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+Περὶ ποιητικῆς αὐτῆς τε καὶ τῶν εἰδῶν αὐτῆς, ἥν τινα δύναμιν ἕκαστον ἔχει, καὶ πῶς δεῖ συνίστασθαι τοὺς μύθους, εἰ μέλλει καλῶς ἕξειν ἡ ποίησις, ἔτι δὲ ἐκ πόσων καὶ ποίων ἐστὶ μορίων, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ περὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὅσα τῆς αὐτῆς ἐστὶ μεθόδου, λέγωμεν, ἀρξάμενοι κατὰ φύσιν πρῶτον ἀπὸ τῶν πρώτων.
Ἐποποιία δὴ καὶ ἡ τῆς τραγῳδίας ποίησις, ἔτι δὲ κωμῳδία καὶ ἡ διθυραμβοποιητικὴ καὶ τῆς αὐλητικῆς ἡ πλείστη καὶ κιθαριστικῆς, πᾶσαι τυγχάνουσιν οὖσαι μιμήσεις τὸ σύνολον.
Διαφέρουσι δὲ ἀλλήλων τρισίν· ἢ γὰρ τῷ γένει ἑτέροις μιμεῖσθαι, ἢ τῷ ἕτερα, ἢ τῷ ἑτέρως καὶ μὴ τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον.
Ὥσπερ γὰρ καὶ χρώμασι καὶ σχήμασι πολλὰ μιμοῦνταί τινες ἀπεικάζοντες, οἱ μὲν διὰ τέχνης οἱ δὲ διὰ συνηθείας, ἕτεροι δὲ διὰ τῆς φωνῆς, οὕτω κἀν ταῖς εἰρημέναις τέχναις, ἅπασαι μὲν ποιοῦνται τὴν μίμησιν ἐν ῥυθμῷ καὶ λόγῳ καὶ ἁρμονίᾳ, τούτοις δ᾿ ἢ χωρὶς ἢ μεμιγμένοις,
οἷον ἁρμονίᾳ μὲν καὶ ῥυθμῷ χρώμεναι μόνον ἥ τε αὐλητικὴ καὶ ἡ κιθαριστική, κἂν εἴ τινες ἕτεραι τυγχάνωσιν οὖσαι τοιαῦται τὴν δύναμιν, οἷον ἡ τῶν συρίγγων.
Αὐτῷ δὲ τῷ ῥυθμῷ μιμοῦνται χωρὶς ἁρμονίας οἱ τῶν ὀρχηστῶν· καὶ γὰρ οὗτοι διὰ τῶν σχηματιζομένων ῥυθμῶν μιμοῦνται καὶ ἤθη καὶ πάθη καὶ πράξεις.
Ἡ δὲ ἐποποιία μόνον τοῖς λόγοις ψιλοῖς ἢ τοῖς μέτροις, καὶ τούτοις εἴτε μιγνῦσα μετ᾿ ἀλλήλων, εἴθ᾿ ἑνί τινι γένει χρωμένη τῶν μέτρων τυγχάνουσα
Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν ἔχοιμεν ὀνομάσαι κοινὸν τοὺς Σώφρονος καὶ Ξενάρχου μίμους καὶ τοὺς Σωκρατικοὺς λόγους,
οὐδὲ εἴ τις διὰ τριμέτρων ἢ ἐλεγείων ἢ τῶν ἄλλων τινῶν τῶν τοιούτων ποιοῖτο τὴν μίμησιν·
πλὴν οἱ ἄνθρωποί γε συνάπτοντες τῷ μέτρῳ τὸ ποιεῖν ἐλεγειοποιοὺς τοὺς δὲ ἐποποιοὺς ὀνομάζουσιν, οὐχ ὡς τοὺς κατὰ μίμησιν ποιητὰς ἀλλὰ κοινῇ κατὰ τὸ μέτρον προσαγορεύοντες.
Καὶ γὰρ ἂν ἰατρικὸν ἢ μουσικόν τι διὰ τῶν μέτρων ἐκφέρωσιν, οὕτω καλεῖν εἰώθασιν. Οὐδὲν δὲ κοινόν ἐστιν Ὁμήρῳ καὶ Ἐμπεδοκλεῖ πλὴν τὸ μέτρον· διὸ τὸν μὲν ποιητὴν δίκαιον καλεῖν, τὸν δὲ φυσιολόγου μᾶλλον ἢ ποιητήν.
Ὁμοίως δὲ κἂν εἴ τις ἅπαντα τὰ μέτρα μιγνύων ποιοῖτο τὴν μίμησιν, καθάπερ Χαιρήμων ἐποίησε Κένταυρον μικτὴν ῥαψῳδίαν ἐξ ἁπάντων τῶν μέτρων, οὐκ ἤδη καὶ ποιητὴν προσαγορευτέον. Περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων διωρίσθω τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον.
Εἰσὶ δέ τινες οἳ πάσι χρῶνται τοῖς εἰρημένοις, λέγω δὲ οἷον ῥυθμῷ καὶ μέλει καὶ μέτρῳ, ὥσπερ ἥ τε τῶν διθυραμβικῶν ποίησις καὶ ἡ τῶν νόμων καὶ ἥ τε τραγῳδία καὶ ἡ κωμῳδία· διαφέρουσι δέ, ὅτι αἱ μὲν ἅμα πᾶσιν αἱ δὲ κατὰ μέρος. Ταύτας μὲν οὖν λέγω τὰς διαφορὰς τῶν τεχνῶν, ἐν οἷς ποιοῦνται τὴν μίμησιν.
+Ἐπεὶ δὲ μιμοῦνται οἱ μιμούμενοι πράττοντας, ἀνάγκη δὲ τούτους ἢ σπουδαίους ἢ φαύλους εἶναι (τὰ γὰρ ἤθη σχεδὸν ἀεὶ τούτοις ἀκολουθεῖ μόνοις· κακίᾳ γὰρ καὶ ἀρετῇ τὰ ἤθη διαφέρουσι πάντες), ἤτοι βελτίονας ἢ καθ᾿ ἡμᾶς ἢ χείρονας ἢ καὶ τοιούτους, ὥσπερ οἱ γραφεῖς·
Πολύγνωτος μὲν γὰρ κρείττους, Παύσων δὲ χείρους, Διονύσιος δὲ ὁμοίους εἴκαζεν.
Δῆλον δὲ ὅτι καὶ τῶν λεχθεισῶν ἑκάστη μιμήσεων ἕξει ταύτας τὰς διαφοράς, καὶ ἔσται ἑτέρα τῷ ἕτερα μιμεῖσθαι τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον.
Καὶ γὰρ ἐν ὀρχήσει καὶ αὐλήσει καὶ
καὶ περὶ τοὺς λόγους δὲ καὶ τὴν ψιλομετρίαν, οἷον Ὅμηρος μὲν βελτίους, Κλεοφῶν δὲ ὁμοίους, Ἡγήμων δὲ ὁ Θάσιος ὁ τὰς παρῳδίας ποιήσας πρῶτος καὶ Νικοχάρης ὁ τὴν Δηλιάδα χείρους.
Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ περὶ τοὺς διθυράμβους καὶ περὶ τοὺς νόμους, ὡς Πέρσας καὶ Κύκλωπας Τιμόθεος καὶ Φιλόξενος, μιμήσαιτο ἄν τις.
Ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ διαφορᾷ καὶ ἡ τραγῳδία πρὸς τὴν κωμῳδίαν διέστηκεν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ χείρους ἡ δὲ βελτίους μιμεῖσθαι βούλεται τῶν νῦν.
+Ἔτι δὲ τούτων τρίτη διαφορὰ τὸ ὡς ἕκαστα τούτων μιμήσαιτο ἄν τις.
Καὶ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰ αὐτὰ μιμεῖσθαι ἔστιν ὁτὲ μὲν ἀπαγγέλλοντα ἢ ἕτερόν τι γιγνόμενον, ὥσπερ Ὅμηρος ποιεῖ, ἢ ὡς τὸν αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ μεταβάλλοντα, ἢ πάντας ὡς πράττοντας καὶ ἐνεργοῦντας τοὺς μιμουμένους.
Ἔν τρισὶ δὴ ταύταις διαφοραῖς ἡ μίμησίς ἐστιν, ὡς εἴπομεν κατ᾿ ἀρχάς, ἐν οἶς τε καὶ ἃ καὶ ὥς.
Ὥστε τῇ μὲν ὁ αὐτὸς ἂν εἴη μιμητὴς Ὁμήρῳ Σοφοκλῆς, μιμοῦνται γὰρ ἄμφω σπουδαίους, τῇ δὲ Ἀριστοφάνει· πράττοντας γὰρ μιμοῦνται καὶ δρῶντας ἄμφω. Ὅθεν καὶ δράματα καλεῖσθαί τινες αὐτά φασιν, ὅτι μιμοῦνται δρῶντας.
Διὸ καὶ ἀντιποιοῦνται τῆς τε τραγῳδίας καὶ τῆς κωμῳδίας οἱ Δωριεῖς, τῆς μὲν κωμῳδίας οἱ Μεγαρεῖς, οἵ τε ἐνταῦθα ὡς ἐπὶ τῆς παρ᾿ αὐτοῖς δημοκρατίας γενομένης, καὶ οἱ ἐκ Σικελίας (ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ ἦν Ἐπίχαρμος ὁ ποιητής, πολλῷ πρότερος ὢν Χωνίδου καὶ Μάγνητος), καὶ τῆς τραγῳδίας ἔνιοι τῶν ἐν Πελοποννήσῳ, ποιούμενοι τὰ ὀνόματα σημεῖον.
Οὗτοι μὲν γὰρ κώμας τὰς περιοικίδας καλεῖν φασίν, Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ δήμους, ὡς κωμῳδοὺς οὐκ ἀπὸ τοῦ κωμάζειν λεχθέντας, ἀλλὰ τῇ κατὰ κώμας πλάνῃ ἀτιμαζομένους ἐκ τοῦ ἄστεως· καὶ τὸ ποιεῖν αὐτοὶ μὲν δρᾶν, Ἀθηναίους δὲ πράττειν προσαγορεύειν.
Περὶ μὲν
Ἐοίκασι δὲ γεννῆσαι μὲν ὅλως τὴν ποιητικὴν αἰτίαι δύο τινές, καὶ αὗται φυσικαί.
Τό τε γὰρ μιμεῖσθαι σύμφυτον τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἐκ παίδων ἐστί, καὶ τούτῳ διαφέρουσι τῶν ἄλλων ζῴων ὅτι μιμητικώτατόν ἐστι καὶ τὰς μαθήσεις ποιεῖται διὰ μιμήσεως τὰς πρώτας, καὶ τὸ χαίρειν τοῖς μιμήμασι πάντας.
Σημεῖον δὲ τούτου τὸ συμβαῖνον ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων· ἃ γὰρ αὐτὰ λυπηρῶς ὁρῶμεν, τούτων τὰς εἰκόνας τὰς μάλιστα ἠκριβωμένας χαίρομεν θεωροῦντες, οἷον θηρίων τε μορφὰς τῶν ἀτιμοτάτων καὶ νεκρῶν.
Αἴτιον δὲ καὶ τούτου, ὅτι μανθάνειν οὐ μόνον τοῖς φιλοσόφοις ἥδιστον ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὁμοίως· ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ βραχὺ κοινωνοῦσιν αὐτοῦ.
Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο χαίρουσι τὰς εἰκόνας ὁρῶντες, ὅτι συμβαίνει θεωροῦντας μανθάνειν καὶ συλλογίζεσθαι τί ἕκαστον, οἷον ὅτι οὗτος ἐκεῖνος, ἐπεὶ ἐὰν μὴ τύχῃ προεωρακώς,
οὐ διὰ μίμημα ποιήσει τὴν ἡδονὴν ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀπεργασίαν ἢ τὴν χροιὰν ἢ διὰ τοιαύτην τινὰ ἄλλην αἰτίαν.
Κατὰ φύσιν δὲ ὄντος ἡμῖν τοῦ μιμεῖσθαι καὶ τῆς ἁρμονίας καὶ τοῦ ῥυθμοῦ (τὰ γὰρ μέτρα ὅτι μόρια τῶν ῥυθμῶν ἐστί, φανερόν) ἐξ ἀρχῆς οἱ πεφυκότες πρὸς αὐτὰ μάλιστα κατὰ μικρὸν προάγοντες ἐγέννησαν τὴν ποίησιν ἐκ τῶν αὐτοσχεδιασμάτων.
Διεσπάσθη δὲ κατὰ τὰ οἰκεῖα ἤθη ἡ ποιήσις· οἱ μὲν γὰρ σεμνότεροι τὰς καλὰς ἐμιμοῦντο πράξεις καὶ τὰς τῶν τοιούτων, οἱ δὲ εὐτελέστεροι τὰς τῶν φαύλων, πρῶτον ψόγους ποιοῦντες, ὥσπερ ἕτεροι ὕμνους καὶ ἐγκώμια.
Τῶν μὲν οὖν πρὸ Ὁμήρου οὐδενὸς ἔχομεν εἰπεῖν τοιοῦτον ποίημα, εἰκὸς δὲ εἶναι πολλούς·
ἀπὸ δὲ Ὁμήρου ἀρξαμένοις ἔστιν, οἷον ἐκείνου ὁ Μαργίτης καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα, ἐν οἷς καὶ τὸ ἁρμόττον ἰαμβεῖον ἦλθε μέτρον. Διὸ καὶ ἰαμβεῖον καλεῖται νῦν, ὅτι ἐν τῷ μέτρῳ
Καὶ ἐγένοντο τῶν παλαιῶν οἱ μὲν ἡρωϊκῶν οἱ δὲ ἰάμβων ποιηταί.
Ὥσπερ δὲ καὶ τὰ σπουδαῖα μάλιστα ποιητὴς Ὅμηρος ἦν (μόνος γὰρ οὐχ ὅτι εὖ, ἀλλ᾿ ὅτι καὶ μιμήσεις δραματικὰς ἐποίησεν), οὕτω καὶ τὰ τῆς κωμῳδίας σχήματα πρῶτος ὑπέδειξεν, οὐ ψόγον ἀλλὰ τὸ γελοῖον δραματοποιήσας· ὁ γὰρ Μαργίτης ἀνάλογον ἔχει, ὥσπερ Ἰλιὰς καὶ Ὀδύσσεια πρὸς τὰς τραγῳδίας, οὕτω καὶ οὗτος πρὸς τὰς κωμῳδίας.
Παραφανείσης δὲ τῆς τραγῳδίας καὶ κωμῳδίας οἱ ἐφ᾿ ἑκατέραν τὴν ποίησιν ὁρμῶντες κατὰ τὴν οἰκείαν φύσιν, οἱ μὲν ἀντὶ τῶν ἰάμβων κωμῳδοποιοὶ ἐγένοντο, οἱ δὲ ἀντὶ τῶν ἐπῶν τραγῳδοδιδάσκαλοι, διὰ τὸ μείζω καὶ ἐντιμότερα τὰ σχήματα εἶναι ταῦτα ἐκείνων. Τὸ μὲν οὖν ἐπισκοπεῖν εἰ ἄρα ἔχει ἤδη ἡ τραγῳδία τοῖς εἴδεσιν ἱκανῶς ἢ οὔ, αὐτό τε καθ᾿ αὑτὸ κρινόμενον καὶ πρὸς τὰ θέατρα, ἄλλος λόγος.
Γενομένη δ᾿ οὖν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς αὐτοσχεδιαστικὴ καὶ αὐτὴ καὶ ἡ κωμῳδία, καὶ ἡ μὲν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐξαρχόντων τὸν διθύραμβον, ἡ δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν τὰ φαλλικά, ἃ ἔτι καὶ νῦν ἐν πολλαῖς τῶν πόλεων διαμένει νομιζόμενα, κατὰ μικρὸν ηὐξήθη προαγόντων ὅσον ἐγίγνετο φανερὸν αὐτῆς,
καὶ πολλὰς μεταβολὰς μεταβαλοῦσα ἡ τραγῳδία ἐπαύσατο, ἐπεὶ ἔσχε τὴν αὑτῆς φύσιν.
Καὶ τό τε τῶν ὑποκριτῶν πλῆθος ἐξ ἑνὸς εἰς δύο πρῶτος Αἰσχύλος ἤγαγε, καὶ τὰ τοῦ χοροῦ ἠλάττωσε, καὶ τὸν λόγον πρωταγωνιστὴν παρεσκεύασεν· τρεῖς δὲ καὶ σκηνογραφίαν Σοφοκλῆς.
Ἔτι δὲ τὸ μέγεθος ἐκ μικρῶν μύθων καὶ λέξεως γελοίας, διὰ τὸ ἐκ σατυρικοῦ μεταβαλεῖν, ὀψὲ ἀπεσεμνύνθη, τό τε μέτρον ἐκ τετραμέτρου ἰαμβεῖον ἐγένετο·
τὸ μὲν γὰρ πρῶτον τετραμέτρῳ ἐχρῶντο διὰ τὸ σατυρικὴν καὶ ὀρχηστικωτέραν εἶναι τὴν ποίησιν, λέξεως δὲ γενομένης αὐτὴ
πλεῖστα γὰρ ἰαμβεῖα λέγομεν ἐν τῇ διαλέκτῳ τῇ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἑξάμετρα δὲ ὀλιγάκις καὶ ἐκβαίνοντες τῆς λεκτικῆς ἁρμονίας.
Ἔτι δὲ ἐπεισοδίων πλήθη καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ὡς ἕκαστα κοσμηθῆναι λέγεται.
Περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων τοσαῦτα ἔστω ἡμῖν εἰρημένα· πολὺ γὰρ ἂν ἴσως ἔργον εἴη διεξιέναι καθ᾿ ἕκαστον.
+Ἡ δὲ κωμῳδία ἐστίν, ὥσπερ εἴπομεν, μίμησις φαυλοτέρων μέν, οὐ μέντοι κατὰ πᾶσαν κακίαν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ αἰσχροῦ ἐστὶ τὸ γελοῖον μόριον.
Τὸ γὰρ γελοῖόν ἐστιν ἁμάρτημά τι καὶ αἶσχος ἀνώδυνον καὶ οὐ φθαρτικόν, οἷον εὐθὺς τὸ γελοῖον πρόσωπον αἰσχρόν τι καὶ διεστραμμένον ἄνευ ὀδύνης.
Αἱ μὲν οὖν τῆς τραγῳδίας μεταβάσεις, καὶ δι᾿ ὧν ἐγένοντο, οὐ λελήθασιν, ἡ δὲ κωμῳδία διὰ τὸ μὴ σπουδάζεσθαι ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἔλαθεν· καὶ γὰρ χορὸν κωμῳδῶν ὀψέ ποτε ὁ ἄρχων ἔδωκεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐθελονταὶ ἦσαν.
Ἤδη δὲ σχήματά τινα αὐτῆς ἐχούσης οἱ λεγόμενοι αὐτῆς ποιηταὶ μνημονεύονται. Τίς δὲ πρόσωπα ἀπέδωκεν ἢ προλόγους ἢ πλήθη ὑποκριτῶν καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα, ἠγνόηται.
Τὸ δὲ μύθους ποιεῖν Ἐπίχαρμος καὶ Φόρμις.
Τὸ μὲν οὖν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐκ Σικελίας ἦλθεν, τῶν δὲ Ἀθήνησιν Κράτης πρῶτος ἦρξεν ἀφέμενος τῆς ἰαμβικῆς ἰδέας καθόλου ποιεῖν λόγους καὶ μύθους.
Ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐποποιία τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ μέχρι μόνου μέτρου μετὰ λόγου μίμησις εἶναι σπουδαίων ἠκολούθησεν· τῷ δὲ τὸ μέτρον ἁπλοῦν ἔχειν καὶ ἀπαγγελίαν εἶναι, ταύτῃ διαφέρουσιν.
Ἔτι δὲ τῷ μήκει· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ὅτι μάλιστα πειρᾶται ὑπὸ μίαν περίοδον ἡλίου εἶναι ἢ μικρὸν ἐξαλλάττειν, ἡ δὲ ἐποποιία ἀόριστος τῷ χρόνῳ, καὶ τούτῳ διαφέρει.
Καίτοι τὸ πρῶτον ὁμοίως ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις τοῦτο ἐποίουν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἔπεσιν.
Μέρη δ᾿ ἐστὶ τὰ μὲν ταὐτά, τὰ δὲ ἴδια τῆς τραγῳδίας. Διόπερ ὅστις
Περὶ μὲν οὖν τῆς ἐν ἑξαμέτροις μιμητικῆς καὶ περὶ κωμῳδίας ὕστερον ἐροῦμεν, περὶ δὲ τραγῳδίας λέγωμεν, ἀπολαβόντες αὐτῆς ἐκ τῶν εἰρημένων τὸν γινόμενον ὅρον τῆς οὐσίας.
Ἔστιν οὖν τραγῳδία μίμησις πράξεως σπουδαίας καὶ τελείας, μέγεθος ἐχούσης, ἡδυσμένῳ λόγῳ, χωρὶς ἑκάστου τῶν εἰδῶν ἐν τοῖς μορίοις, δρώντων καὶ οὐ δι᾿ ἀπαγγελίας, δι᾿ ἐλέου καὶ φόβου περαίνουσα τὴν τῶν τοιούτων παθημάτων κάθαρσιν.
Λέγω δὲ ἡδυσμένον μὲν λόγον τὸν ἔχοντα ῥυθμὸν καὶ ἁρμονίαν καὶ μέλος,
τὸ δὲ χωρὶς τοῖς εἴδεσι τὸ διὰ μέτρων ἔνια μόνον περαίνεσθαι καὶ πάλιν ἕτερα διὰ μέλους.
Ἐπεὶ δὲ πράττοντες ποιοῦνται τὴν μίμησιν, πρῶτον μὲν ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἂν εἴη τι μόριον τραγῳδίας ὁ τῆς ὄψεως κόσμος, εἶτα μελοποιία καὶ λέξις·
ἐν τούτοις γὰρ ποιοῦνται τὴν μίμησιν. Λέγω δὲ λέξιν μὲν αὐτὴν τὴν τῶν μέτρων σύνθεσιν, μελοποιίαν δὲ ὃ τὴν δύναμιν φανερὰν ἔχει πᾶσαν.
Ἐπεὶ δὲ πράξεώς ἐστι μίμησις, πράττεται δὲ ὑπό τινων πραττόντων, οὓς ἀνάγκη ποιούς τινας εἶναι κατά τε τὸ ἦθος καὶ τὴν διάνοιαν (διὰ γὰρ τούτων καὶ τὰς πράξεις εἶναί φαμεν ποιάς τινας,) πέφυκεν αἴτια δύο τῶν πράξεων εἶναι, διάνοια καὶ ἦθος, καὶ κατὰ ταύτας καὶ τυγχάνουσι καὶ ἀποτυγχάνουσι πάντες.
Ἔστι δὲ τῆς μὲν πράξεως ὁ μῦθος ἡ μίμησις· λέγω γὰρ μῦθον τοῦτον τὴν σύνθεσιν τῶν πραγμάτων, τὰ δὲ ἤθη, καθ᾿ ἃ ποιούς τινας εἶναί φαμεν τοὺς πράττοντας, διάνοιαν δέ, ἐν ὅσοις λέγοντες ἀποδεικνύασί τι ἣ καὶ ἀποφαίνονται γνώμην.
Ἀνάγκη οὖν πάσης τραγῳδίας μέρη εἶναι ἕξ, καθ᾿ἃ ποιά τις ἐστὶν ἡ τραγῳδία· ταῦτα δ᾿ ἐστὶ μῦθος καὶ ἤθη καὶ λέξις καὶ διάνοια
Οἷς μὲν γὰρ μιμοῦνται, δύο μέρη ἐστίν, ὡς δὲ μιμοῦνται, ἕν, ἃ δὲ μιμοῦνται, τρία, καὶ παρὰ ταῦτα οὐδέν.
Τούτοις μὲν οὖν οὐκ ὀλίγοι αὐτῶν ὡς εἰπεῖν κέχρηνται τοῖς εἴδεσιν· καὶ γὰρ ὄψεις ἔχει πᾶν καὶ ἦθος καὶ μῦθον καὶ λέξιν καὶ μέλος καὶ διάνοιαν ὡσαύτως.
Μέγιστον δὲ τούτων ἐστὶν ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων σύστασις· ἡ γὰρ τραγῳδία μίμησίς ἐστιν οὐκ ἀνθρώπων ἀλλὰ πράξεως καὶ βίου καὶ εὐδαιμονίας καὶ κακοδαιμονίας· καὶ γὰρ ἡ εὐδαιμονία ἐν πράξει ἐστί, καὶ τὸ τέλος πρᾶξίς τις ἐστίν, οὐ ποιότης. Εἰσὶ δὲ κατὰ μὲν τὰ ἤθη ποιοί τινες, κατὰ δὲ τὰς πράξεις εὐδαίμονες ἢ τοὐναντίον.
Οὔκουν ὅπως τὰ ἤθη μιμήσωνται πράττουσιν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἤθη συμπεριλαμβάνουσι διὰ τὰς πράξεις. Ὥστε τὰ πράγματα καὶ ὁ μῦθος τέλος τῆς τραγῳδίας· τὸ δὲ τέλος μέγιστον ἁπάντων.
Ἔτι ἄνευ μὲν πράξεως οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τραγῳδία, ἄνευ δὲ ἠθῶν γένοιτ᾿ ἄν.
Αἱ γὰρ τῶν νέων τῶν πλείστων ἀήθεις τραγῳδίαι εἰσί, καὶ ὅλως ποιηταὶ πολλοὶ τοιοῦτοι, οἷον καὶ τῶν γραφέων Ζεῦξις πρὸς Πολύγνωτον πέπονθεν· ὁ μὲν γὰρ Πολύγνωτος ἀγαθὸς ἠθογράφος, ἡ δὲ Ζεύξιδος γραφὴ οὐδὲν ἔχει ἦθος.
Ἔτι ἐάν τις ἐφεξῆς θῇ ῥήσεις ἠθικὰς καὶ λέξεις καὶ διανοίας εὖ πεποιημένας, οὐ ποιήσει ὃ ἦν τῆς τραγῳδίας ἔργον, ἀλλὰ πολὺ μᾶλλον ἡ καταδεεστέροις τούτοις κεχρημένη τραγῳδία, ἔχουσα δὲ μῦθον καὶ σύστασιν πραγμάτων.
Πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τὰ μέγιστα οἷς ψυχαγωγεῖ ἡ τραγῳδία, τοῦ μύθου μέρη ἐστίν, αἵ τε περιπέτειαι καὶ ἀναγνωρίσεις.
Ἔτι σημεῖον ὅτι καὶ οἱ ἐγχειροῦντες ποιεῖν πρότερον δύνανται τῇ λέξει καὶ τοῖς ἤθεσιν ἀκριβοῦν ἢ τὰ πράγματα συνίστασθαι, οἷον καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ποιηταὶ σχεδὸν ἅπαντες.
Ἀρχὴ μὲν οὖν καὶ οἷον ψυχὴ ὁ μῦθος τῆς τραγῳδίας, δεύτερον δὲ τὰ ἤθη.
Παραπλήσιον γάρ ἐστι καὶ ἐπὶ τῇς γραφικῆς· εἰ
Ἔστι τε μίμησις πράξεως, καὶ διὰ ταύτην μάλιστα τῶν πραττόντων. Τρίτον δὲ ἡ διάνοια.
Τοῦτο δ᾿ ἐστὶ τὸ λέγειν δύνασθαι τὰ ἐνόντα καὶ τὰ ἁρμόττοντα, ὅπερ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων τῆς πολιτικῆς καὶ ῥητορικῆς ἔργον ἐστίν·
οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀρχαῖοι πολιτικῶς ἐποίουν λέγοντας, οἱ δὲ νῦν ῥητορικῶς.
Ἔστι δὲ ἦθος μὲν τὸ τοιοῦτον ὃ δηλοῖ τὴν προαίρεσιν ὁποία τις· διόπερ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἦθος τῶν λόγων ἐν οἷς μηδ᾿ ὅλως ἔστιν ὅ τι προαιρεῖται ἢ φεύγει ὁ λέγων.
Διάνοια δέ, ἐν οἷς ἀποδεικνύουσί τι ὡς ἔστιν ἢ ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν, ἢ καθόλου τι ἀποφαίνονται.
Τέταρτον δὲ τῶν μὲν λόγων ἡ λέξις· λέγω δέ, ὥσπερ πρότερον εἴρηται, λέξιν εἶναι τὴν διὰ τῆς ὀνομασίας ἑρμηνείαν, ὃ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐμμέτρων καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν λόγων ἔχει τὴν αὐτὴν δύναμιν.
Τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν πέντε ἡ μελοποιία μέγιστον τῶν ἡδυσμάτων.
Ἡ δὲ ὄψις ψυχαγωγικὸν μέν, ἀτεχνότατον δὲ καὶ ἥκιστα οἰκεῖον τῆς ποιητικῆς· ἡ γὰρ τῆς τραγῳδίας δύναμις καὶ ἄνευ ἀγῶνος καὶ ὑποκριτῶν ἐστίν. Ἔτι δὲ κυριωτέρα περὶ τὴν ἀπεργασίαν τῶν ὄψεων ἡ τοῦ σκευοποιοῦ τέχνη τῆς τῶν ποιητῶν ἐστίν.
+Διωρισμένων δὲ τούτων, λέγωμεν μετὰ ταῦτα ποίαν τινὰ δεῖ τὴν σύστασιν εἶναι τῶν πραγμάτων, ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο καὶ πρῶτον καὶ μέγιστον τῆς τραγῳδίας ἐστίν.
Κεῖται δ᾿ ἡμῖν τὴν τραγῳδίαν τελείας καὶ ὅλης πράξεως εἶναι μίμησιν, ἐχούσης τι μέγεθος· ἔστι γὰρ ὅλον καὶ μηδὲν ἔχον μέγεθος.
Ὅλον δ᾿ ἐστὶ τὸ ἔχον ἀρχὴν καὶ μέσον καὶ τελευτήν.
Ἀρχὴ δ᾿ ἐστὶν ὃ αὐτὸ μὲν μὴ ἐξ ἀνάγκης μετ᾿ ἄλλο ἐστί, μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνο δ᾿ ἕτερον πέφυκεν εἶναι ἢ γίνεσθαι·
τελευτὴ δὲ τοὐναντίον ὃ αὐτὸ μετ᾿ ἄλλο πέφυκεν εἶναι, ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἢ ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολύ, μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἄλλο οὐδέν·
μέσον δὲ ὃ καὶ αὐτὸ μετ᾿ ἄλλο καὶ μετ᾿ ἐκεῖνο ἕτερον.
Δεῖ ἄρα τοὺς συνεστῶτας εὖ μύθους μήθ᾿ ὁπόθεν ἔτυχεν ἄρχεσθαι μήθ᾿ ὅπου ἔτυχε
Ἔτι δ᾿ ἐπεὶ τὸ καλὸν καὶ ζῷον καὶ ἅπαν πρᾶγμα ὃ συνέστηκεν ἔκ τινων, οὐ μόνον ταῦτα τεταγμένα δεῖ ἔχειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μέγεθος ὑπάρχειν μὴ τὸ τυχόν· τὸ γὰρ καλὸν ἐν μεγέθει καὶ τάξει ἐστί,
διὸ οὔτε πάμμικρον ἄν τι γένοιτο καλὸν ζῷον (συγχεῖται γὰρ ἡ θεωρία ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀναισθήτου χρόνου γινομένη) οὔτε παμμέγεθες· οὐ γὰρ ἅμα ἡ θεωρία γίνεται, ἀλλ᾿ οἴχεται τοῖς θεωροῦσι τὸ ἓν καὶ τὸ ὅλον ἐκ τῆς θεωρίας, οἷον εἰ μυρίων σταδίων εἴη ζῷον.
Ὥστε δεῖ καθάπερ ἐπὶ τῶν σωμάτων καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ζῴων ἔχειν μὲν μέγεθος, τοῦτο δὲ εὐσύνοπτον εἶναι, οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν μύθων ἔχειν μὲν μῆκος, τοῦτο δ᾿ εὐμνημόνευτον εἶναι.
Τοῦ δὲ μήκους ὅρος πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγῶνας καὶ τὴν αἴσθησιν οὐ τῆς τέχνης ἐστίν· εἰ γὰρ ἔδει ἑκατὸν τραγῳδίας ἀγωνίζεσθαι, πρὸς κλεψύδραν ἂν ἠγωνίζοντο, ὥσπερ ποτὲ καὶ ἄλλοτε φασίν.
Ὁ δὲ κατ᾿ αὐτὴν τὴν φύσιν τοῦ πράγματος ὅρος, ἀεὶ μὲν ὁ μείζων μέχρι τοῦ σύνδηλος εἶναι καλλίων ἐστὶ κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος, ὡς δὲ ἁπλῶς διορίσαντας εἰπεῖν, ἐν ὅσῳ μεγέθει κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον ἐφεξῆς γιγνομένων συμβαίνει εἰς εὐτυχίαν ἐκ δυστυχίας ἢ ἐξ εὐτυχίας εἰς δυστυχίαν μεταβάλλειν, ἱκανὸς ὅρος ἐστὶ τοῦ μεγέθους.
+Μῦθος δ᾿ ἐστὶν εἷς, οὐχ ὥσπερ τινὲς οἴονται, ἐὰν περὶ ἕνα ᾖ· πολλὰ γὰρ καὶ ἄπειρα τῷ γένει συμβαίνει, ἐξ ὧν ἐνίων οὐδέν ἐστιν ἕν. Οὕτω δὲ καὶ πράξεις ἑνὸς πολλαί εἰσιν, ἐξ ὧν μία οὐδεμία γίνεται πρᾶξις.
Διὸ πάντες ἐοίκασιν ἁμαρτάνειν, ὅσοι τῶν ποιητῶν Ἡρακληΐδα καὶ θησηΐδα καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ποιήματα πεποιήκασιν· οἴονται γὰρ ἐπεὶ εἷς ἦν ὁ Ἡρακλῆς, ἕνα καὶ τὸν μῦθον εἶναι προσήκειν.
Ὁ δ᾿ Ὅμηρος, ὥσπερ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα διαφέρει, καὶ τοῦτ᾿ ἔοικε καλῶς ἰδεῖν, ἤτοι διὰ τέχνην ἢ διὰ φύσιν· Ὀδύσσειαν γὰρ
Χρὴ οὖν, καθάπερ καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἄλλαις μιμητικαῖς ἡ μία μίμησις ἑνός ἐστιν, οὕτω καὶ τὸν μῦθον, ἐπεὶ πράξεως μίμησίς ἐστι, μιᾶς τε εἶναι καὶ ταύτης ὅλης, καὶ τὰ μέρη συνεστάναι τῶν πραγμάτων οὕτως ὥστε μετατιθεμένου τινὸς μέρους ἢ ἀφαιρουμένου διαφέρεσθαι καὶ κινεῖσθαι τὸ ὅλον· ὃ γὰρ προσὸν ἢ μὴ προσὸν μηδὲν ποιεῖ ἐπίδηλον, οὐδὲ μόριον τοῦ ὅλου ἐστίν.
+Φανερὸν δὲ ἐκ τῶν εἰρημένων καὶ ὅτι οὐ τὸ τὰ γενόμενα λέγειν, τοῦτο ποιητοῦ ἔργον ἐστίν, ἀλλ᾿ οἷα ἂν γένοιτο, καὶ τὰ δυνατὰ κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον.
Ὁ γὰρ ἱστορικὸς καὶ ὁ ποιητὴς οὐ τῷ ἢ ἔμμετρα λέγειν ἢ ἄμετρα διαφέρουσιν· εἴη γὰρ ἂν τὰ Ἡροδότου εἰς μέτρα τεθῆναι, καὶ οὐδὲν ἧττον ἂν εἴη ἱστορία τις μετὰ μέτρου ἢ ἄνευ μέτρων· ἀλλὰ τούτῳ διαφέρει, τῷ τὸν μὲν τὰ γενόμενα λέγειν, τὸν δὲ οἷα ἂν γένοιτο.
Διὸ καὶ φιλοσοφώτερον καὶ σπουδαιότερον ποίησις ἱστορίας ἐστίν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ποίησις μᾶλλον τὰ καθόλου, ἡ δ᾿ ἱστορία τὰ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον λέγει.
Ἔστι δὲ καθόλου μέν, τῷ ποίῳ τὰ ποῖ᾿ ἄττα συμβαίνει λέγειν ἢ πράττειν κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον, οὗ στοχάζεται ἡ ποίησις ὀνόματα ἐπιτιθεμένη· τὰ δὲ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον, τί Ἀλκιβιάδης ἔπραξεν ἢ τί ἔπαθεν.
Ἐπὶ μὲν οὖν τῆς κωμῳδίας ἤδη τοῦτο δῆλον γέγονεν· συστήσαντες γὰρ τὸν μῦθον διὰ τῶν εἰκότων οὕτω τὰ τυχόντα ὀνόματα ἐπιτιθέασι,
Ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς τραγῳδίας τῶν γενομένων ὀνομάτων ἀντέχονται. Αἴτιον δ᾿ ὅτι πιθανόν ἐστι τὸ δυνατόν· τὰ μὲν οὖν μὴ γενόμενα οὔπω πιστεύομεν εἶναι δυνατά, τὰ δὲ γενόμενα φανερὸν ὅτι δυνατά· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐγένετο, εἰ ἦν ἀδύνατα.
Οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις ἐνίαις μὲν ἓν ἢ δύο τῶν γνωρίμων ἐστὶν ὀνομάτων, τὰ δὲ ἄλλα πεποιημένα, ἐν ἐνίαις δὲ οὐθέν, οἷον ἐν τῷ Ἀγάθωνος ἄνθει· ὁμοίως γὰρ ἐν τούτῳ τά τε πράγματα καὶ τὰ ὀνόματα πεποίηται, καὶ οὐδὲν ἧττον εὐφραίνει.
Ὥστ᾿ οὐ πάντως εἶναι ζητητέον τῶν παραδεδομένων μύθων, περὶ οὓς αἱ τραγῳδίαι εἰσίν, ἀντέχεσθαι. Καὶ γὰρ γελοῖον τοῦτο ζητεῖν, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰ γνώριμα ὀλίγοις γνώριμά ἐστιν, ἀλλ᾿ ὅμως εὐφραίνει πάντας.
Δῆλον οὖν ἐκ τούτων ὅτι τὸν ποιητὴν μᾶλλον τῶν μύθων εἶναι δεῖ ποιητὴν ἢ τῶν μέτρων, ὅσῳ ποιητὴς κατὰ τὴν μίμησίν ἐστι, μιμεῖται δὲ τὰς πράξεις.
Κἂν ἄρα συμβῇ γενόμενα ποιεῖν, οὐθὲν ἧττον ποιητής ἐστιν· τῶν γὰρ γενομένων ἔνια οὐδὲν κωλύει τοιαῦτα εἶναι οἷα ἂν εἰκὸς γενέσθαι καὶ δυνατὰ γενέσθαι, καθ᾿ ὃ ἐκεῖνος αὐτῶν ποιητής ἐστιν.
Τῶν δὲ ἁπλῶν μύθων καὶ πράξεων αἱ ἐπεισοδιώδεις εἰσὶ χείρισται. Λέγω δ᾿ ἐπεισοδιώδη μῦθον, ἐν ᾧ τὰ ἐπεισόδια μετ᾿ ἄλληλα οὔτ᾿ εἰκὸς οὔτ᾿ ἀνάγκη εἶναι. Τοιαῦται δὲ ποιοῦνται ὑπὸ μὲν τῶν φαύλων ποιητῶν δι᾿ αὐτούς, ὑπὸ δὲ τῶν ἀγαθῶν διὰ τοὺς ὑποκριτάς· ἀγωνίσματα γὰρ ποιοῦντες, καὶ παρὰ τὴν δύναμιν παρατείναντες μῦθον, πολλάκις διαστρέφειν ἀναγκάζονται τὸ ἐφεξῆς. Ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐ μόνον τελείας ἐστὶ πράξεως ἡ μίμησις ἀλλὰ καὶ φοβερῶν καὶ ἐλεεινῶν, ταῦτα δὲ γίνεται καὶ μάλιστα, καὶ μᾶλλον ὅταν γένηται παρὰ τὴν δόξαν, δι᾿ ἄλληλα·
τὸ γὰρ θαυμαστὸν οὕτως ἕξει μᾶλλον ἢ εἰ ἀπὸ τοῦ αὐτομάτου καὶ τῆς τύχης, ἐπεὶ καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ τύχης ταῦτα θαυμασιώτατα δοκεῖ, ὅσα ὥσπερ ἐπίτηδες
Εἰσὶ δὲ τῶν μύθων οἱ μὲν ἁπλοῖ οἱ δὲ πεπλεγμένοι· καὶ γὰρ αἱ πράξεις, ὧν μιμήσεις οἱ μῦθοί εἰσιν, ὑπάρχουσιν εὐθὺς οὖσαι τοιαῦται.
Λέγω δὲ ἁπλῆν μὲν πρᾶξιν, ἧς γινομένης, ὥσπερ ὥρισται, συνεχοῦς καὶ μιᾶς ἄνευ περιπετείας ἢ ἀναγνωρισμοῦ ἡ μετάβασις γίνεται,
πεπλεγμένην δέ, ἐξ ἧς μετ᾿ ἀναγνωρισμοῦ ἢ περιπετείας ἢ ἀμφοῖν ἡ μετάβασίς ἐστιν.
Ταῦτα δὲ δεῖ γίνεσθαι ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς συστάσεως τοῦ μύθου, ὥστε ἐκ τῶν προγεγενημένων συμβαίνειν ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἢ κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς γίνεσθαι ταῦτα· διαφέρει γὰρ πολὺ τὸ γίνεσθαι τάδε διὰ τάδε ἢ μετὰ τάδε.
+Ἔστι δὲ περιπέτεια μὲν ἡ εἰς τὸ ἐναντίον τῶν πραττομένων μεταβολή, καθάπερ εἴρηται· καὶ τοῦτο δέ, ὥσπερ λέγομεν, κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ ἀναγκαῖον,
ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ Οἰδίποδι ἐλθὼν ὡς εὐφρανῶν τὸν Οἰδίπουν καὶ ἀπαλλάξων τοῦ πρὸς τὴν μητέρα φόβου, δηλώσας ὃς ἦν, τοὐναντίον ἐποίησεν.
Καὶ ἐν τῷ Λυγκεῖ ὁ μὲν ἀγόμενος ὡς ἀποθανούμενος, ὁ δὲ Δαναὸς ἀκολουθῶν ὡς ἀποκτενῶν· τὸν μὲν συνέβη ἐκ τῶν πεπραγμένων ἀποθανεῖν, τὸν δὲ σωθῆναι.
Ἀναγνώρισις δ᾿ ἐστίν, ὥσπερ καὶ τοὔνομα σημαίνει, ἐξ ἀγνοίας εἰς γνῶσιν μεταβολὴ ἢ εἰς φιλίαν ἢ ἔχθραν τῶν πρὸς εὐτυχίαν ἢ δυστυχίαν ὡρισμένων.
Καλλίστη δὲ ἀναγνώρισις, ὅταν ἅμα περιπέτειαι γίνωνται, οἷον ἔχει ἡ ἐν τῷ Οἰδίποδι.
Εἰσὶ μὲν οὗν καὶ ἄλλαι ἀναγνωρίσεις· καὶ γὰρ πρὸς ἄψυχα καὶ τὰ τυχόντα ἔστιν ὅτε, ὥσπερ εἴρηται, συμβαίνει, καὶ εἰ πέπραγέ τις ἢ μὴ πέπραγεν, ἔστιν ἀναγωρίσαι·
ἀλλ᾿ ἡ μάλιστα τοῦ μύθου καὶ ἡ μάλιστα τῆς πράξεως ἡ εἰρημένη
Ἐπεὶ δ᾿ ἡ ἀναγνώρισις τινῶν ἐστὶν ἀναγνώρισις, αἱ μὲν θατέρου πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον μόνον, ὅταν ᾖ δῆλος ἕτερος τίς ἐστιν, ὁτὲ δ᾿ ἀμφοτέρους δεῖ ἀναγνωρίσαι, οἷον ἡ μὲν Ἰφιγένεια τῷ Ὀρέστῃ ἀνεγνωρίσθη ἐκ τῆς πέμψεως τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ἐκείνῳ δὲ πρὸς τὴν Ἰφιγένειαν ἄλλης ἔδει ἀναγνωρίσεως.
Δύο μὲν οὖν τοῦ μύθου μέρη περὶ ταῦτ᾿ ἐστί, περιπέτεια καὶ ἀναγνώρισις, τρίτον δὲ πάθος. Τούτων δὲ περιπέτεια μὲν καὶ ἀναγνώρισις εἴρηται,
πάθος δ᾿ ἐστὶ πρᾶξις φθαρτικὴ ἢ ὀδυνηρά, οἷον οἵ τε ἐν τῷ φανερῷ θάνατοι καὶ αἱ περιωδυνίαι καὶ τρώσεις καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα.
+Μέρη δὲ τραγῳδίας, οἷς μὲν ὡς εἴδεσι δεῖ χρῆσθαι, πρότερον εἴπομεν· κατὰ δὲ τὸ ποσόν, καὶ εἰς ἃ διαιρεῖται κεχωρισμένα, τάδε ἐστί, πρόλογος ἐπεισόδιον ἔξοδος χορικόν,
καὶ τοῦτου τὸ μὲν πάροδος τὸ δὲ στάσιμον, κοινὰ μὲν ἁπάντων ταῦτα,
ἴδια δὲ τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ κόμμοι.
Ἔστι δὲ πρόλογος μὲν μέρος ὅλον τραγῳδίας τὸ πρὸ χοροῦ παρόδου,
ἐπεισόδιον δὲ μέρος ὅλον τραγῳδίας τὸ μεταξὺ ὅλων χορικῶν μελῶν,
ἔξοδος δὲ μέρος ὅλον τραγῳδίας μεθ᾿ ὃ οὐκ ἔστι χοροῦ μέλος,
χορικοῦ δὲ πάροδος μὲν ἡ πρώτη λέξις ὅλου χοροῦ,
στάσιμον δὲ μέλος χοροῦ τὸ ἄνευ ἀναπαίστου καὶ τροχαίου, κόμμος δὲ θρῆνος κοινὸς χοροῦ καὶ ἀπὸ σκηνῆς.
Μέρη δὲ τραγῳδίας, οἷς μὲν δεῖ χρῆσθαι, πρότερον εἴπαμεν, κατὰ δὲ τὸ ποσὸν καὶ εἰς ἃ διαιρεῖται κεχωρισμένα, ταῦτ᾿ ἐστίν.
+Ὧν δὲ δεῖ στοχάζεσθαι καὶ ἃ δεῖ εὐλαβεῖσθαι συνιστάντας τοὺς μύθους, καὶ πόθεν ἔσται τὸ τῆς τραγῳδίας ἔργον, ἐφεξῆς ἂν εἴη λεκτέον τοῖς νῦν εἰρημένοις.
Ἐπειδὴ οὖν
οὔτε τοὺς μοχθηροὺς ἐξ ἀτυχίας εἰς εὐτυχίαν (ἀτραγῳδότατον γὰρ τοῦτ᾿ ἐστὶ πάντων· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔχει ὧν δεῖ· οὔτε γὰρ φιλάνθρωπον οὔτε ἐλεεινὸν οὔτε φοβερόν ἐστιν),
οὐδ᾿ αὖ τὸν σφόδρα πονηρὸν ἐξ εὐτυχίας εἰς δυστυχίαν μεταπίπτειν. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ φιλάνθρωπον ἔχοι ἂν ἡ τοιαύτη σύστασις, ἀλλ᾿ οὔτε ἔλεον οὔτε φόβον· ὁ μὲν γὰρ περὶ τὸν ἀνάξιόν ἐστι δυστυχοῦντα, ὁ δὲ περὶ τὸν ὅμοιον, ἔλεος μὲν περὶ τὸν ἀνάξιον, φόβος δὲ περὶ τὸν ὅμοιον, ὥστε οὔτε ἐλεεινὸν οὔτε φοβερὸν ἔσται τὸ συμβαῖνον.
Ὁ μεταξὺ ἄρα τούτων λοιπός. Ἔστι δὲ τοιοῦτος ὁ μήτε ἀρετῇ διαφέρων καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ, μήτε διὰ κακίαν καὶ μοχθηρίαν μεταβάλλων εἰς τὴν δυστυχίαν ἀλλὰ δι᾿ ἁμαρτίαν τινά, τῶν ἐν μεγάλῃ δόξῃ ὄντων καὶ εὐτυχίᾳ, οἷον Οἰδίπους καὶ Θυέστης καὶ οἱ ἐκ τῶν τοιούτων γενῶν ἐπιφανεῖς ἄνδρες.
Ἄνάγκη ἄρα τὸν καλῶς ἔχοντα μῦθον ἁπλοῦν εἶναι μᾶλλον ἢ διπλοῦν, ὥσπερ τινές φασιν, καὶ μεταβάλλειν οὐκ εἰς εὐτυχίαν ἐκ δυστυχίας ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον ἐξ εὐτυχίας εἰς δυστυχίαν, μὴ διὰ μοχθηρίαν ἀλλὰ δι᾿ ἁμαρτίαν μεγάλην, ἢ οἵου εἴρηται, ἢ βελτίονος μᾶλλον ἢ χείρονος.
Σημεῖον δὲ καὶ τὸ γιγνόμενον· πρὸ τοῦ μὲν γὰρ οἱ ποιηταὶ τοὺς τυχόντας μύθους ἀπηρίθμουν, νῦν δὲ περὶ ὀλίγας οἰκίας αἱ κάλλισται τραγῳδίαι συντίθενται, οἷον περὶ Ἀλκμαίωνα καὶ Οἰδίπουν καὶ Ὀρέστην καὶ Μελέαγρον καὶ Θυέστην καὶ Τήλεφον, καὶ ὅσοις ἄλλοις συμβέβηκεν ἢ παθεῖν δεινὰ ἢ ποιῆσαι.
Ἡ μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὴν τέχνην καλλίστη τραγῳδία ἐκ ταύτης τῆς συστάσεώς ἐστιν.
Διὸ καὶ οἱ
Σημεῖον δὲ μέγιστον· ἐπὶ γὰρ τῶν σκηνῶν καὶ τῶν ἀγώνων τραγικώταται αἱ τοιαῦται φαίνονται, ἂν κατορθωθῶσιν, καὶ ὁ Εὐριπίδης, εἰ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα μὴ εὖ οἰκονομεῖ, ἀλλὰ τραγικώτατός γε τῶν ποιητῶν φαίνεται.
Δευτέρα δ᾿ ἡ πρώτη λεγομένη ὑπό τινων ἐστὶ σύστασις, ἡ διπλῆν τε τὴν σύστασιν ἔχουσα, καθάπερ ἡ Ὀδύσσεια, καὶ τελευτῶσα ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῖς βελτίοσι καὶ χείροσιν.
Δοκεῖ δὲ εἶναι πρώτη διὰ τὴν τῶν θεάτρων ἀσθένειαν· ἀκολουθοῦσι γὰρ οἱ ποιηταὶ κατ᾿ εὐχὴν ποιοῦντες τοῖς θεαταῖς.
Ἔστι δὲ οὐχ αὕτη ἀπὸ τραγῳδίας ἡδονή, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τῆς κωμῳδίας οἰκεία· ἐκεῖ γάρ, ἂν οἱ ἔχθιστοι ὦσιν ἐν τῷ μύθῳ, οἷον Ὀρέστης καὶ Αἴγισθος, φίλοι γενόμενοι ἐπὶ τελευτῆς ἐξέρχονται, καὶ ἀποθνήσκει οὐδεὶς ὑπ᾿ οὐδενός.
+Ἔστι μὲν οὖν τὸ φοβερὸν καὶ ἐλεεινὸν ἐκ τῆς ὄψεως γίνεσθαι, ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς συστάσεως τῶν πραγμάτων, ὅπερ ἐστὶ πρότερον καὶ ποιητοῦ ἀμείνονος.
Δεῖ γὰρ καὶ ἄνευ τοῦ ὁρᾶν οὕτω συνεστάναι τὸν μῦθον ὥστε τὸν ἀκούοντα τὰ πράγματα γινόμενα καὶ φρίττειν καὶ ἐλεεῖν ἐκ τῶν συμβαινόντων· ἅπερ ἂν πάθοι τις ἀκούων τὸν τοῦ Οἰδίποδος μῦθον.
Τὸ δὲ διὰ τῆς ὄψεως τοῦτο παρασκευάζειν ἀτεχνότερον καὶ χορηγίας δεόμενόν ἐστιν.
Οἱ δὲ μὴ τὸ φοβερὸν διὰ τῆς ὄψεως ἀλλὰ τὸ τερατῶδες μόνον παρασκευάζοντες οὐδὲν τραγῳδίᾳ κοινωνοῦσιν· οὐ γὰρ πᾶσαν δεῖ ζητεῖν ἡδονὴν ἀπὸ τραγῳδίας, ἀλλὰ τὴν οἰκείαν.
Ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν ἀπὸ ἐλέου καὶ φόβου διὰ μιμήσεως δεῖ ἡδονὴν παρασκευάζειν τὸν ποιητήν, φανερὸν ὡς τοῦτο ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐμποιητέον.
Ποῖα οὖν δεινὰ ἢ ποῖα οἰκτρὰ φαίνεται τῶν συμπιπτόντων, λάβωμεν. Ἀνάγκη δὲ ἢ φίλων εἶναι πρὸς ἀλλήλους τὰς τοιαύτας πράξεις ἢ ἐχθρῶν ἢ μηδετέρων.
Ἂν μὲν οὖν ἐχθρὸς
οὐδ᾿ ἂν μηδετέρως ἔχοντες.
Ὅταν δ᾿ ἐν ταῖς φιλίαις ἐγγένηται τὰ πάθη, οἷον εἰ ἀδελφὸς ἀδελφὸν ἢ υἱὸς πατέρα ἢ μήτηρ υἱὸν ἢ υἱὸς μητέρα ἀποκτείνει ἢ μέλλει ἤ τι ἄλλο τοιοῦτον δρᾷ, ταῦτα ζητητέον.
Τοὺς μὲν οὖν παρειλημμένους μύθους λύειν οὐκ ἔστιν, λέγω δὲ οἷον τὴν Κλυταιμνήστραν ἀποθανοῦσαν ὑπὸ τοῦ Ὀρέστου καὶ τὴν Ἐριφύλην ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀλκμαίωνος·
αὐτὸν δἐ εὑρίσκειν δεῖ, καὶ τοῖς παραδεδομένοις χρῆσθαι καλῶς. Τὸ δὲ καλῶς τί λέγομεν, εἴπωμεν σαφέστερον.
Ἔστι μὲν γὰρ οὕτω γίνεσθαι τὴν πρᾶξιν ὥσπερ οἱ παλαιοὶ ἐποίουν, εἰδότας καὶ γινώσκοντας, καθάπερ καὶ Εὐριπίδης ἐποίησεν ἀποκτείνουσαν τοὺς παῖδας τὴν Μήδειαν·
ἔστι δὲ πρᾶξαι μέν, ἀγνοοῦντας δὲ πρᾶξαι τὸ δεινόν, εἶθ᾿ ὕστερον ἀναγνωρίσαι τὴν φιλίαν, ὥσπερ ὁ Σοφοκλέους Οἰδίπους. Τοῦτο μὲν οὖν ἔξω τοῦ δράματος, ἐν δ᾿ αὐτῇ τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ, οἷος ὁ Ἀλκμαίων ὁ Ἀστυδάμαντος ἢ ὁ Τηλέγονος ὁ ἐν τῷ τραυματίᾳ Ὀδυσσεῖ.
Ἔτι δὲ τρίτον παρὰ ταῦτα τὸν μέλλοντα ποιεῖν τι τῶν ἀνηκέστων δι᾿ ἄγνοιαν ἀναγνωρίσαι πρὶν ποιῆσαι.
Καὶ παρὰ ταῦτα οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως· ἢ γὰρ πρᾶξαι ἀνάγκη ἢ μή, καὶ εἰδότας ἢ μὴ εἰδότας.
Τούτων δὲ τὸ μὲν γινώσκοντα μελλῆσαι καὶ μὴ πρᾶξαι χείριστον· τό τε γὰρ μιαρὸν ἔχει, καὶ οὐ τραγικόν· ἀπαθὲς γάρ. Διόπερ οὐδεὶς ποιεῖ ὁμοίως, εἰ μὴ ὀλιγάκις, οἷος ἐν Ἀντιγόνῃ τὸν Κρέοντα ὁ Αἵμων.
Τὸ δὲ πρᾶξαι δεύτερον.
Βέλτιον δὲ τὸ ἀγνοοῦντα μὲν πρᾶξαι, πράξαντα δὲ ἀναγνωρίσαι· τό τε γὰρ μιαρὸν οὐ πρόσεστι, καὶ ἡ ἀναγνώρισις ἐκπληκτικόν.
Κράτιστον δὲ τὸ τελευταῖον, λέγω δὲ οἷον ἐν τῷ Κρεσφόντῃ ἡ Μερόπη μέλλει τὸν υἱὸν ἀποκτείνειν, ἀποκτείνει δὲ οὒ ἀλλ᾿ ἀνεγνώρισεν, καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἰφιγενείᾳ ἡ ἀδελφὴ τὸν ἀδελφόν, καὶ ἐν
Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο, ὅπερ πάλαι εἴρηται, οὐ περὶ πολλὰ γένη αἱ τραγῳδίαι εἰσίν. Ζητοῦντες γὰρ οὐκ ἀπὸ τέχνης ἀλλ᾿ ἀπὸ τύχης εὗρον τὸ τοιοῦτον παρασκευάζειν ἐν τοῖς μύθοις· ἀναγκάζονται οὖν ἐπὶ ταύτας τὰς οἰκίας ἀπαντᾶν, ὅσαις τὰ τοιαῦτα συμβέβηκε πάθη.
Περὶ μὲν οὖν τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων συστάσεως, καὶ ποίους τινὰς εἶναι δεῖ τοὺς μύθους, εἴρηται ἱκανῶς.
+Περὶ δὲ τὰ ἤθη τέτταρά ἐστιν ὧν δεῖ στοχάζεσθαι, ἓν μὲν καὶ πρῶτον, ὅπως χρηστὰ ᾖ.
Ἕξει δὲ ἦθος μέν, ἐὰν ὥσπερ ἐλέχθη ποιῇ φανερὰν ὁ λόγος ἢ ἡ πρᾶξις προαίρεσίν. τινα, φαῦλον μὲν ἐὰν φαύλην, χρηστὸν δ᾿ ἐὰν χρηστήν.
Ἔστι δὲ ἐν ἑκάστῳ γένει· καὶ γὰρ γυνή ἐστι χρηστὴ καὶ δοῦλος· καίτοι γε ἴσως τούτων τὸ μὲν χεῖρον, τὸ δὲ ὅλως φαῦλόν ἐστιν.
Δεύτερον δὲ τὰ ἁρμόττοντα· ἔστι γὰρ ἀνδρεῖον μὲν τὸ ἦθος, ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ ἁρμόττον γυναικὶ τὸ ἀνδρείαν ἢ δεινὴν εἶναι.
Τρίτον δὲ τὸ ὅμοιον· τοῦτο γὰρ ἕτερον τοῦ χρηστὸν τὸ ἦθος καὶ ἁρμόττον ποιῆσαι, ὥσπερ εἴρηται.
Τέταρτον δὲ τὸ ὁμαλόν· κἂν γὰρ ἀνώμαλός τις ᾖ ὁ τὴν μίμησιν παρέχων καὶ τοιοῦτον ἦθος ὑποτιθείς, ὅμως ὁμαλῶς ἀνώμαλον δεῖ εἶναι.
Ἔστι δὲ παράδειγμα πονηρίας μὲν ἤθους μὴ ἀναγκαῖον οἷον ὁ Μενέλαος ὁ ἐν τῷ Ὀρέστῃ,
τοῦ δὲ ἀπρεποῦς καὶ μὴ ἁρμόττοντος ὅ τε θρῆνος Ὀδυσσέως ἐν τῇ Σκύλλῃ καὶ ἡ τῆς Μελανίππης ῥῆσις,
τοῦ δὲ ἀνωμάλου ἡ ἐν Αὐλίδι Ἰφιγένεια· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔοικεν ἡ ἱκετεύουσα τῇ ὑστέρᾳ.
Χρὴ δὲ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἤθεσιν, ὥσπερ καὶ ἐν τῇ τῶν πραγμάτων συστάσει, ἀεὶ ζητεῖν ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον ἢ τὸ εἰκός, ὥστε τὸν τοιοῦτον τὰ τοιαῦτα λέγειν ἢ πράττειν ἢ ἀναγκαῖον ἢ εἰκός, καὶ τοῦτο μετὰ τοῦτο γίνεσθαι ἢ ἀναγκαῖον ἢ εἰκός. Φανερὸν οὖν ὅτι καὶ τὰς λύσεις
Ἐπεὶ δὲ μίμησίς ἐστιν ἡ τραγῳδία βελτιόνων, ἡμᾶς δεῖ μιμεῖσθαι τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς εἰκονογράφους· καὶ γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι ἀποδιδόντες τὴν ἰδίαν μορφήν, ὁμοίους ποιοῦντες, καλλίους γράφουσιν. Οὕτω καὶ τὸν ποιητὴν μιμούμενον καὶ ὀργίλους καὶ ῥᾳθύμους καὶ τἆλλα τὰ τοιαῦτα ἔχοντας ἐπὶ τῶν ἠθῶν, ἐπιεικείας ποιεῖν παράδειγμα ἢ σκληρότητος δεῖ, οἷον τὸν Ἀχιλλέα Ἀγάθων καὶ Ὅμηρος.
Ταῦτα δὴ δεῖ διατηρεῖν, καὶ πρὸς τούτοις τὰ παρὰ τὰς ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἀκολουθούσας αἰσθήσεις τῇ ποιητικῇ· καὶ γὰρ κατ᾿ αὐτὰς ἔστιν ἁμαρτάνειν πολλάκις. Εἴρηται δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς ἐκδεδομένοις λόγοις ἱκανῶς.
+Ἀναγνώρισις δὲ τί μέν ἐστιν, εἴρηται πρότερον· εἴδη δὲ ἀναγνωρίσεως, πρώτη μὲν ἡ ἀτεχνοτάτη, καὶ ᾗ πλεῖστοι χρῶνται δι᾿ ἀπορίαν, ἡ διὰ τῶν σημείων.
Τούτων δὲ τὰ μὲν σύμφυτα, οἷον
ἢ ἀστέρας οἵους ἐν τῷ Θυέστῃ Καρκίνος, τὰ δὲ ἐπίκτητα, καὶ τούτων τὰ μὲν ἐν τῷ σώματι, οἷον οὐλαί, τὰ δὲ ἐκτός, τὰ περιδέραια, καὶ οἷον ἐν τῇ Τυροῖ διὰ τῆς σκάφης.
Ἔστι δὲ καὶ τούτοις χρῆσθαι ἢ βέλτιον ἢ χεῖρον, οἷον Ὀδυσσεὺς διὰ τῆς οὐλῆς ἄλλως ἀνεγνωρίσθη ὑπὸ τῆς τροφοῦ
εἰσὶ γὰρ αἱ μὲν πίστεως ἕνεκα ἀτεχνότεραι, καὶ αἱ τοιαῦται πᾶσαι, αἱ δὲ ἐκ περιπετείας, ὥσπερ ἡ ἐν τοῖς Νίπτροις, βελτίους.
Δεύτεραι δὲ αἱ πεποιημέναι ὑπὸ τοῦ ποιητοῦ, διὸ ἄτεχνοι· οἷον Ὀρέστης ἐν τῇ Ἰφιγενείᾳ ἀνεγνώρισε τὴν ἀδελφήν, ἀναγνωρισθεὶς ὑπ᾿ ἐκείνης· ἐκείνη μὲν γὰρ διὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ἐκεῖνος δὲ διὰ σημείων.
Ταῦτα οὖν αὐτὸς λέγει ἃ βούλεται ὁ ποιητής, ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ ὁ μῦθος. Διὸ ἐγγὺς τῆς εἰρημένης ἁμαρτίας ἐστίν· ἐξῆν γὰρ ἂν ἔνια καὶ ἐνεγκεῖν. Καὶ ἐν τῷ Σοφοκλέους Τηρεῖ ἡ τῆς κερκίδος φωνή.
Τρίτη δὲ ἡ διὰ μνήμης, τῷ αἰσθέσθαι τι ἰδόντα, ὥσπερ ἡ ἐν Κυπρίοις τοῖς Δικαιογένους, ἰδὼν γὰρ τὴν γραφὴν ἔκλαυσεν, καὶ ἡ ἐν Ἀλκίνου ἀπολόγῳ, ἀκούων γὰρ τοῦ κιθαριστοῦ καὶ μνησθεὶς ἐδάκρυσεν· ὅθεν ἀνεγνωρίσθησαν.
Τετάρτη δὲ ἡ ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ, οἷον ἐν Χοηφόροις, ὅτι ὅμοιός τις ἐλήλυθεν, ὅμοιος δὲ οὐθεὶς ἀλλ᾿ ἢ Ὀρέστης· οὗτος ἄρα ἐλήλυθεν. Καὶ ἡ Πολυείδου τοῦ σοφιστοῦ περὶ τῆς Ἰφιγενείας· εἰκὸς γὰρ τὸν Ὀρέστην συλλογίσασθαι ὅτι ἥ τ᾿ ἀδελφὴ ἐτύθη καὶ αὐτῷ συμβαίνει θύεσθαι. Καὶ ἡ ἐν τῷ τοῦ θεοδέκτου Τυδεῖ, ὅτι ἐλθὼν ὡς εὑρήσων υἱὸν αὐτὸς ἀπόλλυται. Καὶ ἡ ἐν τοῖς Φινείδαις· ἰδοῦσαι γὰρ τὸν τόπον συνελογίσαντο τὴν εἱμαρμένην, ὅτι ἐν τούτῳ εἵμαρτο ἀποθανεῖν αὐταῖς· καὶ γὰρ ἐξετέθησαν ἐνταῦθα.
Ἔστι δέ τις καὶ συνθετὴ ἐκ παραλογισμοῦ τοῦ θεάτρου, οἷον ἐν τῷ Ὀδυσσεῖ τῷ ψευδαγγέλῳ· τὸ μὲν γὰρ τόξον ἔφη γνώσεσθαι ὃ οὐχ ἑωράκει, ὁ δέ, ὡς δι᾿ ἐκείνου ἀναγνωριοῦντος, διὰ τούτου ἐποίησε παραλογισμόν.
Πασῶν δὲ βελτίστη ἀναγνώρισις ἡ ἐξ αὐτῶν
Δεύτεραι δὲ αἱ ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ.
+Δεῖ δὲ τοὺς μύθους συνιστάναι καὶ τῇ λέξει συναπεργάζεσθαι ὅτι μάλιστα πρὸ ὀμμάτων τιθέμενον· οὕτω γὰρ ἂν ἐναργέστατα ὁρῶν, ὥσπερ παρ᾿ αὐτοῖς γιγνόμενος τοῖς πραττομένοις, εὑρίσκοι τὸ πρέπον, καὶ ἥκιστ᾿ ἂν λανθάνοιτο τὰ ὑπεναντία.
Σημεῖον δὲ τούτου ὃ ἐπετιμᾶτο Καρκίνῳ· ὁ γὰρ Ἀμφιάραος ἐξ ἱεροῦ ἀνῄει, ὃ μὴ ὁρῶντα τὸν θεατὴν ἐλάνθανεν, ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς σκηνῆς ἐξέπεσε, δυσχερανάντων τοῦτο τῶν θεατῶν.
Ὅσα δὲ δυνατόν, καὶ τοῖς σχήμασι συναπεργαζόμενον. Πιθανώτατοι γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς φύσεως οἱ ἐν τοῖς πάθεσίν εἰσι, καὶ χειμαίνει ὁ χειμαζόμενος καὶ χαλεπαίνει ὁ ὀργιζόμενος ἀληθινώτατα.
Διὸ εὐφυοῦς ἡ ποιητική ἐστιν ἢ μανικοῦ· τούτων γὰρ οἱ μὲν εὔπλαστοι οἱ δὲ ἐξεταστικοί εἰσιν.
Τούς τε λόγους τοὺς πεποιημένους δεῖ καὶ αὐτὸν ποιοῦντα ἐκτίθεσθαι καθόλου, εἶθ᾿ οὕτως ἐπεισοδιοῦν καὶ παρατείνειν.
Λέγω δὲ οὕτως ἂν θεωρεῖσθαι τὸ καθόλου, οἷον τῆς Ἰφιγενείας. Τυθείσης τινὸς κόρης καὶ ἀφανισθείσης ἀδήλως τοῖς θύσασιν, ἱδρυνθείσης δὲ εἰς ἄλλην χώραν, ἐν ᾗ νόμος ἦν τοὺς ξένους θύειν τῇ θεῷ, ταύτην ἔσχε τὴν ἱερωσύνην. Χρόνῳ δ᾿ ὕστερον τῷ ἀδελφῷ συνέβη ἐλθεῖν τῆς ἱερείας. Τὸ δὲ ὅτι ἀνεῖλεν ὁ θεὸς διά τιν᾿ αἰτίαν ἔξω τοῦ καθόλου ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐφ᾿ ὅ τι δέ, ἔξω τοῦ μύθου. Ἐλθὼν δὲ καὶ ληφθεὶς θύεσθαι μέλλων ἀνεγνώρισεν, εἴθ᾿ ὡς Εὐριπίδης εἴθ᾿ ὡς Πολύειδος ἐποίησεν, κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς εἰπὼν
Μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ὑποθέντα τὰ ὀνόματα ἐπεισοδιοῦν,
ὅπως δὲ ἔσται οἰκεῖα τὰ ἐπεισόδια σκοπεῖν, οἷον ἐν τῷ Ὀρέστῃ ἡ μανία δι᾿ ἧς ἐλήφθη, καὶ ἡ σωτηρία διὰ τῆς καθάρσεως.
Ἐν μὲν οὖν τοῖς δράμασι τὰ ἐπεισόδια σύντομα, ἡ δ᾿ ἐποποιία τούτοις μηκύνεται.
Τῆς γὰρ Ὀδυσσείας μακρὸς ὁ λόγος ἐστίν, ἀποδημοῦντός τινος ἔτη πολλὰ καὶ παραφυλαττομένου ὑπὸ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος καὶ μόνου ὄντος, ἔτι δὲ τῶν οἴκοι οὕτως ἐχόντων ὥστε τὰ χρήματα ὑπὸ μνηστήρων ἀναλίσκεσθαι καὶ τὸν υἱὸν ἐπιβουλεύεσθαι· αὐτὸς δὲ ἀφικνεῖται χειμασθείς, καὶ ἀναγνωρίσας τινὰς αὐτοῖς ἐπιθέμενος αὐτὸς μὲν ἐσώθη, τοὺς δ᾿ ἐχθροὺς διέφθειρεν.
Τὸ μὲν οὖν ἴδιον τοῦτο, τὰ δ᾿ ἄλλα ἐπεισόδια.
+Ἔστι δὲ πάσης τραγῳδίας τὸ μὲν δέσις τὸ δὲ λύσις, τὰ μὲν ἔξωθεν καὶ ἔνια τῶν ἔσωθεν πολλάκις ἡ δέσις, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἡ λύσις.
Λέγω δὲ δέσιν μὲν εἶναι τὴν ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τούτου τοῦ μέρους ὃ ἔσχατόν ἐστιν, ἐξ οὗ μεταβαίνει εἰς εὐτυχίαν, λύσιν δὲ τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς τῆς μεταβάσεως μέχρι τέλους,
ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ Λυγκεῖ τῷ Θεοδέκτου δέσις μὲν τά τε προπεπραγμένα καὶ ἡ τοῦ παιδίου λῆψις, λύσις δ᾿ ἡ ἀπὸ τῆς αἰτιάσεως τοῦ θανάτου μέχρι τοῦ τέλους.
Τραγῳδίας δὲ εἴδη εἰσὶ τέσσαρα· τοσαῦτα γὰρ καὶ τὰ μέρη ἐλέχθη.
Ἡ μὲν πεπλεγμένη, ἧς τὸ ὅλον ἐστὶ περιπέτεια καὶ ἀναγνώρισις·
ἡ δὲ παθητική, οἷον οἵ τε Αἴαντες καὶ οἱ Ἰξίονες·
ἡ δὲ ἠθική, οἷον αἱ Φθιώτιδες καὶ ὁ Πηλεύς·
τὸ δὲ τέταρτον, οἷον αἵ τε Φορκίδες καὶ Προμηθεὺς καὶ ὅσα ἐν ᾅδου.
Μάλιστα μὲν οὖν ἅπαντα δεῖ πειρᾶσθαι
Δίκαιον δὲ καὶ τραγῳδίαν ἄλλην καὶ τὴν αὐτὴν λέγειν οὐδὲν ἴσως τῷ μύθῳ. Τοῦτο δέ, ὧν ἡ αὐτὴ πλοκὴ καὶ λύσις.
Πολλοὶ δὲ πλέξαντες εὖ λύουσι κακῶς·
δεῖ δὲ ἄμφω ἀεὶ κροτεῖσθαι.
Χρὴ δέ, ὅπερ εἴρηται πολλάκις, μεμνῆσθαι καὶ μὴ ποιεῖν ἐποποιικὸν σύστημα τραγῳδίαν. Ἐποποιικὸν δὲ λέγω τὸ πολύμυθον, οἷον εἴ τις τὸν τῆς Ἰλιάδος ὅλον ποιοῖ μῦθον.
Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τὸ μῆκος λαμβάνει τὰ μέρη τὸ πρέπον μέγεθος, ἐν δὲ τοῖς δράμασι πολὺ παρὰ τὴν ὑπόληψιν ἀποβαίνει.
Σημεῖον δέ, ὅσοι πέρσιν Ἰλίου ὅλην ἐποίησαν καὶ μὴ κατὰ μέρος, ὥσπερ Εὐριπίδης Νιόβην, καὶ μὴ ὥσπερ Αἰσχύλος, ἢ ἐκπίπτουσιν ἢ κακῶς ἀγωνίζονται, ἐπεὶ καὶ Ἀγάθων ἐξέπεσεν ἐν τούτῳ μόνῳ.
Ἐν δὲ ταῖς περιπετείαις καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἁπλοῖς πράγμασι στοχάζονται ὧν βούλονται θαυμαστῶς· τραγικὸν γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ φιλάνθρωπον.
Ἔστι δὲ τοῦτο, ὅταν ὁ σοφὸς μὲν μετὰ πονηρίας δὲ ἐξαπατηθῇ, ὥσπερ Σίσυφος, καὶ ὁ ἀνδρεῖος μὲν ἄδικος δὲ ἡττηθῇ.
Ἔστι δὲ τοῦτο εἰκός, ὥσπερ Ἀγάθων λέγει· εἰκὸς γὰρ γίνεσθαι πολλὰ καὶ παρὰ τὸ εἰκός.
Καὶ τὸν χορὸν δὲ ἕνα δεῖ ὑπολαβεῖν τῶν ὑποκριτῶν, καὶ μόριον εἶναι τοῦ ὅλου, καὶ συναγωνίζεσθαι μὴ ὥσπερ παρ᾿ Εὐριπίδῃ ἀλλ᾿ ὥσπερ παρὰ Σοφοκλεῖ.
Τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς τὰ διδόμενα μᾶλλον τοῦ μύθου ἢ ἄλλης τραγῳδίας ἐστίν· διὸ ἐμβόλιμα ᾄδουσιν, πρώτου ἄρξαντος Ἀγάθωνος τοῦ τοιούτου. Καίτοι τί διαφέρει ἢ ἐμβόλιμα ᾄδειν ἢ ῥῆσιν ἐξ ἄλλου εἰς ἄλλο ἁρμόττειν ἢ ἐπεισόδιον ὅλον;
+Περὶ μὲν οὖν τῶν ἄλλων ἤδη εἴρηται, λοιπὸν δὲ περὶ
Τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὴν διάνοιαν ἐν τοῖς περὶ ῥητορικῆς κείσθω· τοῦτο γὰρ ἴδιον μᾶλλον ἐκείνης τῆς μεθόδου.
