Abimelech’s Conspiracy

Now (A)Abimelech the son of [a]Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the entire family of the household of his mother’s father, saying, “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the [b]leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the [c]leaders of Shechem; and [d]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our relative.” And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him. Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, [e]on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. All the [f]leaders of Shechem and all [g]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [h]oak of the memorial stone which was in Shechem.

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of (H)Mount Gerizim, and raised his voice and called out. And he said to them, “Listen to me, you [i]leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. Once the trees went to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my fatness with [j]which God and mankind are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I give up my sweetness and my good [k]fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 13 But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I give up my new wine, which cheers God and mankind, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You, come, reign over us!’ 15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If you [l]really are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 “Now then, if you have acted with [m]honesty and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with (I)Jerubbaal and his house, and [n]have dealt with him [o]as he deserved— 17 for my father fought for you, and [p]risked his life and saved you from the hand of Midian; 18 but in fact you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed (J)his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, (K)the son of his female slave, king over the [q]leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— 19 so if you have acted with [r]honesty and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, be joyful about Abimelech, and may he also be joyful about you. 20 But if not, may fire come out of Abimelech and consume the [s]leaders of Shechem and [t]Beth-millo; and may fire come out of the [u]leaders of Shechem and from [v]Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.” 21 Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer; and he stayed there because of his brother Abimelech.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22 Now Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. 23 (L)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the [w]leaders of Shechem; and the [x]leaders of Shechem (M)dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24 (N)so that the violence [y]done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come, and the responsibility for (O)their blood would be placed on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the [z]leaders of Shechem, who [aa]encouraged him to kill his brothers. 25 The [ab]leaders of Shechem set up men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed everyone who would pass by them on the road; and it was reported to Abimelech.

26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the [ac]leaders of Shechem trusted him. 27 So they went out to the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trampled them, and held a festival; and they went into the house of (P)their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. 28 Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his governor? Serve the men of (Q)Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him? 29 [ad](R)If only this people were under my authority! Then I would do away with Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Enlarge your army and come out!”

30 When Zebul the leader of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned. 31 So using deception, he successfully sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are [ae]stirring up the city against you. 32 So now, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. 33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and attack the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall (S)do to them [af]whatever you can.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up at night, and lay in wait against Shechem, in four [ag]units. 35 Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush. 36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “[ah]Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were people.” 37 And Gaal spoke yet again and said, “Look, people are coming down from (T)the [ai]highest part of the land, and one [aj]unit is coming by way of [ak]the diviners’ [al]oak.” 38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where then is your [am]boasting with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you rejected? Go out now and fight them!” 39 So Gaal went out [an]in the sight of the [ao]leaders of Shechem and fought Abimelech. 40 But Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate. 41 Then Abimelech stayed in Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not stay in Shechem.

42 Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech. 43 So he took [ap]his people and divided them into three [aq]units, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and [ar]saw the people coming out from the city, he [as]attacked them and killed them. 44 Then Abimelech and the [at]company who was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the city gate; the other two [au]companies then attacked all who were in the field and killed them. 45 Abimelech fought against the city that whole day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he (U)tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the [av]leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it, they entered the inner chamber of the [aw]temple of (V)El-berith. 47 And it was reported to Abimelech that all the [ax]leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 So Abimelech went up to Mount (W)Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took [ay]an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and put it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you saw me do, hurry and do [az]likewise.” 49 So all the people also cut down, each one, his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on top of the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it. 51 But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the [ba]leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower. 52 So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it down with fire. 53 But (X)a woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull. 54 Then (Y)he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So [bb]the young man pierced him through, and he died. 55 Now when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each left for his [bc]home. 56 So (Z)God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. 57 God also returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came [bd]upon them.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:1 I.e., Gideon
  2. Judges 9:2 Or landowners
  3. Judges 9:3 Or landowners
  4. Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
  5. Judges 9:5 Perhaps a mass human sacrifice
  6. Judges 9:6 Or landowners
  7. Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
  8. Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
  9. Judges 9:7 Or landowners
  10. Judges 9:9 Lit which by me
  11. Judges 9:11 Lit produce
  12. Judges 9:15 Or sincerely
  13. Judges 9:16 Or sincerity
  14. Judges 9:16 Lit if you have
  15. Judges 9:16 Lit according to the accomplishment of his hands
  16. Judges 9:17 Lit threw his soul away
  17. Judges 9:18 Or landowners
  18. Judges 9:19 Or sincerity
  19. Judges 9:20 Or landowners
  20. Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
  21. Judges 9:20 Or landowners
  22. Judges 9:20 Or the house of Millo
  23. Judges 9:23 Or landowners
  24. Judges 9:23 Or landowners
  25. Judges 9:24 Lit of the seventy
  26. Judges 9:24 Or landowners
  27. Judges 9:24 Lit strengthened his hands
  28. Judges 9:25 Or landowners
  29. Judges 9:26 Or landowners
  30. Judges 9:29 Lit And who will hand this people over to me
  31. Judges 9:31 Or besieging
  32. Judges 9:33 Lit as your hand finds
  33. Judges 9:34 Lit heads
  34. Judges 9:36 Lit Behold
  35. Judges 9:37 Lit center
  36. Judges 9:37 Lit head
  37. Judges 9:37 Heb Elon-meonenim
  38. Judges 9:37 Or terebinth
  39. Judges 9:38 Lit mouth
  40. Judges 9:39 Or at the head of
  41. Judges 9:39 Or landowners
  42. Judges 9:43 Lit the
  43. Judges 9:43 Lit heads
  44. Judges 9:43 Lit behold, the
  45. Judges 9:43 Lit rose against
  46. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  47. Judges 9:44 Lit heads
  48. Judges 9:46 Or landowners
  49. Judges 9:46 Lit house
  50. Judges 9:47 Or landowners
  51. Judges 9:48 Lit the axes
  52. Judges 9:48 Lit like me
  53. Judges 9:51 Or landowners
  54. Judges 9:54 Lit his
  55. Judges 9:55 Lit place
  56. Judges 9:57 Lit to

