“If anyone sins in that he hears a public (A)adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall (B)bear his iniquity; or (C)if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; or if he touches (D)human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; or if anyone utters with his lips a (E)rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people (F)swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; when he realizes his guilt in any of these and (G)confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation[a] for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

“But (H)if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two (I)turtledoves or two pigeons,[b] one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall (J)wring its head from its neck (K)but shall not sever it completely, and he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while (L)the rest of the blood shall be drained out (M)at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering. 10 Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. (N)And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.

11 “But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a (O)tenth of an ephah[c] of fine flour for a sin offering. He (P)shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. 12 And he shall bring it to (Q)the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and (R)burn this on the altar, on the Lord's food offerings; it is a sin offering. 13 Thus (S)the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven. And the remainder[d] shall be for the priest, as in the grain offering.”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 5:6 Hebrew his guilt penalty; so throughout Leviticus
  2. Leviticus 5:7 Septuagint two young pigeons; also verse 11
  3. Leviticus 5:11 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters
  4. Leviticus 5:13 Septuagint; Hebrew it

“‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify(A) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.(B)

“‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)(C) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,(D) but then they come to realize their guilt; or if they touch human uncleanness(E) (anything that would make them unclean)(F) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath(G) to do anything, whether good or evil(H) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess(I) in what way they have sinned. As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat(J) from the flock as a sin offering[a];(K) and the priest shall make atonement(L) for them for their sin.

“‘Anyone who cannot afford(M) a lamb(N) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons(O) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,(P) not dividing it completely,(Q) and is to splash(R) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;(S) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.(T) It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way(U) and make atonement(V) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.(W)

11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford(X) two doves or two young pigeons,(Y) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah[b](Z) of the finest flour(AA) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial[c] portion(AB) and burn it on the altar(AC) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement(AD) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,(AE) as in the case of the grain offering.(AF)’”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 5:6 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  2. Leviticus 5:11 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
  3. Leviticus 5:12 Or representative

Prophecy Against Jeroboam

14 At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to (A)Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, (B)who said of me that I should be king over this people. (C)Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”

Jeroboam's wife did so. She arose and went to (D)Shiloh and came to the house of (E)Ahijah. Now (F)Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. And the Lord said to (G)Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.”

When she came, she pretended to be another woman. But when (H)Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: (I)“Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel and (J)tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been (K)like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and (L)made for yourself other gods and (M)metal images, provoking me to anger, and (N)have cast me behind your back, 10 therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and (O)will cut off from Jeroboam every male, (P)both bond and free in Israel, and (Q)will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone. 11 (R)Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat, for the Lord has spoken it.”’ 12 Arise therefore, go to your house. (S)When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him (T)there is found something pleasing to the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. 14 (U)Moreover, the Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam today. And henceforth, 15 the Lord will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and (V)root up Israel out of (W)this good land that he gave to their fathers and scatter them (X)beyond the Euphrates,[a] because they have made their (Y)Asherim, provoking the Lord to anger. 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and made Israel to sin.”

17 Then Jeroboam's wife arose and departed and came to (Z)Tirzah. And (AA)as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18 And all Israel buried him and mourned for him, (AB)according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 14:15 Hebrew the River

Ahijah’s Prophecy Against Jeroboam

14 At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill, and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Go, disguise yourself, so you won’t be recognized as the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah(A) the prophet is there—the one who told me I would be king over this people. Take ten loaves of bread(B) with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.” So Jeroboam’s wife did what he said and went to Ahijah’s house in Shiloh.

Now Ahijah could not see; his sight was gone because of his age. But the Lord had told Ahijah, “Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else.”

So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense?(C) I have been sent to you with bad news. Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:(D) ‘I raised you up from among the people and appointed you ruler(E) over my people Israel. I tore(F) the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right(G) in my eyes. You have done more evil(H) than all who lived before you.(I) You have made for yourself other gods, idols(J) made of metal; you have aroused(K) my anger and turned your back on me.(L)

10 “‘Because of this, I am going to bring disaster(M) on the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israel—slave or free.[a](N) I will burn up the house of Jeroboam as one burns dung, until it is all gone.(O) 11 Dogs(P) will eat those belonging to Jeroboam who die in the city, and the birds(Q) will feed on those who die in the country. The Lord has spoken!’