Ἔστι δὲ κατὰ τὴν διάνοιαν ταῦτα, ὅσα ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου δεῖ παρασκευασθῆναι.
Μέρη δὲ τούτων τό τε ἀποδεικνύναι καὶ τὸ λύειν καὶ τὸ πάθη παρασκευάζειν, οἷον ἔλεον ἢ φόβον ἢ ὀργὴν καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα, καὶ ἔτι μέγεθος καὶ μικρότητα.
Δῆλον δὲ ὅτι καὶ ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτῶν ἰδεῶν δεῖ χρῆσθαι, ὅταν ἢ ἐλεεινὰ ἢ δεινὰ ἢ μέγαλα ἢ εἰκότα δέῃ παρασκευάζειν.
Πλὴν τοσοῦτον διαφέρει, ὅτι τὰ μὲν δεῖ φαίνεσθαι ἄνευ διδασκαλίας, τὰ δὲ ἐν τῷ λόγῳ ὑπὸ τοῦ λέγοντος παρασκευάζεσθαι καὶ παρὰ τὸν λόγον γίγνεσθαι. Τί γὰρ ἂν εἴη τοῦ λέγοντος ἔργον, εἰ φανοῖτο ἡδέα καὶ μὴ διὰ τὸν λόγον;
Τῶν δὲ περὶ τὴν λέξιν ἓν μέν ἐστιν εἶδος θεωρίας τὰ σχήματα τῆς λέξεως, ἅ ἐστιν εἰδέναι τῆς ὑποκριτικῆς καὶ τοῦ τὴν τοιαύτην ἔχοντος ἀρχιτεκτονικήν, οἷον τί ἐντολὴ καὶ τί εὐχὴ καὶ διήγησις καὶ ἀπειλὴ καὶ ἐρώτησις καὶ ἀπόκρισις, καὶ εἴ τι ἄλλο τοιοῦτον.
Παρὰ γὰρ τὴν τούτων γνῶσιν ἢ ἄγνοιαν οὐδὲν εἰς τὴν ποιητικὴν ἐπιτίμημα φέρεται, ὅ τι καὶ ἄξιον σπουδῆς. Τί γὰρ ἄν τις ὑπολάβοι ἡμαρτῆσθαι ἃ Πρωταγόρας ἐπιτιμᾷ, Ὅτι εὔχεσθαι οἰόμενος ἐπιτάττει εἰπὼν
Τὸ γὰρ κελεῦσαι, φησί, ποιεῖν τι ἢ μὴ ἐπίταξίς ἐστιν.
Διὸ παρείσθω ὡς ἄλλης καὶ οὐ τῆς ποιητικῆς ὂν θεώρημα.
+Τῆς δὲ λέξεως ἁπάσης τάδ᾿ ἐστὶ τὰ μέρη, στοιχεῖον, συλλαβή, σύνδεσμος, ὄνομα, ῥῆμα, ἄρθρον, πτῶσις, λόγος.
Στοιχεῖον μὲν οὖν ἐστὶ φωνὴ ἀδιαίρετος, οὐ πᾶσα δέ, ἀλλ᾿ ἐξ ἧς πέφυκε συνετὴ γίνεσθαι φωνή· καὶ γὰρ τῶν θηρίων εἰσὶν ἀδιαίρετοι φωναί, ὦν οὐδεμίαν λέγω στοιχεῖον.
Ταύτης δὲ μέρη τό τε φωνῆεν καὶ τὸ ἡμίφωνον καὶ ἄφωνον. Ἔστι
Ταῦτα δὲ διαφέρει σχήμασί τε τοῦ στόματος καὶ τόποις καὶ δασύτητι καὶ ψιλότητι καὶ μήκει καὶ βραχύτητι, ἔτι δὲ ὀξύτητι καὶ βαρύτητι καὶ τῷ μέσῳ· περὶ ὦν καθ᾿ ἕκαστον ἐν τοῖς μετρικοῖς προσήκει θεωρεῖν.
Συλλαβὴ δ᾿ ἐστὶ φωνὴ ἄσημος, συνθετὴ ἐξ ἀφώνου καὶ φωνὴν ἔχοντος· καὶ γὰρ τὸ ΓΡ ἄνευ τοῦ Α συλλαβή, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ Α, οἷον τὸ ΓΡΑ. Ἀλλὰ καὶ τούτων θεωρῆσαι τὰς διαφορὰς τῆς μετρικῆς ἐστίν.
Σύνδεσμος δ᾿ ἐστὶ φωνὴ ἄσημος, ἣ οὔτε κωλύει οὔτε ποιεῖ φωνὴν μίαν σημαντικήν, ἐκ πλειόνων φωνῶν πεφυκυῖαν συντίθεσθαι, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄκρων καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ μέσου, ἢν μὴ ἁρμόττῃ ἐν ἀρχῇ λόγου τιθέναι καθ᾿ αὑτόν, οἷον μέν, ἤτοι, δή. Ἢ φωνὴ ἄσημος ἐκ πλειόνων μὲν φωνῶν μιᾶς, σημαντικῶν δέ, ποιεῖν πεφυκυῖα μίαν σημαντικὴν φωνήν.
Ἄρθρον δ᾿ ἐστὶ φωνὴ ἄσημος, ἣ λόγου ἀρχὴν ἢ τέλος ἢ διορισμὸν δηλοῖ, οἷον τὸ φημί καὶ τὸ περί καὶ τὰ ἄλλα. Ἢ φωνὴ ἄσημος, ἣ οὔτε κωλύει οὔτε ποιεῖ φωνὴν μίαν σημαντικὴν ἐκ πλειόνων φωνῶν, πεφυκυῖα τίθεσθαι καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄκρων καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ μέσου.
Ὄνομα δ᾿ ἐστὶ φωνὴ συνθετή, σημαντικὴ ἄνευ χρόνου, ἧς μέρος οὐδέν ἐστι καθ᾿ αὑτὸ σημαντικόν· ἐν γὰρ τοῖς διπλοῖς οὐ χρώμεθα, ὡς καὶ αὐτὸ καθ᾿ αὑτὸ σημαῖνον, οἷον ἐν τῷ Θεοδώρῳ τὸ δῶρον οὐ σημαίνει.
Ῥῆμα δὲ φωνὴ συνθετή, σημαντικὴ μετὰ χρόνου, ἧς οὐδὲν μέρος σημαίνει καθ᾿ αὑτό, ὥσπερ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ὀνομάτων· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἄνθρωπος ἢ λευκὸν οὐ σημαίνει τὸ πότε,
Πτῶσις δ᾿ ἐστὶν ὀνόματος ἢ ῥήματος ἡ μὲν τὸ κατὰ τούτου ἢ τούτῳ σημαίνουσα καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα, ἡ δὲ τὸ κατὰ τὸ ἑνὶ ἢ πολλοῖς, οἷον ἄνθρωποι ἢ ἄνθρωπος, ἡ δὲ κατὰ τὰ ὑποκριτικά, οἷον κατ᾿ ἐρώτησιν ἢ ἐπίταξιν· τὸ γὰρ ἐβάδισεν ἢ βάδιζε πτῶσις ῥήματος κατὰ ταῦτα τὰ εἴδη ἐστίν.
Λόγος δὲ φωνὴ συνθετὴ σημαντική, ἧς ἔνια μέρη καθ᾿ αὑτὰ σημαίνει τι·
οὐ γὰρ ἅπας λόγος ἐκ ῥημάτων καὶ ὀνομάτων σύγκειται, οἷον ὁ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁρισμός, ἀλλ᾿ ἐνδέχεται ἄνευ ῥημάτων εἶναι λόγον. Μέρος μέντοι ἀεί τι σημαῖνον ἕξει, οἷον ἐν τῷ βαδίζει Κλέων ὁ Κλέων.
Εἷς δ᾿ ἐστὶ λόγος διχῶς· ἢ γὰρ ὁ ἓν σημαίνων, ἢ ὁ ἐκ πλειόνων συνδέσμων, οἷον ἡ Ἰλιὰς μὲν συνδέσμῳ εἷς, ὁ δὲ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τῷ ἓν σημαίνειν.
+Ὀνόματος δὲ εἴδη τὸ μὲν ἁπλοῦν (ἁπλοῦν δὲ λέγω ὃ μὴ ἐκ σημαινόντων σύγκειται, οἷον γῆ) τὸ δὲ διπλοῦν·
τούτου δὲ τὸ μὲν ἐκ σημαίνοντος καὶ ἀσήμου, τὸ δὲ ἐκ σημαινόντων σύγκειται.
Εἴη δ᾿ ἂν καὶ τριπλοῦν καὶ τετραπλοῦν καὶ πολλαπλοῦν ὄνομα, οἷον τὰ πολλὰ τῶν Μεγαλιωτῶν Ἑρμοκαϊκόξανθος.
Ἅπαν δὲ ὄνομά ἐστιν ἢ κύριον ἢ γλῶττα ἢ μεταφορὰ ἢ κόσμος ἢ πεποιημένον ἢ ἐπεκτεταμένον ἢ ὑφῃρημένον ἢ ἐξηλλαγμένον.
Λέγω δὲ κύριον μὲν ᾧ χρῶνται ἕκαστοι,
γλῶτταν δὲ ᾧ ἕτεροι, ὥστε φανερὸν ὅτι καὶ γλῶτταν καὶ κύριον εἶναι δυνατὸν τὸ αὐτό, μὴ τοῖς αὐτοῖς δέ· τὸ γὰρ σίγυνον Κυπρίοις μὲν κύριον, ἡμῖν δὲ γλῶττα.
Μεταφορὰ δ᾿ ἐστὶν ὀνόματος ἀλλοτρίου ἐπιφορὰ ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ γένους ἐπὶ εἶδος, ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ εἴδους ἐπὶ γένος, ἢ
Λέγω δὲ ἀπὸ γένους μὲν ἐπὶ εἶδος, οἷον
τὸ γὰρ ὁρμεῖν ἐστὶν ἑστάναι τι. Ἀπ᾿ εἴδους δὲ ἐπὶ γένος·
τὸ γὰρ μυρίον πολύ ἐστιν, ᾧ νῦν ἀντὶ τοῦ πολλοῦ κέχρηται.
Ἀπ᾿ εἴδους δὲ ἐπὶ εἶδος, οἷον
καὶ τεμὼν ἀτειρέϊ χαλκῷ·
ἐνταῦθα γὰρ τὸ μὲν ἀρύσαι ταμεῖν, τὸ δὲ ταμεῖν ἀρύσαι εἴρηκεν· ἄμφω γὰρ ἀφελεῖν τι ἐστίν.
Τὸ δὲ ἀνάλογον λέγω, ὅταν ὁμοίως ἔχῃ τὸ δεύτερον πρὸς τὸ πρῶτον καὶ τὸ τέταρτον πρὸς τὸ τρίτον· ἐρεῖ γὰρ ἀντὶ τοῦ δευτέρου τὸ τέταρτον ἢ ἀντὶ τοῦ τετάρτου τὸ δεύτερον.
Καὶ ἐνίοτε προστιθέασιν ἀνθ᾿ οὗ λέγει πρὸς ὅ ἐστιν. Λέγω δὲ οἷον ὁμοίως ἔχει φιάλη πρὸς Διόνυσον καὶ ἀσπὶς πρὸς Ἄρην· ἐρεῖ τοίνυν τὴν φιάλην ἀσπίδα Διονύσου καὶ τὴν ἀσπίδα φιάλην Ἄρεως.
Ἢ ὃ γῆρας πρὸς βίον, καὶ ἑσπέρα πρὸς ἡμέραν· ἐρεῖ τοίνυν τὴν ἑσπέραν γῆρας ἡμέρας καὶ τὸ γῆρας ἑσπέραν βίου ἢ ὥσπερ Ἐμπεδοκλῆς δυσμὰς βίου.
Ἐνίοις δ᾿ οὐκ ἔστιν ὄνομα κείμενον τὸ ἀνάλογον, ἀλλ᾿ οὐδὲν ἧττον ὁμοίως λεχθήσεται· οἷον τὸ τὸν καρπὸν μὲν ἀφιέναι σπείρειν, τὸ δὲ τὴν φλόγα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡλίου ἀνώνυμον· ἀλλ᾿ ὁμοίως ἔχει τοῦτο πρὸς τὸν ἥλιον καὶ τὸ σπείρειν πρὸς τὸν καρπόν, διὸ εἴρηται
Ἔστι δὲ τῷ τρόπῳ τούτῳ τῆς μεταφορᾶς χρῆσθαι καὶ ἄλλως, προσαγορεύσαντα τὸ ἀλλότριον ἀποφῆσαι τῶν οἰκείων τι,
οἷον εἰ τὴν ἀσπίδα εἴποι φιάλην μὴ Ἄρεως ἀλλ᾿ οἴνου.
Πεποιημένον δ᾿ ἐστὶν ὃ ὅλως μὴ καλούμενον ὑπό τινων
Ἐπεκτεταμένον δ᾿ ἐστὶν ἢ ἀφῃρημένον τὸ μέν, ἐὰν φωνήεντι μακροτέρῳ κεχρημένον ᾖ τοῦ οἰκείου ἢ συλλαβῇ ἐμβεβλημένῃ, τὸ δ᾿ ἐὰν ἀφῃρημένον τι ᾖ αὐτοῦ,
ἐπεκτεταμένον μὲν οἷον τὸ πόλεως πόληος καὶ τὸ Πηλείδου Πηληϊάδεω, ἀφῃρημένον δὲ οἷον τὸ κρῖ καὶ τὸ δῶ καὶ
Ἐξηλλαγμένον δ᾿ ἐστίν, ὅταν τοῦ ὀνομαζομένου τὸ μὲν καταλείπῃ τὸ δὲ ποιῇ, οἷον τὸ
ἀντὶ τοῦ δεξιόν.
Αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν ὀνομάτων τὰ μὲν ἄρρενα τὰ δὲ θήλεα τὰ δὲ μεταξύ,
ἄρρενα μὲν ὅσα τελευτᾷ εἰς τὸ Ν καὶ Ρ, καὶ ὅσα ἐκ τούτου (ταῦτα δ᾿ ἐστὶ δύο, Ψ καὶ Ξ), θήλεα δὲ ὅσα ἐκ τῶν φωνηέντων εἴς τε τὰ ἀεὶ μακρά,
οἷον εἰς Η καὶ Ω, καὶ τῶν ἐπεκτεινομένων εἰς Α·
ὥστε ἴσα συμβαίνει πλήθει εἰς ὅσα τὰ ἄρρενα καὶ τὰ θήλεα· τὸ γὰρ Ψ καὶ τὸ Ξ ταὐτά ἐστιν.
Εἰς δὲ ἄφωνον οὐδὲν ὄνομα τελευτᾷ, οὐδὲ εἰς φωνῆεν βραχύ.
Εἰς δὲ τὸ Ι τρία μόνα, μέλι κόμμι πέπερι. Εἰς δὲ τὸ Υ πέντε, τὸ πῶϋ, τὸ νᾶπυ, τὸ γόνυ, τὸ δόρυ, τὸ ἄστυ. Τὰ δὲ μεταξὺ εἰς ταῦτα καὶ Ν καὶ Σ.
+Λέξεως δὲ ἀρετὴ σαφῆ καὶ μὴ ταπεινὴν εἶναι.
Σαφεστάτη μὲν οὖν ἐστὶν ἡ ἐκ τῶν κυρίων ὀνομάτων, ἀλλὰ ταπεινή· παράδειγμα δὲ ἡ Κλεοφῶντος ποίησις καὶ ἡ Σθενέλου.
Σεμνὴ δὲ καὶ ἐξαλλάττουσα τὸ ἰδιωτικὸν ἡ τοῖς ξενικοῖς κεχρημένη. Ξενικὸν δὲ λέγω γλῶτταν καὶ μεταφορὰν καὶ ἐπέκτασιν καὶ πᾶν τὸ παρὰ τὸ κύριον.
Ἀλλ᾿ ἄν τις ἅπαντα τοιαῦτα ποιήσῃ, ἢ αἴνιγμα ἔσται ἢ βαρβαρισμός. Ἂν μὲν οὖν
Αἰνίγματος γὰρ ἰδέα αὕτη ἐστί, τὸ λέγοντα ὑπάρχοντα ἀδύνατα συνάψαι. Κατὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν τῶν ὀνόματων σύνθεσιν οὐχ οἷόν τε τοῦτο ποιῆσαι, κατὰ δὲ τὴν μεταφορὰν ἐνδέχεται, οἷον
καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα.
Ἐκ δὲ τῶν γλωττῶν ὁ βαρβαρισμός.
Δεῖ ἄρα κεκρᾶσθαί πως τούτοις· τὸ μὲν γὰρ μὴ ἰδιωτικὸν ποιήσει μηδὲ ταπεινὸν ἡ γλῶττα καὶ ἡ μεταφορὰ καὶ ὁ κόσμος καὶ τἆλλα τὰ εἰρημένα εἴδη, τὸ δὲ κύριον τὴν σαφήνειαν.
Οὐκ ἐλάχιστον δὲ μέρος συμβάλλονται εἰς τὸ σαφὲς τῆς λέξεως καὶ μὴ ἰδιωτικὸν αἱ ἐπεκτάσεις καὶ ἀποκοπαὶ καὶ ἐξαλλαγαὶ τῶν ὀνομάτων· διὰ μὲν γὰρ τὸ ἄλλως ἔχειν ἢ ὡς τὸ κύριον παρὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς γιγνόμενον τὸ μὴ ἰδιωτικὸν ποιήσει, διὰ δὲ τὸ κοινωνεῖν τοῦ εἰωθότος τὸ σαφὲς ἔσται.
Ὥστε οὐκ ὀρθῶς ψέγουσιν οἱ ἐπιτιμῶντες τῷ τοιούτῳ τρόπῳ τῆς διαλέκτου καὶ διακωμῳδοῦντες τὸν ποιητήν, οἷον Εὐκλείδης ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὡς ῥᾴδιον ποιεῖν, εἴ τις δώσει ἐκτείνειν ἐφ᾿ ὁπόσον βούλεται, ἰαμβοποιήσας ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ λέξει·
καὶ
Τὸ μὲν οὖν φαίνεσθαί πως χρώμενον τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ γελοῖον, τὸ δὲ μέτρον κοινὸν ἁπάντων ἐστὶ τῶν μερῶν·
καὶ γὰρ μεταφοραῖς καὶ γλώτταις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις εἴδεσι χρώμενος ἀπρεπῶς καὶ ἐπίτηδες ἐπὶ τὰ γελοῖα τὸ αὐτὸ ἂν ἀπεργάσαιτο.
Τὸ δὲ ἁρμόττον ὅσον διαφέρει, ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπῶν θεωρείσθω, ἐντιθεμένων τῶν ὀνομάτων εἰς τὸ μέτρον.
Καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γλώττης δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν μεταφορῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἰδεῶν μετατιθεὶς ἄν τις τὰ κύρια ὀνόματα κατίδοι ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγομεν· οἷον τὸ αὐτὸ ποιήσαντος ἰαμβεῖον Αἰσχύλου καὶ Εὐριπίδου, ἓν δὲ μόνον ὄνομα μεταθέντος, ἀντὶ κυρίου εἰωθότος γλῶτταν, τὸ μὲν φαίνεται καλὸν τὸ δ᾿ εὐτελές. Αἰσχύλος μὲν γὰρ ἐν τῷ Φιλοκτήτῃ ἐποίησε
ὁ δὲ ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐσθίει τὸ θοινᾶται μετέθηκεν. Καὶ
εἴ τις λέγοι τὰ κύρια μετατιθείς
Καὶ
Καὶ τὸ ἠϊόνες βοόωσιν
ἠϊόνες κράζουσιν.
Ἔτι δὲ Ἀρειφράδης τοὺς τραγῳδοὺς ἐκωμῴδει, ὅτι ἃ οὐδεὶς ἂν εἴποι ἐν τῇ διαλέκτῳ, τούτοις χρῶνται, οἷον τὸ δωμάτων ἄπο ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀπὸ δωμάτων, καὶ τὸ σέθεν, καὶ τὸ ἐγὼ δέ νιν, καὶ τὸ Ἀχιλλέως πέρι ἀλλὰ μὴ περὶ Ἀχιλλέως, καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα τοιαῦτα.
Διὰ γὰρ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ἐν τοῖς κυρίοις ποιεῖ τὸ μὴ ἰδιωτικὸν ἐν τῇ λέξει ἅπαντα τὰ τοιαῦτα· ἐκεῖνος δὲ τοῦτο ἠγνόει.
Ἔστι δὲ μέγα μὲν τὸ ἑκάστῳ τῶν εἰρημένων πρέπόντως χρῆσθαι, καὶ διπλοῖς ὀνόμασι καὶ γλώτταις, πολὺ δὲ μέγιστον τὸ μεταφορικὸν εἶναι.
Μόνον γὰρ τοῦτο οὔτε παρ᾿ ἄλλου ἔστι λαβεῖν εὐφυΐας τε σημεῖόν ἐστιν· τὸ γὰρ εὖ μεταφέρειν τὸ τὸ ὅμοιον θεωρεῖν ἐστίν.
Τῶν δ᾿ ὀνομάτων τὰ μὲν διπλᾶ μάλιστα ἁρμόττει τοῖς διθυράμβοις, αἱ δὲ γλῶτται τοῖς ἡρωϊκοῖς, αἱ δὲ μεταφοραὶ τοῖς ἰαμβείοις.
Καὶ ἐν μὲν τοῖς ἡρωϊκοῖς ἅπαντα χρήσιμα τὰ εἰρημένα· ἐν δὲ
Περὶ μὲν οὖν τραγῳδίας καὶ τῆς ἐν τῷ πράττειν μιμήσεως ἔστω ἡμῖν ἱκανὰ τὰ εἰρημένα.
+Περὶ δὲ τῆς διηγηματικῆς καὶ ἐν μέτρῳ μιμητικῆς, ὅτι δεῖ τοὺς μύθους καθάπερ ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις συνιστάναι δραματικούς, καὶ περὶ μίαν πρᾶξιν ὅλην καὶ τελείαν, ἔχουσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ μέσον καὶ τέλος, ἵν᾿ ὥσπερ ζῷον ἓν ὅλον ποιῇ τὴν οἰκείαν ἡδονήν, δῆλον,
καὶ μὴ ὁμοίας ἱστορίας τὰς συνήθεις εἶναι, ἐν αἷς ἀνάγκη οὐχὶ μιᾶς πράξεως ποιεῖσθαι δήλωσιν ἀλλ᾿ ἑνὸς χρόνου, ὅσα ἐν τούτῳ συνέβη περὶ ἕνα ἢ πλείους, ὧν ἕκαστον ὡς ἔτυχεν ἔχει πρὸς ἄλληλα.
Ὥσπερ γὰρ κατὰ τοὺς αὐτοὺς χρόνους ἥ τ᾿ ἐν Σαλαμῖνι ἐγένετο ναυμαχία καὶ ἡ ἐν Σικελίᾳ Καρχηδονίων μάχη, οὐδὲν πρὸς τὸ αὐτὸ συντείνουσαι τέλος, οὕτω καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐφεξῆς χρόνοις ἐνίοτε γίνεται θάτερον μετὰ θατέρου, ἐξ ὧν ἓν οὐδὲν γίνεται τέλος.
Σχεδὸν δὲ οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν ποιητῶν τοῦτο δρῶσιν.
Διό, ὥσπερ εἴπομεν ἤδη, καὶ ταύτῃ θεσπέσιος ἂν φανείη Ὅμηρος παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους, τῷ μηδὲ τὸν πόλεμον, καίπερ ἔχοντα ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος, ἐπιχειρῆσαι ποιεῖν ὅλον· λίαν γὰρ ἂν μέγας καὶ οὐκ εὐσύνοπτος ἔμελλεν ἔσεσθαι· ἢ τῷ μεγέθει μετριάζοντα καταπεπλεγμένον τῇ ποικιλίᾳ. Νῦν δ᾿ ἓν μέρος ἀπολαβὼν ἐπεισοδίοις κέχρηται αὐτῶν πολλοῖς, οἷον νεῶν καταλόγῳ καὶ ἄλλοις ἐπεισοδίοις, οἷς διαλαμβάνει τὴν ποίησιν.
Οἱ δ᾿ ἄλλοι περὶ ἕνα ποιοῦσι καὶ περὶ ἕνα χρόνον, καὶ μίαν πρᾶξιν πολυμερῆ, οἷον ὁ τὰ Κύπρια ποιήσας καὶ τὴν μικρὰν Ἰλιάδα.
Τοιγαροῦν ἐκ μὲν Ἰλιάδος καὶ Ὀδυσσείας μία τραγῳδία ποιεῖται ἑκατέρας ἢ
Ἔτι δὲ τὰ εἴδη ταὐτὰ δεῖ ἔχειν τὴν ἐποποιίαν τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ· ἢ γὰρ ἁπλῆν ἢ πεπλεγμένην ἢ ἠθικὴν ἢ παθητικὴν δεῖ εἶναι.
Καὶ τὰ μέρη ἔξω μελοποιίας καὶ ὄψεως ταὐτά· καὶ γὰρ περιπετειῶν δεῖ καὶ ἀναγνωρίσεων καὶ παθημάτων.
Ἔτι τὰς διανοίας καὶ τὴν λέξιν ἔχειν καλῶς. Οἷς ἅπασιν Ὅμηρος κέχρηται καὶ πρῶτος καὶ ἱκανῶς. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τῶν ποιημάτων ἑκάτερον συνέστηκεν ἡ μὲν Ἰλιὰς ἁπλοῦν καὶ παθητικόν, ἡ δὲ Ὀδύσσεια πεπλεγμένον· ἀναγνώρισις γὰρ διόλου καὶ ἠθική. Πρὸς δὲ τούτοις λέξει καὶ διανοίᾳ πάντας ὑπερβέβληκεν.
Διαφέρει δὲ κατά τε τῆς συστάσεως τὸ μῆκος ἡ ἐποποιία καὶ τὸ μέτρον.
Τοῦ μὲν οὖν μήκους ὅρος ἱκανὸς ὁ εἰρημένος· δύνασθαι γὰρ δεῖ συνορᾶσθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὸ τέλος. Εἴη δ᾿ ἂν τοῦτο, εἰ τῶν μὲν ἀρχαίων ἐλάττους αἱ συστάσεις εἶεν, πρὸς δὲ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν τραγῳδιῶν τῶν εἰς μίαν ἀκρόασιν τιθεμένων παρήκοιεν.
Ἔχει δὲ πρὸς τὸ ἐπεκτείνεσθαι τὸ μέγεθος πολύ τι ἡ ἐποποιία ἴδιον διὰ τὸ ἐν μὲν τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ μὴ ἐνδέχεσθαι ἅμα πραττόμενα πολλὰ μέρη μιμεῖσθαι, ἀλλὰ τὸ ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ τῶν ὑποκριτῶν μέρος μόνον· ἐν δὲ τῇ ἐποποιίᾳ, διὰ τὸ διήγησιν εἶναι, ἔστι πολλὰ μέρη ἅμα ποιεῖν περαινόμενα, ὑφ᾿ ὧν οἰκείων ὄντων αὔξεται ὁ τοῦ ποιήματος ὄγκος.
Ὥστε τοῦτ᾿ ἔχει τὸ ἀγαθὸν εἰς μεγαλοπρέπειαν καὶ τὸ μεταβάλλειν τὸν ἀκούοντα καὶ ἐπεισοδιοῦν ἀνομοίοις ἐπεισοδίοις· τὸ γὰρ ὅμοιον ταχὺ πληροῦν ἐκπίπτειν ποιεῖ τὰς τραγῳδίας.
Τὸ δὲ μέτρον τὸ ἡρωϊκὸν ἀπὸ τῆς πείρας ἥρμοκεν. Εἰ γάρ τις
τὸ γὰρ ἡρωϊκὸν στασιμώτατον καὶ ὀγκωδέστατον τῶν μέτρων ἐστίν, διὸ καὶ γλώττας καὶ μεταφορὰς δέχεται μάλιστα· περιττὴ γὰρ καὶ ἡ διηγηματικὴ μίμησις τῶν ἄλλων.
Τὸ δὲ ἰαμβικὸν καὶ τετράμετρον κινητικά, τὸ μὲν ὀρχηστικόν, τὸ δὲ πρακτικόν.
Ἔτι δὲ ἀτοπώτερον εἰ μιγνύοι τις αὐτά, ὥσπερ Χαιρήμων.
Διὸ οὐδεὶς μακρὰν σύστασιν ἐν ἄλλῳ πεποίηκεν ἢ τῷ ἡρῴῳ, ἀλλ᾿ ὥσπερ εἴπομεν, αὐτὴ ἡ φύσις διδάσκει τὸ ἁρμόττον αὐτῇ διαιρεῖσθαι.
Ὅμηρος δὲ ἄλλα τε πολλὰ ἄξιος ἐπαινεῖσθαι, καὶ δὴ καὶ ὅτι μόνος τῶν ποιητῶν οὐκ ἀγνοεῖ ὃ δεῖ ποιεῖν αὐτόν.
Αὐτὸν γὰρ δεῖ τὸν ποιητὴν ἐλάχιστα λέγειν· οὐ γάρ ἐστι κατὰ ταῦτα μιμητής. Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι αὐτοὶ μὲν δι᾿ ὅλου ἀγωνίζονται, μιμοῦνται δὲ ὀλίγα καὶ ὀλιγάκις· ὁ δὲ ὀλίγα φροιμιασάμενος εὐθὺς εἰσάγει ἄνδρα ἢ γυναῖκα ἢ ἄλλο τι ἦθος, καὶ οὐδὲν ἄηθες, ἀλλ᾿ ἔχοντα ἤθη.
Δεῖ μὲν οὖν ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις ποιεῖν τὸ θαυμαστόν, μᾶλλον δ᾿ ἐνδέχεται ἐν τῇ ἐποποιίᾳ τὸ ἄλογον. Διὸ συμβαίνει μάλιστα τὸ θαυμαστόν, διὰ τὸ μὴ ὁρᾶν εἰς τὸν πράττοντα,
ἐπεὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν Ἕκτορος δίωξιν ἐπὶ σκηνῆς ὄντα γελοῖα ἂν φανείη, οἱ μὲν ἑστῶτες καὶ οὐ διώκοντες, ὁ δὲ ἀνανεύων· ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἔπεσι λανθάνει.
Τὸ δὲ θαυμαστὸν ἡδύ· σημεῖον δέ, πάντες γὰρ προστιθέντες ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὡς χαριζόμενοι.
Δεδίδαχε δὲ μάλιστα Ὅμηρος καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ψευδῆ λέγειν ὡς δεῖ. Ἔστι δὲ τοῦτο παραλογισμός. Οἴονται γὰρ ἄνθρωποι, ὅταν τουδὶ ὄντος τοδὶ ᾖ ἢ γινομένου γίνηται, εἰ τὸ ὕστερόν ἐστι, καὶ τὸ πρότερον εἶναι ἢ γίνεσθαι· τοῦτο δ᾿ ἐστὶ ψεῦδος. Διὸ δή, ἂν τὸ πρῶτον ψεῦδος, ἄλλου δὲ τούτου ὄντος, ἀνάγκη εἶναι ἢ γενέσθαι ἢ προσθεῖναι· διὰ γὰρ τὸ τοῦτο εἰδέναι ἀληθὲς ὄν, παραλογίζεται ἡμῶν ἡ ψυχὴ καὶ
Προαιρεῖσθαί τε δεῖ ἀδύνατα εἰκότα μᾶλλον ἢ δυνατὰ ἀπίθανα·
τούς τε λόγους μὴ συνίστασθαι ἐκ μερῶν ἀλόγων, ἀλλὰ μάλιστα μὲν μηδὲν ἔχειν ἄλογον, εἰ δὲ μή, ἔξω τοῦ μυθεύματος, ὥσπερ Οἰδίπους τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι πῶς ὁ Λάϊος ἀπέθανεν, ἀλλὰ μὴ ἐν τῷ δράματι, ὥσπερ ἐν Ἠλέκτρᾳ οἱ τὰ Πύθια ἀπαγγέλλοντες, ἢ ἐν Μυσοῖς ὁ ἄφωνος ἐκ Τεγέας εἰς τὴν Μυσίαν ἥκων.
Ὥστε τὸ λέγειν ὅτι ἀνῄρητο ἂν ὁ μῦθος γελοῖον· ἐξ ἀρχῆς γὰρ οὐ δεῖ συνίστασθαι τοιούτους· ἂν δὲ θῇ, καὶ φαίνηται εὐλογώτερον, ἀποδέχεσθαι καὶ ἄτοπον,
ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰ ἐν Ὀδυσσείᾳ ἄλογα τὰ περὶ τὴν ἔκθεσιν, ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἦν ἀνεκτά, δῆλον ἂν γένοιτο, εἰ αὐτὰ φαῦλος ποιητὴς ποιήσειεν· νῦν δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοις ἀγαθοῖς ὁ ποιητὴς ἀφανίζει ἡδύνων τὸ ἄτοπον.
Τῇ δὲ λέξει δεῖ διαπονεῖν ἐν τοῖς ἀργοῖς μέρεσι καὶ μήτε ἠθικοῖς μήτε διανοητικοῖς· ἀποκρύπτει γὰρ πάλιν ἡ λίαν λαμπρὰ λέξις τά τε ἤθη καὶ τὰς διανοίας.
+Περὶ δὲ προβλημάτων καὶ λύσεων, ἐκ πόσων τε καὶ ποίων ἂν εἰδῶν εἴη, ὧδ᾿ ἂν θεωροῦσι γένοιτ᾿ ἂν φανερόν.
Ἐπεὶ γάρ ἐστι μιμητὴς ὁ ποιητής, ὥσπερ ἂν εἰ ζωγράφος ἤ τις ἄλλος εἰκονοποιός, ἀνάγκη μιμεῖσθαι τριῶν ὄντων τὸν ἀριθμὸν ἕν τι ἀεί· ἢ γὰρ οἷα ἦν ἢ ἔστιν, ἢ οἷα φασὶ καὶ δοκεῖ, ἢ οἷα εἶναι δεῖ.
Ταῦτα δ᾿ ἐξαγγέλλεται λέξει ἢ καὶ γλώτταις καὶ μεταφοραῖς. Καὶ πολλὰ πάθη τῆς λέξεώς ἐστιν·
δίδομεν γὰρ ταῦτα τοῖς ποιηταῖς. Πρὸς δὲ τούτοις οὐχ ἡ αὐτὴ ὀρθότης ἐστὶ τῆς πολιτικῆς καὶ τῆς ποιητικῆς, οὐδὲ ἄλλης τέχνης καὶ ποιητικῆς.
Αὐτῆς δὲ τῆς ποιητικῆς διττὴ ἢ ἁμαρτία· ἡ μὲν γὰρ καθ᾿ αὑτήν, ἡ δὲ κατὰ συμβεβηκός.
Εἰ μὲν γὰρ προείλετο μιμήσασθαι ἀδυναμίαν, αὐτῆς ἡ ἁμαρτία· εἰ δὲ τὸ προελέσθαι μὴ ὀρθῶς, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἵππον ἄμφω τὰ δεξιὰ προβεβληκότα ἢ τὸ καθ᾿ ἑκάστην τέχνην ἁμάρτημα, οἷον τὸ κατ᾿ ἰατρικὴν ἢ ἄλλην τέχνην, ἣ ἀδύνατα πεποίηται, ὁποιανοῦν, οὐ καθ᾿ ἑαυτήν.
Ὥστε δεῖ τὰ ἐπιτιμήματα ἐν τοῖς προβλήμασιν ἐκ τούτων ἐπισκοποῦντα λύειν. Πρῶτον μέν, ἂν τὰ πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν τέχνην ἀδύνατα πεποίηται, ἡμάρτηται.
Ἀλλ᾿ ὀρθῶς ἔχει, εἰ τυγχάνει τοῦ τέλους τοῦ αὑτῆς· τὸ γὰρ τέλος εἴρηται, εἰ οὕτως ἐκπληκτικώτερον ἢ αὐτὸ ἢ ἄλλο ποιεῖ μέρος. Παράδειγμα ἡ τοῦ Ἕκτορος δίωξις.
Εἰ μέντοι τὸ τέλος ἢ μᾶλλον ἢ ἧττον ἐνεδέχετο ὑπάρχειν καὶ κατὰ τὴν περὶ τούτων τέχνην, ἡμάρτηται οὐκ ὀρθῶς· δεῖ γάρ, εἰ ἐνδέχεται, ὅλως μηδαμῇ ἡμαρτῆσθαι.
Ἔτι ποτέρων ἐστὶ τὸ ἁμάρτημα, τῶν κατὰ τὴν τέχνην ἢ κατ᾿ ἄλλο συμβεβηκός; Ἔλαττον γάρ, εἰ μὴ ᾔδει ὅτι ἔλαφος θήλεια κέρατα οὐκ ἔχει, ἢ εἰ κακομιμήτως ἔγραψεν.
Πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ἐὰν ἐπιτιμᾶται ὅτι οὐκ ἀληθῆ, ἀλλ᾿ οἷα δεῖ, οἷον καὶ Σοφοκλῆς ἔφη αὐτὸς μὲν οἵους δεῖ ποιεῖν, Εὐριπίδην δὲ οἷοι εἰσί, ταύτῃ λυτέον.
Εἰ δὲ μηδετέρως, ὅτι οὕτω φασίν, οἷον τὰ περὶ θεῶν.
Ἴσως γὰρ οὔτε βέλτιον οὕτω λέγειν οὔτ᾿ ἀληθῆ, ἀλλ᾿ ἔτυχεν ὥσπερ Ξενοφάνης· ἀλλ᾿ οὔ φασι τάδε.
Ἴσως δὲ οὐ βέλτιον μέν, ἀλλ᾿ οὕτως εἶχεν, οἷον τὰ περὶ τῶν ὅπλων,
οὕτω γὰρ τότ᾿ ἐνόμιζον, ὥσπερ καὶ νῦν Ἰλλυριοί.
Περὶ δὲ τοῦ καλῶς ἢ μὴ καλῶς ἢ εἴρηταί τινι ἢ πέπρακται, οὐ μόνον σκεπτέον εἰς αὐτὸ τὸ πεπραγμένον ἢ εἰρημένον βλέποντα, εἰ σπουδαῖον ἢ φαῦλον, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς τὸν πράττοντα
Τὰ δὲ πρὸς τὴν λέξιν ὁρῶντα δεῖ διαλύειν, οἷον γλώττῃ
ἴσως γὰρ οὐ τοὺς ἡμιόνους λέγει ἀλλὰ τοὺς φύλακας. Καὶ τὸν Δόλωνα
οὐ τὸ σῶμα ἀσύμμετρον, ἀλλὰ τὸ πρόσωπον αἰσχρόν· τὸ γὰρ εὐειδὲς οἱ Κρῆτες εὐπρόσωπον καλοῦσιν. Καὶ τὸ
οὐ τὸ ἄκρατον ὡς οἰνόφλυξιν, ἀλλὰ τὸ θᾶττον.
Τὸ δὲ κατὰ μεταφορὰν εἴρηται, οἷον
ἅμα δέ φησιν
Τὸ γὰρ πάντες ἀντὶ τοῦ πολλοὶ κατὰ μεταφορὰν εἴρηται· τὸ γὰρ πᾶν πολύ τι. Καὶ τὸ
κατὰ μεταφοράν· τὸ γὰρ γνωριμώτατον μόνον.
Κατὰ δὲ προσῳδίαν, ὥσπερ Ἱππίας ἔλυεν ὁ Θάσιος τὸ
καὶ
Τὰ δὲ διαιρέσει, οἷον Ἐμπεδοκλῆς
Τὰ δὲ ἀμφιβολίᾳ,
Τὰ δὲ κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς λέξεως, οἷον τὸν κεκραμένον οἶνόν φασιν εἶναι, ὅθεν πεποίηται
καὶ χαλκέας τοὺς τὸν σίδηρον ἐργαζομένους, ὅθεν εἴρηται ὁ Γανυμήδης Διὶ οἰνοχοεύειν, οὐ πινόντων οἶνον. Εἴη δ᾿ ἂν τοῦτό γε κατὰ μεταφοράν.
Δεῖ δὲ καὶ ὅταν ὄνομά τι ὑπεναντίωμά τι δοκῇ σημαίνειν, ἐπισκοπεῖν ποσαχῶς ἂν σημήνειε τοῦτο ἐν τῷ εἰρημένῳ, οἷον
τῷ ταύτῃ κωλυθῆναι.
Τὸ δὲ ποσαχῶς ἐνδέχεται ὡδί πως μάλιστ᾿ ἄν τις ὑπολάβοι κατὰ τὴν καταντικρὺ ἢ ὡς Γλαύκων λέγει, ὅτι ἔνιοι ἀλόγως προϋπολαμβάνουσι,
καὶ αὐτοὶ καταψηφισάμενοι συλλογίζονται, καὶ ὡς εἰρηκότες ὅτι δοκεῖ ἐπιτιμῶσιν, ἂν ὑπεναντίον ᾖ τῇ αὐτῶν οἰήσει.
Τοῦτο δὲ πέπονθε τὰ περὶ Ἰκάριον. Οἴονται γὰρ αὐτὸν Λάκωνα εἶναι· ἄτοπον οὖν τὸ μὴ ἐντυχεῖν τὸν Τηλέμαχον αὐτῷ εἰς Λακεδαίμονα ἐλθόντα. Τὸ δ᾿ ἴσως ἔχει ὥσπερ οἱ Κεφαλῆνές φασιν· παρ᾿ αὑτῶν γὰρ γῆμαι λέγουσι τὸν Ὀδυσσέα, καὶ εἶναι Ἰκάδιον ἀλλ᾿ οὐκ Ἰκάριον. Διαμάρτημα δὲ τὸ πρόβλημα εἰκός ἐστιν.
Ὅλως δὲ τὸ ἀδύνατον μὲν ἢ πρὸς τὴν ποίησιν ἢ πρὸς τὸ βέλτιον ἢ πρὸς τὴν δόξαν δεῖ ἀνάγειν.
Πρός τε γὰρ τὴν ποίησιν αἱρετώτερον πιθανὸν ἀδύνατον ἢ ἀπίθανον καὶ δυνατόν· τοιούτους δ᾿ εἶναι οἵους Ζεῦξις ἔγραφεν.
Ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τὸ βέλτιον· τὸ γὰρ παράδειγμα δεῖ ὑπερέχειν πρὸς ἅ φασι τἄλογα.
Οὕτω τε καὶ ὅτι ποτὲ οὐκ ἄλογόν ἐστιν· εἰκὸς γὰρ καὶ παρὰ τὸ εἰκὸς γίνεσθαι.
Τὰ δ᾿ ὑπεναντία ὡς εἰρημένα οὕτω σκοπεῖν, ὥσπερ οἱ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις ἔλεγχοι, εἰ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ πρὸς τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ
Ὀρθὴ δ᾿ ἐπιτίμησις καὶ ἀλογία καὶ μοχθηρία, ὅταν μὴ ἀνάγκης οὔσης μηδὲν χρήσηται τῷ ἀλόγῳ, ὥσπερ Εὐριπίδης τῷ Αἰγεῖ, ἢ τῇ πονηρίᾳ, ὥσπερ ἐν Ὀρέστῃ τοῦ Μενελάου.
Τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐπιτιμήματα ἐκ πέντε εἰδῶν φέρουσιν· ἢ γὰρ ὡς ἀδύνατα ἢ ὡς ἄλογα ἢ ὡς βλαβερὰ ἢ ὡς ὑπεναντία ἢ ὡς παρὰ τὴν ὀρθότητα τὴν κατὰ τέχνην· αἱ δὲ λύσεις ἐκ τῶν εἰρημένων ἀριθμῶν σκεπτέαι, εἰσὶ δὲ δώδεκα.
+Πότερον δὲ βελτίων ἡ ἐποποιικὴ μίμησις ἢ ἡ τραγική, διαπορήσειεν ἄν τις.
Εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἦττον φορτικὴ βελτίων, τοιαύτη δ᾿ ἡ πρὸς βελτίους θεατάς ἐστι, δῆλον ὅτι ἡ ἅπαντα μιμουμένη φορτική.
Ὡς γὰρ οὐκ αἰσθανομένων, ἂν μὴ αὐτὸς προσθῇ, πολλὴν κίνησιν κινοῦνται, οἷον οἱ φαῦλοι αὐληταὶ κυλιόμενοι, ἂν δίσκον δέῃ μιμεῖσθαι, καὶ ἕλκοντες τὸν κορυφαῖον, ἂν Σκύλλαν αὐλῶσιν.
Ἡ μὲν οὖν τραγῳδία τοιαύτη ἐστίν, ὡς καὶ οἱ πρότερον τοὺς ὑστέρους αὐτῶν ᾤοντο ὑποκριτάς· ὡς λίαν γὰρ ὑπερβάλλοντα, πίθηκον ὁ Μυνίσκος τὸν Καλλιππίδην ἐκάλει. Τοιαύτη δὲ δόξα καὶ περὶ Πινδάρου ἦν. Ὡς δ᾿ οὗτοι ἔχουσι πρὸς αὐτούς, ἡ ὅλη τέχνη πρὸς τὴν ἐποποιίαν ἔχει.
Τὴν μὲν οὖν πρὸς θεατὰς ἐπιεικεῖς φασὶν εἶναι, διὸ οὐδὲν δέονται τῶν σχημάτων, τὴν δὲ τραγικὴν πρὸς φαύλους.
Ἡ οὖν φορτικὴ χείρων δῆλον ὅτι ἂν εἴη. Πρῶτον μὲν οὐ τῆς ποιητικῆς ἡ κατηγορία ἀλλὰ τῆς ὑποκριτικῆς, ἐπεὶ ἔστι περιεργάζεσθαι τοῖς σημείοις καὶ ῥαψῳδοῦντα, ὅπερ ἐποίει Σωσίστρατος, καὶ διᾴδοντα, ὅπερ ἐποίει Μνασίθεος Ὀπούντιος.
Εἶτα οὐδὲ κίνησις ἅπασα ἀποδοκιμαστέα, εἴπερ μηδ᾿ ὄρχησις, ἀλλ᾿ ἡ φαύλων, ὅπερ καὶ Καλλιππίδῃ ἐπετιμᾶτο καὶ νῦν ἄλλοις, ὡς οὐκ ἐλευθέρας
Ἔτι ἡ τραγῳδία καὶ ἄνευ κινήσεως ποιεῖ τὸ αὑτῆς, ὥσπερ ἡ ἐποποιία· διὰ γὰρ τοῦ ἀναγινώσκειν φανερὰ ὁποία τις ἐστίν. Εἰ οὖν ἐστὶ τἆλλα κρείττων, τοῦτό γε οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον αὐτῇ ὑπάρχειν.
Ἔπειτα διότι πάντ᾿ ἔχει ὅσαπερ ἡ ἐποποιία·
καὶ γὰρ τῷ μέτρῳ ἔξεστι χρῆσθαι, καὶ ἔτι οὐ μικρὸν μέρος τὴν μουσικὴν καὶ τὴν ὄψιν ἔχει, δι᾿ ἧς αἱ ἡδοναὶ συνίστανται ἐναργέστατα.
Εἶτα καὶ τὸ ἐναργὲς ἔχει καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναγνωρίσει καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων. Ἔτι τῷ ἐν ἐλάττονι μήκει τὸ τέλος τῆς μιμήσεως εἶναι· τὸ γὰρ ἀθροώτερον ἥδιον ἢ πολλῷ κεκραμένον τῷ χρόνῳ, λέγω δὲ οἷον εἴ τις τὸν Οἰδίπουν θείη τὸν Σοφοκλέους ἐν ἔπεσιν ὅσοις ἡ Ἰλιάς.
Ἔτι ἧττον μία ὁποιαοῦν μίμησις ἡ τῶν ἐποποιῶν. Σημεῖον δέ· ἐκ γὰρ ὁποιασοῦν μιμήσεως πλείους τραγῳδίαι γίνονται. Ὥστ᾿ ἐὰν μὲν ἕνα μῦθον ποιῶσιν, ἀνάγκη ἢ βραχέα δεικνύμενον μύουρον φαίνεσθαι, ἢ ἀκολουθοῦντα τῷ τοῦ μέτρου μήκει ὑδαρῆ. Ἐὰν δὲ πλείους, λέγω δὲ οἷον ἐὰν ἐκ πλειόνων πράξεων ᾖ συγκειμένη, οὐ μία,
ὥσπερ ἡ Ἰλιὰς ἔχει πολλὰ τοιαῦτα μέρη καὶ ἡ Ὀδύσσεια, ἃ καὶ καθ᾿ ἑαυτὰ ἔχει μέγεθος· καίτοι ταῦτα τὰ ποιήματα συνέστηκεν ὡς ἐνδέχεται ἄριστα, καὶ ὅτι μάλιστα μιᾶς πράξεως μίμησίς ἐστιν.
Εἰ οὖν τούτοις τε διαφέρει πᾶσι καὶ ἔτι τῷ τῆς τέχνης ἔργῳ (δεῖ γὰρ οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν ἡδονὴν ποιεῖν αὐτὰς ἀλλὰ τὴν εἰρημένην), φανερὸν ὅτι κρείττων ἂν εἴη μᾶλλον τοῦ τέλους τυγχάνουσα τῆς ἐποποιίας.
Περὶ μὲν οὖν τραγῳδίας καὶ ἐποποιίας, καὶ αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν εἰδῶν καὶ τῶν μερῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ πόσα καὶ τί διαφέρει, καὶ τοῦ εὖ ἢ μὴ τίνες αἰτίαι, καὶ περὶ ἐπιτιμήσεων καὶ λύσεων εἰρήσθω τοσαῦτα.
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and subchapter.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
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ἐποποιία δὴ καὶ ἡ τῆς τραγῳδίας ποίησις ἔτι δὲ κωμῳδία καὶ ἡ διθυραμβοποιητικὴ καὶ τῆς
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διαφέρουσι δὲ ἀλλήλων τρισίν, ἢ γὰρ τῷ ἐν ἑτέροις μιμεῖσθαι ἢ τῷ ἕτερα ἢ τῷ ἑτέρως καὶ μὴ τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον.
ὥσπερ γὰρ καὶ χρώμασι καὶ σχήμασι πολλὰ μιμοῦνταί τινες ἀπεικάζοντες
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+οἱ μὲν
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οἷον ἁρμονίᾳ μὲν καὶ ῥυθμῷ χρώμεναι μόνον ἥ τε αὐλητικὴ καὶ ἡ κιθαριστικὴ κἂν εἴ τινες
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αὐτῷ δὲ τῷ ῥυθμῷ
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+μιμοῦνται
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+χωρὶς ἁρμονίας ἡ τῶν ὀρχηστῶν
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+καὶ γὰρ οὗτοι διὰ τῶν σχηματιζομένων ῥυθμῶν μιμοῦνται καὶ ἤθη καὶ πάθη καὶ πράξεις
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+·
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+ἡ δὲ
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+ἐποποιία
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+μόνον τοῖς λόγοις ψιλοῖς
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+οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν
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εἴ τις διὰ τριμέτρων ἢ ἐλεγείων ἢ τῶν ἄλλων τινῶν τῶν τοιούτων ποιοῖτο τὴν μίμησιν.
πλὴν οἱ ἄνθρωποί γε συνάπτοντες τῷ μέτρῳ τὸ ποιεῖν ἐλεγειοποιοὺς τοὺς δὲ ἐποποιοὺς ὀνομάζουσιν, οὐχ ὡς
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καὶ γὰρ ἂν ἰατρικὸν ἢ φυσικόν τι διὰ τῶν μέτρων ἐκφέρωσιν, οὕτω καλεῖν εἰώθασιν· οὐδὲν δὲ κοινόν ἐστιν Ὁμήρῳ καὶ Ἐμπεδοκλεῖ πλὴν τὸ μέτρον, διὸ τὸν μὲν ποιητὴν δίκαιον καλεῖν, τὸν δὲ φυσιολόγον μᾶλλον ἢ
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ὁμοίως δὲ κἂν εἴ τις ἅπαντα τὰ μέτρα μιγνύων ποιοῖτο τὴν μίμησιν καθάπερ Χαιρήμων ἐποίησε Κένταυρον μικτὴν ῥαψῳδίαν ἐξ ἁπάντων τῶν μέτρων, καὶ ποιητὴν προσαγορευτέον. περὶ μὲν οὖν τούτων διωρίσθω τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον.
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εἰσὶ δέ τινες αἳ πᾶσι χρῶνται τοῖς
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ἐπεὶ δὲ μιμοῦνται οἱ μιμούμενοι πράττοντας, ἀνάγκη δὲ τούτους ἢ σπουδαίους ἢ φαύλους εἶναι
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+τὰ γὰρ ἤθη σχεδὸν ἀεὶ τούτοις ἀκολουθεῖ μόνοις, κακίᾳ γὰρ καὶ ἀρετῇ τὰ ἤθη διαφέρουσι πάντες
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+, ἤτοι βελτίονας ἢ καθ’ ἡμᾶς ἢ χείρονας
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Πολύγνωτος μὲν γὰρ κρείττους, Παύσων δὲ χείρους, Διονύσιος δὲ ὁμοίους εἴκαζεν.
δῆλον δὲ ὅτι καὶ τῶν λεχθεισῶν ἑκάστη μιμήσεων ἕξει ταύτας τὰς διαφορὰς καὶ ἔσται ἑτέρα τῷ ἕτερα μιμεῖσθαι τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον.
καὶ γὰρ ἐν ὀρχήσει καὶ αὐλήσει καὶ
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καὶ
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+τὸ
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+περὶ τοὺς λόγους δὲ καὶ τὴν ψιλομετρίαν, οἷον Ὅμηρος μὲν βελτίους, Κλεοφῶν δὲ ὁμοίους, Ἡγήμων δὲ ὁ Θάσιος
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ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ περὶ τοὺς διθυράμβους καὶ περὶ τοὺς
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ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ διαφορᾷ καὶ ἡ τραγῳδία πρὸς τὴν κωμῳδίαν διέστηκεν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ χείρους ἡ δὲ βελτίους μιμεῖσθαι βούλεται τῶν νῦν.
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ἔτι δὲ τούτων τρίτη διαφορὰ τὸ ὡς ἕκαστα τούτων
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καὶ γὰρ ἐν τοῖς αὐτοῖς καὶ τὰ αὐτὰ μιμεῖσθαι ἔστιν ὁτὲ μὲν ἀπαγγέλλοντα, ἢ ἕτερόν τι γιγνόμενον ὥσπερ Ὅμηρος ποιεῖ ἢ ὡς τὸν αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ μεταβάλλοντα, ἢ πάντας ὡς πράττοντας καὶ ἐνεργοῦντας +† +τοὺς μιμουμένους +† +.
ἐν τρισὶ δὴ ταύταις διαφοραῖς ἡ μίμησίς ἐστιν,
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ὥστε τῇ μὲν ὁ αὐτὸς ἂν εἴη μιμητὴς Ὁμήρῳ Σοφοκλῆς, μιμοῦνται γὰρ ἄμφω σπουδαίους, τῇ δὲ Ἀριστοφάνει, πράττοντας γὰρ μιμοῦνται καὶ δρῶντας ἄμφω. ὅθεν καὶ δράματα καλεῖσθαί τινες αὐτά φασιν, ὅτι μιμοῦνται δρῶντας.
διὸ καὶ
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αὐτοὶ μὲν γὰρ κώμας τὰς περιοικίδας καλεῖν φασιν, Ἀθηναίους δὲ δήμους, ὡς κωμῳδοὺς οὐκ ἀπὸ τοῦ κωμάζειν λεχθέντας ἀλλὰ τῇ κατὰ κώμας πλάνῃ ἀτιμαζομένους ἐκ τοῦ ἄστεως·
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+περὶ μὲν οὖν τῶν διαφορῶν καὶ πόσαι καὶ τίνες τῆς μιμήσεως εἰρήσθω ταῦτα.
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ἐοίκασι δὲ γεννῆσαι μὲν ὅλως τὴν ποιητικὴν αἰτίαι
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τό τε γὰρ μιμεῖσθαι σύμφυτον τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἐκ παίδων ἐστὶ καὶ τούτῳ διαφέρουσι τῶν ἄλλων ζῴων ὅτι μιμητικώτατόν ἐστι καὶ τὰς μαθήσεις ποιεῖται διὰ μιμήσεως τὰς πρώτας, καὶ τὸ χαίρειν τοῖς μιμήμασι πάντας.
σημεῖον δὲ τούτου τὸ συμβαῖνον
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αἴτιον δὲ καὶ τούτου, ὅτι μανθάνειν οὐ μόνον τοῖς φιλοσόφοις ἥδιστον ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις ὁμοίως, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ βραχὺ
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διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο χαίρουσι τὰς εἰκόνας ὁρῶντες, ὅτι συμβαίνει θεωροῦντας μανθάνειν καὶ συλλογίζεσθαι τί ἕκαστον, οἷον ὅτι οὗτος ἐκεῖνος· ἐπεὶ ἐὰν μὴ τύχῃ προεωρακώς,
οὐχ ᾗ μίμημα ποιήσει τὴν ἡδονὴν ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀπεργασίαν ἢ τὴν χροιὰν ἢ διὰ τοιαύτην τινὰ ἄλλην αἰτίαν.
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κατὰ φύσιν δὲ ὄντος ἡμῖν τοῦ μιμεῖσθαι καὶ τῆς ἁρμονίας καὶ τοῦ ῥυθμοῦ +( +τὰ γὰρ μέτρα ὅτι μόρια τῶν ῥυθμῶν ἐστι φανερὸν +) +ἐξ ἀρχῆς οἱ πεφυκότες πρὸς αὐτὰ μάλιστα κατὰ μικρὸν προάγοντες ἐγέννησαν τὴν ποίησιν ἐκ τῶν αὐτοσχεδιασμάτων.
διεσπάσθη δὲ κατὰ τὰ οἰκεῖα ἤθη ἡ ποίησις·
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τῶν μὲν οὖν πρὸ Ὁμήρου οὐδενὸς ἔχομεν εἰπεῖν τοιοῦτον ποίημα, εἰκὸς δὲ εἶναι πολλούς,
ἀπὸ δὲ Ὁμήρου ἀρξαμένοις
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καὶ ἐγένοντο τῶν παλαιῶν οἱ μὲν ἡρωικῶν οἱ δὲ ἰάμβων ποιηταί.
ὥσπερ δὲ καὶ τὰ σπουδαῖα μάλιστα ποιητὴς Ὅμηρος
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παραφανείσης δὲ τῆς τραγῳδίας καὶ κωμῳδίας οἱ ἐφ’ ἑκατέραν τὴν ποίησιν ὁρμῶντες κατὰ τὴν οἰκείαν φύσιν οἱ μὲν ἀντὶ τῶν ἰάμβων κωμῳδοποιοὶ
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γενομένη δ’ οὖν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς
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καὶ πολλὰς μεταβολὰς μεταβαλοῦσα ἡ
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καὶ τό τε τῶν ὑποκριτῶν πλῆθος ἐξ ἑνὸς εἰς δύο πρῶτος Αἰσχύλος ἤγαγε καὶ τὰ τοῦ χοροῦ ἠλάττωσε καὶ τὸν λόγον πρωταγωνιστεῖν παρεσκεύασεν· τρεῖς δὲ καὶ σκηνογραφίαν Σοφοκλῆς.
ἔτι δὲ τὸ μέγεθος· ἐκ μικρῶν μύθων καὶ
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τὸ μὲν γὰρ πρῶτον τετραμέτρῳ ἐχρῶντο διὰ τὸ σατυρικὴν καὶ ὀρχηστικωτέραν εἶναι τὴν ποίησιν, λέξεως δὲ γενομένης αὐτὴ ἡ φύσις τὸ οἰκεῖον μέτρον εὗρε· μάλιστα γὰρ
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πλεῖστα γὰρ ἰαμβεῖα λέγομεν ἐν τῇ διαλέκτῳ τῇ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἑξάμετρα δὲ ὀλιγάκις καὶ ἐκβαίνοντες τῆς λεκτικῆς ἁρμονίας.
ἔτι δὲ ἐπεισοδίων πλήθη. καὶ τὰ ἄλλ’ ὡς
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ἡ δὲ κωμῳδία ἐστὶν ὥσπερ εἴπομεν μίμησις φαυλοτέρων μέν, οὐ μέντοι κατὰ πᾶσαν κακίαν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ αἰσχροῦ ἐστι τὸ γελοῖον μόριον.
τὸ γὰρ γελοῖόν ἐστιν
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αἱ μὲν οὖν τῆς τραγῳδίας μεταβάσεις καὶ δι’ ὧν ἐγένοντο οὐ λελήθασιν, ἡ δὲ κωμῳδία διὰ τὸ μὴ σπουδάζεσθαι ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἔλαθεν·
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ἤδη δὲ σχήματά τινα αὐτῆς ἐχούσης οἱ λεγόμενοι αὐτῆς ποιηταὶ μνημονεύονται. τίς δὲ πρόσωπα ἀπέδωκεν ἢ προλόγους ἢ
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τὸ δὲ μύθους ποιεῖν
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+Ἐπίχαρμος καὶ Φόρμις
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τὸ μὲν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐκ Σικελίας ἦλθε, τῶν δὲ Ἀθήνησιν Κράτης πρῶτος ἦρξεν ἀφέμενος τῆς ἰαμβικῆς ἰδέας καθόλου ποιεῖν λόγους καὶ μύθους.
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ἡ μὲν οὖν ἐποποιία τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ μέχρι μὲν τοῦ
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ἔτι δὲ τῷ μήκει· ἡ μὲν ὅτι μάλιστα πειρᾶται ὑπὸ μίαν περίοδον ἡλίου εἶναι ἢ μικρὸν ἐξαλλάττειν, ἡ δὲ ἐποποιία ἀόριστος τῷ χρόνῳ καὶ τούτῳ διαφέρει,
καίτοι
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μέρη δ’ ἐστὶ τὰ μὲν ταὐτά, τὰ δὲ ἴδια τῆς τραγῳδίας· διόπερ ὅστις περὶ τραγῳδίας οἶδε σπουδαίας καὶ φαύλης, οἶδε καὶ περὶ ἐπῶν· ἃ μὲν γὰρ ἐποποιία ἔχει, ὑπάρχει τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ, ἃ δὲ αὐτῇ, οὐ πάντα ἐν τῇ
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ἔστιν οὖν τραγῳδία μίμησις πράξεως σπουδαίας
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λέγω δὲ ἡδυσμένον μὲν λόγον τὸν ἔχοντα ῥυθμὸν καὶ ἁρμονίαν
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+καὶ μέλος
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τὸ δὲ χωρὶς τοῖς
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ἐπεὶ δὲ πράττοντες ποιοῦνται τὴν μίμησιν, πρῶτον μὲν ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἂν εἴη τι μόριον τραγῳδίας ὁ τῆς ὄψεως κόσμος· εἶτα μελοποιία καὶ λέξις,
ἐν τούτοις γὰρ ποιοῦνται τὴν μίμησιν. λέγω δὲ λέξιν μὲν αὐτὴν τὴν τῶν
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ἐπεὶ δὲ πράξεώς ἐστι μίμησις, πράττεται δὲ ὑπὸ τινῶν πραττόντων, οὓς ἀνάγκη ποιούς τινας εἶναι κατά τε τὸ ἦθος καὶ τὴν διάνοιαν
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+διὰ γὰρ τούτων καὶ τὰς πράξεις εἶναί φαμεν ποιάς τινας,
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+πέφυκεν αἴτια δύο τῶν πράξεων εἶναι, διάνοια καὶ ἦθος
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+καὶ κατὰ ταύτας καὶ τυγχάνουσι καὶ ἀποτυγχάνουσι πάντες
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ἔστιν δὲ τῆς μὲν πράξεως ὁ μῦθος ἡ μίμησις, λέγω γὰρ μῦθον τοῦτον τὴν
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+ἀνάγκη οὖν πάσης τῆς τραγῳδίας μέρη εἶναι ἕξ, καθ’ ὃ ποιά τις ἐστὶν ἡ τραγῳδία· ταῦτα δ’ ἐστὶ μῦθος καὶ ἤθη καὶ λέξις καὶ
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οἷς μὲν γὰρ μιμοῦνται, δύο μέρη ἐστίν, ὡς δὲ μιμοῦνται, ἕν, ἃ δὲ μιμοῦνται, τρία, καὶ παρὰ ταῦτα οὐδέν.
τούτοις μὲν οὖν
+†
+οὐκ ὀλίγοι αὐτῶν
+†
+ὡς εἰπεῖν κέχρηνται τοῖς εἴδεσιν· καὶ γὰρ
+†
+ὄψις ἔχει πᾶν
+†
+καὶ ἦθος καὶ μῦθον καὶ λέξιν καὶ μέλος καὶ διάνοιαν ὡσαύτως.
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μέγιστον δὲ τούτων ἐστὶν ἡ τῶν πραγμάτων σύστασις. ἡ γὰρ τραγῳδία μίμησίς ἐστιν οὐκ ἀνθρώπων ἀλλὰ πράξεων καὶ βίου
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+καὶ εὐδαιμονία καὶ κακοδαιμονία ἐν πράξει ἐστίν, καὶ τὸ τέλος πρᾶξίς τις ἐστίν, οὐ ποιότης· εἰσὶν δὲ κατὰ μὲν τὰ ἤθη ποιοί τινες, κατὰ δὲ τὰς
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+·
οὔκουν ὅπως τὰ ἤθη μιμήσωνται πράττουσιν, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἤθη συμπεριλαμβάνουσιν διὰ τὰς πράξεις· ὥστε τὰ πράγματα καὶ ὁ μῦθος τέλος τῆς τραγῳδίας, τὸ δὲ τέλος μέγιστον ἁπάντων.
ἔτι ἄνευ μὲν πράξεως οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τραγῳδία, ἄνευ δὲ ἠθῶν γέ
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αἱ γὰρ τῶν νέων τῶν πλείστων ἀήθεις τραγῳδίαι εἰσίν, καὶ ὅλως ποιηταὶ πολλοὶ τοιοῦτοι, οἷον καὶ τῶν γραφέων Ζεῦξις πρὸς Πολύγνωτον πέπονθεν· ὁ μὲν γὰρ Πολύγνωτος ἀγαθὸς ἠθογράφος, ἡ δὲ Ζεύξιδος γραφὴ οὐδὲν ἔχει ἦθος.
ἔτι ἐάν τις ἐφεξῆς θῇ ῥήσεις ἠθικὰς καὶ λέξει
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πρὸς δὲ τούτοις τὰ μέγιστα οἷς ψυχαγωγεῖ ἡ τραγῳδία τοῦ μύθου μέρη ἐστίν, αἵ τε περιπέτειαι καὶ
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ἔτι σημεῖον ὅτι καὶ οἱ ἐγχειροῦντες ποιεῖν πρότερον δύνανται τῇ λέξει καὶ τοῖς ἤθεσιν ἀκριβοῦν ἢ τὰ πράγματα συνίστασθαι, οἷον καὶ οἱ πρῶτοι ποιηταὶ σχεδὸν ἅπαντες.
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ἀρχὴ μὲν οὖν καὶ οἷον ψυχὴ ὁ μῦθος τῆς τραγῳδίας, δεύτερον δὲ τὰ ἤθη +( +
παραπλήσιον γάρ ἐστιν καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γραφικῆς·
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+ἔστιν τε μίμησις πράξεως καὶ διὰ ταύτην μάλιστα τῶν πραττόντων.
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οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀρχαῖοι πολιτικῶς ἐποίουν λέγοντας, οἱ δὲ νῦν ῥητορικῶς.
ἔστιν δὲ ἦθος μὲν τὸ τοιοῦτον ὃ δηλοῖ τὴν προαίρεσιν, ὁποία τις
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+ἐν οἷς οὐκ ἔστι δῆλον ἢ
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+διόπερ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἦθος τῶν λόγων ἐν
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διάνοια δὲ ἐν οἷς ἀποδεικνύουσί τι ὡς ἔστιν ἢ ὡς οὐκ ἔστιν ἢ καθόλου τι ἀποφαίνονται.
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τῶν δὲ λοιπῶν ἡ μελοποιία μέγιστον τῶν ἡδυσμάτων,
ἡ δὲ ὄψις ψυχαγωγικὸν μέν, ἀτεχνότατον δὲ καὶ ἥκιστα οἰκεῖον τῆς ποιητικῆς· ἡ γὰρ τῆς τραγῳδίας δύναμις καὶ ἄνευ ἀγῶνος καὶ ὑποκριτῶν ἔστιν, ἔτι δὲ κυριωτέρα περὶ τὴν ἀπεργασίαν
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διωρισμένων δὲ τούτων, λέγωμεν μετὰ ταῦτα ποίαν τινὰ δεῖ τὴν σύστασιν εἶναι τῶν πραγμάτων, ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο καὶ πρῶτον καὶ μέγιστον τῆς τραγῳδίας ἐστίν.
κεῖται δὴ ἡμῖν τὴν τραγῳδίαν τελείας καὶ ὅλης πράξεως εἶναι
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ὅλον δέ ἐστιν τὸ ἔχον ἀρχὴν καὶ μέσον καὶ τελευτήν.
ἀρχὴ δέ ἐστιν ὃ αὐτὸ μὲν μὴ ἐξ ἀνάγκης μετ’ ἄλλο ἐστίν, μετ’ ἐκεῖνο δ’ ἕτερον πέφυκεν εἶναι ἢ γίνεσθαι·
τελευτὴ δὲ τοὐναντίον ὃ αὐτὸ μὲν μετ’ ἄλλο πέφυκεν εἶναι ἢ
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μέσον δὲ ὃ καὶ αὐτὸ μετ’ ἄλλο καὶ μετ’ ἐκεῖνο ἕτερον.
δεῖ ἄρα τοὺς συνεστῶτας εὖ μύθους μήθ’ ὁπόθεν ἔτυχεν ἄρχεσθαι μήθ’ ὅπου ἔτυχε τελευτᾶν, ἀλλὰ κεχρῆσθαι ταῖς εἰρημέναις ἰδέαις.
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ἔτι δ’ ἐπεὶ τὸ καλὸν καὶ ζῷον καὶ ἅπαν
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διὸ οὔτε πάμμικρον ἄν τι γένοιτο καλὸν ζῷον
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+συγχεῖται γὰρ ἡ θεωρία ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀναισθήτου χρόνου γινομένη
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+οὔτε παμμέγεθες
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ὥστε δεῖ καθάπερ ἐπὶ τῶν σωμάτων καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ζῴων ἔχειν μὲν μέγεθος, τοῦτο δὲ εὐσύνοπτον εἶναι, οὕτω
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τοῦ δὲ μήκους ὅρος
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ὁ δὲ κατ’ αὐτὴν τὴν
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μῦθος δ’ ἐστὶν εἷς οὐχ ὥσπερ τινὲς οἴονται ἐὰν περὶ ἕνα ᾖ· πολλὰ γὰρ καὶ ἄπειρα τῷ ἑνὶ συμβαίνει, ἐξ ὧν ἐνίων οὐδέν ἐστιν ἕν· οὕτως δὲ καὶ πράξεις ἑνὸς πολλαί εἰσιν, ἐξ ὧν μία οὐδεμία γίνεται πρᾶξις.
διὸ πάντες ἐοίκασιν
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ὁ δ’ Ὅμηρος ὥσπερ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα διαφέρει καὶ τοῦτ’ ἔοικεν καλῶς ἰδεῖν, ἤτοι διὰ τέχνην ἢ διὰ φύσιν· Ὀδύσσειαν
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χρὴ οὖν, καθάπερ καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἄλλαις μιμητικαῖς ἡ μία μίμησις ἑνός ἐστιν, οὕτω καὶ τὸν μῦθον, ἐπεὶ πράξεως μίμησίς ἐστι, μιᾶς τε εἶναι καὶ ταύτης ὅλης, καὶ τὰ μέρη συνεστάναι τῶν πραγμάτων οὕτως ὥστε μετατιθεμένου τινὸς μέρους ἢ ἀφαιρουμένου διαφέρεσθαι καὶ κινεῖσθαι τὸ ὅλον· ὃ γὰρ προσὸν
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φανερὸν δὲ ἐκ τῶν εἰρημένων καὶ ὅτι οὐ τὸ τὰ γενόμενα λέγειν, τοῦτο ποιητοῦ ἔργον ἐστίν, ἀλλ’ οἷα ἂν γένοιτο καὶ τὰ δυνατὰ κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον.
ὁ γὰρ ἱστορικὸς καὶ ὁ ποιητὴς οὐ τῷ ἢ ἔμμετρα λέγειν ἢ ἄμετρα διαφέρουσιν
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διὸ καὶ φιλοσοφώτερον καὶ σπουδαιότερον ποίησις ἱστορίας ἐστίν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ποίησις μᾶλλον τὰ καθόλου, ἡ δ’ ἱστορία τὰ καθ’ ἕκαστον λέγει.
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ἔστιν δὲ καθόλου μέν, τῷ ποίῳ τὰ ποῖα ἄττα συμβαίνει λέγειν ἢ πράττειν κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον, οὗ
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ἐπὶ μὲν οὖν τῆς κωμῳδίας ἤδη τοῦτο δῆλον γέγονεν· συστήσαντες γὰρ τὸν μῦθον διὰ τῶν εἰκότων οὕτω τὰ τυχόντα ὀνόματα ὑποτιθέασιν, καὶ οὐχ ὥσπερ οἱ ἰαμβοποιοὶ περὶ τὸν καθ’ ἕκαστον
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ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς τραγῳδίας τῶν γενομένων ὀνομάτων ἀντέχονται. αἴτιον δ’ ὅτι πιθανόν ἐστι τὸ δυνατόν· τὰ μὲν οὖν μὴ γενόμενα οὔπω πιστεύομεν εἶναι δυνατά, τὰ δὲ γενόμενα φανερὸν ὅτι δυνατά· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐγένετο, εἰ ἦν ἀδύνατα.
οὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις ἐν ἐνίαις μὲν ἓν
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ὥστ’ οὐ πάντως εἶναι ζητητέον τῶν παραδεδομένων μύθων, περὶ οὓς αἱ τραγῳδίαι εἰσίν,
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δῆλον οὖν ἐκ τούτων ὅτι τὸν ποιητὴν μᾶλλον τῶν μύθων εἶναι δεῖ ποιητὴν ἢ τῶν μέτρων, ὅσῳ ποιητὴς κατὰ τὴν μίμησίν ἐστιν, μιμεῖται δὲ τὰς πράξεις.
κἂν ἄρα συμβῇ
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+καὶ δυνατὰ γενέσθαι
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+, καθ’ ὃ ἐκεῖνος αὐτῶν ποιητής ἐστιν.
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τῶν δὲ ἁπλῶν μύθων καὶ πράξεων αἱ ἐπεισοδιώδεις εἰσὶν χείρισται· λέγω δ’ ἐπεισοδιώδη μῦθον ἐν ᾧ τὰ
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+καὶ μᾶλλον
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+ὅταν γένηται παρὰ τὴν δόξαν δι’ ἄλληλα·
τὸ γὰρ θαυ
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εἰσὶ δὲ τῶν μύθων οἱ μὲν ἁπλοῖ οἱ δὲ πεπλεγμένοι· καὶ γὰρ αἱ πράξεις ὧν μιμήσεις οἱ μῦθοί εἰσιν ὑπάρχουσιν εὐθὺς οὖσαι τοιαῦται.
λέγω δὲ ἁπλῆν μὲν πρᾶξιν ἧς
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πεπλεγμένην δὲ ἐξ ἧς μετὰ ἀναγνωρισμοῦ ἢ περιπετείας ἢ ἀμφοῖν ἡ μετάβασίς ἐστιν.
ταῦτα δὲ δεῖ γίνεσθαι ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς συστάσεως τοῦ μύθου, ὥστε ἐκ τῶν προγεγενημένων συμβαίνειν
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ἔστι δὲ περιπέτεια μὲν ἡ εἰς τὸ ἐναντίον τῶν πραττομένων μεταβολὴ καθάπερ εἴρηται, καὶ τοῦτο δὲ ὥσπερ λέγομεν κατὰ τὸ εἰκὸς ἢ ἀναγκαῖον,
οἷον ἐν τῷ ́
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καὶ ἐν τῷ Λυγκεῖ ὁ μὲν ἀγόμενος ὡς ἀποθανούμενος, ὁ δὲ Δαναὸς ἀκολουθῶν ὡς ἀποκτενῶν, τὸν μὲν συνέβη ἐκ τῶν πεπραγμένων ἀποθανεῖν, τὸν δὲ σωθῆναι.
