Cities of Refuge

41 Then Moses (A)set apart three cities in the east beyond the Jordan, 42 that (B)the manslayer might flee there, anyone who kills his neighbor unintentionally, without being at enmity with him in time past; he may flee to one of these cities and save his life: 43 (C)Bezer in the wilderness on the (D)tableland for the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44 This is the law that Moses set before the people of Israel. 45 These are the testimonies, the statutes, and the rules, which Moses spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt, 46 beyond the Jordan (E)in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon, (F)whom Moses and the people of Israel defeated when they came out of Egypt. 47 And they took possession of his land and the land (G)of Og, the king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who lived to the east beyond the Jordan; 48 (H)from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, as far as Mount (I)Sirion[a] (that is, (J)Hermon), 49 together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as (K)the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 4:48 Syriac; Hebrew Sion

Cities of Refuge(A)

41 Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, 42 to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally(B) killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life. 43 The cities were these: Bezer in the wilderness plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth(C) in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44 This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. 45 These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt 46 and were in the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan, in the land of Sihon(D) king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. 47 They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 48 This land extended from Aroer(E) on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion[a](F) (that is, Hermon(G)), 49 and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Dead Sea,[b] below the slopes of Pisgah.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 4:48 Syriac (see also 3:9); Hebrew Siyon
  2. Deuteronomy 4:49 Hebrew the Sea of the Arabah

Manasseh Reigns in Judah

33 (A)Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to (B)the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. For he rebuilt the high places (C)that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made (D)Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, (E)“In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in (F)the two courts of the house of the Lord. (G)And he burned his sons as an offering (H)in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and (I)used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with (J)mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. And (K)the carved image of the idol that he had made he set 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, (L)I will put my name forever, and I will no more remove the foot of Israel from the land (M)that I appointed for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the rules given through Moses.” Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.

Manasseh's Repentance

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 (N)Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and (O)bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God (P)and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and (Q)God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. (R)Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

14 Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of (S)Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into (T)the Fish Gate, and carried it around (U)Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 And (V)he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. 16 He also restored the altar of the Lord and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 (W)Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

18 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and (X)his prayer to his God, and the words of (Y)the seers who spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the (Z)Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 19 And his prayer, and how (AA)God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites (AB)on which he built high places and set up the (AC)Asherim and the images, before (AD)he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers.[a] 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Amon's Reign and Death

21 (AE)Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. 22 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images (AF)that Manasseh his father had made, and served them. 23 And he did not humble himself before the Lord, (AG)as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more. 24 And his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his house. 25 But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon. And the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 33:19 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts of Hozai

Manasseh King of Judah(A)(B)

33 Manasseh(C) was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord,(D) following the detestable(E) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles.(F) He bowed down(G) to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name(H) will remain in Jerusalem forever.” In both courts of the temple of the Lord,(I) he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his children(J) in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums(K) and spiritists.(L) He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple,(M) of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land(N) I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.” But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.(O)

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner,(P) put a hook(Q) in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles(R) and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled(S) himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

14 Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon(T) spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate(U) and encircling the hill of Ophel;(V) he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah.

15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed(W) the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings(X) on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God.

18 The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel.[a] 19 His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled(Y) himself—all these are written in the records of the seers.[b](Z) 20 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried(AA) in his palace. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

Amon King of Judah(AB)

21 Amon(AC) was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. 22 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all the idols Manasseh had made. 23 But unlike his father Manasseh, he did not humble(AD) himself before the Lord; Amon increased his guilt.

24 Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him in his palace. 25 Then the people(AE) of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 33:18 That is, Judah, as frequently in 2 Chronicles
  2. 2 Chronicles 33:19 One Hebrew manuscript and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts of Hozai

Israel's Guilt and Punishment

(A)Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:

(B)“You only have I known
    of all the families of the earth;
(C)therefore I will punish you
    for all your iniquities.

“Do two walk together,
    unless they have agreed to meet?
Does a lion roar in the forest,
    when he has no prey?
Does a young lion cry out from his den,
    if he has taken nothing?
Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth,
    when there is no trap for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground,
    when it has taken nothing?
(D)Is a trumpet blown in a city,
    and the people are not afraid?
(E)Does disaster come to a city,
    unless the Lord has done it?

“For the Lord God does nothing
    (F)without revealing his secret
    to his servants the prophets.
The lion has roared;
    who will not fear?
(G)The Lord God has spoken;
    who can but prophesy?”

Proclaim to the strongholds in (H)Ashdod
    and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
and say, “Assemble yourselves on (I)the mountains of Samaria,
    and see the great tumults within her,
    and (J)the oppressed in her midst.”
10 “They do not know how to do right,” declares the Lord,
    (K)“those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.”

11 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

(L)“An adversary shall surround the land
    and bring down[a] your defenses from you,
    and (M)your strongholds shall be plundered.”

12 Thus says the Lord: (N)“As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, (O)so shall the people of Israel (P)who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part[b] of a bed.

