After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are only servants who helped you believe. The Lord gave each of us our job."},{"verse":6,"text":"I planted the seed. Apollos watered it. But God made it grow."},{"verse":7,"text":"So the one who plants is not important, and neither is the one who waters. Only God matters, because he makes things grow."},{"verse":8,"text":"The one who plants and the one who waters work for the same goal. And each will be paid for his own work."},{"verse":9,"text":"We work together with God. You are God's field. You are God's building."},{"verse":10,"text":"God gave me grace to lay a foundation like a skilled builder. Now someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds."},{"verse":11,"text":"No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid. That foundation is Jesus Christ."},{"verse":12,"text":"Suppose someone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, or precious stones. Or suppose he uses wood, hay, or straw."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then his work will be seen for what it is, because the Day will bring it into the light. It will be shown by fire. The fire will test how good each person's work is."},{"verse":14,"text":"If what he built lasts, he will get a reward."},{"verse":15,"text":"If it burns up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only like someone escaping through the flames."},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple? Don't you know that God's Spirit lives in you?"},{"verse":17,"text":"If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do not fool yourselves. Do any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age? Then you should become a fool, so that you can become truly wise."},{"verse":19,"text":"For the wisdom of this world is foolish in God's eyes. As it is written, \"He catches the wise in their own tricks.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"And again, \"The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are useless.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"So stop bragging about people. Everything belongs to you."},{"verse":22,"text":"Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present, and the future are all yours. All of them belong to you."},{"verse":23,"text":"And you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So people should think of us as servants of Christ. We have been trusted to take care of God's mysteries."},{"verse":2,"text":"Those who are trusted with such a job must prove to be faithful."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I don't care much if you judge me, or if any human court judges me. In fact, I don't even judge myself."},{"verse":4,"text":"My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I am innocent. It is the Lord who judges me."},{"verse":5,"text":"So don't judge anything before the right time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring into the light what is hidden in darkness. He will show the reasons in people's hearts. Then each one will get his praise from God."},{"verse":6,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I have used myself and Apollos as examples to help you. I want you to learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not be proud of one person over another."},{"verse":7,"text":"Who says you are better than others? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you brag as if you didn't?"},{"verse":8,"text":"You already have all you want! You are already rich! You have become kings without us! How I wish you really were kings, so that we could be kings with you!"},{"verse":9,"text":"It seems to me that God has put us apostles on show at the end of the parade. We are like prisoners sentenced to die. We have become a show for the whole world to watch, for angels as well as people."},{"verse":10,"text":"We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are shamed!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Even now we are hungry and thirsty. We don't have enough clothes. We are beaten. We have no homes."},{"verse":12,"text":"We work hard with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless them. When people hurt us for our faith, we put up with it."},{"verse":13,"text":"When people tell lies about us, we answer kindly. Even now, we have become like the dirt of the earth. We are like the trash of the world."},{"verse":14,"text":"I am not writing this to shame you. I am writing to warn you as my dear children."},{"verse":15,"text":"You may have ten thousand guardians in Christ. But you do not have many fathers. In Christ Jesus I became your father through the good news."},{"verse":16,"text":"So I urge you to follow my example."},{"verse":17,"text":"That is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I live in Christ Jesus. It matches what I teach everywhere in every church."},{"verse":18,"text":"Some of you have become proud, as if I were not coming to you."},{"verse":19,"text":"But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wants me to. Then I will find out what these proud people are saying. And I will also find out what power they have."},{"verse":20,"text":"For the kingdom of God is not about talk. It is about power."},{"verse":21,"text":"Which do you want? Should I come to you with a rod? Or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?"}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"People are actually saying there is sexual sin among you. It is a kind that even pagans would not allow. A man is living with his father's wife."},{"verse":2,"text":"And you are proud! Shouldn't you be filled with sorrow instead? Shouldn't you have put the man who did this out of your group?"},{"verse":3,"text":"I am not with you in body, but I am with you in spirit. I have already judged the man who did this, just as if I were there."},{"verse":4,"text":"So when you meet together in the name of our Lord Jesus, I will be with you in spirit. The power of the Lord Jesus will be there too."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then hand this man over to Satan so that his sinful nature may be destroyed. That way his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.","note":"Greek: \"for the destruction of the flesh.\" It may mean his body."},{"verse":6,"text":"Your bragging is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Get rid of the old yeast. Then you will be a new batch of dough without yeast, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."},{"verse":8,"text":"So let us keep the feast. Let's not do it with the old bread made with the yeast of hate and evil. Let's do it with the bread without yeast, which is honesty and truth."},{"verse":9,"text":"In my letter I wrote to you not to spend time with people who live in sexual sin."},{"verse":10,"text":"I did not mean the people of this world who live in sexual sin. I did not mean the greedy, the cheaters, or those who worship idols. To stay away from them, you would have to leave this world."},{"verse":11,"text":"But now I am writing to you not to spend time with anyone who says he is a brother but lives in sin. Stay away from him if he is sexually immoral or greedy. Stay away if he worships idols or curses people. Stay away if he is a drunk or a cheater. Don't even eat with such a person."},{"verse":12,"text":"Is it my job to judge people outside the church? Aren't you supposed to judge those inside?"},{"verse":13,"text":"God will judge those outside. \"Remove the evil person from among you.\""}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Suppose one of you has a complaint against another believer. How dare he take it to court in front of people who are not right with God! He should take it to God's people instead!"},{"verse":2,"text":"Don't you know that God's people will judge the world? And if you will judge the world, can't you judge small cases?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Don't you know that we will judge angels? Then surely we can judge the things of this life!"},{"verse":4,"text":"So if you need to settle everyday problems, why do you choose judges who are not respected in the church?"},{"verse":5,"text":"I say this to shame you. Is there really no one among you wise enough to settle a fight between believers?"},{"verse":6,"text":"Instead, one believer takes another to court. And this happens in front of people who don't believe!"},{"verse":7,"text":"Just having lawsuits among you means you have already lost badly. Why not just let others do you wrong? Why not just let them cheat you?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong. And you do it to your own brothers and sisters!"},{"verse":9,"text":"Don't you know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be fooled. Think of those who are sexually immoral, those who worship idols, and those who commit adultery. Think of men who take part in homosexual acts, either by giving in to them or by doing them."},{"verse":10,"text":"Think of thieves, greedy people, and drunks. Think of people who curse others and of cheaters. None of these people will inherit the kingdom of God."},{"verse":11,"text":"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed. You were made holy. You were made right with God. This was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."},{"verse":12,"text":"\"I am allowed to do anything.\" But not everything is good for you. \"I am allowed to do anything.\" But I will not let anything control me."},{"verse":13,"text":"\"Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.\" But God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual sin. It is meant for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body."},{"verse":14,"text":"By his power God raised the Lord from the dead. And he will raise us too."},{"verse":15,"text":"Don't you know that your bodies are parts of Christ's body? So should I take the parts of Christ and join them to a prostitute? Never!"},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't you know that a man who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, \"The two will become one flesh.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"But the one who joins himself to the Lord becomes one with him in spirit."},{"verse":18,"text":"Run away from sexual sin! Every other sin a person does is outside his body. But the one who sins sexually sins against his own body."},{"verse":19,"text":"Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit lives in you, and you received him from God. You do not belong to yourselves."},{"verse":20,"text":"You were bought at a price. So bring glory to God with your body."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now I will answer the things you wrote to me about. It is good not to have sexual relations.","note":"Greek: \"It is good for a man not to touch a woman.\" Some think Paul is quoting the Corinthians here."},{"verse":2,"text":"But there is so much sexual sin. So each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband."},{"verse":3,"text":"The husband should give his wife what he owes her as a husband. In the same way, the wife should give her husband what she owes him."},{"verse":4,"text":"The wife does not rule over her own body. Her husband does. In the same way, the husband does not rule over his own body. His wife does."},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not keep yourselves from each other. You may do it only if you both agree, and only for a time. Then you can give yourselves to prayer. After that, come together again. Then Satan will not tempt you because you lack self-control."},{"verse":6,"text":"I say this to allow it, not as a command."},{"verse":7,"text":"I wish everyone were like me. But each person has his own gift from God. One has this gift, and another has that one."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now I say this to those who are not married and to widows. It is good for them to stay single, as I am."},{"verse":9,"text":"But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with desire."},{"verse":10,"text":"To those who are married I give this command. It is not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband."},{"verse":11,"text":"But if she does leave, she must stay single or else make peace with her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife."},{"verse":12,"text":"To the rest I say this. It is from me, not from the Lord. Suppose a believing man has a wife who does not believe. If she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her."},{"verse":13,"text":"And suppose a woman has a husband who does not believe. If he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him."},{"verse":14,"text":"For the husband who does not believe is made holy through his believing wife. And the wife who does not believe is made holy through her believing husband. If this were not so, your children would be unclean. But as it is, they are holy."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if the one who does not believe leaves, let it be so. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace."},{"verse":16,"text":"Wife, how do you know if you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know if you will save your wife?"},{"verse":17,"text":"In any case, each person should live the life the Lord has given him. He should live the way God called him. This is the rule I give in all the churches."},{"verse":18,"text":"Was a man already circumcised when God called him? He should not try to undo it. Was a man not circumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised."},{"verse":19,"text":"Being circumcised means nothing. Not being circumcised means nothing. What matters is keeping God's commands."},{"verse":20,"text":"Each person should stay in the place he was in when God called him."},{"verse":21,"text":"Were you a slave when God called you? Don't let it worry you. But if you can become free, take the chance."},{"verse":22,"text":"The one who was a slave when the Lord called him is now the Lord's free person. In the same way, the one who was free when he was called is now Christ's slave."},{"verse":23,"text":"You were bought at a price. Do not become slaves of people."},{"verse":24,"text":"Brothers and sisters, each person should stay in the place he was in when God called him."},{"verse":25,"text":"Now about people who have never married. I have no command from the Lord about them. But I give my opinion as one who can be trusted, because of the Lord's mercy."},{"verse":26,"text":"Because of the hard times we are in now, I think it is good for a person to stay as he is."},{"verse":27,"text":"Are you tied to a wife? Do not try to get free. Are you free from a wife? Do not look for one."},{"verse":28,"text":"But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a young woman who has never married gets married, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have troubles in this life. I want to spare you from that."},{"verse":29,"text":"Brothers and sisters, what I mean is that the time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as if they had none."},{"verse":30,"text":"Those who cry should live as if they did not cry. Those who are happy should live as if they were not. Those who buy things should live as if they owned nothing."},{"verse":31,"text":"Those who use the things of this world should live as if they do not depend on them. For this world as it is now is passing away."},{"verse":32,"text":"I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married cares about the Lord's work. He thinks about how to please the Lord."},{"verse":33,"text":"But a married man cares about the things of this world. He thinks about how to please his wife."},{"verse":34,"text":"So his interests are pulled two ways. A woman who is not married, or who has never married, cares about the Lord's work. She wants to be holy in both body and spirit. But a married woman cares about the things of this world. She thinks about how to please her husband."},{"verse":35,"text":"I am saying this for your own good. I'm not trying to hold you back. I want you to live in a right way and give yourselves fully to the Lord."},{"verse":36,"text":"But suppose a man thinks he is not treating the woman he is engaged to in the right way. Suppose she is getting older and they ought to marry. Then he should do what he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married."},{"verse":37,"text":"But another man may stand firm in his heart. He may feel no pressure and have control over his own will. If he has decided in his heart not to marry the young woman, he will do well."},{"verse":38,"text":"So the man who marries the young woman does well. But the man who does not marry her does even better."},{"verse":39,"text":"A wife is joined to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants. But he must belong to the Lord."},{"verse":40,"text":"But I think she is happier if she stays single. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now about food that has been sacrificed to idols. We know that we all have knowledge. But knowledge makes people proud. Love builds people up."},{"verse":2,"text":"The person who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he should."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the person who loves God is known by God."},{"verse":4,"text":"So what about eating food sacrificed to idols? We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world. And we know there is no God but one."},{"verse":5,"text":"There may be so-called gods, in heaven or on earth. In fact, there are many so-called gods and lords."},{"verse":6,"text":"But for us there is only one God, the Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things came through him, and we live through him."},{"verse":7,"text":"But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so used to idols that they think of this food as sacrificed to an idol when they eat it. Their conscience is weak, so it is made dirty."},{"verse":8,"text":"But food does not bring us closer to God. We are no worse if we don't eat. We are no better if we do."},{"verse":9,"text":"But be careful. Don't let your freedom make the weak trip and fall."},{"verse":10,"text":"Suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you eating in an idol's temple. You know better. But won't he be pushed to eat food sacrificed to idols too?"},{"verse":11,"text":"So this weak brother is ruined by your knowledge. Christ died for him."},{"verse":12,"text":"When you sin against your brothers this way and hurt their weak conscience, you sin against Christ."},{"verse":13,"text":"So if what I eat makes my brother fall, I will never eat meat again. I don't want to make him fall."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord? Aren't you the result of my work in the Lord?"},{"verse":2,"text":"I may not be an apostle to others, but surely I am one to you. You are the proof that I am an apostle in the Lord."},{"verse":3,"text":"Here is my answer to those who judge me."},{"verse":4,"text":"Don't we have the right to food and drink?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Don't we have the right to take a believing wife with us? The other apostles do this. So do the Lord's brothers and Cephas."},{"verse":6,"text":"Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who have to work for a living?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Who serves as a soldier and pays his own way? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who takes care of a flock and does not drink its milk?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Am I saying this only from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing?"},{"verse":9,"text":"It is written in the Law of Moses, \"Do not tie up an ox's mouth while it is treading out the grain.\" Is God only thinking about oxen?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Isn't he really speaking about us? Yes, this was written for us. The one who plows and the one who threshes should both hope to share in the harvest."},{"verse":11,"text":"If we have planted spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to gather an earthly harvest from you?"},{"verse":12,"text":"If others have this right to your support, shouldn't we have it even more? But we did not use this right. Instead, we put up with anything so we would not get in the way of the good news of Christ."},{"verse":13,"text":"Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple? Don't you know that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered there?"},{"verse":14,"text":"In the same way, the Lord has commanded something for those who preach the good news. They should get their living from the good news."},{"verse":15,"text":"But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to ask you to do something for me. I would rather die than let anyone take away my reason to boast."},{"verse":16,"text":"Yet when I preach the good news, I have no reason to boast. I have to preach. How terrible it will be for me if I do not preach the good news!"},{"verse":17,"text":"If I preach because I choose to, I get a reward. But if I don't choose it, I have still been trusted with a job to do."},{"verse":18,"text":"So what is my reward? It is this: when I preach the good news, I can offer it for free. Then I don't use up my rights as a preacher."},{"verse":19,"text":"I am free and don't belong to anyone. But I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many people as I can."},{"verse":20,"text":"To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, to win them. I did this even though I am not under the law myself."},{"verse":21,"text":"To those without the law I became like one without the law, to win them. I am not free from God's law. I am under the law of Christ."},{"verse":22,"text":"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I did this so that in every way I can, I might save some."},{"verse":23,"text":"I do all this for the sake of the good news. Then I can share in its blessings."},{"verse":24,"text":"Don't you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? So run in a way that will win the prize."},{"verse":25,"text":"Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict control. They do it to win a crown that will not last. But we do it to win a crown that will last forever."},{"verse":26,"text":"So I don't run without a goal. I don't fight like a boxer punching the air."},{"verse":27,"text":"No, I train my body hard and make it my slave. I do this so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be turned away."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I want you to know something. Our ancestors were all under the cloud. They all passed through the sea."},{"verse":2,"text":"They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea."},{"verse":3,"text":"They all ate the same spiritual food."},{"verse":4,"text":"They all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them. And that rock was Christ."},{"verse":5,"text":"But God was not pleased with most of them. They were struck down in the wilderness."},{"verse":6,"text":"These things happened as examples for us. They warn us not to want evil things as they did."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not worship idols, as some of them did. As it is written, \"The people sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to party wildly.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"We must not commit sexual sin, as some of them did. In one day 23,000 of them died."},{"verse":9,"text":"We must not test Christ, as some of them did. They were killed by snakes."},{"verse":10,"text":"And do not complain, as some of them did. They were killed by the destroying angel."},{"verse":11,"text":"These things happened to them as examples. They were written down to warn us. We live at the time when the ages are coming to their end."},{"verse":12,"text":"So if you think you are standing strong, be careful that you don't fall."},{"verse":13,"text":"No temptation has come to you that is not common to everyone. And God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted more than you can handle. When you are tempted, he will also give you a way out. Then you will be able to stand up under it."},{"verse":14,"text":"So, my dear friends, run away from worshiping idols."},{"verse":15,"text":"I am speaking to people who think clearly. Judge for yourselves what I say."},{"verse":16,"text":"We bless the cup of blessing. Isn't that a sharing in the blood of Christ? We break the bread. Isn't that a sharing in the body of Christ?"},{"verse":17,"text":"There is one loaf. So we who are many are one body. For we all share the one loaf."},{"verse":18,"text":"Think about the people of Israel. Don't those who eat the sacrifices share in the altar?"},{"verse":19,"text":"So am I saying that food sacrificed to an idol is anything? Or that an idol is anything?"},{"verse":20,"text":"No. But the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to be partners with demons."},{"verse":21,"text":"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You cannot share in the Lord's table and the table of demons too."},{"verse":22,"text":"Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he is?"},{"verse":23,"text":"\"I am allowed to do anything.\" But not everything is good for you. \"I am allowed to do anything.\" But not everything builds others up."},{"verse":24,"text":"No one should look out only for his own good. He should look out for the good of others."},{"verse":25,"text":"Eat anything sold in the meat market. Don't ask questions about it because of your conscience."},{"verse":26,"text":"For \"the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"Suppose someone who does not believe invites you to a meal, and you want to go. Eat anything that is served to you. Don't ask questions about it because of your conscience."},{"verse":28,"text":"But someone may tell you, \"This food was offered to idols.\" Then don't eat it. Do this for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience."},{"verse":29,"text":"I mean the other person's conscience, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by someone else's conscience?"},{"verse":30,"text":"If I eat the meal with thanks, why am I blamed for food I thank God for?"},{"verse":31,"text":"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."},{"verse":32,"text":"Do not make anyone trip and fall. Don't do it to Jews or Greeks or the church of God."},{"verse":33,"text":"I also try to please everyone in all I do. I am not looking out for my own good. I am looking out for the good of many people, so that they may be saved."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ."},{"verse":2,"text":"I praise you for remembering me in everything. You hold on to the teachings I passed on to you, just as I gave them."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I want you to understand this. The head of every man is Christ. The head of the woman is man. And the head of Christ is God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame on his head."},{"verse":5,"text":"And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered brings shame on her head. It is just as if her head were shaved."},{"verse":6,"text":"If a woman will not cover her head, she should cut her hair off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head."},{"verse":7,"text":"A man should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of man."},{"verse":8,"text":"For man did not come from woman. Woman came from man."},{"verse":9,"text":"And man was not created for woman. Woman was created for man."},{"verse":10,"text":"That is why a woman should have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels."},{"verse":11,"text":"But in the Lord, woman does not stand apart from man, and man does not stand apart from woman."},{"verse":12,"text":"For just as woman came from man, man is also born from woman. But everything comes from God."},{"verse":13,"text":"Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?"},{"verse":14,"text":"Doesn't nature itself teach you something? If a man has long hair, it is a shame to him."},{"verse":15,"text":"But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory. For long hair is given to her as a covering."},{"verse":16,"text":"Someone may want to argue about this. But we have no other practice, and neither do the churches of God."},{"verse":17,"text":"In these next teachings, I do not praise you. For when you meet together, it does more harm than good."},{"verse":18,"text":"First, I hear that when you meet as a church, there are splits among you. And I believe some of it."},{"verse":19,"text":"In fact, there have to be differences among you. They show which of you God approves."},{"verse":20,"text":"So when you come together, it is not really the Lord's Supper you are eating."},{"verse":21,"text":"For when you eat, each of you goes ahead with your own meal and doesn't share. One person stays hungry, and another gets drunk."},{"verse":22,"text":"Don't you have homes where you can eat and drink? Or do you look down on the church of God? Do you want to shame those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you for this? No, I will not!"},{"verse":23,"text":"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. On the night the Lord Jesus was betrayed, he took bread."},{"verse":24,"text":"He gave thanks and broke it. Then he said, \"This is my body, which is for you. Do this to remember me.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"In the same way, after supper he took the cup. He said, \"This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Every time you drink it, do this to remember me.\""},{"verse":26,"text":"Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you tell about the Lord's death until he comes."},{"verse":27,"text":"So whoever eats the bread or drinks the Lord's cup in an unworthy way will be guilty. He will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."},{"verse":28,"text":"Each person should look closely at himself before he eats the bread and drinks from the cup."},{"verse":29,"text":"Anyone who eats and drinks without seeing the meaning of the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."},{"verse":30,"text":"That is why many of you are weak and sick. And some of you have fallen asleep in death."},{"verse":31,"text":"But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged."},{"verse":32,"text":"When the Lord judges us, he is training us. He does it so we will not be condemned along with the world."},{"verse":33,"text":"So, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for each other."},{"verse":34,"text":"If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home. Then your meetings will not bring judgment on you. When I come, I will give directions about the other things."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know about spiritual gifts."},{"verse":2,"text":"You know that when you were pagans, you were pulled and led away to idols that could not speak."},{"verse":3,"text":"So I want you to know this. No one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, \"Jesus is cursed.\" And no one can say, \"Jesus is Lord,\" except by the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":4,"text":"There are different gifts, but the same Spirit."},{"verse":5,"text":"There are different ways to serve, but the same Lord."},{"verse":6,"text":"There are different ways of working. But it is the same God who does all the work in all people."},{"verse":7,"text":"Each person is given a way to show the Spirit. It is given to help everyone."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Spirit gives one person a message of wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person a message of knowledge."},{"verse":9,"text":"The same Spirit gives faith to another. That one Spirit gives gifts of healing to another."},{"verse":10,"text":"To another he gives the power to do miracles. Another can prophesy. Another can tell the difference between spirits. Another can speak in different kinds of tongues. And still another can explain what the tongues mean."},{"verse":11,"text":"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit. He gives them to each person, just as he decides."},{"verse":12,"text":"The body is one thing, but it has many parts. It has many parts, but they all make one body. It is the same with Christ."},{"verse":13,"text":"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body. It does not matter if we are Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. We were all given the one Spirit to drink."},{"verse":14,"text":"The body is not made of one part. It is made of many."},{"verse":15,"text":"Suppose the foot said, \"I am not a hand, so I don't belong to the body.\" That would not make it any less a part of the body."},{"verse":16,"text":"And suppose the ear said, \"I am not an eye, so I don't belong to the body.\" That would not make it any less a part of the body."},{"verse":17,"text":"If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear? If the whole body were an ear, how could it smell?"},{"verse":18,"text":"But God has put each part in the body just where he wanted it."},{"verse":19,"text":"If they were all one part, where would the body be?"},{"verse":20,"text":"As it is, there are many parts, but one body."},{"verse":21,"text":"The eye cannot say to the hand, \"I don't need you!\" And the head cannot say to the feet, \"I don't need you!\""},{"verse":22,"text":"In fact, the parts of the body that seem weaker are the ones we cannot do without."},{"verse":23,"text":"And the parts we think are less honored, we treat with more honor. The parts we don't show are treated with special care to keep them covered."},{"verse":24,"text":"But the parts we show don't need this. God has put the body together. He has given more honor to the parts that lacked it."},{"verse":25,"text":"This way there will be no split in the body. Instead, its parts will care for each other the same."},{"verse":26,"text":"If one part hurts, every part hurts with it. If one part is honored, every part is glad with it."},{"verse":27,"text":"Now you are the body of Christ. Each of you is a part of it."},{"verse":28,"text":"In the church God has put apostles first, prophets second, and teachers third. Then come those who do miracles and those with gifts of healing. There are also those who help, those who lead, and those who speak in different tongues."},{"verse":29,"text":"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?"},{"verse":30,"text":"Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all explain tongues?"},{"verse":31,"text":"But you should eagerly want the greater gifts. And now I will show you the very best way."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I may speak in the tongues of people and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."},{"verse":2,"text":"I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all mysteries and know all things. I may have so much faith that I can move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing."},{"verse":3,"text":"I may give all I own to the poor. I may give up my body so I can boast. But if I don't have love, I gain nothing.","note":"Some manuscripts say \"give up my body to be burned.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not brag. It is not proud."},{"verse":5,"text":"It is not rude. It does not look out only for itself. It does not get angry easily. It does not keep track of wrongs."},{"verse":6,"text":"Love is not happy about evil. But it is glad about the truth."},{"verse":7,"text":"It puts up with all things. It believes all things. It hopes all things. It lasts through all things."},{"verse":8,"text":"Love never fails. But prophecies will come to an end. Tongues will be stopped. Knowledge will pass away."},{"verse":9,"text":"For what we know is only part of the whole. And what we prophesy is only part of the whole."},{"verse":10,"text":"But when what is perfect comes, what is partial will pass away."},{"verse":11,"text":"When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child. I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now we see only a dim picture, like in a mirror. Then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part. Then I will know fully, just as I am fully known."},{"verse":13,"text":"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Make love your goal, and work hard for it. Also want the gifts of the Spirit with all your heart. Most of all, want the gift of prophecy."},{"verse":2,"text":"A person who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people. He speaks to God. In fact, no one understands him. He speaks hidden things by the Spirit.","note":"A \"tongue\" is a language the speaker has not learned."},{"verse":3,"text":"But a person who prophesies speaks to people. He helps them grow strong. He cheers them on, and he comforts them."},{"verse":4,"text":"The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself. But the one who prophesies builds up the church."},{"verse":5,"text":"I wish all of you could speak in tongues. But I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues. That is true unless he explains what the tongue means, so that the church can be built up."},{"verse":6,"text":"Now, brothers and sisters, say I come to you speaking in tongues. How will that help you? It won't, unless I bring you something God has shown me, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching."},{"verse":7,"text":"Think of things that make music but are not alive, like a flute or a harp. If each note does not sound clear, how will anyone know what tune is being played?"},{"verse":8,"text":"And if the trumpet gives a call that is not clear, who will get ready for battle?"},{"verse":9,"text":"It is the same with you. You must speak words with your tongue that people can understand. If not, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be talking into the air."},{"verse":10,"text":"It is true that there are many kinds of languages in the world. Yet each one of them has meaning."},{"verse":11,"text":"So if I don't know what someone's language means, I am a foreigner to him. And he is a foreigner to me."},{"verse":12,"text":"It is the same with you. You are eager to have gifts of the Spirit. So work hard to do well in the gifts that build up the church."},{"verse":13,"text":"So the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can explain what it means."},{"verse":14,"text":"If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays. But my mind does not get anything from it."},{"verse":15,"text":"So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit. But I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit. But I will also sing with my mind."},{"verse":16,"text":"Say you praise God only with your spirit. Then how can someone who has not been taught say \"Amen\" when you give thanks? He does not know what you are saying."},{"verse":17,"text":"You may be giving thanks very well. But the other person is not built up."},{"verse":18,"text":"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."},{"verse":19,"text":"But in the church, I would rather speak five words that make sense to teach others. That is better than 10,000 words in a tongue."},{"verse":20,"text":"Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies. But in the way you think, be grown up."},{"verse":21,"text":"It is written in the Law, \"I will speak to these people through strange tongues and the lips of foreigners. But even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"So tongues are a sign. They are not for those who believe, but for those who don't believe. But prophecy is for those who believe. It is not for those who don't believe."},{"verse":23,"text":"Say the whole church meets together and everyone speaks in tongues. Then some people come in who have not been taught, or who don't believe. Won't they say that you are out of your minds?"},{"verse":24,"text":"But say everyone is prophesying. Then someone comes in who doesn't believe, or who has not been taught. He will be shown his sin by all. He will be judged by all,"},{"verse":25,"text":"and the secrets of his heart will be brought out into the open. So he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God. He will say, \"God is really here with you!\""},{"verse":26,"text":"So what should we say, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each of you has something. One has a psalm, and one has a teaching. One has something God has shown him. One has a tongue, and one explains what it means. All of these things must be done to build up the church."},{"verse":27,"text":"If anyone speaks in a tongue, two people should speak, or three at the most. They should take turns. And someone must explain what they said."},{"verse":28,"text":"But if no one is there to explain, the speaker should stay quiet in the church. He should speak only to himself and to God."},{"verse":29,"text":"Two or three prophets should speak. The others should think hard about what is said and judge it."},{"verse":30,"text":"And say God shows something to someone who is sitting there. Then the first speaker should stop."},{"verse":31,"text":"You can all prophesy, one at a time. That way everyone can learn and be cheered on."},{"verse":32,"text":"The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets."},{"verse":33,"text":"God is not a God of confusion. He is a God of peace. This is true in all the churches of God's people."},{"verse":34,"text":"Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak. They must be in submission, as the law says."},{"verse":35,"text":"If they want to ask about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church."},{"verse":36,"text":"Did the word of God start with you? Or are you the only ones it has come to?"},{"verse":37,"text":"Someone may think he is a prophet or has gifts of the Spirit. If so, he should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command."},{"verse":38,"text":"But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored."},{"verse":39,"text":"So, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy. And do not stop people from speaking in tongues."},{"verse":40,"text":"But everything must be done in a right and orderly way."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good news I preached to you. You received it, and you stand firm in it."},{"verse":2,"text":"You are saved by this good news if you hold on tight to the word I preached to you. If not, you have believed for nothing."},{"verse":3,"text":"What I received, I passed on to you as most important. Here it is. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said."},{"verse":4,"text":"He was buried. He was raised on the third day, just as the Scriptures said."},{"verse":5,"text":"And he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve."},{"verse":6,"text":"After that, he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time. Most of them are still living, but some have fallen asleep in death."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles."},{"verse":8,"text":"Last of all, he appeared to me too. I was like a baby born at the wrong time.","note":"Greek: \"one of untimely birth.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"I am the least of the apostles. I don't even deserve to be called an apostle, because I hurt and hunted down the church of God."},{"verse":10,"text":"But by the grace of God I am what I am. And his grace to me was not wasted. No, I worked harder than all of them. Yet it was not I, but the grace of God that was with me."},{"verse":11,"text":"So it does not matter if it was I or they. This is what we preach, and this is what you believed."},{"verse":12,"text":"But if we preach that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that the dead do not rise again?"},{"verse":13,"text":"If the dead do not rise again, then not even Christ has been raised."},{"verse":14,"text":"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worth nothing. And so is your faith."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then we are also shown to be false witnesses about God. We have said that God raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if the dead really are not raised."},{"verse":16,"text":"If the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised."},{"verse":17,"text":"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless. You are still in your sins."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished."},{"verse":19,"text":"If we hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone else."},{"verse":20,"text":"But Christ really has been raised from the dead! He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."},{"verse":21,"text":"Death came through a man. So the rising of the dead also comes through a man."},{"verse":22,"text":"In Adam all die. In the same way, in Christ all will be made alive."},{"verse":23,"text":"But each one in his own turn. Christ is the firstfruits. Then, when he comes, those who belong to him will be raised."},{"verse":24,"text":"Then the end will come. He will hand over the kingdom to God the Father. That will happen after he has destroyed every ruler, every authority, and every power."},{"verse":25,"text":"He must rule until he has put all his enemies under his feet."},{"verse":26,"text":"The last enemy to be destroyed is death."},{"verse":27,"text":"For \"God has put everything under his feet.\" Now it says that everything has been put under him. But it is clear that this does not include God, the One who put everything under him."},{"verse":28,"text":"All things will be put under the Son. When that is done, then the Son himself will be put under God, who put all things under him. This is so that God may be all in all."},{"verse":29,"text":"If these things are not true, what will those people do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?"},{"verse":30,"text":"And why do we put ourselves in danger every hour?"},{"verse":31,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I face death every day. That is as sure as my pride in you in Christ Jesus our Lord."},{"verse":32,"text":"I fought wild beasts in Ephesus. If I did it only for human reasons, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, then \"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.\""},{"verse":33,"text":"Do not be fooled. \"Bad friends ruin good character.\""},{"verse":34,"text":"Come back to your right mind, as you should, and stop sinning. Some of you do not know God. I say this to shame you."},{"verse":35,"text":"But someone will ask, \"How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?\""},{"verse":36,"text":"You fool! The seed you plant does not come to life unless it dies."},{"verse":37,"text":"And what you plant is not the body that will grow. It is just a seed. It may be wheat or some other kind."},{"verse":38,"text":"But God gives it a body as he has planned. He gives each kind of seed its own body."},{"verse":39,"text":"Not all flesh is the same. People have one kind of flesh. Animals have another. Birds have another, and fish have another."},{"verse":40,"text":"There are also bodies in the sky and bodies on the earth. The glory of the bodies in the sky is one kind. The glory of the bodies on the earth is another kind."},{"verse":41,"text":"The sun has one kind of glory. The moon has another, and the stars have another. And each star is different from the other stars in its glory."},{"verse":42,"text":"It will be like that when the dead are raised. The body that is planted will decay. The body that is raised will never decay."},{"verse":43,"text":"It is planted in shame. It is raised in glory. It is planted weak. It is raised in power."},{"verse":44,"text":"It is planted a natural body. It is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."},{"verse":45,"text":"So it is written, \"The first man Adam became a living being.\" The last Adam became a spirit that gives life."},{"verse":46,"text":"But the spiritual did not come first. The natural came first, and then the spiritual."},{"verse":47,"text":"The first man was made from the dust of the earth. The second man is from heaven."},{"verse":48,"text":"Those who are of the earth are like the man made of earth. And those who are of heaven are like the man from heaven."},{"verse":49,"text":"We have been made like the man made of earth. In the same way, we will be made like the man from heaven."},{"verse":50,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I tell you this. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And what decays cannot inherit what never decays."},{"verse":51,"text":"Listen, I'm telling you a secret. We will not all sleep in death. But we will all be changed."},{"verse":52,"text":"It will happen in a flash, as fast as the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. The trumpet will sound. The dead will be raised, never to decay again. And we will be changed."},{"verse":53,"text":"What decays must put on what never decays. What dies must put on what never dies."},{"verse":54,"text":"What decays will put on what never decays. What dies will put on what never dies. When that happens, then the words that are written will come true: \"Death has been swallowed up in victory.\""},{"verse":55,"text":"\"Death, where is your victory?\nDeath, where is your sting?\""},{"verse":56,"text":"The sting of death is sin. And the power of sin is the law."},{"verse":57,"text":"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":58,"text":"So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is not wasted."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now about the money being gathered for God's people. Do what I told the churches of Galatia to do."