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καλλίστη δὲ ἀναγνώρισις, ὅταν ἅμα περιπετείᾳ γένηται, οἷον ἔχει ἡ ἐν τῷ Οἰδίποδι.
εἰσὶν μὲν οὖν καὶ ἄλλαι ἀναγνωρίσεις· καὶ γὰρ πρὸς ἄψυχα καὶ
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ἀλλ’ ἡ μάλιστα τοῦ μύθου καὶ ἡ μάλιστα τῆς πράξεως ἡ εἰρημένη ἐστίν· ἡ γὰρ τοιαύτη ἀναγνώρισις καὶ περιπέτεια ἢ ἔλεον ἕξει ἢ φόβον
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ἐπεὶ δὴ ἡ ἀναγνώρισις τινῶν ἐστιν ἀναγνώρισις, αἱ μέν εἰσι θατέρου πρὸς τὸν ἕτερον μόνον, ὅταν ᾖ δῆλος ἅτερος
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δύο μὲν οὖν τοῦ μύθου μέρη ταῦτ’ ἐστί, περιπέτεια
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πάθος δέ ἐστι πρᾶξις φθαρτικὴ ἢ ὀδυνηρά, οἷον οἵ τε ἐν τῷ φανερῷ θάνατοι καὶ αἱ περιωδυνίαι καὶ τρώσεις καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα.
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καὶ τούτου τὸ μὲν πάροδος τὸ δὲ στάσιμον, κοινὰ μὲν ἁπάντων ταῦτα,
ἴδια δὲ τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς καὶ κομμοί.
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ἔστιν δὲ πρόλογος μὲν μέρος ὅλον τραγῳδίας τὸ πρὸ χοροῦ
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ἐπεισόδιον δὲ μέρος ὅλον τραγῳδίας τὸ μεταξὺ ὅλων χορικῶν μελῶν,
ἔξοδος δὲ μέρος ὅλον τραγῳδίας μεθ’ ὃ οὐκ ἔστι χοροῦ μέλος·
χορικοῦ δὲ πάροδος μὲν ἡ πρώτη λέξις ὅλη χοροῦ,
στάσιμον δὲ μέλος χοροῦ τὸ ἄνευ ἀναπαίστου καὶ τροχαίου, κομμὸς δὲ θρῆνος κοινὸς χοροῦ καὶ
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ὧν δὲ δεῖ στοχάζεσθαι καὶ ἃ δεῖ εὐλαβεῖσθαι συνιστάντας τοὺς μύθους καὶ πόθεν ἔσται τὸ τῆς τραγῳδίας
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ἐπειδὴ οὖν δεῖ τὴν σύνθεσιν εἶναι τῆς καλλίστης τραγῳδίας μὴ ἁπλῆν ἀλλὰ πεπλεγμένην καὶ ταύτην φοβερῶν καὶ ἐλεεινῶν εἶναι μιμητικήν
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+τοῦτο γὰρ ἴδιον τῆς τοιαύτης μιμήσεώς ἐστιν
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+, πρῶτον μὲν δῆλον ὅτι οὔτε τοὺς ἐπιεικεῖς ἄνδρας δεῖ
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οὔτε τοὺς μοχθηροὺς ἐξ ἀτυχίας εἰς εὐτυχίαν, ἀτραγῳδότατον γὰρ τοῦτ’ ἐστὶ πάντων, οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔχει ὧν δεῖ, οὔτε γὰρ φιλάνθρωπον οὔτε ἐλεεινὸν οὔτε φοβερόν ἐστιν·
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αὖ τὸν σφόδρα πονηρὸν ἐξ εὐτυχίας εἰς δυστυχίαν μεταπίπτειν· τὸ μὲν γὰρ φιλάνθρωπον ἔχοι ἂν ἡ τοιαύτη σύστασις ἀλλ’ οὔτε ἔλεον οὔτε φόβον, ὁ μὲν γὰρ περὶ τὸν ἀνάξιόν ἐστιν δυστυχοῦντα, ὁ δὲ
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ὁ μεταξὺ ἄρα τούτων λοιπός. ἔστι δὲ τοιοῦτος ὁ μήτε ἀρετῇ διαφέρων καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ μήτε διὰ κακίαν καὶ μοχθηρίαν μεταβάλλων εἰς τὴν δυστυχίαν ἀλλὰ δι’
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ἀνάγκη ἄρα τὸν καλῶς ἔχοντα μῦθον ἁπλοῦν εἶναι μᾶλλον ἢ διπλοῦν, ὥσπερ τινές φασι, καὶ μεταβάλλειν οὐκ εἰς εὐτυχίαν ἐκ δυστυχίας ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον
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σημεῖον δὲ καὶ τὸ γιγνόμενον· πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ οἱ ποιηταὶ τοὺς τυχόντας μύθους ἀπηρίθμουν, νῦν δὲ περὶ ὀλίγας οἰκίας αἱ κάλλισται τραγῳδίαι συντίθενται, οἷον
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ἡ μὲν οὖν κατὰ τὴν τέχνην καλλίστη τραγῳδία ἐκ ταύτης τῆς συστάσεώς ἐστι.
διὸ καὶ οἱ Εὐριπίδῃ ἐγκαλοῦντες τὸ αὐτὸ ἁμαρτάνουσιν ὅτι τοῦτο
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σημεῖον δὲ μέγιστον· ἐπὶ γὰρ τῶν σκηνῶν καὶ τῶν ἀγώνων τραγικώταται αἱ τοιαῦται φαίνονται, ἂν κατορθωθῶσιν, καὶ ὁ Εὐριπίδης, εἰ καὶ τὰ ἄλλα μὴ εὖ οἰκονομεῖ, ἀλλὰ τραγι
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δευτέρα δ’ ἡ πρώτη λεγομένη ὑπὸ τινῶν ἐστιν σύστασις, ἡ διπλῆν τε τὴν σύστασιν ἔχουσα καθάπερ ἡ Ὀδύσσεια καὶ τελευτῶσα ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῖς βελτίοσι καὶ χείροσιν.
δοκεῖ δὲ εἶναι πρώτη διὰ τὴν τῶν θεάτρων ἀσθένειαν· ἀκολουθοῦσι γὰρ οἱ ποιηταὶ κατ’
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ἔστιν δὲ οὐχ αὕτη ἀπὸ τραγῳδίας ἡδονὴ ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τῆς κωμῳδίας οἰκεία· ἐκεῖ γὰρ οἳ ἂν ἔχθιστοι ὦσιν ἐν τῷ μύθῳ, οἷον Ὀρέστης καὶ Αἴγισθος, φίλοι γενόμενοι ἐπὶ τελευτῆς ἐξέρχονται, καὶ ἀποθνῄσκει οὐδεὶς ὑπ’ οὐδενός.
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ἔστιν μὲν οὖν τὸ φοβερὸν καὶ ἐλεεινὸν ἐκ τῆς ὄψεως γίγνεσθαι, ἔστιν δὲ καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς τῆς συστάσεως τῶν πραγμάτων, ὅπερ ἐστὶ πρότερον καὶ ποιητοῦ ἀμείνονος.
δεῖ γὰρ καὶ ἄνευ τοῦ ὁρᾶν οὕτω συνεστάναι τὸν μῦθον ὥστε τὸν
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τὸ δὲ διὰ τῆς ὄψεως τοῦτο παρασκευάζειν ἀτεχνότερον καὶ χορηγίας δεόμενόν ἐστιν.
οἱ δὲ μὴ τὸ
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ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν ἀπὸ ἐλέου καὶ φόβου διὰ μιμήσεως δεῖ ἡδονὴν παρασκευάζειν τὸν ποιητήν, φανερὸν ὡς τοῦτο ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐμποιητέον.
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ποῖα οὖν δεινὰ ἢ ποῖα οἰκτρὰ φαίνεται
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ἂν μὲν οὖν ἐχθρὸς ἐχθρόν, οὐδὲν ἐλεεινὸν οὔτε ποιῶν οὔτε μέλλων, πλὴν κατ’ αὐτὸ τὸ πάθος·
οὐδ’ ἂν μηδετέρως ἔχοντες·
ὅταν δ’ ἐν ταῖς φιλίαις ἐγγένηται τὰ
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τοὺς μὲν οὖν παρειλημμένους μύθους λύειν οὐκ ἔστιν, λέγω δὲ οἷον τὴν Κλυταιμήστραν ἀποθανοῦσαν ὑπὸ τοῦ Ὀρέστου καὶ τὴν Ἐριφύλην ὑπὸ τοῦ
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αὐτὸν δὲ εὑρίσκειν δεῖ καὶ τοῖς παραδεδομένοις χρῆσθαι καλῶς.
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ἔστι μὲν γὰρ οὕτω γίνεσθαι τὴν πρᾶξιν, ὥσπερ οἱ παλαιοὶ ἐποίουν εἰδότας καὶ γιγνώσκοντας, καθάπερ καὶ Εὐριπίδης ἐποίησεν ἀποκτείνουσαν τοὺς παῖδας τὴν Μήδειαν·
ἔστιν δὲ
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ἔτι δὲ τρίτον παρὰ ταῦτα τὸ
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καὶ παρὰ ταῦτα οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλως. ἢ γὰρ πρᾶξαι ἀνάγκη ἢ μὴ καὶ εἰδότας ἢ μὴ εἰδότας.
τούτων δὲ τὸ μὲν γινώσκοντα μελλῆσαι καὶ μὴ πρᾶξαι χείριστον· τό τε γὰρ μιαρὸν ἔχει, καὶ οὐ τραγικόν· ἀπαθὲς γάρ. διόπερ οὐδεὶς ποιεῖ ὁμοίως,
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τὸ δὲ πρᾶξαι δεύτερον.
βέλτιον δὲ τὸ ἀγνοοῦντα μὲν πρᾶξαι, πράξαντα δὲ ἀναγνωρίσαι· τό τε γὰρ μιαρὸν οὐ πρόσεστιν καὶ ἡ ἀναγνώρισις ἐκπληκτικόν.
κράτιστον δὲ
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διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο, ὅπερ πάλαι εἴρηται, οὐ περὶ πολλὰ
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περὶ δὲ τὰ ἤθη τέτταρά ἐστιν ὧν δεῖ στοχάζεσθαι, ἓν μὲν καὶ πρῶτον, ὅπως χρηστὰ ᾖ.
ἕξει δὲ ἦθος μὲν ἐὰν ὥσπερ ἐλέχθη ποιῇ φανερὸν ὁ λόγος ἢ ἡ πρᾶξις προαίρεσίν τινα
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+ἔστιν δὲ
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δεύτερον δὲ τὸ ἁρμόττοντα· ἔστιν γὰρ ἀνδρείαν μὲν τὸ ἦθος, ἀλλ’ οὐχ ἁρμόττον γυναικὶ οὕτως ἀνδρείαν ἢ δεινὴν εἶναι.
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τρίτον δὲ τὸ ὅμοιον. τοῦτο γὰρ ἕτερον τοῦ
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τέταρτον δὲ τὸ ὁμαλόν. κἂν γὰρ ἀνώμαλός τις ᾖ ὁ τὴν μίμησιν παρέχων καὶ τοιοῦτον ἦθος ὑποτεθῇ, ὅμως ὁμαλῶς ἀνώμαλον δεῖ εἶναι.
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ἔστιν δὲ παράδειγμα πονηρίας μὲν ἤθους μὴ ἀναγκαίας οἷον ὁ Μενέλαος ὁ ἐν τῷ Ὀρέστῃ,
τοῦ
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τοῦ δὲ ἀνωμάλου ἡ ἐν Αὐλίδι Ἰφιγένεια· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔοικεν ἡ ἱκετεύουσα τῇ ὑστέρᾳ.
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χρὴ δὲ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἤθεσιν ὁμοίως ὥσπερ καὶ ἐν τῇ τῶν πραγμάτων συστάσει ἀεὶ ζητεῖν ἢ τὸ ἀναγκαῖον ἢ τὸ εἰκός,
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ἐπεὶ δὲ μίμησίς ἐστιν ἡ τραγῳδία βελτιόνων ἢ ἡμεῖς, δεῖ μιμεῖσθαι τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς
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ταῦτα δὴ διατηρεῖν, καὶ πρὸς τούτοις τὰ παρὰ τὰς ἐξ ἀνάγκης ἀκολουθούσας αἰσθήσεις τῇ ποιητικῇ· καὶ γὰρ κατ’ αὐτὰς ἔστιν ἁμαρτάνειν πολλάκις· εἴρηται δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς ἐκδεδομένοις λόγοις ἱκανῶς.
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ἀναγνώρισις δὲ τί μέν ἐστιν, εἴρηται πρότερον· εἴδη
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τούτων δὲ τὰ μὲν σύμφυτα, οἷον
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+λόγχην ἣν φοροῦσι Γηγενεῖς
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ἢ ἀστέρας οἵους ἐν τῷ Θυέστῃ Καρκίνος, τὰ δὲ ἐπίκτητα, καὶ τούτων τὰ μὲν ἐν τῷ σώματι, οἷον οὐλαί, τὰ δὲ ἐκτός, οἷον τὰ
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ἔστιν δὲ καὶ τούτοις χρῆσθαι ἢ βέλτιον ἢ χεῖρον, οἷον Ὀδυσσεὺς διὰ τῆς οὐλῆς ἄλλως ἀνεγνωρίσθη ὑπὸ τῆς τροφοῦ καὶ ἄλλως ὑπὸ τῶν συβοτῶν·
εἰσὶ γὰρ αἱ μὲν πίστεως ἕνεκα ἀτεχνότεραι, καὶ αἱ τοιαῦται πᾶσαι, αἱ δὲ ἐκ περιπετείας,
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δεύτεραι δὲ αἱ πεποιημέναι ὑπὸ τοῦ ποιητοῦ, διὸ ἄτεχνοι. οἷον Ὀρέστης ἐν τῇ Ἰφιγενείᾳ ἀνεγνώρισεν ὅτι Ὀρέστης· ἐκείνη μὲν γὰρ διὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ἐκεῖνος δὲ
αὐτὸς λέγει ἃ βούλεται ὁ ποιητὴς ἀλλ’
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τετάρτη δὲ ἡ ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ, οἷον ἐν Χοηφόροις,
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ἔστιν δέ τις καὶ συνθετὴ ἐκ παραλογισμοῦ τοῦ θεάτρου, οἷον ἐν τῷ Ὀδυσσεῖ τῷ
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πασῶν δὲ βελτίστη ἀναγνώρισις ἡ ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν πραγμάτων, τῆς ἐκπλήξεως γιγνομένης δι’ εἰκότων, οἷον ἐν τῷ Σοφοκλέους Οἰδίποδι καὶ τῇ Ἰφιγενείᾳ· εἰκὸς γὰρ βούλεσθαι ἐπιθεῖναι γράμματα. αἱ γὰρ τοιαῦται μόναι
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δεύτεραι δὲ αἱ ἐκ συλλογισμοῦ.
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δεῖ δὲ τοὺς μύθους συνιστάναι καὶ τῇ λέξει συναπεργάζεσθαι ὅτι μάλιστα πρὸ ὀμμάτων τιθέμενον· οὕτω γὰρ ἂν ἐναργέστατα
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+ὁ
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+ὁρῶν ὥσπερ παρ’ αὐτοῖς γιγνόμενος τοῖς
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+τὸ
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+τὰ ὑπεναντία.
σημεῖον δὲ τούτου ὃ ἐπετιμᾶτο Καρκίνῳ. ὁ γὰρ Ἀμφιάραος ἐξ ἱεροῦ ἀνῄει, ὃ μὴ ὁρῶντα
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+τὸν θεατὴν
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+ἐλάνθανεν, ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς σκηνῆς ἐξέπεσεν δυσχερανάντων τοῦτο τῶν θεατῶν.
ὅσα δὲ δυνατὸν καὶ τοῖς σχήμασιν
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διὸ εὐφυοῦς ἡ ποιητική ἐστιν ἢ μανικοῦ· τούτων γὰρ οἱ μὲν εὔπλαστοι οἱ δὲ ἐκστατικοί εἰσιν. +
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λέγω δὲ οὕτως ἂν θεωρεῖσθαι τὸ καθόλου, οἷον τῆς Ἰφιγενείας· τυθείσης τινὸς κόρης καὶ ἀφανισθείσης ἀδήλως τοῖς θύσασιν, ἱδρυνθείσης δὲ εἰς ἄλλην
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+διά τινα αἰτίαν ἔξω τοῦ καθόλου
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+ἐλθεῖν ἐκεῖ καὶ ἐφ’ ὅ τι δὲ ἔξω τοῦ μύθου· ἐλθὼν δὲ καὶ ληφθεὶς θύεσθαι μέλλων ἀνεγνώρισεν, εἴθ’ ὡς
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μετὰ ταῦτα δὲ ἤδη ὑποθέντα τὰ ὀνόματα ἐπεισοδιοῦν·
ὅπως δὲ ἔσται οἰκεῖα τὰ ἐπεισόδια, οἷον ἐν τῷ Ὀρέστῃ ἡ μανία δι’ ἧς ἐλήφθη καὶ ἡ
+
ἐν μὲν οὖν τοῖς δράμασιν τὰ ἐπεισόδια σύντομα, ἡ δ’ ἐποποιία τούτοις μηκύνεται.
τῆς γὰρ Ὀδυσσείας οὐ μακρὸς ὁ λόγος ἐστίν· ἀποδημοῦντός τινος ἔτη πολλὰ καὶ παραφυλαττομένου ὑπὸ τοῦ Ποσειδῶνος καὶ μόνου ὄντος, ἔτι δὲ τῶν οἴκοι οὕτως ἐχόντων ὥστε τὰ
+
τὸ μὲν οὖν ἴδιον τοῦτο, τὰ δ’ ἄλλα ἐπεισόδια.
+
ἔστι δὲ πάσης τραγῳδίας τὸ μὲν δέσις τὸ δὲ λύσις, τὰ
+
λέγω δὲ δέσιν μὲν εἶναι τὴν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τούτου τοῦ μέρους ὃ ἔσχατόν ἐστιν ἐξ οὗ μεταβαίνει εἰς εὐτυχίαν ἢ εἰς ἀτυχίαν, λύσιν δὲ τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς τῆς μεταβάσεως μέχρι τέλους·
ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ Λυγκεῖ τῷ Θεοδέκτου
+
τραγῳδίας δὲ εἴδη εἰσὶ τέσσαρα +( +τοσαῦτα γὰρ καὶ τὰ μέρη ἐλέχθη +) +,
ἡ μὲν πεπλεγμένη, ἧς τὸ ὅλον ἐστὶν περιπέτεια καὶ ἀναγνώρισις,
ἡ δὲ παθητική, οἷον οἵ τε Αἴαντες καὶ οἱ Ἰξίονες,
ἡ δὲ ἠθική, οἷον αἱ Φθιώτιδες καὶ ὁ Πηλεύς· +
+
μάλιστα μὲν οὖν ἅπαντα δεῖ πειρᾶσθαι ἔχειν, εἰ δὲ μή, τὰ μέγιστα καὶ πλεῖστα, ἄλλως τε
+
δίκαιον δὲ καὶ τραγῳδίαν ἄλλην καὶ τὴν αὐτὴν λέγειν οὐδενὶ ὡς τῷ μύθῳ· τοῦτο δέ, ὧν ἡ αὐτὴ πλοκὴ καὶ λύσις.
πολλοὶ δὲ πλέξαντες εὖ
+
δεῖ δὲ ἀμφότερα ἀρτικροτεῖσθαι.
χρὴ δὲ ὅπερ εἴρηται πολλάκις μεμνῆσθαι καὶ μὴ ποιεῖν ἐποποιικὸν σύστημα τραγῳδίαν—ἐποποιικὸν δὲ λέγω τὸ πολύμυθον— οἷον εἴ τις τὸν τῆς Ἰλιάδος ὅλον ποιοῖ μῦθον.
ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ διὰ τὸ μῆκος λαμβάνει τὰ μέρη τὸ πρέπον μέγεθος, ἐν
+
σημεῖον δέ, ὅσοι πέρσιν Ἰλίου ὅλην ἐποίησαν καὶ μὴ κατὰ μέρος ὥσπερ Εὐριπίδης,
+
ἐν δὲ ταῖς περιπετείαις καὶ ἐν τοῖς
+
ἔστιν δὲ τοῦτο, ὅταν ὁ σοφὸς μὲν μετὰ πονηρίας
+
ἔστιν δὲ τοῦτο καὶ εἰκὸς ὥσπερ Ἀγάθων λέγει, εἰκὸς γὰρ γίνεσθαι πολλὰ
+
καὶ τὸν χορὸν δὲ ἕνα δεῖ ὑπολαμβάνειν τῶν ὑποκριτῶν, καὶ μόριον εἶναι τοῦ ὅλου καὶ συναγωνίζεσθαι μὴ ὥσπερ Εὐριπίδῃ ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ Σοφοκλεῖ.
τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς τὰ ᾀδόμενα οὐδὲν μᾶλλον τοῦ μύθου ἢ ἄλλης τραγῳδίας ἐστίν· διὸ ἐμβόλιμα ᾄδουσιν πρώτου ἄρξαντος
+
+34 19.5 δῆλον δὲ ὅτι καὶ
+
τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὴν διάνοιαν ἐν
+
ἔστι δὲ κατὰ τὴν διάνοιαν ταῦτα, ὅσα ὑπὸ τοῦ λόγου δεῖ παρασκευασθῆναι.
μέρη δὲ τούτων τό τε ἀποδεικνύναι καὶ τὸ λύειν καὶ τὸ πάθη παρασκευάζειν
+
+
πλὴν τοσοῦτον
+
τῶν δὲ περὶ τὴν λέξιν ἓν μέν ἐστιν εἶδος θεωρίας τὰ σχήματα τῆς λέξεως,
+
παρὰ γὰρ τὴν τούτων γνῶσιν ἢ ἄγνοιαν οὐδὲν εἰς τὴν ποιητικὴν ἐπιτίμημα φέρεται ὅ τι καὶ ἄξιον
+
+μῆνιν ἄειδε θεά;
+
+τὸ γὰρ κελεῦσαι, φησίν, ποιεῖν τι ἢ μὴ ἐπίταξίς ἐστιν.
διὸ παρείσθω ὡς ἄλλης καὶ οὐ τῆς ποιητικῆς ὂν θεώρημα.
+
τῆς δὲ λέξεως ἁπάσης τάδ’ ἐστὶ τὰ μέρη, στοιχεῖον συλλαβὴ σύνδεσμος ὄνομα ῥῆμα ἄρθρον πτῶσις λόγος.
στοιχεῖον μὲν οὖν ἐστιν φωνὴ ἀδιαίρετος, οὐ πᾶσα δὲ ἀλλ’ ἐξ ἧς πέφυκε συνθετὴ γίγνεσθαι φωνή· καὶ γὰρ τῶν θηρίων εἰσὶν ἀδιαίρετοι φωναί, ὧν οὐδεμίαν λέγω
+
ταύτης δὲ μέρη τό τε φωνῆεν καὶ τὸ ἡμίφωνον καὶ ἄφωνον. ἔστιν δὲ ταῦτα φωνῆεν μὲν
+
ταῦτα δὲ διαφέρει σχήμασίν τε τοῦ στόματος καὶ τόποις καὶ δασύτητι καὶ ψιλότητι καὶ μήκει καὶ βραχύτητι ἔτι δὲ ὀξύτητι καὶ βαρύτητι καὶ τῷ μέσῳ· περὶ ὧν καθ’ ἕκαστον ἐν τοῖς μετρικοῖς προσήκει θεωρεῖν.
+
σύνδεσμος δέ ἐστιν φωνὴ ἄσημος
+
+
ἄρθρον δ’ ἐστὶ φωνὴ ἄσημος ἣ λόγου ἀρχὴν ἢ τέλος ἢ διορισμὸν δηλοῖ. οἷον τὸ ἀμφί καὶ τὸ περί καὶ τὰ ἄλλα. ἢ φωνὴ ἄσημος ἣ οὔτε κωλύει οὔτε ποιεῖ φωνὴν μίαν σημαντικὴν ἐκ πλειόνων φωνῶν πεφυκυῖα τίθεσθαι καὶ
+
ὄνομα δέ ἐστι φωνὴ συνθετὴ σημαντικὴ ἄνευ χρόνου ἧς μέρος οὐδέν ἐστι καθ’ αὑτὸ σημαντικόν· ἐν γὰρ τοῖς διπλοῖς οὐ χρώμεθα ὡς καὶ αὐτὸ καθ’ αὑτὸ σημαῖνον, οἷον ἐν τῷ Θεόδωρος τὸ δωρος οὐ σημαίνει.
+
ῥῆμα δὲ φωνὴ συνθετὴ σημαντικὴ μετὰ
+
πτῶσις δ’ ἐστὶν ὀνόματος ἢ ῥήματος ἡ μὲν κατὰ τὸ τούτου ἢ τούτῳ
+
λόγος δὲ φωνὴ συνθετὴ σημαντικὴ ἧς ἔνια μέρη καθ’ αὑτὰ σημαίνει τι
+(
+οὐ γὰρ
+
εἷς δέ ἐστι λόγος διχῶς, ἢ γὰρ ὁ ἓν σημαίνων, ἢ ὁ ἐκ πλειόνων συνδέσμῳ, οἷον ἡ Ἰλιὰς μὲν
+
ὀνόματος δὲ εἴδη τὸ μὲν ἁπλοῦν, ἁπλοῦν δὲ λέγω ὃ μὴ ἐκ σημαινόντων σύγκειται, οἷον γῆ, τὸ δὲ διπλοῦν·
τούτου δὲ τὸ μὲν ἐκ σημαίνοντος καὶ ἀσήμου, πλὴν οὐκ ἐν τῷ
+
εἴη δ’ ἂν καὶ τριπλοῦν καὶ τετραπλοῦν ὄνομα καὶ
+
ἅπαν δὲ ὄνομά ἐστιν ἢ κύριον ἢ γλῶττα ἢ μεταφορὰ ἢ κόσμος ἢ πεποιημένον ἢ ἐπεκτεταμένον ἢ ὑφῃρημένον ἢ ἐξηλλαγμένον.
λέγω δὲ κύριον μὲν ᾧ χρῶνται ἕκαστοι,
γλῶτταν δὲ ᾧ ἕτεροι· ὥστε φανερὸν ὅτι καὶ
+
μεταφορὰ δέ ἐστιν ὀνόματος ἀλλοτρίου ἐπιφορὰ ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ γένους ἐπὶ εἶδος ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ εἴδους ἐπὶ τὸ γένος ἢ ἀπὸ τοῦ εἴδους ἐπὶ εἶδος ἢ κατὰ τὸ ἀνάλογον.
λέγω δὲ ἀπὸ γένους μὲν
+
+νηῦς δέ μοι ἥδ’ ἕστηκεν·
+
+
τὸ γὰρ ὁρμεῖν ἐστιν ἑστάναι τι. ἀπ’ εἴδους δὲ ἐπὶ γένος
+
+ἦ δὴ μυρί’ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἐσθλὰ ἔοργεν·
+
+τὸ γὰρ μυρίον πολύ ἐστιν, ᾧ νῦν ἀντὶ τοῦ πολλοῦ κέχρηται.
ἀπ’ εἴδους δὲ ἐπὶ εἶδος οἷον
+
+χαλκῷ ἀπὸ ψυχὴν ἀρύσας
+
+καὶ
+
+τεμὼν ταναήκεϊ χαλκῷ·
+
+ἐνταῦθα
+
τὸ δὲ ἀνάλογον λέγω, ὅταν ὁμοίως ἔχῃ τὸ δεύτερον πρὸς τὸ πρῶτον καὶ τὸ τέταρτον πρὸς τὸ τρίτον· ἐρεῖ γὰρ ἀντὶ τοῦ δευτέρου τὸ τέταρτον ἢ ἀντὶ τοῦ τετάρτου τὸ δεύτερον.
καὶ ἐνίοτε προστιθέασιν ἀνθ’
+
ἢ ὃ γῆρας πρὸς βίον, καὶ ἑσπέρα πρὸς ἡμέραν· ἐρεῖ τοίνυν τὴν ἑσπέραν γῆρας ἡμέρας ἢ ὥσπερ Ἐμπεδοκλῆς, καὶ τὸ γῆρας ἑσπέραν βίου
+
ἐνίοις δ’ οὐκ ἔστιν ὄνομα κείμενον τῶν ἀνάλογον, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν ἧττον ὁμοίως λεχθήσεται· οἷον τὸ τὸν καρπὸν μὲν ἀφιέναι σπείρειν, τὸ δὲ τὴν φλόγα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡλίου ἀνώνυμον· ἀλλ’ ὁμοίως ἔχει τοῦτο πρὸς τὸν ἥλιον καὶ τὸ σπείρειν πρὸς τὸν καρπόν, διὸ εἴρηται
+
+σπείρων θεοκτίσταν
+
+
+
ἔστι δὲ τῷ τρόπῳ τούτῳ τῆς μεταφορᾶς χρῆσθαι καὶ ἄλλως, προσαγορεύσαντα τὸ ἀλλότριον ἀποφῆσαι τῶν οἰκείων τι,
οἷον εἰ τὴν ἀσπίδα εἴποι φιάλην μὴ Ἄρεως ἀλλ’ ἄοινον . . .
+
πεποιημένον δ’ ἐστὶν ὃ ὅλως μὴ καλούμενον ὑπὸ τινῶν αὐτὸς τίθεται ὁ ποιητής, δοκεῖ γὰρ ἔνια εἶναι τοιαῦτα,
+
ἐπεκτεταμένον δέ ἐστιν ἢ ἀφῃρημένον,
+
+
ἐπεκτεταμένον μὲν οἷον τὸ πόλεως πόληος καὶ τὸ Πηλείδου Πηληιάδεω, ἀφῃρημένον δὲ οἷον τὸ
+
+μία γίνεται ἀμφοτέρων ὄψ.
+
+
+
ἐξηλλαγμένον δ’ ἐστὶν ὅταν τοῦ ὀνομαζομένου τὸ μὲν καταλείπῃ τὸ δὲ ποιῇ, οἷον τὸ
+
+δεξιτερὸν κατὰ μαζόν
+
+ἀντὶ τοῦ δεξιόν.
+
αὐτῶν δὲ τῶν ὀνομάτων τὰ μὲν ἄρρενα τὰ δὲ θήλεα τὰ δὲ μεταξύ,
ἄρρενα μὲν ὅσα τελευτᾷ εἰς τὸ Ν καὶ Ρ καὶ Σ καὶ
+
οἷον εἰς Η καὶ Ω, καὶ τῶν ἐπεκτεινομένων εἰς Α·
ὥστε ἴσα συμβαίνει πλήθει εἰς ὅσα τὰ ἄρρενα καὶ τὰ θήλεα· τὸ γὰρ Ψ καὶ τὸ Ξ σύνθετά ἐστιν.
εἰς δὲ ἄφωνον οὐδὲν ὄνομα τελευτᾷ,
+
εἰς δὲ τὸ Ι τρία μόνον, μέλι κόμμι πέπερι. εἰς δὲ τὸ Υ πέντε. τὰ δὲ μεταξὺ εἰς ταῦτα καὶ Ν καὶ Σ.
+
λέξεως δὲ ἀρετὴ σαφῆ καὶ μὴ ταπεινὴν εἶναι.
σαφεστάτη μὲν οὖν ἐστιν ἡ ἐκ τῶν κυρίων ὀνομάτων, ἀλλὰ
+
σεμνὴ δὲ καὶ ἐξαλλάττουσα τὸ ἰδιωτικὸν ἡ τοῖς ξενικοῖς κεχρημένη· ξενικὸν δὲ λέγω γλῶτταν καὶ μεταφορὰν καὶ ἐπέκτασιν καὶ πᾶν τὸ παρὰ τὸ κύριον.
ἀλλ’ ἄν τις ἅπαντα τοιαῦτα ποιήσῃ, ἢ αἴνιγμα ἔσται ἢ
+
αἰνίγματός τε γὰρ ἰδέα αὕτη ἐστί, τὸ λέγοντα ὑπάρχοντα ἀδύνατα συνάψαι· κατὰ μὲν οὖν τὴν τῶν
+
+ἄνδρ’ εἶδον πυρὶ χαλκὸν
+
+καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα.
τὰ δὲ ἐκ τῶν γλωττῶν βαρβαρισμός.
δεῖ ἄρα κεκρᾶσθαί πως τούτοις· τὸ μὲν γὰρ τὸ μὴ ἰδιωτικὸν ποιήσει μηδὲ ταπεινόν, οἷον ἡ γλῶττα καὶ ἡ μεταφορὰ καὶ ὁ κόσμος καὶ τἆλλα τὰ εἰρημένα
+
οὐκ ἐλάχιστον δὲ μέρος συμβάλλεται
+
+
ὥστε οὐκ ὀρθῶς ψέγουσιν οἱ ἐπιτιμῶντες τῷ τοιούτῳ τρόπῳ τῆς διαλέκτου καὶ διακωμῳδοῦντες τὸν ποιητήν, οἷον Εὐκλείδης ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὡς ῥᾴδιον ὂν ποιεῖν εἴ τις δώσει ἐκτείνειν ἐφ’ ὁπόσον βούλεται, ἰαμβοποιήσας ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ λέξει
+
+Ἐπιχάρην εἶδον
+
+καὶ
+
+οὐκ
+†
+ἂν γεράμενος
+†
+τὸν ἐκείνου ἐλλέβορον.
+
+
τὸ μὲν οὖν φαίνεσθαί πως χρώμενον τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ γελοῖον· τὸ δὲ μέτρον κοινὸν ἁπάντων ἐστὶ τῶν μερῶν·
καὶ γὰρ μεταφοραῖς καὶ γλώτταις καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις εἴδεσι χρώμενος ἀπρεπῶς καὶ ἐπίτηδες ἐπὶ τὰ γελοῖα τὸ
+
τὸ δὲ ἁρμόττον ὅσον διαφέρει ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπῶν θεωρείσθω ἐντιθεμένων τῶν ὀνομάτων εἰς τὸ μέτρον.
καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γλώττης δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν μεταφορῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἄλλων ἰδεῶν μετατιθεὶς ἄν τις τὰ κύρια ὀνόματα κατίδοι ὅτι ἀληθῆ λέγομεν· οἷον τὸ αὐτὸ ποιήσαντος
+
+
+
+ὁ δὲ ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐσθίει τὸ θοινᾶται μετέθηκεν. καὶ
+
+
+
+εἴ τις λέγοι τὰ κύρια μετατιθεὶς
+
+
+
+καὶ
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+καὶ τὸ
+
+ἠιόνες βοόωσιν,
+
+ἠιόνες κράζουσιν.
+
ἔτι δὲ Ἀριφράδης τοὺς τραγῳδοὺς ἐκωμῴδει ὅτι ἃ οὐδεὶς ἂν εἴπειεν ἐν τῇ διαλέκτῳ τούτοις χρῶνται, οἷον τὸ δωμάτων ἄπο ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀπὸ δωμάτων, καὶ τὸ σέθεν καὶ τὸ ἐγὼ δέ νιν καὶ τὸ Ἀχιλλέως πέρι ἀλλὰ μὴ περὶ Ἀχιλλέως,
+
+
διὰ γὰρ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ἐν τοῖς κυρίοις ποιεῖ τὸ μὴ ἰδιωτικὸν ἐν τῇ λέξει ἅπαντα τὰ τοιαῦτα· ἐκεῖνος δὲ τοῦτο ἠγνόει.
ἔστιν δὲ μέγα μὲν τὸ ἑκάστῳ τῶν εἰρημένων
+
μόνον γὰρ τοῦτο οὔτε παρ’ ἄλλου ἔστι λαβεῖν εὐφυΐας τε σημεῖόν ἐστι· τὸ γὰρ εὖ μεταφέρειν τὸ τὸ ὅμοιον θεωρεῖν ἐστιν.
τῶν δ’ ὀνομάτων τὰ μὲν διπλᾶ μάλιστα ἁρμόττει τοῖς διθυράμβοις, αἱ δὲ
+
καὶ ἐν μὲν τοῖς ἡρωικοῖς ἅπαντα χρήσιμα τὰ εἰρημένα, ἐν δὲ τοῖς ἰαμβείοις διὰ τὸ ὅτι μάλιστα λέξιν μιμεῖσθαι ταῦτα ἁρμόττει τῶν ὀνομάτων ὅσοις κἂν ἐν λόγοις τις χρήσαιτο· ἔστι δὲ τὰ τοιαῦτα τὸ κύριον καὶ μεταφορὰ καὶ κόσμος.
+
περὶ δὲ τῆς διηγηματικῆς καὶ ἐν μέτρῳ μιμητικῆς, ὅτι δεῖ τοὺς μύθους καθάπερ ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις συνιστάναι δραματικοὺς καὶ περὶ μίαν πρᾶξιν ὅλην καὶ τελείαν
+
καὶ μὴ ὁμοίας ἱστορίαις τὰς συνθέσεις εἶναι, ἐν αἷς ἀνάγκη οὐχὶ μιᾶς πράξεως ποιεῖσθαι δήλωσιν ἀλλ’ ἑνὸς χρόνου, ὅσα ἐν τούτῳ συνέβη περὶ ἕνα ἢ πλείους, ὧν ἕκαστον ὡς ἔτυχεν ἔχει πρὸς ἄλληλα.
ὥσπερ
+
σχεδὸν δὲ οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν ποιητῶν τοῦτο
+
διὸ ὥσπερ εἴπομεν ἤδη καὶ ταύτῃ θεσπέσιος ἂν φανείη Ὅμηρος παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους, τῷ μηδὲ τὸν πόλεμον καίπερ ἔχοντα ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος ἐπιχειρῆσαι ποιεῖν ὅλον· λίαν γὰρ ἂν μέγας καὶ οὐκ εὐσύνοπτος ἔμελλεν ἔσεσθαι ὁ μῦθος, ἢ τῷ μεγέθει μετριάζοντα καταπεπλεγμένον τῇ ποικιλίᾳ.
+
+δὶς
+
+διαλαμβάνει τὴν ποίησιν.
οἱ δ’ ἄλλοι περὶ ἕνα ποιοῦσι καὶ περὶ ἕνα χρόνον καὶ μίαν πρᾶξιν πολυμερῆ,
+
+
τοιγαροῦν ἐκ μὲν Ἰλιάδος καὶ Ὀδυσσείας μία τραγῳδία ποιεῖται ἑκατέρας ἢ δύο μόναι, ἐκ δὲ Κυπρίων πολλαὶ καὶ τῆς μικρᾶς
+
+
+
+.
+
+πλέον
+
+ὀκτώ, οἷον ὅπλων κρίσις, Φιλοκτήτης, Νεοπτόλεμος, Εὐρύπυλος, πτωχεία, Λάκαιναι, Ἰλίου πέρσις καὶ ἀπόπλους
+
+καὶ Σίνων καὶ Τρῳάδες
+
+
+
ἔτι δὲ τὰ εἴδη ταὐτὰ δεῖ ἔχειν τὴν ἐποποιίαν τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ, ἢ γὰρ ἁπλῆν ἢ πεπλεγμένην ἢ ἠθικὴν ἢ παθητικήν·
καὶ τὰ
+
ἔτι τὰς διανοίας καὶ τὴν λέξιν ἔχειν καλῶς. οἷς ἅπασιν Ὅμηρος κέχρηται καὶ πρῶτος καὶ ἱκανῶς. καὶ γὰρ τῶν ποιημάτων ἑκάτερον συνέστηκεν ἡ μὲν Ἰλιὰς ἁπλοῦν καὶ παθητικόν, ἡ δὲ
+
διαφέρει δὲ κατά τε τῆς συστάσεως τὸ μῆκος ἡ ἐποποιία καὶ τὸ μέτρον.
τοῦ μὲν οὖν μήκους ὅρος ἱκανὸς ὁ εἰρημένος· δύνασθαι γὰρ δεῖ συνορᾶσθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν καὶ τὸ
+
ἔχει δὲ πρὸς τὸ ἐπεκτείνεσθαι τὸ μέγεθος πολύ τι ἡ ἐποποιία ἴδιον διὰ τὸ ἐν μὲν τῇ τραγῳδίᾳ μὴ ἐνδέχεσθαι ἅμα πραττόμενα
+
ὥστε τοῦτ’ ἔχει τὸ ἀγαθὸν εἰς μεγαλοπρέπειαν καὶ τὸ μεταβάλλειν τὸν
+
τὸ δὲ μέτρον τὸ ἡρωικὸν ἀπὸ τῆς πείρας ἥρμοκεν. εἰ γάρ τις ἐν ἄλλῳ τινὶ μέτρῳ διηγηματικὴν μίμησιν ποιοῖτο ἢ ἐν πολλοῖς, ἀπρεπὲς ἂν φαίνοιτο·
τὸ γὰρ ἡρωικὸν στασιμώτατον καὶ
+
τὸ δὲ ἰαμβεῖον καὶ τετράμετρον κινητικὰ καὶ τὸ μὲν ὀρχηστικὸν τὸ δὲ πρακτικόν.
+
+
ἔτι δὲ ἀτοπώτερον εἰ μιγνύοι τις αὐτά, ὥσπερ Χαιρήμων.
διὸ οὐδεὶς μακρὰν σύστασιν ἐν ἄλλῳ πεποίηκεν ἢ τῷ ἡρῴῳ, ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ εἴπομεν αὐτὴ ἡ φύσις διδάσκει τὸ ἁρμόττον αὐτῇ
+
Ὅμηρος δὲ ἄλλα τε πολλὰ ἄξιος ἐπαινεῖσθαι καὶ δὴ καὶ ὅτι μόνος τῶν ποιητῶν οὐκ ἀγνοεῖ ὃ δεῖ ποιεῖν αὐτόν.
αὐτὸν γὰρ δεῖ τὸν ποιητὴν ἐλάχιστα λέγειν· οὐ γάρ ἐστι κατὰ ταῦτα μιμητής. οἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλοι αὐτοὶ μὲν δι’ ὅλου ἀγωνίζονται, μιμοῦνται δὲ ὀλίγα καὶ ὀλιγάκις· ὁ δὲ ὀλίγα
+
δεῖ μὲν οὖν ἐν ταῖς τραγῳδίαις ποιεῖν τὸ θαυμαστόν, μᾶλλον δ’ ἐνδέχεται ἐν
+
ἐπεὶ τὰ περὶ
+
τὸ δὲ θαυμαστὸν ἡδύ· σημεῖον δέ, πάντες γὰρ προστιθέντες ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὡς χαριζόμενοι.
+
δεδίδαχεν δὲ μάλιστα Ὅμηρος καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ψευδῆ λέγειν ὡς δεῖ.
+
προαιρεῖσθαί τε δεῖ ἀδύνατα εἰκότα μᾶλλον ἢ δυνατὰ ἀπίθανα·
τούς τε λόγους μὴ συνίστασθαι ἐκ μερῶν ἀλόγων, ἀλλὰ μάλιστα μὲν μηδὲν ἔχειν ἄλογον, εἰ δὲ μή, ἔξω τοῦ μυθεύματος, ὥσπερ
+
ὥστε τὸ λέγειν ὅτι ἀνῄρητο ἂν ὁ μῦθος γελοῖον· ἐξ ἀρχῆς γὰρ οὐ δεῖ συνίστασθαι τοιούτους.
+†
+ἂν δὲ θῇ καὶ φαίνηται
+
ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰ ἐν Ὀδυσσείᾳ ἄλογα τὰ περὶ τὴν ἔκθεσιν ὡς οὐκ ἂν ἦν ἀνεκτὰ δῆλον ἂν γένοιτο, εἰ αὐτὰ φαῦλος ποιητὴς ποιήσειε·
+
+
τῇ δὲ λέξει δεῖ διαπονεῖν ἐν τοῖς ἀργοῖς μέρεσιν καὶ μήτε ἠθικοῖς μήτε διανοητικοῖς· ἀποκρύπτει γὰρ πάλιν ἡ λίαν λαμπρὰ
+
περὶ δὲ προβλημάτων καὶ λύσεων, ἐκ πόσων τε καὶ ποίων εἰδῶν ἐστιν, ὧδ’ ἂν θεωροῦσιν γένοιτ’ ἂν φανερόν.
ἐπεὶ γάρ ἐστι μιμητὴς ὁ ποιητὴς ὡσπερανεὶ ζωγράφος ἤ τις ἄλλος εἰκονοποιός, ἀνάγκη μιμεῖσθαι τριῶν ὄντων τὸν
+
ταῦτα δ’ ἐξαγγέλλεται λέξει ἐν ᾗ καὶ γλῶτται καὶ μεταφοραὶ καὶ πολλὰ πάθη τῆς λέξεώς ἐστι·
δίδομεν γὰρ ταῦτα τοῖς ποιηταῖς. πρὸς δὲ τούτοις οὐχ ἡ αὐτὴ ὀρθότης ἐστὶν τῆς πολιτικῆς καὶ τῆς ποιητικῆς οὐδὲ ἄλλης
+
αὐτῆς δὲ τῆς ποιητικῆς διττὴ ἁμαρτία, ἡ μὲν γὰρ καθ’ αὑτήν, ἡ δὲ κατὰ συμβεβηκός.
εἰ μὲν γὰρ προείλετο μιμήσασθαι . . . ἀδυναμίαν, αὐτῆς ἡ ἁμαρτία· εἰ δὲ τὸ προελέσθαι μὴ ὀρθῶς, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἵππον
+
+ἢ ἀδύνατα πεποίηται
+
+ὁποιανοῦν, οὐ καθ’ ἑαυτήν.
ὥστε δεῖ τὰ ἐπιτιμήματα ἐν τοῖς προβλήμασιν ἐκ τούτων ἐπισκοποῦντα λύειν.
+
ἀλλ’ ὀρθῶς ἔχει, εἰ τυγχάνει τοῦ τέλους τοῦ αὑτῆς
+(
+τὸ γὰρ
+
εἰ μέντοι τὸ τέλος ἢ μᾶλλον ἢ
+
+ἡμαρτῆσθαι
+
+οὐκ ὀρθῶς· δεῖ γὰρ εἰ ἐνδέχεται ὅλως μηδαμῇ ἡμαρτῆσθαι.
ἔτι ποτέρων ἐστὶ τὸ
+
πρὸς δὲ τούτοις ἐὰν ἐπιτιμᾶται ὅτι οὐκ ἀληθῆ, ἀλλ’ ἴσως
+
εἰ δὲ μηδετέρως, ὅτι οὕτω φασίν, οἷον τὰ περὶ θεῶν·
ἴσως γὰρ οὔτε βέλτιον οὕτω λέγειν οὔτ’ ἀληθῆ, ἀλλ’ εἰ ἔτυχεν ὥσπερ Ξενοφάνει· ἀλλ’ οὖν φασι. +
+
+ἔγχεα δέ σφιν ὄρθ’ ἐπὶ σαυρωτῆρος·
+
+οὕτω γὰρ τότ’ ἐνόμιζον, ὥσπερ καὶ νῦν Ἰλλυριοί.
+
περὶ δὲ τοῦ καλῶς ἢ μὴ καλῶς
+
τὰ δὲ πρὸς τὴν
+
+οὐρῆας μὲν πρῶτον·
+
+ἴσως γὰρ οὐ τοὺς ἡμιόνους λέγει ἀλλὰ τοὺς φύλακας· καὶ τὸν Δόλωνα,
+
+ὅς ῥ’ ἦ τοι εἶδος μὲν ἔην κακός,
+
+οὐ τὸ σῶμα ἀσύμμετρον ἀλλὰ τὸ πρόσωπον αἰσχρόν, τὸ γὰρ εὐειδὲς οἱ Κρῆτες τὸ εὐπρόσωπον καλοῦσι· καὶ τὸ
+ζωρότερον δὲ κέραιε
+
+οὐ τὸ ἄκρατον ὡς οἰνόφλυξιν ἀλλὰ τὸ θᾶττον.
τὸ δὲ κατὰ μεταφορὰν εἴρηται, οἷον
+
+πάντες μέν ῥα θεοί τε καὶ ἀνέρες εὗδον παννύχιοι·
+
+ἅμα δέ φησιν ἦ τοι ὅτ’ ἐς πεδίον τὸ Τρωικὸν ἀθρήσειεν, αὐλῶν συρίγγων τε ὅμαδον·
+
+τὸ γὰρ πάντες ἀντὶ τοῦ πολλοί κατὰ
+
+οἴη δ’ ἄμμορος
+
+κατὰ μεταφοράν, τὸ γὰρ γνωριμώτατον μόνον.
+
κατὰ δὲ προσῳδίαν, ὥσπερ Ἱππίας ἔλυεν ὁ Θάσιος, τὸ
+
+δίδομεν δέ οἱ εὖχος ἀρέσθαι
+
+καὶ
+
+τὸ μὲν οὗ καταπύθεται ὄμβρῳ.
+
+
τὰ δὲ διαιρέσει, οἷον Ἐμπεδοκλῆς
+
+αἶψα δὲ θνήτ’ ἐφύοντο τὰ πρὶν
+
+τὰ δὲ ἀμφιβολίᾳ, παρῴχηκεν δὲ πλέω νύξ·
+
+τὸ γὰρ πλείω ἀμφίβολόν ἐστιν.
τὰ δὲ κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς λέξεως. τὸν κεκραμένον οἶνόν φασιν εἶναι, ὅθεν πεποίηται
+
+κνημὶς νεοτεύκτου κασσιτέροιο·
+
+καὶ χαλκέας τοὺς τὸν σίδηρον ἐργαζομένους, ὅθεν εἴρηται
+
δεῖ δὲ καὶ ὅταν ὄνομά τι ὑπεναντίωμά τι δοκῇ σημαίνειν, ἐπισκοπεῖν ποσαχῶς ἂν σημήνειε τοῦτο ἐν τῷ εἰρημένῳ, οἷον τῷ
+
+τῇ ῥ’ ἔσχετο χάλκεον ἔγχος
+
+
+τὸ ταύτῃ κωλυθῆναι ποσαχῶς ἐνδέχεται, ὡδὶ ἢ
+
καὶ αὐτοὶ καταψηφισάμενοι συλλογίζονται, καὶ ὡς εἰρηκότος ὅ τι δοκεῖ ἐπιτιμῶσιν, ἂν ὑπεναντίον ᾖ τῇ αὑτῶν οἰήσει.
τοῦτο δὲ πέπονθε τὰ περὶ Ἰκάριον. οἴονται γὰρ αὐτὸν Λάκωνα
+
ὅλως δὲ τὸ ἀδύνατον μὲν πρὸς τὴν
+
πρός τε γὰρ τὴν ποίησιν αἱρετώτερον πιθανὸν ἀδύνατον ἢ ἀπίθανον καὶ δυνατόν· . . . τοιούτους εἶναι οἷον Ζεῦξις ἔγραφεν,
+ἀλλὰ βέλτιον· τὸ γὰρ παράδειγμα δεῖ ὑπερέχειν.
+
οὕτω τε καὶ ὅτι ποτὲ οὐκ ἄλογόν
+
τὰ δ’ ὑπεναντίως εἰρημένα οὕτω σκοπεῖν ὥσπερ οἱ ἐν τοῖς λόγοις ἔλεγχοι εἰ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ πρὸς τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ὡσαύτως, ὥστε καὶ +† +αὐτὸν +† +ἢ πρὸς ἃ αὐτὸς λέγει ἢ ὃ ἂν φρόνιμος ὑποθῆται.
ὀρθὴ δ’ ἐπιτίμησις καὶ ἀλογίᾳ καὶ μοχθηρίᾳ, ὅταν μὴ
+
τὰ μὲν οὖν ἐπιτιμήματα ἐκ πέντε εἰδῶν φέρουσιν· ἢ γὰρ ὡς ἀδύνατα ἢ ὡς ἄλογα ἢ ὡς βλαβερὰ ἢ ὡς ὑπεναντία ἢ ὡς παρὰ τὴν ὀρθότητα τὴν κατὰ τέχνην. αἱ δὲ λύσεις ἐκ τῶν
+
πότερον δὲ βελτίων ἡ ἐποποιικὴ μίμησις ἢ ἡ τραγική, διαπορήσειεν ἄν τις.
εἰ γὰρ ἡ ἧττον φορτικὴ βελτίων, τοιαύτη δ’ ἡ πρὸς βελτίους θεατάς ἐστιν ἀεί, λίαν δῆλον ὅτι ἡ ἅπαντα μιμουμένη φορτική·
ὡς γὰρ οὐκ αἰσθανομένων
+
ἡ μὲν οὖν τραγῳδία τοιαύτη ἐστίν, ὡς καὶ οἱ πρότερον τοὺς ὑστέρους αὐτῶν ᾤοντο ὑποκριτάς· ὡς λίαν γὰρ ὑπερβάλλοντα πίθηκον ὁ Μυννίσκος
+
τὴν μὲν οὖν πρὸς θεατὰς ἐπιεικεῖς φασιν εἶναι
+
εἰ οὖν φορτική, χείρων δῆλον ὅτι ἂν εἴη.
+
+ἐστὶ
+
+Σωσίστρατος, καὶ διᾴδοντα, ὅπερ ἐποίει Μνασίθεος ὁ Ὀπούντιος.
εἶτα οὐδὲ κίνησις ἅπασα ἀποδοκιμαστέα, εἴπερ μηδ’ ὄρχησις, ἀλλ’ ἡ φαύλων, ὅπερ καὶ Καλλιππίδῃ
+
ἔτι ἡ τραγῳδία καὶ ἄνευ κινήσεως ποιεῖ τὸ αὑτῆς, ὥσπερ ἡ ἐποποιία· διὰ γὰρ τοῦ ἀναγινώσκειν φανερὰ ὁποία τίς ἐστιν· εἰ οὖν ἐστι τά γ’ ἄλλα κρείττων, τοῦτό γε οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον αὐτῇ ὑπάρχειν.
+
ἔπειτα διότι πάντ’ ἔχει ὅσαπερ ἡ
+
καὶ γὰρ τῷ μέτρῳ ἔξεστι χρῆσθαι
+)
+, καὶ ἔτι οὐ μικρὸν μέρος τὴν μουσικήν
+
+καὶ τὰς ὄψεις
+
+, δι’ ἧς αἱ ἡδοναὶ συνίστανται ἐναργέστατα·
εἶτα καὶ τὸ ἐναργὲς ἔχει καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀναγνώσει καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἔργων·
+
+
ἔτι τῷ ἐν ἐλάττονι μήκει τὸ τέλος τῆς μιμήσεως εἶναι +( +τὸ γὰρ ἀθροώτερον ἥδιον ἢ πολλῷ κεκραμένον τῷ χρόνῳ, λέγω δ’ οἷον εἴ τις τὸν Οἰδίπουν θείη τὸν Σοφοκλέους ἐν ἔπεσιν ὅσοις ἡ Ἰλιάς +) +·
ἔτι ἧττον μία ἡ μίμησις ἡ τῶν ἐποποιῶν
+(
+σημεῖον δέ, ἐκ γὰρ ὁποιασοῦν
+
ὥσπερ ἡ Ἰλιὰς ἔχει πολλὰ τοιαῦτα μέρη καὶ ἡ Ὀδύσσεια
+
εἰ οὖν τούτοις τε διαφέρει πᾶσιν καὶ ἔτι τῷ τῆς τέχνης ἔργῳ
+(
+δεῖ γὰρ οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν ἡδονὴν ποιεῖν αὐτὰς ἀλλὰ τὴν εἰρημένην
+)
+, φανερὸν ὅτι κρείττων ἂν εἴη μᾶλλον τοῦ
+
- Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of
-Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister,
-saying,
-
- Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies
-secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. They went and came
-into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and lay there.
-
- Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from
-Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and
-they lodged there before they passed over.
-
- It happened, when all the nation were clean passed over the
-Jordan, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
-
- It happened, when all the kings of the Amorites, who were
-beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who
-were by the sea, heard how that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the
-Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over,
-that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more,
-because of the children of Israel.
-
- Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of
-Israel: none went out, and none came in.
-
- But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted
-thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah,
-of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of
-Yahweh was kindled against the children of Israel.
-
- Yahweh said to Joshua, Don't be afraid, neither be dismayed:
-take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai; behold, I
-have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city,
-and his land;
-
- It happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in
-the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great
-sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite,
-the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it;
-
- Now it happened, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how
-Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to
-Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the
-inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
-
- It happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he
-sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the
-king of Achshaph,
-
- Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of
-Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the
-sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the
-Arabah eastward:
-
- Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Yahweh
-said to him, You are old and well stricken in years, and there remains
-yet very much land to be possessed.
-
- These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took
-in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of
-Nun, and the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the tribes of the
-children of Israel, distributed to them,
-
- The lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to
-their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin
-southward, at the uttermost part of the south.
-
- The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan
-at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness,
-going up from Jericho through the hill-country to Bethel;
-
- [This] was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the
-firstborn of Joseph. As for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the
-father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead
-and Bashan.
-
- The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled
-themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there:
-and the land was subdued before them.
-
- The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the
-children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance
-was in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah.
-
- Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
-
- Then came near the heads of fathers' [houses] of the Levites
-to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads
-of fathers' [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel;
-
- Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the
-half-tribe of Manasseh,
-
- It happened after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to
-Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well
-stricken in years;
-
- Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and
-called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their
-judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before
-God.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread on, to you have I given it, as I spoke to Moses.
From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
There shall not any man be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you, nor forsake you.
Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you: don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate thereon day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh your God gives you to possess it.
To the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spoke Joshua, saying,
Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.
Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them;
until Yahweh have given your brothers rest, as [he has given] you, and they also have possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them: then you shall return to the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.
They answered Joshua, saying, All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
According as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you: only Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses.
Whoever he be who shall rebel against your commandment, and shall not listen to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage.
Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and lay there.
It was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in here tonight of the children of Israel to search out the land.
The king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men who are come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to search out all the land.
The woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know whence they were:
and it happened about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; where the men went I don’t know: pursue after them quickly; for you will overtake them.
But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.
The men pursued after them the way to the Jordan to the fords: and as soon as those who pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
Before they were laid down, she came up to them on the roof;
and she said to the men, I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you is fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
As soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.
Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a true token;
and that you will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.
The men said to her, Our life for yours, if you don’t utter this our business; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.
Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall.
She said to them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers light on you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may you go your way.
The men said to her, We will be guiltless of this your oath which you have made us to swear.
Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which you did let us down by: and you shall gather to you into the house your father, and your mother, and your brothers, and all your father’s household.
It shall be, that whoever shall go out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his head, and we shall be guiltless: and whoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be on him.
But if you utter this our business, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you have made us to swear.
She said, According to your words, so be it. She sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
They went, and came to the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but didn’t find them.
Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them.
They said to Joshua, Truly Yahweh has delivered into our hands all the land; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land do melt away before us.
Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and they lodged there before they passed over.
It happened after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;
and they commanded the people, saying, When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place, and go after it.
Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: don’t come near to it, that you may know the way by which you must go; for you have not passed this way heretofore.
Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Yahweh will do wonders among you.
Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. They took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
Yahweh said to Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When you are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.
Joshua said to the children of Israel, Come here, and hear the words of Yahweh your God.
Joshua said, Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes over before you into the Jordan.
Now therefore take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.
It shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.
It happened, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people;
and when those who bore the ark were come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest,)
that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.
It happened, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
and command you them, saying, Take hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where you shall lodge this night.
Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
and Joshua said to them, Pass over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up every man of you a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;
that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What do you mean by these stones?
then you shall tell them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.
The children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Yahweh spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there to this day.
For the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Yahweh commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hurried and passed over.
It happened, when all the people had completely passed over, that the ark of Yahweh passed over, with the priests, in the presence of the people.
The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them:
about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Yahweh to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
On that day Yahweh magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
Command the priests who bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of the Jordan.
It happened, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up to the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and went over all its banks, as before.
The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.
Those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.
He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
Then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
For Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you were passed over, as Yahweh your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over;
that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty; that you may fear Yahweh your God forever.
It happened, when all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard how that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
At that time Yahweh said to Joshua, Make you flint knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
Joshua made himself flint knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
This is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people who came forth out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt.
For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, they had not circumcised.
For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, even the men of war who came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they didn’t listen to the voice of Yahweh: to whom Yahweh swore that he wouldn’t let them see the land which Yahweh swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Their children, whom he raised up in their place, them did Joshua circumcise: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
It happened, when they had done circumcising all the nation, that they abode in their places in the camp, until they were whole.
Yahweh said to Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Therefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, to this day.
The children of Israel encamped in Gilgal; and they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
They ate of the produce of the land on the next day after the Passover, unleavened cakes and parched grain, in the same day.
The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
It happened, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went to him, and said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries?
He said, No; but [as] prince of the host of Yahweh am I now come. Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said to him, What says my lord to his servant?
The prince of Yahweh’s host said to Joshua, Put off your shoe from off your foot; for the place whereon you stand is holy. Joshua did so.
Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
Yahweh said to Joshua, Behold, I have given into your hand Jericho, and the king of it, and the mighty men of valor.
You shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shall you do six days.
Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark: and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.
Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of Yahweh.
They said to the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Yahweh.
It was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before Yahweh passed on, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed them.
The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went.
Joshua commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall you shout.
So he caused the ark of Yahweh to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of Yahweh.
The seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of Yahweh went on continually, and blew the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of Yahweh, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went.
The second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
It happened on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on the day they compassed the city seven times.
It happened at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout; for Yahweh has given you the city.
The city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Yahweh: only Rahab the prostitute shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so would you make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.
But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy to Yahweh: they shall come into the treasury of Yahweh.
So the people shouted, and [the priests] blew the trumpets; and it happened, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
They utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring out there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore to her.
The young men the spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brothers, and all that she had; all her relatives also they brought out; and they set them outside of the camp of Israel.
They burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Yahweh.
But Rahab the prostitute, and her father’s household, and all that she had, did Joshua save alive; and she lived in the midst of Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before Yahweh, that rises up and builds this city Jericho: with the loss of his firstborn shall he lay the foundation of it, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
So Yahweh was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the children of Israel.
Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. The men went up and spied out Ai.
They returned to Joshua, and said to him, Don’t let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai; don’t make all the people to toil there; for they are but few.
So there went up there of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
The men of Ai struck of them about thirty-six men; and they chased them [from] before the gate even to Shebarim, and struck them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
Joshua said, Alas, Lord Yahweh, why have you at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and lived beyond the Jordan!
Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what will you do for your great name?
Yahweh said to Joshua, Get you up; why are you thus fallen on your face?
Israel has sinned; yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: yes, they have even taken of the devoted thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also; and they have even put it among their own stuff.
Therefore the children of Israel can’t stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed: I will not be with you any more, except you destroy the devoted thing from among you.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, There is a devoted thing in the midst of you, Israel; you can not stand before your enemies, until you take away the devoted thing from among you.
In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which Yahweh takes shall come near by families; and the family which Yahweh shall take shall come near by households; and the household which Yahweh shall take shall come near man by man.
It shall be, that he who is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has; because he has transgressed the covenant of Yahweh, and because he has done folly in Israel.
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
and he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zerahites: and he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
and he brought near his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
Joshua said to Achan, My son, please give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and make confession to him; and tell me now what you have done; don’t hide it from me.
Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonian mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
They took them from the midst of the tent, and brought them to Joshua, and to all the children of Israel; and they laid them down before Yahweh.
Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his donkeys, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.
Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? Yahweh shall trouble you this day. All Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.
They raised over him a great heap of stones, to this day; and Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called The valley of Achor
to this day.
Yahweh said to Joshua, Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai; behold, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land;
You shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king: only the spoil of it, and the cattle of it, shall you take for a prey to yourselves: set you an ambush for the city behind it.
So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night.
He commanded them, saying, Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city; don’t go very far from the city, but be all ready:
and I, and all the people who are with me, will approach to the city. It shall happen, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them;
and they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: so we will flee before them;
and you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city: for Yahweh your God will deliver it into your hand.
It shall be, when you have seized on the city, that you shall set the city on fire; according to the word of Yahweh shall you do: behold, I have commanded you.
Joshua sent them forth; and they went to set up the ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
Joshua arose up early in the morning, and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
All the people, [even] the [men of] war who were with him, went up, and drew near, and came before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between him and Ai.
He took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
So they set the people, even all the host who was on the north of the city, and their liers-in-wait who were on the west of the city; and Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
It happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he didn’t know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
All the people who were in the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
There was not a man left in Ai or Beth El, who didn’t go out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
Yahweh said to Joshua, Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand. Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.
The ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it; and they hurried and set the city on fire.
When the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people who fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers.
When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and killed the men of Ai.
The others came forth out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they struck them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
The king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
It happened, when Israel had made an end of killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness in which they pursued them, and they were all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all Israel returned to Ai, and struck it with the edge of the sword.
All that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
For Joshua didn’t draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for prey to themselves, according to the word of Yahweh which he commanded Joshua.
So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation, to this day.
The king of Ai he hanged on a tree until the evening: and at the going down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised thereon a great heap of stones, to this day.
Then Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal,
as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones, on which no man had lifted up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings to Yahweh, and sacrificed peace-offerings.
He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote, in the presence of the children of Israel.
All Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, as well the sojourner as the native; half of them in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of Mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.
Afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua didn’t read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who were among them.
It happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it;
that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wine-skins, old and torn and bound up,
and old and patched shoes on their feet, and old garments on them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become moldy.
They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make you a covenant with us.
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, What if you dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?
They said to Joshua, We are your servants. Joshua said to them, Who are you? and from whence come you?
They said to him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of Yahweh your God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and tell them, We are your servants: and now make you a covenant with us.
This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become moldy:
and these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are torn: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
The men took of their provision, and didn’t ask counsel at the mouth of Yahweh.
Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore to them.
It happened at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.
The children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.
The children of Israel didn’t strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.
But all the princes said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
The princes said to them, Let them live: so they became wood cutters and drawers of water to all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them.
Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have you deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; when you dwell among us?
Now therefore you are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondservants, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God.
They answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told your servants, how that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
Now, behold, we are in your hand: as it seems good and right to you to do to us, do.
So did he to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they didn’t kill them.
That day Joshua made those wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place which he should choose.
Now it happened, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men of it were mighty.
Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,
Come up to me, and help me, and let us strike Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.
The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Don’t slack your hand from your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.
So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
Yahweh said to Joshua, Don’t fear them: for I have delivered them into your hands; there shall not a man of them stand before you.
Joshua therefore came on them suddenly; [for] he went up from Gilgal all the night.
Yahweh confused them before Israel, and he killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah, and to Makkedah.
It happened, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, that Yahweh cast down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died: they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.
Then spoke Joshua to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand you still on Gibeon; You, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.
The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the midst of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day.
There was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man: for Yahweh fought for Israel.
Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
These five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.
It was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
Joshua said, Roll great stones to the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them:
but don’t stay; pursue after your enemies, and strike the hindmost of them; don’t allow them to enter into their cities: for Yahweh your God has delivered them into your hand.
It happened, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of killing them with a very great slaughter, until they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,
that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings to me out of the cave.
They did so, and brought forth those five kings to him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon.
It happened, when they brought forth those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings. They came near, and put their feet on the necks of them.
Joshua said to them, Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall Yahweh do to all your enemies against whom you fight.
Afterward Joshua struck them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging on the trees until the evening.
It happened at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, to this very day.
Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it: he utterly destroyed them and all the souls who were therein; he left none remaining; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
and Yahweh delivered it also, and the king of it, into the hand of Israel; and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were therein; he left none remaining in it; and he did to the king of it as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
and Yahweh delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel; and he took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, to Eglon; and they encamped against it, and fought against it;
and they took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword; and all the souls who were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it:
and they took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and the king of it, and all the cities of it, and all the souls who were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls who were therein.
Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it:
and he took it, and the king of it, and all the cities of it; and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls who were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king of it; as he had done also to Libnah, and to the king of it.
So Joshua struck all the land, the hill-country, and the South, and the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded.
Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.
All these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
It happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,
to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
They went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.
Yahweh said to Joshua, Don’t be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell on them.
Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and chased them to great Sidon, and to Misrephoth Maim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they struck them, until they left them none remaining.
Joshua did to them as Yahweh bade him: he hamstrung their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and struck the king of it with the sword: for Hazor before was the head of all those kingdoms.
They struck all the souls who were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left who breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
All the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded.
But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
All the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey to themselves; but every man they struck with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any who breathed.
As Yahweh commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua: and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
So Joshua took all that land, the hill-country, and all the South, and all the land of Goshen, and the lowland, and the Arabah, and the hill-country of Israel, and the lowland of the same;
from Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even to Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and struck them, and put them to death.
Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: they took all in battle.
For it was of Yahweh to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the hill-country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill-country of Judah, and from all the hill-country of Israel: Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.
There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain.
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Yahweh spoke to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. The land had rest from war.
Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:
Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [the city that is in] the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;
and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:
and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
Moses the servant of Yahweh and the children of Israel struck them: and Moses the servant of Yahweh gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;
in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:
the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;
the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;
the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;
the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;
the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty-one.
Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Yahweh said to him, You are old and well stricken in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.
This is the land that yet remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;
from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, [which] is reckoned to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,
on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;
and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;
all the inhabitants of the hill-country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, even all the Sidonians; them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only allot you it to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them:
from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon;
and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon;
and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;
all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (the same was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for these did Moses strike, and drove them out.
Nevertheless the children of Israel didn’t drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.
Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings of Yahweh, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him.
Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.
Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;
Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth Baal, and Beth Baal Meon,
and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mount of the valley,
and Beth Peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,
and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.
Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel kill with the sword among the rest of their slain.
The border of the children of Reuben was the Jordan, and the border [of it]. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and the villages of it.
Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families.
Their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah;
and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
and in the valley, Beth Haram, and Beth Nimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan and the border [of it], to the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.
This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and the villages of it.
Moses gave [inheritance] to the half-tribe of Manasseh: and it was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.
Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities:
and half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families.
These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.
But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance: Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.
These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,
by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan: but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the suburbs of it for their cattle and for their substance.
As Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did; and they divided the land.
Then the children of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh-barnea.
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of Yahweh sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
Nevertheless my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Yahweh my God.
Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have wholly followed Yahweh my God.
Now, behold, Yahweh has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness: and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.
As yet I am as strong this day as I as in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out and to come in.
Now therefore give me this hill-country, whereof Yahweh spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fortified: it may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh spoke.
Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day; because that he wholly followed Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba; [which Arba was] the greatest man among the Anakim. The land had rest from war.
The lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south.
Their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward;
and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh-barnea, and passed along by Hezron, and went up to Addar, and turned about to Karka;
and it passed along to Azmon, and went out at the brook of Egypt; and the goings out of the border were at the sea: this shall be your south border.
The east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. The border of the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan;
and the border went up to Beth Hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;
and the border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river; and the border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and the goings out of it were at En Rogel;
and the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite southward (the same is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the uttermost part of the valley of Rephaim northward;
and the border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border extended to Baalah (the same is Kiriath Jearim);
and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (the same is Chesalon), and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed along by Timnah;
and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
The west border was to the great sea, and the border [of it]. This is the border of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
To Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, even Kiriath Arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak (the same is Hebron).
Caleb drove out there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
He went up there against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.
Caleb said, He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.
Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
It happened, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her donkey; and Caleb said, What would you?
She said, Give me a blessing; for that you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. He gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
The uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth, Hezron (the same is Hazor),
Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
and Hazar Gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth Pelet,
and Hazar Shual, and Beersheba, and Biziothiah,
Baalah, and Iim, and Ezem,
and Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.
In the lowland, Eshtaol, and Zorah, and Ashnah,
and Zanoah, and En Gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.
Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad,
and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Chitlish,
and Gederoth, Beth Dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.
Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
and Iphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.
Ekron, with its towns and its villages;
from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.
Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the brook of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border [of it].
In the hill-country, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
and Dannah, and Kiriath Sannah (the same is Debir),
and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.
Arab, and Dumah, and Eshan,
and Janim, and Beth Tappuah, and Aphekah,
and Humtah, and Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.
Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Jutah,
and Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.
Halhul, Beth Zur, and Gedor,
and Maarath, and Beth Anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.
Kiriath Baal (the same is Kiriath Jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.
In the wilderness, Beth Arabah, Middin, and Secacah,
and Nibshan, and the City of Salt, and En Gedi; six cities with their villages.
As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah couldn’t drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
The lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill-country to Bethel;
and it went out from Bethel to Luz, and passed along to the border of the Archites to Ataroth;
and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, to the border of Beth Horon the lower, even to Gezer; and the goings out of it were at the sea.
The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
The border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was [thus]: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth Addar, to Beth Horon the upper;
and the border went out westward at Michmethath on the north; and the border turned about eastward to Taanath Shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah;
and it went down from Janoah to Ataroth, and to Naarah, and reached to Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.
From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and the goings out of it were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families;
together with the cities which were set apart for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
They didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and are become servants to do forced labor.
[This] was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph. As for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
So [the lot] was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.
But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
They came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, Yahweh commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers: therefore according to the commandment of Yahweh he gave them an inheritance among the brothers of their father.
There fell ten parts to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan;
because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the sons of Manasseh.
The border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem; and the border went along to the right hand, to the inhabitants of En Tappuah.
The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.
The border went down to the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook: these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh: and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and the goings out of it were at the sea:
southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.
Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, even the three heights.
Yet the children of Manasseh couldn’t drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
It happened, when the children of Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and didn’t utterly drive them out.
The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, Why have you given me but one lot and one part for an inheritance, seeing I am a great people, because hitherto Yahweh has blessed me?
Joshua said to them, If you are a great people, go up to the forest, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.
The children of Joseph said, The hill-country is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are in Beth-shean and its towns, and they who are in the valley of Jezreel.
Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, You are a great people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only:
but the hill-country shall be yours; for though it is a forest, you shall cut it down, and the goings out of it shall be your; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.
The whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there: and the land was subdued before them.
There remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet divided their inheritance.
Joshua said to the children of Israel, How long are you slack to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you?
Appoint for you three men of each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come to me.
They shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.
You shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring [the description] here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.
For the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Yahweh is their inheritance: and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them.
The men arose, and went: and Joshua charged those who went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh in Shiloh.
The men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions in a book; and they came to Joshua to the camp at Shiloh.
Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Yahweh: and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
The lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out of it were at the wilderness of Beth Aven.
The border passed along from there to Luz, to the side of Luz (the same is Bethel), southward; and the border went down to Ataroth Addar, by the mountain that lies on the south of Beth Horon the lower.
The border extended [there], and turned about on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lies before Beth Horon southward; and the goings out of it were at Kiriath Baal (the same is Kiriath Jearim), a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
The south quarter was from the uttermost part of Kiriath Jearim; and the border went out westward, and went out to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah;
and the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the valley of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En Rogel;
and it extended northward, and went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim; and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;
and it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down to the Arabah;
and the border passed along to the side of Beth Hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this was the south border.
The Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders of it round about, according to their families.
Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth Hoglah, and Emek Keziz,
and Beth Arabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
and Chephar Ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:
Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
and Zelah, Eleph, and the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem), Gibeath, [and] Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
The second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah.
They had for their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,
and Hazar Shual, and Balah, and Ezem,
and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
and Ziklag, and Beth Marcaboth, and Hazar Susah,
and Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages:
Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages:
and all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath Beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.
The third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families; and the border of their inheritance was to Sarid;
and their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth; and it reached to the brook that is before Jokneam;
and it turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrise to the border of Chisloth Tabor; and it went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia;
and from there it passed along eastward to Gath Hepher, to Eth-kazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretches to Neah;
and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out of it were at the valley of Iphtah El;
and Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.
Their border was to Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez,
and Remeth, and Engannim, and En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez,
and the border reached to Tabor, and Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh; and the goings out of their border were at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.
The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
Their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
and Allammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
and it turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel; and it went out to Cabul on the left hand,
and Ebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Sidon;
and the border turned to Ramah, and to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah; and the goings out of it were at the sea by the region of Achzib;
Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two cities with their villages.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
Their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adaminekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakkum; and the goings out of it were at the Jordan;
and the border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, and went out from there to Hukkok; and it reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrise.
The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En Hazor,
Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth Anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.
The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
The border of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
and Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Ithlah,
and Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron,
and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
and Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,
and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
The border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and lived therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders of it; and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them:
according to the commandment of Yahweh they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in the hill-country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and lived therein.
