The Fifth Plague: Egyptian Livestock Die

Then the Lord said to Moses, (A)“Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says (B)the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them, behold, (C)the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. (D)But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.”’” And the Lord set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” And the next day the Lord did this thing. (E)All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But (F)the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.

The Sixth Plague: Boils

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw them in the air in the sight of Pharaoh. It shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and become (G)boils breaking out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” 10 So they took soot from the kiln and stood before Pharaoh. And Moses threw it in the air, and it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast. 11 And (H)the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils came upon the magicians and upon all the Egyptians. 12 (I)But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he did not listen to them, as (J)the Lord had spoken to Moses.

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The Plague on Livestock

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: “Let my people go, so that they may worship(A) me.” If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, the hand(B) of the Lord will bring a terrible plague(C) on your livestock in the field—on your horses, donkeys and camels and on your cattle, sheep and goats. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt,(D) so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

The Lord set a time and said, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.” And the next day the Lord did it: All the livestock(E) of the Egyptians died,(F) but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart(G) was unyielding and he would not let the people go.(H)

The Plague of Boils

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils(I) will break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

10 So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on people and animals. 11 The magicians(J) could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. 12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart(K) and he would not listen(L) to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

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Now (A)Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him (B)in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put (C)the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped (D)at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped (E)at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, (F)the Lord did not answer him, either (G)by dreams, or (H)by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, (I)“Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at (J)En-dor.”

So Saul (K)disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, (L)“Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, (M)how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, (N)“As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped (O)in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and (P)God has turned away from me and (Q)answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for (R)the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 (S)Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you (T)and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. (U)I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

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Saul and the Medium at Endor

Now Samuel was dead,(A) and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah.(B) Saul had expelled(C) the mediums and spiritists(D) from the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem,(E) while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa.(F) When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror(G) filled his heart. He inquired(H) of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams(I) or Urim(J) or prophets.(K) Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium,(L) so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,(M)” they said.

So Saul disguised(N) himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult(O) a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off(P) the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap(Q) for my life to bring about my death?”

10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me?(R) You are Saul!”

13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.”(S)

14 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe(T) is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed(U) from me. He no longer answers(V) me, either by prophets or by dreams.(W) So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn(X) the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey(Y) the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath(Z) against the Amalekites,(AA) the Lord has done this to you today. 19 The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons(AB) will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life(AC) in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22 Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.”

23 He refused(AD) and said, “I will not eat.”

But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.

24 The woman had a fattened calf(AE) at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. 25 Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 28:13 Or see spirits; or see gods

Famine, Sword, and Pestilence

14 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning (A)the drought:

(B)“Judah mourns,
    and (C)her gates languish;
her people lament on the ground,
    and (D)the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
Her nobles send their servants for water;
    they come to the cisterns;
they find no water;
    they return with their vessels empty;
they are (E)ashamed and confounded
    and (F)cover their heads.
Because of the ground that is dismayed,
    since there is (G)no rain on the land,
the farmers are ashamed;
    they cover their heads.
Even (H)the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn
    because there is no grass.
(I)The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;
    they pant for air like jackals;
their eyes fail
    because there is no vegetation.

“Though our iniquities testify against us,
    act, O Lord, (J)for your name's sake;
(K)for our backslidings are many;
    (L)we have sinned against you.
(M)O you hope of Israel,
    its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?
Why should you be like a man confused,
    (N)like a mighty warrior who cannot save?
Yet (O)you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
    and (P)we are called by your name;
    (Q)do not leave us.”

10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
“They have loved to wander thus;
    they have not restrained their feet;
(R)therefore the Lord does not accept them;
    (S)now he will remember their iniquity
    and punish their sins.”

11 The Lord said to me: (T)“Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, (U)and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them (V)by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”

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Drought, Famine, Sword

14 This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:(A)

“Judah mourns,(B)
    her cities languish;
they wail for the land,
    and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.
The nobles send their servants for water;
    they go to the cisterns
    but find no water.(C)
They return with their jars unfilled;
    dismayed and despairing,
    they cover their heads.(D)
The ground is cracked
    because there is no rain in the land;(E)
the farmers are dismayed
    and cover their heads.
Even the doe in the field
    deserts her newborn fawn
    because there is no grass.(F)
Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights(G)
    and pant like jackals;
their eyes fail
    for lack of food.”(H)

Although our sins testify(I) against us,
    do something, Lord, for the sake of your name.(J)
For we have often rebelled;(K)
    we have sinned(L) against you.
You who are the hope(M) of Israel,
    its Savior(N) in times of distress,(O)
why are you like a stranger in the land,
    like a traveler who stays only a night?
Why are you like a man taken by surprise,
    like a warrior powerless to save?(P)
You are among(Q) us, Lord,
    and we bear your name;(R)
    do not forsake(S) us!