12 “As for you, go back home. When you set foot in your city, the boy will die. 13 All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one belonging to Jeroboam who will be buried, because he is the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord, the God of Israel, has found anything good.(R)

14 “The Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen.[b] 15 And the Lord will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot(S) Israel from this good land that he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused(T) the Lord’s anger by making Asherah(U) poles.[c] 16 And he will give Israel up because of the sins(V) Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

17 Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and left and went to Tirzah.(W) As soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died. 18 They buried him, and all Israel mourned for him, as the Lord had said through his servant the prophet Ahijah.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 14:10 Or Israel—every ruler or leader
  2. 1 Kings 14:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
  3. 1 Kings 14:15 That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 1 Kings

Jehoiachin Released from Prison

31 (A)And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed[a] (B)Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. 32 And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of (C)the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table, 34 and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.

How Lonely Sits the City

(D)How lonely sits the city
    that was full of people!
How like (E)a widow has she become,
    she who was great among the nations!
She who was (F)a princess among the provinces
    has become (G)a slave.

(H)She weeps bitterly in the night,
    with tears on her cheeks;
(I)among all her lovers
    she has (J)none to comfort her;
(K)all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
    they have become her enemies.

(L)Judah has gone into exile because of affliction[b]
    and hard servitude;
(M)she dwells now among the nations,
    (N)but finds no resting place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her
    in the midst of her distress.[c]

The roads to Zion mourn,
    for none come to (O)the festival;
(P)all her gates are desolate;
    her priests (Q)groan;
her virgins have been afflicted,[d]
    and she herself suffers bitterly.

(R)Her foes have become the head;
    her (S)enemies prosper,
because (T)the Lord has afflicted her
    (U)for the multitude of her transgressions;
(V)her children have gone away,
    captives before the foe.

From the daughter of Zion
    all her majesty has departed.
Her princes have become like deer
    (W)that find no pasture;
they fled without strength
    before the pursuer.

Jerusalem remembers
    in the days of her affliction and wandering
(X)all the precious things
    that were hers from (Y)days of old.
When her people fell into the hand of the foe,
    and there was none to help her,
her foes gloated over her;
    they (Z)mocked at her downfall.

(AA)Jerusalem sinned grievously;
    therefore she became filthy;
all who honored her despise her,
    (AB)for they have seen her nakedness;
she herself (AC)groans
    and turns her face away.

Her uncleanness was (AD)in her skirts;
    (AE)she took no thought of her future;[e]
therefore her fall is terrible;
    (AF)she has no comforter.
“O Lord, behold my affliction,
    for the enemy has (AG)triumphed!”

10 The enemy has stretched out his hands
    over all her (AH)precious things;
for she has seen (AI)the nations
    enter her sanctuary,
those whom you (AJ)forbade
    to enter your congregation.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 52:31 Hebrew reign, lifted up the head of
  2. Lamentations 1:3 Or under affliction
  3. Lamentations 1:3 Or in the narrow passes
  4. Lamentations 1:4 Septuagint, Old Latin dragged away
  5. Lamentations 1:9 Or end

Jehoiachin Released(A)

31 In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin(B) king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison. 32 He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.(C) 34 Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance(D) as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

[a]How deserted(E) lies the city,
    once so full of people!(F)
How like a widow(G) is she,
    who once was great(H) among the nations!
She who was queen among the provinces
    has now become a slave.(I)

Bitterly she weeps(J) at night,
    tears are on her cheeks.
Among all her lovers(K)
    there is no one to comfort her.
All her friends have betrayed(L) her;
    they have become her enemies.(M)

After affliction and harsh labor,
    Judah has gone into exile.(N)
She dwells among the nations;
    she finds no resting place.(O)
All who pursue her have overtaken her(P)
    in the midst of her distress.