These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Yahweh, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the land.
Yahweh spoke to Joshua, saying,
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spoke to you by Moses,
that the manslayer who kills any person unwittingly [and] unawares may flee there: and they shall be to you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.
He shall flee to one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city to them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
If the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he struck his neighbor unawares, and didn’t hate him before.
He shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the manslayer return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city from whence he fled.
They set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah.
Beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whoever kills any person unwittingly might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
Then came near the heads of fathers’ [houses] of the Levites to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of fathers’ [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel;
and they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Yahweh commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs of it for our cattle.
The children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Yahweh, these cities with their suburbs.
The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
The rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
The children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
The children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Yahweh commanded by Moses.
They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are [here] mentioned by name:
and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.
They gave them Kiriath Arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak (the same is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, with the suburbs of it round about it.
But the fields of the city, and the villages of it, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
To the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs,
and Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
and Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs,
and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
Out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,
Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
The families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
They gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with its suburbs,
and Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs; four cities.
Out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.
To the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh [they gave] Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
Out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
Jarmuth with its suburbs, En Gannim with its suburbs; four cities.
Out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,
Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
Out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Hammothdor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
To the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs,
Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities.
Out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahaz with its suburbs,
Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
Out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.
All [these were] the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.
All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.
So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land which he swore to give to their fathers; and they possessed it, and lived therein.
Yahweh gave them rest round about, according to all that he swore to their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; Yahweh delivered all their enemies into their hand.
There failed not anything of any good thing which Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
and said to them, You have kept all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you:
you have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Yahweh your God.
Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them: therefore now turn you, and get you to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan.
Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.
Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given [inheritance] in Bashan; but to the other half gave Joshua among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward; moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,
and spoke to them, saying, Return with much wealth to your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much clothing: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.
The children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
When they came to the region about the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look on.
The children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertains to the children of Israel.
When the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.
The children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers’ house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were everyone of them head of their fathers’ houses among the thousands of Israel.
They came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying,
Thus says the whole congregation of Yahweh, What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Yahweh, in that you have built you an altar, to rebel this day against Yahweh?
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of Yahweh,
that you must turn away this day from following Yahweh? and it will be, seeing you rebel today against Yahweh, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
However, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of Yahweh, in which Yahweh’s tent dwells, and take possession among us: but don’t rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of Yahweh our God.
Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity.
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel he shall know: if it be in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us this day,)
that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Yahweh; or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let Yahweh himself require it;
and if we have not [rather] out of carefulness done this, [and] of purpose, saying, In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?
for Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad; you have no portion in Yahweh: so might your children make our children cease from fearing Yahweh.
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not tell our children in time to come, You have no portion in Yahweh.
Therefore said we, It shall be, when they so tell us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Yahweh, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.
Far be it from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and turn away this day from following Yahweh, to build an altar for burnt-offering, for meal-offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tent.
When Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well.
Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we know that Yahweh is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this trespass against Yahweh: now have you delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh.
Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad lived.
The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar [Ed]: For, [said they], it is a witness between us that Yahweh is God.
It happened after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;
that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, I am old and well stricken in years:
and you have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for Yahweh your God, he it is that has fought for you.
Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.
Yahweh your God, he will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke to you.
Therefore be you very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left;
that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;
but cleave to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day.
For Yahweh has driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.
One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Yahweh your God, he it is who fights for you, as he spoke to you.
Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God.
Else if you do at all go back, and cleave to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;
know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you.
Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you; all are happen to you, not one thing has failed of it.
It shall happen, that as all the good things are come on you of which Yahweh your God spoke to you, so will Yahweh bring on you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you.
When you disobey the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Yahweh be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.
Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
Joshua said to all the people, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods.
I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it: and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in the midst of it: and afterward I brought you out.
I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea.
When they cried out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and you lived in the wilderness many days.
I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;
but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.
I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow.
I gave you a land whereon you had not labored, and cities which you didn’t build, and you dwell therein; of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant do you eat.
Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve you Yahweh.
If it seem evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.
The people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;
for Yahweh our God, he it is who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed;
and Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land: therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God.
Joshua said to the people, You can’t serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins.
If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he has done you good.
The people said to Joshua, No; but we will serve Yahweh.
Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you Yahweh, to serve him. They said, We are witnesses.
Now therefore put away, [said he], the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
The people said to Joshua, Yahweh our God will we serve, and to his voice will we listen.
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh.
Joshua said to all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of Yahweh which he spoke to us: it shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God.
So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
It happened after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Yahweh, that he had worked for Israel.
The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money: and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill-country of Ephraim.
- It happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel
-asked of Yahweh, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the
-Canaanites, to fight against them?
-
- The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, I
-made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which
-I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant
-with you:
-
- Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to prove Israel
-by them, even as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of
-Canaan;
-
- The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the
-sight of Yahweh, when Ehud was dead.
-
- Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day,
-saying,
-
- The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of
-Yahweh: and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
-
- Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were
-with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and
-the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh,
-in the valley.
-
- The men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you served us thus,
-that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with Midian? They did
-chide with him sharply.
-
- Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his
-mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the
-house of his mother's father, saying,
-
- After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of
-Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the
-hill-country of Ephraim.
-
- Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he
-was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah.
-
- The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed
-northward; and they said to Jephthah, Why did you pass over to fight
-against the children of Ammon, and didn't call us to go with you? we
-will burn your house on you with fire.
-
- The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the
-sight of Yahweh; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the
-Philistines forty years.
-
- Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the
-daughters of the Philistines.
-
- But it happened after a while, in the time of wheat harvest,
-that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to
-my wife into the chamber. But her father wouldn't allow him to go in.
-
- Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a prostitute, and went in
-to her.
-
- There was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name
-was Micah.
-
- In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days
-the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for to
-that day [their] inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of
-Israel.
-
- It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel,
-that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the
-hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem
-Judah.
-
- Then all the children of Israel went out, and the
-congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with
-the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.
-
- Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There
-shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin as wife.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+It happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?
Yahweh said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.
Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot. So Simeon went with him.
Judah went up; and Yahweh delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they struck of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
Adoni-bezek said, Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered [their food] under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me.
They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
Afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill-country, and in the South, and in the lowland.
Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba); and they struck Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.
From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.)
Caleb said, He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.
Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.
It happened, when she came [to him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, What would you?
She said to him, Give me a blessing; for that you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
The children of the Kenite, Moses’ brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people.
Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.
Also Judah took Gaza with the border of it, and Ashkelon with the border of it, and Ekron with the border of it.
Yahweh was with Judah; and drove out [the inhabitants of] the hill-country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out there the three sons of Anak.
The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.
The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel; and Yahweh was with them.
The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)
The watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him, Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.
He shown them the entrance into the city; and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.
The man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name of it Luz, which is the name of it to this day.
Manasseh did not drive out [the inhabitants of] Beth-shean and its towns, nor [of] Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
It happened, when Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.
Ephraim didn’t drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.
Zebulun didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.
Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;
but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
Naphtali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labor.
The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country; for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;
but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.
The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you:
and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars. But you have not listened to my voice: why have you done this?
Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.
It happened, when the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
They called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Yahweh.
Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.
The people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh that he had worked for Israel.
Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.
They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill- country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.
Also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, who didn’t know Yahweh, nor yet the work which he had worked for Israel.
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals;
and they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples who were round about them, and bowed themselves down to them: and they provoked Yahweh to anger.
They forsook Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers who despoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Wherever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was against them for evil, as Yahweh had spoken, and as Yahweh had sworn to them: and they were sore distressed.
Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who despoiled them.
Yet they didn’t listen to their judges; for they played the prostitute after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them: they turned aside quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Yahweh; [but] they didn’t do so.
When Yahweh raised them up judges, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and vexed them.
But it happened, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them; they didn’t cease from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;
I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;
that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Yahweh to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
So Yahweh left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to prove Israel by them, even as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing of it:
[namely], the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
They were [left], to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would listen to the commandments of Yahweh, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.
The children of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and forgot Yahweh their God, and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan Rishathaim eight years.
When the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a savior to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
The Spirit of Yahweh came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.
The land had rest forty years. Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
He gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and struck Israel, and they possessed the city of palm trees.
The children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised them up a savior, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.
Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his clothing on his right thigh.
He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man.
When he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people who bore the tribute.
But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand to you, king. He said, Keep silence. All who stood by him went out from him.
Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, I have a message from God to you. He arose out of his seat.
Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:
and the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.
Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.
Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber.
They waited until they were ashamed; and, behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened [them], and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
Ehud escaped while they waited, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirah.
It happened, when he had come, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them.
He said to them, Follow after me; for Yahweh has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. They went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and didn’t allow a man to pass over.
They struck of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man.
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. The land had rest eighty years.
After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.
The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, when Ehud was dead.
Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
The children of Israel cried to Yahweh: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
She lived under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill-country of Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
She sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, Hasn’t Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded, [saying], Go and draw to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
I will draw to you, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into your hand.
Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.
She said, I will surely go with you: notwithstanding, the journey that you take shall not be for your honor; for Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the children of Hobab the brother-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.
They told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to Mount Tabor.
Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles, to the river Kishon.
Deborah said to Barak, Up; for this is the day in which Yahweh has delivered Sisera into your hand; hasn’t Yahweh gone out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
Yahweh confused Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, to Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left.
However Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; don’t be afraid. He turned in to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.
He said to her, Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. She opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
He said to her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man does come and inquire of you, and say, Is there any man here? that you shall say, No.
Then Jael Heber’s wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him, and struck the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.
Behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, Come, and I will show you the man whom you seek. He came to her; and, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent-pin was in his temples.
So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
The hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.
Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless you Yahweh.
Hear, you kings; give ear, you princes; I, [even] I, will sing to Yahweh; I will sing praise to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Yahweh, when you went forth out of Seir, When you marched out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the sky also dropped, Yes, the clouds dropped water.
The mountains quaked at the presence of Yahweh, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, The travelers walked through byways.
The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.
They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?
My heart is toward the governors of Israel, Who offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless you Yahweh.
Tell [of it], you who ride on white donkeys, You who sit on rich carpets, You who walk by the way.
Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Yahweh, [Even] the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Yahweh went down to the gates.
Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away your captives, you son of Abinoam.
Then came down a remnant of the nobles [and] the people; Yahweh came down for me against the mighty.
Out of Ephraim [came down] they whose root is in Amalek; After you, Benjamin, among your peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, Out of Zebulun those who handle the marshal’s staff.
The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.
Why sat you among the sheepfolds, To hear the whistling for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.
Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, Abode by his creeks.
Zebulun was a people that jeopardized their lives to the death, Naphtali, on the high places of the field.
The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money.
From the sky the stars fought, From their courses they fought against Sisera.
The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. My soul, march on with strength.
Then did the horse hoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.
Curse you Meroz, said the angel of Yahweh. Curse you bitterly the inhabitants of it, Because they didn’t come to the help of Yahweh, To the help of Yahweh against the mighty.
Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
He asked water, [and] she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
She put her hand to the tent-pin, Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; With the hammer she struck Sisera, she struck through his head; Yes, she pierced and struck through his temples.
At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera [cried] through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?
Her wise ladies answered her, Yes, she returned answer to herself,
Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A lady, two ladies to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?
So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh: But let those who love him be as the sun when he goes forth in his might. The land had rest forty years.
The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
The hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;
and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.
Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.
It happened, when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh because of Midian,
that Yahweh sent a prophet to the children of Israel: and he said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;
and I said to you, I am Yahweh your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not listened to my voice.
The angel of Yahweh came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained to Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
The angel of Yahweh appeared to him, and said to him, Yahweh is with you, you mighty man of valor.
Gideon said to him, Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt? but now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.
Yahweh looked at him, and said, Go in this your might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent you?
He said to him, Oh, Lord, with which shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
Yahweh said to him, Surely I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.
He said to him, If now I have found favor in your sight, then show me a sign that it is you who talk with me.
Please don’t go away, until I come to you, and bring out my present, and lay it before you. He said, I will wait until you come again.
Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.
The angel of God said to him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth. He did so.
Then the angel of Yahweh put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of Yahweh departed out of his sight.
Gideon saw that he was the angel of Yahweh; and Gideon said, Alas, Lord Yahweh! because I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face.
Yahweh said to him, Peace be to you; don’t be afraid: you shall not die.
Then Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh, and called it Yahweh-shalom: to this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
It happened the same night, that Yahweh said to him, Take your father’s bull, even the second bull seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;
and build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this stronghold, in the orderly manner, and take the second bull, and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken to him: and it happened, because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
When the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bull was offered on the altar that was built.
They said one to another, Who has done this thing? When they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.
Then the men of the city said to Joash, Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has broken down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the Asherah that was by it.
Joash said to all who stood against him, Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? he who will contend for him, let him be put to death while [it is yet] morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one has broken down his altar.
Therefore on that day he named him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.
Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.
But the Spirit of Yahweh came on Gideon; and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together after him.
He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers to Asher, and to Zebulun, and to Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
Gideon said to God, If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry on all the ground, then shall I know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.
It was so; for he rose up early on the next day, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
Gideon said to God, Don’t let your anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once: Please let me make a trial just this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.
God did so that night: for it was dry on the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Yahweh said to Gideon, The people who are with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, My own hand has saved me.
Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead. There returned of the people twenty-two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
Yahweh said to Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down to the water, and I will try them for you there: and it shall be, that of whom I tell you, This shall go with you, the same shall go with you; and of whoever I tell you, This shall not go with you, the same shall not go.
So he brought down the people to the water: and Yahweh said to Gideon, Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, him shall you set by himself; likewise everyone who bows down on his knees to drink.
The number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down on their knees to drink water.
Yahweh said to Gideon, By the three hundred men who lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand; and let all the people go every man to his place.
So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the men of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.
It happened the same night, that Yahweh said to him, Arise, get you down into the camp; for I have delivered it into your hand.
But if you fear to go down, go you with Purah your servant down to the camp:
and you shall hear what they say; and afterward shall your hands be strengthened to go down into the camp. Then went he down with Purah his servant to the outermost part of the armed men who were in the camp.
The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the sea-shore for multitude.
When Gideon had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow; and he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream; and, behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.
His fellow answered, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: into his hand God has delivered Midian, and all the host.
It was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation of it, that he worshiped; and he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for Yahweh has delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers.
He said to them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall you do.
When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow you the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, For Yahweh and for Gideon.
So Gideon, and the hundred men who were with him, came to the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and broke in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.
The three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands with which to blow; and they cried, The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon.
They stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put [them] to flight.
They blew the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man’s sword against his fellow, and against all the host; and the host fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath.
The men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.
Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill-country of Ephraim, saying, Come down against Midian, and take before them the waters, as far as Beth Barah, even the Jordan. So all the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and took the waters as far as Beth Barah, even the Jordan.
They took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian: and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.
The men of Ephraim said to him, Why have you served us thus, that you didn’t call us, when you went to fight with Midian? They did chide with him sharply.
He said to them, What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn’t the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.
Gideon came to the Jordan, [and] passed over, he, and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.
He said to the men of Succoth, Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.
The princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?
Gideon said, Therefore when Yahweh has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.
He went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in like manner; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.
He spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the host of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.
Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the host; for the host was secure.
Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the host.
Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.
He caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders of it, seventy-seven men.
He came to the men of Succoth, and said, See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you did taunt me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?
He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.
He broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.
Then said he to Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom you killed at Tabor? They answered, As you are, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.
He said, They were my brothers, the sons of my mother: as Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.
He said to Jether his firstborn, Up, and kill them. But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.
Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise you, and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength. Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule you over us, both you, and your son, and your son’s son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian.
Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Yahweh shall rule over you.
Gideon said to them, I would make a request of you, that you would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
They answered, We will willingly give them. They spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the ear-rings of his spoil.
The weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels’ necks.
Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the prostitute after it there; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.
So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.
Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body; for he had many wives.
His concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.
Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
It happened, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and played the prostitute after the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.
The children of Israel didn’t remember Yahweh their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;
neither shown they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, [who is] Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.
Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
They gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign you over us.
But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
The trees said to the fig tree, Come you, and reign over us.
But the fig tree said to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
The trees said to the vine, Come you, and reign over us.
The vine said to them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?
Then said all the trees to the bramble, Come you, and reign over us.
The bramble said to the trees, If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
(for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
and you are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
The men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve you the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?
Would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. He said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out.
When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against you.
Now therefore, up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field:
and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and, behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
Gaal spoke again and said, Behold, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
Then said Zebul to him, Where is now your mouth, that you said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that you have despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.
Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them.
Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
All the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.
Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
Then he called hastily to the young man his armor bearer, and said to him, Draw your sword, and kill me, that men not say of me, A woman killed him. His young man thrust him through, and he died.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.
Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers;
and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim.
He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
After him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years.
He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.
The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Yahweh, and didn’t serve him.
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.
They vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years [oppressed they] all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
The children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.
Yahweh said to the children of Israel, Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will save you no more.
Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.
The children of Israel said to Yahweh, We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, we pray you, this day.
They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.
The people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah.
Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, You shall not inherit in our father’s house; for you are the son of another woman.
Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.
It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
It was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob;
and they said to Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? and why are you come to me now when you are in distress?
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Therefore are we turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Yahweh shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do.
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah.
Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What have you to do with me, that you are come to me to fight against my land?
The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably.
Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon;
and he said to him, Thus says Jephthah: Israel didn’t take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,
but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;
then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Please let me pass through your land; but the king of Edom didn’t listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, Let us pass, we pray you, through your land to my place.
But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.
They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan.
So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them?
Won’t you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.
Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?
While Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; why didn’t you recover them within that time?
I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me: Yahweh, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.
However the king of the children of Ammon didn’t listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
Then the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.
Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,
then it shall be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.
So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.
He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
It happened, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.
She said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.
She said to her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.
He said, Go. He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.
It happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel,
that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? we will burn your house on you with fire.
Jephthah said to them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn’t save me out of their hand.
When I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand: why then are you come up to me this day, to fight against me?
Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, [and] in the midst of Manasseh.
The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. It was so, that when [any of] the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said to him, Are you an Ephraimite? If he said, No;
then said they to him, Say now Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it right: then they laid hold on him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time of Ephraim forty-two thousand.
Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gilead.
After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.
Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem.
After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
He had forty sons and thirty sons’ sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill-country of the Amalekites.
The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and didn’t bear.
The angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman, and said to her, See now, you are barren, and don’t bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son.
Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing:
for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome; and I didn’t ask him whence he was, neither did he tell me his name:
but he said to me, Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Then Manoah entreated Yahweh, and said, Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you did send come again to us, and teach us what we shall do to the child who shall be born.
God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her.
The woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, and said to him, Behold, the man has appeared to me, who came to me the [other] day.
Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, Are you the man who spoke to the woman? He said, I am.
Manoah said, Now let your words happen: what shall be the ordering of the child, and [how] shall we do to him?
The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, Of all that I said to the woman let her beware.
She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe.
Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, I pray you, let us detain you, that we may make ready a kid for you.
The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, Though you detain me, I won’t eat of your bread; and if you will make ready a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh. For Manoah didn’t know that he was the angel of Yahweh.
Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?
The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why do you ask after my name, seeing it is wonderful?
So Manoah took the kid with the meal-offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh: and [the angel] did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.
For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.
But the angel of Yahweh did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh.
Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
But his wife said to him, If Yahweh were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these.
The woman bore a son, and named him Samson: and the child grew, and Yahweh blessed him.
The Spirit of Yahweh began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
He came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me as wife.
Then his father and his mother said to him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? Samson said to his father, Get her for me; for she pleases me well.
But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a kid; and he had nothing in his hand: but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done.
He went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
After a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate: but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.
His father went down to the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
It happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
Samson said to them, Let me now put forth a riddle to you: if you can declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing;
but if you can’t declare it to me, then shall you give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. They said to him, Put forth your riddle, that we may hear it.
He said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, Out of the strong came forth sweetness. They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle.
It happened on the seventh day, that they said to Samson’s wife, Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire: have you called us to impoverish us? is it not [so]?
Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, You do but hate me, and don’t love me: you have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it me. He said to her, Behold, I haven’t told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?
She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it happened on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him sore; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? He said to them, If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, You wouldn’t have found out my riddle.
The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and struck thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes [of clothing] to those who declared the riddle. His anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
But Samson’s wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
But it happened after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father wouldn’t allow him to go in.
Her father said, I most assuredly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion: isn’t her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her, instead.
Samson said to them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.
Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.
When he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves.
Then the Philistines said, Who has done this? They said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion. The Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.
Samson said to them, If you do after this manner, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
He struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Etam.
Then the Philistines went up, and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.
The men of Judah said, Why are you come up against us? They said, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he has done to us.
Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, Don’t you know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?
He said to them, As they did to me, so have I done to them.
They said to him, We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines. Samson said to them, Swear to me that you will not fall on me yourselves.
They spoke to him, saying, No; but we will bind you fast, and deliver you into their hand: but surely we will not kill you. They bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.
When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put forth his hand, and took it, and struck a thousand men therewith.
Samson said, With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps on heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men.
It happened, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath Lehi.
He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh, and said, You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.
But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: therefore the name of it was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day.
He judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a prostitute, and went in to her.
[It was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come here. They compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, [Let be] until morning light, then we will kill him.
Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.
It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.
The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will each give you of us eleven hundred [pieces] of silver.
Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, Please, in which your great strength lies, and with which you might be bound to afflict you.
Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. She said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
Delilah said to Samson, Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, Please, with which you might be bound.
He said to her, If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.
So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. The liers-in-wait were abiding in the inner chamber. He broke them off his arms like a thread.
Delilah said to Samson, Hitherto you have mocked me, and told me lies: tell me with which you might be bound. He said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web.
She fastened it with the pin, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. He awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.
She said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? you have mocked me these three times, and have not told me in which your great strength lies.
It happened, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed to death.
He told her all his heart, and said to her, No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man.
When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand.
She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
She said, The Philistines are on you, Samson. He awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he didn’t know that Yahweh had departed from him.
The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.
However the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaved.
The lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god has delivered into our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, who has slain many of us.
It happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. They called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. They set him between the pillars:
and Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, Allow me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house rests, that I may lean on them.
Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Samson made sport.
Samson called to Yahweh, and said, Lord Yahweh, remember me, Please, and strengthen me, Please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned on them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.
Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were therein. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life.
Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. He judged Israel twenty years.
There was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.
He said to his mother, The eleven hundred [pieces] of silver that were taken from you, about which you did utter a curse, and did also speak it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. His mother said, Blessed be my son of Yahweh.
He restored the eleven hundred [pieces] of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I most assuredly dedicate the silver to Yahweh from my hand for my son, to make an engraved image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it to you.
When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred [pieces] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made of it an engraved image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Micah.
The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
There was a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.
The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to sojourn where he could find [a place], and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.
Micah said to him, Whence come you? He said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].
Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten [pieces] of silver by the year, and a suit of clothing, and your victuals. So the Levite went in.
The Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.
Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.
Then said Micah, Now know I that Yahweh will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.
In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day [their] inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel.
The children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land. They came to the hill-country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.
When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside there, and said to him, Who brought you here? and what do you in this place? and what have you here?
He said to them, Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I am become his priest.
They said to him, Ask counsel, we pray you, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.
The priest said to them, Go in peace: before Yahweh is your way wherein you go.
Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people who were therein, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.
They came to their brothers to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brothers said to them, What [say] you?
They said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are you still? don’t be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.
When you go, you shall come to a people secure, and the land is large; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.
There set forth from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
They went up, and encamped in Kiriath Jearim, in Judah: therefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan, to this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim.
They passed there to the hill-country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish answered, and said to their brothers, Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and an engraved image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what you have to do.
They turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.
The six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.
When these went into Micah’s house, and fetched the engraved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, What do you?
They said to him, Hold your peace, lay your hand on your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?
The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the engraved image, and went in the midst of the people.
So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them.
When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near to Micah’s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.
They cried to the children of Dan. They turned their faces, and said to Micah, What ails you, that you come with such a company?
He said, you have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and are gone away, and what have I more? and how then say you to me, What ails you?
The children of Dan said to him, Don’t let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household.
The children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.
They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.
There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lies by Beth Rehob. They built the city, and lived therein.
They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel: however the name of the city was Laish at the first.
The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.
So they set them up Micah’s engraved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah.
His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there the space of four months.
Her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.
His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there.
It happened on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.
So they sat down, and ate and drink, both of them together: and the young lady’s father said to the man, Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.
The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.
He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines; and they ate, both of them.
When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow get you early on your way, that you may go home.
But the man wouldn’t stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine also was with him.
When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.
His master said to him, We won’t turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.
He said to his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.
So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.
They turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.
Behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.
He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Where go you? and whence come you?
He said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went to Bethlehem Judah: and I am [now] going to the house of Yahweh; and there is no man who takes me into his house.
Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything.
The old man said, Peace be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only don’t lodge in the street.
So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their feet, and ate and drink.
As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, beset the house round about, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, don’t do this folly.
Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble you them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man don’t do any such folly.
But the men wouldn’t listen to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her lord was, until it was light.
Her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.
He said to her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and got him to his place.
When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.
It was so, that all who saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day: consider it, take counsel, and speak.
Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, to Yahweh at Mizpah.
The chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen who drew sword.
(Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) The children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?
The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, I came into Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.
The men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.
I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.
Behold, you children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.
All the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn to his house.
But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: [we will go up] against it by lot;
and we will take ten men of one hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of one thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to get victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have worked in Israel.
So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.
The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is happen among you?
Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows, who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not listen to the voice of their brothers the children of Israel.
The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.
The children of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty-six thousand men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.
Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men left-handed; everyone could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.
The men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men who drew sword: all these were men of war.
The children of Israel arose, and went up to Bethel, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? Yahweh said, Judah [shall go up] first.
The children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.
The men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.
The children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day Twenty-two thousand men.
The people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.
The children of Israel went up and wept before Yahweh until even; and they asked of Yahweh, saying, Shall I again draw near to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? Yahweh said, Go up against him.
The children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.
Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.
Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Yahweh, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Yahweh.
The children of Israel asked of Yahweh (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? Yahweh said, Go up; for tomorrow I will deliver him into your hand.
Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.
The children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.
The children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to strike and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to Bethel, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
The children of Benjamin said, They are struck down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city to the highways.
All the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal Tamar: and the liers-in-wait of Israel broke forth out of their place, even out of Maareh Geba.
There came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they didn’t know that evil was close on them.
Yahweh struck Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty-five thousand one hundred men: all these drew the sword.
So the children of Benjamin saw that they were struck; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted to the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.
The liers-in-wait hurried, and rushed on Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and struck all the city with the edge of the sword.
Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.
The men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to strike and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are struck down before us, as in the first battle.
But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to the sky.
The men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil had come on them.
Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel to the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and those who came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst of it.
They enclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their] resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrise.
There fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.
They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them to Gidom, and struck of them two thousand men.
So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand men who drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor.
But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.
The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.
Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter to Benjamin as wife.
The people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.
They said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?
It happened on the next day that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings.
The children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up in the assembly to Yahweh? For they had made a great oath concerning him who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.
The children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing we have sworn by Yahweh that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?
They said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel who didn’t come up to Yahweh to Mizpah? Behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh Gilead to the assembly.
For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead there.
The congregation sent there twelve thousand men of the most valiant, and commanded them, saying, Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.
This is the thing that you shall do: you shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman who has lain by man.
They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
The whole congregation sent and spoke to the children of Benjamin who were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.
Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh Gilead: and yet so they weren’t enough for them.
The people repented them for Benjamin, because that Yahweh had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for those who remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
They said, There must be an inheritance for those who are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel.
However we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin.
They said, Behold, there is a feast of Yahweh from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
They commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,
and see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come you out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
It shall be, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we will say to them, Grant them graciously to us, because we didn’t take for each man his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else would you now be guilty.
The children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of those who danced, whom they carried off: and they went and returned to their inheritance, and built the cities, and lived in them.
The children of Israel departed there at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance.
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
- It happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was
-a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn
-in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
-
- Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth,
-of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
-
- Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not
-seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
-
- Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and,
-behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said,
-Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. He turned aside, and sat
-down.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+It happened in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. They came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.
They took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they lived there about ten years.
Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Yahweh had visited his people in giving them bread.
She went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house: Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me.
Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
They said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people.
Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons;
would you therefore wait until they were grown? would you therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Yahweh is gone forth against me.
They lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her.
She said, Behold, your sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her god: return you after your sister-in-law.
Ruth said, Don’t entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God;
where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me.
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her.
So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. It happened, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and [the women] said, Is this Naomi?
She said to them, Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty; why do you call me Naomi, seeing Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?
So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.
Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. She said to her, Go, my daughter.
She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, Yahweh be with you. They answered him, Yahweh bless you.
Then said Boaz to his servant who was set over the reapers, Whose young lady is this?
The servant who was set over the reapers answered, It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
She said, Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she stayed a little in the house.
Then said Boaz to Ruth, Don’t you hear, my daughter? Don’t go to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them: haven’t I charged the young men that they shall not touch you? and when you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?
Boaz answered her, It has fully been shown me, all that you have done to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left your father and your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before.
Yahweh recompense your work, and a full reward be given you of Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you are come to take refuge.
Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your handmaid, though I am not as one of your handmaidens.
At meal-time Boaz said to her, Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar. She sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she ate, and was sufficed, and left of it.
When she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her.
Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.
So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
She took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.
Her mother-in-law said to her, Where have you gleaned today? and where have you worked? blessed be he who did take knowledge of you. She shown her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Yahweh, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. Naomi said to her, The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.
Ruth the Moabitess said, Yes, he said to me, You shall keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.
So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.
Wash yourself therefore, and anoint you, and put your clothing on you, and get you down to the threshing floor, but don’t make yourself known to the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay you down; and he will tell you what you shall do.
She said to her, All that you say I will do.
She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her.
When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
It happened at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.
He said, Who are you? She answered, I am Ruth your handmaid: spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman.
He said, Blessed are you by Yahweh, my daughter: you have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich.
Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.
Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform to you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to you, then will I do the part of a kinsman to you, as Yahweh lives: lie down until the morning.
She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.
He said, Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.
When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who are you, my daughter? She told her all that the man had done to her.
She said, These six [measures] of barley gave he me; for he said, Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.
Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day.
Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. He turned aside, and sat down.
He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit you down here. They sat down.
He said to the near kinsman, Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:
I thought to disclose it to you, saying, Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it: but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides you; and I am after you. He said, I will redeem it.
Then said Boaz, What day you buy the field of the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.
The near kinsman said, I can’t redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: take my right of redemption on you; for I can’t redeem it.
Now this was [the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the [manner of] attestation in Israel.
So the near kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for yourself. He drew off his shoe.
Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, You are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place: you are witnesses this day.
All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Yahweh make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel: and do you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
and let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Yahweh shall give you of this young woman.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and Yahweh gave her conception, and she bore a son.
The women said to Naomi, Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.
He shall be to you a restorer of life, and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.
Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it.
The women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they named him Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,
and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,
and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,
and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.
- Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the
-hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham,
-the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:
-
- Hannah prayed, and said:
-My heart exults in Yahweh;
-My horn is exalted in Yahweh;
-My mouth is enlarged over my enemies;
-Because I rejoice in your salvation.
-
- The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. The word of
-Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.
-
- The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out
-against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer: and
-the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
-
- Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they
-brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
-
- The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven
-months.
-
- The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of
-Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and
-sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.
-
- It happened, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons
-judges over Israel.
-
- Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son
-of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the
-son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
-
- Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head,
-and kissed him, and said, Isn't it that Yahweh has anointed you to be
-prince over his inheritance?
-
- Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh
-Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with
-us, and we will serve you.
-
- Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have listened to your
-voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
-
- Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when
-he had reigned two years over Israel,
-
- Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to
-the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the
-Philistines' garrison, that is on yonder side. But he didn't tell his
-father.
-
- Samuel said to Saul, Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king
-over his people, over Israel: now therefore listen you to the voice of
-the words of Yahweh.
-
- Yahweh said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul,
-seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill your horn
-with oil, and go: I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have
-provided me a king among his sons.
-
- Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle;
-and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and
-encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
-
- It happened, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul,
-that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan
-loved him as his own soul.
-
- Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that
-they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in
-David.
-
- David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before
-Jonathan, What have I done? what is my iniquity? and what is my sin
-before your father, that he seeks my life?
-
- Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech
-came to meet David trembling, and said to him, Why are you alone, and
-no man with you?
-
- David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of
-Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it,
-they went down there to him.
-
- They told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting
-against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.
-
- It happened, when Saul was returned from following the
-Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the
-wilderness of En Gedi.
-
- Samuel died; and all Israel gathered themselves together, and
-lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. David arose, and
-went down to the wilderness of Paran.
-
- The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doesn't David
-hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?
-
- David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the
-hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape
-into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek
-me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his
-hand.
-
- It happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered
-their hosts together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to
-David, Know you assuredly, that you shall go out with me in the host,
-you and your men.
-
- Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to
-Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.
-
- It happened, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on
-the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South, and on
-Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag, and burned it with fire,
-
- Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of
-Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount
-Gilboa.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:
and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.
When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
[as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why weep you? and why don’t you eat? and why is your heart grieved? am I not better to you than ten sons?
So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the door-post of the temple of Yahweh.
She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept sore.
She vowed a vow, and said, Yahweh of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man-child, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.
It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.
Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from you.
Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.
Don’t count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.
She said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.
They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.
It happened, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of Yahweh.
The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
But Hannah didn’t go up; for she said to her husband, [I will not go up] until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there abide forever.
Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems you good; wait until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young.
They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
She said, Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him:
therefore also I have granted him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh. He worshiped Yahweh there.
Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh; My horn is exalted in Yahweh; My mouth is enlarged over my enemies; Because I rejoice in your salvation.
There is none holy as Yahweh; For there is none besides you, Neither is there any rock like our God.
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth; For Yahweh is a God of knowledge, By him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty men are broken; Those who stumbled are girded with strength.
Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread; Those who were hungry have ceased [to hunger]: Yes, the barren has borne seven; She who has many children languishes.
Yahweh kills, and makes alive: He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich: He brings low, he also lifts up.
He raises up the poor out of the dust, He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, Inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s, He has set the world on them.
He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.
Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces; Against them will he thunder in the sky: Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth; He will give strength to his king, Exalt the horn of his anointed.
Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child did minister to Yahweh before Eli the priest.
Now the sons of Eli were base men; they didn’t know Yahweh.
The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;
and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
Yes, before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw.
If the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as your soul desires; then he would say, No, but you shall give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh.
But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Yahweh give you seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh. They went to their own home.
Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.
Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the tent of meeting.
He said to them, Why do you such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.
No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh’s people to disobey.
If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.
The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men.
There came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt [in bondage] to Pharaoh’s house?
and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?
Why kick you at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in [my] habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?
Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever: but now Yahweh says, Be it far from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
You shall see the affliction of [my] habitation, in all the wealth which [God] shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
The man of yours, [whom] I shall not cut off from my altar, [shall be] to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age.
This shall be the sign to you, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.
I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed forever.
It shall happen, that everyone who is left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please put me into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.
The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. The word of Yahweh was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.
It happened at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),
and the lamp of God hadn’t yet gone out, and Samuel had laid down [to sleep], in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was;
that Yahweh called Samuel; and he said, Here am I.
He ran to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. He said, I didn’t call; lie down again. He went and lay down.
Yahweh called yet again, Samuel. Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. He answered, I didn’t call, my son; lie down again.
Now Samuel didn’t yet know Yahweh, neither was the word of Yahweh yet revealed to him.
Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. He arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for you called me. Eli perceived that Yahweh had called the child.
Therefore Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call you, that you shall say, Speak, Yahweh; for your servant hears. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Yahweh came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for your servant hears.
Yahweh said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of everyone who hears it shall tingle.
In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.
For I have told him that I will judge his house forever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse on themselves, and he didn’t restrain them.
Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering forever.
Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. He said, Here am I.
He said, What is the thing that [Yahweh] has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.
Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. He said, It is Yahweh: let him do what seems him good.
Samuel grew, and Yahweh was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Yahweh.
Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh; for Yahweh revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Yahweh.
The word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
The Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was struck before the Philistines; and they killed of the army in the field about four thousand men.
When the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why has Yahweh struck us today before the Philistines? Let us get the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Shiloh to us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.
So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Hosts, who sits [above] the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What means the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? They understood that the ark of Yahweh was come into the camp.
The Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. They said, Woe to us! for there has not been such a thing heretofore.
Woe to us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.
Be strong, and behave yourselves like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
The Philistines fought, and Israel was struck, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
The ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
There ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn, and with earth on his head.
When he came, behold, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
When Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What means the noise of this tumult? The man hurried, and came and told Eli.
Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.
The man said to Eli, I am he who came out of the army, and I fled today out of the army. He said, How went the matter, my son?
He who brought the news answered, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there has been also a great slaughter among the people, and your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.
His daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came on her.
About the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, Don’t be afraid; for you have brought forth a son. But she didn’t answer, neither did she regard it.
She named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
She said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.
Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
The Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh. They took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
When they arose early on the next day morning, behold, Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [lay] cut off on the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him.
Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any who come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, to this day.
But the hand of Yahweh was heavy on them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders of it.
When the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore on us, and on Dagon our god.
They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines to them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? They answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about to Gath. They carried the ark of the God of Israel [there].
It was so, that after they had carried it about, the hand of Yahweh was against the city with a very great confusion: and he struck the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.
So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. It happened, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people.
They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that it not kill us and our people. For there was a deadly confusion throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
The ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of Yahweh? Show us with which we shall send it to its place.
They said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return him a trespass-offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.
Then they said, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him?
They said, Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
Why then do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn’t they let the people go, and they departed?
Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cattle, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cattle to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;
and take the ark of Yahweh, and lay it on the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side of it; and send it away, that it may go.
Behold; if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth-shemesh, then he has done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it was a chance that happened to us.
The men did so, and took two milk cattle, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;
and they put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.
The cattle took the straight way by the way to Beth-shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn’t turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth-shemesh.
They of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
The cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cattle for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh, and the coffer that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.
When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even to the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Yahweh, [which stone remains] to this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.
He struck of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh, he struck of the people fifty thousand seventy men; and the people mourned, because Yahweh had struck the people with a great slaughter.
The men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come you down, and bring it up to you.
The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.
It happened, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.
Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then the children of Israel did put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.
Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh.
They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Yahweh. Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.
When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.
The children of Israel said to Samuel, Don’t cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.
Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him.
As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.
The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto has Yahweh helped us.
So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel: and the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
The cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and the border of it did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. There was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
He went from year to year in circuit to Bethel and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.
His return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar to Yahweh.
It happened, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beersheba.
His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah;
and they said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
Yahweh said to Samuel, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to you.
Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.
Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who asked of him a king.
He said, This will be the manner of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them to him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;
and he will appoint them to him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and [he will set some] to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
He will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
He will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive groves, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
He will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
He will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
He will take the tenth of your flocks: and you shall be his servants.
You shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you shall have chosen you; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No: but we will have a king over us,
that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.
Yahweh said to Samuel, Listen to their voice, and make them a king. Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go you every man to his city.
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
He had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a better person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys.
He passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren’t there: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the donkeys, and be anxious for us.
He said to him, See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor; all that he says comes surely to pass: now let us go there; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
The servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he who is now called a Prophet was before called a Seer.)
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.
As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here?
They answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now, for he is come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place:
as soon as you are come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he does bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat who are invited. Now therefore get you up; for at this time you shall find him.
They went up to the city; [and] as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry is come to me.
When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! this same shall have authority over my people.
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, Please, where the seer’s house is.
Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer; go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today: and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.
As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them; for they are found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your father’s house?
Saul answered, Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? why then speak you to me after this manner?
Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it by you.
The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. [Samuel] said, Behold, that which has been reserved! set it before you and eat; because to the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, I have invited the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
When they were come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
They arose early: and it happened about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send you away. Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand you still first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.
Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him, and said, Isn’t it that Yahweh has anointed you to be prince over his inheritance?
When you are departed from me today, then you shall find two men by Rachel’s tomb, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will tell you, The donkeys which you went to seek are found; and, behold, your father has left off caring for the donkeys, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
Then shall you go on forward from there, and you shall come to the oak of Tabor; and there shall meet you there three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
and they will Greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive of their hand.
After that you shall come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall happen, when you are come there to the city, that you shall meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tambourine, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying:
and the Spirit of Yahweh will come mightily on you, and you shall prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man.
Let it be, when these signs are come to you, that you do as occasion shall serve you; for God is with you.
You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down to you, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shall you wait, until I come to you, and show you what you shall do.
It was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs happened that day.
When they came there to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily on him, and he prophesied among them.
It happened, when all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
One of the same place answered, Who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
When he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
Saul’s uncle said to him and to his servant, Where went you? He said, To seek the donkeys; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.
Saul’s uncle said, Tell me, Please, what Samuel said to you.
Saul said to his uncle, He told us plainly that the donkeys were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spoke, he didn’t tell him.
Samuel called the people together to Yahweh to Mizpah;
and he said to the children of Israel, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you:
but you have this day rejected your God, who himself saves you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, [No], but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes, and by your thousands.
So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken: but when they sought him, he could not be found.
Therefore they asked of Yahweh further, Is there yet a man to come here? Yahweh answered, Behold, he has hid himself among the baggage.
They ran and fetched him there; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
Samuel said to all the people, You see him whom Yahweh has chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?
All the people shouted, and said, [Long] live the king.
Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before Yahweh. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the host, whose hearts God had touched.
But certain worthless fellows said, How shall this man save us? They despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh Gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach on all Israel.
The elders of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers to all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to you.
Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spoke these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What ails the people that they weep? They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.
The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.
He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whoever doesn’t come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen. The dread of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out as one man.
He numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
They said to the messengers who came, Thus shall you tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance. The messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you.
It was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it happened, that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
The people said to Samuel, Who is he who said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for today Yahweh has worked deliverance in Israel.
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
All the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Yahweh; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
Now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray-headed; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth to this day.
Here I am: witness against me before Yahweh, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind my eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
They said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man’s hand.
He said to them, Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. They said, He is witness.
Samuel said to the people, It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and to your fathers.
When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.
But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
They cried to Yahweh, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.
Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety.
When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us; when Yahweh your God was your king.
Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for: and, behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.
If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, and both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God, [well]:
but if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then will the hand of Yahweh be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking you a king.
So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
All the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.
Samuel said to the people, Don’t be afraid; you have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart:
and don’t turn aside; for [then would you go] after vain things which can’t profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to himself.
Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he has done for you.
But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.
Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,
Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the Mount of Bethel, and one thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
Jonathan struck the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
All Israel heard say that Saul had struck the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. The people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
The Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth Aven.
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits.
Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
He stayed seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel didn’t come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
Saul said, Bring here the burnt offering to me, and the peace-offerings. He offered the burnt offering.
It came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
Samuel said, What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;
therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.
Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you: for now would Yahweh have established your kingdom on Israel forever.
But now your kingdom shall not continue: Yahweh has sought him a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.
Samuel arose, and got him up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.
Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people who were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.
The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
and another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his plowshare, mattock, ax, and sickle;
yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the plowshares, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads.
So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.
Now it fell on a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on yonder side. But he didn’t tell his father.
Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people who were with him were about six hundred men;
and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.
Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.
The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.
Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint to Yahweh to save by many or by few.
His armor bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart: turn you, behold, I am with you according to your heart.
Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over to the men, and we will disclose ourselves to them.
If they say thus to us, Wait until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them.
But if they say thus, Come up to us; then we will go up; for Yahweh has delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the sign to us.
Both of them disclosed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.
The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. Jonathan said to his armor bearer, Come up after me; for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet, and his armor bearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armor bearer killed them after him.
That first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armor bearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.
There was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.
The watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went [here] and there.
Then said Saul to the people who were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. When they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there.
Saul said to Ahijah, Bring here the ark of God. For the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Israel.
It happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said to the priest, Withdraw your hand.
Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great confusion.
Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines as before, and who went up with them into the camp, [from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
Likewise all the men of Israel who had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.
So Yahweh saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.
The men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man who eats any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on my enemies. So none of the people tasted food.
All the people came into the forest; and there was honey on the ground.
When the people were come to the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.
But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father charged the people with the oath: therefore he put forth the end of the rod who was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
Then answered one of the people, and said, Your father directly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man who eats food this day. The people were faint.
Then said Jonathan, My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.
How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for now has there been no great slaughter among the Philistines.
They struck of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. The people were very faint;
and the people flew on the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and killed them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood.
Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Yahweh, in that they eat with the blood. He said, you have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone to me this day.
Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, Bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating with the blood. All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.
Saul built an altar to Yahweh: the same was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.
Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. They said, Do whatever seems good to you. Then said the priest, Let us draw near here to God.
Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? will you deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he didn’t answer him that day.
Saul said, Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people; and know and see in which this sin has been this day.
For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
Then said he to all Israel, Be you on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. The people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you.
Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, Show the right. Jonathan and Saul were taken [by lot]; but the people escaped.
Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son. Jonathan was taken.
Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, behold, I must die.
Saul said, God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan.
The people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he didn’t die.
Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.
Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and wherever he turned himself, he put [them] to the worse.
He did valiantly, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who despoiled them.
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
and the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
There was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him to him.
Samuel said to Saul, Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore listen you to the voice of the words of Yahweh.
Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.
Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.
Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.
Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.
Saul said to the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you shown kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, that is before Egypt.
He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and wouldn’t utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Then came the word of Yahweh to Samuel, saying,
It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.
Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.
Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, Blessed are you by Yahweh: I have performed the commandment of Yahweh.
Samuel said, What means then this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
Then Samuel said to Saul, Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh has said to me this night. He said to him, Say on.
Samuel said, Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel;
and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said,
Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.
Why then didn’t you obey the voice of Yahweh, but flew on the spoil, and did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh?
Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.
Samuel said, Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king.
Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.
Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.
As Samuel turned about to go away, [Saul] laid hold on the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
Samuel said to him, Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, Please, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.
So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
Then said Samuel, Bring you here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.
Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Yahweh repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Yahweh said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill your horn with oil, and go: I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. Yahweh said, Take a heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Yahweh.
Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do: and you shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.
Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Come you peaceably?
He said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice to Yahweh: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.
But Yahweh said to Samuel, Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Yahweh sees] not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart.
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, Neither has Yahweh chosen this.
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, Neither has Yahweh chosen this.
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, Yahweh has not chosen these.
Samuel said to Jesse, Are here all your children? He said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he is keeping the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he come here.
He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful face, and goodly to look on. Yahweh said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him.
Saul’s servants said to him, See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.
Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp: and it shall happen, when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well.
Saul said to his servants, Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.
Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Yahweh is with him.
Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.
Jesse took a donkey [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.
David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.
It happened, when the [evil] spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
There went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
He had a helmet of brass on his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
He had brass shin-armor on his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.
The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him.
He stood and cried to the armies of Israel, and said to them, Why are you come out to set your battle in array? am I not a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us.
The Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken [in years] among men.
The three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.
Now David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
The Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
Jesse said to David his son, Take now for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry [them] quickly to the camp to your brothers;
and bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and look how your brothers fare, and take their pledge.
Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the place of the wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.
Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army.
David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.
As he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.
All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
The men of Israel said, Have you seen this man who is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
The people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man who kills him.
Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why are you come down? and with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the naughtiness of your heart; for you have come down that you might see the battle.
David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
He turned away from him toward another, and spoke after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
When the words were heard which David spoke, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.
David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
David said to Saul, Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock,
I went out after him, and struck him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him.
Your servant struck both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.
David said, Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and Yahweh shall be with you.
Saul clad David with his clothing, and he put a helmet of brass on his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.
David girded his sword on his clothing, and he tried to go; for he had not proved it. David said to Saul, I can’t go with these; for I have not proved them. David put them off him.
He took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his wallet; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
The Philistine came on and drew near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him.
When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair face.
The Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? The Philistine cursed David by his gods.
The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the field.
Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day will Yahweh deliver you into my hand; and I will strike you, and take your head from off you; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky, and to the wild animals of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh doesn’t save with sword and spear: for the battle is Yahweh’s, and he will give you into our hand.
It happened, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
David put his hand in his bag, and took there a stone, and slang it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath of it, and killed him, and cut off his head therewith. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
The men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until you come to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. The wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath, and to Ekron.
The children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.
David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
When Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? Abner said, As your soul lives, O king, I can’t tell.
The king said, Inquire whose son the young man is!
As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
Saul said to him, Whose son are you, you young man? David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
It happened, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his sash.
David went out wherever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
It happened as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
The women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands.
Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
It happened on the next day, that an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;
and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will strike David even to the wall. David avoided out of his presence twice.
Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give you as wife: only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles. For Saul said, Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.
David said to Saul, Who am I, and what is my life, [or] my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?
But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, You shall this day be my son-in-law a second time.
Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you: now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.
Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, Seems it to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
The servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spoke David.
Saul said, Thus shall you tell David, The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. The days were not expired;
and David arose and went, he and his men, and killed of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it happened, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David.
Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you: now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself:
and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will commune with my father of you; and if I see anything, I will tell you.
Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you:
for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel: you saw it, and did rejoice; why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?
Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.
Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shown him all those things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before.
There was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.
An evil spirit from Yahweh was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.
Saul sought to strike David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he struck the spear into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Saul sent messengers to David’s house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning: and Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, If you don’t save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be slain.
So Michal let David down through the window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ [hair] at the head of it, and covered it with the clothes.
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.
When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ [hair] at the head of it.
Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me thus, and let my enemy go, so that he is escaped? Michal answered Saul, He said to me, Let me go; why should I kill you?
Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.
It was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.
Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? One said, Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.
He went there to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God came on him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
He also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is my iniquity? and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?
He said to him, Far from it; you shall not die: behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
David swore moreover, and said, Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.
Then said Jonathan to David, Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.
David said to Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at even.
If your father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
If he say thus, It is well; your servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
Therefore deal kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you: but if there be in me iniquity, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?
Jonathan said, Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you that?
Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answer you roughly?
Jonathan said to David, Come, and let us go out into the field. They went out both of them into the field.
Jonathan said to David, Yahweh, the God of Israel, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?
Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace: and Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.
You shall not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I not die;
but also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off the enemies of David everyone from the surface of the earth.
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon: and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
When you have stayed three days, you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you did hide yourself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel.
I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
Behold, I will send the boy, [saying], Go, find the arrows. If I tell the boy, Behold, the arrows are on this side of you; take them, and come; for there is peace to you and no hurt, as Yahweh lives.
But if I say thus to the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond you; go your way; for Yahweh has sent you away.
As touching the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.
So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.
The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side: but David’s place was empty.
Nevertheless Saul didn’t say anything that day: for he thought, Something has befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
It happened on the next day after the new moon, [which was] the second [day], that David’s place was empty: and Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why doesn’t the son of Jesse come to meat, neither yesterday, nor today?
Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
and he said, Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he has commanded me [to be there]: and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, I pray you, and see my brothers. Therefore he is not come to the king’s table.
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.
Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, Why should he be put to death? what has he done?
Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
It happened in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.
He said to his boy, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
When the boy was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, Isn’t the arrow beyond you?
Jonathan cried after the boy, Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay! Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
But the boy didn’t know anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.
As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of Yahweh, saying, Yahweh shall be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed, forever. He arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no man with you?
David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, Let no man know anything of the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you: and I have appointed the young men to such and such a place.
Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever there is present.
The priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
David answered the priest, and said to him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?
So the priest gave him holy [bread]; for there was no bread there but the show bread, that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.
David said to Ahimelech, Isn’t there here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.
The priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here. David said, There is none like that; give it me.
David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
The servants of Achish said to him, Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing one to another about him in dances, saying,
Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?
David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
He changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.
Then said Achish to his servants, Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?
Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
David went there to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said to the king of Moab, Please let my father and my mother come forth, [and be] with you, until I know what God will do for me.
He brought them before the king of Moab: and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.
The prophet Gad said to David, Don’t stay in the stronghold; depart, and get you into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.
Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him: now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.
Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,
that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
He inquired of Yahweh for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. He answered, Here I am, my lord.
Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honorable in your house?
Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: don’t let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more.
The king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house.
The king said to the guard who stood about him, Turn, and kill the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn’t disclose it to me. But the servants of the king wouldn’t put forth their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.
The king said to Doeg, Turn you, and fall on the priests. Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod.
Nob, the city of the priests, struck he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, and oxen and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests.
David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of your father’s house.
Abide you with me, don’t be afraid; for he who seeks my life seeks your life: for with me you shall be in safeguard.
They told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.
Therefore David inquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go and strike these Philistines? Yahweh said to David, Go, and strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.
David’s men said to him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
Then David inquired of Yahweh yet again. Yahweh answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.
David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and killed them with a great slaughter. So David save the inhabitants of Keilah.
It happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
It was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.
Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod.
Then said David, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, tell your servant. Yahweh said, He will come down.
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver up to me and my men into the hand of Saul? Yahweh said, They will deliver you up.
Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went wherever they could go. It was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there.
David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand.
David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.
Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
He said to him, Don’t be afraid; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you; and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you; and that also Saul my father knows.
They two made a covenant before Yahweh: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doesn’t David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.
Saul said, Blessed be you of Yahweh; for you have had compassion on me.
Plesease go make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who has seen him there; for it is told me that he deals very subtly.
See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hides himself, and come you again to me of a certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall happen, if he be in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.
They arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.
Saul and his men went to seek him. They told David: why he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard [that], he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste you, and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.
So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela Hammahlekoth.
David went up from there, and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.
It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
He came to the sheep pens by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
It happened afterward, that David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh’s anointed.
So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
David said to Saul, Why listen you to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but [my eye] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know you and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it.
Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
He said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have rendered to me good, whereas I have rendered to you evil.
You have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.
Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men got them up to the stronghold.
Samuel died; and all Israel gathered themselves together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
There was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful face: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
David sent ten young men, and David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
and thus shall you tell him who lives [in prosperity], Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
Now I have heard that you have shearers: your shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there anything missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel.
Ask your young men, and they will tell you: therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes; for we come in a good day. Please give whatever comes to your hand, to your servants, and to your son David.
When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days who break away every man from his master.
Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who I don’t know where they come from?
So David’s young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him according to all these words.
David said to his men, Gird you on every man his sword. They girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the baggage.
But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Greet our master; and he railed at them.
But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we went with them, when we were in the fields:
they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house: for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
She said to her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she didn’t tell her husband, Nabal.
It was so, as she rode on her donkey, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.
Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him: and he has returned me evil for good.
God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one man-child.
When Abigail saw David, she hurried, and alighted from her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
She fell at his feet, and said, On me, my lord, on me be the iniquity; and please let your handmaid speak in your ears. Hear the words of your handmaid.
Please don’t let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I your handmaid didn’t see the young men of my lord, whom you did send.
Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, seeing Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies, and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of Yahweh; and evil shall not be found in you all your days.
Though men be risen up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God; and the souls of your enemies, them shall he sling out, as from the hollow of a sling.
It shall come to pass, when Yahweh shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and shall have appointed you prince over Israel,
that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When Yahweh shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.
David said to Abigail, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me:
and blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, that have kept me this day from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand.
For in very deed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from hurting you, except you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn’t have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one man-child.
So David received of her hand that which she had brought him: and he said to her, Go up in peace to your house; behold, I have listened to your voice, and have accepted your person.
Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: therefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
It happened in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
It happened about ten days after, that Yahweh struck Nabal, so that he died.
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil: and the evil-doing of Nabal has Yahweh returned on his own head. David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to him as wife.
When the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife.
She arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
Abigail hurried, and arose, and rode on a donkey, with five ladies of hers who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they became both of them his wives.
Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.
The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.
David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about him.
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? Abishai said, I will go down with you.
So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.
Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.
David said to Abishai, Don’t destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be guiltless?
David said, As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.
Yahweh forbid that I should put forth my hand against Yahweh’s anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.
So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they got them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh was fallen on them.
Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;
and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Don’t you answer, Abner? Then Abner answered, Who are you who cries to the king?
David said to Abner, Aren’t you a [valiant] man? and who is like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.
This thing isn’t good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.
Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.
He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Yahweh that has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Yahweh: for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods.
Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
David answered, Behold the spear, O king! let then one of the young men come over and get it.
Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t put forth my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.
Behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.
It was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
David said to Achish, If now I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?
Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: why Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah to this day.
The number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
David and his men went up, and made a raid on the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those [nations] were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as you go to Shur, even to the land of Egypt.
David struck the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the donkeys, and the camels, and the clothing; and he returned, and came to Achish.
Achish said, Against whom have you made a raid today? David said, Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.
David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David, and so has been his manner all the while he has lived in the country of the Philistines.
Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever.
It happened in those days, that the Philistines gathered their hosts together for warfare, to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, Know you assuredly, that you shall go out with me in the host, you and your men.
David said to Achish, Therefore you shall know what your servant will do. Achish said to David, Therefore will I make you keeper of my head for ever.
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had put away those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
The Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.
When Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn’t answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at En-dor.
Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you.
The woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: why then lay you a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, As Yahweh lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Samuel.
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.
The king said to her, Don’t be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.
He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.
Samuel said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing Yahweh is departed from you, and is become your adversary?
Yahweh has done to you, as he spoke by me: and Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
Because you didn’t obey the voice of Yahweh, and didn’t execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore has Yahweh done this thing to you this day.
Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me: Yahweh will deliver the host of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.
Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
The woman came to Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said to him, Behold, your handmaid has listened to your voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have listened to your words which you spoke to me.
Now therefore, please listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, when you go on your way.
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat on the bed.
The woman had a fattened calf in the house; and she hurried, and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread of it:
and she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in Jezreel.
The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.
Then said the princes of the Philistines, What [do] these Hebrews [here]? Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, Isn’t this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or [rather] these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away [to me] to this day?
But he princes of the Philistines were angry with him; and the princes of the Philistines said to him, Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us: for with what should this [fellow] reconcile himself to his lord? should it not be with the heads of these men?
Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?
Then Achish called David, and said to him, As Yahweh lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the host is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day: nevertheless the lords don’t favor you.
Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines.
David said to Achish, But what have I done? and what have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
Achish answered David, I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you; and as soon as you are up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. The Philistines went up to Jezreel.
It happened, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South, and on Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag, and burned it with fire,
and had taken captive the women [and all] who were therein, both small and great: they didn’t kill any, but carried them off, and went their way.
When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.
Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
David’s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.
David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, Please bring me here the ephod. Abiathar brought there the ephod to David.
David inquired of Yahweh, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? He answered him, Pursue; for you shall surely overtake [them], and shall without fail recover [all].
So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed.
But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they couldn’t go over the brook Besor.
They found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he ate; and they gave him water to drink.
They gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.
David said to him, To whom belong you? and whence are you? He said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.
We made a raid on the South of the Cherethites, and on that which belongs to Judah, and on the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
David said to him, Will you bring me down to this troop? He said, Swear to me by God, that you will neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this troop.
When he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the ground, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
David struck them from the twilight even to the evening of the next day: and there not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who rode on camels and fled.
David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.
There was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David brought back all.
David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drove before those [other] cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil.
David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people who were with him: and when David came near to the people, he greeted them.
Then answered all the wicked men and base fellows, of those who went with David, and said, Because they didn’t go with us, we will not give them anything of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart.
Then said David, You shall not do so, my brothers, with that which Yahweh has given to us, who has preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.
Who will listen to you in this matter? for as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who tarries by the baggage: they shall share alike.
It was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.
When David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Yahweh:
To those who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the South, and to those who were in Jattir,
and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa,
and to those who were in Racal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,
and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Borashan, and to those who were in Athach,
and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to stay.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
The Philistines followed hard on Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
The battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
Then said Saul to his armor bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
They cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the news to the house of their idols, and to the people.
They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul,
all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
They took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
- It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned
-from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in
-Ziklag;
-
- It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh,
-saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? Yahweh said to
-him, Go up. David said, Where shall I go up? He said, To Hebron.
-
- Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the
-house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of
-Saul grew weaker and weaker.
-
- When [Ish-bosheth], Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in
-Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
-
- Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and
-spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
-
- David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel,
-thirty thousand.
-
- It happened, when the king lived in his house, and Yahweh had
-given him rest from all his enemies round about,
-
- After this it happened that David struck the Philistines, and
-subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the
-hand of the Philistines.
-
- David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of
-Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
-
- It happened after this, that the king of the children of
-Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
-
- It happened, at the return of the year, at the time when
-kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with
-him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and
-besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
-
- Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him,
-"There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
-
- It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a
-beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David
-loved her.
-
- Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart
-was toward Absalom.
-
- It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot
-and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
-
- When David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold,
-Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys
-saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred
-clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of
-wine.
-
- Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out
-twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this
-night:
-
- David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains
-of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
-
- It was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for
-Absalom.
-
- There happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was
-Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and
-said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the
-son of Jesse: every man to his tents, Israel.
-
- There was a famine in the days of David three years, year
-after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, It is for
-Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.
-
- David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that
-Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the
-hand of Saul:
-
- Now these are the last words of David.
-David the son of Jesse says,
-The man who was raised on high says,
-The anointed of the God of Jacob,
-The sweet psalmist of Israel:
-
- Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he
-moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+It happened after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
David said to him, From whence come you? He said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
David said to him, How went the matter? Please tell me. He answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
David said to the young man who told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?
The young man who told him said, As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and, behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.
When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, Here am I.
He said to me, Who are you? I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
He said to me, Stand, I pray you, beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.
So I stood beside him, and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.
Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him:
and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
David said to the young man who told him, Whence are you? He answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.
David said to him, How were you not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?
David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. He struck him, so that he died.
David said to him, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.
David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
(and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
Your glory, Israel, is slain on your high places! How are the mighty fallen!
Don’t tell it in Gath, Don’t publish it in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
You mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain on you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan didn’t turn back, The sword of Saul didn’t return empty.
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, In their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.
You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain on your high places.
I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant have you been to me: Your love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women.
How are the mighty fallen, The weapons of war perished!
It happened after this, that David inquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? Yahweh said to him, Go up. David said, Where shall I go up? He said, To Hebron.
So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
His men who were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they lived in the cities of Hebron.
The men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, saying, The men of Jabesh Gilead were those who buried Saul.
David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, Blessed be you of Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him.
Now Yahweh show lovingkindness and truth to you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because you have done this thing.
Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be you valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise.
Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was called Helkath Hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it you, Asahel? He answered, It is I.
Abner said to him, Turn you aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay you hold on one of the young men, and take you his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.
Abner said again to Asahel, Turn you aside from following me: why should I strike you to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?
However he refused to turn aside: therefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.
Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?
Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed everyone his brother.
So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.
Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.
But the servants of David had struck of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, [so that] three hundred sixty men died.
They took up Asahel, and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men went all night, and the day broke on them at Hebron.
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.
Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ish-bosheth] said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?
Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? This day do I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.
God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him;
to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make your league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring about all Israel to you.
He said, Well; I will make a league with you; but one thing I require of you: that is, you shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.
David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.
Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return: and he returned.
Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you sought for David to be king over you:
now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires. David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
When Joab and all the host who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What have you done? behold, Abner came to you; why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone?
You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.
When Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David didn’t know it.
When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.
So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier.
They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
The king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies?
Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters: As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so did you fall. All the people wept again over him.
All the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun be down.
All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
The king said to his servants, Don’t you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.
When [Ish-bosheth], Saul’s son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
[Ish-bosheth], Saul’s son, [had] two men who were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin:
and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day).
Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the news came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
The sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon.
They came there into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they struck him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they struck him, and killed him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.
They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; and Yahweh has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good news, I took hold of him, and killed him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news.
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
David commanded his young men, and they killed them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David to Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and Yahweh said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh: and they anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, Except you take away the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here; thinking, David can’t come in here.
Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
David said on that day, Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [strike] the lame and the blind, who are hated of David’s soul. Therefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he can’t come into the house.
David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built round about from Millo and inward.
David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.
David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.
When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
David inquired of Yahweh, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? will you deliver them into my hand? Yahweh said to David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.
David came to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and he said, Yahweh has broken my enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, You shall not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come on them over against the mulberry trees.
It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall bestir yourself; for then is Yahweh gone out before you to strike the host of the Philistines.
David did so, as Yahweh commanded him, and struck the Philistines from Geba until you come to Gezer.
David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
David arose, and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Yahweh of Hosts who sits [above] the cherubim.
They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
They brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of [instruments made of] fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day.
David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Yahweh come to me?
So David would not remove the ark of Yahweh to him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.
It was told king David, saying, Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of God. David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy.
It was so, that, when those who bore the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
They brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings before Yahweh.
When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Hosts.
He dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a cake of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house.
Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!
David said to Michal, [It was] before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel: therefore will I play before Yahweh.
I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight: but of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, of them shall I be had in honor.
Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
It happened, when the king lived in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest from all his enemies round about,
that the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart; for Yahweh is with you.
It happened the same night, that the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,
Go and tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh, Shall you build me a house for me to dwell in?
for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tent.
In all places in which I have walked with all the children of Israel, spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel;
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.
I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,
and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover Yahweh tells you that Yahweh will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;
but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this [too] after the manner of men, Lord Yahweh!
What can David say more to you? for you know your servant, Lord Yahweh.
For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make your servant know it.
Therefore you are great, Yahweh God: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeem to you out of Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods?
You did establish to yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm you it forever, and do as you have spoken.
Let your name be magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of your servant David shall be established before you.
For you, Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, I will build you a house: therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
Now, O Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant:
now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord Yahweh, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.
After this it happened that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.
He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
David struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots.
When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the host of Hadadezer,
then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. [Joram] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
These also did king David dedicate to Yahweh, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued;
of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.
He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness to all his people.
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe;
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
There was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, Are you Ziba? He said, Your servant is he.
The king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? Ziba said to the king, Jonathan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet.
The king said to him, Where is he? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, Mephibosheth. He answered, Behold, your servant!
David said to him, Don’t be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.
He did obeisance, and said, What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?
Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given to your master’s son.
You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in [the fruits], that your master’s son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Then said Ziba to the king, According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shown kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn’t David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.
He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good.
So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.
It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there.
When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
It happened, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
It happened at evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked on the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look on.
David send and inquired after the woman. One said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house.
The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite. Joab sent Uriah to David.
When Uriah was come to him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
David said to Uriah, Go down to your house, and wash your feet. Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess [of food] from the king.
But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and didn’t go down to his house.
When they had told David, saying, Uriah didn’t go down to his house, David said to Uriah, Haven’t you come from a journey? why did you not go down to your house?
Uriah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.
David said to Uriah, Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the next day.
When David had called him, he ate and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn’t go down to his house.
It happened in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
He wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire you from him, that he may be struck, and die.
It happened, when Joab kept watch on the city, that he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
The men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
and he charged the messenger, saying, When you have made an end of telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he tells you,
Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn’t you know that they would shoot from the wall?
who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?
then shall you say, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
So the messenger went, and came and shown David all that Joab had sent him for.
The messenger said to David, The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field, and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.
The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Then David said to the messenger, Thus shall you tell Joab, Don’t let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage you him.
When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband.
When the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Yahweh.
Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.
A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him.
David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die!
He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!
Nathan said to David, You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says:
I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things.
Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
This is what Yahweh says:
Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
David said to Nathan, I have sinned against Yahweh.
Nathan said to David, Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.
Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick.
David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.
The elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn’t listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!
But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is dead.
Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the house of Yahweh, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.
Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread.
He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?
But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.
David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him;
and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh’s sake.
Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters.
Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.
David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
He took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight of it was a talent of gold, and [in it were] precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
It happened after this, that Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.
Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
He said to him, Why, son of the king, are you thus lean from day to day? Won’t you tell me? Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
Jonadab said to him, Lay you down on your bed, and feign yourself sick: and when your father comes to see you, tell him, Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.
So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said to the king, Please let her sister Tamar come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food.
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. She took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.
She took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. Amnon said, Have out all men from me. They went out every man from him.
Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand. Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come, lie with me, my sister.
She answered him, No, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly.
I, where shall I carry my shame? and as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.
However he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.
Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.
She said to him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse] than the other that you did to me. But he would not listen to her.
Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.
She had a garment of various colors on her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
Absalom her brother said to her, Has Amnon your brother been with you? but now hold your peace, my sister: he is your brother; don’t take this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.
Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
It happened after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.
Absalom came to the king, and said, See now, your servant has sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray you, and his servants go with your servant.
The king said to Absalom, No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you. He pressed him: however he would not go, but blessed him.
Then said Absalom, If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us. The king said to him, Why should he go with you?
But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark you now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; don’t be afraid; haven’t I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up on his mule, and fled.
It happened, while they were in the way, that the news came to David, saying, Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, Don’t let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.
But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.
Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons are come: as your servant said, so it is.
It happened, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.
But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. [David] mourned for his son every day.
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
[the soul of] king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched there a wise woman, and said to her, please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, Please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has a long time mourned for the dead:
and go in to the king, and speak on this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
The king said to her, What ails you? She answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
Your handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one struck the other, and killed him.
Behold, the whole family is risen against your handmaid, and they say, Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth.
The king said to the woman, Go to your house, and I will give charge concerning you.
The woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.
The king said, Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more.
Then said she, Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. He said, As Yahweh lives, there shall not one hair of your son fall to the earth.
Then the woman said, Please let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king. He said, Say on.
The woman said, Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring home again his banished one.
For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.
Now therefore seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.
For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
Then your handmaid said, Please let the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Yahweh your God be with you.
Then the king answered the woman, Please don’t hide anything from me that I shall ask you. The woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
The king said, Is the hand of Joab with you in all this? The woman answered, As your soul lives, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid;
to change the face of the matter has your servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
The king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.
Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.
So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
The king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face.
Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king’s weight.
To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a beautiful face.
Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem; and he didn’t see the king’s face.
Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
Therefore he said to his servants, Behold, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire. Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, Why have your servants set my field on fire?
Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to you, saying, Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.
So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? He said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized of the king to hear you.
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
In this manner Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
It happened at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.
For your servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.
The king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.
With Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.
Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
There came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.
The king’s servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king shall choose.
The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.
All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why go you also with us? return, and abide with the king: for you are a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to your own place.
Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, seeing I go where I may? return you, and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you.
Ittai answered the king, and said, As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be.
David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.
All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
Behold, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
The king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:
but if he say thus, I have no delight in you; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seems good to him.
The king said also to Zadok the priest, Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me.
Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.
David went up by the ascent of the [Mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
One told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. David said, Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.
David said to him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me:
but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.
Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear.
So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
When David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.
The king said, Where is your master’s son? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.
When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out, and cursed still as he came.
He cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow:
Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and, behold, you are [taken] in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.
The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, Curse David; who then shall say, Why have you done so?
David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeks my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.
It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day.
So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.
Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
It happened, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, [Long] live the king, [Long] live the king.
Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?
Hushai said to Absalom, No; but whom Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn’t I serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.
Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines, that he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred of your father: then will the hands of all who are with you be strong.
So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
and I will come on him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only;
and I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.
The saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he says.
When Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, Ahithophel has spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not, speak up.
Hushai said to Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel has given this time is not good.
Hushai said moreover, You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will happen, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whoever hears it will say, There is a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.
Even he who is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men.
But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that you go to battle in your own person.
So shall we come on him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him we will not leave so much as one.
Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there not be one small stone found there.
Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Yahweh had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Yahweh might bring evil on Absalom.
Then said Hushai to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counseled.
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Don’t lodge this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.
Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.
But a boy saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there.
The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.
Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? The woman said to them, They have gone over the brook of water. When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
It happened, after they had departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, Arise you, and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.
Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them who had not gone over the Jordan.
When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey, and arose, and got him home, to his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the tomb of his father.
Then David came to Mahanaim. Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, who went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab’s mother.
Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.
It happened, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched [grain], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse],
and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people who were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
David numbered the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
But the people said, You shall not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.
The king said to them, What seems you best I will do. The king stood by the gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. All the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
The people of Israel were struck there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
Joab said to the man who told him, Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? and I would have given you ten [pieces of] silver, and a sash.
The man said to Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t put forth my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king charged you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against [me].
Then said Joab, I may not wait thus with you. He took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor compassed about and struck Absalom, and killed him.
Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.
They took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled everyone to his tent.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king’s dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in memory: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.
Joab said to him, You shall not be the bearer of news this day, but you shall bear news another day; but this day you shall bear no news, because the king’s son is dead.
Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what you have seen. The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, Please let me also run after the Cushite. Joab said, Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?
But come what may, [said he], I will run. He said to him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. He came apace, and drew near.
The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter, and said, Behold, [another] man running alone. The king said, He also brings news.
The watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. The king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news.
Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, All is well. He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
The king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.
The king said, Turn aside, and stand here. He turned aside, and stood still.
Behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, News for my lord the king; for Yahweh has avenged you this day of all those who rose up against you.
The king said to the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? The Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you hurt, be as that young man is.
The king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!
It was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.
The victory that day was turned into mourning to all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieves for his son.
The people got them by stealth that day into the city, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, my son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!
Joab came into the house to the king, and said, You have shamed this day the faces of all your servants, who this day have saved your life, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines;
in that you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. For you have declared this day, that princes and servants are nothing to you: for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased you well.
Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably to your servants; for I swear by Yahweh, if you don’t go forth, there will not stay a man with you this night: and that will be worse to you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.
Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. They told to all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.
All the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.
Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why don’t you speak a word of bringing the king back?
King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [to bring him] to his house.
You are my brothers, you are my bone and my flesh: why then are you the last to bring back the king?
Say you to Amasa, Aren’t you my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you aren’t captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
He bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent to the king, [saying], Return you, and all your servants.
So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.
Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
There were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king.
There went over a ferry-boat to bring over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he was come over the Jordan.
He said to the king, Don’t let my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
For your servant does know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, Shall Shimei not be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh’s anointed?
David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be adversaries to me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for don’t I know that I am this day king over Israel?
The king said to Shimei, You shall not die. The king swore to him.
Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
It happened, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?
He answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for your servant said, I will saddle me a donkey, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because your servant is lame.
He has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in your eyes.
For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?
The king said to him, Why speak you any more of your matters? I say, You and Ziba divide the land.
Mephibosheth said to the king, yes, let him take all, because my lord the king is come in peace to his own house.
Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.
Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
The king said to Barzillai, Come you over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.
Barzillai said to the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?
Your servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.
The king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you: and whatever you shall require of me, that will I do for you.
All the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over: and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place.
So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him: and all the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.
Behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?
All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is a close relative to us: why then are you angry for this matter? have we eaten at all at the king’s cost? or has he given us any gift?
The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than you: why then did you despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? The words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
There happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, Israel.
So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah joined with their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in custody, and provided them with sustenance, but didn’t go in to them. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living in widowhood.
Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be here present.
So Amasa went to call [the men of] Judah together; but he stayed longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take your lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.
There went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a sash with a sword fastened on his loins in the sheath of it; and as he went forth it fell out.
Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with you, my brother? Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he struck him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and didn’t strike him again; and he died. Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
There stood by him one of Joab’s young men, and said, He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab.
Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.
When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
He went through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, and to Beth Maacah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear! Please say to Joab,
Come near here, that I may speak with you.
He came near to her; and the woman said, Are you Joab? He answered, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of your handmaid. He answered, I do hear.
Then she spoke, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter].
I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel: you seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why will you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?
Joab answered, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
The matter is not so: but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. The woman said to Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall.
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;
and Adoram was over the men subject to forced labor; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;
and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
and also Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.
The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
and David said to the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?
The Gibeonites said to him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel. He said, What you shall say, that will I do for you.
They said to the king, The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, [that] we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,
let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh. The king said, I will give them.
But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and they fell [all] seven together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.
Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky; and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.
It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa;
and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.
They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.
The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint;
and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.
But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel.
It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.
There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
There was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him.
These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
and he said, Yahweh is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My savior, you save me from violence.
I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.
For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid:
The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came on me.
In my distress I called on Yahweh; Yes, I called to my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, My cry [came] into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked Were shaken, because he was angry.
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, Fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down; Thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub, and did fly; Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled.
Yahweh thundered from heaven, The Most High uttered his voice.
He sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and confused them.
Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters;
He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
They came on me in the day of my calamity; But Yahweh was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his ordinances were before me; As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
I was also perfect toward him; I kept myself from my iniquity.
Therefore has Yahweh recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
With the merciful you will show yourself merciful; With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect;
With the pure you will show yourself pure; With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
The afflicted people you will save; But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
For you are my lamp, Yahweh; Yahweh will lighten my darkness.
For by you I run on a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Yahweh is tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, save Yahweh? Who is a rock, save our God?
God is my strong fortress; He guides the perfect in his way.
He makes his feet like hinds’ [feet], Sets me on my high places.
He teaches my hands to war, So that my arms do bend a bow of brass.
You have also given me the shield of your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.
You have enlarged my steps under me; My feet have not slipped.
I have pursued my enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again until they were consumed.
I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise: Yes, they are fallen under my feet.
For you have girded me with strength to the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, That I might cut off those who hate me.
They looked, but there was none to save; Even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad.
