⁷ Come, let us^(A) go down^(B) and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”^(C)

⁸ So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth,^(D) and they stopped building the city. ⁹ That is why it was called Babel^[a](E)—because there the Lord confused the language^(F) of the whole world.^(G) From there the Lord scattered^(H) them over the face of the whole earth.

⁶ Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees^(A) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,^(B) I am a Pharisee,^(C) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”^{(D) 7} When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,^(E) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

⁹ There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees^(F) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”^(G) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”^{(H) 10} The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.^(I)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

⁴⁶ “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”^(A) the guards replied.

⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?”^(B) the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?^{(C) 49} No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

⁵⁰ Nicodemus,^(D) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹ “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

⁵² They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”^(E)

[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

⁵³ Then they all went home,

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,^(A) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(B) and you were not willing. ³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate.^(C)

³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(A) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

17 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would^[a] choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. ² I would attack him while he is weary and weak.^(A) I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king^{(B) 3} and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.” ⁴ This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.

⁵ But Absalom said, “Summon also Hushai^(C) the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say as well.” ⁶ When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, “Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion.”

⁷ Hushai replied to Absalom, “The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time. ⁸ You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs.^(D) Besides, your father is an experienced fighter;^(E) he will not spend the night with the troops. ⁹ Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place.^(F) If he should attack your troops first,^[b] whoever hears about it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion,^(G) will melt^(H) with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.^(I)

¹¹ “So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba^(J)—as numerous as the sand^(K) on the seashore—be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle. ¹² Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive. ¹³ If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley^(L) until not so much as a pebble is left.”

¹⁴ Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice^(M) of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.”^(N) For the Lord had determined to frustrate^(O) the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster^(P) on Absalom.^(Q)