23 (A)“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a (B)malicious witness. You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, (C)nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.

(D)“If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

(E)“You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. (F)Keep far from a false charge, and (G)do not kill the innocent and righteous, for (H)I will not acquit the wicked. (I)And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.

(J)“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Laws About the Sabbath and Festivals

10 (K)“For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.

12 (L)“Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.

13 (M)“Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.

Read full chapter

Laws of Justice and Mercy

23 “Do not spread false reports.(A) Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.(B)

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice(C) by siding with the crowd,(D) and do not show favoritism(E) to a poor person in a lawsuit.

“If you come across your enemy’s(F) ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.(G) If you see the donkey(H) of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

“Do not deny justice(I) to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge(J) and do not put an innocent(K) or honest person to death,(L) for I will not acquit the guilty.(M)

“Do not accept a bribe,(N) for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.

“Do not oppress a foreigner;(O) you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

Sabbath Laws

10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused.(P) Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “Six days do your work,(Q) but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.(R)

13 “Be careful(S) to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods;(T) do not let them be heard on your lips.(U)

Read full chapter

David Flees Jerusalem

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, (A)“The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us (B)flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left (C)ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

18 And (D)all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from (E)Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to (F)Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go (G)I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show[a] steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, (H)“As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, (I)wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed (J)the brook (K)Kidron, and all the people passed on toward (L)the wilderness.

24 And (M)Abiathar came up, and behold, (N)Zadok came also with all the Levites, (O)bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will (P)bring me back and let me see both it and his (Q)dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no (R)pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, (S)let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a (T)seer? Go back[b] to the city in peace, with (U)your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at (V)the fords of (W)the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, (X)barefoot and (Y)with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, (Z)weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please (AA)turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai (AB)the Archite came to meet him (AC)with his coat torn and (AD)dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be (AE)a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, (AF)‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, (AG)tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, (AH)their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, (AI)and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, (AJ)David's friend, came into the city, (AK)just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks may the Lord show
  2. 2 Samuel 15:27 Septuagint The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look, go back

David Flees

13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,(A) or none of us will escape from Absalom.(B) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

15 The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines(C) to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites(D) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai(E) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,(F) an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander(G) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”[a](H)

21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”(I)

22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloud(J) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,(K) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

24 Zadok(L) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark(M) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar(N) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place(O) again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.(P)

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?(Q) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.(R) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords(S) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping(T) as he went; his head(U) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel(V) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai(W) the Arkite(X) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust(Y) on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden(Z) to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’(AA) then you can help me by frustrating(AB) Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.(AC) 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz(AD) son of Zadok and Jonathan(AE) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

37 So Hushai,(AF) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom(AG) was entering the city.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you

Shemaiah's False Prophecy

24 To (A)Shemaiah of Nehelam you shall say: 25 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to (B)Zephaniah the son of (C)Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 ‘The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to have (D)charge in the house of the Lord (E)over every madman who prophesies, to put him in (F)the stocks and neck irons. 27 Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah (G)of Anathoth who is prophesying to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, “Your exile will be long; (H)build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce.”’”

29 (I)Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 (J)Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning (K)Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because (L)Shemaiah had prophesied to you (M)when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish (N)Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, (O)and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord, (P)for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord.’”

Read full chapter

Message to Shemaiah

24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(A) son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah, 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniac(B) who acts like a prophet into the stocks(C) and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28 He has sent this message(D) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.(E) Therefore build(F) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”

29 Zephaniah(G) the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah(H) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send(I) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.(J) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good(K) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion(L) against me.’”

Read full chapter

God Is King over All the Earth

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah.

47 (B)Clap your hands, all peoples!
    (C)Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, (D)is to be feared,
    (E)a great king over all the earth.
He (F)subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our (G)heritage for us,
    (H)the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

God (I)has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is (J)the King of all the earth;
    sing praises (K)with a psalm![a]

God (L)reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
(M)The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For (N)the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:7 Hebrew maskil

Psalm 47[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(A) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(B)

For the Lord Most High(C) is awesome,(D)
    the great King(E) over all the earth.
He subdued(F) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(G) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(H) whom he loved.[b]

God has ascended(I) amid shouts of joy,(J)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(K)
Sing praises(L) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(M)
    sing to him a psalm(N) of praise.

God reigns(O) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(P)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;(Q)
    he is greatly exalted.(R)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  2. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 47:9 Or shields

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not (A)taste death (B)until they see the kingdom of God after it has come (C)with power.”

The Transfiguration

(D)And after six days Jesus took with him (E)Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was (F)transfigured before them, and (G)his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, (H)“Rabbi,[b] it is good that we are here. Let us make three (I)tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For (J)he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And (K)a cloud overshadowed them, and (L)a voice came out of the cloud, (M)“This is my beloved Son;[c] (N)listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Mark 9:3 Greek launderer (gnapheus)
  2. Mark 9:5 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master
  3. Mark 9:7 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come(A) with power.”(B)

The Transfiguration(C)(D)

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John(E) with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white,(F) whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,(G) it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud:(H) “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”(I)

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

Read full chapter

The Promise Realized Through Faith

13 For (A)the promise to Abraham and his offspring (B)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 (C)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For (D)the law brings wrath, but (E)where there is no law (F)there is no transgression.

16 That is why it depends on faith, (G)in order that the promise may rest on grace and (H)be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, (I)who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, (J)“I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, (K)who gives life to the dead and calls into existence (L)the things that do not exist.

Read full chapter

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(A) that he would be heir of the world,(B) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(C) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(D) 15 because the law brings wrath.(E) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(F)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(G) and may be guaranteed(H) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(I) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a](J) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(K) to the dead and calls(L) into being things that were not.(M)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5