Wickedness in the World

When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,

The Tower of Babel

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Jacob’s Children

When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.

His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.

Then the Lord said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you.

Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,

But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today.

But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

Saul and Jonathan— in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him;