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11 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat.

“‘Nevertheless these you shall not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you. The hyrax,[a] because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you. The hare, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you. The pig, because it has a split hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.

“‘You may eat of all these that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat. 10 All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas and rivers, all that move in the waters, and all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you, 11 and you shall detest them. You shall not eat of their meat, and you shall detest their carcasses. 12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters is an abomination to you.

13 “‘You shall detest these among the birds; they shall not be eaten because they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 14 the red kite, any kind of black kite, 15 any kind of raven, 16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.

20 “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you. 21 Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the earth. 22 Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper. 23 But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.

24 “‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 25 Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

26 “‘Every animal which has a split hoof that isn’t completely divided, or doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean. 27 Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 28 He who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.

29 “‘These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, 30 the gecko, and the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. 31 These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening. 32 Anything they fall on when they are dead shall be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening. Then it will be clean. 33 Every earthen vessel into which any of them falls and all that is in it shall be unclean. You shall break it. 34 All food which may be eaten which is soaked in water shall be unclean. All drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 Everything whereupon part of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces. They are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. 36 Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is gathered shall be clean, but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. 37 If part of their carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. 38 But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.

39 “‘If any animal of which you may eat dies, he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening. 40 He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

41 “‘Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination. It shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps. You shall not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them. 44 For I am Yahweh your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth. 45 For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

46 “‘This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.’”

12 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her monthly period she shall be unclean. In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall continue in the blood of purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her period; and she shall continue in the blood of purification sixty-six days.

“‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the Tent of Meeting, a year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering. He shall offer it before Yahweh, and make atonement for her; then she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood.

“‘This is the law for her who bears, whether a male or a female. If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’”

Footnotes

  1. 11:5 or rock badger, or cony

He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick and healed them. 14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.” 16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.” 17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias set herself against him and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.

21 Then a convenient day came when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”

She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”

25 She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.”

26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard and commanded to bring John’s head; and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

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BOOK 5

107 Give thanks to Yahweh,[a] for he is good,
    for his loving kindness endures forever.
Let the redeemed by Yahweh say so,
    whom he has redeemed from the hand of the adversary,
    and gathered out of the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way.
    They found no city to live in.
Hungry and thirsty,
    their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,
    and he delivered them out of their distresses.
He led them also by a straight way,
    that they might go to a city to live in.
Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
    for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

For he satisfies the longing soul.
    He fills the hungry soul with good.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    being bound in affliction and iron,
11     because they rebelled against the words of God,[b]
    and condemned the counsel of the Most High.
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor.
    They fell down, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,
    and he saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
    and broke away their chains.
15 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
    for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

16 For he has broken the gates of bronze,
    and cut through bars of iron.

17 Fools are afflicted because of their disobedience,
    and because of their iniquities.
18 Their soul abhors all kinds of food.
    They draw near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble,
    and he saves them out of their distresses.
20 He sends his word, and heals them,
    and delivers them from their graves.
21 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
    for his wonderful deeds to the children of men!

22 Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
    and declare his deeds with singing.

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
    who do business in great waters,
24     these see Yahweh’s deeds,
    and his wonders in the deep.
25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind,
    which lifts up its waves.
26 They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths.
    Their soul melts away because of trouble.
27 They reel back and forth, and stagger like a drunken man,
    and are at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cry to Yahweh in their trouble,
    and he brings them out of their distress.
29 He makes the storm a calm,
    so that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because it is calm,
    so he brings them to their desired haven.
31 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
    for his wonderful deeds for the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people,
    and praise him in the seat of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
    water springs into a thirsty ground,
34     and a fruitful land into a salt waste,
    for the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He turns a desert into a pool of water,
    and a dry land into water springs.
36 There he makes the hungry live,
    that they may prepare a city to live in,
37     sow fields, plant vineyards,
    and reap the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them also, so that they are multiplied greatly.
    He doesn’t allow their livestock to decrease.
39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down
    through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt on princes,
    and causes them to wander in a trackless waste.
41 Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction,
    and increases their families like a flock.
42 The upright will see it, and be glad.
    All the wicked will shut their mouths.
43 Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things.
    They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.

A Song. A Psalm by David.

108 My heart is steadfast, God.
    I will sing and I will make music with my soul.
Wake up, harp and lyre!
    I will wake up the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations.
    I will sing praises to you among the peoples.
For your loving kindness is great above the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth.
That your beloved may be delivered,
    save with your right hand, and answer us.
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph,
    I will divide Shechem, and measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine. Manasseh is mine.
    Ephraim also is my helmet.
    Judah is my scepter.
Moab is my wash pot.
    I will toss my sandal on Edom.
    I will shout over Philistia.”
10 Who will bring me into the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Haven’t you rejected us, God?
    You don’t go out, God, with our armies.
12 Give us help against the enemy,
    for the help of man is vain.
13 Through God, we will do valiantly,
    for it is he who will tread down our enemies.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

109 God of my praise, don’t remain silent,
    for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me.
    They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
    and fought against me without a cause.
In return for my love, they are my adversaries;
    but I am in prayer.
They have rewarded me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.
Set a wicked man over him.
    Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
When he is judged, let him come out guilty.
    Let his prayer be turned into sin.
Let his days be few.
    Let another take his office.
Let his children be fatherless,
    and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be wandering beggars.
    Let them be sought from their ruins.
11 Let the creditor seize all that he has.
    Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
12 Let there be no one to extend kindness to him,
    neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off.
    In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh.
    Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before Yahweh continually,
    that he may cut off their memory from the earth;
16 because he didn’t remember to show kindness,
    but persecuted the poor and needy man,
    the broken in heart, to kill them.
17 Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him.
    He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment.
    It came into his inward parts like water,
    like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself,
    for the belt that is always around him.
20 This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh,
    of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord,[c] for your name’s sake,
    because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;
22     for I am poor and needy.
    My heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow.
    I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting.
    My body is thin and lacks fat.
25 I have also become a reproach to them.
    When they see me, they shake their head.
26 Help me, Yahweh, my God.
    Save me according to your loving kindness;
27 that they may know that this is your hand;
    that you, Yahweh, have done it.
28 They may curse, but you bless.
    When they arise, they will be shamed,
    but your servant shall rejoice.
29 Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor.
    Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30 I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth.
    Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy,
    to save him from those who judge his soul.

Footnotes

  1. 107:1 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.
  2. 107:11 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
  3. 109:21 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

21 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses.
    He turns it wherever he desires.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
A high look and a proud heart,
    the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;
    and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away,
    because they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious,
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop
    than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.
    When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,
    and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,
    he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
    and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice;
    but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding
    shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.
    He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
    the treacherous for the upright.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land,
    than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
    but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness
    finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty,
    and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue
    keeps his soul from troubles.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name—
    he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long;
    but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—
    how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 A false witness will perish.
    A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 A wicked man hardens his face;
    but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding
    nor counsel against Yahweh.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
    but victory is with Yahweh.