⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars^(A)—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring^[a] be.”^(B)

⁸ “And remember, you have with you Shimei^(A) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.^(B) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore^(C) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’

¹² Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” they will answer, “I don’t know how to read.”

⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?^(A)

²⁹ so that the Levites (who have no allotment^(A) or inheritance^(B) of their own) and the foreigners,^(C) the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied,^(D) and so that the Lord your God may bless^(E) you in all the work of your hands.

²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God^(A) by humiliating those who have nothing?^(B) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?^(C) Certainly not in this matter!