},{"verse":2,"text":"On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside some of what you earn. Save it up. Then no money will need to be gathered when I come."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I get there, I will send the people you choose to take your gift to Jerusalem. I will send letters with them."},{"verse":4,"text":"And if it seems right for me to go too, they can travel with me."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will come to you after I go through Macedonia. I am planning to go through Macedonia."},{"verse":6,"text":"Maybe I will stay with you for a while. I may even spend the winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go."},{"verse":7,"text":"I don't want to see you now only for a short visit. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows it."},{"verse":8,"text":"But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost."},{"verse":9,"text":"That is because a great door has opened for me to do good work, even though many fight against me."},{"verse":10,"text":"If Timothy comes, make sure he has nothing to be afraid of while he is with you. He is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am."},{"verse":11,"text":"So no one should look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so he can come back to me. I am waiting for him to come with the brothers."},{"verse":12,"text":"Now about our brother Apollos. I begged him to go to you with the brothers. He did not want to go at all right now. But he will go when he has the chance."},{"verse":13,"text":"Stay alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be brave. Be strong."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do everything in love."},{"verse":15,"text":"You know that Stephanas and his family were the first to believe in Achaia. They have given themselves to serving God's people. Now I urge you, brothers and sisters,"},{"verse":16,"text":"to submit to people like them. Submit to everyone who works and labors with us."},{"verse":17,"text":"I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come. They have given me what you could not give."},{"verse":18,"text":"They have refreshed my spirit, and yours too. So show thanks to men like these."},{"verse":19,"text":"The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord. So does the church that meets at their house."},{"verse":20,"text":"All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss."},{"verse":21,"text":"I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand."},{"verse":22,"text":"If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, Lord!","note":"\"Come, Lord\" is the Aramaic word Marana tha."},{"verse":23,"text":"May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you."},{"verse":24,"text":"My love is with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen."}]}]},{"name":"2 Corinthians","slug":"2-corinthians","usfm":"2CO","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul and from our brother Timothy. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus because God wanted me to be. We are writing to the church of God in Corinth. We are also writing to all God's people in all of Achaia."},{"verse":2,"text":"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":3,"text":"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who shows mercy. He is the God of all comfort."},{"verse":4,"text":"He comforts us in all our troubles. Then we can comfort others in any trouble they have. We give them the same comfort we ourselves got from God."},{"verse":5,"text":"The sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives. In the same way, our comfort also flows over through Christ."},{"verse":6,"text":"If we are in trouble, it is so you can be comforted and saved. If we are comforted, it is so you can be comforted. This comfort helps you be patient and hold on when you go through the same sufferings we do."},{"verse":7,"text":"Our hope for you is sure. We know that you share in our sufferings. So we know you will also share in our comfort."},{"verse":8,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the hard times we had in the province of Asia. The load on us was far too heavy for us to carry. We even gave up hope of living."},{"verse":9,"text":"In fact, we felt like we had been sentenced to die. This happened so we would not trust in ourselves. It was so we would trust in God, who raises the dead."},{"verse":10,"text":"He has saved us from such deadly danger, and he will save us. We have put our hope in him. We trust that he will save us again,"},{"verse":11,"text":"as you help us by praying for us. Then many people will thank God for us. They will thank him for the kindness he showed us in answer to their prayers."},{"verse":12,"text":"This is what we are proud of. Our conscience tells us that we have lived in the world in a holy and honest way that comes from God. We have lived this way most of all with you. We did not depend on worldly wisdom. We depended on the grace of God."},{"verse":13,"text":"We don't write you anything you can't read and understand. And I hope you will understand us fully,"},{"verse":14,"text":"just as you already understand us in part. Then you can be proud of us, just as we will be proud of you on the day of our Lord Jesus."},{"verse":15,"text":"I was sure of this. So I planned to visit you first. Then you could be blessed two times."},{"verse":16,"text":"I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia. Then I wanted to come back to you from Macedonia. After that, you could help me on my way to Judea."},{"verse":17,"text":"When I planned this, did I do it without thinking? Or do I make my plans the way the world does? Do I say \"Yes, yes\" and \"No, no\" at the same time?"},{"verse":18,"text":"But God is faithful. Just as surely, our message to you is not \"Yes\" and \"No.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Silvanus, Timothy, and I preached to you about the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He was not \"Yes\" and \"No.\" In him it has always been \"Yes.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"All of God's promises are \"Yes\" in Christ. So through Christ we say our \"Amen\" to bring glory to God."},{"verse":21,"text":"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us."},{"verse":22,"text":"He put his seal on us. He put his Spirit in our hearts as a promise of what is coming."},{"verse":23,"text":"I call on God to be my witness. I did not come back to Corinth because I wanted to spare you."},{"verse":24,"text":"We are not trying to rule over your faith. We work with you for your joy. For it is by faith that you stand firm."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"If I make you sad, who is left to cheer me up? Only the people I made sad."},{"verse":3,"text":"I wrote to you the way I did for a reason. I did not want to be made sad when I came by the very people who should make me glad. I was sure that all of you would share my joy."},{"verse":4,"text":"I wrote to you with many tears. I was very troubled and my heart was hurting. I did not write to make you sad. I wrote to let you know how much I love you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Now say someone has caused sadness. He has not made me sad. He has made all of you sad, at least in part. I don't want to say too much."},{"verse":6,"text":"Most of you agreed to punish him. That punishment is enough for him."},{"verse":7,"text":"So now you should forgive him and comfort him instead. Then he won't be crushed by too much sadness."},{"verse":8,"text":"So I urge you to show him again that you love him."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is why I wrote to you. I wanted to see if you would pass the test and obey in everything."},{"verse":10,"text":"If you forgive anyone, I forgive him too. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it for your sake, with Christ watching."},{"verse":11,"text":"We do this so that Satan will not outsmart us. We know what his tricks are."},{"verse":12,"text":"I went to Troas to preach the good news of Christ. There the Lord opened a door for me."},{"verse":13,"text":"But I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to the people there and went on to Macedonia."},{"verse":14,"text":"But thanks be to God! In Christ he always leads us as captives in his victory parade. Through us he spreads the knowledge of him everywhere, like a sweet smell."},{"verse":15,"text":"To God, we are the sweet smell of Christ. We are this smell among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."},{"verse":16,"text":"To one group, we are a smell that brings death. To the other, we are a sweet smell that brings life. And who is able to do such a job?"},{"verse":17,"text":"We are not like so many others who sell the word of God to make money. No, in Christ we speak with honest hearts before God. We speak as men sent from God."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Are we starting to praise ourselves again? Or do we need letters that say good things about us, like some people do? Do we need them to bring to you or to get from you?"},{"verse":2,"text":"You yourselves are our letter. You are written on our hearts. Everyone knows and reads you."},{"verse":3,"text":"It is clear that you are a letter from Christ. You are the result of our work. This letter was not written with ink. It was written with the Spirit of the living God. It was not written on tablets of stone. It was written on tablets of human hearts."},{"verse":4,"text":"We can be this sure before God because of Christ."},{"verse":5,"text":"We are not able by ourselves to say that anything comes from us. No, our ability comes from God."},{"verse":6,"text":"He has made us able to serve a new covenant. It is not a covenant of the written law but of the Spirit. The written law kills, but the Spirit gives life.","note":"Greek: \"of the letter.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"The old way of serving God brought death. It was carved in letters on stone. Yet it came with so much glory that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face. They could not look because of its glory, even though that glory was fading."},{"verse":8,"text":"So won't the way of serving that comes by the Spirit have even more glory?"},{"verse":9,"text":"The way of serving that judged people guilty had glory. So the way of serving that makes people right with God has much more glory!"},{"verse":10,"text":"In fact, what once had glory has no glory now. That is because of the far greater glory that has come."},{"verse":11,"text":"What was fading away came with glory. So what lasts forever has much greater glory!"},{"verse":12,"text":"We have such a hope. So we are very bold."},{"verse":13,"text":"We are not like Moses. He would put a veil over his face. That kept the Israelites from staring at the end of what was fading away."},{"verse":14,"text":"But their minds were closed. Even today the same veil is still there when the old covenant is read. It has not been taken away, because only in Christ can it be removed."},{"verse":15,"text":"Even today when the books of Moses are read, a veil covers their hearts."},{"verse":16,"text":"But any time someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now the Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."},{"verse":18,"text":"Our faces are not covered with a veil. We all show the Lord's glory, like a mirror. And we are being changed to look like him, with more and more glory. This glory comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"God in his mercy has given us this work to do. So we do not give up."},{"verse":2,"text":"Instead, we have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We do not trick people. We do not twist the word of God. No, we tell the truth plainly. That is how we show every person's conscience who we are, while God watches."},{"verse":3,"text":"Even if our good news is covered with a veil, it is covered only to those who are perishing."},{"verse":4,"text":"The god of this age has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. So they cannot see the light of the good news. This good news shows the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."},{"verse":5,"text":"We do not preach about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord. And we say that we are your servants for Jesus' sake."},{"verse":6,"text":"God said, \"Let light shine out of darkness.\" He made his light shine in our hearts. He did this to give us the light of knowing God's glory. We see that glory in the face of Jesus Christ."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now we have this treasure in jars of clay. This shows that this great power is from God and not from us."},{"verse":8,"text":"Trouble presses on us from every side, but we are not crushed. We don't know what to do, but we don't give up hope."},{"verse":9,"text":"People attack us, but we are not forsaken. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed."},{"verse":10,"text":"We always carry the death of Jesus around in our bodies. That way the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies."},{"verse":11,"text":"We who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus' sake. That way the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies that will die."},{"verse":12,"text":"So death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."},{"verse":13,"text":"It is written, \"I believed, so I have spoken.\" We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe, and so we speak."},{"verse":14,"text":"We know that God raised the Lord Jesus. He will also raise us with Jesus. And he will bring us with you into his presence."},{"verse":15,"text":"All this is for your good. God's grace is reaching more and more people. So more and more thanks will flow out, and this brings glory to God."},{"verse":16,"text":"So we do not give up. Our outside self is wearing away. But our inside self is being made new day by day."},{"verse":17,"text":"Our troubles are light, and they last only a moment. They are making for us a glory that lasts forever. It is so heavy and great that nothing can compare to it."},{"verse":18,"text":"So we don't keep our eyes on what can be seen. We keep them on what can't be seen. What can be seen lasts only for a while. But what can't be seen lasts forever."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"We know that our body here on earth is like a tent. If this tent is taken down, we have a building from God. It is a house in heaven that lasts forever. Human hands did not build it."},{"verse":2,"text":"In this tent we groan. We long to put on our home in heaven like clothes."},{"verse":3,"text":"When we are dressed in it, we will not be found naked."},{"verse":4,"text":"While we live in this tent, we groan under our load. We don't want to take off our clothes. We want to put on new clothes. Then what dies will be swallowed up by life."},{"verse":5,"text":"It is God who made us for this very reason. He has given us the Spirit as a promise of what is coming."},{"verse":6,"text":"So we are always sure of ourselves. We know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord."},{"verse":7,"text":"We live by faith, not by sight."},{"verse":8,"text":"We are sure of ourselves. We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."},{"verse":9,"text":"So we want to please him most of all. That is true if we are at home in this body or away from it."},{"verse":10,"text":"We must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each one will get what he should for the things he did in the body. They may be good or bad."},{"verse":11,"text":"We know what it means to fear the Lord. So we try to win people over. God sees clearly what we are. And I hope your conscience sees it clearly too."},{"verse":12,"text":"We are not praising ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us. Then you can answer those who are proud of how things look on the outside, and not of what is in the heart."},{"verse":13,"text":"If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we are in our right minds, it is for you."},{"verse":14,"text":"Christ's love pushes us on. We are sure that One died for all. So all died."},{"verse":15,"text":"He died for all. He did this so that those who live would not live for themselves anymore. They would live for him, who died for them and was raised again."},{"verse":16,"text":"So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does. We once looked at Christ that way. But we don't anymore."},{"verse":17,"text":"So if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone away. Look, the new has come!"},{"verse":18,"text":"All this is from God. Through Christ, he made peace between himself and us. And he gave us the work of helping others make peace with him."},{"verse":19,"text":"Here is the message: In Christ, God was making peace between the world and himself. He was not counting people's sins against them. And he has given us this message of making peace."},{"verse":20,"text":"So we are ambassadors who speak for Christ. It is as if God is calling out to you through us. We beg you for Christ's sake, make peace with God."},{"verse":21,"text":"Christ never knew sin. But God made him to be sin for us. He did this so that in Christ we could become the righteousness of God.","note":"\"Righteousness of God\" means being right with God by his gift."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"We work together with God. So we beg you not to receive God's grace and then let it go to waste."},{"verse":2,"text":"God says, \"At the time I chose to show kindness, I heard you. On the day of saving, I helped you.\" Look, now is the time God shows kindness. Now is the day he saves!"},{"verse":3,"text":"We don't put anything in anyone's way that would make them trip. We don't want anyone to find fault with our work."},{"verse":4,"text":"Instead, we show in every way that we are God's servants. We hold on through much suffering. We hold on through troubles, hard times, and disasters."},{"verse":5,"text":"We have been beaten and put in prison. We have faced angry crowds. We have worked hard. We have gone without sleep and without food."},{"verse":6,"text":"We show it by being pure, by knowledge, by being patient, and by kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit and by true love."},{"verse":7,"text":"We show it by speaking the truth and by the power of God. We hold the weapons of what is right in our right hand and in our left."},{"verse":8,"text":"We serve when we are honored and when we are shamed. We serve when people say bad things about us and when they praise us. People think we are liars, yet we tell the truth."},{"verse":9,"text":"We seem unknown, yet we are well known. We seem to be dying, and yet we live on. We are punished, yet we are not killed."},{"verse":10,"text":"We are sad, yet we are always full of joy. We are poor, yet we make many people rich. We have nothing, and yet we own everything."},{"verse":11,"text":"We have spoken openly to you, people of Corinth. Our hearts are wide open to you."},{"verse":12,"text":"We are not holding back our love from you. You are the ones holding back your love."},{"verse":13,"text":"I'm speaking to you as my children. Do the same for us in return. Open your hearts wide too."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not be yoked together unequally with those who don't believe. What does what is right have to do with what is evil? Can light and darkness share life together?","note":"A yoke is a wooden bar that joins two animals so they pull together."},{"verse":15,"text":"How can Christ and Belial agree? What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn't believe?","note":"Belial is a name for Satan."},{"verse":16,"text":"How can the temple of God agree with idols? We are the temple of the living God. God has said, \"I will live with them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"\"So come out from among them and be set apart, says the Lord. Touch nothing unclean, and I will welcome you.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"And, \"I will be a Father to you. You will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Dear friends, we have these promises. So let us make ourselves clean from everything that makes body or spirit dirty. Let us become fully holy because we fear God."},{"verse":2,"text":"Make room for us in your hearts. We have not wronged anyone. We have not led anyone into evil. We have not taken advantage of anyone."},{"verse":3,"text":"I don't say this to blame you. I have told you before that you are so much in our hearts. We would live or die with you."},{"verse":4,"text":"I trust you very much. I am very proud of you. I am filled with comfort. In all our troubles, my joy overflows."},{"verse":5,"text":"When we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest. We were troubled on every side. There were fights all around us and fears inside us."},{"verse":6,"text":"But God comforts those who are sad. He comforted us when Titus came."},{"verse":7,"text":"It was not only his coming that comforted us. It was also the comfort you had given him. He told us how much you long to see me. He told us how sorry you are and how much you care about me. So I was even happier."},{"verse":8,"text":"My letter may have made you sad, but I am not sorry I sent it. I was sorry at first. I see that my letter made you sad, but only for a short time."},{"verse":9,"text":"Now I am happy. I am not happy because you were made sad. I am happy because your sadness made you turn back to God. You felt the sadness God wanted you to feel. So we did not harm you in any way."},{"verse":10,"text":"Sadness that comes from God makes people turn back to God. That leads to being saved, and it leaves no regret. But the world's kind of sadness brings death."},{"verse":11,"text":"Look at what this sadness from God has done in you! It made you serious, and eager to clear your names. It made you angry and afraid. It made you long for things to be right. It made you care deeply. It made you ready to see wrong punished. In every way you have shown that you are not guilty in this matter."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I did write to you. But it was not because of the one who did wrong. It was not because of the one who was hurt. I wrote so that you could see, before God, how much you care about us."},{"verse":13,"text":"This is why we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we were even happier to see how glad Titus was. All of you have refreshed his spirit."},{"verse":14,"text":"I had bragged to him about you, and you did not make me feel ashamed. Everything we told you was true. In the same way, our bragging to Titus has proved true too."},{"verse":15,"text":"And his love for you grows even more when he remembers how all of you obeyed. You welcomed him with fear and trembling."},{"verse":16,"text":"I am glad that I can trust you completely."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace God has given the churches of Macedonia."},{"verse":2,"text":"They went through terrible trouble. They were very poor. But they were so full of joy that they gave very freely."},{"verse":3,"text":"I tell you the facts. They gave as much as they could, and even more than they could. They did it on their own."},{"verse":4,"text":"They begged us again and again to let them share in this gift for God's people."},{"verse":5,"text":"They did more than we hoped. First they gave themselves to the Lord. Then they gave themselves to us, as God wanted."},{"verse":6,"text":"So we urged Titus to help you finish this act of grace. He had already started it with you."},{"verse":7,"text":"You do well in everything. You do well in faith, in speaking, and in knowledge. You do well in being eager, and in the love we have planted in you. So make sure you also do well in this grace of giving."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am not giving you a command. But others are eager to give. I want to test how true your love is by comparing it with theirs."},{"verse":9,"text":"You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor. He did this so that you could become rich through his being poor."},{"verse":10,"text":"Here is what I think will help you in this matter. Last year you were the first to give. You were also the first to want to give."},{"verse":11,"text":"Now finish the work. You were eager to start it. Be just as eager to finish it, giving from what you have."},{"verse":12,"text":"If you are eager to give, the gift is accepted. It is based on what a person has, not on what he does not have."},{"verse":13,"text":"We don't want others to have an easy time while you have a hard time. We want things to be fair and equal."},{"verse":14,"text":"Right now you have more than you need. You can help them with what they need. Then later, when they have more than they need, they can help you. That way things will be equal."},{"verse":15,"text":"It is written, \"The one who gathered much did not have too much. And the one who gathered little did not have too little.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But thanks be to God! He put into Titus's heart the same care for you that I have."},{"verse":17,"text":"Titus was glad when we asked him to go. But he is also eager to come to you on his own."},{"verse":18,"text":"We are sending another brother along with Titus. All the churches praise this brother for his work in spreading the good news."},{"verse":19,"text":"And there is more. The churches chose him to travel with us as we carry this gift. We are taking care of this gift to honor the Lord himself. It also shows that we are eager to help."},{"verse":20,"text":"We don't want anyone to find fault with how we handle this large gift."},{"verse":21,"text":"We are working hard to do what is right. We want it to be right in the Lord's eyes, and also in people's eyes."},{"verse":22,"text":"We are also sending our brother with them. He has shown us many times and in many ways that he is eager to help. He is even more eager now, because he trusts you so much."},{"verse":23,"text":"Titus is my partner. He works with me to help you. And these brothers are messengers sent by the churches. They bring glory to Christ."},{"verse":24,"text":"So show these men that you love them, and let the churches see it. Show them why we are proud of you."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I don't need to write to you about this gift for God's people."},{"verse":2,"text":"I know how eager you are to help. I have been bragging about you to the people of Macedonia. I told them that you in Achaia have been ready to give since last year. And your excitement has stirred most of them to give too."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I am sending the brothers to you. I don't want our bragging about you in this matter to turn out to be empty. I want you to be ready, just as I said you would be."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some people from Macedonia may come with me and find that you are not ready. Then we would be ashamed of having been so sure of you. And you would be ashamed even more."},{"verse":5,"text":"So I thought I should ask the brothers to visit you before I come. They will get ready the generous gift you promised. Then it will be ready as a gift given freely, not one given unwillingly."},{"verse":6,"text":"Remember this. Whoever plants only a little will also harvest only a little. And whoever plants a lot will also harvest a lot."},{"verse":7,"text":"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. Don't give with regret or because you are forced to. For God loves a cheerful giver."},{"verse":8,"text":"And God is able to give you more grace than you need. Then in all things and at all times you will have all you need. And you will have plenty to give to every good work."},{"verse":9,"text":"It is written,\n\"He has scattered his gifts to the poor.\nHis righteousness lasts forever.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"God gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will also give you seed and make it grow more and more. He will make the harvest of your right living grow larger."},{"verse":11,"text":"You will be made rich in every way so that you can give freely every time. And through us, your giving will cause people to thank God."},{"verse":12,"text":"This work of serving does more than meet the needs of God's people. It also overflows in many thanks to God."},{"verse":13,"text":"This work proves what you are. So God's people will praise God for it. They will praise him because you obey what you say you believe about the good news of Christ. And they will praise him because you share so freely with them and with everyone else."},{"verse":14,"text":"They will pray for you and show how much they love you. They will do this because of the great grace God has given you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!"}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I, Paul, beg you by the gentle and kind ways of Christ. I am humble when I am with you face to face, but bold when I am away."},{"verse":2,"text":"I beg you, don't make me be bold when I come. I expect I will have to be bold with some people. They think we live the way the world does."},{"verse":3,"text":"We do live in the world. But we don't fight our war the way the world does."},{"verse":4,"text":"The weapons we fight with are not the world's weapons. Instead, they have God's power to tear down strong forts."},{"verse":5,"text":"We tear down arguments. We tear down every proud idea that stands against knowing God. We take every thought captive and make it obey Christ."},{"verse":6,"text":"And we will be ready to punish every act of disobeying. We will do this as soon as you have fully obeyed."},{"verse":7,"text":"You are looking only at the outside of things. Someone may be sure he belongs to Christ. If so, he should remember that we belong to Christ just as much as he does."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Lord gave us authority to build you up, not to tear you down. Even if I brag a little too much about it, I will not be ashamed."},{"verse":9,"text":"I don't want it to seem like I am trying to scare you with my letters."},{"verse":10,"text":"Some people say, \"His letters are serious and strong. But in person he is weak, and his speaking is worth nothing.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Those people should know this. When we are with you, we will act just like what we write in our letters when we are away."},{"verse":12,"text":"We don't dare to put ourselves in the same group as some who praise themselves. We don't compare ourselves with them. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves with themselves. This shows they don't understand."},{"verse":13,"text":"But we will not brag beyond our limits. We will brag only about the area of work God gave us. That area reaches all the way to you."},{"verse":14,"text":"We are not going too far, as if we had not come to you. In fact, we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ."},{"verse":15,"text":"We do not brag beyond our limits about work others have done. But we hope that your faith will keep growing. Then our area of work among you will also grow much larger."},{"verse":16,"text":"Then we can preach the good news in places beyond you. We will not be bragging about work already done in another person's area."},{"verse":17,"text":"But, \"Let the one who brags, brag about the Lord.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"It is not the one who praises himself who is approved. It is the one the Lord praises."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I hope you will put up with me while I act a little foolish. But you are already doing that."},{"verse":2,"text":"I am jealous for you with a jealousy from God. I promised you to one husband, Christ. I want to give you to him as a pure bride who is a virgin."},{"verse":3,"text":"But I am afraid. The serpent tricked Eve with his clever lies. In the same way, your minds might be led away from your simple and pure love for Christ."},{"verse":4,"text":"Someone may come and preach a Jesus other than the One we preached. Or you may receive a different spirit from the One you received. Or you may accept a different good news from the one you accepted. And you put up with it so easily!"},{"verse":5,"text":"I don't think I am any less than those \"super-apostles.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"I may not be a skilled speaker. But I am not short on knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way."},{"verse":7,"text":"I made myself low so that you could be lifted up. I preached the good news of God to you for free. Was that a sin?"},{"verse":8,"text":"I robbed other churches by taking money from them so I could serve you."},{"verse":9,"text":"When I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone. The brothers who came from Macedonia gave me what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way. And I will keep on doing that."},{"verse":10,"text":"The truth of Christ is in me. Just as surely, no one in the area of Achaia will stop me from bragging about this."},{"verse":11,"text":"Why? Is it because I don't love you? God knows I do!"},{"verse":12,"text":"And I will keep on doing what I am doing. Some people want a chance to be seen as our equals in the things they brag about. I want to take away that chance."},{"verse":13,"text":"Men like that are false apostles. They are workers who trick people. They pretend to be apostles of Christ."},{"verse":14,"text":"And no wonder! Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light."},{"verse":15,"text":"So it is no surprise if his servants pretend to be servants of what is right. In the end they will get what their actions deserve."},{"verse":16,"text":"I say it again. No one should think I am a fool. But if you do, then accept me as a fool. Then I can brag a little too."},{"verse":17,"text":"When I brag this boldly, I am not talking the way the Lord would. I am talking like a fool."},{"verse":18,"text":"Many people are bragging the way the world does. So I will brag too."},{"verse":19,"text":"You are so wise! So you are glad to put up with fools."},{"verse":20,"text":"In fact, you even put up with anyone who makes you slaves. You put up with people who use you or take what is yours. You put up with people who act like they are better than you, or who slap you in the face."},{"verse":21,"text":"I am ashamed to say that we were too weak to do that! But what anyone else dares to brag about, I can brag about too. I am talking like a fool."},{"verse":22,"text":"Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they children of Abraham? So am I."},{"verse":23,"text":"Are they servants of Christ? I am talking as if I were out of my mind. But I am even more of a servant. I have worked much harder. I have been in prison more often. I have been beaten worse. I have faced death again and again."},{"verse":24,"text":"Five times the Jews gave me 39 lashes with a whip.","note":"Greek: \"the forty lashes minus one.\""},{"verse":25,"text":"Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was in a shipwreck. I spent a night and a day in the open sea."},{"verse":26,"text":"I have traveled again and again. I have been in danger from rivers and from robbers. I have been in danger from my own people and from the Gentiles. I have been in danger in the city and in the country. I have been in danger at sea and from false brothers."},{"verse":27,"text":"I have worked hard and long, and often I could not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty, and I have often gone without food. I have been cold and without enough clothes."},{"verse":28,"text":"Besides all these outside troubles, every day I carry the weight of caring for all the churches."},{"verse":29,"text":"Who is weak, and I don't feel weak too? Who is led into sin, and I don't burn with grief?"},{"verse":30,"text":"If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show how weak I am."},{"verse":31,"text":"The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows I am not lying. He is worthy of praise forever."},{"verse":32,"text":"In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas had the city of Damascus guarded so he could arrest me."},{"verse":33,"text":"But I was let down in a basket through a window in the city wall. So I got away from him."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I must keep on bragging. There is nothing to gain by it. But I will go on to tell about visions and things the Lord has shown me."},{"verse":2,"text":"I know a man in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven 14 years ago. I don't know if he was in his body or out of it. God knows."},{"verse":3,"text":"And I know that this man was taken up. I don't know if he was in his body or out of it. God knows."},{"verse":4,"text":"He was taken up to Paradise. He heard things too wonderful for words. They are things no one is allowed to tell."},{"verse":5,"text":"I will brag about a man like that. But I will not brag about myself, except about my weaknesses."},{"verse":6,"text":"Even if I wanted to brag, I would not be a fool. I would be telling the truth. But I hold back. I don't want anyone to think more of me than what he sees me do or hears me say."},{"verse":7,"text":"I also hold back because these things God showed me were so great. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh. It was a messenger from Satan to torment me."},{"verse":8,"text":"Three times I begged the Lord to take it away from me."},{"verse":9,"text":"But he said to me, \"My grace is all you need. My power is made perfect in weakness.\" So I will be even more glad to brag about my weaknesses. Then the power of Christ can rest on me."},{"verse":10,"text":"That is why I am glad to be weak for Christ's sake. I am glad when people insult me. I am glad in hard times, when people attack me, and when troubles come. For when I am weak, then I am strong."},{"verse":11,"text":"I have become a fool, but you made me do it. You should have praised me. I am not any less than those \"super-apostles,\" even though I am nothing."},{"verse":12,"text":"The marks of a true apostle were done among you with great patience. Those marks are signs, wonders, and miracles."},{"verse":13,"text":"How were you treated worse than the other churches? Only in this: I was not a burden to you. Forgive me for this wrong!"},{"verse":14,"text":"Look, I am ready to come to you a third time. And I will not be a burden to you. I don't want what you own. I want you. Children should not have to save up for their parents. Parents should save up for their children."},{"verse":15,"text":"So I will be very glad to spend all I have for your souls. I will even spend myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?"},{"verse":16,"text":"Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you. Yet, sly as I am, I caught you with a trick!"},{"verse":17,"text":"Did I cheat you through any of the men I sent to you?"},{"verse":18,"text":"I urged Titus to visit you, and I sent our brother with him. Did Titus cheat you in any way? Didn't we live by the same Spirit? Didn't we walk in the same steps?"},{"verse":19,"text":"Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? We speak before God, as people in Christ. Dear friends, everything we do is to build you up."},{"verse":20,"text":"I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you the way I want. And you may not find me the way you want. I am afraid there may be fighting, jealousy, and anger. There may be selfishness, lies about others, gossip, pride, and disorder."},{"verse":21,"text":"I am afraid that when I come again, my God will make me feel humbled in front of you. I may be filled with grief over many who sinned before. They have not turned back to God from their impure acts, their sexual sin, and their wild living."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the third time I am coming to you. \"Every matter must be proved by what two or three witnesses say.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"I already warned you when I was with you the second time. Now, while I am away, I warn you again. I warn those who sinned before, and everyone else. If I come back, I will not go easy on anyone."},{"verse":3,"text":"I will do this because you want proof that Christ is speaking through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you. He is powerful among you."},{"verse":4,"text":"He was crucified in weakness. Yet he lives by God's power. We are also weak in him. Yet by God's power we will live with him as we deal with you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Look closely at yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Don't you know that Jesus Christ is in you? He is, unless you fail the test."},{"verse":6,"text":"And I hope you will see that we have not failed the test."},{"verse":7,"text":"Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We don't pray this so that people will see we passed the test. We pray it so that you will do what is right, even if it looks like we have failed."},{"verse":8,"text":"We can't do anything against the truth. We can only work for the truth."},{"verse":9,"text":"In fact, we are glad when we are weak but you are strong. And we pray that you will be made complete."},{"verse":10,"text":"That is why I write these things while I am away. Then when I come, I won't need to be harsh in using my authority. The Lord gave me this authority to build you up, not to tear you down."},{"verse":11,"text":"Finally, brothers and sisters, be full of joy! Work to be made complete. Cheer each other on. Agree with each other. Live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Greet one another with a holy kiss."},{"verse":13,"text":"All God's people send you greetings."},{"verse":14,"text":"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."}]}]},{"name":"Galatians","slug":"galatians","usfm":"GAL","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not sent by people, and no person sent me. I was sent by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from the dead."},{"verse":2,"text":"All the brothers and sisters who are with me join me. We are writing to the churches of Galatia."},{"verse":3,"text":"May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":4,"text":"Jesus gave himself for our sins. He did it to rescue us from this present evil age. This was what our God and Father wanted."},{"verse":5,"text":"May glory be his forever and ever. Amen."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am amazed at how fast you are leaving the One who called you by the grace of Christ. You are turning to a different good news."},{"verse":7,"text":"But it is not really good news at all. It is clear that some people are troubling you. They are trying to twist the good news about Christ."},{"verse":8,"text":"But suppose we, or even an angel from heaven, preached a good news different from the one we preached to you. Then let that one be under a curse!"},{"verse":9,"text":"We have said it before, and now I say it again. If anyone preaches to you a good news different from the one you received, let that person be under a curse!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Am I now trying to win the approval of people, or of God? Am I working hard to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."},{"verse":11,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I want you to know this. The good news I preached was not made up by any person."},{"verse":12,"text":"I did not get it from any person, and no one taught it to me. Instead, Jesus Christ showed it to me."},{"verse":13,"text":"You have heard how I used to live when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how cruelly I attacked God's church. I tried to destroy it."},{"verse":14,"text":"I was moving ahead in the Jewish religion faster than many people my own age. I was very eager to keep the old ways handed down by my ancestors."},{"verse":15,"text":"But God set me apart from the time I was in my mother's womb. He called me by his grace. Then he was pleased"},{"verse":16,"text":"to show his Son in me, so I could preach about him among the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not hurry off to ask advice from any person."},{"verse":17,"text":"I did not go up to Jerusalem to see the men who were apostles before me. Instead, I went away into Arabia. Later I went back to Damascus."},{"verse":18,"text":"Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to meet with Cephas. I stayed with him fifteen days.","note":"Cephas is another name for Peter."},{"verse":19,"text":"I did not see any of the other apostles. I only saw James, the Lord's brother."},{"verse":20,"text":"I promise you before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie."},{"verse":21,"text":"After that I went to the areas of Syria and Cilicia."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the churches in Judea that belong to Christ had never met me face to face."},{"verse":23,"text":"They only heard people say, \"The man who used to attack us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"And they praised God because of me."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Fourteen years later I went up to Jerusalem again. Barnabas went with me. I took Titus along too."},{"verse":2,"text":"I went because God showed me I should go. I explained to them the good news that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke in private to the men known as leaders. I was afraid that I was running my race for nothing, or had already run it for nothing."},{"verse":3,"text":"Titus was with me, and he was a Greek. But even he was not forced to be circumcised."},{"verse":4,"text":"This problem came up because some false brothers had sneaked in. They came to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves."},{"verse":5,"text":"We did not give in to them, not even for a moment. We wanted the truth of the good news to stay with you."},{"verse":6,"text":"Some men there were thought to be very important. What they once were makes no difference to me. God does not play favorites. Those leaders added nothing to what I preach."},{"verse":7,"text":"Just the opposite! They saw that God had trusted me to preach the good news to those who are not circumcised. In the same way, he had trusted Peter to preach to the circumcised."},{"verse":8,"text":"God was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised. The same God was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles."},{"verse":9,"text":"James, Cephas, and John were known as pillars of the church. They saw the grace God had given me. So they shook hands with me and Barnabas as partners. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they should go to the circumcised."},{"verse":10,"text":"They only asked us to keep remembering the poor. That was the very thing I was eager to do."},{"verse":11,"text":"But when Cephas came to Antioch, I stood up against him to his face, because he stood condemned."},{"verse":12,"text":"Before some men came from James, Cephas used to eat with the Gentiles. But when those men came, he began to pull back. He kept himself apart from the Gentiles. He was afraid of the circumcision group."},{"verse":13,"text":"The other Jews joined him in pretending. Because of their pretending, even Barnabas was led the wrong way."},{"verse":14,"text":"I saw that they were not living in line with the truth of the good news. So I spoke to Cephas in front of them all. I said, \"You are a Jew. If you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?\""},{"verse":15,"text":"We were born as Jews. We are not Gentile \"sinners.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But we know that a person is not made right with God by doing what the law says. A person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus. We did this so we could be made right with God by faith in Christ, and not by doing what the law says. This is because no one will be made right with God by doing what the law says."},{"verse":17,"text":"We are looking to be made right with God in Christ. But what if this shows that we ourselves are sinners? Does that make Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!"},{"verse":18,"text":"If I build up again what I already tore down, I show that I am a lawbreaker."},{"verse":19,"text":"Through the law, I died to the law. I did this so I could live for God."},{"verse":20,"text":"I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. I now live my life in this body by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself for me."},{"verse":21,"text":"I do not push God's grace aside. If people could be made right with God through the law, then Christ died for nothing."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You foolish Galatians! Who has put a spell on you? Right before your eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly shown as crucified."},{"verse":2,"text":"I want you to tell me just one thing. Did you receive the Spirit by doing what the law says? Or did you receive him by hearing and believing?"},{"verse":3,"text":"Are you that foolish? You started with the Spirit. Are you now trying to finish by your own human effort?","note":"Greek: in the flesh."},{"verse":4,"text":"Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?"},{"verse":5,"text":"God gives you his Spirit so richly. He works miracles among you. Does he do this because you obey the law? Or is it because you hear and believe?"},{"verse":6,"text":"It is the same with Abraham. \"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So you can see that people who have faith are sons of Abraham."