Oppression by Philistines and Ammonites

10 Now after Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, (A)rose up to save Israel; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. He judged Israel for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.

After him, Jair the Gileadite rose up and judged Israel for twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities [a]in the land of Gilead (B)that are called [b]Havvoth-jair to this day. And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and (C)they served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, (D)the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; so (E)they abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him. And the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He (F)sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. And they [c]afflicted and oppressed the sons of Israel [d]that year; for eighteen years they oppressed all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan, [e]in Gilead in the land of the Amorites. And the sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was in great difficulty.

10 Then the (G)sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You, for indeed, we have abandoned our God and served the Baals.” 11 And the Lord said to the sons of Israel, “Did I not save you (H)from the Egyptians, (I)the Amorites, (J)the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines? 12 And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites (K)oppressed you, you cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands. 13 Yet (L)you abandoned Me and served other gods; therefore I will no longer save you. 14 (M)Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” 15 Then the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, (N)do to us whatever [f]seems good to You; only please save us this day.” 16 (O)So they removed the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord; and [g](P)He could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

17 Then the sons of Ammon were summoned, and they camped in Gilead. And the sons of Israel gathered together and camped in (Q)Mizpah. 18 And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Footnotes

  1. Judges 10:4 Lit which are in
  2. Judges 10:4 I.e., the towns of Jair
  3. Judges 10:8 Lit destroyed
  4. Judges 10:8 Lit in that
  5. Judges 10:8 Lit which is in
  6. Judges 10:15 Lit the good in Your eyes
  7. Judges 10:16 Lit His soul became impatient with the misery

Jephthah, the Ninth Judge

11 Now (A)Jephthah the Gileadite was a [a]valiant warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. And Gilead had fathered Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of (B)Tob; and worthless men gathered [b]around Jephthah, and they went [c]wherever he did.

Now it came about, after a while, that (C)the sons of Ammon fought against Israel. When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight against the sons of Ammon.” But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “(D)Did you not hate me and drive me from my father’s house? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight the sons of Ammon, and (E)become our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the Lord gives them up [d]to me, will I become your head?” 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “(F)The Lord is [e]witness between us; be assured we will do [f]as you have said.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at (G)Mizpah.

12 So Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What conflict do you and I have, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” 13 And the king of the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, “It is because Israel (H)took my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the (I)Jabbok and the Jordan; so return them peaceably now.” 14 But Jephthah sent messengers once again to the king of the sons of Ammon, 15 and they said to him, “This is what Jephthah says: ‘Israel did not take the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon. 16 For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel (J)went through the wilderness to the [g]Red Sea, and (K)came to Kadesh, 17 then Israel (L)sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let us pass through your land”; but the king of Edom would not listen. (M)And they also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh. 18 Then they went through the wilderness and (N)around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east side of the land of Moab, and they camped beyond the Arnon; but they (O)did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent (P)messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please let us pass through your land to our place.” 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people and camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 21 And the Lord, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and all his people over to Israel, and they [h](Q)defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 (R)So they possessed all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan. 23 And now the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from His people Israel; so should you possess it? 24 Do you not possess what (S)Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess it. 25 Now then, are you any better than (T)Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel, or did he ever fight against them? 26 (U)While Israel was living in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? 27 So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me. (V)May the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.’” 28 But the king of the sons of Ammon [i]disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.

