21 My son, (A)fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not join with those who do otherwise,

Read full chapter

Saying 30

21 Fear the Lord and the king,(A) my son,
    and do not join with rebellious officials,

Read full chapter

Submission to Authority

13 (A)Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him (B)to punish those who do evil and (C)to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, (D)that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 (E)Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but (F)living as servants[c] of God. 17 (G)Honor everyone. (H)Love the brotherhood. (I)Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people
  2. 1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17
  3. 1 Peter 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(A) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(B) and to commend those who do right.(C) 15 For it is God’s will(D) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(E) 16 Live as free people,(F) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(G) live as God’s slaves.(H) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(I) fear God, honor the emperor.(J)

Read full chapter

Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person (A)be subject to the governing authorities. For (B)there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you (C)will receive his approval, for (D)he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, (E)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also (F)for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. (G)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Read full chapter

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)

This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Read full chapter

Be Ready for Every Good Work

Remind them (A)to be submissive to rulers and authorities, (B)to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Read full chapter

Saved in Order to Do Good

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,(A) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,(B)

Read full chapter

The Kingdom Divided

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. (A)To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents.

Read full chapter

16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:

“What share(A) do we have in David,
    what part in Jesse’s son?
To your tents, Israel!(B)
    Look after your own house, David!”

So the Israelites went home.(C)

Read full chapter

21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, (A)“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Read full chapter

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(A) and to God what is God’s.”

Read full chapter

I say:[a] Keep the king's command, because of (A)God's oath to him.[b] Be not hasty to (B)go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is supreme, and (C)who may say to him, “What are you doing?” Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.[c]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 8:2 Hebrew lacks say
  2. Ecclesiastes 8:2 Or because of your oath to God
  3. Ecclesiastes 8:5 Or and judgment

Obey the King

Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.(A) Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?(B)

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
    and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

Read full chapter

David Flees Jerusalem

13 And a messenger came to David, saying, (A)“The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us (B)flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left (C)ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

18 And (D)all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from (E)Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to (F)Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go (G)I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show[a] steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, (H)“As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, (I)wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed (J)the brook (K)Kidron, and all the people passed on toward (L)the wilderness.

24 And (M)Abiathar came up, and behold, (N)Zadok came also with all the Levites, (O)bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will (P)bring me back and let me see both it and his (Q)dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no (R)pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, (S)let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a (T)seer? Go back[b] to the city in peace, with (U)your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at (V)the fords of (W)the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.

30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, (X)barefoot and (Y)with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, (Z)weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please (AA)turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai (AB)the Archite came to meet him (AC)with his coat torn and (AD)dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be (AE)a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, (AF)‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, (AG)tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, (AH)their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, (AI)and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, (AJ)David's friend, came into the city, (AK)just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks may the Lord show
  2. 2 Samuel 15:27 Septuagint The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look, go back

David Flees

13 A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,(A) or none of us will escape from Absalom.(B) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

15 The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

16 The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines(C) to take care of the palace. 17 So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. 18 All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites(D) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

19 The king said to Ittai(E) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,(F) an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander(G) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”[a](H)

21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”(I)

22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

23 The whole countryside wept aloud(J) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,(K) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

24 Zadok(L) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark(M) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar(N) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place(O) again. 26 But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.(P)

27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?(Q) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.(R) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. 28 I will wait at the fords(S) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping(T) as he went; his head(U) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. 31 Now David had been told, “Ahithophel(V) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

32 When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai(W) the Arkite(X) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust(Y) on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden(Z) to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’(AA) then you can help me by frustrating(AB) Ahithophel’s advice. 35 Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.(AC) 36 Their two sons, Ahimaaz(AD) son of Zadok and Jonathan(AE) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

37 So Hushai,(AF) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom(AG) was entering the city.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you

He said to his men, (A)“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is (B)the Lord's anointed.”

Read full chapter

He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,(A) or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”

Read full chapter

12 And when you saw that (A)Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, (B)you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ (C)when the Lord your God was your king. 13 And now (D)behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, (E)the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you will (F)fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 15 But (G)if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then (H)the hand of the Lord will be against you and (I)your king.[a] 16 Now therefore (J)stand still and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 (K)Is it not wheat harvest today? (L)I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that (M)your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, (N)and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 And all the people said to Samuel, (O)“Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 12:15 Septuagint; Hebrew fathers

12 “But when you saw that Nahash(A) king(B) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule(C) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king(D) you have chosen, the one you asked(E) for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you fear(F) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel(G) against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! 15 But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against(H) his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

16 “Now then, stand still(I) and see(J) this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! 17 Is it not wheat harvest(K) now? I will call(L) on the Lord to send thunder(M) and rain.(N) And you will realize what an evil(O) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

18 Then Samuel called on the Lord,(P) and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe(Q) of the Lord and of Samuel.

19 The people all said to Samuel, “Pray(R) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,(S) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

Read full chapter

and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. (A)Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, (B)for they have not rejected you, (C)but they have rejected me from being king over them.

Read full chapter

They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(A) to lead[a](B) us, such as all the other nations(C) have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king(D) to lead us,” this displeased(E) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen(F) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(G) but they have rejected me as their king.(H)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20

Korah's Rebellion

16 Now (A)Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and (B)Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. (C)They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, (D)“You have gone too far! For (E)all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”

Read full chapter

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

16 Korah(A) son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram(B), sons of Eliab,(C) and On son of Peleth—became insolent[a] and rose up against Moses.(D) With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.(E) They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron(F) and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy,(G) every one of them, and the Lord is with them.(H) Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 16:1 Or Peleth—took men

31 (A)Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they (B)believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Read full chapter

31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(A) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(B) the Lord and put their trust(C) in him and in Moses his servant.

Read full chapter