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Scripture saw ahead of time that God would make the Gentiles right with him by faith. It also told the good news to Abraham ahead of time. It said, \"All nations will be blessed through you.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So people who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."},{"verse":10,"text":"All who depend on doing what the law says are under a curse. For it is written, \"Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the Book of the Law.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Now it is clear that no one is made right with God by the law. This is because \"The righteous will live by faith.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"But the law is not based on faith. Instead, it says, \"The person who does these things will live by them.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. He did it by becoming a curse for us. For it is written, \"Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"He redeemed us so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus. He did it so that by faith we could receive the promised Spirit."},{"verse":15,"text":"Brothers and sisters, let me give an example from everyday life. Once people make a covenant official, no one can cancel it or add to it. That is true even for a human covenant."},{"verse":16,"text":"God spoke the promises to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say \"and to seeds,\" meaning many people. It says \"and to your seed,\" meaning one person. That one is Christ.","note":"Seed means offspring or descendant."},{"verse":17,"text":"Here is what I mean. God first made a covenant with Abraham. The law came 430 years later. The law does not cancel God's covenant. It does not wipe out the promise."},{"verse":18,"text":"If the inheritance depended on the law, then it would no longer depend on a promise. But God freely gave it to Abraham through a promise."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then why was the law given? It was added because of people's wrongs. It was meant to last until the seed came, the one the promise was about. The law was put in place through angels. A go-between handed it on."},{"verse":20,"text":"But a go-between is not needed when only one side is acting. And God is one."},{"verse":21,"text":"Is the law, then, against God's promises? No way! If a law had been given that could give life, then being right with God would surely have come by the law."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the Scripture says that everything is locked up under sin. This is so that the promise could be given by faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe."},{"verse":23,"text":"Before this faith came, we were held as prisoners by the law. We were locked up until faith would be shown to us."},{"verse":24,"text":"So the law became like a guardian who watched over us to lead us to Christ. This was so we could be made right with God by faith."},{"verse":25,"text":"But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."},{"verse":26,"text":"You are all God's children through faith in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":27,"text":"All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ like clothing."},{"verse":28,"text":"There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. You are all one in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":29,"text":"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed. You are heirs, just as God promised."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Here is what I mean. As long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave. That is true even though he owns everything."},{"verse":2,"text":"He must obey guardians and those who manage his things. This lasts until the time his father has set."},{"verse":3,"text":"It was the same with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the basic rules of this world."},{"verse":4,"text":"But when the right time fully came, God sent his Son. His Son was born of a woman. He was born under the law."},{"verse":5,"text":"God sent him to redeem those under the law. He did this so we could be adopted as God's children."},{"verse":6,"text":"And because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. The Spirit cries out, \"Abba, Father!\"","note":"Abba is an Aramaic word for father."},{"verse":7,"text":"So you are no longer a slave. You are God's child. And since you are his child, God has also made you his heir."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the past, you did not know God. Back then you were slaves to things that are not really gods at all."},{"verse":9,"text":"But now you know God. Even better, God knows you. So how can you turn back to those weak and worthless rules? Do you want to be their slaves all over again?"},{"verse":10,"text":"You are keeping special days and months and seasons and years!"},{"verse":11,"text":"I am afraid for you. I fear that all my hard work for you may have been for nothing."},{"verse":12,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I beg you to become like me. After all, I became like you. You never did anything wrong to me."},{"verse":13,"text":"You know that I first preached the good news to you because I was sick."},{"verse":14,"text":"My sickness was hard for you. But you did not look down on me or turn me away. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God. You welcomed me as if I were Christ Jesus himself."},{"verse":15,"text":"So what has happened to your blessing? I can tell you this for sure. If you could have, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me."},{"verse":16,"text":"Have I now become your enemy because I tell you the truth?"},{"verse":17,"text":"Those people are eager to win you over, but not for a good reason. They want to cut you off from us, so that you will be eager for them."},{"verse":18,"text":"Still, it is good to be eager if it is for a good reason. That is true at all times, not just when I am with you."},{"verse":19,"text":"My dear children, I am in pain for you again, like a mother giving birth. I will be in pain until Christ is formed in you."},{"verse":20,"text":"How I wish I could be with you now and speak to you in a different tone! I do not know what to think about you."},{"verse":21,"text":"Tell me, you who want to live under the law, don't you understand what the law says?"},{"verse":22,"text":"It is written that Abraham had two sons. One son was by the slave woman. The other son was by the free woman."},{"verse":23,"text":"His son by the slave woman was born in the normal human way. But his son by the free woman was born because of God's promise."},{"verse":24,"text":"These things are word pictures. The two women stand for two covenants. One covenant comes from Mount Sinai. Its children are born into slavery. This is Hagar."},{"verse":25,"text":"Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia. She is like the city of Jerusalem today, because she is in slavery with her children."},{"verse":26,"text":"But the Jerusalem above is free. She is our mother."},{"verse":27,"text":"It is written:\n\"Be glad, you woman who could not have children,\nyou who never gave birth!\nShout and cry out with joy,\nyou who never felt the pains of birth!\nThe woman who was left alone will have more children\nthan the woman who has a husband.\""},{"verse":28,"text":"Now you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac."},{"verse":29,"text":"Back then, the son born in the normal human way attacked the son born by the Spirit. It is the same way now."},{"verse":30,"text":"But what does the Scripture say? \"Send away the slave woman and her son. For the slave woman's son will never share what the father leaves with the free woman's son.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"So, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman. We are children of the free woman."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Christ has set us free so that we can be free. So stand firm. Do not let yourselves be weighed down again by a yoke of slavery."},{"verse":2,"text":"Listen! I, Paul, am telling you this. If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no help to you at all."},{"verse":3,"text":"I say it again to every man who gets circumcised. He must then obey the whole law."},{"verse":4,"text":"Some of you are trying to be made right with God by the law. You have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen away from grace."},{"verse":5,"text":"But by faith we wait eagerly, through the Spirit, for the hope of being right with God."},{"verse":6,"text":"In Christ Jesus it does not matter if you are circumcised or not. What matters is faith that shows itself through love."},{"verse":7,"text":"You were running the race so well. Who got in your way and kept you from obeying the truth?"},{"verse":8,"text":"That kind of talk does not come from the One who calls you."},{"verse":9,"text":"Just a little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough."},{"verse":10,"text":"I trust in the Lord that you will not think any other way. The one who is troubling you will be judged, whoever he is."},{"verse":11,"text":"Brothers and sisters, suppose I am still preaching that people must be circumcised. Then why am I still being attacked? If I were, the cross would no longer offend anyone."},{"verse":12,"text":"As for those people who are upsetting you, I wish they would go all the way and cut off their own private parts!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Brothers and sisters, you were called to be free. But do not use your freedom as a chance to obey your sinful nature. Instead, serve one another in love."},{"verse":14,"text":"The whole law is summed up in one command: \"Love your neighbor as yourself.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"But if you keep biting and tearing at each other, watch out! Or you will be destroyed by one another."},{"verse":16,"text":"So I tell you, live by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful nature wants."},{"verse":17,"text":"The sinful nature wants what goes against the Spirit. And the Spirit wants what goes against the sinful nature. They fight against each other. So you do not do what you want to do."},{"verse":18,"text":"But if the Spirit leads you, you are not under the law."},{"verse":19,"text":"The things the sinful nature does are easy to see. They are sexual sin, impure living, and wild living."},{"verse":20,"text":"They are worshiping idols and witchcraft. They are hate, fighting, jealousy, and fits of anger. They are selfish rivalry, splitting into sides, and forming groups."},{"verse":21,"text":"They are envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I warn you now, as I did before. People who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."},{"verse":22,"text":"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"},{"verse":23,"text":"gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like these."},{"verse":24,"text":"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful nature to the cross, along with its strong feelings and desires."},{"verse":25,"text":"We live by the Spirit, so let us keep in step with the Spirit."},{"verse":26,"text":"Let us not be proud. Let us not stir each other up or be jealous of each other."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, suppose someone is caught in a sin. You who live by the Spirit should gently help that person back. But watch yourself, or you may be tempted too."},{"verse":2,"text":"Help carry each other's heavy loads. When you do this, you obey the law of Christ."},{"verse":3,"text":"If anyone thinks he is important when he is nothing, he fools himself."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each person should check his own work. Then he can be proud of himself alone, and not of someone else."},{"verse":5,"text":"Each person should carry his own load."},{"verse":6,"text":"But those who are taught God's word must share all good things with their teacher."},{"verse":7,"text":"Do not be fooled. No one can make fun of God. A person will harvest whatever he plants."},{"verse":8,"text":"Some people plant to please their sinful nature. From that sinful nature they will harvest ruin. Others plant to please the Spirit. From the Spirit they will harvest eternal life."},{"verse":9,"text":"Let us not get tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a harvest if we do not give up."},{"verse":10,"text":"So whenever we have the chance, let us do good to everyone. Let us do good most of all to the family of believers."},{"verse":11,"text":"Look at the large letters I am using as I write to you with my own hand!"},{"verse":12,"text":"Some people want to look good on the outside. They are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do it only so they won't be attacked because of the cross of Christ."},{"verse":13,"text":"Even those who are circumcised do not keep the law themselves. But they want you to be circumcised. Then they can brag about what was done to your body."},{"verse":14,"text":"But as for me, may I never brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross, the world has been crucified to me, and I have been crucified to the world."},{"verse":15,"text":"Being circumcised or not being circumcised means nothing. What matters is being a new creation."},{"verse":16,"text":"May peace and mercy be on all who follow this rule, even on the Israel of God."},{"verse":17,"text":"From now on, let no one give me trouble. I carry the marks of Jesus on my body."},{"verse":18,"text":"Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."}]}]},{"name":"Ephesians","slug":"ephesians","usfm":"EPH","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus because God wanted me to be. I am writing to God's people in Ephesus, who are faithful in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":2,"text":"May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":3,"text":"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world."},{"verse":4,"text":"God chose us in Christ before he made the world. He chose us to be holy and without fault in his eyes. In love"},{"verse":5,"text":"he decided ahead of time to adopt us as his children through Jesus Christ. He did this because it pleased him and was what he wanted."},{"verse":6,"text":"He did it so we would praise his wonderful grace. He has freely given us this grace in the One he loves."},{"verse":7,"text":"In Christ we have redemption through his blood. Our sins are forgiven. This comes from the riches of God's grace."},{"verse":8,"text":"He poured out this grace on us with all wisdom and understanding."},{"verse":9,"text":"He has shown us the secret of his plan. He did this because it pleased him. He planned it all in Christ"},{"verse":10,"text":"to be carried out when the time is fully right. His plan is to bring everything in heaven and on earth together under Christ."},{"verse":11,"text":"In Christ we were also chosen to belong to God. God decided this ahead of time, by his plan. He works out everything the way he wants."},{"verse":12,"text":"He did this so that we would bring praise to his glory. We were the first to hope in Christ."},{"verse":13,"text":"You also heard the true message, the good news that saves you. You believed in Christ. Then God put his seal on you in Christ. That seal is the Holy Spirit he had promised."},{"verse":14,"text":"The Spirit is like a down payment on what we will inherit. This lasts until the redemption of those who belong to God. All this brings praise to his glory."},{"verse":15,"text":"That is why, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people,"},{"verse":16,"text":"I have not stopped thanking God for you. I keep remembering you in my prayers."},{"verse":17,"text":"I keep asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom. I ask him to show you things so that you will know him better."},{"verse":18,"text":"I pray that the eyes of your heart will be opened to see. Then you will know the hope he called you to. You will know the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people."},{"verse":19,"text":"You will know how very great his power is for us who believe. That power is the same as his mighty strength at work."},{"verse":20,"text":"He used this strength in Christ when he raised him from the dead. God seated him at his right hand in the heavenly world."},{"verse":21,"text":"Christ is far above every ruler and authority, every power and lord. He is above every name that can be named. This is true in this age and in the age to come."},{"verse":22,"text":"God put everything under Christ's feet. He made Christ head over everything for the good of the church."},{"verse":23,"text":"The church is Christ's body. It is full of him, the One who fills everything everywhere."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You were dead in your wrongs and sins."},{"verse":2,"text":"You used to live in those sins. You followed the ways of this world. You followed the ruler of the power of the air. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who disobey God."},{"verse":3,"text":"At one time all of us lived among them too. We did whatever our sinful nature craved. We followed its desires and thoughts. By nature we were under God's anger, just like everyone else."},{"verse":4,"text":"But God loves us very much, and he is rich in mercy."},{"verse":5,"text":"So he made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our sins. It is by grace you have been saved!"},{"verse":6,"text":"God raised us up with Christ. He seated us with him in the heavenly world in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":7,"text":"He did this so that in the ages to come he could show how very rich his grace is. He shows it by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":8,"text":"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith. This did not come from you. It is God's gift."},{"verse":9,"text":"It does not come from the things you do. So no one can brag about it."},{"verse":10,"text":"We are what God has made. He created us in Christ Jesus to do good works. God planned these good works long ago for us to live out."},{"verse":11,"text":"So remember what you used to be. You were born as Gentiles. Some people call themselves \"the circumcised.\" That is only something done to the body by human hands. Those people called you \"the uncircumcised.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Remember that at that time you were apart from Christ. You were shut out of the people of Israel. You were strangers to the covenants of God's promise. You had no hope, and you were without God in the world."},{"verse":13,"text":"But now you belong to Christ Jesus. You were once far away, but now you have been brought near by the blood of Christ."},{"verse":14,"text":"Christ himself is our peace. He has made Jews and Gentiles into one people. He has torn down the wall of hate that kept them apart."},{"verse":15,"text":"He did this by putting an end to the law with its commands and rules. He did it in his own body. He wanted to make one new people out of the two, joined in himself. In this way he made peace."},{"verse":16,"text":"Through the cross he brought both of them back to God as one body. By the cross he put their hate to death."},{"verse":17,"text":"He came and preached peace to you who were far away. He also preached peace to those who were near."},{"verse":18,"text":"Through Christ we both can come to the Father by one Spirit."},{"verse":19,"text":"So you are no longer strangers and outsiders. You are citizens together with God's people. You are members of God's family."},{"verse":20,"text":"You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone."},{"verse":21,"text":"In him the whole building is joined together. It grows into a holy temple in the Lord."},{"verse":22,"text":"In him you too are being built together. You are becoming a home where God lives by his Spirit."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"That is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles..."},{"verse":2,"text":"Surely you have heard about the job God gave me. He gave me his grace to share with you."},{"verse":3,"text":"God showed me his secret plan. He made it known to me. I have already written to you about it in a few words."},{"verse":4,"text":"When you read this, you will understand what I know about the secret plan of Christ."},{"verse":5,"text":"People in past generations were not told about it. But now the Spirit has shown it to God's holy apostles and prophets."},{"verse":6,"text":"This is the secret plan. Through the good news, the Gentiles share in what God gives, along with the Jews. They are members of the same body. They share together in the promise in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":7,"text":"I became a servant of this good news. It was a gift of God's grace. He gave it to me by his power at work in me."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am less than the least of all God's people. Even so, God gave me this grace. He gave me the job of preaching to the Gentiles about the riches of Christ. Those riches are too great to measure."},{"verse":9,"text":"He also gave me the job of helping everyone see how this secret plan works. For ages past it was hidden in God, who created all things."},{"verse":10,"text":"God's purpose was to use the church to show his wisdom in all its many forms. He wanted it to be known now to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly world."},{"verse":11,"text":"This was God's eternal plan. He carried it out in Christ Jesus our Lord."},{"verse":12,"text":"In Christ, and through faith in him, we can come near to God. We can come boldly and without fear."},{"verse":13,"text":"So I ask you not to lose heart because I am suffering for you. My sufferings bring you glory."},{"verse":14,"text":"...That is why I kneel before the Father."},{"verse":15,"text":"Every family in heaven and on earth gets its name from him."},{"verse":16,"text":"I pray that out of his glorious riches he will make you strong. I pray that he will give you power through his Spirit deep inside you."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then Christ will live in your hearts through faith. And you will have roots that go deep into love. You will stand firm in love."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then, together with all God's people, you will have the power to understand how wide and long and high and deep"},{"verse":19,"text":"the love of Christ is. I pray that you will know this love, even though it is too great to fully know. Then you will be filled with all the fullness of God."},{"verse":20,"text":"God is able to do far more than all we ask or imagine. He does it by his power that is at work in us."},{"verse":21,"text":"May he receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. May he receive it through all generations, forever and ever. Amen."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I am a prisoner because I serve the Lord. So I urge you to live in a way that fits the calling you have received."},{"verse":2,"text":"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient. Put up with one another in love."},{"verse":3,"text":"Work hard to keep the unity the Spirit gives. Let peace hold you together."},{"verse":4,"text":"There is one body and one Spirit. In the same way, when God called you, he called you to one hope."},{"verse":5,"text":"There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism."},{"verse":6,"text":"There is one God and Father of all. He is over all and through all and in all."},{"verse":7,"text":"Christ has given grace to each one of us. He gave it in the amount he chose to give."},{"verse":8,"text":"That is why Scripture says,\n\"When he went up on high,\nhe led captives away,\nand he gave gifts to people.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"What does \"he went up\" mean? It must mean that he also came down to the lower parts of the earth."},{"verse":10,"text":"The One who came down is the same One who went up far above all the heavens. He did this so that he could fill all things."},{"verse":11,"text":"Christ himself gave some people to be apostles. He gave some to be prophets and some to be people who spread the good news. He gave some to be pastors and teachers."},{"verse":12,"text":"He gave them to get God's people ready to serve. They help build up the body of Christ."},{"verse":13,"text":"This will go on until we are all one in our faith. We will all know the Son of God. We will grow up and become fully like Christ."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then we will no longer be like babies. We will not be tossed around by the waves. We will not be blown here and there by every wind of teaching. We will not be fooled by the tricks of people who plan to lie to us."},{"verse":15,"text":"Instead, we will speak the truth in love. In every way we will grow up into Christ himself. He is the head."},{"verse":16,"text":"From him the whole body is joined and held together by every joint. As each part does its work, the body grows. It builds itself up in love."},{"verse":17,"text":"So I tell you this, and I insist on it in the Lord. You must no longer live as the Gentiles do. Their thinking is empty and useless."},{"verse":18,"text":"Their minds are in the dark. They are cut off from the life God gives. This is because they do not know him, and because their hearts are hard."},{"verse":19,"text":"They have lost all sense of shame. They have given themselves over to wild, sinful pleasure. They do every kind of impure thing, and they always want more."},{"verse":20,"text":"But that is not the way you came to know Christ."},{"verse":21,"text":"Surely you heard about him and were taught in him. You were taught the truth that is in Jesus."},{"verse":22,"text":"You were taught to take off your old way of life, like old clothes. Take off your old self. It is being ruined by its lying desires."},{"verse":23,"text":"You were taught to let your minds and spirits be made new."},{"verse":24,"text":"You were taught to put on the new self. It was created to be like God. It is truly right and holy."},{"verse":25,"text":"So each of you must stop lying. Tell your neighbor the truth. We all belong to one another, like parts of one body."},{"verse":26,"text":"\"Be angry, but do not sin.\" Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."},{"verse":27,"text":"And do not give the devil a place to get a hold on you."},{"verse":28,"text":"Anyone who has been stealing must stop stealing. Instead, he must work and do something good with his own hands. Then he will have something to share with those in need."},{"verse":29,"text":"Do not let any harmful words come out of your mouths. Say only what helps build others up, as they need it. Then your words will bring grace to those who listen."},{"verse":30,"text":"Do not make God's Holy Spirit sad. In him you were sealed for the day of redemption."},{"verse":31,"text":"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger. Stop all shouting and lies that hurt others. Get rid of every kind of evil feeling toward others."},{"verse":32,"text":"Be kind and tenderhearted to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you in Christ."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So copy God in everything you do, because you are his dearly loved children."},{"verse":2,"text":"Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us. He gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God. It was like a sweet smell to God."},{"verse":3,"text":"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual sin. There must not be any kind of impure living, or greed. These are not right for God's people."},{"verse":4,"text":"There must be no dirty talk, foolish talk, or crude jokes. These do not fit who you are. Instead, give thanks to God."},{"verse":5,"text":"You can be sure of this. No one who lives in sexual sin, or who is impure, or greedy, will have any share in the kingdom of Christ and of God. A greedy person is really worshiping an idol."},{"verse":6,"text":"Do not let anyone fool you with empty words. Because of these sins, God's anger is coming on those who disobey him."},{"verse":7,"text":"So do not join in with them."},{"verse":8,"text":"You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."},{"verse":9,"text":"The fruit of the light is found in all that is good, right, and true."},{"verse":10,"text":"Try to find out what pleases the Lord."},{"verse":11,"text":"Have nothing to do with the useless things people do in the dark. Instead, bring them out into the open."},{"verse":12,"text":"It is shameful even to talk about what those who disobey do in secret."},{"verse":13,"text":"But when the light shows things for what they are, they can be clearly seen. And everything the light shines on becomes light too."},{"verse":14,"text":"That is why it is said,\n\"Wake up, sleeper!\nRise from the dead,\nand Christ will shine on you.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who are not wise. Live like people who are wise."},{"verse":16,"text":"Make the most of every chance you get, because the days are evil."},{"verse":17,"text":"So do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants."},{"verse":18,"text":"Do not get drunk on wine. That leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."},{"verse":19,"text":"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts."},{"verse":20,"text":"Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":21,"text":"Submit to one another because you honor Christ."},{"verse":22,"text":"Wives, submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord."},{"verse":23,"text":"The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. The church is his body, and he is its Savior."},{"verse":24,"text":"The church submits to Christ. In the same way, wives should submit to their husbands in everything."},{"verse":25,"text":"Husbands, love your wives. Love them just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."},{"verse":26,"text":"He did this to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water through the word."},{"verse":27,"text":"He did this so he could bring her to himself as a glorious church. She will have no stain or wrinkle or any other flaw. Instead, she will be holy and without fault."},{"verse":28,"text":"In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself."},{"verse":29,"text":"After all, no one ever hated his own body. Instead, he feeds it and takes care of it. That is just what Christ does for the church."},{"verse":30,"text":"We are parts of his body."},{"verse":31,"text":"\"That is why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. And the two will become one flesh.\""},{"verse":32,"text":"This is a deep mystery. But I am talking about Christ and the church."},{"verse":33,"text":"But this is also true for each one of you. Each husband must love his wife as he loves himself. And the wife must respect her husband."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right."},{"verse":2,"text":"\"Honor your father and mother.\" This is the first commandment that comes with a promise."},{"verse":3,"text":"\"Then it will go well with you, and you will live a long life on the earth.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Fathers, do not make your children angry. Instead, raise them with the Lord's training and teaching."},{"verse":5,"text":"Slaves, obey your masters here on earth. Do it with respect and fear and an honest heart, just as you would obey Christ."},{"verse":6,"text":"Obey them not only to please them when they are watching you. Obey them as servants of Christ. Do what God wants with all your heart."},{"verse":7,"text":"Serve with a willing heart, as if you were serving the Lord and not people."},{"verse":8,"text":"You know that the Lord will reward each person for whatever good he does. This is true whether he is a slave or free."},{"verse":9,"text":"And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Stop threatening them. You know that the One who is their Master and yours is in heaven. And he does not play favorites."},{"verse":10,"text":"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."},{"verse":11,"text":"Put on the full armor of God. Then you can stand firm against the devil's tricks."},{"verse":12,"text":"Our fight is not against flesh and blood. It is against the rulers and the authorities. It is against the powers of this dark world. It is against the evil spiritual forces in the heavenly world."},{"verse":13,"text":"So take up the full armor of God. Then when the day of evil comes, you will be able to hold your ground. And after you have done everything, you will still be standing."},{"verse":14,"text":"So stand firm. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put on the breastplate of righteousness."},{"verse":15,"text":"On your feet, wear the readiness that comes from the good news of peace."},{"verse":16,"text":"Along with all this, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one."},{"verse":17,"text":"Take the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."},{"verse":18,"text":"Pray in the Spirit at all times. Use every kind of prayer and request. With this in mind, stay alert and never give up. Keep praying for all of God's people."},{"verse":19,"text":"Pray for me too. Pray that whenever I speak, God will give me the words to say. Then I can boldly make known the mystery of the good news."},{"verse":20,"text":"I am an ambassador for this good news, even though I am in chains. Pray that I will speak about it without fear, as I should."},{"verse":21,"text":"Tychicus is our dear brother and a faithful servant in the Lord. He will tell you everything. Then you will also know how I am and what I am doing."},{"verse":22,"text":"That is the very reason I am sending him to you. I want you to know how we are, and I want him to encourage your hearts."},{"verse":23,"text":"May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give peace to the brothers and sisters. May they also give love with faith."},{"verse":24,"text":"May grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love that never dies."}]}]},{"name":"Philippians","slug":"philippians","usfm":"PHP","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. We are writing to all of God's people in Christ Jesus who live in Philippi. We also write to the overseers and deacons."},{"verse":2,"text":"May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."},{"verse":3,"text":"I thank my God every time I think of you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each time I pray for all of you, I always pray with joy."},{"verse":5,"text":"I am glad because you have been my partners in the good news. You have done this from the first day until now."},{"verse":6,"text":"I am sure of this: God began a good work in you, and he will keep at it. He will finish it by the day Christ Jesus comes back."},{"verse":7,"text":"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. You have a place in my heart. I am in chains. I am also defending the good news and showing that it is true. And in all of this, you share in God's grace with me."},{"verse":8,"text":"God knows how much I miss all of you. I love you with the same tender love that Christ Jesus has."},{"verse":9,"text":"Here is what I pray for you. I pray that your love will grow more and more. I pray it will grow in knowledge and deep understanding."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then you will be able to test things and see what is best. Then you will be pure and without blame on the day Christ comes."},{"verse":11,"text":"You will be filled with the fruit of doing what is right. This fruit comes through Jesus Christ. It brings glory and praise to God."},{"verse":12,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I want you to know something. The things that have happened to me have really helped the good news spread."},{"verse":13,"text":"Because of this, the whole palace guard knows I am in chains for Christ. Everyone else here knows it too."},{"verse":14,"text":"My chains have made most of the believers here trust the Lord more. Now they are much bolder. They speak God's word without fear."},{"verse":15,"text":"It's true that some people preach about Christ because they are jealous and want to compete. But others preach because they mean well."},{"verse":16,"text":"These people preach out of love. They know God has put me here to defend the good news."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the others preach about Christ because they want to get ahead. They are not honest about it. They think they can make my troubles worse while I am in chains."},{"verse":18,"text":"So what does it matter? Here is what matters. Christ is being preached in every way, whether for wrong reasons or right ones. And I am glad about that. Yes, and I will keep on being glad."},{"verse":19,"text":"I will be glad because I know that your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ will turn my trouble into my rescue."},{"verse":20,"text":"I truly expect and hope that I will not be ashamed in any way. I hope to be fully brave. Then, now as always, Christ will be honored by what happens to my body. That is true whether I live or die."},{"verse":21,"text":"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."},{"verse":22,"text":"But if I go on living in this body, I can do more useful work. So which should I choose? I don't know."},{"verse":23,"text":"I am pulled between the two. I want to leave this life and be with Christ. That is much, much better."},{"verse":24,"text":"But it is more important for you that I stay in this body."},{"verse":25,"text":"I am sure of this. So I know I will stay. I will keep on being with all of you. That way you can grow and have joy in your faith."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then, when I come to see you again, you will have even more reason to be proud and happy in Christ Jesus because of me."},{"verse":27,"text":"No matter what happens, live in a way that is worthy of the good news about Christ. Then maybe I will come and see you. Or maybe I will only hear about you while I am away. Either way, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit. I will know that you are working side by side for the faith of the good news."},{"verse":28,"text":"Don't be afraid of the people who are against you in any way. This shows clearly that they will be destroyed. But it also shows that you will be saved, and this comes from God."},{"verse":29,"text":"For God has given you a gift because of Christ. You get to believe in him. But you also get to suffer for him."},{"verse":30,"text":"You are in the same fight you saw me in before. And you hear that I am still in it now."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So, does being in Christ encourage you? Does his love comfort you? Do you share in the Spirit together? Do you have any tender love and kindness?"},{"verse":2,"text":"If so, then make my joy full. Think the same way. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and in purpose."},{"verse":3,"text":"Don't do anything just to get ahead or because you are proud. Be humble. Think of others as more important than yourselves."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each of you should not just look out for yourself. You should look out for others too."},{"verse":5,"text":"You should think the same way Christ Jesus thought."},{"verse":6,"text":"He was in the form of God. But he did not think being equal with God was something to grab for himself."},{"verse":7,"text":"Instead, he emptied himself. He took the form of a servant. He was made to be like a human."},{"verse":8,"text":"He looked like a man. And he made himself humble. He obeyed all the way to death. He even died on a cross!"},{"verse":9,"text":"So God lifted him up to the highest place. God gave him the name that is above every name."},{"verse":10,"text":"So at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bow."},{"verse":11,"text":"And every tongue should say that Jesus Christ is Lord. This brings glory to God the Father."},{"verse":12,"text":"So, my dear friends, you have always obeyed. You obeyed when I was with you. Now that I am away, obey even more. Keep working out your salvation with fear and trembling."},{"verse":13,"text":"For God is the one working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him. And he helps you do it, for his good purpose."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do everything without complaining or arguing."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be God's children with no fault. You live among people who are crooked and twisted. Among them you shine like lights in the world."},{"verse":16,"text":"You shine as you hold out the word of life. Then I can be proud on the day Christ comes. I will know that I did not run my race or work for nothing."},{"verse":17,"text":"Your faith is like a sacrifice and service to God. My life may be poured out like a drink offering on top of it. Even so, I am glad. I am full of joy with all of you."},{"verse":18,"text":"So you should be glad too. Be full of joy with me."},{"verse":19,"text":"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. Then I will be cheered up too when I hear how you are doing."},{"verse":20,"text":"I have no one else like him. He truly cares about what you need."},{"verse":21,"text":"All the others look out for themselves. They don't care about what matters to Jesus Christ."},{"verse":22,"text":"But you know Timothy has proved himself. He has worked with me like a son with his father. Together we have spread the good news."},{"verse":23,"text":"So I hope to send him to you as soon as I see how things go for me."},{"verse":24,"text":"And I trust the Lord that I will come soon myself."},{"verse":25,"text":"But I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is my brother. He works with me and fights beside me like a soldier. He is also the messenger you sent to take care of my needs."},{"verse":26,"text":"He has been missing all of you. He is upset because you heard he was sick."},{"verse":27,"text":"He really was sick, and he almost died. But God had mercy on him. God also had mercy on me. He kept me from having one sorrow on top of another."},{"verse":28,"text":"So I am even more eager to send him. When you see him again, you can be glad. And I will worry less."},{"verse":29,"text":"Welcome him in the Lord with great joy. Honor people like him."},{"verse":30,"text":"Do this because he almost died doing the work of Christ. He risked his life to give me the help you could not give."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Finally, my brothers and sisters, be full of joy in the Lord. I don't mind writing the same things to you again. It will help keep you safe."},{"verse":2,"text":"Watch out for those dogs! Watch out for those people who do evil! Watch out for those who cut up the body!"},{"verse":3,"text":"We are the ones who are truly circumcised. We worship by the Spirit of God. We take pride in Christ Jesus. We do not trust in what we can do in our own bodies.","note":"Greek: the flesh."},{"verse":4,"text":"Still, I could trust in those things if I wanted. Does anyone else think he has reasons to trust in such things? I have even more."},{"verse":5,"text":"I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew, born of Hebrews. As for the law, I was a Pharisee."},{"verse":6,"text":"As for being eager, I attacked the church. As for doing what the law says is right, no one could find fault with me."},{"verse":7,"text":"But all those things that helped me, I now call loss because of Christ."},{"verse":8,"text":"More than that, I call everything a loss compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Knowing him is far better than anything. Because of him, I have lost everything. I think of those things as trash so that I can gain Christ."},{"verse":9,"text":"I want to be found in him. I don't want to have my own way of being right with God that comes from the law. I want the way of being right with God that comes through faith in Christ. It comes from God and is based on faith."},{"verse":10,"text":"I want to know Christ. I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings. I want to become like him in his death."},{"verse":11,"text":"And so, somehow, I hope to reach the resurrection from the dead."},{"verse":12,"text":"I have not already gotten all this. I have not yet been made perfect. But I keep going. I want to take hold of the very thing Christ Jesus took hold of me for."},{"verse":13,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I don't think I have taken hold of it yet. But I do one thing. I forget what is behind me. I reach for what is ahead."},{"verse":14,"text":"I keep going toward the finish line. I want to win the prize. God has called me to it from heaven in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":15,"text":"All of us who are grown up in our faith should think this way. And if you think differently about something, God will show you about that too."},{"verse":16,"text":"Still, we must live by what we have already reached."},{"verse":17,"text":"Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. Watch closely those who live the way we showed you."},{"verse":18,"text":"I have told you this many times before. Now I say it again with tears. Many people live as enemies of the cross of Christ."},{"verse":19,"text":"In the end they will be destroyed. Their stomach is their god. They are proud of things they should be ashamed of. They only think about things of this earth."},{"verse":20,"text":"But we are citizens of heaven. We are eagerly waiting for a Savior to come from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":21,"text":"He has the power to put all things under his control. By that power he will change our weak bodies. He will make them like his glorious body."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So, my brothers and sisters, I love you and miss you. You are my joy and my crown. This is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my dear friends."},{"verse":2,"text":"I beg Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord."},{"verse":3,"text":"Yes, and I ask you, my true partner, to help these women. They worked hard beside me to spread the good news. So did Clement and the rest of my coworkers. Their names are in the Book of Life."},{"verse":4,"text":"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I will say it again: Be full of joy!"},{"verse":5,"text":"Let everyone see how gentle you are. The Lord is near."},{"verse":6,"text":"Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Ask God for what you need, and thank him. Tell God what you want."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then God's peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. His peace is greater than anything we can understand."},{"verse":8,"text":"Finally, brothers and sisters, think about things that are true and honorable. Think about things that are right and pure. Think about things that are lovely and worth admiring. If anything is excellent or worth praising, think about these things."},{"verse":9,"text":"Keep doing what you learned and received from me. Do what you heard from me and saw in me. And the God of peace will be with you."},{"verse":10,"text":"I am so full of joy in the Lord that you are caring for me again at last. You did care before, but you had no chance to show it."},{"verse":11,"text":"I am not saying this because I need anything. I have learned to be happy with what I have, no matter what happens."},{"verse":12,"text":"I know how to live with little. I know how to live with a lot. I have learned the secret of being happy in every kind of situation. I know how to be full and how to be hungry. I know how to have plenty and how to be in need."},{"verse":13,"text":"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."},{"verse":14,"text":"Still, it was good of you to share in my troubles."},{"verse":15,"text":"You people of Philippi know what happened in the early days of the good news. When I left Macedonia, no church helped me in giving and receiving except you."},{"verse":16,"text":"Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help for my needs again and again."},{"verse":17,"text":"I am not looking for a gift. I am looking for the fruit that will be added to your account."},{"verse":18,"text":"I have everything I need and more. Epaphroditus brought me your gifts. They are like an offering with a sweet smell. They are a sacrifice God accepts. They make him very pleased."},{"verse":19,"text":"And my God will give you everything you need. He will give it from his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":20,"text":"Glory to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen."},{"verse":21,"text":"Greet all of God's people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send you greetings."},{"verse":22,"text":"All of God's people here send you greetings. This is true most of all for those in Caesar's household."},{"verse":23,"text":"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."}]}]},{"name":"Colossians","slug":"colossians","usfm":"COL","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul and from our brother Timothy. God chose me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. It was his will."},{"verse":2,"text":"We are writing to God's people in Colossae. You are our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. May God our Father give you grace and peace."},{"verse":3,"text":"When we pray for you, we always thank God. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":4,"text":"We thank him because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus. We have heard about your love for all of God's people too."},{"verse":5,"text":"Your faith and love come from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven. You already heard about this hope in the true message. That message is the good news"},{"verse":6,"text":"that has come to you. All over the world, this good news is bearing fruit and growing. It has done the same among you since the day you heard it. That is when you truly understood God's grace."},{"verse":7,"text":"You learned it from Epaphras. He is our dear friend who serves with us. He serves Christ faithfully for us,"},{"verse":8,"text":"and he told us about the love the Spirit has given you."},{"verse":9,"text":"That is why we have not stopped praying for you since the day we heard about you. We keep asking God to fill you with the knowledge of what he wants. We ask him to give you all the wisdom and understanding the Spirit gives."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then you can live in a way that is worthy of the Lord. You can please him in every way. You will bear fruit in every good thing you do. And you will grow in knowing God."},{"verse":11,"text":"We pray that he will make you strong with all his power. His might is glorious. Then you will be able to hold on and be patient through anything. And with joy"},{"verse":12,"text":"you will thank the Father. He has made you able to share in what belongs to God's people in the light."},{"verse":13,"text":"He has rescued us from the power of darkness. He has brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son."},{"verse":14,"text":"In the Son we have redemption. That means our sins are forgiven."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Son is the image of the God we cannot see. He is the firstborn over all creation."},{"verse":16,"text":"For in him all things were made. He made things in heaven and on earth. He made things we can see and things we can't see. He made thrones and powers, rulers and authorities. All things were made through him and for him."},{"verse":17,"text":"He was there before all things. And in him all things hold together."},{"verse":18,"text":"He is the head of the body, which is the church. He is the beginning. He is the firstborn from among the dead. He is all this so that in all things he may be first."},{"verse":19,"text":"For God was pleased to have all his fullness live in the Son."},{"verse":20,"text":"And through the Son, God was pleased to bring all things back to himself. That means things on earth and things in heaven. He made peace through the blood of the Son's cross."},{"verse":21,"text":"At one time you were far away from God. You were his enemies in your minds. You did evil things."},{"verse":22,"text":"But now God has made peace with you. He did it through the death of Christ's body. Now he can bring you to himself holy, spotless, and free from blame."},{"verse":23,"text":"This is true if you keep on in your faith, strong and firm. It is true if you do not move away from the hope of the good news you heard. That good news has been preached to every creature under heaven. And I, Paul, have become a servant of it."},{"verse":24,"text":"Now I am glad that I suffer for you. In my own body I fill up what is still lacking in Christ's sufferings. I do it for the sake of his body, which is the church."},{"verse":25,"text":"I became a servant of the church. God gave me this job. He told me to fully preach the word of God to you."},{"verse":26,"text":"This word is the mystery that was hidden for ages and for many generations. But now it has been shown to God's people."},{"verse":27,"text":"God chose to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles. This mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory."},{"verse":28,"text":"We preach about Christ. We warn and teach everyone with all wisdom. We want to bring everyone to God fully grown in Christ."},{"verse":29,"text":"That is why I work so hard. I struggle with all the energy Christ gives. His power is working strongly in me."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I want you to know how hard I am working for you. I am working for the people in Laodicea too. And I am working for all who have never met me face to face."},{"verse":2,"text":"I want their hearts to be encouraged. I want them to be joined together in love. I want them to be filled with the full riches of complete understanding. Then they will know God's mystery, which is Christ."},{"verse":3,"text":"All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him."},{"verse":4,"text":"I tell you this so no one will fool you with smooth talk."},{"verse":5,"text":"I am away from you in body, but I am with you in spirit. I am happy to see how orderly you are. I am glad your faith in Christ is so firm."},{"verse":6,"text":"So you have received Christ Jesus as Lord. Now keep on living in him."},{"verse":7,"text":"Have your roots in him. Be built up in him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught. And be full of thanks."},{"verse":8,"text":"Be careful that no one captures you with false ideas and empty tricks. Those things come from human customs and the spiritual forces of the world. They do not come from Christ."},{"verse":9,"text":"For all that God is lives in Christ, in a human body."},{"verse":10,"text":"And in Christ you have been made complete. He is the head over every ruler and authority."},{"verse":11,"text":"In him you were also circumcised. Your sinful nature was cut away. This circumcision was done by Christ, not by human hands."},{"verse":12,"text":"You were buried with him when you were baptized. And you were raised with him through your faith in God's power. God is the one who raised Christ from the dead."},{"verse":13,"text":"You were once dead in your sins. Your sinful nature was not circumcised. But God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins."},{"verse":14,"text":"He canceled the record of what we owed. Its rules stood against us. He took it away and nailed it to the cross!"},{"verse":15,"text":"He took away the weapons of the powers and authorities. He made a public show of them. He won the victory over them by the cross."},{"verse":16,"text":"So don't let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink. Don't let them judge you about a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath."},{"verse":17,"text":"These things are a shadow of what was coming. But the real thing that casts the shadow belongs to Christ."},{"verse":18,"text":"Some people love false humility and the worship of angels. They talk about visions they say they have seen. Don't let them take your prize from you. Such people are proud for no reason. Their minds are not led by the Spirit."},{"verse":19,"text":"They have lost touch with the head. The whole body is held up and joined together by the head through its joints and tendons. And it grows as God makes it grow."},{"verse":20,"text":"If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why do you act like you still belong to the world? Why do you obey its rules, such as"},{"verse":21,"text":"\"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!\"?"},{"verse":22,"text":"All these things will perish as they are used. That is because these rules are based on human commands and teachings."},{"verse":23,"text":"These rules may seem wise. People make up their own ways to worship. They act falsely humble. They are hard on their bodies. But these rules do nothing to stop the desires of the sinful nature."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"You have been raised with Christ. So set your heart on the things above. That is where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."},{"verse":2,"text":"Think about the things above, not the things on earth."},{"verse":3,"text":"For you died. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God."},{"verse":4,"text":"Christ is your life. When he appears, you will also appear with him in glory."},{"verse":5,"text":"So put to death the earthly things in you. Get rid of sexual sin, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed. Greed is the same as worshiping idols."},{"verse":6,"text":"Because of these things, God's anger is coming on those who disobey him."},{"verse":7,"text":"You used to live this way too, when you lived among them."},{"verse":8,"text":"But now you must get rid of all these things too: anger, rage, hate, saying cruel things about others, and dirty talk from your mouth."},{"verse":9,"text":"Don't lie to each other. You have taken off your old self and the evil things it did."},{"verse":10,"text":"You have put on the new self. This new self keeps being made new in knowledge. It is becoming like the One who made it."},{"verse":11,"text":"Here there is no Greek or Jew. There is no circumcised or uncircumcised. There is no outsider or Scythian, slave or free. But Christ is all, and he is in all."},{"verse":12,"text":"God has chosen you. You are holy, and he loves you. So put on kindness and tender hearts. Put on humility, gentleness, and patience like clothes."},{"verse":13,"text":"Put up with each other. If you have a complaint against someone, forgive them. Forgive the way the Lord forgave you."},{"verse":14,"text":"And over all these good things, put on love. Love ties everything together in perfect unity."},{"verse":15,"text":"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. As parts of one body, you were called to this peace. And be thankful."},{"verse":16,"text":"Let the word of Christ live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with thankful hearts."},{"verse":17,"text":"Whatever you do, whether in words or actions, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him."},{"verse":18,"text":"Wives, submit to your husbands. This is fitting in the Lord."},{"verse":19,"text":"Husbands, love your wives. Do not be harsh with them."},{"verse":20,"text":"Children, obey your parents in everything. This pleases the Lord."},{"verse":21,"text":"Fathers, do not make your children angry. If you do, they will lose heart."},{"verse":22,"text":"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything. Don't do it only when they are watching, just to please them. Obey them with an honest heart, because you fear the Lord."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not for people."},{"verse":24,"text":"Do this because you know that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."},{"verse":25,"text":"Anyone who does wrong will be paid back for the wrong he has done. God does not have favorites."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Masters, give your slaves what is right and fair. You know that you also have a Master in heaven."},{"verse":2,"text":"Give yourselves to prayer. Stay alert and be thankful."},{"verse":3,"text":"And pray for us too. Pray that God will open a door for us to share his word. Then we can preach the mystery of Christ. That is why I am in chains."},{"verse":4,"text":"Pray that I will make it clear, as I should."},{"verse":5,"text":"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. Make the most of every chance you get."},{"verse":6,"text":"Always let your words be kind and full of grace. Let them be seasoned with salt. Then you will know how to answer everyone."},{"verse":7,"text":"Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother. He is a faithful helper and serves the Lord with me."},{"verse":8,"text":"I am sending him to you for this very reason. I want you to know how we are doing. And I want him to encourage your hearts."},{"verse":9,"text":"Onesimus is coming with him. He is our faithful and dear brother, and he is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here."},{"verse":10,"text":"Aristarchus is in prison with me. He sends you greetings. So does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have already been told what to do about Mark. If he comes to you, welcome him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews who work with me for the kingdom of God. They have been a comfort to me."},{"verse":12,"text":"Epaphras sends you greetings. He is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus. He is always praying hard for you. He prays that you will stand strong and grown up in your faith. He prays that you will be fully sure of all that God wants."},{"verse":13,"text":"I can tell you that he works very hard for you. He also works hard for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis."},{"verse":14,"text":"Luke, the dear doctor, sends you greetings. So does Demas."},{"verse":15,"text":"Greet the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. Greet Nympha too, and the church that meets in her house."},{"verse":16,"text":"After this letter has been read to you, have it read in the church of the Laodiceans too. And be sure that you read the letter from Laodicea."},{"verse":17,"text":"Tell Archippus, \"Be sure to finish the work the Lord gave you to do.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember that I am in chains. Grace be with you."}]}]},{"name":"1 Thessalonians","slug":"1-thessalonians","usfm":"1TH","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. We are writing to the church of the Thessalonians. You belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"We always thank God for all of you. We remember you when we pray."},{"verse":3,"text":"We keep thinking about you in front of our God and Father. We remember the work your faith does. We remember how hard you work because of love. And we remember how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ keeps you going."},{"verse":4,"text":"Brothers and sisters, God loves you. We know that he has chosen you."},{"verse":5,"text":"We know this because our good news came to you with more than words. It came with power and with the Holy Spirit. It came with a deep, sure belief. And you know how we lived among you for your good."},{"verse":6,"text":"You suffered a lot. But you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. So you became like us and like the Lord."},{"verse":7,"text":"Because of this, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Lord's message rang out from you to Macedonia and Achaia. But that's not all. People everywhere have heard about your faith in God. So we don't need to say anything more about it."},{"verse":9,"text":"The people themselves tell how you welcomed us. They tell how you turned away from idols to God. Now you serve the living and true God."},{"verse":10,"text":"And you wait for his Son to come from heaven. God raised him from the dead. He is Jesus, who saves us from God's anger that is coming."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, you know for yourselves that our visit to you was not wasted."},{"verse":2,"text":"You know that we had already suffered in Philippi. People there treated us shamefully. Many people were strongly against us. But our God made us brave. So we told you God's good news."},{"verse":3,"text":"When we ask you to believe, we are not lying to you. We don't have wrong reasons. We are not trying to trick you."},{"verse":4,"text":"Instead, God has approved us and trusted us with the good news. So we speak to please God, not people. God tests our hearts."},{"verse":5,"text":"You know we never used words to flatter you. We never used a cover to hide greed. God knows this is true!"},{"verse":6,"text":"We did not try to get praise from you or from anyone else. As apostles of Christ, we had the right to ask for it."},{"verse":7,"text":"Instead, we were gentle with you. We were like a mother taking care of her nursing children."},{"verse":8,"text":"We cared about you so much. We were glad to share God's good news with you. But we also shared our own lives with you. You had become so dear to us."},{"verse":9,"text":"Brothers and sisters, you surely remember how hard we worked. We worked night and day so we would not be a burden to anyone. We did this while we preached God's good news to you."},{"verse":10,"text":"You saw how we lived among you believers. And God saw it too. We were holy and did what was right. No one could blame us."},{"verse":11,"text":"You know that we treated each of you like a father treats his own children."},{"verse":12,"text":"We encouraged you and comforted you. We urged you to live in a way that is worthy of God. He calls you into his own kingdom and glory."},{"verse":13,"text":"We keep thanking God for this. You heard God's word from us, and you took it in. You did not take it as just a human message. You took it as what it really is, God's word. And it is now at work in you who believe."},{"verse":14,"text":"Brothers and sisters, you became like the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. Your own people made you suffer. In the same way, the Jews made those churches suffer."},{"verse":15,"text":"Those Jews killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets. They drove us out too. They do not please God, and they are against all people."},{"verse":16,"text":"They try to stop us from telling the Gentiles how they can be saved. So they keep piling up their sins to the very top. God's full anger has come on them at last."},{"verse":17,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we were torn away from you for a short time. We were away in person, but not in heart. We wanted to see you face to face even more."},{"verse":18,"text":"We wanted to come to you. I, Paul, tried again and again. But Satan stopped us."},{"verse":19,"text":"Who is our hope, our joy, and the crown we will be proud of? It is you! You will be our crown when our Lord Jesus comes and we stand before him."},{"verse":20,"text":"Yes, you are our glory and our joy."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So when we could not stand it any longer, we decided to stay behind alone in Athens."},{"verse":2,"text":"We sent Timothy to you. He is our brother, and he works with us for God in telling the good news about Christ. We sent him to make you strong and to encourage you in your faith."},{"verse":3,"text":"We did not want any of you to be shaken by these troubles. You know that we are meant to go through them."},{"verse":4,"text":"When we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be treated badly. And as you know, that is what happened."},{"verse":5,"text":"That is why I sent Timothy when I could not stand it any longer. I wanted to find out about your faith. I was afraid the tempter had tempted you somehow. Then all our work would have been for nothing."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Timothy has just come back from visiting you. He brought good news about your faith and love. He says you always have happy memories of us. He says you want to see us, just as we want to see you."},{"verse":7,"text":"So, brothers and sisters, we have been in great trouble and have been treated badly. But in all of it, your faith has given us comfort about you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now we can really live, as long as you stand firm in the Lord."},{"verse":9,"text":"How can we thank God enough for you? We have so much joy before God because of you."},{"verse":10,"text":"Night and day we pray very hard to see you face to face. We want to give you what is still missing in your faith."},{"verse":11,"text":"May our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make a way for us to come to you."},{"verse":12,"text":"May the Lord make your love grow and overflow. May you love each other and everyone else more and more, just as our love for you overflows."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then he will make your hearts strong, holy, and without blame before our God and Father. This will be true when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. Amen."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus. We taught you how to live in a way that pleases God. You are already living that way. Now do it even more."},{"verse":2,"text":"You know the teachings we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus."},{"verse":3,"text":"God wants you to be holy. You must stay away from all sexual sin."},{"verse":4,"text":"Each of you must learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable."},{"verse":5,"text":"Do not give in to lustful desires like the Gentiles, who do not know God."},{"verse":6,"text":"No one should ever wrong a brother or take advantage of him in this matter. The Lord will punish people for all these things. We already told you this and warned you strongly."},{"verse":7,"text":"For God did not call us to live unclean lives. He called us to be holy."},{"verse":8,"text":"So anyone who turns away from this teaching is not turning away from a man. He is turning away from God. God is the one who gives you his Holy Spirit."},{"verse":9,"text":"You don't need anyone to write to you about loving each other as brothers and sisters. God himself has taught you to love one another."},{"verse":10,"text":"And you really do love all the brothers and sisters all over Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to love them more and more."},{"verse":11,"text":"Make it your goal to live a quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your own hands, just as we told you."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you will live in a proper way in front of outsiders. And you will not need to depend on anyone."},{"verse":13,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those who have died. We don't want you to be sad like other people who have no hope."},{"verse":14,"text":"We believe that Jesus died and rose again. So we also believe God will bring with Jesus those who have died believing in him.","note":"Greek: fallen asleep in him."},{"verse":15,"text":"This is what the Lord has told us to say. Some of us will still be alive when the Lord comes. We will not go ahead of those who have died."},{"verse":16,"text":"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven. There will be a loud command, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet call of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."},{"verse":17,"text":"After that, those of us who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord."},{"verse":18,"text":"So encourage each other with these words."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we don't need to write to you about times and dates."},{"verse":2,"text":"You know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."},{"verse":3,"text":"People will be saying, \"All is peaceful and safe.\" Then all of a sudden, destruction will come on them. It will come like birth pains on a woman who is going to have a baby. And they will not escape."},{"verse":4,"text":"But brothers and sisters, you are not in the dark. So that day should not surprise you like a thief."},{"verse":5,"text":"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the dark."},{"verse":6,"text":"So let's not be asleep like the others. Let's stay awake and keep a clear mind."},{"verse":7,"text":"People who sleep, sleep at night. People who get drunk, get drunk at night."},{"verse":8,"text":"But we belong to the day. So let's keep a clear mind. Let's put on faith and love like armor over our chest. Let's put on the hope of being saved like a helmet."},{"verse":9,"text":"God did not choose us to suffer his anger. He chose us to be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":10,"text":"Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him."},{"verse":11,"text":"So encourage each other and build each other up. You are already doing this."},{"verse":12,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we ask you to respect those who work hard among you. They care for you in the Lord, and they warn you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Love them and honor them very highly because of their work. Live in peace with each other."},{"verse":14,"text":"We urge you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who are lazy and won't follow the rules. Encourage those who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone."},{"verse":15,"text":"Make sure no one pays back wrong for wrong. Always try to do what is good for each other and for everyone."},{"verse":16,"text":"Always be full of joy."},{"verse":17,"text":"Never stop praying."},{"verse":18,"text":"Give thanks no matter what happens. This is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":19,"text":"Do not put out the Spirit's fire."},{"verse":20,"text":"Do not look down on prophecies."},{"verse":21,"text":"But test everything. Hold on to what is good."},{"verse":22,"text":"Stay away from every kind of evil."},{"verse":23,"text":"May the God of peace himself make you completely holy. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept without blame when our Lord Jesus Christ comes."},{"verse":24,"text":"The One who calls you is faithful. He will do it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Brothers and sisters, pray for us too."},{"verse":26,"text":"Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss."},{"verse":27,"text":"I command you before the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters."},{"verse":28,"text":"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."}]}]},{"name":"2 Thessalonians","slug":"2-thessalonians","usfm":"2TH","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. It is to the church of the Thessalonians, who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":2,"text":"May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace."},{"verse":3,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we should always thank God for all of you. It is the right thing to do, because your faith is growing more and more. And your love for each other keeps getting bigger."},{"verse":4,"text":"That is why we brag about you to God's churches. We tell them how you keep going and keep your faith. You do this even while you suffer so much attack and trouble."},{"verse":5,"text":"All this clearly shows that God judges in a way that is right. So he will count you worthy of the kingdom of God. You are suffering for that kingdom."},{"verse":6,"text":"After all, it is only right for God to pay back trouble to those who give you trouble."},{"verse":7,"text":"And it is right for him to give rest to you who suffer, and to us too. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is shown from heaven with his mighty angels."},{"verse":8,"text":"He will come in blazing fire. He will punish those who do not know God. He will punish those who do not obey the good news of our Lord Jesus."},{"verse":9,"text":"They will pay the price of being destroyed forever. They will be shut out from the Lord's presence and from the glory of his power."},{"verse":10,"text":"This will happen on the day he comes to be honored among his people. Everyone who has believed will look at him with wonder. That includes you, because you believed what we told you."},{"verse":11,"text":"That is why we always pray for you. We pray that our God will count you worthy of his calling. We pray that by his power he will make every good wish of yours come true. And we pray he will complete every work you do by faith."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored in you, and you will be honored in him. This comes by the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now, brothers and sisters, let's talk about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's talk about how we will be gathered together to him. We ask you"},{"verse":2,"text":"not to get upset or scared too easily. Someone may say the Day of the Lord has already come. They may claim it through a spirit, or a message, or a letter that seems to come from us."},{"verse":3,"text":"Don't let anyone fool you in any way. That day will not come until the great turning away from God happens first. And the man of lawlessness must be shown first. He is the son of destruction."},{"verse":4,"text":"He will fight against every so-called god and every thing people worship. He will lift himself up above all of them. So he will sit down in God's temple and claim that he is God."},{"verse":5,"text":"Don't you remember? I told you these things while I was still with you."},{"verse":6,"text":"And you know what is holding him back right now. It holds him back so that he will be shown at the right time."},{"verse":7,"text":"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work. But the one who holds it back now will keep doing so until he is taken out of the way."},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the lawless one will be shown. The Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth. He will wipe him out by the glory of his coming."},{"verse":9,"text":"The lawless one will come with the working of Satan. He will come with every kind of power, sign, and fake wonder."},{"verse":10,"text":"He will use every kind of evil trick on those who are perishing. They are perishing because they refused to love the truth that would have saved them."},{"verse":11,"text":"That is why God will send them a strong power that leads them astray. Then they will believe the lie."},{"verse":12,"text":"So judgment will come on all who did not believe the truth. It will come on all who loved doing evil."},{"verse":13,"text":"But we should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters whom the Lord loves. From the beginning, God chose you to be saved. He saves you as the Spirit makes you holy and as you believe the truth."},{"verse":14,"text":"He called you to this through the good news we shared. He did it so that you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":15,"text":"So, brothers and sisters, stand firm. Hold tight to the teachings we passed on to you. Hold to what we said in person and what we wrote in our letter."},{"verse":16,"text":"Our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father loved us. By grace they gave us comfort that lasts forever and a good hope. May they"},{"verse":17,"text":"encourage your hearts. And may they make you strong in every good thing you say and do."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us. Pray that the Lord's message will spread fast and be honored, just as it was with you."},{"verse":2,"text":"And pray that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people. For not everyone has faith."},{"verse":3,"text":"But the Lord is faithful. He will make you strong and guard you from the evil one."},{"verse":4,"text":"We trust in the Lord about you. We are sure you are doing what we tell you. And we are sure you will keep doing it."},{"verse":5,"text":"May the Lord lead your hearts into God's love and into the way Christ kept going."},{"verse":6,"text":"Brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stay away from any brother who lives a lazy, careless life. That kind of life does not follow the teaching you got from us."},{"verse":7,"text":"You know very well how you should follow our example, because we were not lazy or careless when we were with you."},{"verse":8,"text":"We did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. Instead, we worked hard and long. We worked night and day so we would not be a load on any of you."},{"verse":9,"text":"It's not that we had no right to your help. But we wanted to give you an example to follow."},{"verse":10,"text":"Even when we were with you, we gave you this command: \"If anyone is not willing to work, he should not eat.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"We hear that some of you are living lazy, careless lives. They are not doing any work. Instead, they are busy poking into other people's business."},{"verse":12,"text":"We command such people, and we urge them by our Lord Jesus Christ, to settle down and work. They should earn the food they eat."},{"verse":13,"text":"But as for you, brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good."},{"verse":14,"text":"Watch out for anyone who does not obey what we say in this letter. Point that person out. Do not spend time with him, so that he will feel ashamed."},{"verse":15,"text":"But do not treat him like an enemy. Warn him like a brother."},{"verse":16,"text":"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. May the Lord be with all of you."},{"verse":17,"text":"I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is my sign in every letter. This is how I write."},{"verse":18,"text":"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you."}]}]},{"name":"1 Timothy","slug":"1-timothy","usfm":"1TI","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus. God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hope gave the command that made me one."},{"verse":2,"text":"I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace."},{"verse":3,"text":"When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay in Ephesus. I still want you to stay there. Tell certain men there to stop teaching false things."},{"verse":4,"text":"Tell them not to spend their time on made-up stories and endless lists of ancestors. These things only stir up guessing. They do not help with God's work, which is done by faith."},{"verse":5,"text":"The goal of what we teach is love. This love comes from a pure heart, a clean conscience, and a faith that is real."},{"verse":6,"text":"Some people have wandered away from these things. They have turned to empty talk."},{"verse":7,"text":"They want to be teachers of the law. But they don't understand what they are saying. They don't understand the things they talk about so boldly."},{"verse":8,"text":"We know that the law is good, if a person uses it the right way."},{"verse":9,"text":"We know the law is not made for people who do what is right. It is made for those who break the law and rebel. It is for people who don't honor God and who sin. It is for people who are not holy and who mock holy things. It is for those who kill their fathers or mothers, and for murderers."},{"verse":10,"text":"It is for the sexually immoral and for men who have sex with men. It is for slave traders, liars, and those who lie under oath. And it is for anyone else who fights against true teaching."},{"verse":11,"text":"That true teaching agrees with the glorious good news of the blessed God. He trusted me with this good news."},{"verse":12,"text":"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has made me strong. I thank him because he thought I was faithful. So he chose me to serve him."},{"verse":13,"text":"In the past I spoke against God. I hunted down his people, and I was violent. But God showed me mercy, because I acted without knowing better and did not believe."},{"verse":14,"text":"The grace of our Lord poured over me. With it came the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":15,"text":"This saying is true, and everyone should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the worst of them."},{"verse":16,"text":"But that is the very reason God showed me mercy. I am the worst sinner. So in me, Christ Jesus could show how perfectly patient he is. I am an example for those who will believe in him and receive eternal life."},{"verse":17,"text":"Now give honor and glory forever and ever to the King who lives forever. He can never die, and he cannot be seen. He is the only God. Amen."},{"verse":18,"text":"Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command. It agrees with the prophecies spoken about you before. Let them help you fight the good fight."},{"verse":19,"text":"Hold on to your faith and a good conscience. Some people have pushed these away. And so their faith has been wrecked like a ship."},{"verse":20,"text":"Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I have handed them over to Satan. That way they will learn not to speak against God."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"First of all, then, I urge you to pray for everyone. Ask God for what they need. Pray for them, speak up for them, and give thanks for them."},{"verse":2,"text":"Pray for kings and all who are in charge. Then we can live calm and quiet lives. We can live in a way that honors God and is worthy of respect."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is good, and it pleases God our Savior."},{"verse":4,"text":"He wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth."},{"verse":5,"text":"For there is one God. And there is one go-between for God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus."},{"verse":6,"text":"He gave himself as the price to set everyone free. This was the message God gave at just the right time."},{"verse":7,"text":"That is why I was chosen to be a preacher and an apostle. I was chosen to be a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth. I am not lying about anything."},{"verse":8,"text":"So everywhere, I want the men to pray. I want them to lift up holy hands without anger or arguing."},{"verse":9,"text":"In the same way, I want the women to dress in clothes that are proper. They should dress modestly and with self-control. Their beauty should not come from braided hair, gold, pearls, or costly clothes."},{"verse":10,"text":"Instead, it should come from good deeds. That is right for women who say they worship God."},{"verse":11,"text":"A woman should learn quietly and fully submit."},{"verse":12,"text":"I do not allow a woman to teach a man or to have authority over a man. She should stay quiet."},{"verse":13,"text":"For Adam was made first, and then Eve."},{"verse":14,"text":"And Adam was not the one who was tricked. It was the woman who was tricked and fell into sin."},{"verse":15,"text":"But women will be saved through having children, if they keep on in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This saying is true: If anyone wants to be an overseer, he wants a good and noble job.","note":"An overseer is a church leader."},{"verse":2,"text":"So an overseer must have a good name that no one can attack. He must be the husband of only one wife. He must think clearly and have self-control. He must be respected and welcome guests into his home. And he must be able to teach."},{"verse":3,"text":"He must not be a heavy drinker. He must not be violent, but gentle. He must not love to fight. And he must not love money."},{"verse":4,"text":"An overseer must lead his own family well. His children must obey him with all respect."},{"verse":5,"text":"If a man doesn't know how to lead his own family, how can he take care of God's church?"},{"verse":6,"text":"He must not be a new believer. If he is, he may become proud. Then he would fall under the same judgment as the devil."},{"verse":7,"text":"Also, people outside the church must think well of him. Then he will not fall into shame and into the devil's trap."},{"verse":8,"text":"In the same way, deacons must be worthy of respect. They must not say one thing and mean another. They must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money."},{"verse":9,"text":"They must hold on to the deep truth of the faith with a clean conscience."},{"verse":10,"text":"Also, they must be tested first. Then, if no one can find fault with them, let them serve as deacons."},{"verse":11,"text":"In the same way, the women must be worthy of respect. They must not tell lies about others. They must think clearly and be faithful in everything.","note":"Or \"their wives.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"A deacon must be the husband of only one wife. He must lead his children and his own family well."},{"verse":13,"text":"Those who serve well as deacons earn a good name for themselves. They also gain great boldness in their faith in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":14,"text":"I hope to come to you soon. But I am writing these things to you"},{"verse":15,"text":"in case I am slow in coming. Then you will know how people should act in God's family. That family is the church of the living God. The church is the pillar and the base that holds up the truth."},{"verse":16,"text":"We all agree that the mystery of godliness is great:\nHe appeared in a human body.\nHe was shown to be right by the Spirit.\nHe was seen by angels.\nHe was preached among the nations.\nHe was believed in all over the world.\nHe was taken up in glory."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will leave the faith. They will follow spirits that lie. They will follow what demons teach."},{"verse":2,"text":"These teachings come from liars who pretend to be good. Their consciences have been burned as if with a hot iron."},{"verse":3,"text":"They will forbid people to marry. They will make people stay away from certain foods. But God made those foods to be eaten with thanks by those who believe and know the truth."},{"verse":4,"text":"Everything God made is good. Nothing should be refused if it is received with thanks,"},{"verse":5,"text":"because it is made holy by God's word and by prayer."},{"verse":6,"text":"Point out these things to the brothers and sisters. Then you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be fed by the words of faith and the good teaching you have followed."},{"verse":7,"text":"But have nothing to do with silly myths that do not honor God. Instead, train yourself to live a godly life."},{"verse":8,"text":"Training your body helps a little. But living a godly life helps in every way. It holds promise for this life and for the life to come."},{"verse":9,"text":"This saying is true, and everyone should fully accept it."},{"verse":10,"text":"That is why we work hard and keep trying, because we have put our hope in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, and most of all of those who believe."},{"verse":11,"text":"Command and teach these things."},{"verse":12,"text":"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, be an example for the believers. Show them how to speak, how to live, and how to love. Show them faith and purity."},{"verse":13,"text":"Until I come, give your time to reading Scripture out loud to the church. Give it to encouraging people and to teaching."},{"verse":14,"text":"Do not ignore the gift you have. It was given to you through a prophecy. It came when the elders laid their hands on you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Work hard at these things. Give yourself fully to them. Then everyone will see how you are growing."},{"verse":16,"text":"Watch closely how you live and what you teach. Keep doing these things. If you do, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Do not speak harshly to an older man. Instead, plead with him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers."},{"verse":2,"text":"Treat older women like mothers. Treat younger women like sisters, with complete purity."},{"verse":3,"text":"Give honor and care to widows who are truly alone and in need."},{"verse":4,"text":"But a widow may have children or grandchildren. If so, they must first learn to honor God by caring for their own family. They should pay back their parents. This pleases God."},{"verse":5,"text":"A widow who is truly in need is left all alone. She puts her hope in God. Night and day she keeps on asking God for help and praying."},{"verse":6,"text":"But a widow who lives just for pleasure is dead, even while she is still alive."},{"verse":7,"text":"Give these commands to the believers too. Then no one can find fault with them."},{"verse":8,"text":"If anyone does not take care of his relatives, and most of all his own family, he has turned his back on the faith. He is worse than someone who does not believe."},{"verse":9,"text":"A widow may be put on the list if she is at least sixty years old. She must have been faithful to her husband."},{"verse":10,"text":"She must be well known for good deeds. Maybe she raised children or welcomed strangers into her home. Maybe she washed the feet of God's people or helped those in trouble. She must have given herself to every kind of good work."},{"verse":11,"text":"But do not put younger widows on the list. Their desires may pull them away from Christ. Then they will want to marry."},{"verse":12,"text":"So they will bring judgment on themselves. This is because they are setting aside the promise they first made.","note":"Greek: their first faith."},{"verse":13,"text":"Also, they will learn to be lazy. They will go from house to house. They will not only be lazy, but they will also gossip and poke into other people's business. They will talk about things they should not talk about."},{"verse":14,"text":"So I want the younger widows to marry and have children. I want them to manage their homes. Then the enemy will have no reason to speak badly of us."},{"verse":15,"text":"Some have already turned away to follow Satan."},{"verse":16,"text":"Any woman who is a believer may have widows in her family. If so, she must help them. She should not let the church carry that load. Then the church can help the widows who are truly in need."},{"verse":17,"text":"Elders who lead well are worth twice as much honor. This is most true of those who work hard at preaching and teaching."},{"verse":18,"text":"For the Scripture says, \"Do not put a muzzle on an ox while it is stomping out the grain.\" It also says, \"The worker has earned his pay.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Do not listen to a charge against an elder unless two or three witnesses back it up."},{"verse":20,"text":"But those who keep on sinning should be corrected in front of everyone. Then the others will be afraid to sin."},{"verse":21,"text":"I give you this serious command in front of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels. Follow these rules without taking sides. Do nothing to favor anyone."},{"verse":22,"text":"Do not be too quick to lay hands on someone. If you do, you share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure."},{"verse":23,"text":"Stop drinking only water. Use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and because you are sick so often."},{"verse":24,"text":"The sins of some people are easy to see. Their sins go ahead of them to judgment. But the sins of others don't show up until later."},{"verse":25,"text":"In the same way, good deeds are easy to see. And even the ones that are not easy to see cannot stay hidden."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"All who are under the yoke of slavery should think of their masters as worthy of full respect. Then no one will speak badly of God's name and our teaching."},{"verse":2,"text":"Some slaves have masters who are believers. They should not show those masters less respect because they are brothers. Instead, they should serve them even better. That is because the ones getting their good service are believers whom they love. Teach these things and urge people to do them."},{"verse":3,"text":"Someone may teach something different. He may not agree with the true words of our Lord Jesus Christ. He may not agree with teaching that leads to a godly life."},{"verse":4,"text":"If so, he is proud and understands nothing. Instead, he has a sick love of arguments and fights about words. These lead to jealousy, fighting, hurtful talk, and evil suspicions."},{"verse":5,"text":"They also lead to constant quarrels between people whose minds are rotten. These people have lost the truth. They think being godly is a way to get rich."},{"verse":6,"text":"Of course, being godly and content is a great way to be rich."},{"verse":7,"text":"We brought nothing into the world. So we can't take anything out of it."},{"verse":8,"text":"But if we have food and clothes, we will be happy with those."},{"verse":9,"text":"But people who want to be rich fall into temptation. They get caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires. These desires drag them down into ruin and destruction."},{"verse":10,"text":"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people have wanted money so much that they have wandered from the faith. They have stabbed themselves with many sorrows."},{"verse":11,"text":"But you, man of God, run away from all this. Chase after what is right and a godly life. Chase after faith, love, the strength to keep going, and gentleness."},{"verse":12,"text":"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life you were called to. You were called when you spoke up well about your faith in front of many witnesses."},{"verse":13,"text":"God gives life to everything. Christ Jesus spoke up well and told the truth in front of Pontius Pilate. In front of them both, I give you this command:"},{"verse":14,"text":"Keep this command without a spot or a fault until our Lord Jesus Christ appears."},{"verse":15,"text":"God will make that happen in his own time. He is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords."},{"verse":16,"text":"He is the only one who can never die. He lives in light that no one can come near. No one has ever seen him, and no one can see him. May honor and power be his forever! Amen."},{"verse":17,"text":"Command those who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches, which are not sure. Tell them to hope in God instead. He richly gives us everything to enjoy."},{"verse":18,"text":"Command them to do good and to be rich in good deeds. Tell them to give freely and be ready to share."},{"verse":19,"text":"In this way they will store up treasure for themselves. It will be a strong base for the future. Then they can take hold of the life that is truly life."},{"verse":20,"text":"Timothy, guard what has been trusted to you. Stay away from empty, godless chatter. Stay away from the arguments of what some falsely call \"knowledge.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"Some people have claimed to have it, and so they have wandered away from the faith. May grace be with you all."