The roads to Zion mourn,(Q)
    for no one comes to her appointed festivals.
All her gateways are desolate,(R)
    her priests groan,
her young women grieve,
    and she is in bitter anguish.(S)

Her foes have become her masters;
    her enemies are at ease.
The Lord has brought her grief(T)
    because of her many sins.(U)
Her children have gone into exile,(V)
    captive before the foe.(W)

All the splendor has departed
    from Daughter Zion.(X)
Her princes are like deer
    that find no pasture;
in weakness they have fled(Y)
    before the pursuer.

In the days of her affliction and wandering
    Jerusalem remembers all the treasures
    that were hers in days of old.
When her people fell into enemy hands,
    there was no one to help her.(Z)
Her enemies looked at her
    and laughed(AA) at her destruction.

Jerusalem has sinned(AB) greatly
    and so has become unclean.(AC)
All who honored her despise her,
    for they have all seen her naked;(AD)
she herself groans(AE)
    and turns away.

Her filthiness clung to her skirts;
    she did not consider her future.(AF)
Her fall(AG) was astounding;
    there was none to comfort(AH) her.
“Look, Lord, on my affliction,(AI)
    for the enemy has triumphed.”

10 The enemy laid hands
    on all her treasures;(AJ)
she saw pagan nations
    enter her sanctuary(AK)
those you had forbidden(AL)
    to enter your assembly.

Footnotes

  1. Lamentations 1:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

43 (A)when he performed his (B)signs in Egypt
    and his (C)marvels in (D)the fields of Zoan.
44 He (E)turned their rivers to blood,
    so that they could not drink of their streams.
45 He sent among them swarms of (F)flies, which devoured them,
    and (G)frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave their crops to (H)the destroying locust
    and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with (I)hail
    and their sycamores with frost.
48 He gave over their (J)cattle to the hail
    and their flocks to thunderbolts.
49 He let loose on them his burning anger,
    wrath, indignation, and distress,
    a company of (K)destroying angels.
50 He made a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death,
    but gave their lives over to the plague.
51 He struck down every (L)firstborn in Egypt,
    the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of (M)Ham.
52 Then he led out his people (N)like sheep
    and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 (O)He led them in safety, so that they (P)were not afraid,
    but (Q)the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to his (R)holy land,
    (S)to the mountain which his right hand had (T)won.

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43 the day he displayed his signs(A) in Egypt,
    his wonders(B) in the region of Zoan.
44 He turned their river into blood;(C)
    they could not drink from their streams.
45 He sent swarms of flies(D) that devoured them,
    and frogs(E) that devastated them.
46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper,(F)
    their produce to the locust.(G)
47 He destroyed their vines with hail(H)
    and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
48 He gave over their cattle to the hail,
    their livestock(I) to bolts of lightning.
49 He unleashed against them his hot anger,(J)
    his wrath, indignation and hostility—
    a band of destroying angels.(K)
50 He prepared a path for his anger;
    he did not spare them from death
    but gave them over to the plague.
51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt,(L)
    the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.(M)
52 But he brought his people out like a flock;(N)
    he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;
    but the sea engulfed(O) their enemies.(P)
54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,
    to the hill country his right hand(Q) had taken.

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The Birth of Jesus Christ

In those days (A)a decree went out from (B)Caesar Augustus that all the world should be (C)registered. This was the first (D)registration when[a] Quirinius (E)was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up (F)from Galilee, from the town of (G)Nazareth, to Judea, to (H)the city of David, which is called (I)Bethlehem, (J)because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[b] who was with child. And (K)while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and (L)wrapped him in swaddling cloths and (M)laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in (N)the inn.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:2 Or This was the registration before
  2. Luke 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married
  3. Luke 2:7 Or guest room

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(B) (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(C) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before

The Unmarried and the Widowed

25 Now concerning[a] the betrothed,[b] (A)I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as (B)one who by the Lord's mercy is (C)trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present[c] distress (D)it is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman[d] marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: (E)the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy (F)as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For (G)the present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be (H)free from anxieties. (I)The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:25 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Greek virgins
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Greek virgin; also verse 34

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(A) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(B) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(C) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(D) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(E) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(F) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(G)

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(H)—how he can please the Lord.

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