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21 My child, fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not disobey either of them,[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 24.21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change

Saying 30

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

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13 For the Lord’s sake be subject to every human authority,[a] whether to the emperor as supreme(A) 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.(B) 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers.[b] Fear God. Honor the emperor.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.13 Or every authority ordained for humans
  2. 2.17 Gk Love the brotherhood

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)

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Being Subject to Authorities

13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.(A) Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval,(B) for it is God’s agent for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority[a] does not bear the sword in vain! It is the agent of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.(C) For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s agents, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

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Footnotes

  1. 13.4 Gk it

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.

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Maintain Good Deeds

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

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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)

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16 When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king,

“What share do we have in David?
    We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.
To your tents, O Israel!
    Look now to your own house, O David.”

So Israel went away to their tents.(A)

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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)

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21 They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”(A)

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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.”

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Keep[a] the king’s command, and because of your sacred oath(A) do not be terrified; go from his presence; do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases. For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”(B) Whoever obeys a command will meet no harm, and the wise mind will know the time and way.

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Footnotes

  1. 8.2 Heb I keep

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.

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David Flees from Jerusalem

13 A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the Israelites have gone after Absalom.”(A) 14 Then David said to all his officials who were with him at Jerusalem, “Get up! Let us flee, or there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Hurry, or he will soon overtake us, and bring disaster down upon us, and attack the city with the edge of the sword.”(B) 15 The king’s officials said to the king, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king decides.” 16 So the king left, followed by all his household, except ten concubines whom he left behind to look after the house.(C) 17 The king left, followed by all the people, and they stopped at the last house. 18 All his officials passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath passed on before the king.(D)

19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also coming with us? Go back, and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home.(E) 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your kinsfolk with you, and may the Lord show[a] steadfast love and faithfulness to you.”(F) 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.”(G) 22 David said to Ittai, “Go then, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 The whole country wept aloud as all the people passed by; the king crossed the Wadi Kidron, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

24 Abiathar came up, and Zadok also, with all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city.(H) 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 bring me back and let me see both it and the place where it stays.(I) 26 But if he says, ‘I take no pleasure in you,’ here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.”(J) 27 The king also said to the priest Zadok, “Look,[b] go back to the city in peace, you and Abiathar,[c] with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar.(K) 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”(L) 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, with his head covered and walking barefoot, and all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.(M) 31 David was told that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, “O Lord, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”(N)

Hushai Becomes David’s Spy

32 When David came to the summit, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth on his head.(O) 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.(P) 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘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.(Q) 35 The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you there. So whatever you hear from the king’s house, tell it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.(R) 36 Their two sons are with them there, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan, and by them you shall report to me everything you hear.”(S) 37 So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. 15.20 Cn Compare Gk: Heb lacks may the Lord show
  2. 15.27 Gk: Heb Are you a seer or Do you see?
  3. 15.27 Cn: Heb lacks and Abiathar

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.

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Footnotes

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

He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to raise my hand against him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”(A)

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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.”

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

19 All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves.”(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 12.15 Gk: Heb and your ancestors

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.”

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

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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)

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Footnotes

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

Revolt of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram

16 Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth son[a] of Reuben, took(A) two hundred fifty Israelite men, leaders of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men, and they confronted Moses.(B) They assembled against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. So why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 16.1 Heb mss Sam Q ms Gk: Heb descendants

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 16:1 Or Peleth—took men

31 Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.(A)

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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.

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