You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people; You have kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
The foreigners shall submit themselves to me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.
The foreigners shall fade away, Shall come trembling out of their close places.
Yahweh lives; Blessed be my rock; Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,
Even the God who executes vengeance for me, Who brings down peoples under me,
Who brings me forth from my enemies: Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me; You deliver me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, Will sing praises to your name.
Great deliverance gives he to his king, Shows lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.
Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse says, The man who was raised on high says, The anointed of the God of Jacob, The sweet psalmist of Israel:
The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me, His word was on my tongue.
The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: One who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
[He shall be] as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, [When] the tender grass [springs] out of the earth, Through clear shining after rain.
Most assuredly my house is not so with God; Yet he has made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things, and sure: For it is all my salvation, and all [my] desire, Although he doesn’t make it grow.
But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, Because they can’t be taken with the hand
But the man who touches them Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear: They shall be utterly burned with fire in [their] place
These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb Basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.
After him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.
He arose, and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand froze to the sword; and Yahweh worked a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.
After him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. The Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.
But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh worked a great victory.
Three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time to the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
The three mighty men broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh.
He said, Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. He lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
Wasn’t he most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: however he didn’t attain to the [first] three.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
He killed an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.
He was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the [first] three. David set him over his guard.
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,
Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,
Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,
Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,
Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,
Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.
Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,
Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,
Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,
Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,
Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.
Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
The king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now back and forth through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number you the people, that I may know the sum of the people.
Joab said to the king, Now Yahweh your God add to the people, however many they may be, one hundred times; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?
Notwithstanding, the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.
They passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and to Jazer:
then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan Jaan, and round about to Sidon,
and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beersheba.
So when they had gone back and forth through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.
Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
David’s heart struck him after that he had numbered the people. David said to Yahweh, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
Go and speak to David, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose you one of them, that I may do it to you.
So Gad came to David, and told him, and said to him, Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? now advise you, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of Yahweh; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.
So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh repented him of the evil, and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, Behold, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me, and against my father’s house.
Gad came that day to David, and said to him, Go up, rear an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Yahweh commanded.
Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? David said, To buy the threshing floor of you, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
Araunah said to David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him: behold, the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:
all this, king, does Araunah give to the king. Araunah said to the king, Yahweh your God accept you.
The king said to Araunah, No; but I will most assuredly buy it of you at a price. Neither will I offer burnt-offerings to Yahweh my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
- Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered
-him with clothes, but he got no heat.
-
- Now the days of David drew near that he should die; and he
-charged Solomon his son, saying,
-
- Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took
-Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he
-had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and
-the wall of Jerusalem round about.
-
- King Solomon was king over all Israel.
-
- Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had
-heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for
-Hiram was ever a lover of David.
-
- It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the
-children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth
-year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the
-second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.
-
- Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he
-finished all his house.
-
- Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the
-heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers' [houses] of the
-children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark
-of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
-
- It happened, when Solomon had finished the building of the
-house of Yahweh, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which
-he was pleased to do,
-
- When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon
-concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard
-questions.
-
- Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the
-daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites,
-Sidonians, and Hittites;
-
- Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem
-to make him king.
-
- Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of
-Yahweh to Beth El: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn
-incense.
-
- At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.
-
- Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat
-began Abijam to reign over Judah.
-
- The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against
-Baasha, saying,
-
- Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead,
-said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand,
-there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
-
- It happened after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to
-Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I
-will send rain on the earth.
-
- Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he
-had slain all the prophets with the sword.
-
- Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together;
-and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and
-he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
-
- It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite
-had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king
-of Samaria.
-
- They continued three years without war between Syria and
-Israel.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he got no heat.
Therefore his servants said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.
So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.
He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants:
but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he didn’t call.
Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it?
Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.
Go and get you in to king David, and tell him, Didn’t you, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then does Adonijah reign?
Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm your words.
Bathsheba went in to the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.
Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king said, What would you?
She said to him, My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your handmaid, [saying], Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.
Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it:
and he has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant.
You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.
Behold, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.
They told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. When he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
Nathan said, My lord, king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?
For he is gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, [Long] live king Adonijah.
But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.
Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
Then king David answered, Call to me Bathsheba. She came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.
The king swore, and said, As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
most assuredly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place; most assuredly so will I do this day.
Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live forever.
King David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. They came before the king.
The king said to them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:
and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow you the trumpet, and say, [Long] live king Solomon.
Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so [too].
As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.
So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.
Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, [Long] live king Solomon.
All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with the sound of them.
Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.
Jonathan answered Adonijah, Most assuredly our lord king David has made Solomon king:
and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule;
and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.
Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.
Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne: and the king bowed himself on the bed.
Also thus said the king, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.
All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.
Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
It was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.
Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.
So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.
Now the days of David drew near that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
I am going the way of all the earth: be you strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
and keep the charge of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, [and] his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do, and wherever you turn yourself.
That Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.
But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, I will not put you to death with the sword.
Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.
David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
Solomon sat on the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, Come you peaceably? He said, Peaceably.
He said moreover, I have somewhat to tell you. She said, Say on.
He said, You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: however the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s; for it was his from Yahweh.
Now I ask one petition of you; don’t deny me. She said to him, Say on.
He said, Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you no
), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.
Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for you to the king.
Bathsheba therefore went to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
Then she said, I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me. The king said to her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.
She said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.
King Solomon answered his mother, Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Then king Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
King Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.
To Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you to Anathoth, to your own fields; for you are worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you bear the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.
So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
The news came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he didn’t turn after Absalom. Joab fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.
It was told king Solomon, Joab is fled to the Tent of Yahweh, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall on him.
Benaiah came to the Tent of Yahweh, and said to him, Thus says the king, Come forth. He said, No; but I will die here. Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
The king said to him, Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him; that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.
Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn’t know it, [to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
So shall their blood return on the head of Joab, and on the head of his seed forever: but to David, and to his seed, and to his house, and to his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Yahweh.
Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.
The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and don’t go forth from there any where.
For on the day you go out, and pass over the brook Kidron, know you for certain that you shall surely die: your blood shall be on your own head.
Shimei said to the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do. Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.
It happened at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, Behold, your servants are in Gath.
Shimei arose, and saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
It was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, Didn’t I adjure you by Yahweh, and protest to you, saying, Know for certain, that on the day you go out, and walk abroad any where, you shall surely die? and you said to me, The saying that I have heard is good.
Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh, and the commandment that I have charged you with?
The king said moreover to Shimei, You know all the wickedness which your heart is privy to, that you did to David my father: therefore Yahweh shall return your wickedness on your own head.
But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Yahweh forever.
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Yahweh, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.
Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Yahweh until those days.
Solomon loved Yahweh, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer on that altar.
In Gibeon Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give you.
Solomon said, You have shown to your servant David my father great lovingkindness, according as he walked before you in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with you; and you have kept for him this great lovingkindness, that you have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I don’t know how to go out or come in.
Your servant is in the midst of your people which you have chosen, a great people, that can’t be numbered nor counted for multitude.
Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?
The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;
behold, I have done according to your word: behold, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there has been none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like you.
I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like you, all your days.
If you will walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David did walk, then I will lengthen your days.
Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Then there came two women who were prostitutes, to the king, and stood before him.
The one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
It happened the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
This woman’s child died in the night, because she lay on it.
She arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
When I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I bore.
The other woman said, No; but the living is my son, and the dead is your son. This said, No; but the dead is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king.
Then said the king, The one says, This is my son who lives, and your son is the dead: and the other says, No; but your son is the dead, and my son is the living.
The king said, Get me a sword. They brought a sword before the king.
The king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
Then spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.
Then the king answered, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is the mother of it.
All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.
King Solomon was king over all Israel.
These were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;
Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, [and] the king’s friend;
and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to forced labor.
Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.
These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill-country of Ephraim;
Ben Deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan;
Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (to him [pertained] Socoh, and all the land of Hepher);
Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as wife);
Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;
Ben Geber, in Ramoth-gilead (to him [pertained] the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; [even] to him [pertained] the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and brazen bars);
Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;
Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife);
Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;
Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;
Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;
Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and [he was] the only officer who was in the land.
Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.
Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.
Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and sixty measures of meal,
ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and one hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fattened fowl.
For he had dominion over all [the region] on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides round about him.
Judah and Israel lived safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.
Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.
Those officers provided victuals for king Solomon, and for all who came to king Solomon’s table, every man in his month; they let nothing be lacking.
Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they to the place where [the officers] were, every man according to his charge.
God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore.
Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations round about.
He spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were one thousand five.
He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish.
There came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.
Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
You know how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his feet.
But now Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence.
Behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your room, he shall build the house for my name.
Now therefore command you that they cut me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with your servants; and I will give you hire for your servants according to all that you shall say: for you know that there is not among us any who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.
It happened, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Yahweh this day, who has given to David a wise son over this great people.
Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard [the message] which you have sent to me: I will do all your desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.
My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you shall appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and you shall receive them; and you shall accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.
So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire.
Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.
Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.
King Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.
He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to forced labor.
Solomon had seventy thousand who bore burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains;
besides Solomon’s chief officers who were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
The king commanded, and they hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with worked stone.
Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.
It happened in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Yahweh.
The house which king Solomon built for Yahweh, the length of it was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it twenty [cubits], and the height of it thirty cubits.
The porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length of it, according to the breadth of the house; [and] ten cubits was the breadth of it before the house.
For the house he made windows of fixed lattice-work.
Against the wall of the house he built stories round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side-chambers round about.
The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets [in the wall] of the house round about, that [the beams] should not have hold in the walls of the house.
The house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.
The door for the middle side- chambers was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle [story], and out of the middle into the third.
So he built the house, and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.
He built the stories against all the house, each five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.
The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying,
Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father.
I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.
So Solomon built the house, and finished it.
He built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.
He built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls [of the ceiling]: he built [them] for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.
The house, that is, the temple before [the oracle], was forty cubits [long].
There was cedar on the house within, carved with buds and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.
He prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
Within the oracle was [a space of] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height of it; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.
So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.
The whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.
In the oracle he made two cherubim of olive-wood, each ten cubits high.
Five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing to the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.
The other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.
The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.
He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
He overlaid the cherubim with gold.
He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, inside and outside.
The floor of the house he overlaid with gold, inside and outside.
For the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive-wood: the lintel [and] door-posts were a fifth part [of the wall].
So [he made] two doors of olive-wood; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold on the cherubim, and on the palm trees.
So also made he for the entrance of the temple door-posts of olive-wood, out of a fourth part [of the wall];
and two doors of fir-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.
He carved [thereon] cherubim and palm trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted on the engraved work.
He built the inner court with three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams.
In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Yahweh laid, in the month Ziv.
In the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts of it, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.
For he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length of it was one hundred cubits, and the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.
It was covered with cedar above over the forty-five beams, that were on the pillars; fifteen in a row.
There were beams in three rows, and window was over against window in three ranks.
All the doors and posts were made square with beams: and window was over against window in three ranks.
He made the porch of pillars; the length of it was fifty cubits, and the breadth of it thirty cubits; and a porch before them; and pillars and a threshold before them.
He made the porch of the throne where he was to judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from floor to floor.
His house where he was to dwell, the other court within the porch, was of the like work. He made also a house for Pharaoh’s daughter (whom Solomon had taken as wife), like this porch.
All these were of costly stones, even of hewn stone, according to measure, sawed with saws, inside and outside, even from the foundation to the coping, and so on the outside to the great court.
The foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.
Above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar-wood.
The great court round about had three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams; like as the inner court of the house of Yahweh, and the porch of the house.
King Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.
He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in brass. He came to king Solomon, and performed all his work.
For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.
He made two capitals of molten brass, to set on the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.
There were nets of checker-work, and wreaths of chain-work, for the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.
So he made the pillars; and there were two rows round about on the one network, to cover the capitals that were on the top of the pillars: and so did he for the other capital.
The capitals that were on the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily-work, four cubits.
There were capitals above also on the two pillars, close by the belly which was beside the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows round about on the other capital.
He set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name of it Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called the name of it Boaz.
On the top of the pillars was lily-work: so was the work of the pillars finished.
He made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and the height of it was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.
Under the brim of it round about there were buds which did compass it, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about: the buds were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
It was a handbreadth thick: and the brim of it was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.
He made the ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth of it, and three cubits the height of it.
The work of the bases was on this manner: they had panels; and there were panels between the ledges;
and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work.
Every base had four brazen wheels, and axles of brass; and the four feet of it had supports: beneath the basin were the supports molten, with wreaths at the side of each.
The mouth of it within the capital and above was a cubit: and the mouth of it was round after the work of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also on the mouth of it were engravings, and their panels were foursquare, not round.
The four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axles of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.
The work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axles, and their rims, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten.
There were four supports at the four corners of each base: the supports of it were of the base itself.
In the top of the base was there a round compass half a cubit high; and on the top of the base the stays of it and the panels of it were of the same.
On the plates of the stays of it, and on the panels of it, he engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths round about.
After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one form.
He made ten basins of brass: one basin contained forty baths; and every basin was four cubits; and on very one of the ten bases one basin.
He set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.
Hiram made the basins, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he worked for king Solomon in the house of Yahweh:
the two pillars, and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars;
and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars;
and the ten bases, and the ten basins on the bases;
and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea;
and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: even all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon, in the house of Yahweh, were of burnished brass.
In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.
Solomon left all the vessels [unweighed], because they were exceeding many: the weight of the brass could not be found out.
Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Yahweh: the golden altar, and the table whereupon the show bread was, of gold;
and the lampstands, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold;
and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple, of gold.
Thus all the work that king Solomon worked in the house of Yahweh was finished. Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ [houses] of the children of Israel, to king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
All the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.
All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.
They brought up the ark of Yahweh, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up.
King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who were assembled to him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the poles of it above.
The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen outside: and there they are to this day.
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
It came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Yahweh,
so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh.
Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
I have surely built you a house of habitation, a place for you to dwell in forever.
The king turned his face about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.
He said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart:
nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my name.
Yahweh has established his word that he spoke; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
There have I set a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.
Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;
and he said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keep covenant and lovingkindness with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart;
who have kept with your servant David my father that which you did promise him: yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.
Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.
Now therefore, God of Israel, Please let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David my father.
But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
Yet have respect for the prayer of your servant, and for his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you this day;
that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place whereof you have said, My name shall be there; to listen to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place.
Listen you to the supplication of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear in heaven, your dwelling-place; and when you hear, forgive.
If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid on him to cause him to swear, and he come [and] swear before your altar in this house;
then hear you in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; if they turn again to you, and confess your name, and pray and make supplication to you in this house:
then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to their fathers.
When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you do afflict them:
then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting [or] mildew, locust [or] caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there be;
whatever prayer and supplication be made by any man, [or] by all your people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
then hear in heaven, your dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of all the children of men;)
that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for your name’s sake
(for they shall hear of your great name, and of your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house;
hear in heaven, your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, to fear you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by my name.
If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to Yahweh toward the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name;
then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;
yet if they shall repent themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of those who carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name:
then hear you their prayer and their supplication in heaven, your dwelling-place, and maintain their cause;
and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions in which they have transgressed against you; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them
(for they are your people, and your inheritance, which you brought forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);
that your eyes may be open to the supplication of your servant, and to the supplication of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to you.
For you did separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be your inheritance, as you spoke by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh.
It was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.
He stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,
Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant.
Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us;
that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers.
Let these my words, with which I have made supplication before Yahweh, be near to Yahweh our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day shall require;
that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God; there is none else.
Let your heart therefore be perfect with Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.
The king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Yahweh.
Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered to Yahweh, two and twenty thousand oxen, and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.
The same day did the king make the middle of the court holy that was before the house of Yahweh; for there he offered the burnt offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar that was before Yahweh was too little to receive the burnt offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat of the peace-offerings.
So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David his servant, and to Israel his people.
It happened, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of Yahweh, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
that Yahweh appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.
Yahweh said to him, I have heard your prayer and your supplication, that you have made before me: I have made this house holy, which you have built, to put my name there forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my ordinances;
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, according as I promised to David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.
But if you shall turn away from following me, you or your children, and not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
Though this house is so high, yet shall everyone who passes by it be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why has Yahweh done thus to this land, and to this house?
and they shall answer, Because they forsook Yahweh their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore has Yahweh brought all this evil on them.
It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Yahweh and the king’s house
(now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire), that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.
Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they didn’t please him.
He said, What cities are these which you have given me, my brother? He called them the land of Cabul to this day.
Hiram sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.
This is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Yahweh, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it for a portion to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.
Solomon built Gezer, and Beth Horon the lower,
and Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land,
and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;
their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a levy of bondservants to this day.
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondservants; but they were the men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
These were the chief officers who were over Solomon’s work, five hundred fifty, who bore rule over the people who labored in the work.
But Pharaoh’s daughter came up out of the city of David to her house which [Solomon] had built for her: then did he build Millo.
Three times a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace-offerings on the altar which he built to Yahweh, burning incense therewith, [on the altar] that was before Yahweh. So he finished the house.
King Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
Hiram sent in the navy his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
They came to Ophir, and fetched from there gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to prove him with hard questions.
She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.
Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
When the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her.
She said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.
However I didn’t believe the words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.
Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, [and] who hear your wisdom.
Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore made he you king, to do justice and righteousness.
She gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees and precious stones.
The king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of Yahweh, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for the singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen, to this day.
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,
besides [that which] the traders [brought], and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the governors of the country.
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of gold went to one buckler.
[he made] three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.
Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom.
All king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.
All the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king’s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.
A chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;
of the nations concerning which Yahweh said to the children of Israel, You shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon joined to these in love.
He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
For it happened, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and didn’t go fully after Yahweh, as did David his father.
Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the mountain that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.
So did he for all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed to their gods.
Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,
and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he didn’t keep that which Yahweh commanded.
Therefore Yahweh said to Solomon, Because this is done of you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.
Notwithstanding in your days I will not do it, for David your father’s sake: but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.
Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.
For it happened, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, and had struck every male in Edom
(for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom);
that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.
They arose out of Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.
Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.
The sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh’s house among the sons of Pharaoh.
When Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.
Then Pharaoh said to him, But what have you lacked with me, that behold, you seek to go to your own country? He answered, Nothing: however only let me depart.
God raised up [another] adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.
He gathered men to him, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and lived therein, and reigned in Damascus.
He was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.
This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.
The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor of the house of Joseph.
It happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now [Ahijah] had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.
Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.
He said to Jeroboam, Take ten pieces; for thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you
(but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);
because that they have forsaken me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in my eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and my ordinances, as did David his father.
However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant’s sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;
but I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it to you, even ten tribes.
To his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
I will take you, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be king over Israel.
It shall be, if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.
I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not forever.
Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, aren’t they written in the book of the acts of Solomon?
The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam lived in Egypt,
and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.
He said to them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. The people departed.
King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?
They spoke to him, saying, If you will be a servant to this people this day, and will serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.
But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
He said to them, What counsel do you give, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that your father did put on us lighter?
The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you tell this people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter to us; thus shall you speak to them, My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.
Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.
The king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about of Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, Israel: now see to your own house, David. So Israel departed to their tents.
But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.
It happened, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, that they sent and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
When Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,
Thus says Yahweh, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they listened to the word of Yahweh, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Yahweh.
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and lived therein; and he went out from there, and built Penuel.
Jeroboam said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:
if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn again to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: see your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
He set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
This thing became a sin; for the people went [to worship] before the one, even to Dan.
He made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, who were not of the sons of Levi.
Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; so did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense.
Behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Beth El: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.
He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh, and said, altar, altar, thus says Yahweh: Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you shall he sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall they burn on you.
He gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which Yahweh has spoken: Behold, the altar shall be torn, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.
It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, that Jeroboam put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. His hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.
The altar also was torn, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh.
The king answered the man of God, Entreat now the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
The king said to the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.
The man of God said to the king, If you will give me half your house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place;
for so was it charged me by the word of Yahweh, saying, You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that you came.
So he went another way, and didn’t return by the way that he came to Bethel.
Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken to the king, them also they told to their father.
Their father said to them, Which way did he go? Now his sons had seen which way the man of God went, who came from Judah.
He said to his sons, Saddle me the donkey. So they saddled him the donkey; and he rode thereon.
He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak; and he said to him, Are you the man of God who came from Judah? He said, I am.
Then he said to him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
He said, I may not return with you, nor go in with you; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place:
for it was said to me by the word of Yahweh, You shall eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that you came.
He said to him, I also am a prophet as you are; and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied to him.
So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water.
It happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who brought him back;
and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, Thus says Yahweh, Because you have been disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh, and have not kept the commandment which Yahweh your God commanded you,
but came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, Eat no bread, and drink no water; your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.
It happened, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the donkey, [to wit], for the prophet whom he had brought back.
When he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and killed him: and his body was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it; the lion also stood by the body.
Behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.
When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient to the mouth of Yahweh: therefore Yahweh has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him, and slain him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to him.
He spoke to his sons, saying, Saddle me the donkey. They saddled it.
He went and found his body cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body: the lion had not eaten the body, nor torn the donkey.
The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back; and he came to the city of the old prophet, to mourn, and to bury him.
He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, [saying], Alas, my brother!
It happened, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.
For the saying which he cried by the word of Yahweh against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely happen.
After this thing Jeroboam didn’t return from his evil way, but made again from among all the people priests of the high places: whoever would, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places.
This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.
At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.
Jeroboam said to his wife, Please get up and disguise yourself, that you not be known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get you to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spoke concerning me that I should be king over this people.
Take with you ten loaves, and cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him: he will tell you what shall become of the child.
Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.
Yahweh said to Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam comes to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shall you tell her; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will feign herself to be another woman.
It was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, you wife of Jeroboam; why feign you yourself to be another? for I am sent to you with heavy news.
Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel,
and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes,
but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back:
therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every man-child, him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it be all gone.
Him who dies of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat: for Yahweh has spoken it.
Arise you therefore, get you to your house: [and] when your feet enter into the city, the child shall die.
All Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.
Moreover Yahweh will raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.
For Yahweh will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Yahweh to anger.
He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin.
Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: [and] as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.
All Israel buried him, and mourned for him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.
The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
The days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.
Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done.
For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;
and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel.
It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;
and he took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.
It was so, that as often as the king went into the house of Yahweh, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.
Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place.
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.
Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of David his father.
Nevertheless for David’s sake did Yahweh his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem;
because David did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and didn’t turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his place.
In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah.
Forty-one years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as did David his father.
He put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
Also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Yahweh all his days.
He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben Hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,
[There is] a league between me and you, between my father and your father: behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Beth Maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and lived in Tirzah.
Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber of it, with which Baasha had built; and king Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.
Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.
Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha kill him, and reigned in his place.
It happened that, as soon as he was king, he struck all the house of Jeroboam: he didn’t leave to Jeroboam any who breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite;
for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger.
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.
In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, [and reigned] twenty-four years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,
Because I exalted you out of the dust, and made you prince over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;
behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Him who dies of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him who dies of his in the field shall the birds of the sky eat.
Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his place.
Moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Yahweh against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck him.
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, [and reigned] two years.
His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah:
and Zimri went in and struck him, and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
It happened, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he struck all the house of Baasha: he didn’t leave him a single man-child, neither of his relatives, nor of his friends.
Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and with which they made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
The people who were encamped heard say, Zimri has conspired, and has also struck the king: therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
It happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.
In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, [and reigned] twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria.
Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him.
For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins with which he made Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.
Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shown, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.
Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh above all that were before him.
It happened, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
He reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation of it with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates of it with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said to Ahab, As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
The word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
Get you hence, and turn you eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.
It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.
So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.
The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
It happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
The word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you.
So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.
She said, As Yahweh your God lives, I aren’t they a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
Elijah said to her, Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for you and for your son.
For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.
She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate [many] days.
The jar of meal didn’t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah.
It happened after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
She said to Elijah, What have I to do with you, you man of God? you are come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!
He said to her, Give me your son. He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him on his own bed.
He cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?
He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, Yahweh my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again.
Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, Behold, your son lives.
The woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth.
It happened after many days, that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.
Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. The famine was sore in Samaria.
Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly:
for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Yahweh, that Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
Ahab said to Obadiah, Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks: peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.
So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
As Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it you, my lord Elijah?
He answered him, It is I: go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah [is here].
He said, Wherein have I sinned, that you would deliver your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, where my lord has not sent to seek you: and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they didn’t find you.
Now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah [is here].
It will happen, as soon as I am gone from you, that the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you I don’t know where; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he can’t find you, he will kill me: but I your servant fear Yahweh from my youth.
Wasn’t it told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred men of Yahweh’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
Now you say, Go, tell your lord, Behold, Elijah [is here]; and he will kill me.
Elijah said, As Yahweh of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
It happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel?
He answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father’s house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals.
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel’s table.
So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
Elijah came near to all the people, and said, How long go you limping between the two sides? if Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. The people answered him not a word.
Then said Elijah to the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men.
Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.
Call you on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the God who answers by fire, let him be God. All the people answered, It is well spoken.
Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under.
They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
It happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleeps and must be awakened.
They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
It was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the [evening] offering; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who regarded.
Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down.
Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, Israel shall be your name.
With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.
He said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. He said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time.
The water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
It happened at the time of the offering of the [evening] offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and [that] you have turned their heart back again.
Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, he is God; Yahweh, he is God.
and Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal; don’t let one of them escape. They took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and killed them there.
Elijah said to Ahab, Get you up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between his knees.
He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. He went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. He said, Go again seven times.
It happened at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man’s hand. He said, Go up, tell Ahab, Make ready [your chariot], and get you down, that the rain not stop you.
It happened in a little while, that the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel:
and the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don’t make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat.
He looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drink, and laid him down again.
The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.
He arose, and ate and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God.
He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?
He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake:
and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
and Jehu the son of Nimshi shall you anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah shall you anoint to be prophet in your room.
It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill.
Yet will I leave [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.
So he departed there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over to him, and cast his mantle on him.
He left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray you, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you. He said to him, Go back again; for what have I done to you?
He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered to him.
Ben Hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.
He sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben Hadad,
Your silver and your gold is mine; your wives also and your children, even the best, are mine.
The king of Israel answered, It is according to your saying, my lord, O king; I am yours, and all that I have.
The messengers came again, and said, Thus speaks Ben Hadad, saying, I sent indeed to you, saying, You shall deliver me your silver, and your gold, and your wives, and your children;
but I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house, and the houses of your servants; and it shall be, that whatever is pleasant in your eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Please notice how this man seeks mischief: for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I didn’t deny him.
All the elders and all the people said to him, Don’t you listen, neither consent.
Therefore he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that you did send for to your servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. The messengers departed, and brought him word again.
Ben Hadad sent to him, and said, The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.
The king of Israel answered, Tell him, Don’t let him who girds on [his armor] boast himself as he who puts it off.
It happened, when [Ben Hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said to his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. They set [themselves in array] against the city.
Behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Have you seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into your hand this day; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.
Ahab said, By whom? He said, Thus says Yahweh, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? He answered, You.
Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
They went out at noon. But Ben Hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty-two kings who helped him.
The young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben Hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria.
He said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.
So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.
They killed everyone his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben Hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.
The king of Israel went out, and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Syrians with a great slaughter.
The prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said to him, Go, strengthen yourself, and mark, and see what you do; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against you.
The servants of the king of Syria said to him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
Do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;
and number you an army, like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. He listened to their voice, and did so.
It happened at the return of the year, that Ben Hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.
The children of Israel were mustered, and were provisioned, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.
A man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, Thus says Yahweh, Because the Syrians have said, Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.
They encamped one over against the other seven days. So it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel killed of the Syrians one hundred thousand footmen in one day.
But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben Hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.
His servants said to him, See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray you, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save your life.
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and [put] ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Your servant Ben Hadad says, please let me live. He said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.
Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Your brother Ben Hadad. Then he said, Go you, bring him. Then Ben Hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
[Ben Hadad] said to him, The cities which my father took from your father I will restore; and you shall make streets for you in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. I, [said Ahab], will let you go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.
A certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of Yahweh, Please strike me. The man refused to strike him.
Then said he to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, behold, as soon as you are departed from me, a lion shall kill you. As soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and killed him.
Then he found another man, and said, Please strike me. The man struck him, smiting and wounding him.
So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.
As the king passed by, he cried to the king; and he said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man to me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall your life be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.
As your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. The king of Israel said to him, So shall your judgment be; yourself have decided it.
He hurried, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.
He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.
The king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it: or, if it seem good to you, I will give you the worth of it in money.
Naboth said to Ahab, Yahweh forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.
Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. He laid him down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?
He said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you [another] vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.
Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, [and] who lived with Naboth.
She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
and set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, You did curse God and the king. Then carry him out, and stone him to death.
The men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them.
They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him: and the base fellows bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did curse God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones.
Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
It happened, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
It happened, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he is gone down to take possession of it.
You shall speak to him, saying, Thus says Yahweh, Have you killed and also taken possession? You shall speak to him, saying, Thus says Yahweh, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even your.
Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, my enemy? He answered, I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh.
Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab every man-child, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel:
and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation with which you have provoked me to anger, and have made Israel to sin.
Of Jezebel also spoke Yahweh, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel.
Him who dies of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat.
(But there was none like Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.)
It happened, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
The word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
See you how Ahab humbles himself before me? because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days will I bring the evil on his house.
They continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.
It happened in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
The king of Israel said to his servants, You know that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we are still, and don’t take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?
He said to Jehoshaphat, Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh.
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? They said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.
But Jehoshaphat said, Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him?
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Jehoshaphat said, Don’t let the king say so.
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus says Yahweh, With these shall you push the Syrians, until they be consumed.
All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, See now, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth: please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak you good.
Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that will I speak.
When he was come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? He answered him, Go up and prosper; and Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.
The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?
He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?
[Micaiah] said, Therefore hear you the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
Yahweh said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One said on this manner; and another said on that manner.
There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will entice him.
Yahweh said to him, How?
He said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
He said, You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.
Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you?
Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.
The king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.
Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. He said, Hear, you peoples, all of you.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put you on your robes. The king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.
Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel; and they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.
It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am severely wounded.
The battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even; and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot.
There went a cry throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his country.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood (now the prostitutes washed themselves [there]); according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke.
Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
He walked in all the way of Asa his father; He didn’t turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh: however the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shown, and how he warred, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
The remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.
There was no king in Edom: a deputy was king.
Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they didn’t go; for the ships were broken at Ezion Geber.
Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab to Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.
Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, in which he made Israel to sin.
He served Baal, and worshiped him, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
- Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
-
- It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind
-into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
-
- Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in
-Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and
-reigned twelve years.
-
- Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of
-the prophets to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead; and
-you know that your servant did fear Yahweh: and the creditor is come to
-take to him my two children to be bondservants.
-
- Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a
-great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had
-given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, [but he was]
-a leper.
-
- The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the place
-where we dwell before you is too strait for us.
-
- Elisha said, Hear you the word of Yahweh: thus says Yahweh,
-Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be [sold] for a
-shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of
-Samaria.
-
- Now Elisha had spoken to the woman, whose son he had restored
-to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn
-wherever you can sojourn: for Yahweh has called for a famine; and it
-shall also come on the land seven years.
-
- Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets,
-and said to him, Gird up your loins, and take this vial of oil in your
-hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
-
- Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters,
-and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to
-those who brought up [the sons of] Ahab, saying,
-
- Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was
-dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
-
- In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he
-reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah of
-Beersheba.
-
- In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah,
-king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in
-Samaria, [and reigned] seventeen years.
-
- In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel
-began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign.
-
- In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began
-Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
-
- In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the
-son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
-
- In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the
-son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel, [and reigned] nine years.
-
- Now it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king
-of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
-
- It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his
-clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of
-Yahweh.
-
- In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. Isaiah the prophet
-the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Set
-your house in order: for you shall die, and not live.
-
- Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he
-reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was
-Hephzibah.
-
- Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he
-reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was
-Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
-
- The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of
-Judah and of Jerusalem.
-
- In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and
-Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled
-against him.
-
- It happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth
-month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of
-Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped
-against it; and they built forts against it round about.
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This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said to them, Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness.
But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?
Now therefore thus says Yahweh, You shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die. Elijah departed.
The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, Why is it that you have returned?
They said to him, There came up a man to meet us, and said to us, Go, turn again to the king who sent you, and tell him, Thus says Yahweh, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die.
He said to them, What manner of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words?
They answered him, He was a hairy man, and girt with a belt of leather about his loins. He said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
Then [the king] sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. He went up to him: and, behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He spoke to him, man of God, the king has said, Come down.
Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, man of God, thus has the king said, Come down quickly.
Elijah answered them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty. The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight.
Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.
The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, Go down with him: don’t be afraid of him. He arose, and went down with him to the king.
He said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you are gone up, but shall surely die.
So he died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken. Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Elijah said to Elisha, Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel. Elisha said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel.
The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?
He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace.
Elijah said to him, Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho. He said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho.
The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?
He answered, Yes, I know it. Hold your peace.
Elijah said to him, Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan.
He said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.
They two went on.
Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan.
Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground.
It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you. Elisha said, please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.
He said, You have asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.
It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both apart; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen of it! He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces.
He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah? and when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over.
When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha. They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
They said to him, See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master, lest the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up, and cast him on some mountain, or into some valley. He said, You shall not send.
When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but didn’t find him.
They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, Didn’t I tell you,
Don’t go?
The men of the city said to Elisha, Behold, we pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees: but the water is bad, and the land miscarries.
He said, Bring me a new jar, and put salt therein. They brought it to him.
He went forth to the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus says Yahweh, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.
So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
He went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you baldy; go up, you baldhead.
He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. There came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and mauled forty-two lads of them.
He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.
Nevertheless he cleaved to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he didn’t depart from it.
Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master; and he rendered to the king of Israel the wool of one hundred thousand lambs, and of one hundred thousand rams.
But it happened, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
King Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.
He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab has rebelled against me: will you go with me against Moab to battle? He said, I will go up: I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.
He said, Which way shall we go up? He answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the animals that followed them.
The king of Israel said, Alas! for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
But Jehoshaphat said, Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him? One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.
Jehoshaphat said, The word of Yahweh is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
Elisha said to the king of Israel, What have I to do with you? get you to the prophets of your father, and to the prophets of your mother. The king of Israel said to him, No; for Yahweh has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
Elisha said, As Yahweh of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward you, nor see you.
But now bring me a minstrel. It happened, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Yahweh came on him.
He said, Thus says Yahweh, Make this valley full of trenches.
For thus says Yahweh, You shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and you shall drink, both you and your cattle and your animals.
This is but a light thing in the sight of Yahweh: he will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.
You shall strike every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all springs of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
It happened in the morning, about the time of offering the offering, that behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all who were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.
They rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone on the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them as red as blood:
and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have struck each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
When they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and struck the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land smiting the Moabites.
They beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the springs of water, and felled all the good trees, until in Kir Hareseth [only] they left the stones of it; however the men armed with slings went about it, and struck it.
When the king of Moab saw that the battle was too severe for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew sword, to break through to the king of Edom; but they could not.
Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall. There was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant did fear Yahweh: and the creditor is come to take to him my two children to be bondservants.
Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? tell me; what have you in the house? She said, Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.
Then he said, Go, borrow you vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
You shall go in, and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and you shall set aside that which is full.
So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons; they brought [the vessels] to her, and she poured out.
It happened, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me yet a vessel. He said to her, There isn’t another vessel. The oil stayed.
Then she came and told the man of God. He said, Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt, and live you and your sons of the rest.
It fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.
She said to her husband, See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passes by us continually.
Let us make, Please, a little chamber on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a lamp stand: and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there.
It fell on a day, that he came there, and he turned into the chamber and lay there.
He said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him.
He said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for you? would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? She answered, I dwell among my own people.
He said, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, Most assuredly she has no son, and her husband is old.
He said, Call her. When he had called her, she stood in the door.
He said, At this season, when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son. She said, No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.
The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said to her.
When the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
He said to his father, My head, my head. He said to his servant, Carry him to his mother.
When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died.
She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut [the door] on him, and went out.
She called to her husband, and said, Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
He said, Why will you go to him today? it is neither new moon nor Sabbath. She said, It shall be well.
Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; don’t slacken me the riding, except I bid you.
So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. It happened, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite:
please run now to meet her, and ask her, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? She answered, It is well.
When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and Yahweh has hid it from me, and has not told me.
Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? Didn’t I say, Do not deceive me?
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go your way: if you meet any man, Don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again: and lay my staff on the face of the child.
The mother of the child said, As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. He arose, and followed her.
Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child has not awakened.
When Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid on his bed.
He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh.
He went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands: and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child grew warm.
Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself on him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
He called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. When she was come in to him, he said, Take up your son.
Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.
Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, Set on the great pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.
One went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of stew; for they didn’t recognize them.
So they poured out for the men to eat. It happened, as they were eating of the stew, that they cried out, and said, man of God, there is death in the pot. They could not eat of it.
But he said, Then bring meal. He cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. There was no harm in the pot.
There came a man from Baal Shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. He said, Give to the people, that they may eat.
His servant said, What, should I set this before a hundred men? But he said, Give the people, that they may eat; for thus says Yahweh, They shall eat, and shall leave of it.
So he set it before them, and they ate, and left of it, according to the word of Yahweh.
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, [but he was] a leper.
The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy.
One went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maiden who is of the land of Israel.
The king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may recover him of his leprosy.
It happened, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he tore his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man does send to me to recover a man of his leprosy? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.
It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Why have you torn your clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.
But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? how much rather then, when he says to you, Wash, and be clean?
Then went he down, and dipped [himself] seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, please take a present from your servant.
But he said, As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none. He urged him to take it; but he refused.
Naaman said, If not, yet, please let there be given to your servant two mules’ burden of earth; for your servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh.
In this thing Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing.
He said to him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: as Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
He said, All is well. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now there are come to me from the hill-country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; please give them a talent of silver, and two changes of clothing.
Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents. He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they bore them before him.
When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.
But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, Whence come you, Gehazi? He said, Your servant went no where.
He said to him, Didn’t my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and men-servants and maid-servants?
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave to you, and to your seed forever. He went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow.
The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the place where we dwell before you is too strait for us.
Let us go, we pray you, to the Jordan, and take there every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. He answered, Go you.
One said, Be pleased, I pray you, to go with your servants. He answered, I will go.
So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.
But as one was felling a beam, the ax-head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed.
The man of God said, Where fell it? He shown him the place. He cut down a stick, and cast it in there, and made the iron to swim.
He said, Take it up to you. So he put out his hand, and took it.
Now the king of Syria was warring against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
The man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you not pass such a place; for there the Syrians are coming down.
The king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice.
The heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said to them, Won’t you show me which of us is for the king of Israel?
One of his servants said, No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber.
He said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him. It was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
Therefore sent he there horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city. His servant said to him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
He answered, Don’t be afraid; for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.
Elisha prayed, and said, Yahweh, Please open his eyes, that he may see. Yahweh opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh, and said, Please smite this people with blindness. He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
Elisha said to them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. He led them to Samaria.
It happened, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Yahweh, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. Yahweh opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I strike them? shall I strike them?
He answered, You shall not strike them: would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
He prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. The bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
It happened after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.
There was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five [pieces] of silver.
As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, there cried a woman to him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.
He said, If Yahweh doesn’t help you, whence shall I help you? out of the threshing floor, or out of the winepress?
The king said to her, What ails you? She answered, This woman said to me, Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.
So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, Give your son, that we may eat him; and she has hid her son.
It happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes (now he was passing by on the wall); and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within on his flesh.
Then he said, God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; and [the king] sent a man from before him: but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See you how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him: isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?
While he was yet talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of Yahweh; why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?
Elisha said, Hear you the word of Yahweh: thus says Yahweh, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might this thing be? He said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it.
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall to the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there.
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come on us.
Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried there silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it; and they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried there also, and went and hid it.
Then they said one to another, We aren’t doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we hold our peace: if we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.
So they came and called to the porter of the city; and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.
He called the porters; and they told it to the king’s household within.
The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.
One of his servants answered, Please let some take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel who are left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel who are consumed); and let us send and see.
They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
They went after them to the Jordan: and, behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king.
The people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh.
The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trod on him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
It happened, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;
and that captain answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? and he said, Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it:
it happened even so to him; for the people trod on him in the gate, and he died.
Now Elisha had spoken to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for Yahweh has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years.
The woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of God; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.
It happened at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land.
Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.
It happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, that behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.
When the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.
Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come here.
The king said to Hazael, Take a present in your hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Yahweh by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Your son Benhadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?
Elisha said to him, Go, tell him, You shall surely recover; however Yahweh has shown me that he shall surely die.
He settled his gaze steadfastly [on him], until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
Hazael said, Why weeps my lord? He answered, Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: their strongholds will you set on fire, and their young men will you kill with the sword, and will dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child.
Hazael said, But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? Elisha answered, Yahweh has shown me that you shall be king over Syria.
Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to you? He answered, He told me that you would surely recover.
It happened on the next day, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his place.
In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.
Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
However Yahweh would not destroy Judah, for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give to him a lamp for his children always.
In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents.
So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then did Libnah revolt at the same time.
The rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.
In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
Twenty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
He walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the house of Ahab; for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.
He went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, Gird up your loins, and take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
When you come there, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner chamber.
Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and don’t wait.
So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.
When he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to you, captain. Jehu said, To which of us all? He said, To you, O captain.
He arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, even over Israel.
You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh, at the hand of Jezebel.
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab every man-child, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.
I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.
The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. He opened the door, and fled.
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, Is all well? why came this mad fellow to you? He said to them, You know the man and what his talk was.
They said, It is false; tell us now. He said, Thus and thus spoke he to me, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I have anointed you king over Israel.
Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, Jehu is king.
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;
but king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) Jehu said, If this be your mind, then let none escape and go forth out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel.
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? turn you behind me. The watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he isn’t coming back.
Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, Thus says the king, Is it peace? Jehu answered, What have you to do with peace? turn you behind me.
The watchman told, saying, He came even to them, and isn’t coming back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously.
Joram said, Make ready. They made ready his chariot. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
It happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? He answered, What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?
Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, Ahaziah.
Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
Then said [Jehu] to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when I and you rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him:
Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, says Yahweh; and I will requite you in this plat, says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat [of ground], according to the word of Yahweh.
But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden-house. Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot: [and they struck him] at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there.
His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.
In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.
As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Is it peace, you Zimri, your master’s murderer?
He lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? There looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
He said, Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot.
When he was come in, he ate and drink; and he said, See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.
They went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
Therefore they came back, and told him. He said, This is the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel;
and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up [the sons of] Ahab, saying,
Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor;
look you out the best and meet of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings didn’t stand before him: how then shall we stand?
He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who brought up [the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We are your servants, and will do all that you shall bid us; we will not make any man king: you do that which is good in your eyes.
Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you be on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.
It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.
There came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. He said, Lay you them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.
It happened in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, You are righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and killed him; but who struck all these?
Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of Yahweh, which Yahweh spoke concerning the house of Ahab: for Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah.
So Jehu struck all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing-house of the shepherds in the way,
Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are you? They answered, We are the brothers of Ahaziah: and we go down to Greet the children of the king and the children of the queen.
He said, Take them alive. They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
When he was departed there, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he greeted him, and said to him, Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart? Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me your hand. He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.
He said, Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh. So they made him ride in his chariot.
When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to Elijah.
Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.
Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice [to do] to Baal; whoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. They proclaimed it.
Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn’t come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.
He said to him who was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. He brought them forth vestments.
Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said to the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only.
They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him eighty men outside, and said, If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, [he who lets him go], his life shall be for the life of him.
It happened, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and kill them; let none come forth. They struck them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
They brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them.
They broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day.
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, Jehu didn’t depart from after them, [to wit], the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
Yahweh said to Jehu, Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, [and] have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.
In those days Yahweh began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel;
from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.
The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, [and put them] in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain;
He was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years. Athaliah reigned over the land.
In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the house of Yahweh; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Yahweh, and shown them the king’s son.
He commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
A third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
The two companies of you, even all who go forth on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Yahweh about the king.
You shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain: and be you with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.
The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David’s, which were in the house of Yahweh.
The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.
Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, [Long] live the king.
When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and of] the people, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!
Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him who follows her kill with the sword. For the priest said, Don’t let her be slain in the house of Yahweh.
So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house: and there was she slain.
Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh’s people; between the king also and the people.
All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.
He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Yahweh, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings.
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king’s house.
Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
However the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of Yahweh, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it comes into any man’s heart to bring into the house of Yahweh,
let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wherever any breach shall be found.
But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.
Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the [other] priests, and said to them, Why don’t you repair the breaches of the house? now therefore take no [more] money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
The priests consented that they should take no [more] money from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house.
But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of Yahweh: and the priests who kept the threshold put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh.
It was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of Yahweh.
They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, who worked on the house of Yahweh,
and to the masons and the stone cutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of Yahweh, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
But there were not made for the house of Yahweh cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh;
for they gave that to those who did the work, and repaired therewith the house of Yahweh.
Moreover they didn’t demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to give to those who did the work; for they dealt faithfully.
The money for the trespass-offerings, and the money for the sin-offerings, was not brought into the house of Yahweh: it was the priests’.
Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and of the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, [on the way] that goes down to Silla.
For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] seventeen years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; he didn’t depart from it.
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually.
Jehoahaz begged Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them.
(Yahweh gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before.
Nevertheless they didn’t depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria.)
For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people save fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his place.
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] sixteen years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.
Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen of it!
Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows; and he took to him bow and arrows.
He said to the king of Israel, Put your hand on the bow; and he put his hand [on it]. Elisha laid his hands on the king’s hands.
He said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. He said, Yahweh’s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you shall strike the Syrians in Aphek, until you have consumed them.
He said, Take the arrows; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, Smite on the ground; and he struck thrice, and stayed.
The man of God was angry with him, and said, You should have struck five or six times: then had you struck Syria until you had consumed it, whereas now you shall strike Syria but thrice.
Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
It happened, as they were burying a man, that behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the tomb of Elisha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
But Yahweh was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and had respect to them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.
Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place.
Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash strike him, and recovered the cities of Israel.
In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, yet not like David his father: he did according to all that Joash his father had done.
However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
It happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he killed his servants who had slain the king his father:
but the children of the murderers he didn’t put to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.
He killed of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, to this day.
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife: and there passed by a wild animal that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.
You have indeed struck Edom, and your heart has lifted you up: glory of it, and abide at home; for why should you meddle to [your] hurt, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?
But Amaziah would not hear. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent.
Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
He took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.
Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.
They brought him on horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, [and reigned] forty-one years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath Hepher.
For Yahweh saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Israel.
Yahweh didn’t say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, [which had belonged] to Judah, for Israel, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.
Yahweh struck the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham the king’s son was over the household, judging the people of the land.
Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as his fathers had done: he didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people, and killed him, and reigned in his place.
Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
This was the word of Yahweh which he spoke to Jehu, saying, Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. So it came to pass.
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned the space of a month in Samaria.
Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and killed him, and reigned in his place.
Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
Then Menahem struck Tiphsah, and all who were therein, and the borders of it, from Tirzah: because they didn’t open to him, therefore he struck it; and all the women therein who were with child he ripped up.
In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, [and reigned] ten years in Samaria.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn’t depart all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
There came against the land Pul the king of Assyria; and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and didn’t stay there in the land.
Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] two years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and struck him in Samaria, in the castle of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his place.
Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] twenty years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh: he didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel Beth Maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck him, and killed him, and reigned in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
However the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh.
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
In those days Yahweh began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn’t do that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, like David his father.
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yes, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel.
He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.
At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and lived there, to this day.
So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am your servant and your son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.
Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.
The king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and killed Rezin.
King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship of it.
Urijah the priest built an altar: according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.
When the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near to the altar, and offered thereon.
He burnt his burnt offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, on the altar.
The brazen altar, which was before Yahweh, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of Yahweh, and put it on the north side of his altar.
King Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king’s burnt offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by.
Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.
King Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone.
The covered way for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry outside, turned he to the house of Yahweh, because of the king of Assyria.
Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel, [and reigned] nine years.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute.
The king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.
Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
It was so, because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom Yahweh cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made.
The children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against Yahweh their God: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city;
and they set them up pillars and Asherim on every high hill, and under every green tree;
and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom Yahweh carried away before them; and they worked wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger;
and they served idols, whereof Yahweh had said to them, You shall not do this thing.
Yet Yahweh testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like the neck of their fathers, who didn’t believe in Yahweh their God.
They rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified to them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Yahweh had charged those who they should not do like them.
They forsook all the commandments of Yahweh their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the host of the sky, and served Baal.
They caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Also Judah didn’t keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
For he tore Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following Yahweh, and made them sin a great sin.
The children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they didn’t depart from them;
until Yahweh removed Israel out of his sight, as he spoke by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria to this day.
The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and lived in the cities of it.
So it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they didn’t fear Yahweh: therefore Yahweh sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
Therefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, don’t know the law of the god of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them, and, behold, they kill them, because they don’t know the law of the god of the land.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry there one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land.
So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.
The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,
and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
So they feared Yahweh, and made to them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
They feared Yahweh, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.
To this day they do after the former manner: they don’t fear Yahweh, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
with whom Yahweh had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:
but Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him shall you fear, and to him shall you bow yourselves, and to him shall you sacrifice:
and the statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forevermore; and you shall not fear other gods:
and the covenant that I have made with you you shall not forget; neither shall you fear other gods:
but Yahweh your God shall you fear; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
However they did not listen, but they did after their former manner.
So these nations feared Yahweh, and served their engraved images; their children likewise, and their children’s children, as did their fathers, so do they to this day.
Now it happened in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done.
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
He trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [among them] that were before him.
For he joined with Yahweh; he didn’t depart from following him, but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses.
Yahweh was with him; wherever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and didn’t serve him.
He struck the Philistines to Gaza and the borders of it, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.
It happened in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
At the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
The king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,
because they didn’t obey the voice of Yahweh their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.
Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.
Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which you put on me will I bear. The king of Assyria appointed to Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
Hezekiah gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh, and in the treasures of the king’s house.
At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of Yahweh, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.
The king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army to Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller’s field.
When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.
Rabshakeh said to them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this in which you trust?
You say (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me?
Now, behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
But if you tell me, We trust in Yahweh our God; isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
Now therefore, Please give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.
How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
Am I now come up without Yahweh against this place to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.
Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, to Rabshakeh, Please speak to your servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and don’t speak with us in the Jews’ language, in the ears of the people who are on the wall.
But Rabshakeh said to them, Has my master sent me to your master, and to you, to speak these words? Hasn’t he sent me to the men who sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?
Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spoke, saying, Hear you the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.
Thus says the king, Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand:
neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Don’t listen to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat you everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and everyone drink the waters of his own cistern;
Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and of honey, that you may live, and not die: and don’t listen to Hezekiah, when he persuades you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us.
Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?
Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?
But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, saying, Don’t answer him.
Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.
It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
They said to him, Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.
So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
Isaiah said to them, Thus shall you tell your master, Thus says Yahweh, Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear news, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
When he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against you, he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,
Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shall you be delivered?
Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar?
Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?
Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of Yahweh, and spread it before Yahweh.
Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sit [above] the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Incline your ear, Yahweh, and hear; open your eyes, Yahweh, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, with which he has sent him to defy the living God.
Of a truth, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,
and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.
Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save you us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you Yahweh are God alone.
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Whereas you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard [you].
This is the word that Yahweh has spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and laughed you to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you.
Whom have you defied and blasphemed? and against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.
By your messengers you have defied the Lord, and have said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars of it, and the choice fir trees of it; and I will enter into his farthest lodging-place, the forest of his fruitful field.
I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.
Haven’t you heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be yours to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.
Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted before it is grown up.
But I know your sitting down, and your going out, and your coming in, and your raging against me.
Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance is come up into my ears, therefore will I put my hook in your nose, and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.
This shall be the sign to you: You shall eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs of the same; and in the third year sow you, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of it.
The remnant that has escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of Mount Zion those who shall escape: the zeal of Yahweh shall perform this.
Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.
By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come to this city, says Yahweh.
For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
It happened that night, that the angel of Yahweh went forth, and struck in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred eighty-five thousand: and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.
So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and lived at Nineveh.
It happened, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.
In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Set your house in order: for you shall die, and not live.
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yahweh, saying,
Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. Hezekiah wept sore.
It happened, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Yahweh came to him, saying,
Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of Yahweh.
I will add to your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of Yahweh the third day?
Isaiah said, This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?
Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.
Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
Hezekiah listened to them, and shown them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What said these men? and from whence came they to you? Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
He said, What have they seen in your house? Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.
Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear the word of Yahweh.
Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, says Yahweh.
Of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall father, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of Yahweh which you have spoken. He said moreover, Isn’t it so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hephzibah.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshiped all the host of the sky, and served them.
He built altars in the house of Yahweh, whereof Yahweh said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
He built altars for all the host of the sky in the two courts of the house of Yahweh.
He made his son to pass through the fire, and practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
He set the engraved image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which Yahweh said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever;
neither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.
But they didn’t listen: and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
Yahweh spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,
Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols;
therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Behold, I bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.
I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
I will cast off the remnant of my inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;
because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even to this day.
Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did Manasseh his father.
He walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them:
and he forsook Yahweh, the God of his fathers, and didn’t walk in the way of Yahweh.
The servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his place.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in all the way of David his father, and didn’t turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
It happened in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying,
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of Yahweh, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people:
and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, to repair the breaches of the house,
to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house.
However there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully.
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh. Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of Yahweh.
Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book. Shaphan read it before the king.
It happened, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he tore his clothes.
The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that which is written concerning us.
So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her.
She said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you the man who sent you to me,
Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read.
Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus shall you tell him, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard,
because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says Yahweh.
Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place. They brought the king word again.
The king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.
The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Yahweh.
The king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all [his] heart, and all [his] soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.
The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of the sky, and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried the ashes of them to Bethel.
He put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of the sky.
He brought out the Asherah from the house of Yahweh, outside of Jerusalem, to the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast the dust of it on the graves of the common people.
He broke down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Yahweh, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
He brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; and he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city.
Nevertheless the priests of the high places didn’t come up to the altar of Yahweh in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.
He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Yahweh, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
The altars that were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of Yahweh, did the king break down, and beat [them] down from there, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
The high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mountain of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.
He broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.
Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah.
As Josiah turned himself, he spied the tombs that were there in the mountain; and he sent, and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.
Then he said, What monument is that which I see? The men of the city told him, It is the tomb of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that you have done against the altar of Bethel.
He said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.
All the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [Yahweh] to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.
He killed all the priests of the high places that were there, on the altars, and burned men’s bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem.
The king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.
Surely there was not kept such a Passover from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;
but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah was this Passover kept to Yahweh in Jerusalem.
Moreover those who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Yahweh.
Like him was there no king before him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.
Notwithstanding, Yahweh didn’t turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, with which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocation with which Manasseh had provoked him.
Yahweh said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
In his days Pharaoh Necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and [Pharaoh Necoh] killed him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
His servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s place.
Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his fathers had done.
Pharaoh Necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of one hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.
Pharaoh Necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there.
Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of everyone according to his taxation, to give it to Pharaoh Necoh.
Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his fathers had done.
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by his servants the prophets.
Surely at the commandment of Yahweh came this on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,
and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and Yahweh would not pardon.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
The king of Egypt didn’t come again out of his land any more; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.
Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months: and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that his father had done.
At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it;
and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.
He carried out there all the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, as Yahweh had said.
He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
All the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths one thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, [Jehoiachin’s] father’s brother, king is his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
For through the anger of Yahweh did it happen in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
It happened in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.
So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
On the ninth day of the [fourth] month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about); and [the king] went by the way of the Arabah.
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.
Then they took the king, and carried him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment on him.
They killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, to Jerusalem.
He burnt the house of Yahweh, and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire.
All the army of the Chaldeans, who were [with] the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem round about.
The residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away captive.
But the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
The pillars of brass that were in the house of Yahweh, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Yahweh, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.
The pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, took they away.
The fire pans, and the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.
The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh, the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was on it; and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates on the capital round about, all of brass: and like to these had the second pillar with network.
The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city.
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.
The king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.
As for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor.
Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal seed came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.
All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
It happened in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
and he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon,
and changed his prison garments. [Jehoiachin] ate bread before him continually all the days of his life:
and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life.
- Adam, Seth, Enosh,
-
- These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and
-Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
-
- Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in
-Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second,
-Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;
-
- The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and
-Shobal.
-
- The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the
-firstborn; but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright
-was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is
-not to be reckoned after the birthright.
-
- The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
-
- Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron,
-four.
-
- Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the
-second, and Aharah the third,
-
- So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they
-are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Judah was carried
-away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.
-
- Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of
-Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount
-Gilboa.
-
- Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron,
-saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
-
- Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet
-kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among
-the mighty men, his helpers in war.
-
- David consulted with the captains of thousands and of
-hundreds, even with every leader.
-
- Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees,
-and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
-
- [David] made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared
-a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
-
- They brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of
-the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt
-offerings and peace-offerings before God.
-
- It happened, when David lived in his house, that David said
-to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark
-of the covenant of Yahweh [dwells] under curtains.
-
- After this it happened, that David struck the Philistines,
-and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the
-Philistines.
-
- It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children
-of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
-
- It happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the
-time when kings go out [to battle], that Joab led forth the army, and
-wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged
-Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and
-overthrew it.
-
- Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number
-Israel.
-
- Then David said, This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is
-the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
-
- Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his
-son king over Israel.
-
- The courses of the sons of Aaron [were these]. The sons of
-Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
-
- Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the
-service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun,
-who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and
-the number of those who did the work according to their service was:
-
- For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites,
-Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
-
- Now the children of Israel after their number, [to wit], the
-heads of fathers' [houses] and the captains of thousands and of
-hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the
-courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the
-months of the year-of every course were twenty-four thousand.
-
- David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the
-tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by
-course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds,
-and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and
-of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty
-men of valor, to Jerusalem.
-
- David the king said to all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom
-alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great;
-for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Adam, Seth, Enosh,
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah.
The sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
The sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
The sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan.
Cush became the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
Mizraim became the father of Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whence came the Philistines), and Caphtorim.
Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.
Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.
To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
Joktan became the father of Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,
Eber, Peleg, Reu,
Serug, Nahor, Terah,
Abram (the same is Abraham).
The sons of Abraham: Isaac, and Ishmael.
These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan.
The sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.
Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau, and Israel.
The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah.
The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.
The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
The sons of Seir: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
The sons of Lotan: Hori, and Homam; and Timna was Lotan’s sister.
The sons of Shobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah, and Anah.
The sons of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz, and Aran.
Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there resigned any king over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.
Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.
Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
Baal Hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Pai: and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.
Hadad died. The chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,
chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,
chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,
chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.
These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh; and he killed him.
Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
The sons of Perez: Hezron, and Hamul.
The sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all.
The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing.
The sons of Ethan: Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,
and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;
and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third,
Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;
and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of [children] of Azubah [his] wife, and of Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.
Azubah died, and Caleb took to him Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took [as wife] when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and the villages of it, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
After that Hezron was dead in Caleb Ephrathah, then Abijah Hezron’s wife bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, Ahijah.
Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.
The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.
The sons of Onam were Shammai, and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab, and Abishur.
The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban, and Molid.
The sons of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim; but Seled died without children.
The sons of Appaim: Ishi. The sons of Ishi: Sheshan. The sons of Sheshan: Ahlai.
The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether, and Jonathan; and Jether died without children.
The sons of Jonathan: Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai.
Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,
and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed,
and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah,
and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,
and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum,
and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.
The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
The sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.
Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai.
The son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, and Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez.
The sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jothan, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.
Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.
The families of Kiriath Jearim: The Ithrites, and the Puthites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;
the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife:
six were born to him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years;
and these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel;
and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,
and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.
All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.
Solomon’s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,
Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,
Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Amon his son, Josiah his son.
The sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.
The sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
The sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son,
and Malchiram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.
The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;
and Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed, five.
The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jeshaiah; the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.
The sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. The sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Igal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, and Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.
The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani, seven.
The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.
Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath; and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
These were [the sons of] the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi;
and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.
Hakkoz became the father of Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers: and his mother named him Jabez, saying, Because I bore him with sorrow.
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow! God granted him that which he requested.
Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These are the men of Recah.
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel, and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
Meonothai became the father of Ophrah: and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge Harashim; for they were craftsmen.
The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah; and Kenaz.
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
The sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
His wife the Jewess bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.
The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
The sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben Zoheth.
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea;
and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. The records are ancient.
These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah: there they lived with the king for his work.
The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn’t have many children, neither did all their family multiply like the children of Judah.
They lived at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,
and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
and at Beth Marcaboth, and Hazar Susim, and at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities to the reign of David.
Their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
and all their villages that were round about the same cities, to Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy.
Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
and Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah--
these mentioned by name were princes in their families: and their fathers’ houses increased greatly.
They went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
They found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for those who lived there before were of Ham.
These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place; because there was pasture there for their flocks.
Some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
They struck the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.
The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)
the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,
Beerah his son, whom Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.
His brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal Meon:
and eastward he lived even to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
In the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the [land] east of Gilead.
The sons of Gad lived over against them, in the land of Bashan to Salecah:
Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.
Their brothers of their fathers’ houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven.
These were the sons of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers’ houses.
They lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, as far as their borders.
All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, that were able to go forth to war.
They made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.
They were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust in him.
They took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred fifty thousand, and of donkeys two thousand, and of men one hundred thousand.
For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. They lived in their place until the captivity.
The children of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land: they increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon.
These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses.
They trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the prostitute after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
The children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas became the father of Abishua,
and Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi,
and Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth,
Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,
and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz,
and Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan,
and Johanan became the father of Azariah, (he it is who executed the priest’s office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem),
and Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub,
and Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum,
and Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah,
and Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jehozadak;
Jehozadak went [into captivity], when Yahweh carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.
These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.
The sons of Kohath were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ [houses].
Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,
Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.
The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,
Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.
The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth.
As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
The sons of Samuel: the firstborn [Joel], and the second Abijah.
The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,
Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.
These are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Yahweh, after that the ark had rest.
They ministered with song before the tent of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order.
These are those who waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,
the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,
the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,
the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,
the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,
the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.
His brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,
the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,
the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,
the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,
the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
On the left hand their brothers the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,
the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,
the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,
the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.
Their brothers the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tent of the house of God.
But Aaron and his sons offered on the altar of burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,
Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,
Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,
Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.
Now these are their dwelling-places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the [first] lot),
to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs of it round about it;
but the fields of the city, and the villages of it, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.
To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,
and Ashan with its suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its suburbs;
and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.
To the rest of the sons of Kohath [were given] by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities.
To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
To the sons of Merari [were given] by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
The children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their suburbs.
They gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.
Some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.
They gave to them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,
and Jokmeam with its suburbs, and Beth Horon with its suburbs,
and Aijalon with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs;
and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its suburbs, and Bileam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.
To the sons of Gershom [were given], out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;
and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,
and Ramoth with its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs;
and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its suburbs, and Abdon with its suburbs,
and Hukok with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs;
and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, and Hammon with its suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its suburbs.
To the rest of [the Levites], the sons of Merari, [were given], out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its suburbs, Tabor with its suburbs;
and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, [were given them], out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jahzah with its suburbs,
and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;
and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
and Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.
Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
The sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, [to wit], of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations: their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.
The sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Isshiah, five; all of them chief men.
With them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the host for war, thirty-six thousand; for they had many wives and sons.
Their brothers among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, reckoned in all by genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand.
[The sons of] Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
The sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor; and they were reckoned by genealogy twenty-two thousand thirty-four.
The sons of Becher: Zemirah, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jeremoth, and Abijah, and Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher.
They were reckoned by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand two hundred.
The sons of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar.
All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ [houses], mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand and two hundred, who were able to go forth in the host for war.
Shuppim also, and Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, the sons of Aher.
The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore: she bore Machir the father of Gilead:
and Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah; and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah.
The sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eleadah his son, and Tahath his son,
and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take away their cattle.
Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.
He went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
His daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah.
Rephah was his son, and Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
Nun his son, Joshua his son.
Their possessions and habitations were Bethel and the towns of it, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns of it; Shechem also and the towns of it, to Azzah and the towns of it;
and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
The sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
Heber became the father of Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
The sons of Shemer: Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara.
The sons of Ulla: Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia.
All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. The number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men.
Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
Bela had sons: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
These are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers’ [houses] of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:
and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive: and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
Shaharaim became the father of children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
He became the father of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam,
and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ [houses].
Of Hushim he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal.
The sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with the towns of it;
and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ [houses] of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder,
and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber,
and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,
and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel,
and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel,
and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothijah,
and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,
and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
These were heads of fathers’ [houses] throughout their generations, chief men: these lived in Jerusalem.
In Gibeon there lived the father of Gibeon, [Jeiel], whose wife’s name was Maacah;
and his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.
Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, over against their brothers.
Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal; and Merib Baal became the father of Micah.
The sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza.
Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.
Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.
In Jerusalem lived of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:
Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.
Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brothers, six hundred ninety.
Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah,
and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
and their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers’ [houses] by their fathers’ houses.
Of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, Jachin,
and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;
and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
and their brothers, heads of their fathers’ houses, one thousand seven hundred sixty; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.
Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,
and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
The porters: Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief),
who hitherto [waited] in the king’s gate eastward: they were the porters for the camp of the children of Levi.
Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent: and their fathers had been over the camp of Yahweh, keepers of the entry.
Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, [and] Yahweh was with him.
Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tent of meeting.
All these who were chosen to be porters in the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their office of trust.
So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of Yahweh, even the house of the tent, by wards.
On the four sides were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.
Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them:
for the four chief porters, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God.
They lodged round about the house of God, because the charge [of it] was on them; and to them pertained the opening of it morning by morning.
Certain of them had charge of the vessels of service; for by count were these brought in and by count were these taken out.
Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.
Some of the sons of the priests prepared the confection of the spices.
Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.
Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.
These are the singers, heads of fathers’ [houses] of the Levites, [who lived] in the chambers [and were] free [from other service]; for they were employed in their work day and night.
These were heads of fathers’ [houses] of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men: these lived at Jerusalem.
In Gibeon there lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife’s name was Maacah:
and his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.
Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, over against their brothers.
Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal; and Merib Baal became the father of Micah.
The sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, [and Ahaz].
Ahaz became the father of Jarah; and Jarah became the father of Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza;
and Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
The battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers.
Then said Saul to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died.
So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together.
When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
It happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
They stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people.
They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh, which he didn’t keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire [thereby],
and didn’t inquire of Yahweh: therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh.
In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel: and Yahweh your God said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Yahweh by Samuel.
David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, You shall not come in here. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.
David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David.
He built the city round about, from Millo even round about; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Hosts was with him.
Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who shown themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Yahweh concerning Israel.
This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time.
After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.
He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
They stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory.
Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
The three broke through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to Yahweh,
and said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy? for with [the jeopardy of] their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three.
Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: however he didn’t attain to the [first] three.
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he killed the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: he went down also and killed a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.
He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear.
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.
Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the [first] three: and David set him over his guard.
Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,
Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,
Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,
Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,
Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,
Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.
They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saul’s brothers of Benjamin.
The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite,
and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,
Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,
and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;
Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.
These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand.
These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
There came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold to David.
David went out to meet them, and answered them, If you be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if [you be come] to betray me to my adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, [and he said], Your are we, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse: peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they didn’t help them; for the lords of the Philistines on advise sent him away, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh.
They helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.
For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great host, like the host of God.
These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Yahweh.
The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.
Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
Jehoiada was the leader of [the house of] Aaron; and with him were three thousand and seven hundred,
and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains.
Of the children of Benjamin, the brothers of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.
Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses.
Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.
Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment.
Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the host, who could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and who could order [the battle array, and were] not of double heart.
Of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand.
Of the Danites who could set the battle in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred.
Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the host, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand.
On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand.
All these being men of war, who could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had made preparation for them.
Moreover those who were near to them, [even] as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, victuals of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.
David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.
David said to all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good to you, and if it be of Yahweh our God, let us send abroad everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us;
and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.
All the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor [the brook] of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.
David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God Yahweh that sits [above] the cherubim, that is called by the Name.
They carried the ark of God on a new cart, [and brought it] out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with tambourines, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Uzza, and he struck him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God.
David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken forth on Uzza; and he called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.
David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
So David didn’t move the ark to him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months: and Yahweh blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.
Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake.
David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David became the father of more sons and daughters.
These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet,
and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went out against them.
Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and will you deliver them into my hand? Yahweh said to him, Go up; for I will deliver them into your hand.
So they came up to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
They left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire.
The Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.
David inquired again of God; and God said to him, You shall not go up after them: turn away from them, and come on them over against the mulberry trees.
It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle; for God is gone out before you to strike the host of the Philistines.
David did as God commanded him: and they struck the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
The fame of David went out into all lands; and Yahweh brought the fear of him on all nations.
[David] made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them has Yahweh chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister to him forever.
David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh to its place, which he had prepared for it.
David gathered together the sons of Aaron, and the Levites:
of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brothers one hundred twenty;
of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred twenty;
of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brothers one hundred thirty;
of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brothers two hundred;
of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brothers eighty;
of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brothers one hundred twelve.
David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
and said to them, You are the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both you and your brothers, that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to [the place] that I have prepared for it.
For because you didn’t carry it at the first, Yahweh our God made a breach on us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.
So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
The children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of Yahweh.
David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.
So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;
and with them their brothers of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.
So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [were appointed] with cymbals of brass to sound aloud;
and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth;
and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.
Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.
Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.
Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.
So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.
It happened, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites who bore the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song [with] the singers: and David had on him an ephod of linen.
Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.
It happened, as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.
They brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings before God.
When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh.
He dealt to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins.
He appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate and to thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel:
Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with psalteries and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;
and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.
Then on that day David first ordained to give thanks to Yahweh, by the hand of Asaph and his brothers.
Oh give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name; Make known his doings among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him; Talk you of all his marvelous works.
Glory you in his holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice who seek Yahweh.
Seek you Yahweh and his strength; Seek his face forever more.
Remember his marvelous works that he has done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
You seed of Israel his servant, You children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is Yahweh our God; His judgments are in all the earth.
Remember his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
[The covenant] which he made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac,
Confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
Saying, To you will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;
When you were but a few men in number, Yes, very few, and sojourners in it;
They went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.
He allowed no man to do them wrong; Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
[Saying], Don’t touch my anointed ones, Do my prophets no harm.
Sing to Yahweh, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols: But Yahweh made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place.
Ascribe to Yahweh, you relatives of the peoples, Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength;
Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship Yahweh in holy array.
Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established that it can’t be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let them say among the nations, Yahweh reigns.
Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it; Let the field exult, and all that is therein;
Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy before Yahweh; For he comes to judge the earth.
Oh give thanks to Yahweh; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Say you, Save us, God of our salvation, Gather us together and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks to your holy name, To triumph in your praise.
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. All the people said, Amen, and praised Yahweh.
So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, Asaph and his brothers, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
and Obed-edom with their brothers, sixty-eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;
and Zadok the priest, and his brothers the priests, before the tent of Yahweh in the high place that was at Gibeon,
to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which he commanded to Israel;
and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his lovingkindness endures forever;
and with them Heman and Jeduthun [with] trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and [with] instruments for the songs of God; and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.
All the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.
It happened, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh [dwells] under curtains.
Nathan said to David, Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.
It happened the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
Go and tell David my servant, Thus says Yahweh, You shall not build me a house to dwell in:
for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tent [to another].
In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, spoke I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel:
and I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.
I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,
and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.
It shall happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before you;
but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.
Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
This was a small thing in your eyes, God; but you have spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.
What can David [say] yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? for you know your servant.
Yahweh, for your servant’s sake, and according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make known all [these] great things.
Yahweh, there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeem out of Egypt?
For your people Israel did you make your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.
Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.
Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David your servant is established before you.
For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house: therefore has your servant found [in his heart] to pray before you.
Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant:
and now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you: for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.
After this it happened, that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
He struck Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
David struck Hadarezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
David took from him one thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots.
When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men.
Then David put [garrisons] in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadarezer, David took very much brass, with which Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah,
he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and struck him; (for Hadarezer had wars with Tou;) and [he had with him] all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
These also did king David dedicate to Yahweh, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.
He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness to all his people.
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.
It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shown kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Think you that David does honor your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Aren’t his servants come to you to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.
So they hired them thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will help you.
Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good.
So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.
When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.
It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came on them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
When the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.
It happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set on David’s head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
He brought forth the people who were therein, and cut [them] with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Thus did David to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
It happened after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
There was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
There was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were twenty-four, six [on each hand], and six [on each foot]; and he also was born to the giant.
When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother killed him.
These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.
Joab said, Yahweh make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, aren’t they all my lord’s servants? why does my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt to Israel?
Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to David. All those of Israel were one million one hundred thousand men who drew sword: and in Judah were four hundred seventy thousand men who drew sword.
But he didn’t count Levi and Benjamin among them; for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
God was displeased with this thing; therefore he struck Israel.
David said to God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.
Yahweh spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying,
Go and speak to David, saying, Thus says Yahweh, I offer you three things: choose you one of them, that I may do it to you.
So Gad came to David, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Take which you will:
either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or else three days the sword of Yahweh, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.
David said to Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Yahweh; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Yahweh saw, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay your hand. The angel of Yahweh was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and the sky, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
David said to God, Isn’t it I who commanded the people to be numbered? It is even I who have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Yahweh my God, be against me, and against my father’s house; but not against your people, that they should be plagued.
Then the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to tell David, that David should go up, and raise an altar to Yahweh in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spoke in the name of Yahweh.
Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build thereon an altar to Yahweh: for the full price shall you give it me, that the plague may be stayed from the people.
Ornan said to David, Take it to you, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: behold, I give [you] the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal-offering; I give it all.
King David said to Ornan, No; but I will most assuredly buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is your for Yahweh, nor offer a burnt-offering without cost.
So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
David built there an altar to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings and peace-offerings, and called on Yahweh; and he answered him from the sky by fire on the altar of burnt offering.
Yahweh commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath of it.
At that time, when David saw that Yahweh had answered him in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
For the tent of Yahweh, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.
But David couldn’t go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.
Then David said, This is the house of Yahweh God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.
David commanded to gather together the sojourners who were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew worked stones to build the house of God.
David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight;
and cedar trees without number: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar trees in abundance to David.
David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel.
David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house to the name of Yahweh my God.
But the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars: you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.
Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days:
he shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
Now, my son, Yahweh be with you; and prosper you, and build the house of Yahweh your God, as he has spoken concerning you.
Only Yahweh give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel; that so you may keep the law of Yahweh your God.
Then shall you prosper, if you observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Yahweh charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed.
Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Yahweh one hundred thousand talents of gold, and one thousand thousand talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and you may add thereto.
Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance, cutters and workers of stone and timber, and all men who are skillful in every manner of work:
of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and Yahweh be with you.
David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, [saying],
Isn’t Yahweh your God with you? and hasn’t he given you rest on every side? for he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Yahweh, and before his people.
Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Yahweh your God; arise therefore, and build you the sanctuary of Yahweh God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Yahweh.
Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
He gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
The Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.
Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Yahweh; and six thousand were officers and judges;
and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Yahweh with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise therewith.
David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.
The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of Ladan.
The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah didn’t have many sons; therefore they became a fathers’ house in one reckoning.
The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, forever, to burn incense before Yahweh, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, forever.
But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.
The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.
The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.
The sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.
The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brothers the sons of Kish took them [to wife].
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
These were the sons of Levi after their fathers’ houses, even the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of those of those who were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward.
For David said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he dwells in Jerusalem forever:
and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tent and all the vessels of it for the service of it.
For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.
For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Yahweh, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;
for the show bread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size;
and to stand every morning to thank and praise Yahweh, and likewise at even;
and to offer all burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the Sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Yahweh;
and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brothers, for the service of the house of Yahweh.
The courses of the sons of Aaron [were these]. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.
There were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and [thus] were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers’ houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers’ houses, eight.
Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.
Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers’ house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.
Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,
the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,
the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,
the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,
the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,
the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,
the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,
the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,
the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Yahweh according to the ordinance [given] to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
Of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.
Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.
Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.
The sons [of Hebron]: Jeriah [the chief], Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.
The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno.
The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.
Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.
The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers’ houses.
These likewise cast lots even as their brothers the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers’ [houses] of the chief even as those of his younger brother.
Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of those who did the work according to their service was:
of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.
Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Yahweh.
Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.
All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Yahweh, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.
The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
They cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.
Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brothers and sons were twelve:
the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve:
for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom.
Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, valiant men, eighteen.
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the house of Yahweh.
They cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.
To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch.
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.
For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ [houses] belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Yahweh.
Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.
His brothers: of Eliezer [came] Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ [houses], the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Yahweh.
All that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brothers.
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king.
Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ [houses]. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
His brothers, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers’ [houses], whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.
Now the children of Israel after their number, [to wit], the heads of fathers’ [houses] and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king, in any matter of the courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year-of every course were twenty-four thousand.
Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
[He was] of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.
Over the course of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his course; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and [of] his course was Ammizabad his son.
The fourth [captain] for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The fifth captain for this fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The sixth [captain] for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The seventh [captain] for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The eighth [captain] for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The ninth [captain] for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
The tenth [captain] for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were Twenty-four thousand.
The eleventh [captain] for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were Twenty-four thousand.
The twelfth [captain] for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty-four thousand.
Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:
of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok:
of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:
of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:
of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:
of the half -[tribe] of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:
of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.
But David didn’t take the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Yahweh had said he would increase Israel like the stars of the sky.
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but didn’t finish; and there came wrath for this on Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.
Over the king’s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah:
Over those who did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:
and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:
and over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowland was Baal Hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:
and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:
and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.
All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David’s.
Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons:
Ahithophel was the king’s counselor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend:
and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king’s host was Joab.
David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem.
Then David the king stood up on his feet, and said, Hear me, my brothers, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.
But God said to me, You shall not build a house for my name, because you are a man of war, and have shed blood.
However Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever: for he has chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;
Of all my sons (for Yahweh has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel.
He said to me, Solomon your son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
I will establish his kingdom forever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my ordinances, as at this day.
Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Yahweh, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Yahweh your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
You, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.
Take heed now; for Yahweh has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch [of the temple], and of the houses of it, and of the treasuries of it, and of the upper rooms of it, and of the inner chambers of it, and of the place of the mercy seat;
and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Yahweh, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Yahweh;
of gold by weight for the [vessels of] gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; [of silver] for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;
by weight also for the lampstands of gold, and for the lamps of it, of gold, by weight for every lampstand and for the lamps of it; and for the lampstands of silver, [silver] by weight for [every] lampstand and for the lamps of it, according to the use of every lampstand;
and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
and the flesh-hooks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, [even] the cherubim, that spread out [their wings], and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh.
All this, [said David], have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Yahweh, even all the works of this pattern.
David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed; for Yahweh God, even my God, is with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is finished.
Behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with you in all manner of work every willing man who has skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at your commandment.
David the king said to all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Yahweh God.
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the [things of] gold, and the silver for the [things of] silver, and the brass for the [things of] brass, the iron for the [things of] iron, and wood for the [things of] wood; onyx stones, and [stones] to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of various colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.
Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, I give it to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, with which to overlay the walls of the houses;
of gold for the [things of] gold, and of silver for the [things of] silver, and for all manner of work [to be made] by the hands of artificers. Who then offers willingly to consecrate himself this day to Yahweh?
Then the princes of the fathers’ [houses], and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly;
and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents.
They with whom [precious] stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Yahweh, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.
Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Yahweh: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be you, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.
Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth [is your]; your is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honor come of you, and you rule over all; and in your hand is power and might; and in your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.
Now therefore, our God, we thank you, and praise your glorious name.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of you, and of your own have we given you.
For we are strangers before you, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.
Yahweh our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes of your hand, and is all your own.
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer willingly to you.
Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart to you;
and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.
David said to all the assembly, Now bless Yahweh your God. All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped Yahweh, and the king.
They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the next day after that day, even one thousand bulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,
and ate and drink before Yahweh on that day with great gladness. They made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him to Yahweh to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.
Then Solomon sat on the throne of Yahweh as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
All the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves to Solomon the king.
Yahweh magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.
The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty-three [years] reigned he in Jerusalem.
He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his place.
Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer,
with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
- Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and
-Yahweh his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
-
- Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Yahweh,
-and a house for his kingdom.
-
- Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem
-on Mount Moriah, where [Yahweh] appeared to David his father, which he
-made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing
-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
-
- Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length
-of it, and twenty cubits the breadth of it, and ten cubits the height
-of it.
-
- Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh
-was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his father had
-dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put
-them in the treasuries of the house of God.
-
- Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in
-the thick darkness.
-
- Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came
-down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices;
-and the glory of Yahweh filled the house.
-
- It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had
-built the house of Yahweh, and his own house,
-
- When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she
-came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very
-great train, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and
-precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she talked with him
-of all that was in her heart.
-
- Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to
-Shechem to make him king.
-
- When Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house
-of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were
-warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to
-Rehoboam.
-
- It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established,
-and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel
-with him.
-
- In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign
-over Judah.
-
- So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
-city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the
-land was quiet ten years.
-
- The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded:
-
- In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha
-king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might
-not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
-
- Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened
-himself against Israel.
-
- Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he
-joined affinity with Ahab.
-
- Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace
-to Jerusalem.
-
- It happened after this, that the children of Moab, and the
-children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against
-Jehoshaphat to battle.
-
- Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
-fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
-
- The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son
-king in his place; for the band of men who came with the Arabians to
-the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king
-of Judah reigned.
-
- In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took
-the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the
-son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of
-Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
-
- Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he
-reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah, of
-Beersheba.
-
- Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and
-he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was
-Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
-
- All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years
-old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
-
- Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and
-he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was
-Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
-
- Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he
-reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn't do that which was
-right in the eyes of Yahweh, like David his father;
-
- Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old;
-and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name
-was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
-
- Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also
-to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh
-at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
-
- Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present
-went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and
-hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars
-out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they
-had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every
-man to his possession, into their own cities.
-
- After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king
-of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the
-fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.
-
- Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he
-reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
-
- Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he
-reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
-
- Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they
-killed the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.
-
- Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah,
-and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Yahweh his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.
Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ [houses].
So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh had made in the wilderness.
But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath Jearim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.
Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tent of Yahweh: and Solomon and the assembly sought to it.
Solomon went up there to the brazen altar before Yahweh, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.
In that night did God appear to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you.
Solomon said to God, You have shown great lovingkindness to David my father, and have made me king in his place.
Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this your people, that is so great?
God said to Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of those who hate you, neither yet have asked long life; but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge my people, over whom I have made you king:
wisdom and knowledge is granted to you; and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had who have been before you; neither shall there any after you have the like.
So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.
Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had one thousand four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
The king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
The horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt and from Kue; the king’s merchants purchased them from Kue.
They brought up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.
Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
Solomon counted out seventy thousand men to bear burdens, and eighty thousand men who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As you did deal with David my father, and did send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein, [even so deal with me].
Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual show bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Yahweh our God. This is [an ordinance] forever to Israel.
The house which I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.
But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?
Now therefore send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave [all manner of] engravings, [to be] with the skillful men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon: and, behold, my servants shall be with your servants,
even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.
Behold, I will give to your servants, the cutters who cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because Yahweh loves his people, he has made you king over them.
Huram said moreover, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Yahweh, and a house for his kingdom.
Now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, of Huram my father’s,
the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his father was a man of Tyre, skillful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to engrave any manner of engraving, and to devise any device; that there may be [a place] appointed to him with your skillful men, and with the skillful men of my lord David your father.
Now therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord has spoken of, let him send to his servants:
and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as you shall need; and we will bring it to you in floats by sea to Joppa; and you shall carry it up to Jerusalem.
Solomon numbered all the sojourners who were in the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father had numbered them; and they were found one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.
He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people at work.
Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where [Yahweh] appeared to David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
He began to build in the second [day] of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.
Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.
The porch that was before [the house], the length of it, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height one hundred twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold.
The greater house he made a ceiling with fir-wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and worked thereon palm trees and chains.
He garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.
He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls of it, and the doors of it, with gold; and engraved cherubim on the walls.
He made the most holy house: the length of it, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the breadth of it twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the upper chambers with gold.
In the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.
The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one [cherub] was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was [likewise] five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
The wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits [also], joining to the wing of the other cherub.
The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.
He made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and worked cherubim thereon.
Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty-five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.
He made chains in the oracle, and put [them] on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.
He set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.
Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length of it, and twenty cubits the breadth of it, and ten cubits the height of it.
Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and the height of it was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.
Under it was the likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
It was a handbreadth thick; and the brim of it was worked like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand baths.
He made also ten basins, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as belonged to the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
He made the ten lampstands of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.
He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.
Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.
He set the sea on the right side [of the house] eastward, toward the south.
Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he did for king Solomon in the house of God:
the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,
and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars.
He made also the bases, and the basins made he on the bases;
one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.
The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels of it, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of Yahweh of bright brass.
In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.
Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.
Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the show bread;
and the lampstands with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;
and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;
and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors of it for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple, were of gold.
Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh was finished. Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers’ [houses] of the children of Israel, to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of the city of David, which is Zion.
nd all the men of Israel assembled themselves to the king at the feast, which was [in] the seventh month.
All the elders of Israel came: and the Levites took up the ark;
and they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these did the priests the Levites bring up.
King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled to him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.
The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.
For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the poles of it above.
The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen outside: and there it is to this day.
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put [there] at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
It happened, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their courses;
also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brothers, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them one hundred twenty priests sounding with trumpets;)
it happened, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Yahweh; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Yahweh, [saying], For he is good; for his lovingkindness endures forever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Yahweh,
so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Yahweh filled the house of God.
Then spoke Solomon, Yahweh has said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
But I have built you a house of habitation, and a place for you to dwell in forever.
The king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.
He said, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David my father, and has with his hands fulfilled it, saying,
Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:
but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
But Yahweh said to David my father, Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart:
nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son who shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for my name.
Yahweh has performed his word that he spoke; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised, and have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
There have I set the ark, in which is the covenant of Yahweh, which he made with the children of Israel.
He stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands
(for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and on it he stood, and kneeled down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;)
and he said, Yahweh, the God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven, or on earth; who keep covenant and lovingkindness with your servants, who walk before you with all their heart;
who have kept with your servant David my father that which you did promise him: yes, you spoke with your mouth, and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is this day.
Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, keep with your servant David my father that which you have promised him, saying, There shall not fail you a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.
Now therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, let your word be verified, which you spoke to your servant David.
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
Yet have you respect to the prayer of your servant, and to his supplication, Yahweh my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which your servant prays before you;
that your eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place whereof you have said that you would put your name there; to listen to the prayer which your servant shall pray toward this place.
Listen you to the petitions of your servant, and of your people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yes, hear from your dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when you hear, forgive.
If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath is laid on him to cause him to swear, and he comes and swears before your altar in this house;
then hear from heaven, and do, and judge your servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
If your people Israel be struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you, and shall turn again and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house;
then hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land which you gave to them and to their fathers.
When the sky is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you do afflict them:
then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on your land, which you have given to your people for an inheritance.
If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there be;
whatever prayer and supplication be made by any man, or by all your people Israel, who shall know every man his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house:
then hear from heaven, your dwelling-place and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart you know; (for you, even you only, know the hearts of the children of men;)
that they may fear you, to walk in your ways, so long as they live in the land which you gave to our fathers.
Moreover concerning the foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, when he shall come from a far country for your great name’s sake, and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm; when they shall come and pray toward this house:
then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you for; that all the peoples of the earth may know your name, and fear you, as does your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by your name.
If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city which you have chosen, and the house which I have built for your name;
then hear from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
If they sin against you (for there is no man who doesn’t sin), and you are angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive to a land far off or near;
yet if they shall repent themselves in the land where they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication to you in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;
if they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, and the city which you have chosen, and toward the house which I have built for your name:
then hear from heaven, even from your dwelling-place, their prayer and their petitions, and maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you.
Now, my God, let, I beg you, your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place.
Now therefore arise, Yahweh God, into your resting-place, you, and the ark of your strength: let your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in goodness.
Yahweh God, don’t turn away the face of your anointed: remember [your] lovingkindnesses to David your servant.
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Yahweh filled the house.
The priests could not enter into the house of Yahweh, because the glory of Yahweh filled Yahweh’s house.
All the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Yahweh was on the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped, and gave thanks to Yahweh, [saying], For he is good; for his lovingkindness endures for ever.
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before Yahweh.
King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
The priests stood, according to their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of Yahweh, which David the king had made to give thanks to Yahweh, (for his lovingkindness endures for ever,) when David praised by their ministry: and the priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Israel stood.
Moreover Solomon made the middle of the court holy that was before the house of Yahweh; for there he offered the burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat.
So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath to the brook of Egypt.
On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
On the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
Thus Solomon finished the house of Yahweh, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of Yahweh, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.
If I shut up the sky so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears attentive, to the prayer that is made in this place.
For now have I chosen and made this house holy, that my name may be there forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.
As for you, if you will walk before me as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my ordinances;
then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, according as I covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.
But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have made holy for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
This house, which is so high, everyone who passes by it shall be astonished, and shall say, Why has Yahweh done thus to this land, and to this house?
They shall answer, Because they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore has he brought all this evil on them.
It happened at the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the house of Yahweh, and his own house,
that the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it.
He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store-cities, which he built in Hamath.
Also he built Beth Horon the upper, and Beth Horon the lower, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
and Baalath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel;
of their children who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel didn’t consume, of them did Solomon raise a levy [of bondservants] to this day.
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.
These were the chief officers of king Solomon, even two hundred fifty, who ruled over the people.
Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her; for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of Yahweh has come.
Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings to Yahweh on the altar of Yahweh, which he had built before the porch,
even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tents.
He appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise, and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the doorkeepers also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.
They didn’t depart from the commandment of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.
Now all the work of Solomon was prepared to the day of the foundation of the house of Yahweh, and until it was finished. [So] the house of Yahweh was completed.
Then went Solomon to Ezion Geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.
Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants who had knowledge of the sea; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from there four hundred fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.
When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bore spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she talked with him of all that was in her heart.
Solomon told her all her questions; and there was not anything hid from Solomon which he didn’t tell her.
When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, his cup bearers also, and their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her.
She said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts, and of your wisdom.
However I didn’t believe their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: you exceed the fame that I heard.
Happy are your men, and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom.
Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God: because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.
She gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.
The servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.
The king made of the algum trees terraces for the house of Yahweh, and for the king’s house, and harps and psalteries for the singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, besides that which she had brought to the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
besides that which the traders and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of beaten gold went to one buckler.
[he made] three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred [shekels] of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
nd there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.
Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom.
All king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
They brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and clothing, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
He ruled over all the kings from the River even to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
The king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.
They brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands.
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.
Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
It happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of king Solomon,) that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make you the grievous service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, lighter, and we will serve you.
He said to them, Come again to me after three days. The people departed.
King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?
They spoke to him, saying, If you are kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.
But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.
He said to them, What counsel give you, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that your father did put on us lighter?
The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shall you tell the people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make you it lighter to us; thus shall you say to them, My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.
Now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.
The king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
and spoke to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.
So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about of God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
When all Israel saw that the king didn’t listen to them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, Israel: now see to your own house, David. So all Israel departed to their tents.
But as for the children of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to forced labor; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
So Israel rebelled against the house of David to this day.
When Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen men, who were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
Thus says Yahweh, You shall not go up, nor fight against your brothers: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they listened to the words of Yahweh, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
He built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
Beth Zur, and Soco, and Adullam,
and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.
He fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and oil and wine.
In every city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to Yahweh;
and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.
After them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.
Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, [and of] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
and she bore him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.
After her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.)
Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, [even] the prince among his brothers; for [he was minded] to make him king.
He dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, to every fortified city: and he gave them victuals in abundance. He sought [for them] many wives.
It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him.
It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Yahweh,
with twelve hundred chariots, and sixty thousand horsemen. The people were without number who came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.
He took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus says Yahweh, You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, Yahweh is righteous.
When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves: I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king’s house: he took all away: he took away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
King Rehoboam made in their place shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house.
It was so, that as often as the king entered into the house of Yahweh, the guard came and bore them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.
When he humbled himself, the wrath of Yahweh turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things [found].
So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.
He did that which was evil, because he didn’t set his heart to seek Yahweh.
Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, aren’t they written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the manner of genealogies? There were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his place.
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor.
Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel:
Ought you not to know that Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David forever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.
There were gathered to him worthless men, base fellows, who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.
Now you think to withstand the kingdom of Yahweh in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.
Haven’t you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of [those who are] no gods.
But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and [we have] priests ministering to Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work:
and they burn to Yahweh every morning and every evening burnt offerings and sweet incense: the show bread also [set they] in order on the pure table; and the lampstand of gold with the lamps of it, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of Yahweh our God; but you have forsaken him.
Behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. Children of Israel, don’t you fight against Yahweh, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.
But Jeroboam caused an ambush to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambush was behind them.
When Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to Yahweh, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened, that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
The children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand.
Abijah and his people killed them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns of it, and Jeshanah with the towns of it, and Ephron with the towns of it.
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and Yahweh struck him, and he died.
But Abijah grew mighty, and took to himself fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.
The rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God:
for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and broke down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
and commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him rest.
For he said to Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Yahweh our God; we have sought him, and he has given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
Asa had an army that bore bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred eighty thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
There came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million troops, and three hundred chariots; and he came to Mareshah.
Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength: help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God; don’t let man prevail against you.
So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Yahweh, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.
They struck all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Yahweh came on them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.
They struck also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.
The Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded:
and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
Now for a long season Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law:
But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
In those times there was no peace to him who went out, nor to him who came in; but great vexations were on all the inhabitants of the lands.
They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God did vex them with all adversity.
But be you strong, and don’t let your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.
When Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill-country of Ephraim; and he renewed the altar of Yahweh, that was before the porch of Yahweh.
He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who sojourned with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.
So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
They entered into the covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;
and that whoever would not seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
All Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Yahweh gave them rest round about.
Also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
He brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
There was no more war to the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Yahweh and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben Hadad king of Syria, who lived at Damascus, saying,
[There is] a league between me and you, as [there was] between my father and your father: behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
Ben Hadad listened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they struck Ijon, and Dan, and Abel Maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.
It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease.
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber of it, with which Baasha had built; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of your hand.
Weren’t the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because you did rely on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand.
For the eyes of Yahweh run back and forth throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein you have done foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars.
Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
Behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but to the physicians.
Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
They buried him in his own tombs, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and various kinds [of spices] prepared by the perfumers’ are: and they made a very great burning for him.
Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.
He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.
Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and didn’t seek the Baals,
but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
Therefore Yahweh established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.
His heart was lifted up in the ways of Yahweh: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben Hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.
They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Yahweh with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.
The fear of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred male goats.
Jehoshaphat grew great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.
He had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.
This was the numbering of them according to their fathers’ houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;
and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred eighty thousand;
and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;
and next to him Jehozabad and with him one hundred eighty thousand ready prepared for war.
These were those who waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.
After certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up [with him] to Ramoth-gilead.
Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead? He answered him, I am as you are, and my people as your people; and [we will be] with you in the war.
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, Please inquire first for the word of Yahweh.
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? They said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.
But Jehoshaphat said, Isn’t there here a prophet of Yahweh besides, that we may inquire of him?
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Yahweh: but I hate him; for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. Jehoshaphat said, Don’t let the king say so.
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Get quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus says Yahweh, With these shall you push the Syrians, until they be consumed.
All the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Yahweh will deliver it into the hand of the king.
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth: let your word therefore, Please be like one of theirs, and speak you good.
Micaiah said, As Yahweh lives, what my God says, that will I speak.
When he was come to the king, the king said to him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? He said, Go up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.
The king said to him, How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?
He said, I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Yahweh said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?
[Micaiah] said, Therefore hear you the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
Yahweh said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, I will entice him. Yahweh said to him, How?
He said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
He said, You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.
Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Yahweh from me to speak to you?
Micaiah said, Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.
The king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
and say, Thus says the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
Micaiah said, If you return at all in peace, Yahweh has not spoken by me. He said, Hear, you peoples, all of you.
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put you on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.
It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him.
It happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
A certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of the armor. Therefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.
The battle increased that day: however the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? for this thing wrath is on you from before Yahweh.
Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.
Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
and said to the judges, Consider what you do: for you don’t judge for man, but for Yahweh; and [he is] with you in the judgment.
Now therefore let the fear of Yahweh be on you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.
Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the priests, and of the heads of the fathers’ [houses] of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.
He charged them, saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of Yahweh, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
Whenever any controversy shall come to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them, that they not be guilty towards Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers: this do, and you shall not be guilty.
Behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Yahweh; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and Yahweh be with the good.
It happened after this, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
Then there came some who told Jehoshaphat, saying, There comes a great multitude against you from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon Tamar (the same is En Gedi).
Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek to Yahweh; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
Judah gathered themselves together, to seek [help] of Yahweh: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Yahweh.
Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Yahweh, before the new court;
and he said, Yahweh, the God of our fathers, aren’t you God in heaven? and aren’t you ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in your hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
Did not you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham your friend forever?
They lived therein, and have built you a sanctuary therein for your name, saying,
If evil come on us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, (for your name is in this house,) and cry to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.
Now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and didn’t destroy them;
behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit.
Our God, will you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do: but out eyes are on you.
All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
Then on Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Yahweh in the midst of the assembly;
and he said, Listen you, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat: Thus says Yahweh to you, Don’t be afraid you, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Tomorrow go you down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Ziz; and you shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
You shall not need to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand you still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed: tomorrow go out against them: for Yahweh is with you.
Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshipping Yahweh.
The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.
They rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Yahweh your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.
When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who should sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks to Yahweh; for his lovingkindness endures forever.
When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were struck.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to kill and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another.
When Judah came to the watch-tower of the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.
On the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Beracah; for there they blessed Yahweh: therefore the name of that place was called The valley of Beracah to this day.
Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for Yahweh had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
They came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets to the house of Yahweh.
The fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that Yahweh fought against the enemies of Israel.
So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest round about.
Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.
He walked in the way of Asa his father, and didn’t turn aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh.
However the high places were not taken away; neither as yet had the people set their hearts to the God of their fathers.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.
After this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel; the same did very wickedly:
and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish; and they made the ships in Ezion Geber.
Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works. The ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.
Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel.
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children always.
In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.
So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, and led Judah astray.
There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, like as the house of Ahab did, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself:
behold, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your substance;
and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.
Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians:
and they came up against Judah, and broke into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
It happened, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his place; for the band of men who came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.
Forty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.
He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.
He returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
It happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and killed them.
He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart. The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.
But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she didn’t kill him.
He was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.
In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
They went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers’ [houses] of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
All the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. He said to them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as Yahweh has spoken concerning the sons of David.
This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the thresholds;
and a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of Yahweh.
But let none come into the house of Yahweh, save the priests, and those who minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of Yahweh.
The Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be slain: and be you with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.
So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath; with those who were to go out on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest didn’t dismiss the shift.
Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David’s, which were in the house of God.
He set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.
Then they brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the testimony, and made him king: and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him; and they said, [Long] live the king.
When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also [played] on instruments of music, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, Treason! treason!
Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Have her forth between the ranks; and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword: for the priest said, Don’t kill her in the house of Yahweh.
So they made way for her; and she went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king’s house: and they killed her there.
Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, and all the people, and the king, that they should be Yahweh’s people.
All the people went to the house of Baal, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
Jehoiada appointed the officers of the house of Yahweh under the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David.
He set the porters at the gates of the house of Yahweh, that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.
He took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of Yahweh: and they came through the upper gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.
So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword.
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he became the father of sons and daughters.
It happened after this, that Joash was minded to restore the house of Yahweh.
He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you hasten the matter. However the Levites didn’t hurry.
The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why haven’t you required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the testimony?
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of Yahweh did they bestow on the Baals.
So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of Yahweh.
They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.
All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
It was so, that whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of Yahweh; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also such as worked iron and brass to repair the house of Yahweh.
So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it.
When they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of Yahweh, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually all the days of Jehoiada.
But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty years old was he when he died.
They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them.
They forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God, Why disobey you the commandments of Yahweh, so that you can’t prosper? because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.
They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Yahweh.
Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, Yahweh look on it, and require it.
It happened at the end of the year, that the army of the Syrians came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them to the king of Damascus.
For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and Yahweh delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash.
When they were departed for him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings.
These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.
Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens [laid] on him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, but not with a perfect heart.
Now it happened, when the kingdom was established to him, that he killed his servants who had killed the king his father.
But he didn’t put their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as Yahweh commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.
Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and ordered them according to their fathers’ houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and upward, and found them three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go forth to war, who could handle spear and shield.
He hired also one hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, don’t let the army of Israel go with you; for Yahweh is not with Israel, [to wit], with all the children of Ephraim.
But if you will go, do [valiantly], be strong for the battle: God will cast you down before the enemy; for God has power to help, and to cast down.
Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? The man of God answered, Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.
Then Amaziah separated them, [to wit], the army that had come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: therefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.
Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck of the children of Seir ten thousand.
[other] ten thousand did the children of Judah carry away alive, and brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.
But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah, from Samaria even to Beth Horon, and struck of them three thousand, and took much spoil.
Now it happened, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense to them.
Therefore the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent to him a prophet, who said to him, Why have you sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of your hand?
It happened, as he talked with him, that [the king] said to him, Have we made you of the king’s counsel? Stop! Why should you be struck down? Then the prophet stopped, and said, I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this, and have not listened to my counsel.
Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give your daughter to my son as wife: and there passed by a wild animal that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.
You say, Behold, you have struck Edom; and your heart lifts you up to boast: abide now at home; why should you meddle to [your] hurt, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?
But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they had sought after the gods of Edom.
So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent.
Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
[He took] all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, aren’t they written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?
Now from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following Yahweh they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.
They brought him on horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.
All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper.
He went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in [the country of] Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding strong.
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning [of the wall], and fortified them.
He built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the plain: [and he had] farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved farming.
Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.
The whole number of the heads of fathers’ [houses], even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.
Under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, until he was strong.
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.
Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who were valiant men:
and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said to him, It pertains not to you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from Yahweh God.
Then Uzziah was angry; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.
Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there; yes, himself hurried also to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.
So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Uzziah had done: however he didn’t enter into the temple of Yahweh. The people did yet corruptly.
He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.
He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. The children of Ammon gave him the same year one hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon render to him, in the second year also, and in the third.
So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Yahweh his God.
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.
Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he didn’t do that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, like David his father;
but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for the Baals.
Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
He sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Therefore Yahweh his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they struck him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. He was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with a great slaughter.
For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed in Judah one hundred twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men; because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
The children of Israel carried away captive of their brothers two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
But a prophet of Yahweh was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the host that came to Samaria, and said to them, Behold, because Yahweh, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has reached up to heaven.
Now you purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondservants and bondmaids to you: [but] aren’t there even with you trespasses of your own against Yahweh your God?
Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives, that you have taken captive of your brothers; for the fierce wrath of Yahweh is on you.
Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came from the war,
and said to them, You shall not bring in the captives here: for you purpose that which will bring on us a trespass against Yahweh, to add to our sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly.
The men who have been mentioned by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all who were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers: then they returned to Samaria.
At that time did king Ahaz send to the kings of Assyria to help him.
For again the Edomites had come and struck Judah, and carried away captives.
The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns of it, and Timnah with the towns of it, Gimzo also and the towns of it: and they lived there.
For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed severely against Yahweh.
Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria came to him, and distressed him, but didn’t strengthen him.
For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Yahweh, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria: but it didn’t help him.
In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Yahweh, this same king Ahaz.
For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which struck him; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of Yahweh; and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked to anger Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem; for they didn’t bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.
Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that David his father had done.
He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of Yahweh, and repaired them.
He brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the broad place on the east,
and said to them, Hear me, you Levites; now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Yahweh, and turned their backs.
Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.
Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.
For, behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.
My sons, don’t be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers, and burn incense.
Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;
and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;
and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.
They gathered their brothers, and sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the words of Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh.
The priests went in to the inner part of the house of Yahweh, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Yahweh into the court of the house of Yahweh. The Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron.
Now they began on the first [day] of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of Yahweh; and they sanctified the house of Yahweh in eight days: and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within [the palace], and said, We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels of it, and the table of show bread, with all the vessels of it.
Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away when he trespassed, have we prepared and sanctified; and, behold, they are before the altar of Yahweh.
Then Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to the house of Yahweh.
They brought seven bulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin-offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. He commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.
So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar: they killed also the lambs, and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
They brought near the male goats for the sin-offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands on them:
and the priests killed them, and they made a sin-offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded [that] the burnt offering and the sin-offering [should be made] for all Israel.
He set the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Yahweh by his prophets.
The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel.
All the assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this [continued] until the burnt offering was finished.
When they had made an end of offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.
Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
Then Hezekiah answered, Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh; come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of Yahweh. The assembly brought in sacrifices and thank-offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart [brought] burnt offerings.
The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
The consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.
But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: therefore their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.
Also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and with the drink-offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of Yahweh was set in order.
Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God had prepared for the people: for the thing was done suddenly.
Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month.
For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
The thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.
So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, You children of Israel, turn again to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that have escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.
Don’t be you like your fathers, and like your brothers, who trespassed against Yahweh, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as you see.
Now don’t you be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
For if you turn again to Yahweh, your brothers and your children shall find compassion before those who led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.
So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even to Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
Also on Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Yahweh.
There assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.
They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt offerings into the house of Yahweh.
They stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood [which they received] of the hand of the Levites.
For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the Passovers for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to Yahweh.
For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Yahweh pardon everyone
who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his fathers, though not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary.
Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
The children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day by day, [singing] with loud instruments to Yahweh.
Hezekiah spoke comfortably to all the Levites who had good understanding [in the service] of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
The whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept [other] seven days with gladness.
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly who came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and who lived in Judah, rejoiced.
So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even to heaven.
Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.
Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Yahweh.
[He appointed] also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, [to wit], for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Yahweh.
Moreover he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Yahweh.
As soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
The children of Israel and Judah, who lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their God, and laid them by heaps.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and his people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since [the people] began to bring the offerings into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them.
They brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.
Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east [gate], was over the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the offerings of Yahweh, and the most holy things.
Under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brothers by courses, as well to the great as to the small:
besides those who were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their courses;
and those who were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their courses;
and those who were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.
Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.
Thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he worked that which was good and right and faithful before Yahweh his God.
In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.
When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,
he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of the city; and they helped him.
So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the springs, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
He set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spoke comfortably to them, saying,
Be strong and of good courage, don’t be afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him:
with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Yahweh our God to help us, and to fight our battles. The people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him,) to Hezekiah king of Judah, and to all Judah who were at Jerusalem, saying,
Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do you trust, that you abide the siege in Jerusalem?
Does not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Yahweh our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
Has not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, You shall worship before one altar, and on it shall you burn incense?
Don’t you know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand?
Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?
Now therefore don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe you him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?
His servants spoke yet more against Yahweh God, and against his servant Hezekiah.
He wrote also letters, to rail on Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall the God of Hezekiah not deliver his people out of my hand.
They cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
They spoke of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands.
Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he was come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword.
Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [others], and guided them on every side.
Many brought gifts to Yahweh to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
In those days Hezekiah was sick even to death: and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.
But Hezekiah didn’t render again according to the benefit done to him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem.
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels;
store-houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of animals, and flocks in folds.
Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much substance.
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
However in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the tombs of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, after the abominations of the nations whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baals, and made Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of the sky, and served them.
He built altars in the house of Yahweh, whereof Yahweh said, In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.
He built altars for all the host of the sky in the two courts of the house of Yahweh.
He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practiced sorcery, and used enchantments, and practiced sorcery, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger.
He set the engraved image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name forever:
neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances [given] by Moses.
Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Yahweh destroyed before the children of Israel.
Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed.
Therefore Yahweh brought on them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
He prayed to him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh he was God.
Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he compassed Ophel about [with it], and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.
He took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built in the mountain of the house of Yahweh, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.
He built up the altar of Yahweh, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace-offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only to Yahweh their God.
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.
His prayer also, and how [God] was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his place.
Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed to all the engraved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.
He didn’t humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
His servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in the ways of David his father, and didn’t turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images.
They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and the sun-images that were on high above them he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the engraved images, and the molten images, he broke in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it on the graves [of those] who had sacrificed to them.
He burnt the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.
[So did he] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even to Naphtali, in their ruins round about.
He broke down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the engraved images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Yahweh his God.
They came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
They delivered it into the hand of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh; and the workmen who labored in the house of Yahweh gave it to mend and repair the house;
even to the carpenters and to the builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.
The men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and [others of] the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music.
Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set forward all who did the work in every manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
When they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh [given] by Moses.
Hilkiah answered Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh. Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.
Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, All that was committed to your servants, they are doing.
They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.
Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has delivered me a book. Shaphan read therein before the king.
It happened, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he tore his clothes.
The king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying,
Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book.
So Hilkiah, and they whom the king [had commanded], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter;) and they spoke to her to that effect.
She said to them, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Tell you the man who sent you to me,
Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.
Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out on this place, and it shall not be quenched.
But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Yahweh, thus shall you tell him, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: As touching the words which you have heard,
because your heart was tender, and you did humble yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against the inhabitants of it, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you, says Yahweh.
Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, neither shall your eyes see all the evil that I will bring on this place, and on the inhabitants of it. They brought back word to the king.
Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.
The king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Yahweh.
The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [to it]. The inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.
Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all who were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Yahweh their God. All his days they didn’t depart from following Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem: and they killed the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.
He set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them to the service of the house of Yahweh.
He said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to Yahweh, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; there shall no more be a burden on your shoulders: now serve Yahweh your God, and his people Israel.
Prepare yourselves after your fathers’ houses by your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.
Stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of your brothers the children of the people, and [let there be for each] a portion of a fathers’ house of the Levites.
Kill the Passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of Yahweh by Moses.
Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all of them for the Passover offerings, to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls: these were of the king’s substance.
His princes gave for a freewill- offering to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings two thousand and six hundred [small cattle], and three hundred oxen.
Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings five thousand [small cattle], and five hundred oxen.
So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their courses, according to the king’s commandment.
They killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled [the blood which they received] of their hand, and the Levites flayed them.
They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of the children of the people, to offer to Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses. So did they with the oxen.
They roasted the Passover with fire according to the ordinance: and the holy offerings boiled they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people.
Afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron [were busied] in offering the burnt offerings and the fat until night: therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.
The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the porters were at every gate: they didn’t need to depart from their service; for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.
So all the service of Yahweh was prepared the same day, to keep the Passover, and to offer burnt-offerings on the altar of Yahweh, according to the commandment of king Josiah.
The children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.
There was no Passover like that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this Passover kept.
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? [I come] not against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; and God has commanded me to make haste: forbear you from [meddling with] God, who is with me, that he not destroy you.
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and didn’t listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
The archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in the law of Yahweh,
and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.
Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father’s place in Jerusalem.
Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.
The king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.
Jehoiakim was Twenty-five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God.
Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh.
At the return of the year king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of Yahweh, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem:
and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God; he didn’t humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking] from the mouth of Yahweh.
He also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of Yahweh which he had made holy in Jerusalem.
Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:
but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or gray-headed: he gave them all into his hand.
All the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.
They burnt the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces of it with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels of it.
Those who had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths: [for] as long as it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth has Yahweh, the God of heaven, given me; and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, Yahweh his God be with him, and let him go up.
- The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in
-the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the
-palace,
-
- It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of
-Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine,
-and gave it to the king. Now I had not been [before] sad in his
-presence.
-
- Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the
-priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up
-the doors of it; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to
-the tower of Hananel.
-
- But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were
-building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked
-the Jews.
-
- Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives
-against their brothers the Jews.
-
- Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and
-Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that
-I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein;
-(though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
-
- Now it happened, when the wall was built, and I had set up
-the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were
-appointed,
-
- All the people gathered themselves together as one man into
-the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra
-the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had
-commanded to Israel.
-
- Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of
-Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth on
-them.
-
- Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of
-Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
-
- The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem: the rest of the
-people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the
-holy city, and nine parts in the [other] cities.
-
- Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with
-Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
-
- On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of
-the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a
-Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
-
- Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word
-of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh
-stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a
-proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing,
-saying,
-
- Now these are the children of the province, who went up out
-of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom
-Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who
-returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
-
- When the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel
-were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man
-to Jerusalem.
-
- Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the
-children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of
-Israel;
-
- Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son
-of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the
-name of the God of Israel [prophesied they] to them.
-
- Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in
-the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
-
- Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of
-Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of
-Hilkiah,
-
- Now these are the heads of their fathers' [houses], and this
-is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the
-reign of Artaxerxes the king:
-
- Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me,
-saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not
-separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, [doing] according
-to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the
-Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians,
-and the Amorites.
-
- Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and
-casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered
-together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women
-and children; for the people wept very sore.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,
Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth has Yahweh, the God of heaven, given me; and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem.
Whoever is left, in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with animals, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.
Then rose up the heads of fathers’ [houses] of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem.
All those who were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.
Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahweh, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;
even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
This is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives,
thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels one thousand.
All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when they of the captivity were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Now these are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city;
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.
The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua [and] Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.
The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five.
The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
The children of Bani, six hundred forty-two.
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.
The children of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.
The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six.
The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.
The children of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.
The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.
The children of Jorah, one hundred twelve.
The children of Hashum, two hundred Twenty-three.
The children of Gibbar, ninety-five.
The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.
The men of Netophah, fifty-six.
The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
The children of Kiriath Arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.
The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.
The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
The children of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six.
The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.
The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
The children of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
The children of Harim, one thousand seventeen.
The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy-four.
The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.
The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.
The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,
the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,
the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,
the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami.
All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
These were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:
the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.
Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
These sought their register [among] those who were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.
The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.
Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
their camels, four hundred thirty-five; [their] donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
Some of the heads of fathers’ [houses], when they came to the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place:
they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.
When the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brothers, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.
They set the altar on its base; for fear was on them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon to Yahweh, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
They kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and [offered] the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;
and afterward the continual burnt-offering, and [the offerings] of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Yahweh that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill-offering to Yahweh.
From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh: but the foundation of the temple of Yahweh was not yet laid.
They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, to them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.
Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Yahweh.
Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, after the order of David king of Israel.
They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, [saying], For he is good, for his lovingkindness endures forever toward Israel. All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid.
But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ [houses], the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple to Yahweh, the God of Israel;
then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers’ [houses], and said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as you do; and we sacrifice to him since the days of Esar Haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ [houses] of Israel, said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves together will build to Yahweh, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
In the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, to Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian [character], and set forth in the Syrian [language].
Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:
then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest [of the country] beyond the River, and so forth.
This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artaxerxes the king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.
Be it known to the king, that the Jews who came up from you are come to us to Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.
Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings.
Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king;
that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers: so shall you find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.
We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.
[Then] sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and in the rest [of the country] beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.
The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.
I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.
There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all [the country] beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them.
Make you now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me.
Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem to the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.
Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel [prophesied they] to them.
Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.
At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were who were making this building.
But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent to Darius the king;
they sent a letter to him, in which was written thus: To Darius the king, all peace.
Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands.
Then asked we those elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?
We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at the head of them.
Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.
The gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;
and he said to him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in its place.
Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed.
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record:
In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations of it be strongly laid; the height of it sixty cubits, and the breadth of it sixty cubits;
with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house.
Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Jerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the house of God.
Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be you far from there:
let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.
Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered.
That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; [also] wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;
that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:
and the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter [the same], to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.
Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence.
The elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
This house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
The children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
They set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
The children of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.
For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brothers the priests, and for themselves.
The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate,
and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;
this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahweh his God on him.
There went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
For on the first [day] of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first [day] of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Yahweh, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Yahweh, and of his statutes to Israel:
Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.
I make a decree, that all those of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,
and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;
therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
Whatever shall seem good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do you after the will of your God.
The vessels that are given you for the service of the house of your God, deliver you before the God of Jerusalem.
Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure-house.
I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,
to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
You, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God who is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach you him who doesn’t know them.
Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem;
and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
Now these are the heads of their fathers’ [houses], and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:
Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.
Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty.
Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.
Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.
Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.
Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.
Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males.
Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.
Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.
Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty-eight males.
Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him one hundred ten males.
Of the sons of Adonikam, [who were] the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them sixty males.
Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.
I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.
I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, [and] his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.
According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty;
and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.
So we fasted and begged our God for this: and he was entreated of us.
Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers with them,
and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:
I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents;
and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.
I said to them, You are holy to Yahweh, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering to Yahweh, the God of your fathers.
Watch you, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers’ [houses] of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Yahweh.
So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month, to go to Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way.
We came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;
the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.
The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh.
They delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.
Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands: yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.
When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
Then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God;
and I said, my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up to the heavens.
Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins of it, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
Now, our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken your commandments,
which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness:
now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.
After all that is come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that you our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? would not you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this.
Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.
Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it.
Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.
Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came there, he ate no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.
They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem;
and that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.
Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do.
But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.
Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched.
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this [matter]: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, [with] certain heads of fathers’ [houses], after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
They made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt.
Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.
Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.
Of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.
Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.
Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.
Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
[of] the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,
Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.
Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.
Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,
Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,
and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,
and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,
Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.
Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.
All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
They said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates of it are burned with fire.
It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,
and said, I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:
Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned:
we have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples:
but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.
Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand.
Lord, I beg you, let now your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cup bearer to the king.
It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been [before] sad in his presence.
The king said to me, Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid.
I said to the king, Let the king live forever: why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and the gates of it are consumed with fire?
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant have found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.
The king said to me (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall your journey be? and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
Moreover I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah;
and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertains to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. The king granted me, according to the good hand of my God on me.
Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.
When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on.
I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates of it were consumed with fire.
Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass.
Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.
The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work.
Then said I to them, You see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and the gates of it are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good [work].
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king?
Then answered I them, and said to them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananel.
Next to him built the men of Jericho. Next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri.
The fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build; they laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it.
Next to them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. Next to them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. Next to them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
Next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the work of their lord.
The old gate repaired Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams of it, and set up the doors of it, and the bolts of it, and the bars of it.
Next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, [that appertained] to the throne of the governor beyond the River.
Next to him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths. Next to him repaired Hananiah one of the perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall.
Next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem.
Next to them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, over against his house. Next to him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah.
Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.
Next to him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
The dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem; he built it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it.
The spring gate repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors of it, the bolts of it, and the bars of it, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David.
After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, to the place over against the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.
After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his district.
After him repaired their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah.
Next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another portion, over against the ascent to the armory at the turning [of the wall].
After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning [of the wall] to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
After him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain.
After them repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their house. After them repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah beside his own house.
After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning [of the wall], and to the corner.
Palal the son of Uzai [repaired] over against the turning [of the wall], and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh [repaired].
(Now the Nethinim lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.
Above the horse gate repaired the priests, everyone over against his own house.
After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his own house. After him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
After him repaired Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.
Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?
Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.
Hear, our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach on their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;
and don’t cover their iniquity, and don’t let their sin be blotted out from before you; for they have provoked [you] to anger before the builders.
So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half [the height] of it: for the people had a mind to work.
But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very angry;
and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.
But we made our prayer to our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until we come into the midst of them, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.
It happened that when the Jews who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, You must return to us.
Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set [there] the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Don’t be you afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and God had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work.
It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon;
and the builders, everyone had his sword girded by his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me.
I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another:
in whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort you there to us; our God will fight for us.
So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.
Likewise at the same time said I to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.
So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, everyone [went with] his weapon [to] the water.
Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.
For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.
Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute [on] our fields and our vineyards.
Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children: and, behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, everyone of his brother. I held a great assembly against them.
I said to them, We after our ability have redeemed our brothers the Jews, that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.
Also I said, The thing that you do is not good: ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?
I likewise, my brothers and my servants, do lend them money and grain. Please let us leave off this usury.
Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you exact of them.
Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.
Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. All the assembly said, Amen, and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.
But the former governors who were before me were chargeable to the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants bore rule over the people: but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.
Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work.
Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were round about us.
Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn’t demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people.
Remember to me, my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.
Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to these words.
You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.
For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, [God], strengthen you my hands.
I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.
I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
I discerned, and, behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty-two days.
It happened, when all our enemies heard [of it], that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of our God.
Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came to them.
For there were many in Judah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah as wife.
Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Now it happened, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
I said to them, Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand [on guard], let them shut the doors, and bar you them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone [to be] over against his house.
Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.
My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written therein:
These are the children of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city;
who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
The children of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.
The children of Arah, six hundred fifty-two.
The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred [and] eighteen.
The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five.
The children of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.
The children of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight.
The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven.
The children of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven.
The children of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.
The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
The children of Hashum, three hundred Twenty-eight.
The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four.
The children of Hariph, one hundred twelve.
The children of Gibeon, ninety-five.
The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight.
The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.
The men of Beth Azmaveth, forty-two.
The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.
The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two.
The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three.
The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.
The children of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
The children of Harim, three hundred twenty.
The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.
The children of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.
The children of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
The children of Harim, one thousand [and] seventeen.
The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy-four.
The singers: the children of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight.
The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, one hundred thirty-eight.
The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,
the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,
the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah.
The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,
the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,
the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Amon.
All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
These were those who went up from Tel-melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:
The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two.
Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
These sought their register [among] those who were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.
The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.
Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;
[their] camels, four hundred thirty-five; [their] donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
Some from among the heads of fathers’ [houses] gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments.
Some of the heads of fathers’ [houses] gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.
That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.
So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, lived in their cities. When the seventh month was come, the children of Israel were in their cities.
All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded to Israel.
Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
He read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were [attentive] to the book of the law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
and Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.
They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.
Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to Yahweh your God; don’t mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord: neither be you grieved; for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.
So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved.
All the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
On the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers’ [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.
They found written in the law, how that Yahweh had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;
and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.
All the assembly of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great gladness.
Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth on them.
The seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahweh their God a fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Yahweh their God.
Then stood up on the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried with a loud voice to Yahweh their God.
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
You are Yahweh, even you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships you.
You are Yahweh the God, who did choose Abram, and brought him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name of Abraham,
and found his heart faithful before you, and mad a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are righteous.
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea,
and shown signs and wonders on Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and did get you a name, as it is this day.
You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers you did cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.
Moreover in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.
You came down also on
and mad known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,
and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded those who they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.
But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and didn’t listen to your commandments,
and refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and didn’t forsake them.
Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt, and had committed awful blasphemies;
yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.
You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
Yes, forty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, [and] they lacked nothing; their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell.
Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you did allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.
Their children also multiplied you as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you did say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
They took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance: so they ate, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.
Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.
But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times did you deliver them according to your mercies,
and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
Yet many years did you bear with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gave you them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keep covenant and lovingkindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.
However you are just in all that is come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;
neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you did testify against them.
For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.
Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, behold, we are servants in it.
It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
Yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, [and] our priests, seal to it.
Now those who sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,
Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these were the priests.
The Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;
and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,
Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.
The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,
Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai,
Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,
Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,
Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,
Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,
Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge, and understanding;
They joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;
and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;
and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
for the show bread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for
We cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of Yahweh our God, as it is written in the law;
and to bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, to the house of Yahweh;
also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God;
and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
The priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.
For the children of
The princes of the people lived in Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the [other] cities.
The people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.
Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah lived everyone in his possession in their cities, [to wit],
In Jerusalem lived certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;
and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.
All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.
These are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.
After him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty-eight.
Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,
Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,
and their brothers who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,
and his brothers, chiefs of fathers’ [houses], two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,
and their brothers, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.
Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;
and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God;
and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.
Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.
The residue of
But the Nethinim lived in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.
The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of God.
For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.
Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
As for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and the towns of it, and in Dibon and the towns of it, and in Jekabzeel and the villages of it,
and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth Pelet,
and in Hazar Shual, and in Beersheba and the towns of it,
and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the towns of it,
and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,
Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the fields of it, Azekah and the towns of it. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.
The children of Benjamin also [lived] from Geba [onward], at Michmash and Aija, and at Bethel and the towns of it,
at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
Of the Levites, certain courses in Judah [were joined] to Benjamin.
Now these are the priests and the Levites who went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.
Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brothers.
Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brothers, were over against them according to their offices.
Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada,
and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua.
In the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’ [houses]: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers’ [houses]; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.
The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ [houses], were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
The chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.
Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the store-houses of the gates.
These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe.
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
The sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;
also from Beth Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built them villages round about Jerusalem.
The priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession; [whereof one went] on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate:
and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,
and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;
and his brothers, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.
By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even to the water gate eastward.
The other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall,
and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard.
So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;
and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
On that day were men appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites who waited.
They kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification, and [so did] the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
All
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
because they didn’t meet the children of
It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from
Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,
had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests.
But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,
and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense.
I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, were fled everyone to his field.
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.
I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.
Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.
In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day in which they sold victuals.
There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?
Didn’t your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring more wrath on
It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.
Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath.
I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your lovingkindness.
In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:
and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.
I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
Did not Solomon king of
Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?
One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work;
and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.
- Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus
-who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
-
- After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was
-pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was
-decreed against her.
-
- After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of
-Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all
-the princes who were with him.
-
- Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai tore his
-clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst
-of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
-
- Now it happened on the third day, that Esther put on her
-royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over
-against the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the
-royal house, over against the entrance of the house.
-
- On that night the king couldn't sleep; and he commanded to
-bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before
-the king.
-
- So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
-
- On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman
-the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for
-Esther had told what he was to her.
-
- Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the
-thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree
-drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the
-Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the
-contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them,)
-
- The king Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the
-isles of the sea.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Now it happened in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even to Ethiopia, over one hundred twenty-seven provinces),
that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
when he shown the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even one hundred eighty days.
When these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast to all the people who were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.
[There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, on a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.
They gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.
The drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven chamberlains who ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful to look on.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very angry, and his anger burned in him.
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;
and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),
What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
For this deed of the queen will come abroad to all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she didn't come.
This day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say [the like] to all the king's princes. So [will there arise] much contempt and wrath.
If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it not be altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
When the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.
The saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.
After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
Then said the king's servants who ministered to him, Let there be beautiful young virgins sought for the king:
and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;
and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. The thing pleased the king; and he did so.
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
He brought up Hadassah, who is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her things for her purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king's house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.
Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.
Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.
Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after it had been done to her as prescribed for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),
then in this wise came the maiden to the king: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.
In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
The king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.
When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.
Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
The thing became known to Mordecai, who shown it to Esther the queen; and Esther told the king [of it] in Mordecai's name.
When inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
All the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn't bow down, nor did him reverence.
Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why disobey you the king's commandment?
Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn't listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told those who he was a Jew.
When Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], which is the month Adar.
Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [those of] every people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them.
If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the [king's] business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
The king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.
Then were the king's scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king's ring.
Letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.
The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
In every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent clothing to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he didn't receive it.
Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend on her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.
So Hathach went forth to Mordecai to the broad place of the city, which was before the king's gate.
Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.
Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai [saying]:
All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.
They told to Mordecai Esther's words.
Then Mordecai bade them return answer to Esther, Don't think to yourself that you shall escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
For if you altogether hold your peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish: and who knows whether you haven't come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Then Esther bade them return answer to Mordecai,
Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Now it happened on the third day, that Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.
It was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
Then said the king to her, What will you, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.
Esther said, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:
if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.
Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Haman said moreover, Yes, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow also am I invited by her together with the king.
Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak you to the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet. The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
On that night the king couldn't sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
The king said, What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
The king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. The king said, Let him come in.
So Haman came in. The king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?
Haman said to the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,
let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:
and let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.
Then took Haman the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife to him, If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, you shall not prevail against him, but shall surely fall before him.
While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
Then Esther the queen answered, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.
Then spoke the king Ahasuerus and said to Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that dared presume in his heart to do so?
Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [and went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen on the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains who were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. The king said, Hang him thereon.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.
The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
She said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces:
for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come to my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?
Then the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.
Write you also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] of it; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
He wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:
in which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [their] little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
on one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, [namely], on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
So the posts who rode on swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hurried and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.
Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.
In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them,)
the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen on all the peoples.
All the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and those who did the king's business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen on them.
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater.
The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those who hated them.
In Shushan the palace the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.
Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha,
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew's enemy, killed they; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.
On that day the number of those who were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
The king said to Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? and it shall be granted you: or what is your request further? and it shall be done.
Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.
The king commanded it so to be done: and a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
The Jews who were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and killed three hundred men in Shushan; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.
The other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed of those who hated them seventy-five thousand; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.
[This was done] on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
But the Jews who were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] of it, and on the fourteenth of it; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
Therefore do the Jews of the villages, who dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,
to enjoin those who they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned to them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the needy.
The Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written to them;
because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
but when [the matter] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
Therefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come to them,
the Jews ordained, and took on them, and on their seed, and on all such as joined themselves to them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing of it, and according to the appointed time of it, every year;
and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memory of them perish from their seed.
Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.
He sent letters to all the Jews, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth,
to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
The commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.
The king Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the isles of the sea.
All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
- Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked,
- Nor stand in the way of sinners,
- Nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
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- Why do the nations rage,
- And the peoples plot a vain thing?
-
- A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
-
- Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased!
- Many are those who rise up against me.
-
- For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.
-
- Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness.
- Give me relief from my distress.
- Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
-
- For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David.
-
- Give ear to my words, Yahweh.
- Consider my meditation.
-
- For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the
-eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David.
-
- Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your anger,
- Neither discipline me in your wrath.
-
- A meditation by David, which he sang to Yahweh, concerning the words
-of Cush, the Benjamite.
-
- Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in you.
- Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
-
- For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David.
-
- Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth,
- Who has set your glory above the heavens!
-
- For the Chief Musician. Set to "The Death of the Son." A Psalm by David.
-
- I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart.
- I will tell of all your marvelous works.
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- Why do you stand far off, Yahweh?
- Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
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- For the Chief Musician. By David.
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- In Yahweh, I take refuge.
- How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain!"
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- For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.
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- Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases.
- For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
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- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David
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- How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever?
- How long will you hide your face from me?
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- For the Chief Musician. By David.
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- The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
- They are corrupt.
- They have done abominable works.
- There is none who does good.
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- A Psalm by David.
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- Yahweh, who shall dwell in your sanctuary?
- Who shall live on your holy hill?
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- A Poem by David.
-
- Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.
-
- A Prayer by David.
-
- Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea;
- Give ear to my prayer, that doesn't go out of deceitful lips.
-
- For the Chief Musician. By David the servant of Yahweh, who spoke to
-Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him from
-the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said,
-
- I love you, Yahweh, my strength.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- The heavens declare the glory of God.
- The expanse shows his handiwork.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble.
- May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh!
- How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
-
- For the Chief Musician; set to "The Doe of the Morning." A Psalm by David.
-
- My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
- Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my
- groaning?
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- Yahweh is my shepherd:
- I shall lack nothing.
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness;
- The world, and those who dwell therein.
-
- By David.
-
- To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul.
-
- By David.
-
- Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity.
- I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.
-
- By David.
-
- Yahweh is my light and my salvation.
- Whom shall I fear?
-Yahweh is the strength of my life.
- Of whom shall I be afraid?
-
- By David.
-
- To you, Yahweh, I call.
- My rock, don't be deaf to me;
- Lest, if you are silent to me,
- I would become like those who go down into the pit.
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty,
- Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
-
- A Psalm. A Song for the Dedication of the Temple. By David.
-
- I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up,
- And have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.
- Let me never be put to shame:
- Deliver me in your righteousness.
-
- By David. A contemplative psalm.
-
- Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven,
- Whose sin is covered.
-
- Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous!
- Praise is fitting for the upright.
-
- By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove
-him away, and he departed.
-
- I will bless Yahweh at all times.
- His praise will always be in my mouth.
-
- By David.
-
- Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me.
- Fight against those who fight against me.
-
- For the Chief Musician. By David, the servant of Yahweh.
-
- An oracle is within my heart about the disobedience of the
- wicked:
- "There is no fear of God before his eyes."
-
- By David.
-
- Don't fret because of evil-doers,
- Neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
-
- A Psalm by David, for a memorial.
-
- Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your wrath,
- Neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
-
- For the Chief Musician. For Jeduthun. A Psalm by David.
-
- I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don't sin with my
- tongue.
- I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- I waited patiently for Yahweh.
- He turned to me, and heard my cry.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- Blessed is he who considers the poor:
- Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah.
-
- As the deer pants for the water brooks,
- So my soul pants after you, God.
-
- Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.
- Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
-
- For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm.
-
- We have heard with our ears, God;
- Our fathers have told us,
- What work you did in their days,
- In the days of old.
-
- For the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song.
-
- My heart overflows with a noble theme.
- I recite my verses for the king.
- My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
-
- For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.
-
- God is our refuge and strength,
- A very present help in trouble.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
-
- Oh clap your hands, all you nations.
- Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
-
- A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
-
- Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised,
- In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
-
- Hear this, all you peoples.
- Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
-
- A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks,
- And calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
-
- Have mercy on me, God, according to your lovingkindness.
- According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my
- transgressions.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, "David has come to Abimelech's house."
-
- Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man?
- God's lovingkindness endures continually.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Mahalath." A contemplation by David.
-
- The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."
- They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity.
- There is no one who does good.
-
- For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by
-David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Isn't David hiding
-himself among us?"
-
- Save me, God, by your name.
- Vindicate me in your might.
-
- For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.
-
- Listen to my prayer, God.
- Don't hide yourself from my supplication.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant
-Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
-
- Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up.
- All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by
-David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
-
- Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me,
- For my soul takes refuge in you.
-Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge,
- Until disaster has passed.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David.
-
- Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones?
- Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by
-David, when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
-
- Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
- Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lily of the Covenant." A
-teaching poem by David, when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram
-Zobah, and Joab returned, and killed twelve thousand of Edom in the
-Valley of Salt.
-
- God, you have rejected us.
- You have broken us down.
-You have been angry.
- Restore us, again.
-
- For the Chief Musician. For a stringed instrument. By David.
-
- Hear my cry, God.
- Listen to my prayer.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthan. A Psalm by David.
-
- My soul rests in God alone.
- My salvation is from him.
-
- A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah.
-
- God, you are my God.
- I will earnestly seek you.
-My soul thirsts for you,
- My flesh longs for you,
- In a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- Hear my voice, God, in my complaint.
- Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.
-
- Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.
- To you shall vows be performed.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A song. A Psalm.
-
- Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
-
- For the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm. A song.
-
- May God be merciful to us, bless us,
- And cause his face to shine on us.
-Selah.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.
-
- Let God arise!
- Let his enemies be scattered!
- Let them who hate him also flee before him.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.
-
- Save me, God,
- For the waters have come up to my neck!
-
- For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder.
-
- Hurry, God, to deliver me.
- Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.
-
- In you, Yahweh, I take refuge.
- Never let me be put to shame.
-
- By Solomon.
-
- God, give the king your justice;
- Your righteousness to the royal son.
-
- A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- Surely God is good to
-
- A contemplation by Asaph.
-
- God, why have you rejected us forever?
- Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A Psalm by Asaph. A song.
-
- We give thanks to you, God,
- We give thanks, for your Name is near.
- Men tell about your wondrous works.
-
- For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm by Asaph. A song.
-
- In Judah, God is known.
- His name is great in
-
- For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- My cry goes to God!
- Indeed, I cry to God for help,
- And for him to listen to me.
-
- A contemplation by Asaph.
-
- Hear my law, my people.
- Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
-
- A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- God, the nations have come into your inheritance.
- They have defiled your holy temple.
- They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
-
- For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
- You who lead Joseph like a flock,
- You who sit above the cherubim, shine forth.
-
- For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph.
-
- Sing aloud to God, our strength!
- Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!
-
- A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- God presides in the great assembly.
- He judges among the gods.
-
- A song. A Psalm by Asaph.
-
- God, don't keep silent.
- Don't keep silent,
- And don't be still, God.
-
- For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
-
- How lovely are your dwellings,
- Yahweh of Hosts!
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
-
- Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land.
- You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
-
- A Prayer by David.
-
- Hear, Yahweh, and answer me,
- For I am poor and needy.
-
- A Psalm by the sons of Korah; a Song.
-
- His foundation is in the holy mountains.
-
- A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the
-tune of "The Suffering of Affliction." A contemplation by Heman, the
-Ezrahite.
-
- Yahweh, the God of my salvation,
- I have cried day and night before you.
-
- A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.
-
- I will sing of the lovingkindness of Yahweh forever.
- With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all
- generations.
-
- A Prayer by Moses, the man of God.
-
- Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
-
- He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
- Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
-
- A Psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.
-
- It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh,
- To sing praises to your name, Most High;
-
- Yahweh reigns!
- He is clothed with majesty!
- Yahweh is armed with strength.
-The world also is established.
- It can't be moved.
-
- Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs,
- You God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth.
-
- Oh come, let's sing to Yahweh.
- Let's shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!
-
- Sing to Yahweh a new song!
- Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.
-
- Yahweh reigns!
- Let the earth rejoice!
- Let the multitude of islands be glad!
-
- A Psalm.
-
- Sing to Yahweh a new song,
- For he has done marvelous things!
- His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him.
-
- Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble.
- He sits enthroned among the cherubim.
- Let the earth be moved.
-
- A Psalm of thanksgiving.
-
- Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands!
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- I will sing of lovingkindness and justice.
- To you, Yahweh, I will sing praises.
-
- A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his
-complaint before Yahweh.
-
- Hear my prayer, Yahweh!
- Let my cry come to you.
-
- By David.
-
- Praise Yahweh, my soul!
- All that is within me, praise his holy name!
-
- Bless Yahweh, my soul.
- Yahweh, my God, you are very great.
- You are clothed with honor and majesty.
-
- Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name!
- Make his doings known among the peoples.
-
- Praise Yahweh!
- Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
- For his lovingkindness endures forever.
-
- Give thanks to Yahweh,
- For he is good,
-For his lovingkindness endures forever.
-
- A Song. A Psalm by David.
-
- My heart is steadfast, God.
- I will sing and I will make music with my soul.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- God of my praise, don't remain silent,
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- Yahweh says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,
- Until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet."
-
- Praise Yah!
- I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart,
- In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
-
- Praise Yah!
- Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh,
- Who delights greatly in his commandments.
-
- Praise Yah!
- Praise, you servants of Yahweh,
- Praise the name of Yahweh.
-
- When Israel went forth out of Egypt,
- The house of Jacob from a people of foreign language;
-
- Not to us, Yahweh, not to us,
- But to your name give glory,
- For your lovingkindness, and for your truth's sake.
-
- I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice,
- And my cries for mercy.
-
- Praise Yahweh, all you nations!
- Extol him, all you peoples!
-
- Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,
- For his lovingkindness endures forever.
-
- ALEPH
- Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
- Who walk according to Yaweh's law.
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- In my distress, I cried to Yahweh.
- He answered me.
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- I will lift up my eyes to the hills.
- Where does my help come from?
-
- A Song of Ascents. By David.
-
- I was glad when they said to me,
- "Let's go to Yahweh's house!"
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- To you I do lift up my eyes,
- You who sit in the heavens.
-
- A Song of Ascents. By David.
-
- If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side,
- Let Israel now say,
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion,
- Which can't be moved, but remains forever.
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion,
- We were like those who dream.
-
- A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.
-
- Unless Yahweh builds the house,
- They labor in vain who build it.
-Unless Yahweh watches over the city,
- The watchman guards it in vain.
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh,
- Who walks in his ways.
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up.
- Let Israel now say,
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.
-
- A Song of Ascents. By David.
-
- Yahweh, my heart isn't haughty, nor my eyes lofty;
- Nor do I concern myself with great matters,
- Or things too wonderful for me.
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,
-
- A Song of Ascents. By David.
-
- See how good and how pleasant it is
- For brothers to live together in unity!
-
- A Song of Ascents.
-
- Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh,
- Who stand by night in Yahweh's house!
-
- Praise Yah!
- Praise the name of Yahweh!
- Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,
-
- Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good;
- For his lovingkindness endures forever.
-
- By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down.
- Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
-
- By David.
-
- I will give you thanks with my whole heart.
- Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- Yahweh, you have searched me,
- And you know me.
-
- For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
-
- Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man.
- Preserve me from the violent man;
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- Yahweh, I have called on you.
- Come to me quickly!
- Listen to my voice when I call to you.
-
- A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
-
- I cry with my voice to Yahweh.
- With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
-
- A Psalm by David.
-
- Hear my prayer, Yahweh.
- Listen to my petitions.
- In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
-
- By David.
-
- Blessed be Yahweh, my rock,
- Who teaches my hands to war,
- And my fingers to battle:
-
- A praise psalm by David.
-
- I will exalt you, my God, the King.
- I will praise your name forever and ever.
-
- Praise Yah!
- Praise Yahweh, my soul.
-
- Praise Yah,
- For it is good to sing praises to our God;
- For it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
-
- Praise Yah!
- Praise Yahweh from the heavens!
- Praise him in the heights!
-
- Praise Yahweh!
- Sing to Yahweh a new song,
- His praise in the assembly of the saints.
-
- Praise Yah!
- Praise God in his sanctuary!
- Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the way of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
But his delight is in Yahweh’s law; On his law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.
The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked shall perish.
Why do the nations rage, And the peoples plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take a stand, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying,
“Let’s break their bonds apart, And cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his anger, And terrify them in his wrath:
“Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion.”
I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, The uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
Serve Yahweh with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me.
Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah.
But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, My glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
I cry to Yahweh with my voice, And he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah.
I laid myself down and slept. I awakened; for Yahweh sustains me.
I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people Who have set themselves against me on every side.
Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation belongs to Yahweh. Your blessing be on your people. Selah.
Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah.
But know that Yahweh has set apart for himself him who is godly: Yahweh will hear when I call to him.
Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh.
Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and their new wine are increased.
In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, For you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.
Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation.
Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; For to you do I pray.
Yahweh, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.
For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you.
The arrogant shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.
You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
But as for me, in the abundance of your lovingkindness I will come into your house: I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.
Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.
Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, For they have rebelled against you.
But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice, Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.
Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger, Neither discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul is also in great anguish. But you, Yahweh -- how long?
Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, And save me for your lovingkindness’ sake.
For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?
I am weary with my groaning; Every night I flood my bed; I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my adversaries.
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, For Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.
Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer.
May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
Yahweh, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
Lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, Ripping it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, If there is iniquity in my hands,
If I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (Yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary),
Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; Yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, And lay my glory in the dust. Selah.
Arise, Yahweh, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgment.
Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high.
Yahweh administers judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Yahweh, according to my righteousness, And to my integrity that is in me.
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the righteous; Their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God.
My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge, Yes, a God who has indignation every day.
If a man doesn’t relent, he will sharpen his sword; He has bent and strung his bow.
He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows.
Behold, he travails with iniquity; Yes, he has conceived mischief, And brought forth falsehood.
He has dug a hole, And has fallen into the pit which he made.
The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
I will give thanks to Yahweh according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.
Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth, Who has set your glory above the heavens!
From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, Because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, The moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
What is man, that you think of him? The son of man, that you care for him?
For you have made him a little lower than God, And crowned him with glory and honor.
You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, Yes, and the animals of the field,
The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, And whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Yahweh, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!
I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish in your presence.
For you have maintained my right and my cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously.
You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin. The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished.
But Yahweh reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment.
He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness.
Yahweh will also be a high tower for the oppressed; A high tower in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will put their trust in you, For you, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to Yahweh, who dwells in Zion, And declare among the people what he has done.
For he who avenges blood remembers them. He doesn’t forget the cry of the afflicted.
Have mercy on me, Yahweh. See my affliction by those who hate me, And lift me up from the gates of death;
That I may show forth all your praise. In the gates of the daughter of Zion, I will rejoice in your salvation.
The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
Yahweh has made himself known. He has executed judgment. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah.
The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the poor perish forever.
Arise, Yahweh! Don’t let man prevail. Let the nations be judged in your sight.
Put them in fear, Yahweh. Let the nations know that they are only men. Selah.
Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak; They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings, He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.
The wicked, in the pride of his face, Has no room in his thoughts for God.
His ways are prosperous at all times; He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight: As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
He says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken; For generations I shall have no trouble.”
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net.
The helpless are crushed, they collapse, They fall under his strength.
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked condemn God, And say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account?”
But you do see trouble and grief; You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, That man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
In Yahweh, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain!”
For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men.
Yahweh examines the righteous, But the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates.
On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; Fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.
Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that boasts,
Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
The words of Yahweh are flawless words, As silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
You will keep them, Yahweh, You will preserve them from this generation forever.
The wicked walk on every side, When what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart every day? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” Lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your lovingkindness. My heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to Yahweh, Because he has been good to me.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none who does good.
Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, To see if there were any who did understand, Who did seek after God.
They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one.
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And don’t call on Yahweh?
There they were in great fear, For God is in the generation of the righteous.
You put to shame the counsel of the poor, Because Yahweh is his refuge.
Oh that the salvation of
Yahweh, who shall dwell in your sanctuary? Who shall live on your holy hill?
He who walks blamelessly does what is right, And speaks truth in his heart;
He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his friend, Nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
In whose eyes a vile man is despised, But who honors those who fear Yahweh; He who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;
He who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, Nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.
My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.”
As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink-offerings of blood I will not offer, Nor take their names on my lips.
Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall also dwell in safety.
For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, Neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
Let my sentence come forth from your presence; Let your eyes look on equity.
You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; You have tried me, and found nothing; I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
As for the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held fast to your paths, My feet have not slipped.
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God: Turn your ear to me. Hear my speech.
Show your marvelous lovingkindness, You who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
Keep me as the apple of your eye; Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
From the wicked who oppress me, My deadly enemies, who surround me.
They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, As it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Arise, Yahweh, Confront him, cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
From men by your hand, Yahweh, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, And they store up wealth for their children.
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.
I love you, Yahweh, my strength.
Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came on me.
In my distress I called on Yahweh, And cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple, My cry before him came into his ears.
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, Because he was angry.
Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion around him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
Yahweh also thundered in the sky, The Most High uttered his voice: Hailstones and coals of fire.
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
Then the channels of waters appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
They came on me in the day of my calamity, But Yahweh was my support.
He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
For all his ordinances were before me. I didn’t put away his statutes from me.
I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
For you will save the afflicted people, But the haughty eyes you will bring down.
For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.
For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,
The God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, And sets me on my high places.
He teaches my hands to war; So that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.
You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.
I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.
I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.
For you have girded me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, That I might cut off those who hate me.
They cried, but there was none to save; Even to Yahweh, but he didn’t answer them.
Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.
The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.
Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,
Even the God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me.
He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, And will sing praises to your name.
He gives great deliverance to his king, And shows lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.
The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork.
Day after day they pour forth speech, And night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.
Their voice has gone out through all the earth, Their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, Like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
His going forth is from the end of the heavens, His circuit to its ends; There is nothing hidden from its heat.
Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
Yahweh’s precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh’s commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright, I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer.
May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
Send you help from the sanctuary, Grant you support from Zion,
Remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah.
May He grant you your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your counsel.
We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God we will set up our banners: May Yahweh grant all your requests.
Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, With the saving strength of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, But we trust the name of Yahweh our God.
They are bowed down and fallen, But we rise up, and stand upright.
Save, Yahweh; Let the King answer us when we call!
The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
You have given him his heart’s desire, And have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.
For you meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
He asked life of you, you gave it to him, Even length of days forever and ever.
His glory is great in your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him.
For you make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence.
For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the lovingkindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
Your hand will find out all of your enemies. Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
You will make them as a fiery furnace in the time of your anger. Yahweh will swallow them up in his wrath. The fire shall devour them.
You will destroy their descendants from the earth, Their posterity from among the children of men.
For they intended evil against you. They plotted evil against you which cannot succeed.
For you will make them turn their back, When you aim drawn bows at their face.
Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength, So we will sing and praise your power.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer; In the night season, and am not silent.
But you are holy, You who inhabit the praises of
Our fathers trusted in you. They trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried to you, and were delivered. They trusted in you, and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
All those who see me mock me. They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
“He trusts in Yahweh; Let him deliver him; Let him rescue him, since he delights in him.”
But you brought me out of the womb. You made me trust at my mother’s breasts.
I was thrown on you from my mother’s womb. You are my God since my mother bore me.
Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is none to help.
Many bulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
They open their mouths wide against me, Lions tearing prey and roaring.
I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evil-doers have enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me.
They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
But don’t be far off, Yahweh. You are my help: hurry to help me.
Deliver my soul from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion’s mouth; Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen you have answered me.
I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise you.
You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of
For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; But when he cried to him, he heard.
Of you comes my praise in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
For the kingdom is Yahweh’s. He is the ruler over the nations.
All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, Even he who can’t keep his soul alive.
Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, For he has done it.
Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
The earth is Yahweh’s, with its fullness; The world, and those who dwell therein.
For he has founded it on the seas, And established it on the floods.
Who may ascend to Yahweh’s hill? Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart; Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive a blessing from Yahweh, Righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek your face -- even Jacob. Selah.
Lift up your heads, you gates; Be lifted up, you everlasting doors: The King of glory will come in.
Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates; Yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors: The King of glory will come in.
Who is this King of glory? Yahweh of Hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.
To you, Yahweh, do I lift up my soul.
My God, I have trusted in you, Don’t let me be put to shame. Don’t let my enemies triumph over me.
Yes, no one who waits for you shall be put to shame. They shall be put to shame who deal treacherously without cause.
Show me your ways, Yahweh. Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.
Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your lovingkindness, For they are from old times.
Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your lovingkindness, For your goodness’ sake, Yahweh.
Good and upright is Yahweh, Therefore he will instruct sinners in the way.
He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
All the paths of Yahweh are lovingkindness and truth To such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For your name’s sake, Yahweh, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
What man is he who fears Yahweh? He shall instruct him in the way that he shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease. His seed shall inherit the land.
The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
My eyes are ever on Yahweh, For he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.
Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for you.
Redeem
Judge me, Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity. I have trusted also in Yahweh without wavering.
Examine me, Yahweh, and prove me. Try my heart and my mind.
For your lovingkindness is before my eyes. I have walked in your truth.
I have not sat with deceitful men, Neither will I go in with hypocrites.
I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked.
I will wash my hands in innocence, So I will go about your altar, Yahweh;
That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, And tell of all your wondrous works.
Yahweh, I love the habitation of your house, The place where your glory dwells.
Don’t gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men;
In whose hands is wickedness, Their right hand is full of bribes.
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me, and be merciful to me.
My foot stands in an even place. In the congregations I will bless Yahweh.
Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil-doers came at me to eat up my flesh, Even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, Even then I will be confident.
One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after, That I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, To see Yahweh’s beauty, And to inquire in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion. In the covert of his tent he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.
Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me. I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.
Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me.
When you said, “Seek my face,” My heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
Don’t hide your face from me. Don’t put your servant away in anger. You have been my help. Don’t abandon me, Neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, Then Yahweh will take me up.
Teach me your way, Yahweh. Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.
Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen up against me, Such as breathe out cruelty.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.
Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.
To you, Yahweh, I call. My rock, don’t be deaf to me; Lest, if you are silent to me, I would become like those who go down into the pit.
Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, When I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.
Don’t draw me away with the wicked, With the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, But mischief is in their hearts.
Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings. Give them according to the operation of their hands. Bring back on them what they deserve.
Because they don’t regard the works of Yahweh, Nor the operation of his hands, He will break them down and not build them up.
Blessed be Yahweh, Because he has heard the voice of my petitions.
Yahweh is my strength and my shield. My heart has trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will thank him.
Yahweh is their strength. He is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.
Save your people, And bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, And bear them up forever.
Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array.
Yahweh’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters.
Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty.
The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars. Yes, Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox.
Yahweh’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning.
Yahweh’s voice shakes the wilderness. Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
Yahweh’s voice makes the deer calve, And strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!”
Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
Yahweh will give strength to his people. Yahweh will bless his people with peace.
I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up, And have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
Yahweh my God, I cried to you, And you have healed me.
Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his. Give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, But joy comes in the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”
You, Yahweh, when you favored me, made my mountain to stand strong. But when you hid your face, I was troubled.
I cried to you, Yahweh. To Yahweh I made supplication:
“What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth?
Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me. Yahweh, be my helper.”
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be put to shame: Deliver me in your righteousness.
Bow down your ear to me. Deliver me speedily. Be to me a strong rock, A house of defense to save me.
For you are my rock and my fortress, Therefore for your name’s sake lead me and guide me.
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, For you are my stronghold.
Into your hand I commend my spirit. You redeem me, Yahweh, God of truth.
I hate those who regard lying vanities, But I trust in Yahweh.
I will be glad and rejoice in your lovingkindness, For you have seen my affliction. You have known my soul in adversities.
You have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a large place.
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief.
For my life is spent with sorrow, My years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away.
Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
I am forgotten from their hearts like a dead man. I am like broken pottery.
For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, While they conspire together against me, They plot to take away my life.
But I trust in you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
Make your face to shine on your servant. Save me in your lovingkindness.
Let me not be put to shame, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be put to shame. Let them be silent in Sheol.
Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.
Oh how great is your goodness, Which you have laid up for those who fear you, Which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, Before the sons of men!
In the covert of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Praise be to Yahweh, For he has shown me his marvelous lovingkindness in a strong city.
As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.
Oh love Yahweh, all you his saints! Yahweh preserves the faithful, And pays back him who deals proudly in full.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in Yahweh.
Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, In whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I kept silence, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy on me. My strength was sapped in the heat of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin to you. I didn’t hide my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh, And you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
For this, let everyone who is godly pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach to him.
