33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, (A)stopped the mouths of lions,

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33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(A) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(B)

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My Rock and My Fortress

Of David.

144 Blessed be the Lord, my (A)rock,
    (B)who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
he is my (C)steadfast love and my (D)fortress,
    my (E)stronghold and my deliverer,
my (F)shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who (G)subdues peoples[a] under me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 144:2 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Dead Sea Scroll, Jerome, Syriac, Aquila; most Hebrew manuscripts subdues my people

Psalm 144

Of David.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,(A)
    who trains my hands for war,
    my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,(B)
    my stronghold(C) and my deliverer,
my shield,(D) in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples[a](E) under me.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 144:2 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls, Aquila, Jerome and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text subdues my people

Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. (A)Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

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Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him(A) so that he tore the lion apart(B) with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.

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By faith (A)Abel offered to God (B)a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And (C)through his faith, though he died, he (D)still speaks. By faith (E)Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God (F)must believe that he exists and (G)that he rewards those who seek him. By faith (H)Noah, being warned by God concerning (I)events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of (J)the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith (K)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place (L)that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

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By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(A) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(B) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(C)

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](D) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(E) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(F) in holy fear built an ark(G) to save his family.(H) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(I)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(J) obeyed and went,(K) even though he did not know where he was going.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24

36 For (A)you have need of endurance, so that (B)when you have done the will of God you may (C)receive what is promised.

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36 You need to persevere(A) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(B)

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12 so that you may not be sluggish, but (A)imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, (B)he swore by himself, 14 saying, (C)“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[a] (D)having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:15 Greek he

12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(A) those who through faith and patience(B) inherit what has been promised.(C)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(D) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a](E) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17

16 Now (A)the promises were made (B)to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, (C)“And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

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16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.(A) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a](B) meaning one person, who is Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7

20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of (A)the living God, (B)has your God, whom you serve continually, (C)been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, (D)“O king, live forever! 22 My God (E)sent his angel (F)and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless (G)before him; (H)and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and (I)no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

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20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”(A)

21 Daniel answered, “May the king live forever!(B) 22 My God sent his angel,(C) and he shut the mouths of the lions.(D) They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight.(E) Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound(F) was found on him, because he had trusted(G) in his God.

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David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and (A)he reigned forty years. (B)At Hebron he reigned over Judah (C)seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.[a]

(D)And the king and his men went to Jerusalem (E)against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, (F)that is, the city of David. And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” And David lived in the stronghold and called it (G)the city of David. And David built the city all around from the (H)Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 (I)And (J)Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 And David took more (K)concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 (L)And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down (M)to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in (N)the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David (O)inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” (P)Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.[b] 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again (Q)and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 (R)And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And (S)when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, (T)for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba (U)to Gezer.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:5 Dead Sea Scroll lacks verses 4–5
  2. 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal-perazim means Lord of breaking through

David was thirty years old(A) when he became king, and he reigned(B) forty(C) years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months,(D) and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem(E)(F)

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem(G) to attack the Jebusites,(H) who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion(I)—which is the City of David.(J)

On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft(K) to reach those ‘lame and blind’(L) who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b](M) inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful,(N) because the Lord God Almighty(O) was with him.(P)

11 Now Hiram(Q) king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom(R) for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives(S) in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there:(T) Shammua, Shobab, Nathan,(U) Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines(V)

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.(W) 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;(X) 19 so David inquired(Y) of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[c](Z) 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.(AA)

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound(AB) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front(AC) of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines(AD) all the way from Gibeon[d](AE) to Gezer.(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 5:8 Or are hated by David
  2. 2 Samuel 5:9 Or the Millo
  3. 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim means the lord who breaks out.
  4. 2 Samuel 5:25 Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 14:16); Hebrew Geba

(A)Be sober-minded; (B)be watchful. Your (C)adversary the devil (D)prowls around (E)like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

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Be alert and of sober mind.(A) Your enemy the devil prowls around(B) like a roaring lion(C) looking for someone to devour.

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17 By faith (A)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,

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17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(A) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,

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17 But (A)the Lord stood by me and (B)strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and (C)all the Gentiles might hear it. So (D)I was rescued (E)from the lion's mouth.

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17 But the Lord stood at my side(A) and gave me strength,(B) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(C) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(D)

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10 who gives victory to kings,
    who (A)rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.

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10 to the One who gives victory to kings,(A)
    who delivers his servant David.(B)

From the deadly sword(C)

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