Jephthah’s Tragic Vow

29 Now (W)the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; then he passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he went on to the sons of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over to me the sons of Ammon, 31 then whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me when I return [j]safely from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lords, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them; and the Lord handed them over to him. 33 He [k]inflicted a very great defeat on them from Aroer [l]to the entrance of (X)Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.

34 But Jephthah came to his house at (Y)Mizpah, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him (Z)with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter. 35 So when he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Oh, my daughter! You have brought me disaster, and you are among those who trouble me; for I have [m]given my word to the Lord, and (AA)I cannot take it back.” 36 So she said to him, “My father, you have [n]given your word to the Lord; (AB)do to me just as [o]you have said, since the Lord has brought you vengeance on your enemies, the sons of Ammon.” 37 And she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me; allow me two months, so that I may [p]go to the mountains and weep because of (AC)my virginity, I and my friends.” 38 Then he said, “Go.” So he let her go for two months; and she left with her friends, and wept on the mountains because of her virginity. 39 And at the end of two months she returned to her father, who did to her [q]what he had vowed; and she [r]had no relations with a man. And it became a custom in Israel, 40 that the [s]daughters of Israel went annually to [t]commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days in the year.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:1 Or mighty man of valor
  2. Judges 11:3 Lit to
  3. Judges 11:3 Lit out with him
  4. Judges 11:9 Lit before
  5. Judges 11:10 Lit listener
  6. Judges 11:10 Lit according to your word
  7. Judges 11:16 Lit Sea of Reeds
  8. Judges 11:21 Lit struck
  9. Judges 11:28 Lit did not listen to the words
  10. Judges 11:31 Or with success; lit in well-being
  11. Judges 11:33 Lit struck a...blow
  12. Judges 11:33 Lit even until you are coming to
  13. Judges 11:35 Lit opened my mouth wide
  14. Judges 11:36 Lit opened your mouth wide
  15. Judges 11:36 Lit has gone out of your mouth
  16. Judges 11:37 Lit go and go down on
  17. Judges 11:39 Lit his vow which he had vowed
  18. Judges 11:39 Lit knew no man
  19. Judges 11:40 I.e., women
  20. Judges 11:40 Lit recount; some ancient versions, lament

Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the entire assembly of them set out and (A)brought Him before Pilate. (B)And they began to bring charges against Him, saying, “We found this man (C)misleading our nation and (D)forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is [a]Christ, a King.” Now Pilate asked Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And He answered him and said, (E)It is as you say.” But Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “(F)I find no grounds for charges in the case of this man.” But they kept on insisting, saying, “He is stirring up the people, teaching all over Judea, (G)starting from Galilee, as far as this place!”

Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to (H)Herod, [b]since he also was in Jerusalem [c]at this time.

Jesus before Herod

Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus; for (I)he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some [d]sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him [e]at some length; but (J)He offered him no answer at all. 10 Now the chief priests and the scribes stood there, vehemently charging Him. 11 And Herod, together with his soldiers, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, (K)dressing Him in a brightly shining robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. 12 And so (L)Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for previously, they had been enemies toward each other.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13 Now Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the [f](M)rulers, and the people, 14 and he said to them, “You brought this man to me on the ground that (N)he is inciting the people to revolt; and behold, after examining Him before you, I (O)have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you are bringing against Him. 15 No, nor has (P)Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. 16 Therefore I will [g](Q)punish Him and release Him.” 17 [[h]Now he was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner.]

18 But they cried out all together, saying, “(R)Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for a revolt that took place in the city, and for murder.) 20 But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, 21 but they kept on crying out, saying, “Crucify, crucify Him!” 22 And he said to them a third time, “Why, what has this man done wrong? I have found [i]in His case no grounds for a sentence of death; therefore I will [j](S)punish Him and release Him.” 23 But they were insistent, with loud voices, demanding that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail. 24 And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out. 25 And he released the man for whom they were asking, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and murder; but he handed Jesus over to their will.

Simon Carries the Cross

26 (T)And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of (U)Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27 Now following Him was a large crowd of the people, and of women who were [k](V)mourning and grieving for Him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, days are coming when they will say, ‘(W)Blessed are those who cannot bear, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have not nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to (X)say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things [l]when the tree is green, what will happen [m]when it is dry?”