You are my hiding place. You will preserve me from trouble. You will surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
Don’t be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, But he who trusts in Yahweh, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous! Shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart!
Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright.
Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.
Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy!
For the word of Yahweh is right. All his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Yahweh.
By Yahweh’s word the heavens were made; All their host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear Yahweh. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm.
Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, The people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.
From the place of his habitation he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
He who fashions all of their hearts; And he considers all of their works.
There is no king saved by the multitude of a host. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a vain thing for safety, Neither does he deliver any by his great power.
Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, On those who hope in his lovingkindness;
To deliver their soul from death, To keep them alive in famine.
Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.
Let your lovingkindness be on us, Yahweh, Since we have hoped in you.
I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together.
I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of Yahweh encamps round about those who fear him, And delivers them.
Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, For there is no lack with those who fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, But those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
Who is someone who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking lies.
Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.
Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
Yahweh’s face is against those who do evil, To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves those who have a crushed spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.
Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”
Let those who seek after my soul be put to shame and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh’s angel driving them on.
Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them.
For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
All my bones shall say, “Yahweh, who is like you, Who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”
Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
They reward me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.
Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed their teeth at me.
Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, My precious life from the lions.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
For they don’t speak peace, But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”
You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness; Don’t let them gloat over me.
Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
Let them be put to shame and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, “Yahweh be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”
My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
An oracle is within my heart about the disobedience of the wicked: “There is no fear of God before his eyes.”
For he flatters himself in his own eyes, Too much to detect and hate his sin.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
He plots iniquity on his bed. He sets himself in a way that is not good; He doesn’t abhor evil.
Your lovingkindness, Yahweh, is in the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God. Your judgments are like a great deep. Yahweh, you preserve man and animal.
How precious is your lovingkindness, God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.
For with you is the spring of life. In your light shall we see light.
Oh continue your lovingkindness to those who know you, Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Don’t let the foot of pride come against me. Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away.
There the workers of iniquity are fallen. They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.
Don’t fret because of evil-doers, Neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither like the green herb.
Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
Also delight yourself in Yahweh, And he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness go forth as the light, And your justice as the noon day sun.
Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him. Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off, But those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more. Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
But the humble shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.
The Lord will laugh at him, For he sees that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To kill those who are upright in the way.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart. Their bows shall be broken.
Better is a little that the righteous has, Than the abundance of many wicked.
For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, But Yahweh upholds the righteous.
Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil. In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
But the wicked shall perish. The enemies of Yahweh shall be like the beauty of the fields. They will vanish -- Vanish like smoke.
The wicked borrow, and don’t pay back, But the righteous give generously.
For such as are blessed by him shall inherit the land. Those who are cursed by him shall be cut off.
A man’s goings are established by Yahweh. He delights in his way.
Though he stumble, he shall not fall, For Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
I have been young, and now am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his children begging for bread.
All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His seed is blessed.
Depart from evil, and do good; Live securely forever.
For Yahweh loves justice, And doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, But the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
The righteous shall inherit the land, And live in it forever.
The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.
The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to kill him.
Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.
Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, And he will exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
I have seen the wicked in great power, Spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
But he passed away, and, behold, he was not. Yes, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Mark the perfect man, and see the upright, For there is a future for the man of peace.
As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together. The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
Yahweh helps them, and rescues them. He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, Because they have taken refuge in him.
Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, Neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
For your arrows have pierced me, Your hand presses hard on me.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.
I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.
For my loins are filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.
I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.
Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.
My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.
They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all day long.
But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.
Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, In whose mouth are no reproofs.
For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God.
For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, Or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”
For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.
For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.
But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.
They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, Because I follow what is good.
Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.
Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.
I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”
I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:
“Yahweh, show me my end, What is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
Behold, you have made my days handbreadths. My lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely every man stands as a breath.” Selah.
“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions. Don’t make me the reproach of the foolish.
I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, Because you did it.
Remove your scourge away from me. I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath.” Selah.
“Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go away, and be no more.”
I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, And gave me a firm place to stand.
He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.
Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, And doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, And your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be set in order to you; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire. You have opened my ears: Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.
I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.
I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your lovingkindness and your truth from the great assembly.
Don’t withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your lovingkindness and your truth continually preserve me.
For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.
Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh.
Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.
Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, “Aha! Aha!”
Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!”
But I am poor and needy; May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.
Blessed is he who considers the poor: Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.
Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive, He shall be blessed on the earth, And he will not surrender him to the will of his enemies.
Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed, And restore him from his bed of illness.
I said, “Yahweh, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
My enemies speak evil against me: “When will he die, and his name perish?”
If he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood. His heart gathers iniquity to itself. When he goes abroad, he tells it.
All who hate me whisper together against me. They imagine the worst for me.
“An evil disease,” they say, “has afflicted him. Now that he lies he shall rise up no more.”
Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Who ate bread with me, Has lifted up his heel against me.
But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.
By this I know that you delight in me, Because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me.
As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, And set me in your presence forever.
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants after you, God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, How I used to go with the crowd, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day.
Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.
My God, my soul is in despair within me. Therefore I remember you from the land of the Jordan, The heights of Hermon, from the hill Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls. All your waves and your billows have swept over me.
Yahweh will command his lovingkindness in the daytime. In the night his song shall be with me: A prayer to the God of my life.
I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries reproach me, While they continually ask me, “Where is your God?”
Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him, The saving help of my countenance, and my God.
Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, To your tents.
Then I will go to the altar of God, To God, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, God, my God.
Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him: My Savior, my helper, and my God.
We have heard with our ears, God; Our fathers have told us, What work you did in their days, In the days of old.
You drove out the nations with your hand, But you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, But you spread them abroad.
For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, Because you were favorable to them.
You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob!
Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us.
For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me.
But you have saved us from our adversaries, And have put to shame those who hate us.
In God we have made our boast all day long, We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.
But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, And don’t go out with our armies.
You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take spoil for themselves.
You have made us like sheep for food, And have scattered us among the nations.
You sell your people for nothing, And have gained nothing from their sale.
You make us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
You make us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.
All day long my dishonor is before me, And shame covers my face,
At the taunt of one who reproaches and reviles, Because of the enemy and the avenger.
All this has come on us, Yet have we not forgotten you, Neither have we been false to your covenant.
Our heart has not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from your way,
That you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;
Won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever.
Why do you hide your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression?
For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body cleaves to the earth.
Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your lovingkindness’ sake.
My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, Therefore God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, mighty one: Your splendor and your majesty.
In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king’s enemies.
Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
Kings’ daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father’s house.
So the king will desire your beauty, Honor him, for he is your lord.
The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.
The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king’s palace.
Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.
I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, Though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
Though the waters of it roar and are troubled, Though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.
There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, The holy place of the tents of the Most High.
God is in her midst. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn.
The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.
Yahweh of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, see Yahweh’s works, What desolations he has made in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
Yahweh of Hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Oh clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth.
He subdues nations under us, And peoples under our feet.
He chooses our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praise to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding.
God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God. He is greatly exalted!
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion, on the north sides, The city of the great King.
God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.
For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed, They hurried away.
Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.
With the east wind, you break the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so we have seen, In the city of Yahweh of Hosts, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever. Selah.
We have thought about your lovingkindness, God, In the midst of your temple.
As is your name, God, So is your praise to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of righteousness.
Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of your judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers;
Mark well her bulwarks. Consider her palaces, That you may tell it to the next generation.
For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
Why should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
Those who trust in their wealth, And boast in the multitude of their riches --
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give God a ransom for him.
For the redemption of their life is costly, No payment is ever enough,
That he should live on forever, That he should not see corruption.
For he sees that wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless perish, And leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, And their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.
This is the destiny of those who are foolish, And of those who approve their sayings. Selah.
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, Far from their mansion.
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For he will receive me. Selah.
Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
Though while he lived he blessed his soul -- And men praise you when you do well for yourself --
He shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
A man who has riches without understanding, Is like the animals that perish.
The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, And calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very tempestuous around him.
He calls to the heavens above, To the earth, that he may judge his people:
“Gather my saints together to me, Those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
The heavens shall declare his righteousness, For God himself is judge. Selah.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
I have no need for a bull from your stall, Nor male goats from your pens.
For every animal of the forest is mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, For the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, That you have taken my covenant on your lips,
Seeing you hate instruction, And throw my words behind you?
When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have participated with adulterers.
“You give your mouth to evil. You harnesses your tongue for deceit.
You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son.
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that the “I AM” was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
“Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you into pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, And prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
Have mercy on me, God, according to your lovingkindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.
Against you, and you only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in your sight; That you may be proved right when you speak, And justified when you judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, And blot out all of my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Don’t throw me from your presence, And don’t take your holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Lord, open my lips. My mouth shall declare your praise.
For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do well in your good pleasure to Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offer bulls on your altar.
Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s lovingkindness endures continually.
Your tongue plots destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good, Lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah.
You love all devouring words, You deceitful tongue.
God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, And root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
The righteous also will see it, and fear, And laugh at him, saying,
“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s lovingkindness forever and ever.
I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, In the presence of your saints.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.
God looks down from heaven on the children of men, To see if there are any who understood, Who seek after God.
Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And don’t call on God?
There they were in great fear, where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, Because God has rejected them.
Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of his people, Then Jacob shall rejoice. Israel shall be glad.
Save me, God, by your name. Vindicate me in your might.
Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.
For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah.
Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul.
He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in your truth.
With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to you. I will give thanks to your name, Yahweh, for it is good.
For he has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.
Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan,
Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me.
My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me.
I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah.
“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.”
Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
For it was not an enemy who insulted me, Then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, Then I would have hid myself from him.
But it was you, a man like me, My companion, and my familiar friend.
We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with the throng.
Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.
As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me.
Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice.
He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, Although there are many who oppose me.
God, who is enthroned forever, Will hear, and answer them. Selah. They never change, Who don’t fear God.
He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.
His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
Cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, But I will trust in you.
Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.
They conspire and lurk, Watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.
Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.
You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren’t they in your book?
Then my enemies shall turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.
In God, I will praise his word. In Yahweh, I will praise his word.
I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered my soul from death, And prevented my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.
Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, For my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, Until disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High, To God who accomplishes my requests for me.
He will send from heaven, and save me, He rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his lovingkindness and his truth.
My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth!
They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the midst of it themselves. Selah.
My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
Wake up, my glory! Wake up, psaltery and harp! I will wake up the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your great lovingkindness reaches to the heavens, And your truth to the skies.
Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?
No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.
The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; Like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
Which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers, No matter how skillful the charmer may be.
Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh.
Let them vanish as water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.
Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, Like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.
Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, He will sweep away the green and the burning alike.
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;
So that men shall say, “Most assuredly there is a reward for the righteous. Most assuredly there is a God who judges the earth.”
Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.
Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.
For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, Not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!
You, Yahweh God of hosts, the God of Israel, Rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.
They return at evening, howling like dogs, And prowl around the city.
Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For,” they say, “who hears us?”
But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.
Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, For God is my high tower.
My God will go before me with his lovingkindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.
Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.
For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, Let them be caught in their pride, For the curses and lies which they utter.
Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, To the ends of the earth. Selah.
At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.
They shall wander up and down for food, And wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.
But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your lovingkindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, A refuge in the day of my distress.
To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.
God, you have rejected us. You have broken us down. You have been angry. Restore us, again.
You have made the land tremble. You have torn it. Mend its fractures, For it quakes.
You have shown your people hard things. You have made us drink the wine that makes us stagger.
You have given a banner to those who fear you, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
So that your beloved may be delivered, Save with your right hand, and answer us.
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “I will triumph. I will divide Shechem, And measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is the defense of my head. Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my shoe on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
Who will bring me into the strong city? Who has led me to Edom?
Haven’t you, God, rejected us? You don’t go out with our armies, God.
Give us help against the adversary, For the help of man is vain.
Through God we shall do valiantly, For it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
Hear my cry, God. Listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth, I will call to you, when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been a refuge for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah.
For you, God, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
You will prolong the king’s life; His years shall be for generations.
He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
So I will sing praise to your name forever, That I may fulfill my vows daily.
My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress -- I will never be greatly shaken.
How long will you assault a man, Would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my expectation is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Surely men of low degree are just a breath, And men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, Don’t set your heart on them.
God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this, That power belongs to God.
Also to you, Lord, belongs lovingkindness, For you reward every man according to his work.
God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you, My flesh longs for you, In a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
So I have seen you in the sanctuary, Watching your power and your glory.
Because your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise you.
So I will bless you while I live. I will lift up my hands in your name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
When I remember you on my bed, And think about you in the night watches.
For you have been my help. I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.
My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.
But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
They shall be given over to the power of the sword. They shall be jackal food.
But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, For the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.
Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, From the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil;
Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And aim their arrows, deadly words,
To shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”
They plot injustice, saying, “We have made a perfect plan!” Surely man’s mind and heart are cunning.
But God will shoot at them. They will be suddenly struck down with an arrow.
Their own tongues shall ruin them. All who see them will shake their heads.
All mankind shall be afraid. They shall declare the work of God, And shall wisely ponder what he has done.
The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, And shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!
Praise waits for you, God, in Zion. To you shall vows be performed.
You who hear prayer, To you all men will come.
Sins overwhelmed me, But you atoned for our transgressions.
Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, That he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, Your holy temple.
By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us, God of our salvation. You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth, Of those who are far away on the sea;
Who by his power forms the mountains, Having armed yourself with strength;
Who stills the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the turmoil of the nations.
They also who dwell in far-away places are afraid at your wonders. You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.
You visit the earth, and water it. You greatly enrich it. The river of God is full of water. You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows. You level its ridges. You soften it with showers. You bless it with a crop.
You crown the year with your bounty. Your carts overflow with abundance.
The wilderness grasslands overflow. The hills are clothed with gladness.
The pastures are covered with flocks. The valleys also are clothed with grain. They shout for joy! They also sing.
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
Sing to the glory of his name! Offer glory and praise!
Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds! Through the greatness of your power, your enemies submit themselves to you.
All the earth will worship you, And will sing to you; They will sing to your name.” Selah.
Come, and see God’s deeds -- Awesome work on behalf of the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him.
He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him. Selah.
Praise our God, you peoples! Make the sound of his praise heard,
Who preserves our life among the living, And doesn’t allow our feet to be moved.
For you, God, have tested us. You have refined us, as silver is refined.
You brought us into prison. You laid a burden on our backs.
You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, But you brought us to the place of abundance.
I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to you,
which my lips promised, And my mouth spoke, when I was in distress.
I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, With the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah.
Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue.
If I cherished sin in my heart, The Lord wouldn’t have listened.
But most assuredly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, Nor his lovingkindness from me.
May God be merciful to us, bless us, And cause his face to shine on us. Selah.
That your way may be known on earth, And your salvation among all nations,
Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy, For you will judge the peoples with equity, And govern the nations on earth. Selah.
Let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase. God, even our own God, will bless us.
God will bless us. All the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered! Let them who hate him also flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, So drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God. Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds: To Yah, his name! Rejoice before him!
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.
God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, But the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
God, when you went forth before your people, When you marched through the wilderness... Selah.
The earth trembled. The sky also poured down rain at the presence of the God of Sinai -- At the presence of God, the God of Israel.
You, God, sent a plentiful rain. You confirmed your inheritance, when it was weary.
Your congregation lived therein. You, God, prepared your goodness for the poor.
The Lord announced the word. The ones who proclaim it are a great company.
“Kings of armies flee! They flee!” She who waits at home divides the spoil,
While you sleep among the campfires, The wings of a dove sheathed with silver, Her feathers with shining gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings in her, It snowed on Zalmon.
The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains. The mountains of Bashan are rugged.
Why do you look in envy, you rugged mountains, At the mountain where God chooses to reign? Yes, Yahweh will dwell there forever.
The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands. The Lord is among them, from Sinai, into the sanctuary.
You have ascended on high. You have led away captives. You have received gifts among men, Yes, among the rebellious also, that Yah God might dwell there.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah.
God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
But God will strike through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as still continues in his guiltiness.
The Lord said, “I will bring you again from Bashan, I will bring you again from the depths of the sea;
That you may crush them, dipping your foot in blood, That the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
They have seen your processions, God, Even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, In the midst of the ladies playing with tambourines,
“Bless God in the congregations, Even the Lord in the assembly of Israel!”
There is little Benjamin, their ruler, The princes of Judah, their council, The princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
Your God has commanded your strength. Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem, Kings shall bring presents to you.
Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Princes shall come out of
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the Lord! Selah.
To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
Ascribe strength to God! His excellency is over
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of
Save me, God, For the waters have come up to my neck!
I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.
God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.
Don’t let those who wait for you be put to shame through me, Lord Yahweh of Hosts. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of
Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my brothers, An alien to my mother’s children.
For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
When I wept and I fasted, That was to my reproach.
When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.
But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your lovingkindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.
Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, Neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.
Answer me, Yahweh, for your lovingkindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.
Don’t hide your face from your servant, For I am in distress. Answer me speedily!
Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.
You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; For comforters, but I found none.
They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.
Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.
I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving.
It will please Yahweh better than an ox, Or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
For Yahweh hears the needy, And doesn’t despise his captive people.
Let heaven and earth praise him; The seas, and everything that moves therein!
For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.
The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.
Hurry, God, to deliver me. Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.
Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek my soul. Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
Let them be turned because of their shame Who say, “Aha! Aha!”
Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation continually say, “Let God be exalted!”
But I am poor and needy. Come to me quickly, God. You are my help and my deliverer. Yahweh, don’t delay.
In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be put to shame.
Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.
Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, For you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, From the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; My confidence from my youth.
I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.
I am a marvel to many, But you are my strong refuge.
My mouth shall be filled with your praise, With your honor all the day.
Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,
Saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”
God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.
Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.
But I will always hope, And will add to all of your praise.
My mouth will tell about your righteousness, And of your salvation all day, Though I don’t know its full measure.
I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.
God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, Until I have declared your strength to the next generation, Your might to everyone who is to come.
Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; You have done great things. God, who is like you?
You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, You will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.
Increase my honor, And comfort me again.
I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of
My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!
My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, For they are put to shame, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.
God, give the king your justice; Your righteousness to the royal son.
He will judge your people with righteousness, And your poor with justice.
The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.
He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, And will break the oppressor in pieces.
They shall fear you while the sun endures; And as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
He will come down like rain on the mown grass, As showers that water the earth.
In his days, the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, From the River to the ends of the earth.
Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
For he will deliver the needy when he cries; The poor, who has no helper.
He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.
He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.
They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long.
There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.
His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of
Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.
This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.
Surely God is good to
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no struggles in their death, But their strength is firm.
They are free from burdens of men, Neither are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
Therefore their people return to them, And they drink up waters of abundance.
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence,
For all day long have I been plagued, And punished every morning.
If I had said, “I will speak thus;” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
When I tried to understand this, It was too painful for me;
Until I entered God’s sanctuary, And considered their latter end.
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
As a dream when one wakes up, So, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart fails, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, That I may tell of all your works.
God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, Which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, All the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
Your adversaries have roared in the midst of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes, Cutting through a thicket of trees.
Now all its carved work They break down with hatchet and hammers.
They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling-place of your Name.
They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, Neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it out of your pocket and consume them!
Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.
You have set all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.
Honor your covenant, For haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.
We give thanks to you, God, We give thanks, for your Name is near. Men tell about your wondrous works.
When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.
The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars. Selah.
I said to the arrogant, “Don’t boast;” To the wicked, “Don’t lift up the horn.
Don’t lift up your horn on high. Don’t speak with a stiff neck.”
For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, comes exaltation.
But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.
For in the hand of Yahweh there is a cup, Full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours it out. Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs.
But I will declare this forever: I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.
In Judah, God is known. His name is great in
His tent is also in Salem; His dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flaming arrows of the bow, The shield, and the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah.
Glorious are you, and excellent, More than mountains of game.
Valiant men lie plundered, They have slept their last sleep. None of the men of war can lift their hands.
At your rebuke, God of Jacob, Both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep.
You, even you, are to be feared. Who can stand in your sight when you are angry?
You pronounced judgment from heaven. The earth feared, and was silent,
When God arose to judgment, To save all the afflicted ones of the earth. Selah.
Surely the wrath of man praises you. The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.
He will cut off the spirit of princes. He is feared by the kings of the earth.
My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, And for him to listen to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.
I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.
You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.
I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.
I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; My spirit diligently inquires:
“Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more?
Has his lovingkindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations?
Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.
Then I thought, “I will appeal to this: The years of the right hand of the Most High.”
I will remember Yah’s deeds; For I will remember your wonders of old.
I will also meditate on all your work, And consider your doings.
Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?
You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.
You have redeemed your people with your arm, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.
The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.
The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.
Your way was through the sea; Your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known.
You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Hear my law, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, His strength, and his wondrous works that he has done.
For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; Who should arise and tell their children,
That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,
And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, Whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.
They didn’t keep God’s covenant, And refused to walk in his law.
They forgot his doings, His wondrous works that he had shown them.
He did marvelous things in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
He split the sea, and caused them to pass through; He made the waters stand as a heap.
In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, And all night with a light of fire.
He split rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.
Yet they still went on to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.
They tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.
Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, Streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?”
Therefore Yahweh heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, Anger also went up against Israel,
Because they didn’t believe in God, And didn’t trust in his salvation.
Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven.
He rained down manna on them to eat, And gave them food from the sky.
Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
He rained also flesh on them as the dust; Winged birds as the sand of the seas.
He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Around their habitations.
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
When the anger of God went up against them, Killed some of the fattest of them, And struck down the young men of Israel.
For all this they still sinned, And didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, And their years in terror.
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
They remembered that God was their rock, The Most High God their redeemer.
But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied to him with their tongue.
For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.
But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, And didn’t stir up all his wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, And grieved him in the desert!
They turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.
They didn’t remember his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
How he set his signs in Egypt, His wonders in the field of Zoan,
Turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.
He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust.
He destroyed their vines with hail, Their sycamore-fig trees with frost.
He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, And a band of angels of evil.
He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,
And struck all the firstborn in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
He also drove out the nations before them, Allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And didn’t keep his testimonies;
But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
When God heard this, he was angry, And greatly abhorred Israel;
So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men;
And delivered his strength into captivity, His glory into the adversary’s hand.
He also gave his people over to the sword, And was angry with his inheritance.
Fire devoured their young men; Their virgins had no wedding song.
Their priests fell by the sword, And their widows couldn’t weep.
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, And didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he has established forever.
He also chose David his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
From following the ewes that have their young, He brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, And Israel, his inheritance.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, The flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.
Their blood they have shed like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.
We have become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you; On the kingdoms that don’t call on your name;
For they have devoured Jacob, And destroyed his homeland.
Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, For we are in desperate need.
Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, That vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death;
Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom Their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, Will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.
Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock, You who sit above the cherubim, shine forth.
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might! Come to save us!
Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, And we will be saved.
Yahweh God of hosts, How long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears, And given them tears to drink in large measure.
You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.
Turn us again, God of hosts. Cause your face to shine, And we will be saved.
You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it. It took deep root, and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shadow. Its boughs were like God’s cedars.
It sent out its branches to the sea, Its shoots to the River.
Why have you broken down its walls, So that all those who pass by the way pluck it?
The boar out of the wood ravages it. The wild animals of the field feed on it.
Turn again, we beg you, God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,
The stock which your right hand planted, The branch that you made strong for yourself.
It’s burned with fire. It’s cut down. They perish at your rebuke.
Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, On the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.
So we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call on your name.
Turn us again, Yahweh God of hosts. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!
Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, The pleasant lyre with the harp.
Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, At the full moon, on our feast day.
For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.
“I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.
You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Selah.
“Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!
There shall be no strange god in you, Neither shall you worship any foreign god.
I am Yahweh, your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, That they might walk in their own counsels.
Oh that my people would listen to me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.
The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, And their punishment would last forever.
But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”
God presides in the great assembly. He judges among the gods.
“How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked?” Selah.
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I said, “You are gods, All of you are sons of the Most High.
Nevertheless you shall die like men, And fall like one of the rulers.”
Arise, God, judge the earth, For you inherit all of the nations.
God, don’t keep silent. Don’t keep silent, And don’t be still, God.
For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
“Come,” they say, “and let’s destroy them as a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”
For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
Do to them as you did to Midian, As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;
Who said, “Let us take possession Of God’s pasturelands.”
My God, make them like tumbleweed; Like chaff before the wind.
As the fire that burns the forest, As the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
So pursue them with your tempest, And terrify them with your storm.
Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek your name, Yahweh.
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
That they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, Are the Most High over all the earth.
How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Hosts!
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Yes, the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, Near your altars, Yahweh of Hosts, my King, and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you; Who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
Yahweh, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.
Behold, God our shield, Look at the face of your anointed.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
Yahweh of Hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah.
You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.
Turn us, God of our salvation, And cause your indignation toward us to cease.
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations?
Won’t you revive us again, That your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your lovingkindness, Yahweh. Grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, For he will speak peace to his people, his saints; But let them not turn again to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, That glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps.
Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, For I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
Be merciful to me, Lord, For I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to the soul of your servant, For to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; Abundant in lovingkindness to all those who call on you.
Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions.
In the day of my trouble I will call on you, For you will answer me.
There is no one like you among the gods, Lord, Nor any deeds like your deeds.
All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
For you are great, and do wondrous things. You are God alone.
Teach me your way, Yahweh. I will walk in your truth. Make my heart undivided to fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forevermore.
For your lovingkindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, And they don’t hold regard for you before them.
But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give your strength to your servant. Save the son of your handmaid.
Show me a sign of your goodness, That those who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, Because you, Yahweh, have helped me, and comforted me.
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Yahweh loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah.
I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: “This one was born there.”
Yes, of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one was born in her;” The Most High himself will establish her.
Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, “This one was born there.” Selah.
Those who sing as well as those who dance say, “All my springs are in you.”
Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.
Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.
For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.
I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,
Set apart among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
You have laid me in the lowest pit, In the darkest depths.
Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.
You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.
My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you.
Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Selah.
Is your lovingkindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.
They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.
You have put lover and friend far from me, And my friends into darkness.
I will sing of the lovingkindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
I indeed declare, “Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them.”
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,
I will establish your seed forever, And build up your throne to all generations.
” Selah.
The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,
A very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, To be feared above all those who are around him?
Yahweh, God of hosts, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.
You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.
You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; The world and its fullness. You have founded them.
The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.
You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Lovingkindness and truth go before your face.
Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.
In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.
For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.
For our shield belongs to Yahweh; Our king to the Holy One of Israel.
Then you spoke in vision to your saints, And said, “I have bestowed strength on the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.
I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
With whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.
No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.
I will beat down his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him.
But my faithfulness and my lovingkindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.
I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers.
He will call to me, You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation!
I will also appoint him my firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
I will keep my lovingkindness for him forevermore. My covenant will stand firm with him.
I will also make his seed endure forever, And his throne as the days of heaven.
If his children forsake my law, And don’t walk in my ordinances;
If they break my statutes, And don’t keep my commandments;
Then I will punish their sin with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.
But I will not completely take my lovingkindness from him, Nor allow my faithfulness to fail.
I will not break my covenant, Nor alter what my lips have uttered.
Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.
His seed will endure forever, His throne like the sun before me.
It will be established forever like the moon, The faithful witness in the sky.” Selah.
But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.
You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.
Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, And haven’t supported him in battle.
You have ended his splendor, And thrown his throne down to the ground.
You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.
How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?
Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men!
What man is he who shall live and not see death, Who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
Lord, where are your former lovingkindnesses, Which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, How I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,
With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, With which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.
Blessed be Yahweh forevermore. Amen, and Amen.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever you had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.
You turn man to destruction, saying, “Return, you children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, As a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as they sleep. In the morning they sprout like new grass.
In the morning it sprouts and springs up. By evening, it is withered and dry.
For we are consumed in your anger. We are troubled in your wrath.
You have set our iniquities before you, Our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days have passed away in your wrath. We bring our years to an end as a sigh.
The days of our years are seventy, Or even by reason of strength eighty years; Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, For it passes quickly, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of your anger, Your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?
So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Relent, Yahweh! How long? Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your lovingkindness, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, For as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work appear to your servants; Your glory to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; Establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day;
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes, And see the reward of the wicked.
For you, Yahweh, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your habitation.
No evil shall happen to you, Neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
For he will give his angels charge over you, To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, So that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
“Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him, and honor him.
I will satisfy him with long life, And show him my salvation.”
It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh, To sing praises to your name, Most High;
To proclaim your lovingkindness in the morning, And your faithfulness every night,
With the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, And with the melody of the lyre.
For you, Yahweh, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the works of your hands.
How great are your works, Yahweh! Your thoughts are very deep.
A senseless man doesn’t know, Neither does a fool understand this:
Though the wicked spring up as the grass, And all the evil-doers flourish, They will be destroyed forever.
But you, Yahweh, are on high forevermore.
For, behold, your enemies, Yahweh, For, behold, your enemies shall perish. All the evil-doers will be scattered.
But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.
My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in Yahweh’s house. They will flourish in our God’s courts.
They will still bring forth fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green,
To show that Yahweh is upright. He is my rock, And there is no unrighteousness in him.
Yahweh reigns! He is clothed with majesty! Yahweh is armed with strength. The world also is established. It can’t be moved.
Your throne is established from long ago. You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, Yahweh, The floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves.
Above the voices of many waters, The mighty breakers of the sea, Yahweh on high is mighty.
Your statutes stand firm. Holiness adorns your house, Yahweh, forevermore.
Yahweh, you God to whom vengeance belongs, You God to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth.
Rise up, you judge of the earth. Pay back the proud what they deserve.
Yahweh, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?
They pour out arrogant words. All the evil-doers boast.
They break your people in pieces, Yahweh, And afflict your heritage.
They kill the widow and the alien, And murder the fatherless.
They say, “Yah will not see, Neither will Jacob’s God consider.”
Consider, you senseless among the people; You fools, when will you be wise?
He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see?
He who disciplines the nations, won’t he punish? He who teaches man knows.
Yahweh knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, Yah, And teach out of your law;
That you may give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
For Yahweh won’t reject his people, Neither will he forsake his inheritance.
For judgment will return to righteousness. All the upright in heart shall follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evil-doers?
Unless Yahweh had been my help, My soul would have soon lived in silence.
When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your lovingkindness, Yahweh, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, Which brings about mischief by statute?
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood.
But Yahweh has been my high tower, My God, the rock of my refuge.
He has brought on them their own iniquity, And will cut them off in their own wickedness. Yahweh, our God, will cut them off.
Oh come, let’s sing to Yahweh. Let’s shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!
Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs!
For Yahweh is a great God, A great King above all gods.
In his hand are the deep places of the earth. The heights of the mountains are also his.
The sea is his, and he made it. His hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel before Yahweh, our Maker,
For he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, And the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
When your fathers tempted me, Tested me, and saw my work.
Forty long years I was grieved with that generation, And said, “It is a people that errs in their heart. They have not known my ways.”
Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They won’t enter into my rest.”
Sing to Yahweh a new song! Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.
Sing to Yahweh! Bless his name! Proclaim his salvation from day to day!
Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But Yahweh made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him. Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Ascribe to Yahweh, you families of nations, Ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship Yahweh in holy array. Tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “Yahweh reigns.” The world is also established. It can’t be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. Let the sea roar, and it’s fullness!
Let the field and all that is in it exult! Then all the trees of the woods shall sing for joy
Before Yahweh; for he comes, For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, The peoples with his truth.
Yahweh reigns! Let the earth rejoice! Let the multitude of islands be glad!
Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
A fire goes before him, And burns up his adversaries on every side.
His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of Yahweh, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare his righteousness. All the peoples have seen his glory.
Let all them be put to shame who serve engraved images, Who boast in their idols. Worship him, all you gods!
Zion heard and was glad. The daughters of Judah rejoiced, Because of your judgments, Yahweh.
For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods.
You who love Yahweh, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.
Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous people! Give thanks to his holy Name.
Sing to Yahweh a new song, For he has done marvelous things! His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him.
Yahweh has made known his salvation. He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his lovingkindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth! Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp, With the harp and the voice of melody.
With trumpets and sound of the ram’s horn, Make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh.
Let the sea roar with its fullness; The world, and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands. Let the mountains sing for joy together.
Let them sing before Yahweh, For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity.
Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.
Yahweh is great in Zion. He is high above all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name. He is Holy!
The King’s strength also loves justice. You do establish equity. You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt Yahweh our God. Worship at his footstool. He is Holy!
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel among those who call on his name; They called on Yahweh, and he answered them.
He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, The statute that he gave them.
You answered them, Yahweh our God. You are a God who forgave them, Although you took vengeance for their doings.
Exalt Yahweh, our God. Worship at his holy hill, For Yahweh, our God, is holy!
Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands!
Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing.
Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, Into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
For Yahweh is good. His lovingkindness endures forever, His faithfulness to all generations.
I will sing of lovingkindness and justice. To you, Yahweh, I will sing praises.
I will be careful to live a blameless life. When will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a blameless heart.
I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
A perverse heart will be far from me. I will have nothing to do with evil.
I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is haughty and conceited.
My eyes will be on the faithful of the land, That they may dwell with me. He who walks in a perfect way, He will serve me.
He who practices deceit won’t dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood won’t be established before my eyes.
Morning by morning, I will destroy all the wicked of the land; To cut off all the workers of iniquity from Yahweh’s city.
Hear my prayer, Yahweh! Let my cry come to you.
Don’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me. Answer me quickly in the day when I call.
For my days consume away like smoke. My bones are burned as a firebrand.
My heart is blighted like grass, and withered, For I forget to eat my bread.
By reason of the voice of my groaning, My bones stick to my skin.
I am like a pelican of the wilderness. I have become as an owl of the waste places.
I watch, and have become like a sparrow that is alone on the housetop.
My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mixed my drink with tears,
Because of your indignation and your wrath, For you have taken me up, and thrown me away.
My days are like a long shadow. I have withered like grass.
But you, Yahweh, will abide forever; Your renown endures to all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come.
For your servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity on her dust.
So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; All the kings of the earth your glory.
For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory.
He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer.
This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah.
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;
To hear the groans of the prisoner; To free those who are condemned to death;
That men may declare the name of Yahweh in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem;
When the peoples are gathered together, The kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.
He weakened my strength along the course. He shortened my days.
I said, “My God, don’t take me away in the midst of my days. Your years are throughout all generations.
Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed.
But you are the same. Your years will have no end.
The children of your servants will continue. Their seed will be established before you.”
Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!
Praise Yahweh, my soul, And don’t forget all his benefits;
Who forgives all your sins; Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from destruction; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfies your desire with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Yahweh executes righteous acts, And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the children of Israel.
Yahweh is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.
He will not always accuse; Neither will he stay angry forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us for our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Like a father has compassion on his children, So Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.
For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.
But Yahweh’s lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, His righteousness to children’s children;
To those who keep his covenant, To those who remember to obey his precepts.
Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.
Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, Who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, Obeying the voice of his word.
Praise Yahweh, all you hosts of his, You servants of his, who do his pleasure.
Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, In all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul.
Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
He lays the beams of his chambers in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
He makes his messengers winds; His servants flames of fire.
He laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved forever.
You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.
At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
The mountains rose, The valleys sank down, To the place which you had assigned to them.
You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; That they don’t turn again to cover the earth.
He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his chambers. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And plants for man to cultivate, That he may bring forth food out of the earth:
Wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face to shine, And bread that strengthens man’s heart.
Yahweh’s trees are well watered, The cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
Where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the fir trees.
The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.
You make darkness, and it is night, In which all the animals of the forest prowl.
The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.
The sun rises, and they steal away, And lay down in their dens.
Man goes forth to his work, To his labor until the evening.
Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
There is the sea, great and wide, In which are innumerable living things, Both small and large animals.
There the ships go, And leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
These all wait for you, That you may give them their food in due season.
You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
You hide your face: they are troubled; You take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
You send forth your Spirit: they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
Let the glory of Yahweh endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
Let your meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh.
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!
Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
Remember his marvelous works that he has done; His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
You seed of Abraham, his servant, You children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is Yahweh, our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
He has remembered his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
The covenant which he made with Abraham, His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed the same to Jacob for a statute; To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;”
When they were but a few men in number, Yes, very few, and sojourners in it.
They went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.
He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
“Don’t touch my anointed ones! Do my prophets no harm!”
He called for a famine on the land. He destroyed the food supplies.
He sent a man before them. Joseph was sold for a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,
Until the time that his word happened, And Yahweh’s word proved him true.
The king sent and freed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.
He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all of his possessions;
To discipline his princes at his pleasure, And to teach his elders wisdom.
Israel also came into Egypt. Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
He increased his people greatly, And made them stronger than their adversaries.
He turned their heart to hate his people, To conspire against his servants.
He sent Moses, his servant, And Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They performed miracles among them, And wonders in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and made it dark. They didn’t rebel against his words.
He turned their waters into blood, And killed their fish.
Their land swarmed with frogs, Even in the chambers of their kings.
He spoke, and swarms of flies came, And lice in all their borders.
He gave them hail for rain, With lightning in their land.
He struck their vines and also their fig trees, And shattered the trees of their country.
He spoke, and the locusts came, And the grasshoppers, without number,
Ate up every plant in their land; And ate up the fruit of their ground.
He struck also all the firstborn in their land, The first fruits of all their manhood.
He brought them forth with silver and gold. There was not one feeble person among his tribes.
Egypt was glad when they departed, For the fear of them had fallen on them.
He spread a cloud for a covering, Fire to give light in the night.
They asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of the sky.
He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places.
For he remembered his holy word, And Abraham, his servant.
He brought forth his people with joy, His chosen with singing.
He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labor of the peoples in possession,
That they might keep his statutes, And observe his laws. Praise Yah!
Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of Yahweh, Or fully declare all his praise?
Blessed are those who keep justice. Blesssed is one who does what is right at all times.
Remember me, Yahweh, with the favor that you show to your people. Visit me with your salvation,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, That I may glory with your inheritance.
We have sinned with our fathers. We have committed iniquity. We have done wickedly.
Our fathers didn’t understand your wonders in Egypt. They didn’t remember the multitude of your lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, That he might make his mighty power known.
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up; So he led them through the depths, as through a desert.
He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
The waters covered their adversaries. There was not one of them left.
Then they believed his words. They sang his praise.
They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel,
But gave in to craving in the desert, And tested God in the wasteland.
He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.
They envied Moses also in the camp, And Aaron, Yahweh’s saint.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.
A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped a molten image.
Thus they exchanged their glory For an image of a bull that eats grass.
They forgot God, their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,
Wondrous works in the land of Ham, And awesome things by the Red Sea.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had Moses, his chosen, not stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, so that he wouldn’t destroy them.
Yes, they despised the pleasant land. They didn’t believe his word,
But murmured in their tents, And didn’t listen to Yahweh’s voice.
Therefore he swore to them That he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
That he would overthrow their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.
They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.
Then Phinehas stood up, and executed judgment, So the plague was stopped.
That was credited to him for righteousness, For all generations to come.
They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that Moses was troubled for their sakes;
Because they were rebellious against his spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips.
They didn’t destroy the peoples, As Yahweh commanded them,
But mixed themselves with the nations, And learned their works.
They served their idols, Which became a snare to them.
Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
They shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted with blood.
Thus were they defiled with their works, And prostituted themselves in their deeds.
Therefore Yahweh burned with anger against his people. He abhorred his inheritance.
He gave them into the hand of the nations. Those who hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.
Many times he delivered them, But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.
Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry.
He remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
He made them also to be pitied By all those who carried them captive.
Save us, Yahweh, our God, Gather us from among the nations, To give thanks to your holy name, To triumph in your praise!
Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting! Let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise Yah!
Give thanks to Yahweh, For he is good, For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so, Whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.
Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,
He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city to live in.
Let them praise Yahweh for his lovingkindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
Because they rebelled against the words of God, And condemned the counsel of the Most High.
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was none to help.
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their bonds in sunder.
Let them praise Yahweh for his lovingkindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
For he has broken the gates of brass, And cut through bars of iron.
Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience, And because of their iniquities.
Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, He saves them out of their distresses.
He sends his word, and heals them, And delivers them from their graves.
Let them praise Yahweh for his lovingkindness, For his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business in great waters;
These see Yahweh’s works, And his wonders in the deep.
For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up its waves.
They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.
Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble, And he brings them out of their distress.
He makes the storm a calm, So that its waves are still.
Then they are glad because it is calm, So he brings them to their desired haven.
Let them praise Yahweh for his lovingkindness, For his wonderful works for the children of men!
Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.
He turns rivers into a desert, Water springs into a thirsty ground,
And a fruitful land into a salt waste, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
He turns a desert into a pool of water, And a dry land into water springs.
There he makes the hungry live, That they may prepare a city to live in,
Sow fields, plant vineyards, And reap the fruits of increase.
He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly. He doesn’t allow their cattle to decrease.
Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction, And increases their families like a flock.
The upright will see it, and be glad. All the wicked will shut their mouths.
Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh.
My heart is steadfast, God. I will sing and I will make music with my soul.
Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations. I will sing praises to you among the peoples.
For your lovingkindness is great above the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, God, above the heavens, Let your glory be over all the earth.
That your beloved may be delivered, Save with your right hand, and answer us.
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph, I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine. Manasseh is mine. Ephraim also is my helmet. Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my wash pot. I will toss my sandal on Edom. I will shout over Philistia.”
Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who has led me to Edom?
Haven’t you rejected us, God? You don’t go forth, God, with our armies.
Give us help against the enemy, For the help of man is vain.
Through God, we will do valiantly. For it is he who will tread down our enemies.
God of my praise, don’t remain silent,
For they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.
In return for my love, they are my adversaries; But I am in prayer.
They have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
When he is judged, let him come forth guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.
Let his days be few. Let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.
Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.
Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
Let there be none to extend kindness to him, Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.
Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
Let them be before Yahweh continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
Because he didn’t remember to show kindness, But persecuted the poor and needy man, The broken in heart, to kill them.
Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, Like oil into his bones.
Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, For the belt that is always around him.
This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, Of those who speak evil against my soul.
But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, Because your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;
For I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.
I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.
My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.
I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.
Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your lovingkindness;
That they may know that this is your hand; That you, Yahweh, have done it.
They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be put to shame, But your servant shall rejoice.
Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.
Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
Yahweh will send forth the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies.
Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth.
Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at your right hand. He will crush kings in the day of his wrath.
He will judge among the nations. He will heap up dead bodies. He will crush the ruler of the whole earth.
He will drink of the brook in the way; Therefore he will lift up his head.
Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.
Yahweh’s works are great, Pondered by all those who delight in them.
His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful.
He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure.
They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness.
He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome!
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Praise Yah! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, Who delights greatly in his commandments.
His seed will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, Gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals graciously and lends. He will maintain his cause in judgment.
For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.
He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh.
His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
The wicked will see it, and be grieved. He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away. The desire of the wicked will perish.
Praise Yah! Praise, you servants of Yahweh, Praise the name of Yahweh.
Blessed be the name of Yahweh, From this time forth and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, Yahweh’s name is to be praised.
Yahweh is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.
Who is like Yahweh, our God, Who has his seat on high,
Who stoops down to see in heaven and in the earth?
He raises up the poor out of the dust. Lifts up the needy from the ash heap;
That he may set him with princes, Even with the princes of his people.
He settles the barren woman in her home, As a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!
When Israel went forth out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of foreign language;
Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.
The sea saw it, and fled. The Jordan was driven back.
The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs.
What was it, you sea, that you fled? You Jordan, that you turned back?
You mountains, that you skipped like rams; You little hills, like lambs?
Tremble, you earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob,
Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a spring of waters.
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, But to your name give glory, For your lovingkindness, and for your truth’s sake.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God, now?”
But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they don’t speak; They have eyes, but they don’t see;
They have ears, but they don’t hear; They have noses, but they don’t smell;
They have hands, but they don’t feel; They have feet, but they don’t walk; Neither do they speak through their throat.
Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
House of Aaron, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.
Yahweh remembers us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron.
He will bless those who fear Yahweh, Both small and great.
May Yahweh increase you more and more, You and your children.
Blessed are you by Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth.
The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh; But the earth has he given to the children of men.
The dead don’t praise Yah, Neither any who go down into silence;
But we will bless Yah, From this time forth and forevermore. Praise Yah!
I love Yahweh, because he listens to my voice, And my cries for mercy.
Because he has turned his ear to me, Therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death surrounded me, The pains of Sheol got a hold of me. I found trouble and sorrow.
Then called I on the name of Yahweh: “Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul.”
Gracious is Yahweh, and righteous; Yes, our God is merciful.
Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul, For Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
I will walk before Yahweh in the land of the living.
I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”
I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”
What will I give to Yahweh for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of Yahweh.
I will pay my vows to Yahweh, Yes, in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints.
Yahweh, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. You have freed me from my chains.
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call on the name of Yahweh.
I will pay my vows to Yahweh, Yes, in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of Yahweh’s house, In the midst of you, Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!
For his lovingkindness is great toward us. Yahweh’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Let Israel now say That his lovingkindness endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron now say That his lovingkindness endures forever.
Now let those who fear Yahweh say That his lovingkindness endures forever.
Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me with freedom.
Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, Than to put confidence in princes.
All the nations surrounded me, But in the name of Yahweh, I cut them off.
They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. In the name of Yahweh I indeed cut them off.
They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the name of Yahweh I cut them off.
You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, But Yahweh helped me.
Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!”
I will not die, but live, And declare Yah’s works.
Yah has punished me severely, But he has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah.
This is the gate of Yahweh; The righteous will enter into it.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, And have become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh; Yahweh, we beg you, now send prosperity.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh! We have blessed you out of the house of Yahweh.
Yahweh is God, and he has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you. You are my God, I will exalt you.
Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For his lovingkindness endures forever.
ALEPH Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, Who walk according to Yaweh’s law.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes, Who seek him with their whole heart.
Yes, they do nothing wrong. They walk in his ways.
You have commanded your precepts, That we should fully obey them.
Oh that my ways were steadfast To obey your statutes!
Then I wouldn’t be put to shame, When I consider all of your commandments.
I will give thanks to you with uprightness of heart, When I learn your righteous judgments.
I will observe your statutes. Don’t utterly forsake me. BEIT
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments.
I have hidden your word in my heart, That I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts, And consider your ways.
I will delight myself in your statutes. I will not forget your word. GIMEL
Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word.
Open my eyes, That I may see wondrous things out of your law.
I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, Who wander from your commandments.
Take reproach and contempt away from me, For I have kept your statutes.
Though princes sit and slander me, Your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Indeed your statutes are my delight, And my counselors. DALED
My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!
I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul is weary with sorrow: Strengthen me according to your word.
Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!
I have chosen the way of truth. I have set my heart on your law.
I cling to your statutes, Yahweh. Don’t let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commandments, For you have set my heart free. HEY
Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
Direct me in the path of your commandments, For I delight in them.
Turn my heart toward your statutes, Not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
Fulfill your promise to your servant, That you may be feared.
Take away my disgrace that I dread, For your ordinances are good.
Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness. WAW
Let your lovingkindness also come to me, Yahweh, Your salvation, according to your word.
So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in your word.
Don’t snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, For I put my hope in your ordinances.
So I will obey your law continually, Forever and ever.
I will walk in liberty, For I have sought your precepts.
I will also speak of your statutes before kings, And will not be put to shame.
I will delight myself in your commandments, Because I love them.
I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes. ZAYIN
Remember your word to your servant, Because you gave me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction, For your word has revived me.
The arrogant mock me excessively, But I don’t swerve from your law.
I remember your ordinances of old, Yahweh, And have comforted myself.
Indignation has taken hold on me, Because of the wicked who forsake your law.
Your statutes have been my songs, In the house where I live.
I have remembered your name, Yahweh, in the night, And I obey your law.
This is my way, That I keep your precepts. CHET
Yahweh is my portion. I promised to obey your words.
I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word.
I considered my ways, And turned my steps to your statutes.
I will hurry, and not delay, To obey your commandments.
The ropes of the wicked bind me, But I won’t forget your law.
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, Because of your righteous ordinances.
I am a friend of all those who fear you, Of those who observe your precepts.
The earth is full of your lovingkindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes. TET
Do good to your servant, According to your word, Yahweh.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe in your commandments.
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; But now I observe your word.
You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.
The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts.
Their heart is as callous as the fat, But I delight in your law.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. YUD
Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
Those who fear you will see me and be glad, Because I have put my hope in your word.
Yahweh, I know that your judgments are righteous, That in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Please let your lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to your word to your servant.
Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For your law is my delight.
Let the proud be put to shame, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.
Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes.
Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, That I may not be put to shame. KAF
My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.
My eyes fail for your word. I say, “When will you comfort me?”
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don’t forget your statutes.
How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?
The proud have dug pits for me, Contrary to your law.
All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!
They had almost wiped me from the earth, But I didn’t forsake your precepts.
Preserve my life according to your lovingkindness, So I will obey the statutes of your mouth. LAMED
Yahweh, your word is settled in heaven forever.
Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.
Your laws remain to this day, For all things serve you.
Unless your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts, For with them, you have revived me.
I am yours. Save me, for I have sought your precepts.
The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. I will consider your statutes.
I have seen a limit to all perfection, But your commands are boundless. MEM
How love I your law! It is my meditation all day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For your commandments are always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil way, That I might observe your word.
I have not turned aside from your ordinances, For you have taught me.
How sweet are your promises to my taste, More than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts, I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. NUN
Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path.
I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will obey your righteous ordinances.
I am afflicted very much. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your word.
Accept, I beg you, the willing offerings of my mouth. Yahweh, teach me your ordinances.
My soul is continually in my hand, Yet I won’t forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I haven’t gone astray from your precepts.
I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, For they are the joy of my heart.
I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, Even to the end. SAMEKH
I hate double-minded men, But I love your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Hold me up, and I will be safe, And will have respect for your statutes continually.
You reject all those who stray from your statutes, For their deceit is in vain.
You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments. AYIN
I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors.
Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me.
My eyes fail looking for your salvation, For your righteous word.
Deal with your servant according to your lovingkindness. Teach me your statutes.
I am your servant. Give me understanding, That I may know your testimonies.
It is time to act, Yahweh, For they break your law.
Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, Yes, more than pure gold.
Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way. PEY
Your testimonies are wonderful, Therefore my soul keeps them.
The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for your commandments.
Turn to me, and have mercy on me, As you always do to those who love your name.
Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of man, So I will observe your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes.
Streams of tears run down my eyes, Because they don’t observe your law. TZADI
You are righteous, Yahweh. Your judgments are upright.
You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy.
My zeal wears me out, Because my enemies ignore your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested, And your servant loves them.
I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight.
Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live. KUF
I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes.
I have called to you. Save me! I will obey your statutes.
I rise before dawn and cry for help. I put my hope in your words.
My eyes stay open through the night watches, That I might meditate on your word.
Hear my voice according to your lovingkindness. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your ordinances.
They draw near who follow after wickedness. They are far from your law.
You are near, Yahweh. All your commandments are truth.
Of old I have known from your testimonies, That you have founded them forever. RESH
Consider my affliction, and deliver me, For I don’t forget your law.
Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.
Salvation is far from the wicked, For they don’t seek your statutes.
Great are your tender mercies, Yahweh. Revive me according to your ordinances.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries. I haven’t swerved from your testimonies.
I look at the faithless with loathing, Because they don’t observe your word.
Consider how I love your precepts. Revive me, Yahweh, according to your lovingkindness.
All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. SIN AND SHIN
Princes have persecuted me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of your words.
I rejoice at your word, As one who finds great spoil.
I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law.
Seven times a day, I praise you, Because of your righteous ordinances.
Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble.
I have hoped for your salvation, Yahweh. I have done your commandments.
My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, For all my ways are before you. TAV
Let my cry come before you, Yahweh. Give me understanding according to your word.
Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word.
Let my lips utter praise, For you teach me your statutes.
Let my tongue sing of your word, For all your commandments are righteousness.
Let your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen your precepts.
I have longed for your salvation, Yahweh. Your law is my delight.
Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.
In my distress, I cried to Yahweh. He answered me.
Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.
What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, You deceitful tongue?
Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.
Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
My soul has had her dwelling too long With him who hates peace.
I am for peace, But when I speak, they are for war.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?
My help comes from Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not harm you by day, Nor the moon by night.
Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.
Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, From this time forth, and forevermore.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let’s go to Yahweh’s house!”
Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem;
Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;
Where the tribes go up, even Yah’s tribes, According to an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks to the name of Yahweh.
For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of David’s house.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.
Peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.
For my brothers’ and companions’ sakes, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.
To you I do lift up my eyes, You who sit in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; So our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, Until he has mercy on us.
Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, For we have endured much contempt.
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.
If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, Let Israel now say,
If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, When men rose up against us;
Then they would have swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
Blessed be Yahweh, Who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth.
Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, Which can’t be moved, but remains forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So Yahweh surrounds his people from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness won’t remain over the allotment of the righteous; So that the righteous won’t use their hands to do evil.
Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good, To those who are upright in their hearts.
But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel.
When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “Yahweh has done great things for them.”
Yahweh has done great things for us, And we are glad.
Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, Like the streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing, Will assuredly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves.
Unless Yahweh builds the house, They labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, The watchman guards it in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, To stay up late, Eating the bread of toil; For he gives sleep to his loved ones.
Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate.
Blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, Who walks in his ways.
For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you.
Your wife will be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of your house; Your children like olive plants, Around your table.
Behold, thus is the man blessed who fears Yahweh.
May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.
Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,
Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, Yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed on my back. They made their furrows long.
Yahweh is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.
Let them be put to shame and turned backward, All those who hate Zion.
Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up;
With which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.
Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of Yahweh be on you. We bless you in the name of Yahweh.”
Out of the depths I have cried to you, Yahweh.
Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my petitions.
If you, Yah, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, Therefore you are feared.
I wait for Yahweh. My soul waits. I hope in his word.
My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning; More than watchmen for the morning.
Israel, hope in Yahweh, For with Yahweh there is lovingkindness. With him is abundant redemption.
He will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Yahweh, my heart isn’t haughty, nor my eyes lofty; Nor do I concern myself with great matters, Or things too wonderful for me.
Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Israel, hope in Yahweh, From this time forth and forevermore.
Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,
How he swore to Yahweh, And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
“Surely I will not come into the structure of my house, Nor go up into my bed;
I will not give sleep to my eyes, Or slumber to my eyelids;
Until I find out a place for Yahweh, A dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the field of Jaar:
“We will go into his dwelling place. We will worship at his footstool.
Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place; You, and the ark of your strength.
Let your priest be clothed with righteousness. Let your saints shout for joy!”
For your servant David’s sake, Don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.
Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
If your children will keep my covenant, My testimony that I will teach them, Their children also will sit on your throne forevermore.”
For Yahweh has chosen Zion. He has desired it for his habitation.
“This is my resting place forever. Here I will live, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provision. I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will also clothe with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
There I will make the horn of David to bud. I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.
I will clothe his enemies with shame, But on himself, his crown will be resplendant.”
See how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, That ran down on the beard, Even Aaron’s beard; That came down on the edge of his robes;
Like the dew of Hermon, That comes down on the hills of Zion: For there Yahweh gives the blessing, Even life forevermore.
Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, Who stand by night in Yahweh’s house!
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh!
May Yahweh bless you from Zion; Even he who made heaven and earth.
Praise Yah! Praise the name of Yahweh! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,
You who stand in the house of Yahweh, In the courts of our God’s house.
Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.
For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself; Israel for his own possession.
For I know that Yahweh is great, That our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings with the rain; Who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries;
Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and animal;
Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, Egypt, On Pharaoh, and on all his servants;
Who struck many nations, And killed mighty kings,
Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan,
And gave their land for a heritage, A heritage to Israel, his people.
Your name, Yahweh, endures forever; Your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.
For Yahweh will judge his people, And have compassion on his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they can’t speak; They have eyes, but they can’t see;
They have ears, but they can’t hear; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
House of Israel, praise Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!
House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!
Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah!
Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods; For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who alone does great wonders; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who spread out the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who made the great lights; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who divided the Red Sea apart; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
To him who struck great kings; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
And killed mighty kings; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
Sihon king of the Amorites; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
Og king of Bashan; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
And gave their land as an inheritance; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
Even a heritage to Israel his servant; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
Who remembered us in our low estate; For his lovingkindness endures forever;
And has delivered us from our adversaries; For his lovingkindness endures forever:
Who gives food to every creature; For his lovingkindness endures forever.
Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; For his lovingkindness endures forever.
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
On the willows in the midst of it, We hung up our harps.
For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How can we sing Yahweh’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill.
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don’t remember you; If I don’t prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.
Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, The day of Jerusalem; Who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”
Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, He will be happy who rewards you, As you have served us.
Happy shall he be, Who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.
I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
I will bow down toward your holy temple, And give thanks to your Name for your lovingkindness and for your truth; For you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, For they have heard the words of your mouth.
Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; For great is Yahweh’s glory.
For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; But the proud, he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.
Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; Your lovingkindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
Yahweh, you have searched me, And you know me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, But, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
If I take the wings of the dawn, And settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there your hand will lead me, And your right hand will hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; The light around me will be night;”
Even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, But the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.
For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to you, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
My frame wasn’t hidden from you, When I was made in secret, Woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.
If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.
Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man;
Those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
The proud have hidden a snare for me, They have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.
I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.” Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.
Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.
Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
As for the head of those who surround me, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, Into miry pits, from where they never rise.
An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy.
Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you.
Let my prayer be set before you like incense; The lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.
Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.
Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; Let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; Don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
“As when one plows and breaks up the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.”
For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don’t leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, From the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, While I pass by.
I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way in which I walk, They have hidden a snare for me.
Look on my right, and see; For there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.
I cried to you, Yahweh. I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry, For I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me.
Bring my soul out of prison, That I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, For you will be good to me.
Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, For in your sight no man living is righteous.
For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.
I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, So that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning, For I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to you.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me.
Teach me to do your will, For you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Revive me, Yahweh, for your name’s sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
In your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am your servant.
Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who teaches my hands to war, And my fingers to battle:
My lovingkindness, my fortress, My high tower, my deliverer, My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdues my people under me.
Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
Stretch out your hand from above, Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hands of foreigners;
Whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.
You are he who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, Whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, Our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, And no outcry in our streets.
Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.
I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.
Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation will commend your works to another, And will declare your mighty acts.
Of the glorious majesty of your honor, Of your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.
They will utter the memory of your great goodness, And will sing of your righteousness.
Yahweh is gracious, merciful, Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness.
Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works.
All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you.
They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, And talk about your power;
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, The glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
Yahweh upholds all who fall, And raises up all those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
You open your hand, And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.
Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, To all who call on him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Yahweh preserves all those who love him, But all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul.
While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
Don’t put your trust in princes, Each a son of man in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Yahweh, his God:
Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever;
Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners.
Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous.
Yahweh preserves the sojourners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, But the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
Yahweh will reign forever; Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise Yah!
Praise Yah, For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
He heals the broken in heart, And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Who covers the sky with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass grow on the mountains.
He provides food for the cattle, And for the young ravens when they call.
He doesn’t delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, In those who hope in his lovingkindness.
Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.
He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
He gives snow like wool, And scatters frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?
He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
He shows his word to Jacob; His statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done this for just any nation. They don’t know his ordinances. Praise Yah!
Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh from the heavens! Praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you heavens of heavens, You waters that are above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For he commanded, and they were created.
He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.
Praise Yahweh from the earth, You great sea creatures, and all depths!
Lightning and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;
Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars;
Wild animals and all cattle; Small creatures and flying birds;
Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens; Old men and children:
Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.
He has lifted up the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise Yah!
Praise Yahweh! Sing to Yahweh a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints.
Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation.
Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds.
May the high praises of God be in their mouths, And a two-edged sword in their hand;
To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment. All his saints have this honor. Praise Yah!
Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!
Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre!
Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!
- The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
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- My son, if you will receive my words,
- And store up my commandments within you;
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- My son, don't forget my teaching;
- But let your heart keep my commandments:
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- Listen, sons, to a father's instruction.
- Pay attention and know understanding;
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- My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
- Turn your ear to my understanding:
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- My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor,
- If you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;
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- My son, keep my words.
- Lay up my commandments within you.
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- Doesn't wisdom cry out?
- Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
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- Wisdom has built her house.
- She has carved out her seven pillars.
-
- The proverbs of Solomon.
-A wise son makes a glad father;
- But a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
-
- A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
- But accurate weights are his delight.
-
- Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
- But he who hates reproof is stupid.
-
- A wise son listens to his father's instruction,
- But a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.
-
- Every wise woman builds her house,
- But the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
-
- A gentle answer turns away wrath,
- But a harsh word stirs up anger.
-
- The plans of the heart belong to man,
- But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
-
- Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
- Than a house full of feasting with strife.
-
- An unfriendly man pursues selfishness,
- And defies all sound judgment.
-
- Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
- Than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
-
- Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler;
- Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
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- The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand like the watercourses.
- He turns it wherever he desires.
-
- A good name is more desirable than great riches,
- And loving favor is better than silver and gold.
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- When you sit to eat with a ruler,
- Consider diligently what is before you;
-
- Don't be envious of evil men;
- Neither desire to be with them:
-
- These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah
-king of Judah copied out.
-
- Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
- So honor is not fitting for a fool.
-
- Don't boast about tomorrow;
- For you don't know what a day may bring forth.
-
- The wicked flee when no one pursues;
- But the righteous are as bold as a lion.
-
- He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck
- Will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
-
- The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle:
-The man says to Ithiel,
- To Ithiel and Ucal:
-
- The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught
-him.
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness, justice, and equity;
To give prudence to the simple, Knowledge and discretion to the young man:
That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; That the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
To understand a proverb, and parables, The words and riddles of the wise.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
My son, listen to your father's instruction, And don't forsake your mother's teaching:
For they will be a garland to grace your head, And chains around your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent.
If they say, "Come with us, Let's lay in wait for blood; Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down into the pit.
We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.
You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse."
My son, don't walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,
For their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
But these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, And fools hate knowledge?
Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
But you have ignored all my counsel, And wanted none of my reproof;
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
When calamity overtakes you like a storm, When your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come on you.
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
Because they hated knowledge, And didn't choose the fear of Yahweh.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own schemes.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, And will be at ease, without fear of harm."
My son, if you will receive my words, And store up my commandments within you;
So as to turn your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you call out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures:
Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, And find the knowledge of God.
For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;
That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.
For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
To deliver you from the way of evil, From the men who speak perverse things;
Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;
Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;
Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths:
To deliver you from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;
Who forsakes the friend of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God:
For her house leads down to death, Her paths to the dead.
None who go to her return again, Neither do they attain to the paths of life:
That you may walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.
But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it.
My son, don't forget my teaching; But let your heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to you.
Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor, And good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And don't lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will direct your paths.
Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
It will be health to your body, And nourishment to your bones.
Honor Yahweh with your substance, With the first fruits of all your increase:
So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, don't despise Yahweh's discipline, Neither be weary of his reproof:
For whom Yahweh loves, he reproves; Even as a father the son in whom he delights.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, The man who gets understanding.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, And her return is better than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So they will be life to your soul, And grace for your neck.
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won't stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
Don't be afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
For Yahweh will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being taken.
Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Don't say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, Tomorrow I will give it to you," When you have it by you.
Don't devise evil against your neighbor, Seeing he dwells securely by you.
Don't strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.
Don't envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, But his friendship is with the upright.
Yahweh's curse is in the house of the wicked, But he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Surely he mocks the mockers, But he gives grace to the humble.
The wise will inherit glory, But shame will be the promotion of fools.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
For I give you sound learning. Don't forsake my law.
For I was a son to my father, Tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don't forget, neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
Don't forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor, when you embrace her.
She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you."
Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Don't enter into the path of the wicked. Don't walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, and don't pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
For they don't sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, That shines more and more until the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don't know what they stumble over.
My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them, And health to their whole body.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it is the wellspring of life.
Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Don't turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:
That you may maintain discretion, That your lips may preserve knowledge.
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, And as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth.
Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house,
Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one;
Lest strangers feast on your wealth, And your labors enrich another man's house.
You will groan at your latter end, When your flesh and your body are consumed,
And say, "How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;
Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, In the midst of the gathered assembly."
Drink water out of your own cistern, Running water out of your own well.
Should your springs overflow in the streets, Streams of water in the public squares?
Let them be for yourself alone, Not for strangers with you.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving hind and a pleasant doe -- Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh. He examines all his paths.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, If you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;
You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, Seeing you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.
Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, Like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;
Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
Provides her bread in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
So your poverty will come as a robber, And your scarcity as an armed man.
A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he who walks with a perverse mouth;
Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who motions with his fingers;
In whose heart is perverseness, Who devises evil continually, Who always sows discord.
Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
There are six things which Yahweh hates; Yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood;
A heart that devises wicked schemes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
A false witness who utters lies, And he who sows discord among brothers.
My son, keep your father's commandment, And don't forsake your mother's teaching.
Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.
When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
For the commandment is a lamp, And the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
To keep you from the immoral woman, From the flattery of the wayward wife's tongue.
Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, Neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
Can a man scoop fire into his lap, And his clothes not be burned?
Or can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?
So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
Men don't despise a thief, If he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry:
But if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.
For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won't spare in the day of vengeance.
He won't regard any ransom, Neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.
Keep my commandments and live; Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,
That they may keep you from the strange woman, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house,
In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, And with crafty intent.
She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.
Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, And lurking at every corner.
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
"Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.
Therefore I came out to meet you, To diligently seek your face, And I have found you.
I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.
For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.
He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."
With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose.
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.
Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,
For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.
Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.
Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she stands.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entry doors, she cries aloud:
"To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him who understands, Right to those who find knowledge.
Receive my instruction rather than silver; Knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.
"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
By me princes rule; Nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
With me are riches, honor, Enduring wealth, and prosperity.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; My yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;
That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
"Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, Before his deeds of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth existed.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled in place, Before the hills, I was brought forth;
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there; When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
When he established the clouds above, When the springs of the deep became strong,
When he gave to the sea its boundary, That the waters should not violate his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;
Then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, Always rejoicing before him,
Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don't refuse it.
Blessed is the man who hears me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my door posts.
For whoever finds me, finds life, And will obtain favor from Yahweh.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."
Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.
She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
"Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."
He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.
The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.
She sits at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,
To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their ways,
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
"Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant."
But he doesn't know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; But a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.
Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, But he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, But the hand of the diligent brings wealth.
He who gathers in summer is a wise son, But he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise in heart accept commandments, But a chattering fool will fall.
He who walks blamelessly walks surely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
One winking with the eye causes sorrow, But a chattering fool will fall.
The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, But a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
Wise men lay up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.
He is in the way of life who heeds correction, But he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, But he who restrains his lips does wisely.
The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.
The lips of the righteous feed many, But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
Yahweh's blessing brings wealth, And he adds no trouble to it.
It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.
What the wicked fear, will overtake them, But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; But the righteous stand firm forever.
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to those who send him.
The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The prospect of the righteous is joy, But the hope of the wicked will perish.
The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut off.
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, But accurate weights are his delight.
When pride comes, then comes shame, But with humility comes wisdom.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, But the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, And expectation of power comes to nothing.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked takes his place.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, But one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, But in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, But he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
A gracious woman obtains honor, But violent men obtain riches.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, But one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, But those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
Most assuredly, the evil man will not be unpunished, But the seed of the righteous will be delivered.
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, Is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
People curse someone who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, But he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; How much more the wicked and the sinner!
Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.
A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh, But he will condemn a man of wicked devices.
A man shall not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, But a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, But the speech of the upright rescues them.
The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, But the house of the righteous shall stand.
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, But he who has a warped mind shall be despised.
Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, Than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.
A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, But he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, But the root of the righteous flourishes.
An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, But the righteous shall come out of trouble.
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man's hands shall be rewarded to him.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who is wise listens to counsel.
A fool shows his annoyance the same day, But one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
He who is truthful testifies honestly, But a false witness lies.
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, But the tongue of the wise heals.
Truth's lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only momentary.
Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, But joy comes to the promoters of peace.
No mischief shall happen to the righteous, But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, But those who do the truth are his delight.
A prudent man keeps his knowledge, But the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, But laziness ends in slave labor.
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a kind word makes it glad.
A righteous person is cautious in friendship, But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
The slothful man doesn't roast his game, But the possessions of diligent men are prized.
In the way of righteousness is life; In its path there is no death.
A wise son listens to his father's instruction, But a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; But the unfaithful crave violence.
He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, But the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
A righteous man hates lies, But a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
Righteousness guards the way of integrity, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
The ransom of a man's life is his riches, But the poor hear no threats.
The light of the righteous shines brightly, But the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
By pride only breeds quarrels, But with ones who take advice is wisdom.
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, But he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, But he who respects a command will be rewarded.
The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, To turn from the snares of death.
Good understanding wins favor; But the way of the unfaithful is hard.
Every prudent man acts from knowledge, But a fool exposes folly.
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, But a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, But he who heeds correction shall be honored.
Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, But fools detest turning from evil.
One who walks with wise men grows wise, But a companion of fools suffers harm.
Misfortune pursues sinners, But prosperity rewards the righteous.
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
An abundance of food is in poor people's fields, But injustice sweeps it away.
One who spares the rod hates his son, But one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
Every wise woman builds her house, But the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, But he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, But the lips of the wise protect them.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
A truthful witness will not lie, But a false witness pours out lies.
A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, But knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Stay away from a foolish man, For you won't find knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, But the folly of fools is deceit.
Fools mock at making atonement for sins, But among the upright there is good will.
The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; He will not share these with a stranger.
The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish.
There is a way which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death.
Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, And mirth may end in heaviness.
The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; Likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
A simple man believes everything, But the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
A wise man fears, and shuns evil, But the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, And a crafty man is hated.
The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow down before the good, And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, But the rich person has many friends.
He who despises his neighbor sins, But blessed is he who has pity on the poor.
Don't they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
In all hard work there is profit, But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their riches, But the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
A truthful witness saves souls, But a false witness is deceitful.
In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, And he will be a refuge for his children.
The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, Turning people from the snares of death.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory, But in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who has a quick temper displays folly.
The life of the body is a heart at peace, But envy rots the bones.
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, But he who is kind to the needy honors him.
The wicked is brought down in his calamity, But in death, the righteous has a refuge.
Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, And is even made known in the inward part of fools.
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people.
The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, But his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, But the mouth of fools gush out folly.
Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A fool despises his father's correction, But he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, But the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; Not so with the heart of fools.
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, But he loves him who follows after righteousness.
There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way: Whoever hates reproof shall die.
Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh -- How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; He will not go to the wise.
A glad heart makes a cheerful face; But an aching heart breaks the spirit.
The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouths of fools feed on folly.
All the days of the afflicted are wretched, But one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, Than great treasure with trouble.
Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a fattened calf with hatred.
A wrathful man stirs up contention, But one who is slow to anger appeases strife.
The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, But the path of the upright is a highway.
A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, But a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
Where there is no counsel, plans fail; But in a multitude of counselors they are established.
Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
The path of life leads upward for the wise, To keep him from going downward to Sheol.
Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, But he will keep the widow's borders intact.
Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, But the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, But the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Yahweh is far from the wicked, But he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones.
The ear that listens to reproof lives, And will be at home among the wise.
He who refuses correction despises his own soul, But he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Yahweh weighs the motives.
Commit your deeds to Yahweh, And your plans shall succeed.
Yahweh has made everything for its own end -- Yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: They shall assuredly not be unpunished.
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
When a man's ways please Yahweh, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
A man's heart plans his course, But Yahweh directs his steps.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
Honest balances and scales are Yahweh's; All the weights in the bag are his work.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, For the throne is established by righteousness.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
The king's wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man will pacify it.
In the light of the king's face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the plunder with the proud.
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the punishment of fools is their folly.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
There is a way which seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; For his mouth urges him on.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
A man of violence entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, One who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; One who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from Yahweh.
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, And shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, But Yahweh tests the hearts.
An evil-doer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Children's children are the crown of old men; The glory of children are their parents.
Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, Much less do lying lips fit a prince.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
He who covers an offense promotes love; But he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred lashes into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, Therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
A friend loves at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, And becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, And one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, But a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, To pervert the ways of justice.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
A foolish son brings grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to flog officials for their integrity.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, And defies all sound judgment.
A fool has no delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own opinion.
When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, And with shame comes disgrace.
The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, Nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
A fool's lips come into strife, And his mouth invites beatings.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are a snare to his soul.
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: They go down into a person's innermost parts.
One who is slack in his work Is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: The righteous run to him, and are safe.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, Like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Before destruction the heart of man is proud, But before honor is humility.
He who gives answer before he hears, That is folly and shame to him.
A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, But a crushed spirit, who can bear?
The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A man's gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
He who pleads his cause first seems right; Until another comes and questions him.
The lot settles disputes, And keeps strong ones apart.
A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; And disputes are like the bars of a castle.
A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; Those who love it will eat its fruit.
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor of Yahweh.
The poor plead for mercy, But the rich answer harshly.
A man of many companions may be ruined, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; Nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.
The foolishness of man subverts his way; His heart rages against Yahweh.
Wealth adds many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, And everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
All the relatives of the poor shun him: How much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping.
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; He will reward him.
Discipline your son, for there is hope; Don't be a willing party to his death.
A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, For if you rescue him, you must do it again.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter end.
There are many plans in a man's heart, But Yahweh's counsel will prevail.
That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; He rests and will not be touched by trouble.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
He who robs his father and drives away his mother, Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
If you stop listening to instruction, my son, You will stray from the words of knowledge.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, And the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
Penalties are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools.
Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler; Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, But who can find a faithful man?
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, Whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
Don't love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
"It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
There is gold and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; And hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Plans are established by advice; By wise guidance you wage war!
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; Therefore don't keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, Won't be blessed in the end.
Don't say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
Yahweh detests differing weights, And dishonest scales are not pleasing.
A man's steps are from Yahweh; How then can man understand his way?
It is a snare to a man make a rash dedication, And later reconsider his vows.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, And drives the threshing wheel over them.
The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, Searching all his innermost parts.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, And beatings purge the innermost parts.
The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But Yahweh weighs the hearts.
To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
A high look, and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; And everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, Because they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious, But the conduct of the innocent is upright.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom; When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, And brings the wicked to ruin.
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, He will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
A gift in secret pacifies anger; And a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man: He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; The treacherous for the upright.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swallows it up.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the strength of its confidence.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; He works in the arrogance of pride.
The desire of the sluggard kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.
There are those who covet greedily all the day long; But the righteous give and don't withhold.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
A false witness will perish, And a man who listens speaks to eternity.
A wicked man hardens his face; But as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Yahweh.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is with Yahweh.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, And loving favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.
A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh Is wealth, honor, and life.
Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: Whoever guards his soul stays from them.
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, And the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; For he shares his food with the poor.
Drive out the mocker, and strife will go out; Yes, quarrels and insults will stop.
He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully Is the king's friend.
The eyes of Yahweh watch over knowledge; But he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!"
The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit: He who is under Yahweh's wrath will fall into it.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: The rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, Both come to poverty.
Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, If all of them are ready on your lips.
That your trust may be in Yahweh, I teach you today, even you.
Haven't I written to you thirty excellent things Of counsel and knowledge,
To teach you truth, reliable words, To give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
Don't exploit the poor, because he is poor; And don't crush the needy in court;
For Yahweh will plead their case, And plunder the life of those who plunder them.
Don't befriend a hot-tempered man, And don't associate with one who harbors anger:
Lest you learn his ways, And ensnare your soul.
Don't you be one of those who strike hands, Of those who are collateral for debts.
If you don't have means to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?
Don't move the ancient boundary stone, Which your fathers have set up.
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings; He won't serve obscure men.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.
Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.
Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.
My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:
Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:
In the end, it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
"They hit me, and I was not hurt; They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I can find another."
Don't be envious of evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
For their hearts plot violence, And their lips talk about mischief.
Through wisdom a house is built; By understanding it is established;
By knowledge the rooms are filled With all rare and beautiful treasure.
A wise man has great power; And a knowledgeable man increases strength;
For by wise guidance you wage your war; And victory is in many advisors.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: He doesn't open his mouth in the gate.
One who plots to do evil Will be called a schemer.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
If you falter in the time of trouble, Your strength is small.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
If you say, "Behold, we didn't know this;" Doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
My son, eat honey, for it is good; The droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; If you have found it, then there will be a reward, Your hope will not be cut off.
Don't lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don't destroy his resting-place:
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Don't rejoice when your enemy falls. Don't let your heart be glad when he is overthrown;
Lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
Don't fret yourself because of evildoers; Neither be envious of the wicked:
For there will be no reward to the evil man; And the lamp of the wicked shall be snuffed out.
My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious:
For their calamity will rise suddenly; The destruction from them both -- who knows?
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous;" Peoples shall curse him, and nations shall abhor him --
But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, And a rich blessing will come on them.
An honest answer Is like a kiss on the lips.
Prepare your work outside, And get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Don't be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips.