}]}]},{"name":"2 Timothy","slug":"2-timothy","usfm":"2TI","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus because God wanted me to be. I was sent to tell about the promise of life in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":2,"text":"I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace."},{"verse":3,"text":"I thank God, whom I serve with a clean conscience as my ancestors did. Night and day I keep remembering you in my prayers."},{"verse":4,"text":"I remember your tears, and I long to see you. Then I will be filled with joy."},{"verse":5,"text":"I remember your true faith. It lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. And I am sure it lives in you too."},{"verse":6,"text":"That is why I remind you to stir up God's gift like a fire. That gift is in you because I laid my hands on you."},{"verse":7,"text":"For God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control."},{"verse":8,"text":"So do not be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And do not be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the good news. God will give you the power."},{"verse":9,"text":"God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did not do it because of anything we did. He did it because of his own plan and his grace. He gave us that grace in Christ Jesus before time began."},{"verse":10,"text":"Now he has shown this grace through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. Christ has destroyed death. Through the good news he has shined light on life that never dies."},{"verse":11,"text":"God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this good news."},{"verse":12,"text":"That is why I am suffering like this. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one I have believed. And I am sure he is able to guard what I have trusted to him until that day."},{"verse":13,"text":"Hold on to the pattern of true teaching you heard from me. Hold it with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":14,"text":"Guard the treasure that was trusted to you. Do it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us."},{"verse":15,"text":"You know that everyone in the province of Asia has left me. That includes Phygelus and Hermogenes."},{"verse":16,"text":"May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up. He was not ashamed that I was in chains."},{"verse":17,"text":"In fact, when he came to Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me."},{"verse":18,"text":"May the Lord show Onesiphorus mercy on that day! You know very well how much he helped me in Ephesus."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":2,"text":"Many witnesses heard the things I taught you. Pass these things on to faithful men. Choose men who will be able to teach others too."},{"verse":3,"text":"Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."},{"verse":4,"text":"A soldier does not get tangled up in everyday life. He wants to please the officer who brought him into the army."},{"verse":5,"text":"In the same way, an athlete does not win the crown unless he follows the rules."},{"verse":6,"text":"The farmer who works hard should be the first to get a share of the crops."},{"verse":7,"text":"Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things."},{"verse":8,"text":"Remember Jesus Christ. He was raised from the dead, and he came from David's family. This is the good news I preach."},{"verse":9,"text":"I am suffering for it. I am even chained up like a criminal. But God's word cannot be chained!"},{"verse":10,"text":"So I put up with everything for the sake of God's chosen people. I want them to be saved too, in Christ Jesus. I want them to have glory that lasts forever."},{"verse":11,"text":"This saying is true:\nIf we died with him, we will also live with him."},{"verse":12,"text":"If we keep going, we will also rule with him.\nIf we deny him, he will also deny us."},{"verse":13,"text":"If we are not faithful, he stays faithful,\nfor he cannot deny himself."},{"verse":14,"text":"Keep reminding the believers of these things. Warn them in front of God not to fight about words. That kind of fighting does no good. It only ruins those who listen."},{"verse":15,"text":"Do your best to show yourself to God as someone he approves. Be a worker who has no need to be ashamed. Handle the word of truth the right way."},{"verse":16,"text":"But stay away from empty, godless chatter. It will only lead people further away from God."},{"verse":17,"text":"The talk of such people will spread like a disease that eats away the body. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two of them."},{"verse":18,"text":"They have wandered away from the truth. They say that the rising of the dead has already happened. And they are tearing down the faith of some people."},{"verse":19,"text":"But God's strong foundation still stands. It has this seal on it: \"The Lord knows those who are his.\" It also says, \"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from sin.\""},{"verse":20,"text":"A large house does not only have bowls and pots made of gold and silver. It also has some made of wood and clay. Some are for special use, and others are for common use."},{"verse":21,"text":"So if anyone makes himself clean from what is not fit, he will be a pot for special use. He will be made holy and useful to the Master. He will be ready for every good work."},{"verse":22,"text":"Run away from the evil desires of youth. Chase after what is right. Chase after faith, love, and peace. Do this with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."},{"verse":23,"text":"But have nothing to do with foolish and silly arguments. You know they only start fights."},{"verse":24,"text":"A servant of the Lord must not fight. He must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient with people."},{"verse":25,"text":"He must gently correct those who are against him. Maybe God will let them turn back to him. Then they will come to know the truth."},{"verse":26,"text":"Then they will come to their senses. They will escape the devil's trap. He has caught them to do what he wants."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But understand this: In the last days there will be terrible times."},{"verse":2,"text":"People will love only themselves and money. They will brag and be proud. They will be cruel with words and will not obey their parents. They will not be thankful. They will not be holy."},{"verse":3,"text":"They will not love others or forgive them. They will tell lies about others. They will have no self-control. They will be brutal, and they will not love what is good."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will turn on their friends. They will act without thinking and be full of pride. They will love pleasure instead of loving God."},{"verse":5,"text":"They will look like they honor God, but they will deny God's power. Stay away from people like that!"},{"verse":6,"text":"Some of them sneak into homes. They take control of weak women. These women are weighed down with sins. They are led away by all kinds of desires."},{"verse":7,"text":"These women are always learning. But they are never able to come to know the truth."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jannes and Jambres fought against Moses. In the same way, these men fight against the truth. Their minds are rotten, and they have failed the test of faith."},{"verse":9,"text":"But they won't get very far. Their foolishness will be clear to everyone, just like Jannes and Jambres."},{"verse":10,"text":"But you know all about my teaching, how I live, and what I aim for. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and how I keep going."},{"verse":11,"text":"You know how I have been attacked and how I have suffered. You know what happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I put up with terrible attacks! But the Lord rescued me from all of them."},{"verse":12,"text":"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be attacked for it."},{"verse":13,"text":"Meanwhile, evil people and fakes will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, and they will be fooled."},{"verse":14,"text":"But as for you, keep on in the things you have learned and believed. You know who taught you."},{"verse":15,"text":"Since you were a baby, you have known the Holy Scriptures. They can make you wise so that you are saved through faith in Christ Jesus."},{"verse":16,"text":"All Scripture is breathed out by God. It is useful for teaching. It shows us where we are wrong and helps us fix it. It trains us to do what is right."},{"verse":17,"text":"In this way, the man of God will be complete. He will have everything he needs for every good work."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I give you this command in front of God and Christ Jesus. Christ will judge the living and the dead. And remember that he is coming back and will rule as King. So here is my command:"},{"verse":2,"text":"Preach the word. Be ready when the time is good and when it is not. Correct people, warn them, and encourage them. Always be patient as you teach."},{"verse":3,"text":"The time will come when people will not put up with true teaching. Instead, they will want to hear what tickles their ears. So they will gather many teachers who say what they want to hear."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will stop listening to the truth. They will turn to made-up stories."},{"verse":5,"text":"But you must keep a clear head in everything. Put up with hard times. Do the work of telling the good news. Do everything God has given you to do."},{"verse":6,"text":"My life is already being poured out like a drink offering. The time has come for me to leave this life."},{"verse":7,"text":"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."},{"verse":8,"text":"Now the crown of being right with God is waiting for me. The Lord is the righteous Judge. He will give it to me on that day. And he will give it not only to me. He will give it to all who long for him to appear."},{"verse":9,"text":"Do your best to come to me soon."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is because Demas loved this world, and he has left me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia."},{"verse":11,"text":"Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He helps me in my work."},{"verse":12,"text":"I sent Tychicus to Ephesus."},{"verse":13,"text":"When you come, bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my scrolls, and most of all the parchments."},{"verse":14,"text":"Alexander the metal worker did me a lot of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he has done."},{"verse":15,"text":"You should watch out for him too. He fought hard against our message."},{"verse":16,"text":"The first time I had to defend myself in court, no one stood with me. Everyone left me. I pray that God will not hold it against them."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the Lord stood by me and made me strong. He did this so that through me the message would be fully preached and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth."},{"verse":18,"text":"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack. He will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. Glory to him forever and ever. Amen."},{"verse":19,"text":"Say hello to Prisca and Aquila. Say hello to the family of Onesiphorus too."},{"verse":20,"text":"Erastus stayed in Corinth. And I left Trophimus sick in Miletus."},{"verse":21,"text":"Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus says hello to you. So do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters."},{"verse":22,"text":"May the Lord be with your spirit. May grace be with you all."}]}]},{"name":"Titus","slug":"titus","usfm":"TIT","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul. I am a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to build the faith of God's chosen people. I was sent to help them know the truth that leads to a godly life."},{"verse":2,"text":"That faith and truth rest on the hope of eternal life. God cannot lie. He promised this life before time began."},{"verse":3,"text":"At the right time he made his message known. He did it through the preaching he trusted to me. God our Savior commanded me to do it."},{"verse":4,"text":"I am writing to Titus, my true son in the faith we share. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace."},{"verse":5,"text":"I left you in Crete for this reason. I wanted you to put in order what was not yet done. I wanted you to choose elders in every town, as I told you."},{"verse":6,"text":"An elder must not be open to blame. He must be the husband of only one wife. His children must be believers. No one should be able to say they are wild or will not obey."},{"verse":7,"text":"An overseer takes care of God's work. So he must have a good name that no one can attack. He must not be stubborn or quick to get angry. He must not get drunk, be violent, or be greedy for money."},{"verse":8,"text":"Instead, he must welcome guests into his home and love what is good. He must have self-control. He must do what is right, be holy, and be disciplined."},{"verse":9,"text":"He must hold tight to the true message as it was taught. Then he can encourage others with good teaching. And he can show those who argue against it that they are wrong."},{"verse":10,"text":"Many people rebel. They are full of empty talk, and they trick others. This is most true of those from the circumcision group."},{"verse":11,"text":"They must be stopped from talking. They are ruining whole families by teaching things they should not teach. They do it to make money in a shameful way."},{"verse":12,"text":"One of their own prophets said, \"People from Crete are always liars. They are evil beasts and lazy people who eat too much.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"What he said is true. So correct them sharply. Then they will be strong and healthy in the faith."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then they will not pay attention to Jewish myths. They will not listen to the commands of people who have turned away from the truth."},{"verse":15,"text":"To those who are pure, everything is pure. But to those who are unclean and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, their minds and their consciences are unclean."},{"verse":16,"text":"They say they know God, but the way they live shows they don't. They are hateful and do not obey. They are no good for doing anything good."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But as for you, teach what fits with true teaching."},{"verse":2,"text":"Teach the older men to think clearly and be worthy of respect. They should have self-control. They should be strong in faith, in love, and in keeping on."},{"verse":3,"text":"In the same way, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not tell lies about others or be slaves to too much wine. They should teach what is good."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children."},{"verse":5,"text":"They can train them to have self-control and be pure. They can teach them to take care of their homes and be kind. They can teach them to submit to their own husbands. Then no one will speak badly of God's word."},{"verse":6,"text":"In the same way, urge the younger men to have self-control."},{"verse":7,"text":"In everything, be an example by doing good works. When you teach, be honest and serious."},{"verse":8,"text":"Use healthy words that no one can find fault with. Then anyone who is against us will be ashamed. They will have nothing bad to say about us."},{"verse":9,"text":"Slaves should submit to their own masters in everything. They should try to please them and not talk back."},{"verse":10,"text":"They must not steal from them. Instead, they should show that they can be fully trusted. Then in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior look beautiful."},{"verse":11,"text":"For the grace of God has appeared. It brings salvation to all people."},{"verse":12,"text":"It teaches us to say no to living without God. It teaches us to say no to the evil desires of this world. It teaches us to live wise, right, and godly lives in this present time."},{"verse":13,"text":"We do this while we wait for the blessed hope. We wait for the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."},{"verse":14,"text":"He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness. He did it to make us pure and to make us his very own people, who are eager to do good."},{"verse":15,"text":"Teach these things. Encourage and correct people with all authority. Don't let anyone look down on you."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Remind the believers to submit to rulers and those in charge. Remind them to obey and to be ready to do every good work."},{"verse":2,"text":"Remind them not to speak evil of anyone. They should be peaceful and gentle. They should be truly kind to everyone."},{"verse":3,"text":"At one time we too were foolish and did not obey. We were led astray. We were slaves to all kinds of desires and pleasures. We lived in hate and jealousy. People hated us, and we hated each other."},{"verse":4,"text":"But then the kindness of God our Savior appeared. His love for all people appeared."},{"verse":5,"text":"He saved us. It was not because of the right things we had done. It was because of his mercy. He saved us by washing us so we were born again. He saved us by making us new through the Holy Spirit."},{"verse":6,"text":"God poured out this Spirit on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."},{"verse":7,"text":"He did it so that we would be made right with God by his grace. Then we would become heirs, with the hope of eternal life."},{"verse":8,"text":"This saying is true. I want you to stress these things. Then those who have believed God will be careful to give themselves to doing good. These things are excellent and helpful for everyone."},{"verse":9,"text":"But stay away from foolish arguments and lists of ancestors. Stay away from fights and quarrels about the law. These things are useless and worth nothing."},{"verse":10,"text":"Warn a person who causes divisions one time, and then a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him."},{"verse":11,"text":"You know that such a person is twisted and sinful. He has judged himself guilty."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will send Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as I do, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis. I have decided to spend the winter there."},{"verse":13,"text":"Do all you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way. Make sure they have everything they need."},{"verse":14,"text":"Our people must also learn to give themselves to doing good. Then they can meet the urgent needs of others. And their lives will not be without fruit."},{"verse":15,"text":"Everyone with me says hello to you. Say hello to those who love us in the faith. May grace be with all of you."}]}]},{"name":"Philemon","slug":"philemon","usfm":"PHM","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This letter is from Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy our brother. It is to Philemon, our dear friend who works with us,"},{"verse":2,"text":"to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus, who fights beside us like a soldier. It is also to the church that meets at your house."},{"verse":3,"text":"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":4,"text":"I always thank my God when I remember you in my prayers."},{"verse":5,"text":"That's because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus. I hear about your love for all of God's people too."},{"verse":6,"text":"I pray that the faith we share will be active and do its work. I pray this will happen as you come to fully know every good thing that is ours in Christ."},{"verse":7,"text":"Your love has given me great joy and comfort. That's because you, my brother, have refreshed the hearts of God's people."},{"verse":8,"text":"So, even though in Christ I'm bold enough to order you to do what is right,"},{"verse":9,"text":"But I'd rather ask you because of love. I, Paul, am an old man now. And I'm also a prisoner of Christ Jesus."},{"verse":10,"text":"I'm asking you to help my child Onesimus. I became like a father to him while I was in chains."},{"verse":11,"text":"Before, he was useless to you. But now he has become useful to both you and me.","note":"The name Onesimus means \"useful.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"I'm sending him back to you. He is my very heart."},{"verse":13,"text":"I would have liked to keep him here with me. Then he could serve me in your place while I'm in chains for the good news."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I didn't want to do anything unless you agreed. That way, the good you do won't be forced. It will be because you chose it freely."},{"verse":15,"text":"Maybe this is why he was taken away from you for a little while. It was so you could have him back forever."},{"verse":16,"text":"He will be with you no longer as a slave, but as more than a slave. He will be a dear brother. He is very dear to me. But he is even dearer to you, both as a man and in the Lord."},{"verse":17,"text":"So if you think of me as your partner, welcome him the way you would welcome me."},{"verse":18,"text":"If he has wronged you in any way, or if he owes you anything, charge it to me."},{"verse":19,"text":"I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back. And I won't even mention that you owe me your very life."},{"verse":20,"text":"Yes, my brother, let me get some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ."},{"verse":21,"text":"I'm sure you will obey, so I'm writing to you. I know you will do even more than I ask."},{"verse":22,"text":"In the meantime, get a guest room ready for me. That's because I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you."},{"verse":23,"text":"Epaphras sends you his greetings. He is in prison with me for Christ Jesus."},{"verse":24,"text":"Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke send greetings too. They work with me."},{"verse":25,"text":"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."}]}]},{"name":"Hebrews","slug":"hebrews","usfm":"HEB","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many different ways. He spoke through the prophets."},{"verse":2,"text":"But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God chose his Son to receive all things. And God made the universe through him."},{"verse":3,"text":"The Son is the shining light of God's glory. He shows exactly what God is like. He holds all things together by his powerful word. He made people clean from their sins. After that, he sat down at the right hand of God, the Majesty in heaven."},{"verse":4,"text":"So the Son became far greater than the angels, just as the name he received is far greater than their name."},{"verse":5,"text":"God never said this to any angel: \"You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.\" He never said this to an angel either: \"I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, \"Let all of God's angels worship him.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"About the angels, God says, \"He makes his angels winds. He makes his servants flames of fire.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"But about the Son, God says, \"Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever. You rule your kingdom with justice."},{"verse":9,"text":"You have loved what is right and hated what is evil. So God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy. He has set you above your companions.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"God also says, \"Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands."},{"verse":11,"text":"They will perish, but you will stay. They will all wear out like old clothes."},{"verse":12,"text":"You will roll them up like a robe. They will be changed like clothes. But you stay the same. Your years will never end.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"God never said this to any angel: \"Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Aren't the angels spirits who serve? They are sent to help those who will inherit salvation."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So we must pay even closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won't drift away from it."},{"verse":2,"text":"The message spoken through angels had to be obeyed. Every wrong and every act of disobedience got the punishment it deserved. If that is so,"},{"verse":3,"text":"then how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? The Lord himself first told about this salvation. Then those who heard him proved it was true to us."},{"verse":4,"text":"God also showed it was true. He did this through signs, wonders, and all kinds of miracles. He also gave gifts of the Holy Spirit as he chose."},{"verse":5,"text":"God has not put angels in charge of the world to come. That is the world we are talking about."},{"verse":6,"text":"Somewhere in Scripture someone says, \"What is man that you think about him? What is the son of man that you care for him?"},{"verse":7,"text":"You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor."},{"verse":8,"text":"You put everything under his feet.\" When God put all things under him, he left nothing out of his control. But right now we don't yet see everything under his control."},{"verse":9,"text":"But we do see Jesus. He was made a little lower than the angels. Now he is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. This was so that by God's grace he might taste death for everyone."},{"verse":10,"text":"God is bringing many children to glory. All things exist for him and through him. So it was right for God to make Jesus perfect through suffering. Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation.","note":"Greek: \"many sons.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Jesus makes people holy. And the people he makes holy are in the same family as he is. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters."},{"verse":12,"text":"He says, \"I will tell my brothers and sisters about your name. I will sing your praises when your people gather.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"He also says, \"I will put my trust in him.\" And he says again, \"Here I am, with the children God has given me.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The children are people with flesh and blood. So Jesus also became human like them. He did this so that by his death he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil."},{"verse":15,"text":"Jesus did this to set people free. All their lives they had been slaves to their fear of death."},{"verse":16,"text":"It is clear that he doesn't come to help angels. He helps the children of Abraham."},{"verse":17,"text":"That's why he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way. Then he could be a high priest who is kind and faithful in serving God. And he could make atonement for the people's sins."},{"verse":18,"text":"Jesus himself suffered when he was tempted. So he is able to help people who are being tempted."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So, holy brothers and sisters, you share in the call that comes from heaven. Keep your thoughts on Jesus. He is the apostle and high priest we confess."},{"verse":2,"text":"Jesus was faithful to God, who chose him. Moses was faithful in all God's house in the same way."},{"verse":3,"text":"Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house gets more honor than the house itself."},{"verse":4,"text":"Every house is built by someone. But God is the builder of everything."},{"verse":5,"text":"Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house. He pointed to things God would say later."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Christ is faithful as the Son who is over God's house. And we are his house. That is true if we hold tight to our courage and the hope we are proud of."},{"verse":7,"text":"So listen to what the Holy Spirit says: \"Today, if you hear his voice,"},{"verse":8,"text":"don't make your hearts hard. Don't be like your people when they rebelled. That was the day they tested me in the wilderness."},{"verse":9,"text":"There your ancestors tested me and tried my patience. They saw the things I did for 40 years."},{"verse":10,"text":"So I was angry with the people of that time. I said, 'Their hearts are always wandering away. They have not known my ways.'"},{"verse":11,"text":"So in my anger I swore an oath. I said, 'They will never enter my rest.'\""},{"verse":12,"text":"Brothers and sisters, be careful. Don't let any of you have an evil heart that doesn't believe. That kind of heart turns away from the living God."},{"verse":13,"text":"Instead, encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called \"Today.\" Then none of you will be fooled by sin and become hard."},{"verse":14,"text":"We have come to share in Christ. That is true if we hold tight to the end to the trust we had at first."},{"verse":15,"text":"As Scripture says, \"Today, if you hear his voice, don't make your hearts hard as you did when you rebelled.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Who heard God's voice and still rebelled? It was all the people Moses led out of Egypt."},{"verse":17,"text":"And who was God angry with for 40 years? It was the people who sinned. Their bodies fell dead in the wilderness."},{"verse":18,"text":"And who did God swear would never enter his rest? It was those who disobeyed."},{"verse":19,"text":"So we see that they couldn't enter because they didn't believe."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"God's promise that we can enter his rest still stands. So let's be careful. Don't let any of you be found to have missed out on it."},{"verse":2,"text":"We heard the good news just as they did. But the message they heard didn't help them. That's because they didn't share the faith of those who understood it.","note":"Some manuscripts read \"because it was not joined with faith in those who heard it.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"We who have believed enter that rest. But about the others, God said, \"So in my anger I swore an oath. I said, 'They will never enter my rest.'\" Yet God's work has been finished since he made the world."},{"verse":4,"text":"Somewhere in Scripture God talks about the seventh day like this: \"And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"And in the passage above he says again, \"They will never enter my rest.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So some people still get to enter God's rest. And those who heard the good news before didn't enter because they disobeyed."},{"verse":7,"text":"So God again chose a certain day and called it \"Today.\" A long time later he spoke about it through David. It's what was just quoted: \"Today, if you hear his voice, don't make your hearts hard.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day."},{"verse":9,"text":"So there is still a Sabbath rest waiting for God's people."},{"verse":10,"text":"Anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work. That's just what God did when he rested from his work."},{"verse":11,"text":"So let's try our very best to enter that rest. Then no one will fall by disobeying the way they did."},{"verse":12,"text":"The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword with two sharp edges. It cuts deep enough to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and plans of the heart."},{"verse":13,"text":"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before his eyes. And we must explain ourselves to him."},{"verse":14,"text":"We have a great high priest who has gone up through the heavens. He is Jesus, the Son of God. So let's hold tight to the faith we say we believe."},{"verse":15,"text":"Our high priest understands how weak we are. He was tempted in every way that we are. Yet he never sinned."},{"verse":16,"text":"So let's come boldly to the throne of grace. There we will receive mercy. And we will find grace to help us when we need it."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Every high priest is chosen from among men. He is chosen to stand for them in things that have to do with God. He offers gifts and sacrifices for sins."},{"verse":2,"text":"He can be gentle with people who don't know better and who have gone the wrong way. That's because he is weak himself."},{"verse":3,"text":"That's why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins. He also offers them for the sins of the people."},{"verse":4,"text":"No one takes this honor for himself. God must call him, just as he called Aaron."},{"verse":5,"text":"So Christ also did not give himself the glory of becoming a high priest. God called him. God said to him, \"You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"And in another place God says, \"You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"While Jesus lived on earth, he prayed and begged God with loud cries and tears. He prayed to the one who could save him from death. And God heard him because he honored God."},{"verse":8,"text":"He was God's Son. But he still learned to obey through what he suffered."},{"verse":9,"text":"After he was made perfect, he became the source of salvation that lasts forever. He saves all who obey him."},{"verse":10,"text":"And God named him high priest in the order of Melchizedek."},{"verse":11,"text":"We have a lot to say about this. But it's hard to explain, because you are slow to listen and learn."},{"verse":12,"text":"By now you should be teachers. But you need someone to teach you the basic lessons of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!"},{"verse":13,"text":"Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. He doesn't know much about the teaching of what is right."},{"verse":14,"text":"But solid food is for those who are grown up. They have trained themselves by practice. Now they can tell good from evil."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So let's move past the first lessons about Christ. Let's go on and grow up. Let's not lay the foundation again. That foundation is turning away from deeds that lead to death, and having faith in God."},{"verse":2,"text":"It also includes teaching about baptisms and laying hands on people. It includes the dead rising to life and the judgment that lasts forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"And we will move on, if God allows it."},{"verse":4,"text":"It is impossible for those who have once been given light, who have tasted the gift from heaven, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,"},{"verse":5,"text":"who have tasted how good God's word is, and who have tasted the powers of the age to come,"},{"verse":6,"text":"and then have fallen away. They cannot be brought back to repentance. That's because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are putting him to open shame."},{"verse":7,"text":"Think about land that soaks up the rain that often falls on it. It grows a crop that is useful to the people who farm it. That land receives God's blessing."},{"verse":8,"text":"But land that grows thorns and thistles is worthless. It is close to being cursed. In the end it will be burned."},{"verse":9,"text":"Dear friends, we talk like this. But we are sure of better things for you. These are things that go with salvation."},{"verse":10,"text":"God is fair. He will not forget your work. He won't forget the love you have shown for his name. You showed it by serving God's people, and you still serve them."},{"verse":11,"text":"We want each of you to keep working just as hard to the very end. Then you will be sure of what you hope for."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then you won't be lazy. Instead, you will follow the example of those who receive what God promised. They received it through faith and patience."},{"verse":13,"text":"God made a promise to Abraham. There was no one greater for God to swear by. So he swore by himself."},{"verse":14,"text":"He said, \"I will surely bless you. I will give you many, many descendants.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So Abraham waited patiently. Then he received what God promised."},{"verse":16,"text":"People swear by someone greater than themselves. Their oath proves what they say and ends every argument."},{"verse":17,"text":"God wanted to make it very clear that his plan would never change. He wanted to show this to the people who would receive what he promised. So he backed up his promise with an oath."},{"verse":18,"text":"So there are two things that can never change. And God cannot lie about either of them. We have run to God to take hold of the hope he has set in front of us. So these two things can give us strong encouragement."},{"verse":19,"text":"This hope is like an anchor for our souls. It is firm and safe. It goes into the inner holy room, behind the curtain.","note":"Greek: \"the inner sanctuary,\" the holiest room of the tabernacle."},{"verse":20,"text":"Jesus went in there ahead of us for our sake. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This Melchizedek was king of Salem. He was also a priest of God Most High. Abraham was coming home after defeating the kings in battle. Melchizedek met him and blessed him."},{"verse":2,"text":"And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. The name Melchizedek first of all means \"king of what is right.\" Also, \"king of Salem\" means \"king of peace.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"He had no father or mother or family history. His days had no beginning and his life has no end. He is like the Son of God. He stays a priest for all time."},{"verse":4,"text":"Think about how great Melchizedek was! Even Abraham, our great father, gave him a tenth of what he took in battle."},{"verse":5,"text":"The law tells the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people. That means from their own brothers, even though they also come from Abraham."},{"verse":6,"text":"But Melchizedek was not from Levi's family line. Yet he collected a tenth from Abraham. And he blessed Abraham, the one who had God's promises."},{"verse":7,"text":"And no one can argue with this: the less important person is blessed by the greater one."},{"verse":8,"text":"The Levites who collect the tenth are men who die. But in the case of Melchizedek, Scripture says that he lives on."},{"verse":9,"text":"You could even say that Levi paid the tenth through Abraham. And Levi is the one who collects the tenth!"},{"verse":10,"text":"That's because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor."},{"verse":11,"text":"The people were given the law on the basis of the priests from Levi. Now suppose those priests could have made people perfect. Then why was another priest still needed? Why was there a need for a priest in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?"},{"verse":12,"text":"When the priests are changed, the law must be changed too."},{"verse":13,"text":"The one we are talking about came from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar."},{"verse":14,"text":"It is clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe."},{"verse":15,"text":"And this point is even clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears."},{"verse":16,"text":"He did not become a priest by a rule about his family line. He became a priest by the power of a life that can never be destroyed."},{"verse":17,"text":"Scripture says about him, \"You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"So the old command is set aside. It was weak and useless."},{"verse":19,"text":"The law never made anything perfect. But now a better hope has come. Through it we come near to God."},{"verse":20,"text":"And this was done with an oath. The other priests became priests without any oath."},{"verse":21,"text":"But Jesus became a priest with an oath. God said to him, \"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant."},{"verse":23,"text":"There have been many other priests. That's because death kept each of them from going on serving."},{"verse":24,"text":"But Jesus lives forever. So he is a priest forever, and no one takes his place."},{"verse":25,"text":"So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him. That's because he always lives to speak to God for them."},{"verse":26,"text":"This is the kind of high priest we truly need. He is holy and has no guilt. He is pure and set apart from sinners. He has been raised higher than the heavens."},{"verse":27,"text":"He is not like the other high priests. They had to offer sacrifices every day. First they offered for their own sins, then for the sins of the people. But Jesus made a sacrifice for sin once for all. He did it when he offered himself."},{"verse":28,"text":"The law makes weak men high priests. But God's oath came after the law. It made the Son high priest, and he has been made perfect forever."}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Here is the main point of what we are saying. We do have this kind of high priest. He sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven."},{"verse":2,"text":"He serves in the holy place, in the true tabernacle. The Lord set up this tabernacle, not a man."},{"verse":3,"text":"Every high priest is chosen to offer gifts and sacrifices. So this high priest also needed to have something to offer."},{"verse":4,"text":"If he were on earth, he would not be a priest. There are already priests here who offer the gifts the law asks for."},{"verse":5,"text":"The place where they serve is only a copy and a shadow of what is in heaven. That's why God warned Moses when Moses was about to build the tabernacle. God said, \"Be sure to make everything like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"But now Jesus has been given a much better work to do as priest. In the same way, the covenant he brings between God and people is better. It is built on better promises."},{"verse":7,"text":"If nothing had been wrong with the first covenant, no one would have looked for a second one."},{"verse":8,"text":"But God found fault with the people. He said, \"Look, the days are coming, says the Lord. I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and the people of Judah."},{"verse":9,"text":"It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors. That was when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt. They did not stay true to my covenant. So I turned away from them, says the Lord."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds. I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."},{"verse":11,"text":"No longer will people teach their neighbors or their brothers, saying, 'Know the Lord.' That's because they will all know me, from the least important to the most important."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will forgive their wrongs. And I will never remember their sins again.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"When God talks about a new covenant, he makes the first one old and out of date. And what is out of date and growing old will soon disappear."}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The first covenant had rules for worship. It also had a holy place here on earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the holy bread. This room was called the Holy Place."},{"verse":3,"text":"Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place."},{"verse":4,"text":"It had the golden altar for burning incense. It also had the ark of the covenant, which was covered with gold. Inside the ark was the gold jar of manna. Aaron's staff that had grown buds was there too. So were the stone tablets of the covenant."},{"verse":5,"text":"Above the ark were the glorious cherubim. Their wings covered the place of mercy on top of the ark. But we can't talk about these things in detail now.","note":"Traditionally \"the mercy seat,\" the cover of the ark where atonement was made."},{"verse":6,"text":"After everything was set up this way, the priests went into the first room all the time. They went in to do their holy work."},{"verse":7,"text":"But only the high priest went into the second room. He went in only once a year. And he never went in without blood. He offered the blood for himself and for the sins the people had done without knowing it."},{"verse":8,"text":"In this way the Holy Spirit was showing something. As long as the first tabernacle was still standing, the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been opened up."},{"verse":9,"text":"This is a picture for the present time. That's because the gifts and sacrifices people offered could not make the worshiper's conscience clean."},{"verse":10,"text":"They were only about food and drink and special washings. They were outward rules. They were given until the time God would make things new."},{"verse":11,"text":"But Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now here. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle. It is not made by human hands. It is not part of this created world."},{"verse":12,"text":"He did not go in by the blood of goats and calves. He went into the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood. In this way he won a redemption that lasts forever."},{"verse":13,"text":"People who were unclean by the law were sprinkled with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow. If that made them holy, so that their bodies were clean,"},{"verse":14,"text":"Then how much more will the blood of Christ make our consciences clean! Through the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God without any flaw. His blood cleans us from deeds that lead to death. Then we can serve the living God!"},{"verse":15,"text":"So Christ is the one who brings a new covenant between God and people. Through it, those God has called can receive the promised inheritance that lasts forever. They can, because Christ has died to redeem them from the wrongs they did under the first covenant."},{"verse":16,"text":"When someone leaves a will, it must be proven that the person who made it has died."},{"verse":17,"text":"A will doesn't go into effect until the person who made it dies. It can't be used while that person is still alive."},{"verse":18,"text":"That's why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood."},{"verse":19,"text":"Moses told all the people every command in the law. Then he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, red wool, and branches of hyssop. He sprinkled the scroll and all the people."},{"verse":20,"text":"He said, \"This is the blood of the covenant. God has commanded you to keep it.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"In the same way, he sprinkled blood on the tabernacle. He also sprinkled it on everything used in worship."},{"verse":22,"text":"In fact, the law says that almost everything must be made clean with blood. Without blood being poured out, there is no forgiveness."},{"verse":23,"text":"The copies of the things in heaven had to be made clean with these sacrifices. But the things in heaven themselves had to be made clean with better sacrifices than these."},{"verse":24,"text":"Christ did not go into a holy place made by human hands. That was only a copy of the true one. He went into heaven itself. Now he stands before God for us."},{"verse":25,"text":"The high priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with blood that isn't his own. But Christ didn't go into heaven to offer himself again and again like that."},{"verse":26,"text":"If he had, Christ would have had to suffer many times since the world was made. But now he has come once for all at the end of the ages. He came to take away sin by sacrificing himself."},{"verse":27,"text":"People are meant to die once. After that they face judgment."},{"verse":28,"text":"In the same way, Christ was offered once to carry the sins of many people. He will come a second time. That time he won't come to carry sin. He will come to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming. It is not the real thing. The same sacrifices are offered year after year. But they can never make perfect those who come near to worship."},{"verse":2,"text":"If they could, wouldn't people have stopped offering them? The worshipers would have been made clean once for all. They would no longer feel guilty for their sins."},{"verse":3,"text":"Instead, those sacrifices remind people of their sins every year."},{"verse":4,"text":"That's because the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins."},{"verse":5,"text":"So when Christ came into the world, he said to God, \"You did not want sacrifices and offerings. But you made a body ready for me."},{"verse":6,"text":"You were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then I said, 'Here I am. It is written about me in the scroll. I have come to do what you want, O God.'\""},{"verse":8,"text":"First he said, \"You did not want sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings. You were not pleased with them.\" He said this even though the law says to offer them."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then he said, \"Here I am. I have come to do what you want.\" He takes away the first way so he can set up the second."},{"verse":10,"text":"Because God wanted it, we have been made holy. This happened through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."},{"verse":11,"text":"Day after day every priest stands and does his work. He offers the same sacrifices again and again. But they can never take away sins."},{"verse":12,"text":"But this Priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time. Then he sat down at the right hand of God."