⁵ Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’^[a]”^(A)

² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.^{(A) 3} What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

²⁸ “Do not blaspheme God^[a](A) or curse^(B) the ruler of your people.^(C)

¹² “None of us, my lord the king^(A),” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”^(A)

²¹ Distressed and hungry,^(A) they will roam through the land;^(B) when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse^(C) their king and their God.

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(A) that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”