Don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
I went by the field of the sluggard, By the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
So shall your poverty come as a robber, And your want as an armed man.
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
Take away the dross from the silver, And material comes out for the refiner;
Take away the wicked from the king's presence, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, Or claim a place among great men;
For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.
Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
Debate your case with your neighbor, And don't betray the confidence of another;
Lest one who hears it put you to shame, And your bad reputation never depart.
A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
As clouds and wind without rain, So is he who boasts of gifts deceptively.
By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, Lest you eat too much, and vomit it.
Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, Lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Confidence in someone unfaithful in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth, or a lame foot.
As one who takes away a garment in cold weather, Or vinegar on soda, So is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink:
For you will heap coals of fire on his head, And Yahweh will reward you.
The north wind brings forth rain: So a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Like cold water to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, So is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
It is not good to eat much honey; Nor is it honorable to seek ones own honor.
Like a city that is broken down and without walls Is a man whose spirit is without restraint.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.
Like a fluttering sparrow, Like a darting swallow, So the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest.
A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the back of fools!
Don't answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.
Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool Is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, So is he who gives honor to a fool.
Like a thornbush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
As an archer who wounds all, So is he who hires a fool Or he who hires those who pass by.
As a dog that returns to his vomit, So is a fool who repeats his folly.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!"
As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who answer with discretion.
Like one who grabs a dog's ears Is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
Is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"
For lack of wood a fire goes out; Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
As coals are to hot embers, And wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindling strife.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, They go down into the innermost parts.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel Are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, But he harbors evil in his heart.
When his speech is charming, don't believe him; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
His malice may be concealed by deception, But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Don't boast about tomorrow; For you don't know what a day may bring forth.
Let another man praise you, And not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.
A stone is heavy, And sand is a burden; But a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
Wrath is cruel, And anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
Better is open rebuke Than hidden love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; Although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; But to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
As a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; So does earnest counsel from a man's friend.
Don't forsake your friend and your father's friend. Don't go to your brother's house in the day of your disaster: Better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.
Be wise, my son, And bring joy to my heart, Then I can answer my tormentor.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it:
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger; Hold it for a wayward woman!
He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be taken as a curse by him.
A continual dropping on a rainy day And a contentious wife are alike:
Restraining her is like restraining the wind, Or like grasping oil in his right hand.
Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
As water reflects a face, So a man's heart reflects the man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And a man's eyes are never satisfied.
The crucible is for silver, And the furnace for gold; But man is refined by his praise.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, Yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
Know well the state of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds:
For riches are not forever, Nor does even the crown endure to all generations.
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, The grasses of the hills are gathered in.
The lambs are for your clothing, And the goats are the price of a field.
There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, For your family's food, And for the nourishment of your servant girls.
The wicked flee when no one pursues; But the righteous are as bold as a lion.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, But order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
A needy man who oppresses the poor Is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; But those who keep the law contend with them.
Evil men don't understand justice; But those who seek Yahweh understand it fully.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, Than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son; But he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest Gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He will fall into his own trap; But the blameless will inherit good.
The rich man is wise in his own eyes; But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
He who conceals his sins doesn't prosper, But whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Blessed is the man who always fears; But one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear, So is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; No one will support him.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; But one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
One who works his land will have an abundance of food; But one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
A faithful man is rich with blessings; But one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
To show partiality is not good; Yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.
A stingy man hurries after riches, And doesn't know that poverty waits for him.
One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than one who flatters with the tongue.
Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It's not wrong." He is a partner with a destroyer.
One who is greedy stirs up strife; But one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
One who trusts in himself is a fool; But one who walks in wisdom, he is kept safe.
One who gives to the poor has no lack; But one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous thrive.
He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck Will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; But when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; But a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
The king by justice makes the land stable, But he who takes bribes tears it down.
A man who flatters his neighbor, Spreads a net for his feet.
An evil man is snared by his sin, But the righteous can sing and be glad.
The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren't concerned about knowledge.
Mockers stir up a city, But wise men turn away anger.
If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, The fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.
The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; And they seek the life of the upright.
A fool vents all of his anger, But a wise man brings himself under control.
If a ruler listens to lies, All of his officials are wicked.
The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both.
The king who fairly judges the poor, His throne shall be established forever.
The rod of correction gives wisdom, But a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
When the wicked increase, sin increases; But the righteous will see their downfall.
Correct your son, and he will give you peace; Yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But one who keeps the law is blessed.
A servant can't be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond.
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
He who pampers his servant from youth Will have him become a son in the end.
An angry man stirs up strife, And a wrathful man abounds in sin.
A man's pride brings him low, But one of lowly spirit gains honor.
Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
The fear of man proves to be a snare, But whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.
Many seek the ruler's favor, But a man's justice comes from Yahweh.
A dishonest man detests the righteous, And the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle: The man says to Ithiel, To Ithiel and Ucal:
"Surely I am the most ignorant man, And don't have a man's understanding.
I have not learned wisdom, Neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know?
"Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Don't you add to his words, Lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
"Two things I have asked of you; Don't deny me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;
Lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, And so dishonor the name of my God.
"Don't slander a servant to his master, Lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
There is a generation that curses their father, And doesn't bless their mother.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, Yet are not washed from their filthiness.
There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And their jaws like knives, To devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.
"The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; Four that don't say, 'Enough:'
Sheol, The barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that doesn't say, 'Enough.'
The eye that mocks at his father, And scorns obedience to his mother: The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, The young eagles shall eat it.
"There are three things which are too amazing for me, Four which I don't understand:
The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent on a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.
So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'
"For three things the earth tremble, And under four, it can't bear up:
For a servant when he is king; A fool when he is filled with food;
For an unloved woman when she is married; And a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.
"There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are not a strong people, Yet they provide their food in the summer;
The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;
The locusts have no king, Yet they advance in ranks;
You can catch a lizard with your hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.
"There are three things which are stately in their march, Four which are stately in going:
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, And doesn't turn away for any;
The greyhound, The male goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.
"If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, Or if you have thought evil, Put your hand over your mouth.
For as the churning of milk brings forth butter, And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
"Oh, my son!" Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
It is not for kings, Lemuel; It is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, 'Where is strong drink?'
Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; And wine to the bitter in soul:
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.
Open your mouth for the mute, In the cause of all who are left desolate.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, And serve justice to the poor and needy."
Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm, All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax, And works eagerly with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
She rises also while it is yet night, Gives food to her household, And portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
She girds her loins with strength, And makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn't go out by night.
She lays her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her arms to the poor; Yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, And delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household, And doesn't eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
"Many women do noble things, But you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
- The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
-
- I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth:
-therefore enjoy pleasure;" and, behold, this also was vanity.
-
- For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose
-under heaven:
-
- Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done
-under the sun: and, behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and
-they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was
-power; but they had no comforter.
-
- Guard your steps when you go to God's house; for to draw near
-to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don't
-know that they do evil.
-
- There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is
-heavy on men:
-
- A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death
-better than the day of one's birth.
-
- Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of
-a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his
-face is changed.
-
- For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this:
-that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of
-God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before
-them.
-
- Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an
-evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
-
- Cast your bread on the waters;
- For you shall find it after many days.
-
- Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,
- Before the evil days come, and the years draw near,
- When you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
Vanity of vanities,
says the Preacher; Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?
One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.
The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.
All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it may be said, Behold, this is new?
It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.
There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.
I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
I said to myself, Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
I said in my heart, Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure;
and, behold, this also was vanity.
I said of laughter, It is foolishness;
and of mirth, What does it accomplish?
I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest where trees were reared.
I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;
I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men -- musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness -- and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?
Then said I in my heart that this also is vanity.
For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to cast away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time for peace.
What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
I said in my heart, As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.
All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?
Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.
Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself.
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.
There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment? This also is vanity, yes, it is a miserable business.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?
If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.
For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was -- yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.
Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.
When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?
For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.
He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.
When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?
All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.
Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.
Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor -- this is the gift of God.
For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men:
a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.
Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place?
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.
For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?
For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
Don’t say, Why were the former days better than these?
For you do not ask wisely about this.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.
For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.
All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evil-doing.
Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Don’t be too wicked, neither be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don’t withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.
Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.
Also don’t take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;
for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.
All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, I will be wise;
but it was far from me.
That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?
I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness.
I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
Behold, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find out the scheme;
which my soul still seeks; but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.
Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
I say, Keep the king’s command!
because of the oath to God.
Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence. Don’t persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,
for the king’s word is supreme. Who can say to him, What are you doing?
Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure.
For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.
For he doesn’t know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?
There is no man who has power over the spirit to contain the spirit; neither does he have power over the day of death. There is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who practices it.
All this have I seen, and applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.
So I saw the wicked buried. Indeed they came also from holiness. They went and were forgotten in the city where they did this. This also is vanity.
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow; because he doesn’t fear God.
There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that will accompany him in his labor all the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes),
then I saw all the work of God, that man can’t find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won’t find it. Yes, moreover, though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, yet he won’t be able to find it.
For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn’t know it; all is before them.
All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.
Go your way -- eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.
Let your garments be always white, and don’t let your head lack oil.
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.
I have also seen wisdom under the sun in this way, and it seemed great to me.
There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.
Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For strength, and not for drunkenness!
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; And through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes the life glad; And money is the answer for all things.
Don’t revile the king, no, not in your thoughts; And don’t revile the rich in your bedchamber: For a bird of the sky may carry your voice, And that which has wings may tell the matter.
Cast your bread on the waters; For you shall find it after many days.
Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; For you don’t know what evil will be on the earth.
If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; And if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, In the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
He who observes the wind won’t sow; And he who regards the clouds won’t reap.
As you don’t know what is the way of the wind, Nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; Even so you don’t know the work of God who does all.
In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening don’t withhold your hand; For you don’t know which will prosper, whether this or that, Or whether they both will be equally good.
Truly the light is sweet, And a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.
Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; But let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
Rejoice, young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, And walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh; For youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the evil days come, and the years draw near, When you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, And the clouds return after the rain;
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, And the strong men shall bow themselves, And the grinders cease because they are few, And those who look out of the windows are darkened,
And the doors shall be shut in the street; When the sound of the grinding is low, And one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, And all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
Yes, they shall be afraid of heights, And terrors will be in the way; And the almond tree shall blossom, And the grasshopper shall be a burden, And desire shall fail; Because man goes to his everlasting home, And the mourners go about the streets:
Before the silver cord is severed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher is broken at the spring, Or the wheel broken at the cistern,
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; All is vanity!
Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.
- The Song of songs, which is Solomon's.
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-Beloved
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- I am a rose of Sharon,
- A lily of the valleys.
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- By night on my bed,
- I sought him whom my soul loves.
- I sought him, but I didn't find him.
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- Behold, you are beautiful, my love.
- Behold, you are beautiful.
-Your eyes are doves behind your veil.
- Your hair is as a flock of goats,
- That descend from Mount Gilead.
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- I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride.
- I have gathered my myrrh with my spice;
- I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;
- I have drunk my wine with my milk.
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-Friends
-Eat, friends!
- Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.
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-Beloved
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- Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women?
- Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?
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-Beloved
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- How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince's daughter!
- Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
- The work of the hands of a skillful workman.
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- Oh that you were like my brother,
- Who sucked the breasts of my mother!
-If I found you outside, I would kiss you;
- Yes, and no one would despise me.
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This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+The Song of songs, which is Solomon’s. Beloved
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For your love is better than wine.
Your oils have a pleasing fragrance. Your name is oil poured forth, Therefore the virgins love you.
Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his chambers. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.
I am dark, but lovely, You daughters of Jerusalem, Like Kedar’s tents, Like Solomon’s curtains.
Don’t stare at me because I am dark, Because the sun has scorched me. My mother’s sons were angry with me. They made me keeper of the vineyards. I haven’t kept my own vineyard.
Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where you graze your flock, Where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled Beside the flocks of your companions? Lover
If you don’t know, most beautiful among women, Follow the tracks of the sheep. Graze your young goats beside the shepherds’ tents.
I have compared you, my love, To a steed in Pharaoh’s chariots.
Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, Your neck with strings of jewels.
We will make you earrings of gold, With studs of silver. Beloved
While the king sat at his table, My perfume spread its fragrance.
My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh, That lies between my breasts.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms From the vineyards of En Gedi. Lover
Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves. Beloved
Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, yes, pleasant; And our couch is verdant. Lover
The beams of our house are cedars. Our rafters are firs. Beloved
I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys.
As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. Beloved
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, His fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.
Strengthen me with raisins, Refresh me with apples; For I am faint with love.
His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me.
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires.
The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, Leaping on the mountains, Skipping on the hills.
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
My beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
For, behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing has come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom; They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, And come away. Lover
My dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Catch for us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom. Beloved
My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Bether.
By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.
I will get up now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn’t find him.
The watchmen who go about the city found me; Have you seen him whom my soul loves?
I had scarcely passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother’s house, Into the chamber of her who conceived me.
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires.
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all spices of the merchant?
Behold, it is Solomon’s carriage! Sixty mighty men are around it, Of the mighty men of Israel.
They all handle the sword, and are expert in war. Every man has his sword on his thigh, Because of fear in the night.
King Solomon made himself a carriage Of the wood of Lebanon.
He made its pillars of silver, Its bottom of gold, its seat of purple, Its midst being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.
Go forth, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, With the crown with which his mother has crowned him, In the day of his weddings, In the day of the gladness of his heart. Lover
Behold, you are beautiful, my love. Behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is as a flock of goats, That descend from Mount Gilead.
Your teeth are like a newly shorn flock, Which have come up from the washing, Where every one of them has twins. None is bereaved among them.
Your lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
Your neck is like David’s tower built for an armory, Whereon there hang a thousand shields, All the shields of the mighty men.
Your two breasts are like two fawns That are twins of a roe, Which feed among the lilies.
Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, I will go to the mountain of myrrh, To the hill of frankincense.
You are all beautiful, my love. There is no spot in you.
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, With me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions’ dens, From the mountains of the leopards.
You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, With one chain of your neck.
How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine! The fragrance of your perfumes than all manner of spices!
Your lips, my bride, drip like the honeycomb. Honey and milk are under your tongue. The smell of your garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
A locked up garden is my sister, my bride; A locked up spring, A sealed fountain.
Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits: Henna with spikenard plants,
Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree; Myrrh and aloes, with all the best spices,
A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, Flowing streams from Lebanon. Beloved
Awake, north wind; and come, you south; Blow on my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, And taste his precious fruits. Lover
I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Friends Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved. Beloved
I was asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My hair with the dampness of the night.
I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?
My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.
I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, My fingers with liquid myrrh, On the handles of the lock.
I opened to my beloved; But my beloved left; gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn’t find him. I called him, but he didn’t answer.
The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him that I am faint with love. Friends
How is your beloved better than another beloved, You fairest among women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, That you do so adjure us? Beloved
My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand.
His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.
His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, Washed with milk, mounted like jewels.
His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.
His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.
His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is sweetness; Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, Daughters of Jerusalem. Friends
Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? Beloved
My beloved has gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. He browses among the lilies,
You are beautiful, my love, as Tirzah, Lovely as Jerusalem, Awesome as an army with banners.
Turn away your eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Your hair is like a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which have come up from the washing; Of which every one has twins; None is bereaved among them.
Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, And virgins without number.
My dove, my perfect one, is unique. She is her mother’s only daughter. She is the favorite one of her who bore her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed, The queens and the concubines, and they praised her.
Who is she who looks forth as the morning, Beautiful as the moon, Clear as the sun, Awesome as an army with banners?
I went down into the nut tree grove, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, And the pomegranates were in flower.
Without realizing it, My desire set me with my royal people’s chariots. Friends
Return, return, Shulammite! Return, return, that we may gaze at you. Lover Why do you desire to gaze at the Shulammite, As at the dance of Mahanaim?
How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince’s daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skillful workman.
Your body is like a round goblet, No mixed wine is wanting. Your waist is like a heap of wheat, Set about with lilies.
Your two breasts are like two fawns, That are twins of a roe.
Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim; Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.
Your head on you is like Carmel, The hair of your head like purple; The king is held captive in its tresses.
How beautiful and how pleasant are you, Love, for delights!
This, your stature, is like a palm tree, Your breasts like its fruit.
I said, I will climb up into the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit.
Let your breasts be like clusters of the vine, The smell of your breath like apples, Beloved
Your mouth like the best wine, That goes down smoothly for my beloved, Gliding through the lips of those who are asleep.
I am my beloved’s. His desire is toward me.
Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field. Let us lodge in the villages.
Let’s go early up to the vineyards. Let’s see whether the vine has budded, Its blossom is open, And the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give you my love.
The mandrakes give forth fragrance. At our doors are all kinds of precious fruits, new and old, Which I have stored up for you, my beloved.
Oh that you were like my brother, Who sucked the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; Yes, and no one would despise me.
I would lead you, bringing you into my mother’s house, Who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.
His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires. Friends
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, Leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.
Set me as a seal on your heart, As a seal on your arm; For love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, A very flame of Yahweh.
Many waters can’t quench love, Neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, He would be utterly scorned. Friends
We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is to be spoken for?
If she is a wall, We will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, Then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; Two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover
You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, Let me hear your voice! Beloved
Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!
- There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That
-man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away
-from evil.
-
- Again it happened on the day when the sons of God came to
-present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to
-present himself before Yahweh.
-
- After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his
-birth.
-
- Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
-
- "Call now; is there any who will answer you?
- To which of the holy ones will you turn?
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- "Isn't a man forced to labor on earth?
- Aren't his days like the days of a hired hand?
-
- Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- "My soul is weary of my life;
- I will give free course to my complaint.
- I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
-
- Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- "Behold, my eye has seen all this,
- My ear has heard and understood it.
-
- "Man, who is born of a woman,
- Is of few days, and full of trouble.
-
- Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- "My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct,
- And the grave is ready for me.
-
- Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- "Why aren't times laid up by the Almighty?
- Why don't those who know him see his days?
-
- Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
-
- Then Job answered,
-
- Job again took up his parable, and said,
-
- "Surely there is a mine for silver,
- And a place for gold which they refine.
-
- Job again took up his parable, and said,
-
- "But now those who are younger than I, have me in derision,
- Whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
-
- "I made a covenant with my eyes,
- How then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
-
- So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was
-righteous in his own eyes.
-
- "However, Job, Please hear my speech,
- And listen to all my words.
-
- Moreover Elihu answered,
-
- Moreover Elihu answered,
-
- Elihu also continued, and said,
-
- "Yes, at this my heart trembles,
- And is moved out of its place.
-
- Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
-
- "Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth?
- Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
-
- Moreover Yahweh answered Job,
-
- "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?
- Or press down his tongue with a cord?
-
- Then Job answered Yahweh,
-
This pointer pattern extracts chapter and verse.
+This pointer pattern extracts chapter.
+There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.
Thus did Job continually.
Now it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.
Yahweh said to Satan, Where have you come from?
Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Yahweh said to Satan, Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.
Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?
Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.
Yahweh said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t put forth your hand.
So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh.
It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
that there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.
Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.
He said, Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh.
In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.
Again it happened on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh.
Yahweh said to Satan, Where have you come from?
Satan answered Yahweh, and said, From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Yahweh said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.
Satan answered Yahweh, and said, Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has will he give for his life.
But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face.
Yahweh said to Satan, Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life.
So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.
He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes.
Then his wife said to him, Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die.
But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
In all this Job didn’t sin with his lips.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him.
When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn’t recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.
So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.
Job answered:
Let the day perish in which I was born, The night which said,
there is a man-child conceived.
Let that day be darkness; Don’t let God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine on it.
Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes black the day terrify it.
As for that night, let thick darkness seize on it. Let it not rejoice among the days of the year. Let it not come into the number of the months.
Behold, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come therein.
Let them curse it who curse the day, Who are ready to rouse up leviathan.
Let the stars of the twilight of it be dark. Let it look for light, but have none, Neither let it see the eyelids of the morning,
Because it didn’t shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.
Why didn’t I die from the womb? Why didn’t I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?
Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?
For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have slept, then I would have been at rest,
With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built up waste places for themselves;
Or with princes who had gold, Who filled their houses with silver:
Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants who never saw light.
There the wicked cease from troubling; There the weary are at rest.
There the prisoners are at ease together. They don’t hear the voice of the taskmaster.
The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master.
Why is light given to him who is in misery, Life to the bitter in soul,
Who long for death, but it doesn’t come; Dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
Who rejoice exceedingly, Are glad, when they can find the grave?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, Whom God has hedged in?
For my sighing comes before I eat, My groanings are poured out like water.
For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me.
I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; But trouble comes.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
Behold, you have instructed many, You have strengthened the weak hands.
Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it is come to you, and you faint; It touches you, and you are troubled.
Isn’t your piety your confidence, The integrity of your ways your hope?
Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, And sow trouble, Reap the same.
By the breath of God they perish, By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, The teeth of the young lions, are broken.
The old lion perishes for lack of prey, The whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, My ear received a whisper of it.
In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,
Fear came on me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake.
Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up.
It stood still, but I couldn’t discern the appearance of it; A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
’shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
Isn’t their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.
Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
For resentment kills the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his habitation.
His children are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,
Whose harvest the hungry eats up, And take it even out of the thorns; The snare gapes for their substance.
For affliction doesn’t come forth from the dust, Neither does trouble spring out of the ground;
But man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
But as for me, I would seek God, To God would I commit my cause;
Who does great things that can’t be fathomed, Marvelous things without number;
Who gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields;
So that he sets up on high those who are low, Those who mourn are exalted to safety.
He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
He takes the wise in their own craftiness; The counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.
But he saves from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
So the poor has hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
For he wounds, and binds up; He injures, and his hands make whole.
He will deliver you in six troubles; Yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you.
In famine he will redeem you from death; In war, from the power of the sword.
You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, Neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
At destruction and famine you shall laugh, Neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.
For you shall be in league with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.
You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.
You shall know also that your seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.
You shall come to your grave in a full age, Like a shock of grain comes in its season.
Look this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know it for your good.
Then Job answered,
Oh that my anguish were weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, Therefore have my words been rash.
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.
Oh that I might have my request; That God would grant the thing that I long for!
Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Be it still my consolation, Yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
Isn’t it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?
To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; Even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;
Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself:
In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
The caravans that travel beside them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.
The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came there, and were confounded.
For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
Did I say,
Give to me?
Or, Offer a present for me from your substance?
Or,
Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?
Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?
Teach me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
Do you intend to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
Now therefore be pleased to look at me, For surely I shall not lie to your face.
Please return. Let there be no injustice; Yes, return again, my cause is righteous.
Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, As a hireling who looks for his wages,
So am I made to possess months of misery, Wearisome nights are appointed to me.
When I lie down, I say,
When shall I arise, and the night be gone?
I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.
Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.
The eye of him who sees me shall see me no more. Your eyes shall be on me, but I shall not be.
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, So he who goes down to Sheol shall come up no more.
He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.
Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That you put a guard over me?
When I say,
My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;
Then you scar me with dreams, And terrify me through visions:
So that my soul chooses strangling, Death rather than my bones.
I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone; for my days are but a breath.
What is man, that you should magnify him, That you should set your mind on him,
That you should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?
How long will you not look away from me, Nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, So that I am a burden to myself?
Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I shall not be.
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
If your children have sinned against him, He has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience;
If you want to seek God diligently, Make your supplication to the Almighty.
If you were pure and upright, Surely now he would awaken for you, And make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would greatly increase.
Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.)
Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.
So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man shall perish,
Whose confidence shall break apart, Whose trust is a spider’s web.
He shall lean on his house, but it shall not stand. He shall cling to it, but it shall not endure.
He is green before the sun, His shoots go forth over his garden.
His roots are wrapped around the rock pile, He sees the place of stones.
If he is destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, saying,
I have not seen you.
Behold, this is the joy of his way: Out of the earth shall others spring.
Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
He will still fill your mouth with laughter, Your lips with shouting.
Those who hate you shall be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked shall be no more.
Then Job answered,
Truly I know that it is so, But how can man be just with God?
If he is pleased to contend with him, He can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
Who removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, When he overturns them in his anger
Who shakes the earth out of its place; The pillars of it tremble;
Who commands the sun, and it doesn’t rise, And seals up the stars;
Who alone stretches out the heavens, Treads on the waves of the sea;
Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
Who does great things past finding out, Yes, marvelous things without number.
Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will ask him,
What are you doing?
God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
How much less shall I answer him, Choose my words to argue with him?
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.
If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he listened to my voice.
For he breaks me with a tempest, Multiplies my wounds without cause.
He will not allow me to take my breath, But fills me with bitterness.
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice,
Who,
says he, will summon me?
Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.
I am blameless. I don’t regard myself. I despise my life.
It is all the same. Therefore I say, He destroys the blameless and the wicked.
If the scourge kills suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, then who is it?
Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good,
They have passed away as the swift ships, As the eagle that swoops on the prey.
If I say,
I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up;
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
If I wash myself with snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
Yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor me.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.
There is no umpire between us, That might lay his hand on us both.
Let him take his rod away from me, Let his terror not make me afraid:
Then I would speak, and not fear him, For I am not so in myself.
My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
I will tell God, Do not condemn me, Show me why you contend with me.
Is it good to you that you should oppress, That you should despise the work of your hands, And smile on the counsel of the wicked?
Do you have eyes of flesh? Or do you see as man sees?
Are your days as the days of mortals, Or your years as man’s years,
That you inquire after my iniquity, And search after my sin?
Although you know that I am not wicked, There is no one who can deliver out of your hand.
Your hands have framed me and fashioned me altogether; Yet you destroy me.
Remember, I beg you, that you have fashioned me as clay. Will you bring me into dust again?
Haven’t you poured me out like milk, And curdled me like cheese?
You have clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.
You have granted me life and lovingkindness. Your visitation has preserved my spirit.
Yet you hid these things in your heart. I know that this is with you:
If I sin, then you mark me. You will not acquit me from my iniquity.
If I am wicked, woe to me. If I am righteous, I still shall not lift up my head, Being filled with disgrace, And conscious of my affliction.
If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.
You renew your witnesses against me, And increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.
Why, then, have you brought me forth out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.
I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.
Aren’t my days few? Cease then, Leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,
Before I go where I shall not return from, To the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
The land dark as midnight, Of the shadow of death, without any order, Where the light is as midnight.
Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?
Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?
For you say,
My doctrine is pure, I am clean in your eyes.
But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against you,
That he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.
Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are high as heaven. What can you do? Deeper than Sheol: what can you know?
The measure of it is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.
If he passes by, or confines, Or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?
For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.
But vain man can become wise If a man can be born as a wild donkey’s colt.
If you set your heart aright, Stretch out your hands toward him.
If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
Surely then shall you lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:
For you shall forget your misery; You shall remember it as waters that are passed away,
Life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.
You shall be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.
Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; Yes, many shall court your favor.
But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, They shall have no way to flee; Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.
Then Job answered,
No doubt, but you are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these?
I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune, It is ready for them whose foot slips.
The tents of robbers prosper, Those who provoke God are secure; Who carry their God in their hands.
But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; The birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
Who doesn’t know that in all these, The hand of Yahweh has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing, The breath of all mankind?
Doesn’t the ear try words, Even as the palate tastes its food?
With aged men is wisdom, In length of days understanding.
With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again; He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.
He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
He loosens the bond of kings, He binds their loins with a belt.
He leads priests away stripped, And overthrows the mighty.
He removes the speech of those who are trusted, And takes away the understanding of the elders.
He pours contempt on princes, And loosens the belt of the strong.
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings out to light the shadow of death.
He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.
What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Will you speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality.
Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?
Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.
Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
Only don’t do two things to me; Then I will not hide myself from your face:
Withdraw your hand far from me; And don’t let your terror make me afraid.
Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and you answer me.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
Why hide you your face, And hold me for your enemy?
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
For you write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:
You also put my feet in the stocks, And mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet:
Though I am decaying like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Man, who is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.
He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.
Do you open your eyes on such a one, And bring me into judgment with you?
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.
Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with you, And you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass;
Look away from him, that he may rest, Until he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, That the tender branch of it will not cease.
Though the root of it grows old in the earth, And the stock of it dies in the ground;
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs like a plant.
But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
As the waters fail from the sea, And the river wastes and dries up,
So man lies down and doesn’t rise; Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep.
Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, That you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, That you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Until my release should come.
You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire to the work of your hands.
But now you number my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
But the mountain falling comes to nothing; The rock is removed out of its place;
The waters wear the stones; The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth: So you destroy the hope of man.
You forever prevail against him, and he passes; You change his face, and send him away.
His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it; They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
But his flesh on him has pain; His soul within him mourns.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches with which he can do no good?
Yes, you do away with fear, And hinder devotion before God.
For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the language of the crafty.
Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Yes, your own lips testify against you.
Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?
Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
What do you know, that we don’t know? What do you understand, which is not in us?
With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than your father.
Are the consolations of God too small for you, Even the word that is gentle toward you?
Why does your heart carry you away? Why do your eyes flash,
That you turn your spirit against God, And let such words go out of your mouth?
What is man, that he should be clean? He who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Behold, he puts no trust in his holy ones; Yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight:
How much less one who is abominable and corrupt, A man who drinks iniquity like water!
I will show you, listen to me; That which I have seen I will declare:
(Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hidden it;
To whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):
The wicked man travails with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come on him.
He doesn’t believe that he shall return out of darkness, He is waited for by the sword.
He wanders abroad for bread, saying,
Where is it?
He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
Because he has stretched out his hand against God, And behaves himself proudly against the Almighty;
He runs at him with a stiff neck, With the thick shields of his bucklers;
Because he has covered his face with his fatness, And gathered fat on his loins.
He has lived in desolate cities, In houses which no one inhabited, Which were ready to become heaps.
He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.
He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, By the breath of God’s mouth shall he go away.
Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness shall be his reward.
It shall be accomplished before his time. His branch shall not be green.
He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive tree.
For the company of the godless shall be barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery.
They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Their heart prepares deceit.
Then Job answered,
I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are you all!
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.
You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He has gnashed on me with his teeth: My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands of the wicked.
I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.
He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have thrust my horn in the dust.
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
Earth, don’t cover my blood, Let my cry have no place to rest.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, Of a son of man with his neighbor!
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.
My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, And the grave is ready for me.
Surely there are mockers with me, My eye dwells on their provocation.
Now give a pledge, be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, Therefore shall you not exalt them.
He who denounces his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.
But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
Upright men shall be astonished at this. The innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.
Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.
But as for you all, come on now again; I shall not find a wise man among you.
My days are past, my plans are broken off, As are the thoughts of my heart.
They change the night into day, Saying
the light is near
in the presence of darkness.
If I look for Sheol as my house, If I have spread my couch in the darkness,
If I have said to corruption,
You are my father;
To the worm, My mother,
and my sister;
Where then is my hope? As for my hope, who shall see it?
Shall it go down with me to the gates of Sheol, Or descend together into the dust?
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
Why are we counted as animals, Which have become unclean in your sight?
You who tear yourself in your anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, The spark of his fire shall not shine.
The light shall be dark in his tent, His lamp above him shall be put out.
The steps of his strength shall be shortened, His own counsel shall cast him down.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he wanders into its mesh.
A snare shall take him by the heel; A trap shall lay hold on him.
A noose is hidden for him in the ground, A trap for him in the way.
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.
His strength shall be famished, Calamity shall be ready at his side.
The members of his body shall be devoured, The firstborn of death shall devour his members.
He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusts. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.
There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur shall be scattered on his habitation.
His roots shall be dried up beneath, Above shall his branch be cut off.
His memory shall perish from the earth. He shall have no name in the street.
He shall be driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.
He shall have neither son nor grandson among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.
Those who come after shall be astonished at his day, As those who went before were frightened.
Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, This is the place of him who doesn’t know God.
Then Job answered,
How long will you torment me, And crush me with words?
You have reproached me ten times. You aren’t ashamed that you attack me.
If it is true that I have erred, My error remains with myself.
If indeed you will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;
Know now that God has subverted me, And has surrounded me with his net.
Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice.
He has walled up my way so that I can’t pass, And has set darkness in my paths.
He has stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.
He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone. My hope he has plucked up like a tree.
He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
His troops come on together, Build a siege ramp against me, And encamp around my tent.
He has put my brothers far from me. My acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.
My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
Those who dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger. I am an alien in their sight.
I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer; I beg him with my mouth.
My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children of my own mother.
Even young children despise me. If I arise, they speak against me.
All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.
My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Have pity on me, have pity on me, you my friends; For the hand of God has touched me.
Why do you persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?
Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
That with an iron pen and lead They were engraved in the rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
After my skin is destroyed, Then in my flesh shall I see God,
Whom I, even I, shall see on my side. My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.
If you say,
How we will persecute him!
Because the root of the matter is found in me,
Be afraid of the sword, For wrath brings the punishments of the sword, That you may know there is a judgment.
Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.
I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame; The spirit of my understanding answers me.
Don’t you know this from old time, Since man was placed on earth,
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, The joy of the godless but for a moment?
Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,
Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung, Those who have seen him shall say,
Where is he?
He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
The eye which saw him shall see him no more, Neither shall his place any more see him.
His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
His bones are full of his youth, But youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;
Yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
He shall suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue shall kill him.
He shall not look at the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.
That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him: The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
He draws it forth, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, The earth shall rise up against him.
The increase of his house shall depart; They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
This is the portion of a wicked man from God, The heritage appointed to him by God.
Then Job answered,
Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.
As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
Why do the wicked live, Become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
Their child is established with them in their sight, Their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.
They tell God,
Depart from us, For we don’t want to know about your ways.
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes on them? That God distributes sorrows in his anger?
That they are as stubble before the wind, As chaff that the storm carries away?
You say,
God lays up his iniquity for his children.
Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
For what does he care for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?
Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judges those who are high?
One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, And never tastes of good.
They lie down alike in the dust, The worm covers them.
Behold, I know your thoughts, The devices with which you would wrong me.
For you say,
Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?
Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?
Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?
Yet shall he be borne to the grave, Men shall keep watch over the tomb.
The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.
So how can you comfort me with nonsense, Seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?
Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.
You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,
Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you.
Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!
You say,
What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.
Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden,
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
Who said to God,
Depart from us;
And, What can the Almighty do for us?
Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
The righteous see it, and are glad; The innocent laugh them to scorn,
Saying,
surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.
Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
Please receive instruction from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.
For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God.
You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.
When they cast down, you shall say,
be lifted up.
He will save the humble person.
He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.
Then Job answered,
Even today is my complaint rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!
I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would tell me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.
There the upright might reason with him, So I should be delivered forever from my judge.
If I go east, he is not there; If west, I can’t find him;
He works to the north, but I can’t see him; He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.
But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps. His way have I kept, and not turned aside.
I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
Why aren’t times laid up by the Almighty? Why don’t those who know him see his days?
There are people who remove the landmarks. They violently take away flocks, and feed them.
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless, And they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.
Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, They go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; The wilderness yields them bread for their children.
They cut their provender in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked.
They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And embrace the rock for lack of a shelter.
There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor,
So that they go around naked without clothing. Being hungry, they carry the sheaves.
They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst.
From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, Yet God doesn’t regard the folly.
These are of those who rebel against the light; They don’t know the ways of it, Nor abide in the paths of it.
The murderer rises with the light. He kills the poor and needy. In the night he is like a thief.
The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying,
No eye shall see me.
He disguises his face.
In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They don’t know the light.
For the morning is to all of them like thick darkness, For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.
They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed in the earth: They don’t turn into the way of the vineyards.
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; So does Sheol those who have sinned.
The womb shall forget him. The worm shall feed sweetly on him. He shall be no more remembered. Unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.
He devours the barren who don’t bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.
Yet God preserves the mighty by his power. He rises up who has no assurance of life.
God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways.
They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.
If it isn’t so now, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech worth nothing?
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
Dominion and fear are with him; He makes peace in his high places.
Can his armies be counted? On whom does his light not arise?
How then can man be just with God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be clean?
Behold, even the moon has no brightness, And the stars are not pure in his sight;
How much less man, who is a worm! The son of man, who is a worm!
Then Job answered,
How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength!
How have you counseled him who has no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!
To whom have you uttered words? Whose spirit came forth from you?
Those who are deceased tremble, Those beneath the waters and all that live in them.
Sheol is naked before God, And Abaddon has no covering.
He stretches out the north over empty space, And hangs the earth on nothing.
He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, And the cloud is not burst under them.
He encloses the face of his throne, And spreads his cloud on it.
He has described a boundary on the surface of the waters, And to the confines of light and darkness.
The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.
He stirs up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he strikes through Rahab.
By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.
Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?
Job again took up his parable, and said,
As God lives, who has taken away my right, The Almighty, who has made my soul bitter.
(For the length of my life is still in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils);
Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, Neither shall my tongue utter deceit.
Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
I hold fast to my righteousness, and will not let it go. My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Let my enemy be as the wicked, Let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.
For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, When God takes away his life?
Will God hear his cry, When trouble comes on him?
Will he delight himself in the Almighty, And call on God at all times?
I will teach you about the hand of God. That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; Why then have you become altogether vain?
This is the portion of a wicked man with God, The heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.
If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
Those who remain of him shall be buried in death. His widows shall make no lamentation.
Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare clothing as the clay;
He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.
He builds his house as the moth, As a booth which the watchman makes.
He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.
Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest steals him away in the night.
The east wind carries him away, and he departs; It sweeps him out of his place.
For it hurls at him, and does not spare, As he flees away from his hand.
Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.
Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold which they refine.
Iron is taken out of the earth, And copper is smelted out of the ore.
Man sets an end to darkness, And searches out, to the furthest bound, The stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.
He breaks open a shaft away from where people live. They are forgotten by the foot. They hang far from men, they swing back and forth.
As for the earth, out of it comes bread; Underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.
Sapphires come from its rocks. It has dust of gold.
That path no bird of prey knows, Neither has the falcon’s eye seen it.
The proud animals have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed by there.
He puts forth his hand on the flinty rock, And he overturns the mountains by the roots.
He cuts out channels among the rocks. His eye sees every precious thing.
He binds the streams that they don’t trickle; The thing that is hidden he brings forth to light.
But where shall wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?
Man doesn’t know its price; Neither is it found in the land of the living.
The deep says,
It isn’t in me.
The sea says, It isn’t with me.
It can’t be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for its price.
It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Gold and glass can’t equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Whence then comes wisdom? Where is the place of understanding?
Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the birds of the sky.
Destruction and Death say,
We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.
God understands its way, And he knows its place.
For he looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole sky.
He establishes the force of the wind; Yes, he measures out the waters by measure.
When he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder;
Then did he see it, and declare it. He established it, yes, and searched it out.
To man he said,
Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.
Job again took up his parable, and said,
Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;
When his lamp shone on my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;
As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was in my tent;
When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;
When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured out streams of oil for me!
When I went forth to the city gate, When I prepared my seat in the street,
The young men saw me and hid themselves, The aged rose up and stood;
The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;
The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it commended me:
Because I delivered the poor who cried, And the fatherless also, who had none to help him.
The blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
I was eyes to the blind, And feet to the lame.
I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I didn’t know, I searched out.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Then I said,
I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
My root is spread out to the waters, The dew lies all night on my branch;
My glory is fresh in me, My bow is renewed in my hand.
Men listened to me, waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
After my words they didn’t speak again; My speech fell on them.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, As one who comforts the mourners.
But now those who are younger than I, have me in derision, Whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, Men in whom ripe age has perished?
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom are their food.
They are driven forth from the midst of men; They cry after them as after a thief;
So that they dwell in frightful valleys, And in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
Among the bushes they bray; And under the nettles they are gathered together.
They are children of fools, yes, children of base men. They were flogged out of the land.
Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, And don’t hesitate to spit in my face.
For he has loosed his cord, and afflicted me; And they have thrown off restraint before me.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, They cast up against me their ways of destruction.
They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, Without anyone’s help.
As through a wide breach they come, In the midst of the ruin they roll themselves in.
Terrors are turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold on me.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, And the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
By great force is my garment disfigured. It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
For I know that you will bring me to death, To the house appointed for all living.
However doesn’t one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
When I looked for good, then evil came; When I waited for light, there came darkness.
My heart is troubled, and doesn’t rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.
Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
I made a covenant with my eyes, How then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
For what is the portion from God above, And the heritage from the Almighty on high?
Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
Doesn’t he see my ways, And number all my steps?
If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hurried to deceit
(Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know my integrity);
If my step has turned out of the way, If my heart walked after my eyes, If any defilement has stuck to my hands,
Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
If my heart has been enticed to a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door;
Then let my wife grind for another, And let others sleep with her.
For that would be a heinous crime; Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges:
For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.
If I have despised the cause of my man-servant Or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;
What then shall I do when God rises up? When he visits, what shall I answer him?
Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him? Didn’t one fashion us in the womb?
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless has not eaten of it
(No, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, Her have I guided from my mother’s womb);
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;
If his heart hasn’t blessed me, If he hasn’t been warmed with my sheep’s fleece;
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate:
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And my arm be broken from the bone.
For calamity from God is a terror to me, By reason of his majesty I can do nothing.
If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold,
You are my confidence;
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;
If I have seen the sun when it shined, Or the moon moving in splendor,
And my heart has been secretly enticed, My hand threw a kiss from my mouth:
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him;
(Yes, I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse);
If the men of my tent have not said,
Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?
(The sojourner has not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveler);
If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding my iniquity in my heart,
Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and didn’t go out of the door--
Oh that I had one to hear me! (Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); Let the accuser write my indictment!
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown.
I would declare to him the number of my steps. As a prince would I go near to him.
If my land cries out against me, And the furrows of it weep together;
If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, Or have caused the owners of it to lose their life:
Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.
The words of Job are ended.
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he.
When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.
I said,
Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.
But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
It is not the great who are wise, Nor the aged who understand justice.
Therefore I said,
Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.
Behold, I waited for your words, And I listened for your reasoning, While you searched out what to say.
Yes, I gave you my full attention, But there was no one who convinced Job, Or who answered his words, among you.
Beware lest you say,
We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man:
For he has not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.
Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, Because they stand still, and answer no more?
I also will answer my part, And I also will show my opinion.
For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.
Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; Like new wineskins it is ready to burst.
I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.
Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, Neither will I give flattering titles to any man.
For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; Or else my Maker would soon take me away.
However, Job, Please hear my speech, And listen to all my words.
See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
If you can, answer me; Set your words in order before me, and stand forth.
Behold, I am toward God even as you are: I am also formed out of the clay.
Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy on you.
Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
Behold, he finds occasions against me, He counts me for his enemy:
He puts my feet in the stocks, He marks all my paths.
Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just; For God is greater than man.
Why do you strive against him, Because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
For God speaks once, Yes twice, though man pays no attention.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls on men, In slumbering on the bed;
Then he opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,
That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man.
He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
He is chastened also with pain on his bed, With continual strife in his bones;
So that his life abhors bread, And his soul dainty food.
His flesh is so consumed away, that it can’t be seen; His bones that were not seen stick out.
Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
If there is beside him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show to man what is right for him;
Then God is gracious to him, and says,
Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s; He returns to the days of his youth.
He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, So that he sees his face with joy: He restores to man his righteousness.
He sings before men, and says,
I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it didn’t profit me.
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit, My life shall see the light.
Behold, God works all these things, Twice, yes three times, with a man,
To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
Mark well, Job, and listen to me: Hold your peace, and I will speak.
If you have anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify you.
If not, listen to me: Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.
Moreover Elihu answered,
Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
For the ear tries words, As the palate tastes food.
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
For Job has said,
I am righteous, God has taken away my right:
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.
What man is like Job, Who drinks up scoffing like water,
Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?
For he has said,
It profits a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.
Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, From the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
For the work of a man will he render to him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.
Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
If he set his heart on himself, If he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath;
All flesh would perish together, And man would turn again to dust.
If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty?--
Who says to a king,
Vile!
Or to nobles, Wicked!
Who doesn’t respect the persons of princes, Nor regards the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.
In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, The mighty are taken away without hand.
For his eyes are on the ways of a man, He sees all his goings.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, That he should go before God in judgment.
He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, And sets others in their place.
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
He strikes them as wicked men In the open sight of others;
Because they turned aside from following him, And wouldn’t have regard in any of his ways:
So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, He heard the cry of the afflicted.
When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? Alike whether to a nation, or to a man:
That the godless man may not reign, That there be no one to ensnare the people.
For has any said to God,
I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more
?
Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
Men of understanding will tell me, Yes, every wise man who hears me:
Job speaks without knowledge, His words are without wisdom.
I wish that Job were tried to the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.
For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, And multiplies his words against God.
Moreover Elihu answered,
Do you think this to be your right, Or do you say,
My righteousness is more than God’s.
That you ask,
What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
I will answer you, And your companions with you.
Look to the heavens, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?
Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are; And your righteousness may profit a son of man.
By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.
But none says,
Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night,
Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?
There they cry, but none gives answer, Because of the pride of evil men.
Surely God will not hear an empty cry, Neither will the Almighty regard it.
How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!
But now, because he has not visited in his anger, Neither does he greatly regard arrogance.
Therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, And he multiplies words without knowledge.
Elihu also continued, and said,
Bear with me a little, and I will show you; For I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
I will get my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, But gives to the afflicted their right.
He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, But with kings on the throne, He sets them forever, and they are exalted.
If they are bound in fetters, And are taken in the cords of afflictions,
Then he shows them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
He also opens their ears to instruction, And commands that they return from iniquity.
If they listen and serve him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; They shall die without knowledge.
But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, And opens their ear in oppression.
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, Into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, Neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Would your wealth sustain you in distress, Or all the might of your strength?
Don’t desire the night, When people are cut off in their place.
Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; For this you have chosen rather than affliction.
Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say,
You have committed unrighteousness?
Remember that you magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.
All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
For he draws up the drops of water, Which distill in rain from his vapor,
Which the skies pour down And drop on man abundantly.
Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, And the thunderings of his pavilion?
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
He covers his hands with the lightning, And commands it to strike the mark.
The noise of it tells about him, And the cattle also concerning the storm that comes up.
Yes, at this my heart trembles, And is moved out of its place.
Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, The sound that goes out of his mouth.
He sends it forth under the whole sky, And his lightning to the ends of the earth.
After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty; He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.
God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
For he says to the snow,
Fall on the earth;
Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.
He seals up the hand of every man, That all men whom he has made may know it.
Then the animals go into coverts, And remain in their dens.
Out of its chamber comes the storm, And cold out of the north.
By the breath of God, ice is given, And the breadth of the waters is frozen.
Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
It is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatever he commands them On the surface of the habitable world,
Whether it is for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he causes it to come.
Listen to this, Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Do you know how God controls them, And causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
Do you know the workings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
You whose clothing is warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
Can you, with him, spread out the sky, Which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
Teach us what we shall tell him; For we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, But the wind passes, and clears them.
Out of the north comes golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
We can’t reach the Almighty, He is exalted in power; In justice and great righteousness he will not oppress.
Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.
Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man, For I will question you, then you answer me!
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
Who determined the measures of it, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
Whereupon were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Or who shut up the sea with doors, When it broke forth from the womb,
When I made clouds the garment of it, Thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
Marked out for it my bound, Set bars and doors,
And said,
Here you may come, but no further; Here shall your proud waves be stayed?
Have you commanded the morning in your days, And caused the dawn to know its place;
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And shake the wicked out of it?
It is changed as clay under the seal, And stands forth as a garment.
From the wicked, their light is withheld, The high arm is broken.
Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.
What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is the place of it,
That you should take it to the bound of it, That you should discern the paths to the house of it?
Surely you know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!
Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, Or have you seen the treasures of the hail,
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
By what way is the lightning distributed, Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
Who has cut a channel for the flood water, Or the path for the thunderstorm;
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, in which there is no man;
To satisfy the waste and desolate ground, To cause the tender grass to spring forth?
Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?
The waters become hard like stone, When the surface of the deep is frozen.
Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loosen the cords of Orion?
Can you lead forth the constellations in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish the dominion of it over the earth?
Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?
Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you,
Here we are?
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,
When the dust runs into a mass, And the clods of earth stick together?
Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
When they crouch in their dens, And lie in wait in the thicket?
Who provides for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry to God, And wander for lack of food?
Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They end their labor pains.
Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go forth, and don’t return again.
Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place?
He scorns the tumult of the city, Neither hears he the shouting of the driver.
The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing.
Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, And gather the grain of your threshing floor?
The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; But are they the pinions and plumage of love?
For she leaves her eggs on the earth, Warms them in the dust,
And forgets that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild animal may trample them.
She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,
Because God has deprived her of wisdom, Neither has he imparted to her understanding.
When she lifts up herself on high, She scorns the horse and his rider.
Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength: He goes out to meet the armed men.
He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither does he turn back from the sword.
The quiver rattles against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.
He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, Neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts,
Aha!
He smells the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, And stretches her wings toward the south?
Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, And makes his nest on high?
On the cliff he dwells, and makes his home, On the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.
From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.
Moreover Yahweh answered Job,
Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.
Then Job answered Yahweh,
Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.
Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
Or have you an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
Pour forth the fury of your anger. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
Then I will also admit to you That your own right hand can save you.
See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
Look now, his strength is in his loins, His force is in the muscles of his belly.
He moves his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
His bones are like tubes of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron.
He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the animals of the field do play.
He lies under the lotus trees, In the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn’t tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?
Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?
Can you put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
Will he make many petitions to you? Or will he speak soft words to you?
Will he make a covenant with you, That you should take him for a servant forever?
Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls?
Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants?
Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?
Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more.
Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him?
None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.
Strong scales are his pride, Shut up together with a close seal.
One is so near to another, That no air can come between them.
They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they can’t be pulled apart.
His sneezing flashes forth light, His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
Out of his mouth go burning torches, Sparks of fire leap forth.
Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, As of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth.
In his neck there is strength. Terror dances before him.
The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can’t be moved.
His heart is as firm as a stone, Yes, firm as the lower millstone.
When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.
If one lay at him with the sword, it can’t avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
He counts iron as straw; And brass as rotten wood.
The arrow can’t make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.
Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
His undersides are like sharp potsherds, Leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
He makes a path to shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
On earth there is not his equal, That is made without fear.
He sees everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.
Then Job answered Yahweh,
I know that you can do all things, And that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
You asked,
Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?
Therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
You said,
Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees you.
Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.
It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job.
Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Then came there to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that Yahweh had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold.
So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys.
He had also seven sons and three daughters.
He called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren Happuch.
In all the land were no women found so beautiful as the daughters of Job. Their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, to four generations.
So Job died, being old and full of days.
- The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the
-days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the
-days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
-
- "Say to your brothers, 'My people!'
- And to your sisters, 'My loved one!'
-
- Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another,
-and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though
-they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins."
-
- Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel;
- For Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land:
-"Indeed there is no truth,
- Nor goodness,
- Nor knowledge of God in the land.
-
- "Listen to this, you priests!
- Listen, house of Israel,
- And give ear, house of the king!
-For the judgment is against you;
- For you have been a snare at Mizpah,
- And a net spread on Tabor.
-
- "Come, and let us return to Yahweh;
- For he has torn us to pieces,
- And he will heal us;
-He has injured us,
- And he will bind up our wounds.
-
- When I would heal Israel,
- Then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered,
- Also the wickedness of Samaria;
- For they commit falsehood,
- And the thief enters in,
- And the gang of robbers ravages outside.
-
- "Put the trumpet to your lips!
- Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house,
- Because they have broken my covenant,
- And rebelled against my law.
-
- Don't rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations;
- For you were unfaithful to your God.
- You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.
-
- Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit.
- According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars.
- As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
-
- "When Israel was a child, then I loved him,
- And called my son out of Egypt.
-
- Ephraim feeds on wind,
- And chases the east wind.
- He continually multiplies lies and desolation.
- They make a covenant with Assyria,
- And oil is carried into Egypt.
-
- When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.
- He exalted himself in Israel,
- But when he became guilty in Baal, he died.
-
- Israel, return to Yahweh your God;
- For you have fallen because of your sin.
-
The word of Yahweh that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.
+
"Say to your brothers, 'My people!' And to your sisters, 'My loved one!'
+
Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins."
+
Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; For Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, Nor goodness, Nor knowledge of God in the land.
+
"Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, And give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; For you have been a snare at Mizpah, And a net spread on Tabor.
+
"Come, and let us return to Yahweh; For he has torn us to pieces, And he will heal us; He has injured us, And he will bind up our wounds.
+
When I would heal Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, Also the wickedness of Samaria; For they commit falsehood, And the thief enters in, And the gang of robbers ravages outside.
+
"Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, Because they have broken my covenant, And rebelled against my law.
+
Don't rejoice, Israel, to jubilation like the nations; For you were unfaithful to your God. You love the wages of a prostitute at every grain threshing floor.
+
Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
+
"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, And called my son out of Egypt.
+
Ephraim feeds on wind, And chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, And oil is carried into Egypt.
+
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But when he became guilty in Baal, he died.
+
Israel, return to Yahweh your God; For you have fallen because of your sin.
+
- The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which
-he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in
-the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before
-the earthquake.
-
- Thus says Yahweh:
-"For three transgressions of Moab, yes, for four,
- I will not turn away its punishment;
- Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime;
-
- Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, children of
-Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of
-Egypt, saying:
-
- Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the
-mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who
-tell their lords, "Bring, and let us drink."
-
- Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over
-you, O house of Israel.
-
- Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
- And to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria,
- The notable men of the chief of the nations,
- To whom the house of Israel come!
-
- Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: and, behold, he formed locusts
-in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, behold,
-it was the latter growth after the king's harvest.
-
- Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, a basket of summer
-fruit.
-
- I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said, "Strike
-the tops of the pillars, that the thresholds may shake; and break them
-in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will kill the last of them
-with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall
-not one of them escape.
-
The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
+
Thus says Yahweh: "For three transgressions of Moab, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime;
+
Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying:
+
Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their lords, "Bring, and let us drink."
+
Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.
+
Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, And to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, The notable men of the chief of the nations, To whom the house of Israel come!
+
Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: and, behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, behold, it was the latter growth after the king's harvest.
+
Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit.
+
I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and he said, "Strike the tops of the pillars, that the thresholds may shake; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will kill the last of them with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall not one of them escape.
+
- The word of Yahweh that came to Micah the Morashtite in the
-days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw
-concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
-
- Woe to those who devise iniquity
- And work evil on their beds!
-When the morning is light, they practice it,
- Because it is in the power of their hand.
-
- I said,
-"Please listen, you heads of Jacob,
- And rulers of the house of Israel:
- Isn't it for you to know justice?
-
- But in the latter days,
- It will happen that the mountain of Yahweh's temple will be
- established on the top of the mountains,
- And it will be exalted above the hills;
- And peoples will stream to it.
-
- Now you shall gather yourself in troops,
- Daughter of troops.
-He has laid siege against us;
- They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
-
- Listen now to what Yahweh says:
-"Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
- And let the hills hear what you have to say.
-
- Misery is mine!
- Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of
- the vinyard:
- There is no cluster of grapes to eat.
- My soul desires to eat the early fig.
-
The word of Yahweh that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
+
Woe to those who devise iniquity And work evil on their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, Because it is in the power of their hand.
+
I said, "Please listen, you heads of Jacob, And rulers of the house of Israel: Isn't it for you to know justice?
+
But in the latter days, It will happen that the mountain of Yahweh's temple will be established on the top of the mountains, And it will be exalted above the hills; And peoples will stream to it.
+
Now you shall gather yourself in troops, Daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us; They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
+
Listen now to what Yahweh says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear what you have to say.
+
Misery is mine! Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vinyard: There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig.
+
- The Word of Yahweh that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel.
-
- Blow you the trumpet in Zion,
- And sound an alarm in my holy mountain!
-Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
- For the day of Yahweh comes,
- For it is close at hand:
-
- "For, behold, in those days,
- And in that time,
- When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
-
The Word of Yahweh that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel.
+
Blow you the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of Yahweh comes, For it is close at hand:
+
"For, behold, in those days, And in that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
+
- The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord Yahweh says about
-Edom. We have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among
-the nations, saying, "Arise, and let's rise up against her in battle.
-
The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord Yahweh says about Edom. We have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, "Arise, and let's rise up against her in battle.
+
- Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
-
- Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish's belly.
-
- The word of Yahweh came to Jonah the second time, saying,
-
- But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
-
Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
+
Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish's belly.
+
The word of Yahweh came to Jonah the second time, saying,
+
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
+
- An oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the
-Elkoshite.
-
- He who dashes in pieces has come up against you. Keep the
-fortress! Watch the way! Strengthen your loins! Fortify your power
-mightily!
-
- Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery.
-The prey doesn't depart.
-
An oracle about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
+
He who dashes in pieces has come up against you. Keep the fortress! Watch the way! Strengthen your loins! Fortify your power mightily!
+
Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. The prey doesn't depart.
+
- The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
-
- I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and
-will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer
-concerning my complaint.
-
- A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.
-
The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
+
I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
+
A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.
+
- The word of Yahweh which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi,
-the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the
-days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.
-
- Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation
-that has no shame,
-
- Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing
-city!
-
The word of Yahweh which came to Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah.
+
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that has no shame,
+
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city!
+
- In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in
-the first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the
-prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to
-Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
-
- In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month,
-the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
-
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
+
In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the Word of Yahweh came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
+
- In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of
-Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the
-prophet, saying,
-
- I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, a man with a
-measuring line in his hand.
-
- He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel
-of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
-
- The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a
-man who is wakened out of his sleep.
-
- Then again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying
-scroll.
-
- Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, four chariots
-came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains
-of brass.
-
- It happened in the fourth year of king Darius that the word of
-Yahweh came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, the
-month of Chislev.
-
- The word of Yahweh of Hosts came to me.
-
- An oracle.
-The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach,
- And will rest upon Damascus;
-For the eye of man
- And of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh;
-
- Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time,
- Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
- And he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
-
- Open your doors, Lebanon,
- That the fire may devour your cedars.
-
- An oracle. The word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Yahweh, who
-stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and
-forms the spirit of man within him says:
-
- "In that day there will be a spring opened to the house of
-David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
-
- Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your spoil will be
-divided in your midst.
-
In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,
+
I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.
+
He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
+
The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.
+
Then again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying scroll.
+
Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
+
It happened in the fourth year of king Darius that the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Chislev.
+
The word of Yahweh of Hosts came to me.
+
An oracle. The word of Yahweh is against the land of Hadrach, And will rest upon Damascus; For the eye of man And of all the tribes of Israel is toward Yahweh;
+
Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time, Yahweh who makes storm clouds, And he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
+
Open your doors, Lebanon, That the fire may devour your cedars.
+
An oracle. The word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says:
+
"In that day there will be a spring opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
+
Behold, a day of Yahweh comes, when your spoil will be divided in your midst.
+
- An oracle: the word of Yahweh to Israel by Malachi.
-
- "Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.
-
- "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way
-before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his
-temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he
-comes!" says Yahweh of hosts.
-
- "For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all
-the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day
-that comes will burn them up," says Yahweh of Hosts, "that it shall
-leave them neither root nor branch.
-
An oracle: the word of Yahweh to Israel by Malachi.
+
"Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.
+
"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of hosts.
+
"For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up," says Yahweh of Hosts, "that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
+
- The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning
-Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah,
-kings of Judah.
-
- This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and
-Jerusalem.
-
- For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, takes away from Jerusalem
- and from Judah supply and support,
- The whole supply of bread,
- And the whole supply of water;
-
- Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying,
-"We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing: only let us be
-called by your name. Take away our reproach."
-
- Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his
- vineyard.
- My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill.
-
- In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a
-throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.
-
- It happened in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of
-Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son
-of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it,
-but could not prevail against it.
-
- Yahweh said to me, Take a great tablet, and write on it with
-the pen of a man, For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;
-
- But there shall be no gloom to her who was in anguish. In the
-former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land
-of Naphtali; but in the latter time has he made it glorious, by the way
-of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
-
- Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the
-writers who write perverseness;
-
- There shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and
-a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.
-
- In that day you will say, "I will give thanks to you, Yahweh;
-for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you
-comfort me.
-
- The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
-
- For Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose
-Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join
-himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
-
- The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste,
-[and] brought to nothing; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste,
-[and] brought to nothing.
-
- Send you the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to
-the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.
-
- The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from
-being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
-
- Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the
-rivers of Ethiopia;
-
- The burden of Egypt. Behold, Yahweh rides on a swift cloud,
-and comes to Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his
-presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
-
- In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king
-of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;
-
- The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the
-South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome
-land.
-
- The burden of the valley of vision. What ails you now, that
-you are wholly gone up to the housetops?
-
- The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish; for it is
-laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of
-Kittim it is revealed to them.
-
- Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and
-turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants of it.
-
- Yahweh, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your
-name; for you have done wonderful things, [even] counsels of old, in
-faithfulness [and] truth.
-
- In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: we
-have a strong city; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks.
-
- In that day Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword
-will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked
-serpent; and he will kill the monster that is in the sea.
-
- Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to
-the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the
-fat valley of those who are overcome with wine!
-
- Ho Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! add you year
-to year; let the feasts come round:
-
- Woe to the rebellious children, says Yahweh, who take
-counsel, but not of me; and who make a league, but not of my Spirit,
-that they may add sin to sin,
-
- Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on
-horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen
-because they are very strong, but they don't look to the Holy One of
-Israel, neither seek Yahweh!
-
- Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes
-shall rule in justice.
-
- Woe to you who destroy, and you weren't destroyed; and deal
-treacherously, and they didn't deal treacherously with you! When you
-have ceased to destroy, you shall be destroyed; and when you have made
-an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with
-you.
-
- Come near, you nations, to hear; and listen, you peoples: let
-the earth hear, and the fullness of it; the world, and all things that
-come forth from it.
-
- The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert
-shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
-
- Now it happened in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that
-Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of
-Judah, and took them.
-
- It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his
-clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of
-Yahweh.
-
- In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. Isaiah the prophet
-the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Set
-your house in order; for you shall die, and not live.
-
- At that time Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of
-Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he
-had been sick, and was recovered.
-
- Comfort you, comfort you my people, says your God.
-
- Keep silence before me, islands; and let the peoples renew
-their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come
-near together to judgment.
-
- Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul
-delights: I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring forth justice to
-the Gentiles.
-
- But now thus says Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who
-formed you, Israel: Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have
-called you by your name, you are mine.
-
- Yet now hear, Jacob my servant, and Israel, who I have
-chosen:
-
- Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand
-I have held, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins
-of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be
-shut:
-
- Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are on the animals,
-and on the cattle: the things that you carried about are made a load, a
-burden to the weary [animal].
-
- Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon;
-sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans: for you
-shall no more be called tender and delicate.
-
- Hear you this, house of Jacob, who are called by the name of
-Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the
-name of Yahweh, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in
-truth, nor in righteousness
-
- Listen, isles, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far:
-Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he
-made mention of my name:
-
- Thus says Yahweh, Where is the bill of your mother's divorce,
-with which I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom
-I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were you sold, and for
-your transgressions was your mother put away.
-
- Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who
-seek Yahweh: look to the rock whence you were hewn, and to the hold of
-the pit whence you were dug.
-
- Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your
-beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there
-shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.
-
- Who has believed our message? and to whom has the arm of
-Yahweh been revealed?
-
- Sing, barren, you who didn't bear; break forth into singing,
-and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are the
-children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says
-Yahweh.
-
- Ho, everyone who thirsts, come you to the waters, and he who
-has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk
-without money and without price.
-
- Thus says Yahweh, Keep you justice, and do righteousness; for
-my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
-
- The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and
-merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is
-taken away from the evil [to come].
-
- Cry aloud, don't spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet,
-and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob
-their sins.
-
- Behold, Yahweh's hand is not shortened, that it can't save;
-neither his ear heavy, that it can't hear:
-
- Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Yahweh
-is risen on you.
-
- The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has
-anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind
-up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
-opening [of the prison] to those who are bound;
-
- For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's
-sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness,
-and her salvation as a lamp that burns.
-
- Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from
-Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness
-of his strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
-
- Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down,
-that the mountains might quake at your presence,
-
- I am inquired of by those who didn't ask; I am found by those
-who didn't seek me: I said, See me, see me, to a nation that was not
-called by my name.
-
- Thus says Yahweh, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my
-footstool: what manner of house will you build to me? and what place
-shall be my rest?
-
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
+
This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
+
For, behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah supply and support, The whole supply of bread, And the whole supply of water;
+
Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, "We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing: only let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach."
+
Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill.
+
In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.
+
It happened in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
+
Yahweh said to me, Take a great tablet, and write on it with the pen of a man, For Maher Shalal Hash Baz;
+
But there shall be no gloom to her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time has he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
+
Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write perverseness;
+
There shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.
+
In that day you will say, "I will give thanks to you, Yahweh; for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you comfort me.
+
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
+
For Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
+
The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nothing; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nothing.
+
Send you the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.
+
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
+
Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;
+
The burden of Egypt. Behold, Yahweh rides on a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
+
In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;
+
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.
+
The burden of the valley of vision. What ails you now, that you are wholly gone up to the housetops?
+
The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.
+
Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants of it.
+
Yahweh, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, [even] counsels of old, in faithfulness [and] truth.
+
In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: we have a strong city; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks.
+
In that day Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will kill the monster that is in the sea.
+
Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of those who are overcome with wine!
+
Ho Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! add you year to year; let the feasts come round:
+
Woe to the rebellious children, says Yahweh, who take counsel, but not of me; and who make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,
+
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don't look to the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Yahweh!
+
Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.
+
Woe to you who destroy, and you weren't destroyed; and deal treacherously, and they didn't deal treacherously with you! When you have ceased to destroy, you shall be destroyed; and when you have made an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with you.
+
Come near, you nations, to hear; and listen, you peoples: let the earth hear, and the fullness of it; the world, and all things that come forth from it.
+
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
+
Now it happened in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.
+
It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
+
In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live.
+
At that time Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
+
Comfort you, comfort you my people, says your God.
+
Keep silence before me, islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment.
+
Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
+
But now thus says Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.
+
Yet now hear, Jacob my servant, and Israel, who I have chosen:
+
Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
+
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are on the animals, and on the cattle: the things that you carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary [animal].
+
Come down, and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
+
Hear you this, house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Yahweh, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness
+
Listen, isles, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:
+
Thus says Yahweh, Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, with which I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were you sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.
+
Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh: look to the rock whence you were hewn, and to the hold of the pit whence you were dug.
+
Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.
+
Who has believed our message? and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?
+
Sing, barren, you who didn't bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says Yahweh.
+
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come you to the waters, and he who has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
+
Thus says Yahweh, Keep you justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
+
The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].
+
Cry aloud, don't spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
+
Behold, Yahweh's hand is not shortened, that it can't save; neither his ear heavy, that it can't hear:
+
Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Yahweh is risen on you.
+
The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to those who are bound;
+
For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns.
+
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
+
Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence,
+
I am inquired of by those who didn't ask; I am found by those who didn't seek me: I said, See me, see me, to a nation that was not called by my name.
+
Thus says Yahweh, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will you build to me? and what place shall be my rest?
+
- The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who
-were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him,
-and become another man's, will he return to her again? Won't that land
-be greatly polluted? But you have played the prostitute with many
-lovers; yet return again to me, says Yahweh.
-
- If you will return, Israel, says Yahweh, if you will return to
-me, and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight; then
-you shall not be removed;
-
- Run you back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and
-see now, and know, and seek in the broad places of it, if you can find
-a man, if there are any who does justly, who seeks truth; and I will
-pardon her.
-
- Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the midst
-of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on
-Beth Haccherem; for evil looks forth from the north, and a great
-destruction.
-
- The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
-
- At that time, says Yahweh, they shall bring out the bones of
-the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the
-priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the
-inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves;
-
- Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears,
-that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my
-people!
-
- Hear you the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of
-Israel:
-
- The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
-
- Righteous are you, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet would
-I reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper?
-why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?
-
- Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy you a linen belt, and put
-it on your loins, and don't put it in water.
-
- The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the
-drought.
-
- Then said Yahweh to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before
-me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my
-sight, and let them go forth.
-
- The word of Yahweh came also to me, saying,
-
- The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, [and] with
-the point of a diamond: it is engraved on the tablet of their heart,
-and on the horns of your altars;
-
- The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
-
- Thus said Yahweh, Go, and buy a potter's earthen bottle, and
-[take] of the elders of the people, and of the elders of the priests;
-
- Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief
-officer in the house of Yahweh, heard Jeremiah prophesying these
-things.
-
- The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when king
-Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the
-son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
-
- Thus said Yahweh: Go down to the house of the king of Judah,
-and speak there this word,
-
- Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my
-pasture! says Yahweh.
-
- Yahweh shown me, and, behold, two baskets of figs set before
-the temple of Yahweh, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had
-carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and
-the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem,
-and had brought them to Babylon.
-
- The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of
-Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah
-(the same was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,)
-
- In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,
-king of Judah, came this word from Yahweh, saying,
-
- In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,
-king of Judah, came this word to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
-
- It happened the same year, in the beginning of the reign of
-Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that
-Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me
-in the house of Yahweh, in the presence of the priests and of all the
-people, saying,
-
- Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the
-prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders of the
-captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the
-people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to
-Babylon,
-
- The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
-
- At that time, says Yahweh, will I be the God of all the
-families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
-
- The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year
-of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of
-Nebuchadrezzar.
-
- Moreover the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the second time,
-while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying,
-
- The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when
-Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms
-of the earth that were under his dominion, and all the peoples, were
-fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of it, saying:
-
- The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of
-Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
-
- It happened in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of
-Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh,
-saying,
-
- Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king, instead of Coniah
-the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in
-the land of Judah.
-
- Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of
-Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of
-Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people,
-saying,
-
- It happened when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of
-Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of
-Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it;
-
- The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after that
-Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he
-had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem
-and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
-
- Now it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of
-Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the
-chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the
-son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
-
- Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of
-Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the
-least even to the greatest, came near,
-
- It happened that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking
-to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh
-their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
-
- The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who
-lived in the land of Egypt, who lived at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and
-at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
-
- The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of
-Neriah, when he wrote these word in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in
-the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh which came to Jeremiah the prophet
-concerning the nations.
-
- The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet
-concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh struck Gaza.
-
- Of Moab. Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Woe to
-Nebo! for it is laid waste; Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken;
-Misgab is put to shame and broken down.
-
- Of the children of Ammon. Thus says Yahweh: Has Israel no
-sons? has he no heir? why then does Malcam possess Gad, and his people
-well in the cities of it?
-
- The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the
-land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
-
- Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon,
-and against those who dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
-
- Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and
-he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal
-the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
-
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, will he return to her again? Won't that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the prostitute with many lovers; yet return again to me, says Yahweh.
+
If you will return, Israel, says Yahweh, if you will return to me, and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight; then you shall not be removed;
+
Run you back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places of it, if you can find a man, if there are any who does justly, who seeks truth; and I will pardon her.
+
Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth Haccherem; for evil looks forth from the north, and a great destruction.
+
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
+
At that time, says Yahweh, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves;
+
Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
+
Hear you the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel:
+
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
+
Righteous are you, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet would I reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?
+
Thus says Yahweh to me, Go, and buy you a linen belt, and put it on your loins, and don't put it in water.
+
The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.
+
Then said Yahweh to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
+
The word of Yahweh came also to me, saying,
+
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, [and] with the point of a diamond: it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars;
+
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
+
Thus said Yahweh, Go, and buy a potter's earthen bottle, and [take] of the elders of the people, and of the elders of the priests;
+
Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Yahweh, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
+
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when king Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
+
Thus said Yahweh: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,
+
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says Yahweh.
+
Yahweh shown me, and, behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of Yahweh, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
+
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (the same was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,)
+
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from Yahweh, saying,
+
In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
+
It happened the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of Yahweh, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
+
Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,
+
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
+
At that time, says Yahweh, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
+
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
+
Moreover the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying,
+
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his dominion, and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of it, saying:
+
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
+
It happened in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
+
Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king, instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
+
Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying,
+
It happened when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it;
+
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
+
Now it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
+
Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, came near,
+
It happened that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
+
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt, who lived at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying,
+
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these word in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.
+
The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh struck Gaza.
+
Of Moab. Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Woe to Nebo! for it is laid waste; Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; Misgab is put to shame and broken down.
+
Of the children of Ammon. Thus says Yahweh: Has Israel no sons? has he no heir? why then does Malcam possess Gad, and his people well in the cities of it?
+
The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
+
Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against those who dwell in Lebkamai, a destroying wind.
+
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
+
- How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people!
-She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations!
-She who was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!
-
- How has the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in
- his anger!
-He has cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel,
-And hasn't remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
-
- I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
-
- How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed!
-The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
-
- Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us:
-Look, and see our reproach.
-
How does the city sit solitary, that was full of people! She has become as a widow, who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!
+
How has the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He has cast down from heaven to the earth the beauty of Israel, And hasn't remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.
+
I am the man that has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
+
How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.
+
Remember, Yahweh, what has come on us: Look, and see our reproach.
+
- Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month],
-in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the
-river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
-
- He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will
-speak with you.
-
- He said to me, Son of man, eat that which you find; eat this
-scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.
-
- You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before you, and
-portray on it a city, even Jerusalem:
-
- You, son of man, take a sharp sword; [as] a barber's razor
-shall you take it to you, and shall cause it to pass on your head and
-on your beard: then take balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- It happened in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the
-fifth [day] of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah
-sat before me, that the hand of the Lord Yahweh fell there on me.
-
- Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause you
-them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his
-destroying weapon in his hand.
-
- Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the
-head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire
-stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
-
- Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east
-gate of Yahweh's house, which looks eastward: and see, at the door of
-the gate twenty-five men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the
-son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
-
- The word of Yahweh also came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me, and sat
-before me.
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying,
-
- Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
-
- It happened in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the
-tenth [day] of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to
-inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
-
- Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth
-[day] of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- It happened in the eleventh year, in the first [day] of the
-month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
-
- In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day]
-of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
-
- It happened in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in
-the first [day] of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me,
-saying,
-
- It happened in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the
-first [day] of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- You, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and
-say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of Yahweh.
-
- The hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me out in the
-Spirit of Yahweh, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it
-was full of bones.
-
- The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
-
- You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the
-Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech,
-and Tubal:
-
- In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the
-beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month, in the
-fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, the
-hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me there.
-
- He brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six
-cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side,
-which was the breadth of the tent.
-
- Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward
-the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the
-separate place, and which was over against the building toward the
-north.
-
- Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks
-toward the east.
-
- Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the
-sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut.
-
- Moreover, when you shall divide by lot the land for
-inheritance, you shall offer an offering to Yahweh, a holy portion of
-the land; the length shall be the length of twenty-five thousand
-[reeds], and the breadth shall be ten thousand: it shall be holy in all
-the border of it round about.
-
- Thus says the Lord Yahweh: The gate of the inner court that
-looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the
-Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall
-be opened.
-
- He brought me back to the door of the house; and, behold,
-waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for
-the forefront of the house was toward the east;) and the waters came
-down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the
-altar.
-
- Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end,
-beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the
-border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their
-sides east [and] west,) Dan, one [portion].
-
Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
+
He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.
+
He said to me, Son of man, eat that which you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.
+
You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, even Jerusalem:
+
You, son of man, take a sharp sword; [as] a barber's razor shall you take it to you, and shall cause it to pass on your head and on your beard: then take balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
It happened in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord Yahweh fell there on me.
+
Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause you them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
+
Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
+
Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate of Yahweh's house, which looks eastward: and see, at the door of the gate twenty-five men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
+
The word of Yahweh also came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me, and sat before me.
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying,
+
Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
+
It happened in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
+
Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
It happened in the eleventh year, in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
+
In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying,
+
It happened in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
It happened in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
You, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of Yahweh.
+
The hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Yahweh, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
+
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
+
You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:
+
In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was struck, in the same day, the hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me there.
+
He brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tent.
+
Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north.
+
Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looks toward the east.
+
Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looks toward the east; and it was shut.
+
Moreover, when you shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, you shall offer an offering to Yahweh, a holy portion of the land; the length shall be the length of twenty-five thousand [reeds], and the breadth shall be ten thousand: it shall be holy in all the border of it round about.
+
Thus says the Lord Yahweh: The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
+
He brought me back to the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar.
+
Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar Enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their sides east [and] west,) Dan, one [portion].
+
- In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came
-Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
-
- In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,
-Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his
-sleep went from him.
-
- Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height
-was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it six cubits: he set it up in the
-plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
-
- Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and
-languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
-
- Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his
-lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
-
- It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty
-satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
-
- In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a
-dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and
-told the sum of the matters.
-
- In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision
-appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at
-the first.
-
- In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed
-of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,
-
- In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was
-revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing
-was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had
-understanding of the vision.
-
- "As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up
-to confirm and strengthen him.
-
- "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who
-stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of
-trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
-time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who
-shall be found written in the book.
-
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem, and besieged it.
+
In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
+
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits, and the breadth of it six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
+
Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
+
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
+
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
+
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.
+
In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
+
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,
+
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
+
"As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.
+
"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.
+