},{"verse":13,"text":"Since then he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet."},{"verse":14,"text":"That's because with one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."},{"verse":15,"text":"The Holy Spirit also tells us this is true. First he says,"},{"verse":16,"text":"\"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write them on their minds.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"Then he adds, \"I will never again remember their sins and the wrong things they have done.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"And when sins have been forgiven, there is no more need for an offering for sin."},{"verse":19,"text":"So, brothers and sisters, we can now go boldly into the Most Holy Place. We can do it because of the blood of Jesus."},{"verse":20,"text":"He opened a new and living way for us through the curtain. That curtain is his body."},{"verse":21,"text":"And we have a great priest who rules over God's house."},{"verse":22,"text":"So let's come near to God with an honest heart. Let's come with faith that is fully sure. Our hearts have been sprinkled to make us clean from a guilty conscience. And our bodies have been washed with pure water."},{"verse":23,"text":"Let's hold tight without wavering to the hope we say we have. God, who made the promise, is faithful."},{"verse":24,"text":"And let's think about how to push one another on to love and to do good things."},{"verse":25,"text":"Let's not stop meeting together, as some people have gotten in the habit of doing. Instead, let's encourage one another. Let's do it even more as you see the Day coming closer."},{"verse":26,"text":"Suppose we keep on sinning on purpose after we have learned the truth. Then no sacrifice for sins is left."},{"verse":27,"text":"There is only the terrible fear of waiting for judgment. And there is a raging fire that will burn up all enemies."},{"verse":28,"text":"Anyone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy. It took only two or three witnesses."},{"verse":29,"text":"So think about how much worse the punishment will be for someone who has walked all over the Son of God. That person has treated the blood of the covenant as if it were not holy. Yet that blood made him holy. He has also insulted the Spirit who gives grace."},{"verse":30,"text":"We know the one who said, \"It is mine to pay back. I will repay.\" He also said, \"The Lord will judge his people.\""},{"verse":31,"text":"It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."},{"verse":32,"text":"Remember the early days after you first received the light. Back then you stood strong through a hard fight full of suffering."},{"verse":33,"text":"Sometimes people made fun of you and hurt you in public. Other times you stood by others who were treated that way."},{"verse":34,"text":"You cared about those in prison. When your things were taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had something better that would last forever."},{"verse":35,"text":"So don't throw away your bold trust. It will bring you a great reward."},{"verse":36,"text":"You need to keep going and not give up. Then, after you have done what God wants, you will receive what he promised."},{"verse":37,"text":"Scripture says, \"In just a little while, the one who is coming will come. He will not be late."},{"verse":38,"text":"But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he turns back, I will not be pleased with him.\""},{"verse":39,"text":"But we are not people who turn back and are destroyed. We are people who have faith and are saved."}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we cannot see."},{"verse":2,"text":"This is why God was pleased with people long ago."},{"verse":3,"text":"By faith we understand that God made the universe by his command. So what we see was not made out of things that could be seen."},{"verse":4,"text":"By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. Because of his faith, God said Abel was righteous. God was pleased with his gifts. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead."},{"verse":5,"text":"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not die. \"No one could find him, because God had taken him away.\" Before he was taken, he was known as someone who pleased God."},{"verse":6,"text":"Without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real. And they must believe that he rewards those who truly look for him."},{"verse":7,"text":"By faith Noah built an ark to save his family. God had warned him about things no one had seen yet. Noah honored God and obeyed. By his faith he showed the world was guilty. And he received the right standing with God that comes by faith."},{"verse":8,"text":"By faith Abraham obeyed when God called him to go to a new place. God would later give him that place as his own. Abraham went, even though he didn't know where he was going."},{"verse":9,"text":"By faith he lived in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents. So did Isaac and Jacob. They would receive the same promise with him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Abraham was looking forward to the city with strong foundations. God planned that city and built it."},{"verse":11,"text":"By faith Sarah was able to have a child, even though she could not have children and was too old. That's because she believed that God, who made the promise, was faithful."},{"verse":12,"text":"So from one man, who was almost dead, came more descendants than anyone could count. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were like the sand on the seashore that no one can count."},{"verse":13,"text":"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They had not received the things God promised. But they saw them coming far off and were glad. And they said that they were strangers and outsiders on the earth."},{"verse":14,"text":"People who say things like that show they are looking for a country of their own."},{"verse":15,"text":"If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back."},{"verse":16,"text":"Instead, they longed for a better country. They longed for a country in heaven. So God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has made a city ready for them."},{"verse":17,"text":"By faith Abraham offered up Isaac when God tested him. Abraham had received God's promises. Yet he was ready to offer his one and only son on the altar."},{"verse":18,"text":"He did this even though God had said to him, \"Your family line will come through Isaac.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Abraham believed that God could even raise the dead. And in a way, he did get Isaac back from death."},{"verse":20,"text":"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau about what would happen in the future."},{"verse":21,"text":"By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph's sons when he was dying. He worshiped God as he leaned on the top of his staff."},{"verse":22,"text":"By faith Joseph spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt when his death was near. He told them what to do with his bones."},{"verse":23,"text":"By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born. They saw that he was a beautiful child. And they weren't afraid of the king's order."},{"verse":24,"text":"By faith Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter."},{"verse":25,"text":"He chose to suffer along with God's people. He did not want the pleasures of sin, which last only a short time."},{"verse":26,"text":"He thought being shamed for Christ was worth more than all the treasures of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward."},{"verse":27,"text":"By faith Moses left Egypt. He wasn't afraid of the king's anger. He kept going because he saw God, who cannot be seen."},{"verse":28,"text":"By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood. He did it so the destroyer who killed the firstborn sons would not touch the firstborn of Israel."},{"verse":29,"text":"By faith the people walked through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to follow them, they drowned."},{"verse":30,"text":"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down. That happened after the people had marched around them for seven days."},{"verse":31,"text":"By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed God. That's because she welcomed the spies in peace."},{"verse":32,"text":"What more should I say? I don't have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets."},{"verse":33,"text":"Through faith they won battles over kingdoms. They ruled with justice. They received what God promised. They shut the mouths of lions."},{"verse":34,"text":"They put out raging fires. They escaped being killed by the sword. They were weak, but they were made strong. They became mighty in battle. They made foreign armies run away."},{"verse":35,"text":"Women got their dead loved ones back, raised to life again. Others were tortured. They refused to be set free so they could gain a better resurrection."},{"verse":36,"text":"Still others were made fun of and whipped. Some were even put in chains and thrown in prison."},{"verse":37,"text":"They were killed with stones. They were sawed in two. They were killed with the sword. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor, treated badly, and hurt."},{"verse":38,"text":"The world was not good enough for them. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They hid in caves and in holes in the ground."},{"verse":39,"text":"God was pleased with all these people because of their faith. Yet none of them received what God had promised."},{"verse":40,"text":"God had planned something better for us. He planned that they would be made perfect only together with us."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So many witnesses are all around us like a great cloud. So let's throw off everything that slows us down. Let's throw off the sin that so easily trips us up. And let's run with endurance the race God has marked out for us."},{"verse":2,"text":"Let's keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the one who starts our faith and makes it complete. He thought about the joy that was waiting for him. So he put up with the cross and paid no attention to its shame. Then he sat down at the right hand of God's throne."},{"verse":3,"text":"Think about Jesus. He put up with so much hatred from sinners. Then you won't get tired and give up."},{"verse":4,"text":"You are fighting against sin. But you haven't yet fought so hard that your blood was spilled."},{"verse":5,"text":"And you have forgotten the words that encourage you as sons. They say, \"My son, don't take the Lord's discipline lightly. Don't give up when he corrects you."},{"verse":6,"text":"The Lord disciplines the one he loves. He corrects every son he accepts as his own.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Put up with hard times as discipline. God is treating you as his sons. What son is not disciplined by his father?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Everyone is disciplined. If you are not disciplined, then you are not true sons. You are children born outside of marriage."},{"verse":9,"text":"Besides, we all had human fathers who disciplined us. And we respected them for it. So shouldn't we obey the Father of our spirits even more, and live?"},{"verse":10,"text":"Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought was best. But God disciplines us for our good. He does it so we can share in his holiness."},{"verse":11,"text":"No discipline seems fun at the time. It hurts. But later, it brings a harvest of what is right and of peace. That harvest comes to those who have been trained by it."},{"verse":12,"text":"So make your tired hands strong again. Make your weak knees strong too."},{"verse":13,"text":"Make straight paths for your feet. Then those who are lame won't get worse. Instead, they will be healed."},{"verse":14,"text":"Try hard to live in peace with everyone. And try hard to be holy. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord."},{"verse":15,"text":"Make sure no one misses out on God's grace. Make sure no bitter root grows up among you. It would cause trouble and make many people unclean."},{"verse":16,"text":"Make sure no one is sexually immoral. And make sure no one is godless like Esau. He sold his rights as the oldest son for just one meal."},{"verse":17,"text":"You know that later he wanted to receive his father's blessing. But he was turned away. He could find no way to change what had happened, even though he begged for the blessing with tears.","note":"Greek: \"he found no place for repentance.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"You have not come to a mountain you can touch, one that is burning with fire. You have not come to darkness, gloom, and storm."},{"verse":19,"text":"You have not come to the blast of a trumpet. You have not come to a voice that made the people who heard it beg not to hear another word."},{"verse":20,"text":"They couldn't stand to hear what God commanded: \"If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be killed with stones.\""},{"verse":21,"text":"What they saw was so scary that even Moses said, \"I am shaking with fear.\""},{"verse":22,"text":"Instead, you have come to Mount Zion. You have come to the city of the living God, the Jerusalem in heaven. You have come to thousands and thousands of angels."},{"verse":23,"text":"They have gathered to celebrate with joy. You have come to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all people. You have come to the spirits of righteous people who have been made perfect."},{"verse":24,"text":"You have come to Jesus, who brings the new covenant between God and people. You have come to the sprinkled blood. It speaks a better message than the blood of Abel."},{"verse":25,"text":"Be sure you don't refuse to listen to the one who speaks. The people refused to listen to the one who warned them on earth, and they did not escape. So we will escape even less if we turn away from the one who warns us from heaven!"},{"verse":26,"text":"Back then, God's voice shook the earth. But now he has promised, \"Once more I will shake not only the earth but heaven too.\""},{"verse":27,"text":"The words \"once more\" show that what can be shaken will be taken away. That means created things. Then only what cannot be shaken will be left."},{"verse":28,"text":"We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. So let's be thankful. Then we can worship God in a way that pleases him, with deep respect and awe."},{"verse":29,"text":"\"Our God is a fire that burns everything up.\""}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters."},{"verse":2,"text":"Don't forget to welcome strangers into your home. By doing this, some people have welcomed angels without knowing it."},{"verse":3,"text":"Remember those in prison as if you were in chains with them. Remember those who are treated badly as if you were suffering with them."},{"verse":4,"text":"Everyone should honor marriage. Husbands and wives should keep their marriage bed pure. God will judge those who are sexually immoral and those who commit adultery."},{"verse":5,"text":"Don't let the love of money rule your life. Be happy with what you have. God has said, \"I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So we can say with confidence, \"The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?\""},{"verse":7,"text":"Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think about how their lives turned out. Then copy their faith."},{"verse":8,"text":"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."},{"verse":9,"text":"Don't be pulled away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for your heart to be made strong by grace. It is not made strong by rules about food. Those rules don't help the people who follow them."},{"verse":10,"text":"We have an altar. Those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat from it."},{"verse":11,"text":"The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin. But the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp."},{"verse":12,"text":"So Jesus also suffered outside the city gate. He did it to make the people holy by his own blood."},{"verse":13,"text":"So let's go to him outside the camp. Let's carry the shame he carried."},{"verse":14,"text":"Here on earth we don't have a city that lasts forever. We are looking for the city that is coming."},{"verse":15,"text":"So through Jesus, let's always offer God a sacrifice of praise. That sacrifice is the fruit of lips that speak out his name."},{"verse":16,"text":"And don't forget to do good and to share with others. God is pleased with sacrifices like these."},{"verse":17,"text":"Obey your leaders and follow them. They watch over your souls, and they will have to explain to God how they did it. Let them lead with joy and not with sadness. Sadness would not help you at all."},{"verse":18,"text":"Pray for us. We are sure that our conscience is clear. We want to live in a good and honest way in everything."},{"verse":19,"text":"I beg you even more to pray that I can come back to you soon."},{"verse":20,"text":"God is the God of peace. Through the blood of the covenant that lasts forever, he brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep."},{"verse":21,"text":"May God give you every good thing you need to do what he wants. And may he do in us what pleases him, through Jesus Christ. Glory to him forever and ever. Amen."},{"verse":22,"text":"Brothers and sisters, I urge you to be patient with my words of encouragement. I have written you only a short letter."},{"verse":23,"text":"I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been let out of prison. If he gets here soon, I'll bring him with me when I come to see you."},{"verse":24,"text":"Say hello to all your leaders and all of God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings."},{"verse":25,"text":"May grace be with all of you."}]}]},{"name":"James","slug":"james","usfm":"JAS","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings."},{"verse":2,"text":"My brothers and sisters, when you face all kinds of trials, think of it as pure joy."},{"verse":3,"text":"This is because you know that when your faith is tested, it grows the strength to keep going."},{"verse":4,"text":"Let this strength to keep going finish its work. Then you will be mature and complete. You won't be missing anything."},{"verse":5,"text":"If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God. He gives freely to everyone and does not scold anyone for asking. And he will give wisdom to you."},{"verse":6,"text":"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt. A person who doubts is like a wave of the sea. The wind blows it and tosses it around."},{"verse":7,"text":"That person should not expect to get anything from the Lord."},{"verse":8,"text":"He can't make up his mind. He is unsteady in everything he does."},{"verse":9,"text":"A believer who is poor and lowly should be glad about his high position."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the one who is rich should be glad about his low position. That is because he will pass away like a wildflower."},{"verse":11,"text":"The sun rises with burning heat and dries up the plant. Its flower falls off, and its beauty is gone. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business."},{"verse":12,"text":"Blessed is the person who keeps going when trials come. That is because after he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life. God has promised this crown to those who love him."},{"verse":13,"text":"When you are tempted, don't say, \"God is tempting me.\" God can't be tempted by evil, and he doesn't tempt anyone."},{"verse":14,"text":"Instead, each person is tempted by his own evil desires. They pull him away and trap him."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. And when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death."},{"verse":16,"text":"Don't be fooled, my dear brothers and sisters."},{"verse":17,"text":"Every good and perfect gift comes from above. It comes down from the Father of the lights in the sky. He never changes. He doesn't shift like a moving shadow."},{"verse":18,"text":"He chose to give us new birth through the word of truth. He did this so we would be like the firstfruits of everything he made."},{"verse":19,"text":"My dear brothers and sisters, understand this. Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak. They should also be slow to get angry."},{"verse":20,"text":"A person's anger does not produce the right living that God wants."},{"verse":21,"text":"So get rid of all the filthy things in your life and every kind of evil. Humbly accept the word God has planted in you. It is able to save your souls."},{"verse":22,"text":"Do what God's word says. Don't just listen to it. If you only listen, you are fooling yourselves."},{"verse":23,"text":"Someone who hears the word but doesn't do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror."},{"verse":24,"text":"He looks at himself and then goes away. Right away he forgets what he looks like."},{"verse":25,"text":"But someone may look closely into the perfect law that sets people free. And he may keep on looking. He doesn't forget what he has heard. Instead, he does it. That person will be blessed in what he does."},{"verse":26,"text":"If someone thinks he is religious but doesn't control his tongue, he is fooling himself. His religion is worth nothing."},{"verse":27,"text":"Here is religion that God our Father accepts as pure and clean. It is to care for orphans and widows in their troubles. It is also to keep yourself from being made dirty by the world."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My brothers and sisters, you believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So don't treat some people better than others."},{"verse":2,"text":"Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes. And a poor man in worn-out clothes comes in too."},{"verse":3,"text":"Suppose you pay special attention to the man in fine clothes. You say, \"Here's a good seat for you.\" But you say to the poor man, \"You stand over there,\" or \"Sit on the floor by my feet.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Haven't you treated people unequally among yourselves? Haven't you become judges with evil thoughts?"},{"verse":5,"text":"Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. God has chosen the people who are poor in this world to be rich in faith. He has chosen them to receive the kingdom he promised to those who love him. Isn't that true?"},{"verse":6,"text":"But you have treated the poor with disrespect. Aren't the rich the ones who treat you cruelly? Aren't they the ones who drag you into court?"},{"verse":7,"text":"Aren't they the ones who speak evil against the noble name of the one you belong to?"},{"verse":8,"text":"Scripture gives the royal law: \"Love your neighbor as yourself.\" If you really keep this law, you are doing well."},{"verse":9,"text":"But if you treat some people better than others, you sin. The law shows that you are guilty of breaking it."},{"verse":10,"text":"Suppose someone keeps the whole law but fails at just one point. Then he is guilty of breaking all of it."},{"verse":11,"text":"God said, \"Do not commit adultery.\" He also said, \"Do not murder.\" You might not commit adultery, but you might murder. Then you have broken the law."},{"verse":12,"text":"You will be judged by the law that gives freedom. So speak and act like people who know this."},{"verse":13,"text":"Anyone who has not shown mercy will be judged without mercy. Mercy wins over judgment."},{"verse":14,"text":"My brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone says he has faith but does no good deeds? Can that kind of faith save him?"},{"verse":15,"text":"Suppose a brother or sister has no clothes and no food for the day."},{"verse":16,"text":"Suppose one of you says to that person, \"Go in peace. Stay warm and eat well.\" But you don't give them what their body needs. What good is that?"},{"verse":17,"text":"It's the same with faith. If faith doesn't lead to action, it is dead all by itself."},{"verse":18,"text":"But someone will say, \"You have faith, and I have deeds.\" Show me your faith without deeds. And I will show you my faith by what I do."},{"verse":19,"text":"You believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe that, and they shake with fear."},{"verse":20,"text":"You foolish person! Do you want proof that faith without deeds is worthless?"},{"verse":21,"text":"Think about our father Abraham. He offered his son Isaac on the altar. Wasn't he made right with God by what he did?"},{"verse":22,"text":"You can see that his faith and his actions were working together. His faith was made complete by what he did."},{"verse":23,"text":"And so the Scripture came true that says, \"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.\" And Abraham was called God's friend."},{"verse":24,"text":"So you see that a person is made right with God by what he does, and not by faith alone."},{"verse":25,"text":"It was the same with Rahab the prostitute. She welcomed the spies and sent them away by another road. Wasn't she made right with God by what she did?"},{"verse":26,"text":"A body without the spirit is dead. In the same way, faith without deeds is dead."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers. That is because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."},{"verse":2,"text":"We all stumble in many ways. If someone never stumbles in what he says, he is a perfect man. He is able to control his whole body too."},{"verse":3,"text":"We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us. Then we can steer the whole animal."},{"verse":4,"text":"Or think about ships. They are very large, and strong winds drive them along. But a very small rudder steers them wherever the pilot wants to go."},{"verse":5,"text":"In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body. But it brags about great things. Think about how a small spark can set a huge forest on fire."},{"verse":6,"text":"The tongue is also a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of the body. It makes the whole person dirty. It sets the whole course of his life on fire. And hell itself sets the tongue on fire.","note":"Greek: Gehenna."},{"verse":7,"text":"People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures. They are taming them now, and they have tamed them in the past."},{"verse":8,"text":"But no person can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."},{"verse":9,"text":"With our tongue we praise our Lord and Father. And with it we curse people, who have been made in God's likeness."},{"verse":10,"text":"Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!"},{"verse":11,"text":"Can fresh water and salt water both flow from the same spring?"},{"verse":12,"text":"My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree grow olives? Can a grapevine grow figs? In the same way, a salty spring can't give fresh water."},{"verse":13,"text":"Who among you is wise and understands things? He should show it by living a good life. He should show it by doing good deeds in the humble way that wisdom gives."},{"verse":14,"text":"But maybe you hold on to bitter jealousy in your hearts. Maybe you only want to get ahead for yourself. If so, don't brag about it, and don't deny the truth."},{"verse":15,"text":"That kind of wisdom does not come down from heaven. It belongs to the earth. It is not spiritual. It comes from demons."},{"verse":16,"text":"Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be disorder and every kind of evil."},{"verse":17,"text":"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure first of all. It also loves peace. It is gentle and willing to give way to others. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It treats everyone the same, and it is honest."},{"verse":18,"text":"Peacemakers who plant seeds of peace will harvest a crop of right living."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"What causes fights and arguments among you? Don't they come from the desires that battle inside you?"},{"verse":2,"text":"You want things you don't have. You kill and you envy, but you still can't get what you want. You argue and fight. You don't have what you want because you don't ask."},{"verse":3,"text":"And when you do ask, you don't receive. That's because you ask for the wrong reasons. You want to waste it on your own pleasures."},{"verse":4,"text":"You unfaithful people! Don't you know that being a friend of the world means being against God? So anyone who chooses to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy.","note":"Greek: You adulteresses."},{"verse":5,"text":"Or do you think Scripture says this for no reason? It says that the Spirit God made to live in us longs with envy.","note":"This verse is hard to translate. It may mean God longs jealously for the spirit he put in us, or that the human spirit in us longs with envy."},{"verse":6,"text":"But God gives us even more grace. That is why Scripture says, \"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So give yourselves to God and obey him. Stand up against the devil, and he will run away from you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Come near to God, and he will come near to you. You sinners, wash your hands. You who can't make up your minds, make your hearts pure."},{"verse":9,"text":"Be sad, mourn, and cry. Change your laughing into crying. Change your joy into sadness."},{"verse":10,"text":"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."},{"verse":11,"text":"Brothers and sisters, don't speak evil against each other. Anyone who speaks against a fellow believer or judges him is speaking against the law and judging it. And if you judge the law, you are not obeying it. Instead, you are acting as its judge."},{"verse":12,"text":"There is only one who gives the law and judges. He is the one who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"},{"verse":13,"text":"Now listen, you who say, \"Today or tomorrow we will go to this city or that one. We will spend a year there. We will do business and make money.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"You don't even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are like a mist. It shows up for a little while and then disappears."},{"verse":15,"text":"Instead, you should say, \"If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"But as it is, you brag about your proud plans. All bragging like that is evil."},{"verse":17,"text":"So if someone knows the right thing to do but doesn't do it, he is guilty of sin."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Now listen, you rich people. Cry and wail because of the misery that is coming to you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Your riches have rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your gold and silver have rusted. Their rust will be a witness against you. It will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days."},{"verse":4,"text":"Look! You held back the pay of the workers who mowed your fields. Their pay is crying out against you. The cries of the harvest workers have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts."},{"verse":5,"text":"You have lived on earth in rich comfort, giving yourselves whatever you want. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter."},{"verse":6,"text":"You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not fight back against you."},{"verse":7,"text":"So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes. Look at how the farmer waits for the land to give its precious crop. See how patiently he waits for the fall and spring rains."},{"verse":8,"text":"You also must be patient. Make your hearts strong, because the Lord's coming is near."},{"verse":9,"text":"Brothers and sisters, don't complain about each other, or you will be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!"},{"verse":10,"text":"Brothers and sisters, think about the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Follow their example of patience when they suffered."},{"verse":11,"text":"You see, we think of those who kept going as blessed. You have heard how Job kept going. And you have seen how the Lord made things turn out in the end. The Lord is full of kindness and mercy."},{"verse":12,"text":"My brothers and sisters, above all, do not swear an oath. Don't swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Just let your \"Yes\" mean yes, and your \"No\" mean no. Then you will not be judged."},{"verse":13,"text":"Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone happy? He should sing songs of praise."},{"verse":14,"text":"Is anyone among you sick? He should call the elders of the church. They should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord."},{"verse":15,"text":"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven."},{"verse":16,"text":"So tell your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful and gets results."},{"verse":17,"text":"Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed hard that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three and a half years."},{"verse":18,"text":"Then he prayed again, and the sky poured down rain. And the earth grew its crops."},{"verse":19,"text":"My brothers and sisters, one of you might wander away from the truth. And someone might bring that person back."},{"verse":20,"text":"If so, remember this. Whoever turns a sinner back from his wrong path will save his soul from death. He will also cover a huge number of sins."}]}]},{"name":"1 Peter","slug":"1-peter","usfm":"1PE","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To God's chosen people who live as strangers, scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. You were chosen"},{"verse":2,"text":"just as God the Father knew ahead of time. The Spirit made you holy so you would obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood. May you have more and more grace and peace."},{"verse":3,"text":"Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy, he has given us a new birth. He has given us a living hope because Jesus Christ rose from the dead."},{"verse":4,"text":"He has also given us new birth into a share of riches that will never die, spoil, or fade. These riches are kept in heaven for you."},{"verse":5,"text":"Through your faith, God's power protects you. It keeps you safe for the salvation that is ready to be shown at the end of time."},{"verse":6,"text":"This makes you very glad. But for a little while you may have had to be sad because of many kinds of trials."},{"verse":7,"text":"These trials come so that your faith may be proven real. Your faith is worth more than gold. Gold is tested by fire, but it still won't last. Your proven faith will bring praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to the world."},{"verse":8,"text":"You have not seen him, but you love him. You don't see him now, but you believe in him. And you are filled with a glorious joy that is too great for words."},{"verse":9,"text":"You are now receiving the goal of your faith. That goal is the salvation of your souls."},{"verse":10,"text":"The prophets spoke about the grace that would come to you. They searched very carefully to learn about this salvation."},{"verse":11,"text":"The Spirit of Christ was in them. He told them ahead of time about the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would come after. The prophets tried to find out what time and what events the Spirit was pointing to."},{"verse":12,"text":"God showed them that they were not serving themselves. They were serving you. They spoke about the things you have now heard. Those who preached the good news to you told you these things by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."},{"verse":13,"text":"So get your minds ready for action. Think clearly. Put all your hope in the grace you will receive when Jesus Christ is shown to the world."},{"verse":14,"text":"Be like children who obey. Don't let the evil desires you had before shape your life. Back then you didn't know any better."},{"verse":15,"text":"The one who called you is holy. So you also must be holy in everything you do."},{"verse":16,"text":"Scripture says, \"Be holy, because I am holy.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"You call on a Father who judges each person's work fairly. So live in awe and fear of him while you live here as strangers."},{"verse":18,"text":"You know that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down from your ancestors. It was not with things that wear out, like silver or gold."},{"verse":19,"text":"Instead, you were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. He is like a lamb with no flaw or spot."},{"verse":20,"text":"God knew him before the world was made. But he was shown to the world in these last times for your sake."},{"verse":21,"text":"Through Christ you believe in God. God raised him from the dead and gave him glory. So your faith and hope are in God."},{"verse":22,"text":"You have made your souls pure by obeying the truth. Now you have true love for your brothers and sisters. So love one another deeply, from a pure heart."},{"verse":23,"text":"You have been born again. You were not born from a seed that dies, but from a seed that can never die. You were born again through the word of God, which lives and lasts forever."},{"verse":24,"text":"Scripture says,\n\"All people are like grass.\nAll their glory is like the flowers in the field.\nThe grass dries up, and the flowers fall off,"},{"verse":25,"text":"but the word of the Lord lasts forever.\"\nAnd this is the word that was preached to you."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"So get rid of all hatred and all lying. Stop pretending to be something you're not. Get rid of jealousy and every kind of mean talk."},{"verse":2,"text":"Be like newborn babies. Long for pure spiritual milk. It will help you grow up in your salvation."},{"verse":3,"text":"Now you have tasted that the Lord is good."},{"verse":4,"text":"You are coming to him, the living stone. People rejected him. But God chose him, and he is precious to God."},{"verse":5,"text":"You also are like living stones. You are being built into a spiritual house. You are to be a holy priesthood. You offer spiritual sacrifices that God accepts through Jesus Christ."},{"verse":6,"text":"Scripture says,\n\"Look, I am placing a stone in Zion.\nIt is a chosen and precious cornerstone.\nThe one who believes in him will never be put to shame.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"So to you who believe, this stone is precious. But for those who don't believe,\n\"The stone the builders rejected\nhas become the cornerstone.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"And,\n\"He is a stone that makes people trip\nand a rock that makes them fall.\"\nThey trip because they don't obey the word. And this is what they were appointed to do."},{"verse":9,"text":"But you are a chosen people. You are a royal priesthood and a holy nation. You are a people who belong to God. You are to tell about the great things he has done. He called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."},{"verse":10,"text":"Once you were not a people. But now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy. But now you have received mercy."},{"verse":11,"text":"Dear friends, you are strangers and foreigners in this world. So I urge you to stay away from the desires of the sinful nature. They fight against your soul."},{"verse":12,"text":"Live such good lives among the Gentiles that they will see your good deeds. They may say you are doing wrong. But they will see your good deeds and give glory to God on the day he comes to us."},{"verse":13,"text":"For the Lord's sake, obey every human authority. Obey the king, who is the highest authority."},{"verse":14,"text":"Obey the governors too. The king sends them to punish those who do wrong. He also sends them to praise those who do right."},{"verse":15,"text":"God wants you to do good. When you do, you will silence foolish people who talk without knowing."},{"verse":16,"text":"Live as free people. But don't use your freedom as a cover for doing evil. Live as servants of God."},{"verse":17,"text":"Show respect to everyone. Love your brothers and sisters in the faith. Fear God. Honor the king."},{"verse":18,"text":"Servants, obey your masters with all respect. Obey not only those who are good and kind, but also those who are harsh."},{"verse":19,"text":"If someone suffers pain unfairly and puts up with it because he is thinking of God, that is something to be praised."},{"verse":20,"text":"But suppose you are beaten for doing wrong and you put up with it. Is that anything to be praised for? But if you suffer for doing good and put up with it, God is pleased with that."},{"verse":21,"text":"God called you to this, because Christ also suffered for you. He left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps."},{"verse":22,"text":"\"He never sinned.\nHe never told a lie.\""},{"verse":23,"text":"When people insulted him, he did not insult them back. When he suffered, he did not threaten anyone. Instead, he trusted himself to God, who judges fairly."},{"verse":24,"text":"He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we might die to sin and live for what is right. \"By his wounds you are healed.\"","note":"Greek: the tree."},{"verse":25,"text":"\"You were like sheep that wandered away.\" But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Wives, in the same way, put yourselves under your husbands' leadership. Then, even if some husbands refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without a word. They will be won over by the way their wives live."},{"verse":2,"text":"They will see how pure and respectful your life is."},{"verse":3,"text":"Your beauty should not come from what you put on the outside. It should not come from braided hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes."},{"verse":4,"text":"Instead, your beauty should come from who you are inside your heart. It should be the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty never fades, and it is precious to God."},{"verse":5,"text":"This is how the holy women of long ago made themselves beautiful. They put their hope in God. They put themselves under their husbands' leadership."},{"verse":6,"text":"They were like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her children if you do what is right and don't give in to fear."},{"verse":7,"text":"Husbands, in the same way, be thoughtful as you live with your wives. Treat them as more delicate. Honor them, because they will inherit God's gift of life with you. Then nothing will get in the way of your prayers."},{"verse":8,"text":"Finally, all of you should agree with each other. Care about each other's feelings. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble."},{"verse":9,"text":"Don't pay back evil with evil. Don't pay back an insult with an insult. Instead, pay it back with a blessing. God called you to do this so that you would receive a blessing."},{"verse":10,"text":"Scripture says,\n\"Whoever wants to love life\nand see good days\nmust keep his tongue from evil\nand his lips from telling lies."},{"verse":11,"text":"He must turn away from evil and do good.\nHe must look for peace and chase after it."},{"verse":12,"text":"The eyes of the Lord watch over the righteous.\nHis ears are open to their prayers.\nBut the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Who will hurt you if you are eager to do good?"},{"verse":14,"text":"But even if you suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. \"Don't be afraid of what they fear. Don't be upset.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Instead, in your hearts honor Christ as the holy Lord. Always be ready to answer anyone who asks why you have hope. But answer them gently and with respect."},{"verse":16,"text":"Keep your conscience clear. Then those who say bad things about you will be ashamed. They will see your good life in Christ."},{"verse":17,"text":"If God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."},{"verse":18,"text":"Christ also suffered for sins once for all time. He was righteous, and he suffered for those who are not. He did it to bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was made alive in the Spirit."},{"verse":19,"text":"In the Spirit he also went and preached to the spirits in prison."},{"verse":20,"text":"Those spirits disobeyed long ago. God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. Only a few people, eight in all, were saved through the water in the ark."},{"verse":21,"text":"And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you too. Baptism is not washing dirt off the body. It is the promise of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."},{"verse":22,"text":"He has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand. Angels, authorities, and powers are all under his rule."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Christ suffered in his body. So you also should arm yourselves with the same way of thinking. That is because anyone who has suffered in his body is finished with sin."},{"verse":2,"text":"As a result, he does not live the rest of his time on earth for human desires. He lives for what God wants."},{"verse":3,"text":"You have already spent enough time in the past doing what the Gentiles like to do. You lived in wild living and lust. You got drunk and joined in wild parties and drinking parties. You worshiped hateful idols."},{"verse":4,"text":"So now they think it's strange that you don't rush with them into the same flood of reckless living. And they insult you."},{"verse":5,"text":"But they will have to answer to God. He is ready to judge the living and the dead."},{"verse":6,"text":"That is why the good news was preached even to those who are now dead. It was preached so that they might be judged in the body as people are. But they would live in the spirit as God does."},{"verse":7,"text":"The end of all things is near. So think clearly and stay alert, so you can pray."},{"verse":8,"text":"Most of all, love each other deeply, because love covers a huge number of sins."},{"verse":9,"text":"Welcome each other into your homes without complaining."},{"verse":10,"text":"God has given each of you a gift. Use it to serve one another. Take good care of God's grace, which comes in many different forms."},{"verse":11,"text":"If anyone speaks, he should speak as someone saying God's words. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God gives. Then God will be praised in everything through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen."},{"verse":12,"text":"Dear friends, don't be surprised by the fiery trial that has come to test you. Don't act as if something strange were happening to you."},{"verse":13,"text":"Instead, be glad that you share in the sufferings of Christ. Then you will be full of joy when his glory is shown."},{"verse":14,"text":"If people insult you because of the name of Christ, you are blessed. The Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests on you."},{"verse":15,"text":"None of you should suffer for being a murderer or a thief or for doing wrong. You shouldn't even suffer for meddling in other people's business."},{"verse":16,"text":"But if you suffer for being a Christian, don't be ashamed. Praise God that you have that name."},{"verse":17,"text":"It is time for judgment to begin with God's family. If it begins with us, what will happen to those who don't obey God's good news?"},{"verse":18,"text":"Scripture says,\n\"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,\nwhat will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So those who suffer because God wants them to should trust their souls to their faithful Creator. And they should keep doing good."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"I am a fellow elder. I saw Christ suffer, and I will share in the glory that will be shown. So I urge the elders among you."},{"verse":2,"text":"Be shepherds of God's flock that is in your care. Watch over them because you want to, not because you have to. That is what God wants. Don't do it to get money. Do it because you are eager to serve."},{"verse":3,"text":"Don't be bossy over the people in your care. Instead, be examples to the flock."},{"verse":4,"text":"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory. It will never fade away."},{"verse":5,"text":"Young men, in the same way, obey your elders. And all of you, put on humility toward one another like clothing. This is because Scripture says, \"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"So humble yourselves under God's powerful hand. Then he will lift you up at the right time."},{"verse":7,"text":"Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you."},{"verse":8,"text":"Think clearly and stay alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. He is looking for someone to eat up."},{"verse":9,"text":"Stand up against him, and stay strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kinds of suffering."},{"verse":10,"text":"You will suffer for a little while. After that, the God of all grace will himself restore you. He called you to share his glory forever in Christ. He will make you secure. He will make you strong and set you on a firm base."},{"verse":11,"text":"Power belongs to him forever and ever. Amen."},{"verse":12,"text":"I have written this short letter to you with the help of Silvanus. I think of him as a faithful brother. I wrote to encourage you. I also wrote to tell you that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it."