13 “Hear, (Q)and testify against the house of Jacob,”
    declares the Lord God, (R)the God of hosts,
14 “that on the day I punish Israel for his transgressions,
    (S)I will punish the altars of Bethel,
and (T)the horns of the altar shall be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 (U)I will strike (V)the winter house along with (W)the summer house,
    and (X)the houses of ivory shall perish,
and the great houses[c] shall come to an end,”
declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:11 Hebrew An adversary, one who surrounds the land—he shall bring down
  2. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  3. Amos 3:15 Or and many houses

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel

Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you(A)—against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt:(B)

“You only have I chosen(C)
    of all the families of the earth;
therefore I will punish(D) you
    for all your sins.(E)

Do two walk together
    unless they have agreed to do so?
Does a lion roar(F) in the thicket
    when it has no prey?(G)
Does it growl in its den
    when it has caught nothing?
Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground
    when no bait(H) is there?
Does a trap spring up from the ground
    if it has not caught anything?
When a trumpet(I) sounds in a city,
    do not the people tremble?
When disaster(J) comes to a city,
    has not the Lord caused it?(K)

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing
    without revealing his plan(L)
    to his servants the prophets.(M)

The lion(N) has roared(O)
    who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
    who can but prophesy?(P)

Proclaim to the fortresses of Ashdod(Q)
    and to the fortresses of Egypt:
“Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria;(R)
    see the great unrest within her
    and the oppression among her people.”

10 “They do not know how to do right,(S)” declares the Lord,
    “who store up in their fortresses(T)
    what they have plundered(U) and looted.”

11 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“An enemy will overrun your land,
    pull down your strongholds
    and plunder your fortresses.(V)

12 This is what the Lord says:

“As a shepherd rescues from the lion’s(W) mouth
    only two leg bones or a piece of an ear,
so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued,
    with only the head of a bed
    and a piece of fabric[a] from a couch.[b](X)

13 “Hear this and testify(Y) against the descendants of Jacob,” declares the Lord, the Lord God Almighty.

14 “On the day I punish(Z) Israel for her sins,
    I will destroy the altars of Bethel;(AA)
the horns(AB) of the altar will be cut off
    and fall to the ground.
15 I will tear down the winter house(AC)
    along with the summer house;(AD)
the houses adorned with ivory(AE) will be destroyed
    and the mansions(AF) will be demolished,(AG)
declares the Lord.(AH)

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 3:12 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Amos 3:12 Or Israelites be rescued, / those who sit in Samaria / on the edge of their beds / and in Damascus on their couches.

18 (A)Plans are established by counsel;
    by (B)wise guidance (C)wage war.
19 Whoever (D)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with (E)a simple babbler.[a]
20 (F)If one curses his father or his mother,
    (G)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 (H)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, (I)“I will repay evil”;
    (J)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 (K)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and (L)false scales are not good.
24 A man's (M)steps are from the Lord;
    how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
    and to reflect only (N)after making vows.
26 A wise king (O)winnows the wicked
    and drives (P)the wheel over them.
27 (Q)The spirit[b] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    (R)searching all (S)his innermost parts.
28 (T)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his (U)throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    but (V)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (W)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean (X)the innermost parts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
  2. Proverbs 20:27 Hebrew breath

18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(A)

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(B)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,(C)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(D)

21 An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”(E)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(F)

23 The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.(G)

24 A person’s steps are directed(H) by the Lord.(I)
    How then can anyone understand their own way?(J)

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.(K)

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.(L)

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord(M)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.(N)

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(O) his throne is made secure.(P)

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.(Q)

30 Blows and wounds scrub(R) away evil,
    and beatings(S) purge the inmost being.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, (A)“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will (B)know the truth, and the truth (C)will set you free.” 33 They answered him, (D)“We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (E)everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 (F)The slave does not remain in the house forever; (G)the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet (H)you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 (I)I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard (J)from your father.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 8:34 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 35

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,(A) you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(B)

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants(C) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(D) 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.(E) 36 So if the Son sets you free,(F) you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,(G) because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,(H) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a](I)

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Footnotes

  1. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.

17 Let the elders (A)who rule well be considered worthy of (B)double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, (C)“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, (D)“The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except (E)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, (F)rebuke them in the presence of all, (G)so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels (H)I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, (I)doing nothing from partiality. 22 (J)Do not be hasty in the (K)laying on of hands, nor (L)take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but (M)use a little wine (N)for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and (O)even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

(P)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, (Q)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are (R)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

(S)Teach and urge these things. If anyone (T)teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with (U)the sound[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching (V)that accords with godliness, (W)he is puffed up with conceit and (X)understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for (Y)controversy and for (Z)quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people (AA)who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, (AB)imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But (AC)godliness (AD)with contentment is great gain, for (AE)we brought nothing into the world, and[c] we cannot take anything out of the world. But (AF)if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But (AG)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, (AH)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that (AI)plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of (AJ)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  2. 1 Timothy 6:3 Or healthy
  3. 1 Timothy 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that]

17 The elders(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[a](C) and “The worker deserves his wages.”[b](D) 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder(E) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.(F) 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove(G) before everyone, so that the others may take warning.(H) 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus(I) and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,(J) and do not share in the sins of others.(K) Keep yourself pure.(L)

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine(M) because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect,(N) so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.(O) Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers.(P) Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare[c] of their slaves.

False Teachers and the Love of Money

These are the things you are to teach and insist on.(Q) If anyone teaches otherwise(R) and does not agree to the sound instruction(S) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited(T) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words(U) that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth(V) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment(W) is great gain.(X) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.(Y) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.(Z) Those who want to get rich(AA) fall into temptation and a trap(AB) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money(AC) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith(AD) and pierced themselves with many griefs.(AE)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 5:18 Deut. 25:4
  2. 1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 10:7
  3. 1 Timothy 6:2 Or and benefit from the service