32 (Y)Now two others, who were criminals, were also being led away to be put to death with Him.

The Crucifixion

33 (Z)And when they came to the place called [n]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 [[o]But Jesus was saying, (AA)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] (AB)And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves. 35 And the people stood by, watching. And even the (AC)rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; (AD)let Him save Himself if this is the [p]Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also ridiculed Him, coming up to Him, (AE)offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “(AF)If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “(AG)THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 (AH)One of the criminals who were hanged there was [q]hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [r]Christ? (AI)Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving [s]what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in (AJ)Paradise.”

44 (AK)It was now about [t](AL)the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until [u]the ninth hour, 45 [v]because the sun stopped shining; and (AM)the veil of the temple was torn [w]in two. 46 And Jesus, (AN)crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (AO)into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He [x]died. 47 (AP)Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began (AQ)praising God, saying, “This man was in fact [y]innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, [z](AR)beating their chests. 49 (AS)And all His acquaintances and (AT)the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 (AU)And a man named Joseph, who was a (AV)member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was (AW)waiting for the kingdom of God— 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was a [aa](AX)preparation day, and a Sabbath was about to [ab]begin. 55 Now (AY)the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 And then they returned and (AZ)prepared spices and perfumes.

And (BA)on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 23:2 I.e., the Messiah
  2. Luke 23:7 Lit himself also being in
  3. Luke 23:7 Lit in these days
  4. Luke 23:8 I.e., confirming miracle
  5. Luke 23:9 Lit in considerable words
  6. Luke 23:13 I.e., other Jewish leaders
  7. Luke 23:16 I.e., by scourging
  8. Luke 23:17 Most early mss do not contain this v
  9. Luke 23:22 Lit in Him no
  10. Luke 23:22 I.e., by scourging
  11. Luke 23:27 Lit beating their breasts
  12. Luke 23:31 Lit in the green tree
  13. Luke 23:31 Lit in the dry
  14. Luke 23:33 Gr Kranion, Lat Calvaria (Calvary)
  15. Luke 23:34 Most early mss do not contain But Jesus was saying...doing
  16. Luke 23:35 I.e., Messiah
  17. Luke 23:39 Or blaspheming
  18. Luke 23:39 I.e., Messiah
  19. Luke 23:41 Lit things worthy of what we have done
  20. Luke 23:44 I.e., noon
  21. Luke 23:44 I.e., 3 p.m.
  22. Luke 23:45 Lit the sun failing
  23. Luke 23:45 Lit in the middle
  24. Luke 23:46 Lit expired
  25. Luke 23:47 Lit righteous
  26. Luke 23:48 I.e., as a traditional sign of mourning or contrition
  27. Luke 23:54 I.e., preparation for the Sabbath
  28. Luke 23:54 Lit dawn

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.

A Prayer of David.

17 Hear a (A)just cause, Lord, (B)give Your attention to my cry;
(C)Listen to my prayer, which is not from (D)deceitful lips.
Let (E)my [a]judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with (F)integrity.
You have (G)put my heart to the test;
You have visited me by night;
You have (H)sifted me and (I)You find [b]nothing;
My (J)intent is that my mouth will not offend.
As for the works of mankind, (K)by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the (L)ways of the violent.
My (M)steps have held to Your [c]paths.
My (N)feet have not slipped.

I have (O)called upon You, for You will answer me, God;
(P)Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
(Q)Show Your wonderful faithfulness,
(R)Savior of those who take refuge [d]at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Keep me as [e]the (S)apple of the eye;
Hide me (T)in the shadow of Your wings
From the (U)wicked who deal violently with me,
My (V)deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have (W)closed their [f]unfeeling hearts,
With their mouths they (X)speak proudly.
11 They have now (Y)surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes (Z)to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is (AA)like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion (AB)lurking in secret places.

13 (AC)Arise, Lord, confront him, (AD)make him bow down;
(AE)Save my soul from the wicked with (AF)Your sword,
14 From people by (AG)Your hand, Lord,
From people [g]of the world, (AH)whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You (AI)fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babies.
15 As for me, I shall (AJ)behold Your face in righteousness;
(AK)I shall be satisfied with Your (AL)likeness when I awake.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 17:2 I.e., vindication
  2. Psalm 17:3 Or no shameful act in me; My mouth
  3. Psalm 17:5 Lit tracks
  4. Psalm 17:7 Or from those who rise up...at Your right hand
  5. Psalm 17:8 Lit the pupil, the daughter of the eye
  6. Psalm 17:10 Lit fat
  7. Psalm 17:14 Or whose portion in life is of the world

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