10 This is what the Lord says about this people:

“They greatly love to wander;
    they do not restrain their feet.(T)
So the Lord does not accept(U) them;
    he will now remember(V) their wickedness
    and punish them for their sins.”(W)

11 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray(X) for the well-being of this people. 12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry;(Y) though they offer burnt offerings(Z) and grain offerings,(AA) I will not accept(AB) them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword,(AC) famine(AD) and plague.”(AE)

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The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

28 To you, O Lord, I call;
    (A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you (B)be silent to me,
    I become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
(D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I (E)lift up my hands
    (F)toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]

Do not (G)drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
(I)Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    (J)render them their due reward.
Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has (L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and (M)my shield;
    in him my heart (N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my (O)song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people;[b]
    he is (P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless (Q)your heritage!
    (R)Be their shepherd and (S)carry them forever.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
  2. Psalm 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

Psalm 28

Of David.

To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
Hear my cry for mercy(D)
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
    toward your Most Holy Place.(F)

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.(G)
Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)

Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

Praise be to the Lord,(K)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.(L)
The Lord is my strength(M) and my shield;
    my heart trusts(N) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(O)
    and with my song I praise him.(P)

The Lord is the strength(Q) of his people,
    a fortress of salvation(R) for his anointed one.(S)
Save your people(T) and bless your inheritance;(U)
    be their shepherd(V) and carry them(W) forever.

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Jesus Calls Levi

13 He went out again beside the sea, and (A)all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 (B)And as he passed by, he saw (C)Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many (D)tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And (E)the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, (F)“Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. (G)I came not to call the righteous, (H)but sinners.”

A Question About Fasting

18 Now (I)John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, (J)“Why do John's disciples and (K)the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, (L)“Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 (M)The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and (N)then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old (O)wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”[c]

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

23 (P)One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples (Q)began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, (R)why are they doing (S)what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, (T)“Have you never read (U)what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of[d] (V)Abiathar the high priest, and ate (W)the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, (X)“The Sabbath was made for man, (Y)not man for the Sabbath. 28 So (Z)the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 2:16 Some manuscripts and
  2. Mark 2:16 Some manuscripts add and drink
  3. Mark 2:22 Some manuscripts omit But new wine is for fresh wineskins
  4. Mark 2:26 Or in the passage about

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(A)

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him,(B) and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(C) Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(D) saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(E)

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(F)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(G)

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting.(H) Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them,(I) and on that day they will fast.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(J)(K)

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.(L) 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(M)

25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest,(N) he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.(O) And he also gave some to his companions.”(P)

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man,(Q) not man for the Sabbath.(R) 28 So the Son of Man(S) is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

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12 (A)But these, like irrational animals, (B)creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as (C)the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure (D)to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,[a] while (E)they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery,[b] (F)insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts (G)trained in greed. (H)Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, (I)they have gone astray. They have followed (J)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved (K)gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; (L)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

17 (M)These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. (N)For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, (O)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely (P)escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them (Q)freedom, (R)but they themselves are slaves[c] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, (S)after they have escaped the defilements of the world (T)through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, (U)the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For (V)it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from (W)the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The (X)dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts love feasts
  2. 2 Peter 2:14 Or eyes full of an adulteress
  3. 2 Peter 2:19 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.(A)

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.(B) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.[a](C) 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce(D) the unstable;(E) they are experts in greed(F)—an accursed brood!(G) 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam(H) son of Bezer,[b] who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.(I)

17 These people are springs without water(J) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.(K) 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words(L) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping(M) from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”(N) 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing(O) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ(P) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.(Q) 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.(R) 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[c](S) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts in their love feasts
  2. 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor
  3. 2 Peter 2:22 Prov. 26:11