},{"verse":13,"text":"The church in Babylon sends you greetings. God chose them together with you. My son Mark also sends greetings."},{"verse":14,"text":"Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ."}]}]},{"name":"2 Peter","slug":"2-peter","usfm":"2PE","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have received a faith as precious as ours. You received it through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."},{"verse":2,"text":"May you have more and more grace and peace as you come to know God and Jesus our Lord."},{"verse":3,"text":"God's power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. We have it through knowing the one who called us. He called us by his own glory and goodness."},{"verse":4,"text":"Through these, he has given us his great and precious promises. Through them you can share in God's nature. You have now escaped the rot in the world caused by evil desires."},{"verse":5,"text":"That is why you should try as hard as you can to add goodness to your faith. And add knowledge to goodness."},{"verse":6,"text":"Add self-control to knowledge. Add the strength to keep going to self-control. And add godliness to the strength to keep going."},{"verse":7,"text":"Add kindness toward fellow believers to godliness. And add love to that kindness."},{"verse":8,"text":"You may have these qualities and keep growing in them. If so, they will keep you from being useless and fruitless in knowing our Lord Jesus Christ."},{"verse":9,"text":"But anyone who doesn't have them can't see far. He is so nearsighted he is blind. He has forgotten that his past sins were washed away."},{"verse":10,"text":"So, brothers and sisters, work hard to make sure God has called and chosen you. If you do these things, you will never fall."},{"verse":11,"text":"And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."},{"verse":12,"text":"So I will always remind you of these things. I know you already know them. And I know you stand firm in the truth you now have."},{"verse":13,"text":"I think it is right to keep reminding you for as long as I live in the tent of this body."},{"verse":14,"text":"I know that I will soon put this tent aside. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made this clear to me."},{"verse":15,"text":"And I will do my best to make sure you can always remember these things after I am gone."},{"verse":16,"text":"We told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and about his coming. We were not following clever made-up stories. We saw his greatness with our own eyes."},{"verse":17,"text":"He received honor and glory from God the Father. A voice came to him from God's great glory. It said, \"This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him.\""},{"verse":18,"text":"We heard this voice ourselves. It came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain."},{"verse":19,"text":"We also have the message of the prophets, which has been proven true. You will do well to pay attention to it. It is like a lamp shining in a dark place. Pay attention until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."},{"verse":20,"text":"Above all, you must understand this. No prophecy in Scripture comes from someone's own explanation.","note":"This may mean the prophet's own explanation or the reader's."},{"verse":21,"text":"No prophecy ever came because a person wanted it to. Instead, the Holy Spirit carried men along as they spoke from God."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"But there were also false prophets among God's people long ago. In the same way, there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in teachings that destroy. They will even deny the Master who bought them. They will bring quick destruction on themselves."},{"verse":2,"text":"Many people will follow their evil ways. Because of them, people will say bad things about the way of truth."},{"verse":3,"text":"These false teachers are greedy. They will use you by telling you lies. The judgment against them was made long ago, and it still stands. Their destruction is not asleep."},{"verse":4,"text":"For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but threw them deep into hell, and put them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;","note":"Greek: Tartarus."},{"verse":5,"text":"if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but kept Noah safe, a preacher of what is right, along with seven others;"},{"verse":6,"text":"if he judged the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and destroyed them, burning them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;"},{"verse":7,"text":"and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man who was upset by the evil ways of lawless people"},{"verse":8,"text":"(that righteous man lived among them day after day, and his righteous soul was tormented by the lawless things he saw and heard)—"},{"verse":9,"text":"If all this is true, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from trials. And he knows how to hold the wicked for punishment on the day of judgment."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is especially true for those who follow the evil desires of the sinful nature and hate authority. These people are bold and do whatever they want. They are not afraid to speak evil of glorious beings."},{"verse":11,"text":"But even angels don't dare to bring such insulting charges against them before the Lord. And angels are much stronger and more powerful."},{"verse":12,"text":"These men are like animals that can't think. They act only on instinct. They are born to be caught and destroyed. They speak evil about things they don't understand. And like those animals, they too will be destroyed."},{"verse":13,"text":"They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. They think it is fun to party wildly in broad daylight. They are like stains and spots among you. They enjoy their tricks while they eat with you."},{"verse":14,"text":"Their eyes are full of adultery. They never stop wanting to sin. They lure people who are weak in faith. Their hearts are trained in greed. They are under God's curse."},{"verse":15,"text":"They have left the straight road and wandered away. They follow the way of Balaam son of Beor. He loved the money he could get for doing wrong."},{"verse":16,"text":"But Balaam was scolded for his sin by a donkey. Donkeys can't talk, but this one spoke with a man's voice. It stopped the prophet's crazy plan."},{"verse":17,"text":"These men are like springs with no water. They are like mists blown by a storm. The deepest darkness is waiting for them."},{"verse":18,"text":"They brag with big, empty words. They use sinful desires of the body to lure people. They lure those who are just escaping from people who live in error."},{"verse":19,"text":"They promise these people freedom. But they themselves are slaves to evil. A person is a slave to whatever controls him."},{"verse":20,"text":"They may have escaped the rot of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But then they get tangled up in it again and are beaten by it. If so, they end up worse off than they were at first."},{"verse":21,"text":"It would have been better for them never to have known the way of what is right. It is worse to know it and then turn away from the holy command they were given."},{"verse":22,"text":"These sayings are true about them: \"A dog goes back to its vomit.\" And, \"A pig that is washed goes back to rolling in the mud.\""}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. In both letters I have tried to remind you of things. I want to stir you up to think in a pure way."},{"verse":2,"text":"I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago. And remember the command our Lord and Savior gave through your apostles."},{"verse":3,"text":"Most important, you must understand this. In the last days, people will come who make fun of the truth. They will mock and follow their own evil desires."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will say, \"Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the world was made.\"","note":"Greek: fell asleep."},{"verse":5,"text":"But they choose to forget something. Long ago, the heavens were there because God spoke. And the earth was formed out of water and by water."},{"verse":6,"text":"By water the world of that time perished in the flood."},{"verse":7,"text":"And by that same word, the heavens and earth we have now are kept for fire. They are kept for the day when ungodly people will be judged and destroyed."},{"verse":8,"text":"Dear friends, don't forget this one thing. To the Lord, one day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like one day."},{"verse":9,"text":"The Lord is not slow to keep his promise, as some people think of slowness. Instead, he is patient with you. He doesn't want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to turn back to God."},{"verse":10,"text":"But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. Fire will destroy the elements. And the earth and everything done on it will be laid bare.","note":"Some manuscripts say will be burned up."},{"verse":11,"text":"Everything will be destroyed in this way. So what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives"},{"verse":12,"text":"as you look forward to the day of God and help it come sooner. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat."},{"verse":13,"text":"But we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, just as God promised. Righteousness will live there.","note":"Greek: where righteousness dwells."},{"verse":14,"text":"So, dear friends, you are looking forward to these things. Try as hard as you can to be found at peace. Be spotless and without blame in his sight."},{"verse":15,"text":"Remember that our Lord is patient so that people can be saved. Our dear brother Paul also wrote to you about this. He wrote with the wisdom God gave him."},{"verse":16,"text":"He writes this way in all his letters when he talks about these things. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand. People who don't know better and aren't steady twist them. They twist the rest of the Scriptures too. And it leads to their own destruction."},{"verse":17,"text":"So, dear friends, you already know these things. Be on guard. Don't let the error of lawless people carry you away. Don't fall from your safe place."},{"verse":18,"text":"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to him both now and forever. Amen."}]}]},{"name":"1 John","slug":"1-john","usfm":"1JN","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is what was there from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it with our own eyes. We have looked at it and touched it with our own hands. This is the Word of life."},{"verse":2,"text":"This life was shown to us. We have seen it, and we tell about it. We are telling you about the eternal life that was with the Father. It was shown to us."},{"verse":3,"text":"We tell you what we have seen and heard. We want you to share life with us too. And we share life with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.","note":"Greek: fellowship."},{"verse":4,"text":"We write these things so that our joy may be full."},{"verse":5,"text":"Here is the message we heard from him, and we tell it to you: God is light. There is no darkness in him at all."},{"verse":6,"text":"We may say we share life with him. But if we still walk in the dark, we are lying. We are not living out the truth."},{"verse":7,"text":"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we share life with one another. And the blood of Jesus his Son makes us clean from all sin."},{"verse":8,"text":"If we say we have no sin, we fool ourselves. The truth is not in us."},{"verse":9,"text":"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and fair. He will forgive our sins. He will make us clean from all that is wrong."},{"verse":10,"text":"If we say we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar. His word is not in us."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"My little children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have someone who speaks for us to the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."},{"verse":2,"text":"He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. And not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world."},{"verse":3,"text":"Here is how we can be sure we have come to know him: if we keep his commands."},{"verse":4,"text":"Someone may say, \"I know him.\" But if he does not keep his commands, he is a liar. The truth is not in him."},{"verse":5,"text":"But if anyone keeps his word, God's love has truly been made complete in him. Here is how we know we are in him:"},{"verse":6,"text":"Whoever says he lives in him must live the way Jesus lived."},{"verse":7,"text":"Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command. It is an old one. You have had it from the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard."},{"verse":8,"text":"And yet I am writing you a new command too. It is true in him, and it is true in you. For the darkness is fading. The true light is already shining."},{"verse":9,"text":"Someone may say he is in the light. But if he hates his brother or sister, he is still in the dark."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever loves his brother or sister stays in the light. There is nothing in him to make anyone trip and fall."},{"verse":11,"text":"But whoever hates his brother or sister is in the dark. He walks around in the dark. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has made him blind."},{"verse":12,"text":"I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through his name."},{"verse":13,"text":"I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who has been there from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have won over the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father."},{"verse":14,"text":"I have written to you, fathers, because you know him who has been there from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong. The word of God lives in you, and you have won over the evil one."},{"verse":15,"text":"Do not love the world or anything in it. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love is not in him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Here is what is in the world: the wants of our sinful nature, the wants of our eyes, and pride in what we have. None of this comes from the Father. It comes from the world."},{"verse":17,"text":"The world is passing away, and so are its wants. But whoever does what God wants will live forever."},{"verse":18,"text":"Children, it is the last hour. You have heard that the antichrist is coming. And just as you heard, many antichrists have now come. That is how we know it is the last hour."},{"verse":19,"text":"They left us, but they never really belonged to us. If they had belonged to us, they would have stayed with us. But they left. That made it clear that none of them belonged to us."},{"verse":20,"text":"But you have been anointed by the Holy One. All of you know the truth."},{"verse":21,"text":"I am not writing to you because you do not know the truth. I am writing because you do know it. And no lie comes from the truth."},{"verse":22,"text":"Who is the liar? It is the one who says Jesus is not the Christ. That person is the antichrist. He denies the Father and the Son."},{"verse":23,"text":"Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father. But whoever says yes to the Son has the Father too."},{"verse":24,"text":"As for you, keep what you heard from the beginning in your hearts. If you do, you will also stay in the Son and in the Father."},{"verse":25,"text":"And here is what he himself promised us: eternal life."},{"verse":26,"text":"I have written these things to you about people who are trying to fool you."},{"verse":27,"text":"But as for you, he anointed you, and that anointing stays in you. So you do not need anyone to teach you. His anointing is true and real, and it teaches you about all things. So stay in him, just as you were taught."},{"verse":28,"text":"And now, little children, stay in Christ. Then when he appears, we can be bold. We will not shrink back from him in shame when he comes."},{"verse":29,"text":"If you know that he is righteous, you also know this: everyone who does what is right has been born of him."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"See how great a love the Father has given us! He lets us be called children of God. And that is what we are! The world does not know us because it did not know him."},{"verse":2,"text":"Dear friends, we are God's children now. What we will be has not yet been shown. But we know that when Christ appears, we will be like him. For we will see him as he really is."},{"verse":3,"text":"Everyone who has this hope in him makes himself pure, just as Christ is pure."},{"verse":4,"text":"Everyone who keeps on sinning also breaks God's law. In fact, sin is breaking God's law."},{"verse":5,"text":"But you know that Christ came to take away sins. And there is no sin in him."},{"verse":6,"text":"No one who stays in him keeps on sinning. No one who keeps on sinning has seen him or known him."},{"verse":7,"text":"Little children, do not let anyone fool you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous."},{"verse":8,"text":"The one who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. The devil has been sinning from the very start. That is why the Son of God came. He came to destroy the devil's work."},{"verse":9,"text":"Anyone born of God will not keep on sinning, because God's seed lives in him. He cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God."},{"verse":10,"text":"Here is how you can tell God's children from the devil's children. Anyone who does not do what is right is not from God. And anyone who does not love his brother or sister is not from God either."},{"verse":11,"text":"Here is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another."},{"verse":12,"text":"Do not be like Cain. He belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain kill him? Because Cain's own deeds were evil, and his brother's deeds were right."},{"verse":13,"text":"So do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you."},{"verse":14,"text":"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who does not love is still in death."},{"verse":15,"text":"Everyone who hates his brother or sister is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life living in him."},{"verse":16,"text":"Here is how we know what love is: Jesus gave up his life for us. So we should give up our lives for our brothers and sisters."},{"verse":17,"text":"Say someone has money and things in this world. He sees a brother or sister in need. But he shuts his heart and does not care. Then how can God's love live in him?"},{"verse":18,"text":"Little children, let's not love just with words or talk. Let's love by what we do and in truth."},{"verse":19,"text":"This is how we will know that we belong to the truth. And this is how we will put our hearts at rest when we stand before him:"},{"verse":20,"text":"Even if our hearts blame us, God is greater than our hearts. He knows all things."},{"verse":21,"text":"Dear friends, if our hearts do not blame us, we can come to God boldly."},{"verse":22,"text":"And we will receive from him whatever we ask. For we keep his commands and do what pleases him."},{"verse":23,"text":"And here is his command: We should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. And we should love one another, just as he told us to."},{"verse":24,"text":"Whoever keeps his commands lives in God, and God lives in him. And here is how we know he lives in us. We know it by the Spirit he has given us."}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Test the spirits to see if they come from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world."},{"verse":2,"text":"Here is how you will know God's Spirit. Every spirit that says Jesus Christ has come in a human body is from God."},{"verse":3,"text":"But every spirit that does not say this about Jesus is not from God. That is the spirit of the antichrist. You have heard that it is coming. And it is already in the world even now."},{"verse":4,"text":"Little children, you are from God, and you have won over them. For the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."},{"verse":5,"text":"They belong to the world. So they speak the way the world thinks, and the world listens to them."},{"verse":6,"text":"We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us. Whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we can tell the Spirit of truth from the spirit of lies."},{"verse":7,"text":"Dear friends, let's love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."},{"verse":8,"text":"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."},{"verse":9,"text":"Here is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world. He did this so that we could live through him."},{"verse":10,"text":"This is what love is. It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins."},{"verse":11,"text":"Dear friends, if God loved us so much, we should also love one another."},{"verse":12,"text":"No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. And his love is made complete in us."},{"verse":13,"text":"Here is how we know that we live in him and he lives in us. He has given us his Spirit."},{"verse":14,"text":"And we have seen and we tell others that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world."},{"verse":15,"text":"If anyone says that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he lives in God."},{"verse":16,"text":"And we have come to know the love God has for us, and we believe it. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him."},{"verse":17,"text":"In this way, love has been made complete among us. So we can be bold on the day of judgment. For in this world we are just like him."},{"verse":18,"text":"There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears has not been made complete in love."},{"verse":19,"text":"We love because he first loved us."},{"verse":20,"text":"Someone may say, \"I love God,\" but hate his brother or sister. That person is a liar. He has seen his brother or sister, but does not love them. So he cannot love God, whom he has not seen."},{"verse":21,"text":"And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother and sister."}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. And everyone who loves the Father also loves his children."},{"verse":2,"text":"Here is how we know that we love God's children: when we love God and keep his commands."},{"verse":3,"text":"For loving God means keeping his commands. And his commands are not too hard to carry,"},{"verse":4,"text":"because everyone born of God wins over the world. And here is what has won the victory over the world: our faith."},{"verse":5,"text":"So who wins over the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."},{"verse":6,"text":"Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood. He did not come by water only. He came by water and blood. And the Spirit is the one who tells us this is true, because the Spirit is the truth."},{"verse":7,"text":"For there are three that tell what is true:","note":"Some late manuscripts add words about the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit in verses 7-8."},{"verse":8,"text":"the Spirit, the water, and the blood. And these three agree."},{"verse":9,"text":"We accept what people tell us is true. But what God tells us is greater. And this is what God has told us about his Son."},{"verse":10,"text":"Whoever believes in the Son of God has this witness in his heart. Whoever does not believe God has made God out to be a liar. That is because he has not believed what God has told us about his Son."},{"verse":11,"text":"And here is what God has told us: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."},{"verse":12,"text":"Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God. I want you to know that you have eternal life."},{"verse":14,"text":"Here is why we can be bold when we come to him. If we ask for anything that fits his will, he hears us."},{"verse":15,"text":"And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, then we know that we already have what we asked him for."},{"verse":16,"text":"You may see your brother or sister doing a sin that does not lead to death. You should pray to God for that person. God will give him life. This is for those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying you should pray about that one."},{"verse":17,"text":"All wrongdoing is sin. But there is sin that does not lead to death."},{"verse":18,"text":"We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning. The One who was born of God keeps him safe. And the evil one cannot touch him."},{"verse":19,"text":"We know that we belong to God. And we know that the whole world is under the power of the evil one."},{"verse":20,"text":"And we know that the Son of God has come. He has helped us understand, so that we can know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true. We are in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."},{"verse":21,"text":"Little children, keep yourselves away from idols."}]}]},{"name":"2 John","slug":"2-john","usfm":"2JN","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From the elder. To the chosen lady and her children. I love you in the truth. And I am not the only one. All who know the truth love you too."},{"verse":2,"text":"We love you because of the truth that lives in us. It will be with us forever."},{"verse":3,"text":"Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us in truth and love. They come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son."},{"verse":4,"text":"I was so happy to find some of your children walking in the truth. That is just what the Father commanded us to do."},{"verse":5,"text":"And now, dear lady, I ask you this. It is not a new command I'm writing to you. It is one we have had from the beginning. Let's love one another."},{"verse":6,"text":"And this is love: that we live by his commands. This is the same command you have heard from the beginning. You must walk in love."},{"verse":7,"text":"For many liars have gone out into the world. They will not say that Jesus Christ has come in a human body. Anyone like that is the deceiver and the antichrist."},{"verse":8,"text":"Watch yourselves. Do not lose what we have worked for. Then you will get your full reward."},{"verse":9,"text":"Some people run ahead and do not stay in the teaching about Christ. Anyone like that does not have God. Whoever stays in his teaching has both the Father and the Son."},{"verse":10,"text":"Someone may come to you who does not bring this teaching. Do not welcome him into your home. Do not even greet him."},{"verse":11,"text":"Whoever greets such a person takes part in his evil deeds."},{"verse":12,"text":"I have much to write to you. But I'd rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be full."},{"verse":13,"text":"The children of your chosen sister send you greetings."}]}]},{"name":"3 John","slug":"3-john","usfm":"3JN","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From the elder. To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth."},{"verse":2,"text":"Dear friend, I pray that all goes well for you. I pray that you are in good health, just as your soul is doing well."},{"verse":3,"text":"Some brothers came and told about how true you are to the truth. They said you keep walking in it. That made me very happy."},{"verse":4,"text":"Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."},{"verse":5,"text":"Dear friend, you are being faithful in what you do for the brothers. You do it even though they are strangers to you."},{"verse":6,"text":"They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a way that honors God. You will do well to do this."},{"verse":7,"text":"For they went out for the sake of the Name. They took nothing from the Gentiles."},{"verse":8,"text":"So we should help men like these. Then we will be working together with them for the truth."},{"verse":9,"text":"I wrote to the church about this. But Diotrephes loves to be first, and he will not listen to us."},{"verse":10,"text":"So if I come, I will point out what he is doing. He is saying evil, false things about us. And that is not enough for him. He will not welcome the brothers. He stops others who want to welcome them. He even puts them out of the church."},{"verse":11,"text":"Dear friend, do not copy what is evil. Copy what is good. The one who does good is from God. The one who does evil has not seen God."},{"verse":12,"text":"Everyone speaks well of Demetrius, and so does the truth itself. We speak well of him too. And you know that what we say is true."},{"verse":13,"text":"I have much to write to you. But I'd rather not write it with pen and ink."},{"verse":14,"text":"Instead, I hope to see you soon. Then we can talk face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name."}]}]},{"name":"Jude","slug":"jude","usfm":"JUD","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"From Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. To those God has called. You are loved by God the Father and kept in Jesus Christ."},{"verse":2,"text":"May you have more and more mercy, peace, and love."},{"verse":3,"text":"Dear friends, I was trying hard to write to you about the salvation we share. But I felt I had to write and urge you to fight hard for the faith. God gave this faith to his people once for all time."},{"verse":4,"text":"For some men have sneaked in among you without being noticed. They are ungodly people. Long ago they were marked out to be judged. They twist the grace of our God into an excuse to live in immoral ways. And they deny Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord."},{"verse":5,"text":"You already know all this. But I want to remind you. Jesus saved his people out of the land of Egypt. But later he destroyed those who did not believe.","note":"Some manuscripts say \"the Lord\" instead of \"Jesus.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"And think of the angels who did not stay in their place of authority. They left their proper home. He has kept them in darkness, bound in chains that last forever. They are waiting for judgment on that great day."},{"verse":7,"text":"In the same way, think of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them. They gave themselves to sexual sin and went after strange flesh. They are shown as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."},{"verse":8,"text":"Yet these dreamers do the same thing. They make their bodies unclean. They reject authority. And they insult glorious beings."},{"verse":9,"text":"But even Michael the archangel did not do that. He argued with the devil about the body of Moses. But he did not dare to accuse him with insults. He said, \"The Lord rebuke you!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"But these men insult things they do not understand. They are like animals that cannot think. The very things they do by instinct will destroy them."},{"verse":11,"text":"How terrible it will be for them! They have gone the way of Cain. They have rushed into Balaam's error to make money. They have perished in Korah's rebellion."},{"verse":12,"text":"These men are hidden rocks at your love feasts. They eat with you without shame, but they only take care of themselves. They are clouds with no rain, blown along by the wind. They are trees in autumn with no fruit. They are dead twice over, pulled up by the roots."},{"verse":13,"text":"They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame. They are wandering stars. The blackest darkness has been kept for them forever."},{"verse":14,"text":"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also spoke for God about them. He said, \"Look! The Lord is coming with many thousands of his holy ones."},{"verse":15,"text":"He is coming to judge everyone. He will prove all the ungodly guilty of every ungodly thing they did. He will judge every harsh word that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"These men grumble and complain. They follow their own evil desires. Their mouths pour out proud boasts. They flatter others to get what they want."},{"verse":17,"text":"But you, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said would happen."},{"verse":18,"text":"They told you, \"In the last times there will be mockers. They will follow their own ungodly desires.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"These are the people who split you apart. They follow the world. They do not have the Spirit."},{"verse":20,"text":"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, and pray in the Holy Spirit, as you"},{"verse":21,"text":"keep yourselves in God's love. Do this as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life."},{"verse":22,"text":"Show mercy to those who doubt."},{"verse":23,"text":"Save others by pulling them out of the fire. To still others, show mercy mixed with fear. Hate even the clothes stained by their sinful nature."},{"verse":24,"text":"God is able to keep you from falling. He is able to bring you into his glorious presence without fault and with great joy."},{"verse":25,"text":"He is the only God, our Savior. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord. May it be so before all time, and now, and forever. Amen."}]}]},{"name":"Revelation","slug":"revelation","usfm":"REV","testament":"NT","chapters":[{"chapter":1,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. God gave it to him to show his servants what must soon take place. Jesus made it known by sending his angel to his servant John."},{"verse":2,"text":"John tells about everything he saw. This is the word of God and the witness of Jesus Christ."},{"verse":3,"text":"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy out loud. And blessed are those who hear it and obey what is written in it. For the time is near."},{"verse":4,"text":"From John. To the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come. Grace and peace also from the seven spirits in front of his throne."},{"verse":5,"text":"And grace and peace from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness. He is the first to rise from the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us. He has set us free from our sins by his blood."},{"verse":6,"text":"He has made us a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father. To him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen."},{"verse":7,"text":"Look, he is coming with the clouds! Every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him. So it will be! Amen."},{"verse":8,"text":"\"I am the Alpha and the Omega,\" says the Lord God. He is the one who is, who was, and who is to come. He is the Almighty.","note":"Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet."},{"verse":9,"text":"I am John, your brother. I share with you in the trouble, the kingdom, and the patient strength we have in Jesus. I was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and because I told about Jesus."},{"verse":10,"text":"On the Lord's day I was in the Spirit. Behind me I heard a loud voice like a trumpet."},{"verse":11,"text":"It said, \"Write on a scroll what you see. Send it to the seven churches. Send it to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"I turned around to see whose voice was speaking to me. When I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands."},{"verse":13,"text":"Among the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He wore a long robe with a gold sash around his chest."},{"verse":14,"text":"The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a blazing fire."},{"verse":15,"text":"His feet were like shiny bronze heated in a furnace. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters."},{"verse":16,"text":"In his right hand he held seven stars. A sharp sword with two edges came out of his mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest."},{"verse":17,"text":"When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he put his right hand on me. He said, \"Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last."},{"verse":18,"text":"I am the Living One. I was dead, but look, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and Hades."},{"verse":19,"text":"So write down what you have seen. Write what is now, and what will happen after this."},{"verse":20,"text":"Here is the secret meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand. And here is the meaning of the seven gold lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. The seven lampstands are the seven churches."}]},{"chapter":2,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus: These are the words of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand. He walks among the seven gold lampstands."},{"verse":2,"text":"I know what you do. I know how hard you work and how you keep going. I know you cannot put up with evil people. You have tested those who say they are apostles but are not. You found out they are liars."},{"verse":3,"text":"You have not given up. You have kept going and put up with many hard things because of my name."},{"verse":4,"text":"But I have this against you: You have left your first love."},{"verse":5,"text":"So remember how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you. I will take your lampstand from its place."},{"verse":6,"text":"But here is something good about you: You hate what the Nicolaitans do. I hate it too."},{"verse":7,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who wins, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life. It is in the Paradise of God."},{"verse":8,"text":"Write this to the angel of the church in Smyrna: These are the words of the First and the Last. He died and came back to life."},{"verse":9,"text":"I know your suffering and how poor you are. But you are rich! I know the evil things said about you by those who say they are Jews. But they are not. They are a synagogue of Satan."},{"verse":10,"text":"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Listen! The devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. Be faithful, even if you have to die. Then I will give you the crown of life."},{"verse":11,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who wins will not be hurt by the second death."},{"verse":12,"text":"Write this to the angel of the church in Pergamum: These are the words of the one who holds the sharp sword with two edges."},{"verse":13,"text":"I know where you live. It is where Satan has his throne. Yet you hold on to my name. You did not deny your faith in me. You stayed true even when Antipas was killed. He was my faithful witness. He was killed in your city, where Satan lives."},{"verse":14,"text":"But I have a few things against you. Some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak to set a trap for the Israelites, so they would eat food offered to idols and do sexual sin."},{"verse":15,"text":"In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans."},{"verse":16,"text":"So repent! If you don't, I will come to you soon. I will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who wins, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. A new name will be written on it. No one will know that name except the one who gets it."},{"verse":18,"text":"Write this to the angel of the church in Thyatira: These are the words of the Son of God. His eyes are like a blazing fire. His feet are like shiny bronze."},{"verse":19,"text":"I know what you do. I know your love, your faith, your service, and how you keep going. And you are doing more now than you did at first."},{"verse":20,"text":"But I have this against you: You put up with that woman Jezebel. She calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she leads my servants astray. She leads them into sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols."},{"verse":21,"text":"I have given her time to repent of her sexual sin. But she will not."},{"verse":22,"text":"Look! I will throw her onto a bed of sickness. Those who commit adultery with her will suffer great trouble, unless they repent of her deeds."},{"verse":23,"text":"I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will pay back each of you for what you have done."},{"verse":24,"text":"Now I speak to the rest of you in Thyatira. You do not hold to her teaching. You have not learned what some call the deep secrets of Satan. I will not put any other load on you."},{"verse":25,"text":"Just hold on to what you have until I come."},{"verse":26,"text":"To the one who wins and keeps doing my work to the end, I will give authority over the nations."},{"verse":27,"text":"He will rule them with an iron rod. He will smash them like clay pots. I have received this same authority from my Father."},{"verse":28,"text":"And I will give him the morning star."},{"verse":29,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."}]},{"chapter":3,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"\"Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis: These are the words of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know what you do. People say you are alive, but you are dead."},{"verse":2,"text":"Wake up! Make strong what is left, which is about to die. For I have found that what you do is not complete in the sight of my God."},{"verse":3,"text":"So remember what you have received and heard. Obey it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief. You will not know the hour when I will come to you."},{"verse":4,"text":"But you have a few people in Sardis who have not made their clothes dirty. They will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy."},{"verse":5,"text":"Like them, the one who wins will be dressed in white. I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will say his name before my Father and his angels."},{"verse":6,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."},{"verse":7,"text":"Write this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: These are the words of the one who is holy and true. He holds the key of David. What he opens, no one can shut. What he shuts, no one can open."},{"verse":8,"text":"I know what you do. Look, I have put an open door in front of you. No one can shut it. I know you have only a little strength. Yet you have kept my word, and you have not denied my name."},{"verse":9,"text":"Some belong to the synagogue of Satan. They say they are Jews, but they are liars. I will make them come and bow down at your feet. They will know that I love you."},{"verse":10,"text":"You have kept my command to keep going. So I will also keep you from the hour of testing. That hour is about to come on the whole world. It will test those who live on the earth."},{"verse":11,"text":"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."},{"verse":12,"text":"I will make the one who wins a pillar in the temple of my God. He will never leave it again. I will write on him the name of my God. I will write the name of the city of my God. It is the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write on him my new name."},{"verse":13,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."},{"verse":14,"text":"Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness. He is the Origin of God's creation."},{"verse":15,"text":"I know what you do. You are not cold or hot. I wish you were one or the other!"},{"verse":16,"text":"But you are lukewarm. You are not hot or cold. So I am about to spit you out of my mouth!"},{"verse":17,"text":"You say, 'I am rich. I have become wealthy, and I don't need anything.' But you don't see that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked."},{"verse":18,"text":"Here is my advice. Buy from me gold that has been made pure by fire. Then you will be rich. Buy white clothes to wear, so the shame of your nakedness will not be seen. And buy cream to put on your eyes, so you can see."},{"verse":19,"text":"I correct and discipline those I love. So be serious and repent."},{"verse":20,"text":"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. I will eat with him, and he will eat with me."},{"verse":21,"text":"To the one who wins, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne. In the same way, I won and sat down with my Father on his throne."},{"verse":22,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.\""}]},{"chapter":4,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. I heard the voice that had spoken to me before, like a trumpet. It said, \"Come up here. I will show you what must happen after this.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"Right away I was in the Spirit. I saw a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it."},{"verse":3,"text":"The one sitting there shone like jasper and carnelian stones. A rainbow that glowed like an emerald circled the throne."},{"verse":4,"text":"Around the throne were twenty-four other thrones. On these thrones sat twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had gold crowns on their heads."},{"verse":5,"text":"Flashes of lightning, rumbling sounds, and claps of thunder came from the throne. In front of the throne seven torches of fire were burning. These are the seven spirits of God."},{"verse":6,"text":"In front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures. They were covered with eyes in front and in back."},{"verse":7,"text":"The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like a calf. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like an eagle flying."},{"verse":8,"text":"Each of the four living creatures had six wings. Each was covered with eyes all around and inside. Day and night they never stop saying:\n\"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.\nHe was, and he is, and he is to come!\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, who lives forever and ever. Whenever they do,"},{"verse":10,"text":"the twenty-four elders fall down before the one sitting on the throne. They worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns down before the throne and say:"},{"verse":11,"text":"\"You are worthy, our Lord and God,\nto receive glory and honor and power.\nFor you made all things.\nBecause you willed it, they exist and were made.\""}]},{"chapter":5,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. It had writing on both sides. It was sealed with seven seals."},{"verse":2,"text":"And I saw a mighty angel calling out in a loud voice, \"Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?\""},{"verse":3,"text":"But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it."},{"verse":4,"text":"I began to cry hard. No one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then one of the elders said to me, \"Do not cry! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has won. He is the Root of David. He can open the scroll and its seven seals.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been killed. He was standing in the center of the throne. The four living creatures and the elders were all around him. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes. These are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."},{"verse":7,"text":"The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne."},{"verse":8,"text":"When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp. They held gold bowls full of incense. The incense is the prayers of God's people."},{"verse":9,"text":"And they sang a new song:\n\"You are worthy to take the scroll\nand open its seals.\nFor you were killed,\nand by your blood you bought people for God.\nThey are from every tribe and language and people and nation."},{"verse":10,"text":"You have made them a kingdom and priests to serve our God.\nAnd they will rule on the earth.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels. They were all around the throne and the living creatures and the elders. There were ten thousand times ten thousand of them, and thousands of thousands."},{"verse":12,"text":"In a loud voice they were saying:\n\"Worthy is the Lamb who was killed!\nHe is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength\nand honor and glory and blessing!\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea. All that is in them were saying:\n\"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb\nbe praise and honor and glory and power\nforever and ever!\""},{"verse":14,"text":"The four living creatures said, \"Amen.\" And the elders fell down and worshiped."}]},{"chapter":6,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I watched the Lamb open the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, \"Come!\""},{"verse":2,"text":"I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider held a bow. He was given a crown. He rode out to win battles and to conquer."},{"verse":3,"text":"When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, \"Come!\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then another horse came out. It was fiery red. Its rider was allowed to take peace away from the earth. He was allowed to make people kill each other. He was given a large sword."},{"verse":5,"text":"When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, \"Come!\" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures. It said, \"A quart of wheat for a day's pay. Three quarts of barley for a day's pay. But do not harm the oil and the wine.\"","note":"Greek: a denarius, about a day's pay for a worker."},{"verse":7,"text":"When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, \"Come!\""},{"verse":8,"text":"I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its rider's name was Death. Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth. They could kill by sword, by hunger, by sickness, and by the wild animals of the earth."},{"verse":9,"text":"When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw souls under the altar. They had been killed for the word of God and for standing firm in their witness."},{"verse":10,"text":"They cried out in a loud voice, \"Holy and true Lord, how long will it be? When will you judge the people who live on the earth? When will you pay them back for our blood?\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer. More of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, would be killed just as they had been. They were to wait until the full number had been killed."},{"verse":12,"text":"I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair. The whole moon turned red like blood."},{"verse":13,"text":"The stars in the sky fell to the earth. They fell like unripe figs drop from a tree shaken by a strong wind."},{"verse":14,"text":"The sky was pulled back like a scroll being rolled up. Every mountain and island was moved from its place."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then everyone hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. The kings of the earth hid. So did the nobles, the army leaders, the rich, and the powerful. Every slave and every free person hid too."},{"verse":16,"text":"They called to the mountains and the rocks, \"Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne! Hide us from the anger of the Lamb!"},{"verse":17,"text":"For the great day of their anger has come. And who can stand up to it?\""}]},{"chapter":7,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth. They kept the wind from blowing on the land or the sea or on any tree."},{"verse":2,"text":"Then I saw another angel coming up from the east. He had the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels. They had been given power to harm the land and the sea."},{"verse":3,"text":"He said, \"Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees yet. Wait until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I heard how many were sealed. There were 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel."},{"verse":5,"text":"From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed. From the tribe of Reuben, 12,000. From the tribe of Gad, 12,000."},{"verse":6,"text":"From the tribe of Asher, 12,000. From the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000. From the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000."},{"verse":7,"text":"From the tribe of Simeon, 12,000. From the tribe of Levi, 12,000. From the tribe of Issachar, 12,000."},{"verse":8,"text":"From the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000. From the tribe of Joseph, 12,000. And from the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000."},{"verse":9,"text":"After this I looked, and there was a huge crowd. It was too big for anyone to count. They came from every nation and tribe and people and language. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands."},{"verse":10,"text":"They cried out in a loud voice:\n\"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne,\nand to the Lamb!\""},{"verse":11,"text":"All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell facedown in front of the throne and worshiped God."},{"verse":12,"text":"They said:\n\"Amen!\nBlessing and glory and wisdom and thanks\nand honor and power and strength\nbelong to our God forever and ever!\nAmen.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"Then one of the elders spoke to me. He asked, \"Who are these people dressed in white robes? Where did they come from?\""},{"verse":14,"text":"I answered, \"Sir, you know.\" So he said, \"These are the ones who have come out of the great time of trouble. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."},{"verse":15,"text":"That is why they are in front of God's throne. They serve him day and night in his temple. And the one sitting on the throne will spread his tent over them."},{"verse":16,"text":"'Never again will they be hungry.\nNever again will they be thirsty.\nThe sun will not beat down on them,\nand no burning heat will strike them.'"},{"verse":17,"text":"For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd.\n'He will lead them to springs of living water.'\nAnd 'God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'\""}]},{"chapter":8,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, heaven was silent for about half an hour."},{"verse":2,"text":"And I saw the seven angels who stand before God. They were given seven trumpets."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a gold censer. He was given a lot of incense to offer on the gold altar in front of the throne. He offered it along with the prayers of all God's people."},{"verse":4,"text":"The smoke of the incense went up before God from the angel's hand. The prayers of God's people went up with it."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the angel took the censer. He filled it with fire from the altar and threw it down on the earth. There were claps of thunder, rumbling sounds, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The first angel blew his trumpet. Hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up. A third of the trees were burned up. And all the green grass was burned up."},{"verse":8,"text":"The second angel blew his trumpet. Something like a huge mountain on fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood."},{"verse":9,"text":"A third of the living creatures in the sea died. And a third of the ships were destroyed."},{"verse":10,"text":"The third angel blew his trumpet. A great star burning like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water."},{"verse":11,"text":"The star's name is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil. Many people died from drinking the bitter water."},{"verse":12,"text":"The fourth angel blew his trumpet. A third of the sun was struck. So were a third of the moon and a third of the stars. A third of them turned dark. A third of the day had no light, and a third of the night too."},{"verse":13,"text":"As I watched, I heard an eagle flying high in the sky. It called out in a loud voice, \"How terrible! How terrible! How terrible it will be for those who live on the earth! The other three angels are about to blow their trumpets!\""}]},{"chapter":9,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"The fifth angel blew his trumpet. I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the pit of the Abyss."},{"verse":2,"text":"The star opened the pit of the Abyss. Smoke rose out of it like smoke from a huge furnace. The sun and the sky turned dark from the smoke of the pit."},{"verse":3,"text":"Locusts came down on the earth out of the smoke. They were given power like the power of scorpions on the earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree. They were to harm only people who did not have God's seal on their foreheads."},{"verse":5,"text":"The locusts were not allowed to kill those people. They were only allowed to hurt them for five months. The pain was like the sting of a scorpion."},{"verse":6,"text":"In those days people will look for death, but they will not find it. They will long to die, but death will run away from them."},{"verse":7,"text":"The locusts looked like horses ready for battle. On their heads they wore something like gold crowns. Their faces looked like human faces."},{"verse":8,"text":"They had hair like women's hair. They had teeth like lions' teeth."},{"verse":9,"text":"They had chest armor that looked like iron. Their wings made a sound like many horses and chariots rushing into battle."},{"verse":10,"text":"They had tails with stingers like scorpions. Their tails had power to hurt people for five months."},{"verse":11,"text":"They had a king over them. He was the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon. In Greek it is Apollyon.","note":"Both names mean Destroyer."},{"verse":12,"text":"The first terror is over. Look, two more terrors are still coming.","note":"Greek: woe."},{"verse":13,"text":"The sixth angel blew his trumpet. I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the gold altar that stands before God."},{"verse":14,"text":"It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, \"Set free the four angels who are tied up at the great Euphrates River.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"So the four angels were set free. They had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year. They were set free to kill a third of all people."},{"verse":16,"text":"There were two hundred million soldiers on horses. I heard how many there were."},{"verse":17,"text":"Here is how the horses and riders looked in my vision. The riders wore chest armor. It was the colors of fire, dark blue, and yellow sulfur. The horses' heads were like lions' heads. Fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths."},{"verse":18,"text":"A third of all people were killed by these three plagues. They were killed by the fire, smoke, and sulfur that came out of the horses' mouths."},{"verse":19,"text":"The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails. Their tails were like snakes. They had heads that they used to hurt people."},{"verse":20,"text":"The rest of the people were not killed by these plagues. But they still did not turn away from the things their hands had made. They did not stop worshiping demons. They kept worshiping idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. These idols cannot see or hear or walk."},{"verse":21,"text":"And they did not turn away from their murders, their witchcraft, their sexual sin, or their stealing."}]},{"chapter":10,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was wrapped in a cloud. A rainbow was over his head. His face was like the sun. His legs were like pillars of fire."},{"verse":2,"text":"He held a small scroll in his hand. It was open. He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then he gave a loud shout like a lion's roar. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with their voices."},{"verse":4,"text":"When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write it down. But I heard a voice from heaven. It said, \"Seal up what the seven thunders said. Do not write it down.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven."},{"verse":6,"text":"He made a promise by the one who lives forever and ever. God made heaven and all that is in it. He made the earth and all that is in it. He made the sea and all that is in it. The angel said, \"There will be no more waiting!"},{"verse":7,"text":"The seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet. In the days when he does, the secret plan of God will be finished. It will happen just as God told his servants the prophets.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"Then the voice I had heard from heaven spoke to me again. It said, \"Go and take the small scroll. It is lying open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"So I went to the angel. I said, \"Give me the small scroll.\" He said, \"Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter. But in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So I took the small scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. In my mouth it was as sweet as honey. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I was told, \"You must prophesy again. You must speak about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.\""}]},{"chapter":11,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I was given a measuring stick like a walking staff. I was told, \"Go and measure the temple of God and the altar. Count the people who worship there."},{"verse":2,"text":"But leave out the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it. It has been given to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months."},{"verse":3,"text":"And I will give power to my two witnesses. They will prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands. They stand before the Lord of the earth."},{"verse":5,"text":"If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths. It burns up their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must be killed."},{"verse":6,"text":"These witnesses have power to shut up the sky. Then no rain will fall during the days they prophesy. They have power to turn the waters into blood. They can strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want."},{"verse":7,"text":"When the two witnesses have finished telling their message, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will fight against them. It will beat them and kill them."},{"verse":8,"text":"Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city. That city is called Sodom and Egypt as a picture of what it is like. It is where their Lord was crucified too."},{"verse":9,"text":"For three and a half days, people from every tribe, language, and nation will stare at their bodies. They will not let anyone bury them in a tomb."},{"verse":10,"text":"The people who live on the earth will be glad they are dead. They will party and send each other gifts. For these two prophets had tormented them."},{"verse":11,"text":"But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into the two witnesses. They stood up on their feet. Great fear fell on everyone who saw them."},{"verse":12,"text":"Then the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven say, \"Come up here.\" And they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched."},{"verse":13,"text":"At that very hour there was a great earthquake. A tenth of the city fell down. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The rest were terrified, and they gave glory to the God of heaven."},{"verse":14,"text":"The second terror is over. Look, the third terror is coming soon."},{"verse":15,"text":"The seventh angel blew his trumpet. Loud voices in heaven called out:\n\"The kingdom of the world has become\nthe kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.\nAnd he will rule forever and ever.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"The twenty-four elders sit on their thrones before God. They fell on their faces and worshiped God."},{"verse":17,"text":"They said:\n\"We thank you, Lord God Almighty.\nYou are the one who is and who was.\nYou have taken your great power,\nand you have begun to rule."},{"verse":18,"text":"The nations were angry,\nand now your anger has come.\nThe time has come to judge the dead.\nIt is time to reward your servants the prophets,\nyour people, and those who honor your name,\nboth small and great.\nIt is time to destroy those who destroy the earth.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then God's temple in heaven was opened. The ark of his covenant could be seen in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumbling sounds, claps of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm."}]},{"chapter":12,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"A great sign appeared in the sky. It was a woman dressed with the sun. The moon was under her feet. A crown of twelve stars was on her head."},{"verse":2,"text":"She was pregnant. She was crying out in pain because she was about to give birth."},{"verse":3,"text":"Then another sign appeared in the sky. It was a huge red dragon. He had seven heads and ten horns. There were seven royal crowns on his heads."},{"verse":4,"text":"His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky. It threw them down to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth. He was ready to eat her child the moment it was born."},{"verse":5,"text":"She gave birth to a son, a boy. He will rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was taken up to God and to his throne."},{"verse":6,"text":"The woman ran away into the wilderness. God had made a place ready for her there. She would be taken care of there for 1,260 days."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back."},{"verse":8,"text":"But the dragon was not strong enough. He and his angels lost their place in heaven."},{"verse":9,"text":"The great dragon was thrown down. He is that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan. He leads the whole world astray. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him."},{"verse":10,"text":"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:\n\"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God have come.\nThe authority of his Christ has come.\nFor the one who accuses our brothers and sisters has been thrown down.\nHe accused them before our God day and night."},{"verse":11,"text":"They have won over him by the blood of the Lamb\nand by the message they told.\nThey did not love their lives so much\nthat they were afraid to die."},{"verse":12,"text":"So be glad, you heavens,\nand you who live in them!\nBut how terrible for the earth and the sea!\nThe devil has come down to you.\nHe is full of rage,\nbecause he knows his time is short.\""},{"verse":13,"text":"The dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth. So he chased the woman who had given birth to the boy."},{"verse":14,"text":"But the woman was given the two wings of a great eagle. She flew away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness. There she was taken care of for a time, and times, and half a time."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the serpent poured water out of his mouth like a river. He wanted to catch the woman and sweep her away in the flood."},{"verse":16,"text":"But the earth helped the woman. It opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured out of his mouth."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then the dragon was furious with the woman. He went off to make war against the rest of her children. They are the ones who keep God's commands and hold on to their witness about Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea."}]},{"chapter":13,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. There were ten royal crowns on its horns. On its heads were names that insulted God."},{"verse":2,"text":"The beast I saw looked like a leopard. It had feet like a bear's and a mouth like a lion's. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority."},{"verse":3,"text":"One of the beast's heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But the deadly wound was healed. The whole world was amazed and followed the beast."},{"verse":4,"text":"People worshiped the dragon, because he had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast. They said, \"Who is like the beast? Who can fight against it?\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The beast was given a mouth to say proud words that insulted God. It was allowed to use its authority for 42 months."},{"verse":6,"text":"The beast opened its mouth to insult God. It spoke evil against God's name and his tabernacle. That means those who live in heaven."},{"verse":7,"text":"The beast was allowed to make war against God's people and to beat them. It was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation."},{"verse":8,"text":"Everyone who lives on the earth will worship the beast. These are all the people whose names have not been written in the Book of Life. That book belongs to the Lamb who was killed. Their names were not written there from the creation of the world."},{"verse":9,"text":"Whoever has ears should listen:"},{"verse":10,"text":"\"If anyone is meant to be taken captive,\nhe will be taken captive.\nIf anyone is to be killed with the sword,\nhe will be killed with the sword.\"\nThis calls for God's people to be patient and faithful."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb. But it spoke like a dragon."},{"verse":12,"text":"This beast used all the authority of the first beast. It made the earth and the people who live on it worship the first beast. That was the beast whose deadly wound had been healed."},{"verse":13,"text":"The second beast did great signs. It even made fire come down from heaven to earth while people watched."},{"verse":14,"text":"It was allowed to do signs for the first beast. Because of these signs, it fooled the people who live on the earth. It told them to make an image of the first beast. That beast had been wounded by the sword, but it had lived."},{"verse":15,"text":"The second beast was allowed to give breath to the image of the first beast. Then the image could speak. It could have everyone killed who would not worship it."},{"verse":16,"text":"The second beast made everyone get a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. This was for all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave."},{"verse":17,"text":"No one could buy or sell without the mark. The mark was the name of the beast or the number of its name."},{"verse":18,"text":"This calls for wisdom. Let the one who has understanding figure out the number of the beast. It is the number of a man. That number is 666.","note":"Some manuscripts say 616."}]},{"chapter":14,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! With him were 144,000 people. They had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads."},{"verse":2,"text":"I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters. It was like a loud clap of thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing their harps."},{"verse":3,"text":"They sang a new song in front of the throne. They sang it in front of the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000. They had been bought back from the earth."},{"verse":4,"text":"These are the ones who did not make themselves unclean with women. They are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were bought back from among people as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."},{"verse":5,"text":"No lie was found in their mouths. They are without fault."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I saw another angel flying high in the sky. He had the eternal good news to tell to the people who live on the earth. It was for every nation, tribe, language, and people."},{"verse":7,"text":"He said in a loud voice, \"Fear God and give him glory! The hour has come for him to judge. Worship the one who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"A second angel followed him. He said, \"Fallen! Babylon the great has fallen! She made all the nations drink the wine of her wild passion for sexual sin.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"A third angel followed them. He called out in a loud voice, \"If anyone worships the beast and its image and gets its mark on his forehead or on his hand,"},{"verse":10,"text":"he too will drink the wine of God's anger. It has been poured full strength into the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur. This will happen in front of the holy angels and the Lamb."},{"verse":11,"text":"The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image. There is no rest for anyone who gets the mark of its name.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"This calls for God's people to be patient and to keep going. They keep God's commands and their faith in Jesus."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then I heard a voice from heaven. It told me to write: \"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.\" \"Yes,\" says the Spirit. \"They will rest from their hard work, for what they have done will go with them.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"I looked, and there was a white cloud! Sitting on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand."},{"verse":15,"text":"Then another angel came out of the temple. He called out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud. He said, \"Swing your sickle and reap! The time to harvest has come. The crop of the earth is ripe.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth. And the earth was harvested."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle."},{"verse":18,"text":"Still another angel came from the altar. He had power over the fire. He called out in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle. He said, \"Swing your sharp sickle. Gather the bunches of grapes from the earth's vine. Its grapes are ripe.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"So the angel swung his sickle over the earth. He gathered the earth's grapes. He threw them into the great winepress of God's anger."},{"verse":20,"text":"The grapes were stomped in the winepress outside the city. Blood flowed out of the winepress. It rose as high as the horses' bridles. It flowed for about 180 miles.","note":"Greek: 1,600 stadia."}]},{"chapter":15,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I saw another great and amazing sign in heaven. There were seven angels with the seven last plagues. With these plagues, God's anger is finished."},{"verse":2,"text":"And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing beside the sea were those who had won over the beast and its image and the number of its name. They held harps given to them by God."},{"verse":3,"text":"They sang the song of God's servant Moses and the song of the Lamb:\n\"Great and amazing are your works,\nLord God Almighty!\nFair and true are your ways,\nKing of the nations!"},{"verse":4,"text":"Lord, who will not fear you\nand bring glory to your name?\nFor you alone are holy.\nAll nations will come\nand worship before you,\nfor your righteous acts have been shown.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"After this I looked, and the temple in heaven was opened. It is the tabernacle of the Testimony."},{"verse":6,"text":"Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen. They wore gold sashes around their chests."},{"verse":7,"text":"Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls. The bowls were full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever."},{"verse":8,"text":"The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. No one could go into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."}]},{"chapter":16,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I heard a loud voice from the temple. It said to the seven angels, \"Go! Pour out the seven bowls of God's anger on the earth.\""},{"verse":2,"text":"So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Ugly, painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image."},{"verse":3,"text":"The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea. The sea turned into blood like the blood of a dead person. Every living thing in the sea died."},{"verse":4,"text":"The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water. They turned into blood."},{"verse":5,"text":"Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:\n\"You are righteous, Holy One.\nYou are the one who is and who was.\nYou are righteous because you have judged like this."},{"verse":6,"text":"For they spilled the blood of your people and your prophets.\nAnd you have given them blood to drink,\nas they deserve.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"And I heard the altar answer:\n\"Yes, Lord God Almighty,\nyour judgments are true and fair.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun. The sun was allowed to burn people with fire."},{"verse":9,"text":"People were burned by the terrible heat. They cursed the name of God, who had power over these plagues. But they would not repent and give him glory."},{"verse":10,"text":"The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. Its kingdom was thrown into darkness. People chewed their tongues because of the pain."},{"verse":11,"text":"They cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores. But they would not turn away from what they had done."},{"verse":12,"text":"The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River. Its water dried up. This made the way ready for the kings from the East."},{"verse":13,"text":"Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs. They came out of the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the false prophet."},{"verse":14,"text":"They are spirits of demons that do signs. They go out to all the kings of the earth. They gather the kings for battle on the great day of God Almighty."},{"verse":15,"text":"\"Look, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes on. Then he will not have to walk around naked and have his shame seen.\""},{"verse":16,"text":"Then the spirits gathered the kings together. They gathered them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon."},{"verse":17,"text":"The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple. It said, \"It is done!\""},{"verse":18,"text":"Then there were flashes of lightning, rumbling sounds, and claps of thunder. There was a great earthquake. There had never been one like it since people have lived on the earth. It was that powerful."},{"verse":19,"text":"The great city split into three parts. The cities of the nations fell down. God remembered Babylon the great. He made her drink the cup filled with the wine of his fierce anger."},{"verse":20,"text":"Every island ran away. The mountains could not be found."},{"verse":21,"text":"Huge hailstones fell on people from the sky. Each one weighed almost a hundred pounds. People cursed God for the plague of hail, because it was so terrible."}]},{"chapter":17,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. He said, \"Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits on many waters."},{"verse":2,"text":"The kings of the earth committed sexual sin with her. And the people who live on the earth got drunk on the wine of her sexual sin.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast. The beast was covered with names that insulted God. It had seven heads and ten horns."},{"verse":4,"text":"The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet. She was decorated with gold, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup. It was full of disgusting things and the filth of her sexual sin."},{"verse":5,"text":"A name with a hidden meaning was written on her forehead: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DISGUSTING THINGS OF THE EARTH."},{"verse":6,"text":"I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's people. She was drunk with the blood of those who were witnesses for Jesus. I was completely amazed when I saw her."},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Why are you so amazed?\" the angel said. \"I will tell you the mystery of the woman. I will also tell you the mystery of the beast that carries her. It is the beast with the seven heads and ten horns."},{"verse":8,"text":"The beast you saw once was, and now is not. But it is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. Some people who live on the earth have names that were not written in the Book of Life since the world was made. They will be amazed when they see the beast. It once was, and now is not, and yet will come."},{"verse":9,"text":"This takes a wise mind to understand. The seven heads are seven mountains where the woman sits."},{"verse":10,"text":"There are also seven kings. Five have fallen. One is ruling now. The other has not come yet. But when he comes, he must stay for only a little while."},{"verse":11,"text":"The beast that once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven. And he is going to his destruction."},{"verse":12,"text":"The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not received a kingdom yet. But for one hour they will be given authority as kings, along with the beast."},{"verse":13,"text":"These kings all have one purpose. They will hand over their power and authority to the beast."},{"verse":14,"text":"They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will win over them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful ones.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"Then the angel said to me, \"You saw the waters where the prostitute sits. They are peoples, crowds, nations, and languages."},{"verse":16,"text":"The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her ruined and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire."},{"verse":17,"text":"For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they will agree to give their kingdom to the beast. They will do this until the words of God come true."},{"verse":18,"text":"The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.\""}]},{"chapter":18,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority. His glory lit up the earth."},{"verse":2,"text":"He shouted with a mighty voice: \"Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a home for demons. She is a hiding place for every unclean spirit. She is a nest for every unclean bird and a den for every hated beast."},{"verse":3,"text":"All the nations have drunk the wine of her passion for sexual sin. The kings of the earth committed sexual sin with her. And the merchants of the earth grew rich from her wild luxury.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I heard another voice from heaven say: \"Come out of her, my people! Come out so that you will not share in her sins. Come out so that you will not catch any of her plagues."},{"verse":5,"text":"For her sins are piled up as high as heaven. And God has remembered her wrongs."},{"verse":6,"text":"Pay her back as she has done to others. Pay her back double for what she has done. In her own cup, mix her a double portion."},{"verse":7,"text":"She gave herself glory and lived in luxury. Give her that much pain and sorrow in return. In her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen. I am not a widow. I will never see sorrow.'"},{"verse":8,"text":"So her plagues will come in one day. Death and sorrow and hunger will come. She will be burned up with fire. For the Lord God who judges her is mighty.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"The kings of the earth committed sexual sin with her and shared her luxury. They will see the smoke rising from the fire that burns her up. Then they will weep and wail over her."},{"verse":10,"text":"They will stand far away, afraid of her pain. They will cry out: \"How terrible, how terrible for the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in just one hour your judgment has come.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her. That is because no one is left to buy their cargo,"},{"verse":12,"text":"cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; of all kinds of citron wood; and of every kind of thing made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble;"},{"verse":13,"text":"of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; and of the bodies and souls of slaves."},{"verse":14,"text":"They will say, \"The fruit your soul longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and beauty have disappeared. They will never be seen again.\""},{"verse":15,"text":"The merchants who sold these things got rich from her. They will stand far away, afraid of her pain. They will weep and mourn,"},{"verse":16,"text":"saying: \"How terrible, how terrible for the great city! She was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet. She was decorated with gold, precious stones, and pearls!"},{"verse":17,"text":"For in just one hour all this great wealth has been destroyed!\" Every ship captain, passenger, and sailor will stand far away. So will everyone who earns a living from the sea."},{"verse":18,"text":"They will cry out when they see the smoke rising from the fire that burns her up. \"Was there ever a city like this great city?\" they will shout."},{"verse":19,"text":"Then they will throw dust on their heads. They will weep and mourn and cry out: \"How terrible, how terrible for the great city! All who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth. For in just one hour she has been destroyed!\""},{"verse":20,"text":"Rejoice over her, heaven! Rejoice, you people of God, you apostles and prophets! For God has judged her for your sake."},{"verse":21,"text":"Then a mighty angel picked up a stone as big as a large millstone. He threw it into the sea and said: \"This is how violently the great city of Babylon will be thrown down. It will never be seen again."},{"verse":22,"text":"The sound of harp players and musicians will never be heard in you again. Neither will the sound of flute players and trumpet players. No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again."},{"verse":23,"text":"The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voices of a bride and groom will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the great men of the earth. That was because all the nations were fooled by your magic spells.\""},{"verse":24,"text":"The blood of prophets and of God's people was found in her. The blood of all who had been killed on the earth was found there too."}]},{"chapter":19,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd in heaven. They were shouting: \"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!"},{"verse":2,"text":"For his judgments are true and fair. He has judged the great prostitute. She ruined the earth with her sexual sin. She spilled the blood of his servants with her own hand. Now he has paid her back for it.\""},{"verse":3,"text":"And they shouted a second time: \"Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.\""},{"verse":4,"text":"Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures bowed down. They worshiped God, who sits on the throne. They said: \"Amen! Hallelujah!\""},{"verse":5,"text":"Then a voice came from the throne. It said: \"Praise our God, all you who serve him! Praise him, you who fear him, both small and great!\""},{"verse":6,"text":"Then I heard what sounded like the roar of a huge crowd. It was like the rushing of many waters and like loud rumbles of thunder. They were shouting: \"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns."},{"verse":7,"text":"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come. His bride has made herself ready."},{"verse":8,"text":"She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.\" For the fine linen she wears is the right things God's people have done."},{"verse":9,"text":"Then the angel told me, \"Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.\" He also said to me, \"These are the true words of God.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"So I fell down at his feet to worship him. But he told me, \"Do not do that! I am a servant of God, just like you. I serve with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\""},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I saw heaven standing open. A white horse was there in front of me. Its rider is called Faithful and True. He is righteous when he judges and makes war."},{"verse":12,"text":"His eyes are like blazing fire. On his head are many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself."},{"verse":13,"text":"He wears a robe dipped in blood. His name is The Word of God."},{"verse":14,"text":"The armies of heaven follow him on white horses. They are dressed in fine linen, white and pure."},{"verse":15,"text":"A sharp sword comes out of his mouth. He will use it to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fierce anger of God the Almighty."},{"verse":16,"text":"On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."},{"verse":17,"text":"Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky, \"Come! Gather together for the great supper of God."},{"verse":18,"text":"This is so you may eat the flesh of kings, commanders, and mighty men. You may eat the flesh of horses and their riders. You may eat the flesh of all people, slave and free, small and great.\""},{"verse":19,"text":"Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies. They had gathered to make war against the One sitting on the horse and against his army."},{"verse":20,"text":"But the beast was captured, and so was the false prophet. The false prophet had done signs for the beast. With these signs he fooled those who had taken the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur."},{"verse":21,"text":"The rest were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the One sitting on the horse. And all the birds stuffed themselves with their flesh."}]},{"chapter":20,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had the key to the Abyss. In his hand he held a great chain."},{"verse":2,"text":"He grabbed the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan. He tied him up for a thousand years."},{"verse":3,"text":"He threw him into the Abyss. Then he shut it and sealed it over him. This was so he could not fool the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that, he must be set free for a short time."},{"verse":4,"text":"Then I saw thrones. Those sitting on them had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off. They were killed for their testimony about Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image. They had not taken its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."},{"verse":5,"text":"The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection."},{"verse":6,"text":"Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ. They will reign with him for a thousand years."},{"verse":7,"text":"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be set free from his prison."},{"verse":8,"text":"He will go out to fool the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog. He will gather them for battle. There are as many of them as the sand on the seashore."},{"verse":9,"text":"They marched across the wide earth. They surrounded the camp of God's people and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and burned them up."},{"verse":10,"text":"The devil, who had fooled them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur. The beast and the false prophet had already been thrown there. They will be tormented there day and night forever and ever."},{"verse":11,"text":"Then I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven ran away from him. No place was found for them."},{"verse":12,"text":"I saw the dead, great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened. One of them was the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what they had done, as it was written in the books."},{"verse":13,"text":"The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. Each person was judged by what he had done."},{"verse":14,"text":"Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death."},{"verse":15,"text":"If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."}]},{"chapter":21,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and earth had passed away. And there was no more sea."},{"verse":2,"text":"I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It was made ready like a bride dressed up for her husband."},{"verse":3,"text":"I heard a loud voice from the throne. It said: \"Look! God's home is now with people, and he will live with them. They will be his people. God himself will be with them as their God."},{"verse":4,"text":"'He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.' There will be no more death or sadness or crying or pain. For the old things have passed away.\""},{"verse":5,"text":"The One sitting on the throne said, \"Look! I am making all things new.\" Then he said, \"Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.\""},{"verse":6,"text":"He said to me, \"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water to the thirsty for free. It will come from the spring of the water of life."},{"verse":7,"text":"The one who overcomes will inherit all things. I will be his God, and he will be my son."},{"verse":8,"text":"But some will have their place in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. These are cowards and those who do not believe. They are the disgusting, the murderers, and the sexually immoral. They are those who do magic, those who worship idols, and all liars. This is the second death.\""},{"verse":9,"text":"Then one of the seven angels came to me. He was one of the angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues. He said, \"Come. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.\""},{"verse":10,"text":"He carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain. He showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God."},{"verse":11,"text":"It shone with the glory of God. Its brightness was like a very precious jewel. It was like jasper, as clear as crystal."},{"verse":12,"text":"The city had a great, high wall with twelve gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve angels stood at the gates."},{"verse":13,"text":"There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west."},{"verse":14,"text":"The city wall had twelve foundations. On them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."},{"verse":15,"text":"The angel who talked with me had a gold measuring rod. It was for measuring the city, its gates, and its wall."},{"verse":16,"text":"The city was laid out as a square. It was as wide as it was long. He measured the city with the rod. Its length, width, and height were all the same, about 1,400 miles.","note":"Greek: 12,000 stadia."},{"verse":17,"text":"He measured its wall too. It was about 216 feet. The angel was using a human measure.","note":"Greek: 144 cubits, likely its thickness or height."},{"verse":18,"text":"The wall was made of jasper. The city itself was made of pure gold, as clear as glass."},{"verse":19,"text":"The foundations of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper. The second was sapphire. The third was chalcedony. The fourth was emerald."},{"verse":20,"text":"The fifth was sardonyx. The sixth was carnelian. The seventh was chrysolite. The eighth was beryl. The ninth was topaz. The tenth was chrysoprase. The eleventh was jacinth. The twelfth was amethyst."},{"verse":21,"text":"The twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each gate was made of a single pearl. The main street of the city was pure gold, as clear as glass."},{"verse":22,"text":"I did not see a temple in the city. That is because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple."},{"verse":23,"text":"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it. That is because the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."},{"verse":24,"text":"The nations will walk by its light. The kings of the earth will bring their glory into it."},{"verse":25,"text":"Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there."},{"verse":26,"text":"The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into the city."},{"verse":27,"text":"But nothing unclean will ever enter it. No one who does disgusting things or tells lies will enter. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will enter."}]},{"chapter":22,"verses":[{"verse":1,"text":"Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life. It was as clear as crystal. It flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb"},{"verse":2,"text":"down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river stood a tree of life. It grew twelve kinds of fruit. It gave a fresh crop every month. And the leaves of the tree are for healing the nations."},{"verse":3,"text":"There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him."},{"verse":4,"text":"They will see his face. His name will be on their foreheads."},{"verse":5,"text":"There will be no more night in the city. They will not need the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever."},{"verse":6,"text":"Then the angel said to me, \"These words are faithful and true. The Lord is the God of the spirits of the prophets. He has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon happen.\""},{"verse":7,"text":"\"Look! I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who obeys the words of prophecy in this book.\""},{"verse":8,"text":"I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel. He was the one who had shown me these things."},{"verse":9,"text":"But he said to me, \"Do not do that! I am a servant of God, just like you. I serve with your brothers the prophets. I serve with all who obey the words of this book. Worship God!\""},{"verse":10,"text":"Then he told me, \"Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near."},{"verse":11,"text":"Let the one who does wrong keep doing wrong. Let the one who is vile keep being vile. Let the one who does right keep doing what is right. Let the one who is holy keep being holy.\""},{"verse":12,"text":"\"Look! I am coming soon! I am bringing my reward with me. I will pay back each person for what he has done."},{"verse":13,"text":"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.\""},{"verse":14,"text":"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life. Then they may go through the gates into the city."},{"verse":15,"text":"But outside the city are the dogs. Outside are those who do magic, the sexually immoral, the murderers, and those who worship idols. Outside is everyone who loves lies and tells them."},{"verse":16,"text":"\"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.\""},{"verse":17,"text":"The Spirit and the bride say, \"Come!\" Let the one who hears say, \"Come!\" Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who wants the water of life drink it for free."},{"verse":18,"text":"I solemnly tell everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues written about in this book."},{"verse":19,"text":"And if anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city. These are written about in this book."},{"verse":20,"text":"The one who gives witness about these things says, \"Yes, I am coming soon.\" Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"},{"verse":21,"text":"May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all God's people. Amen."}]}]}]}