Judges 9

New International Version

Abimelek

9 Abimelek^(A) son of Jerub-Baal^(B) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, ²“Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.^(C)”

³When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” ⁴They gave him seventy shekels^[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,^(D) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,^(E) who became his followers. ⁵He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,^(F) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,^(G) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.^(H) ⁶Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo^(I) gathered beside the great tree^(J) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

⁷When Jotham^(K) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim^(L) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. ⁸One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

⁹“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁰“Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹¹“But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹²“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹³“But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,^(M) which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

¹⁴“Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

¹⁵“The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade;^(N) but if not, then let fire come out^(O) of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’^(P)

¹⁶“Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? ¹⁷Remember that my father fought for you and risked^(Q) his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. ¹⁸But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons^(R) on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. ¹⁹So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today?^(S) If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! ²⁰But if you have not, let fire come out^(T) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem^(U) and Beth Millo,^(V) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

²¹Then Jotham^(W) fled, escaping to Beer,^(X) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

²²After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, ²³God stirred up animosity^(Y) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. ²⁴God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,^(Z) the shedding^(AA) of their blood, might be avenged^(AB) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him^(AC) murder his brothers. ²⁵In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.

²⁶Now Gaal son of Ebed^(AD) moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. ²⁷After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden^(AE) them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.^(AF) While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. ²⁸Then Gaal son of Ebed^(AG) said, “Who^(AH) is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor,^(AI) Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? ²⁹If only this people were under my command!^(AJ) Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”^[b]^(AK)

³⁰When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. ³¹Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. ³²Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait^(AL) in the fields. ³³In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.^(AM)”

³⁴So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. ³⁵Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate^(AN) just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.^(AO)

³⁶When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”

Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”

³⁷But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,^[c] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”

³⁸Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed?^(AP) Go out and fight them!”

³⁹So Gaal led out^[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. ⁴⁰Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. ⁴¹Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

⁴²The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. ⁴³So he took his men, divided them into three companies^(AQ) and set an ambush^(AR) in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. ⁴⁴Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. ⁴⁵All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city^(AS) and scattered salt^(AT) over it.

⁴⁶On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple^(AU) of El-Berith. ⁴⁷When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, ⁴⁸he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon.^(AV) He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” ⁴⁹So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.

⁵⁰Next Abimelek went to Thebez^(AW) and besieged it and captured it. ⁵¹Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. ⁵²Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, ⁵³a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.^(AX)

⁵⁴Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me,^(AY) so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. ⁵⁵When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

⁵⁶Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.^(AZ) The curse of Jotham^(BA) son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Notas al pie

Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams
Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”
Judges 9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
Judges 9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of

Lamentations 3

New International Version

3 ^[a]I am the man who has seen affliction^(A)
    by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.^(B)
²He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness^(C) rather than light;
³indeed, he has turned his hand against me^(D)
    again and again, all day long.

⁴He has made my skin and my flesh grow old^(E)
    and has broken my bones.^(F)
⁵He has besieged me and surrounded me
    with bitterness^(G) and hardship.^(H)
⁶He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead.^(I)

⁷He has walled me in so I cannot escape;^(J)
    he has weighed me down with chains.^(K)
⁸Even when I call out or cry for help,^(L)
    he shuts out my prayer.^(M)
⁹He has barred^(N) my way with blocks of stone;
    he has made my paths crooked.^(O)

¹⁰Like a bear lying in wait,
    like a lion^(P) in hiding,^(Q)
¹¹he dragged me from the path and mangled^(R) me
    and left me without help.
¹²He drew his bow^(S)
    and made me the target^(T) for his arrows.^(U)

¹³He pierced^(V) my heart
    with arrows from his quiver.^(W)
¹⁴I became the laughingstock^(X) of all my people;^(Y)
    they mock me in song^(Z) all day long.
¹⁵He has filled me with bitter herbs
    and given me gall to drink.^(AA)

¹⁶He has broken my teeth with gravel;^(AB)
    he has trampled me in the dust.^(AC)
¹⁷I have been deprived of peace;
    I have forgotten what prosperity is.
¹⁸So I say, “My splendor is gone
    and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”^(AD)

¹⁹I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness^(AE) and the gall.^(AF)
²⁰I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast^(AG) within me.^(AH)
²¹Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

²²Because of the Lord’s great love^(AI) we are not consumed,^(AJ)
    for his compassions never fail.^(AK)
²³They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.^(AL)
²⁴I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;^(AM)
    therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;^(AN)
²⁶it is good to wait quietly^(AO)
    for the salvation of the Lord.^(AP)
²⁷It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

²⁸Let him sit alone in silence,^(AQ)
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
²⁹Let him bury his face in the dust^(AR)—
    there may yet be hope.^(AS)
³⁰Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,^(AT)
    and let him be filled with disgrace.^(AU)

³¹For no one is cast off
    by the Lord forever.^(AV)
³²Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.^(AW)
³³For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.^(AX)

³⁴To crush underfoot
    all prisoners in the land,
³⁵to deny people their rights
    before the Most High,^(AY)
³⁶to deprive them of justice—
    would not the Lord see such things?^(AZ)

³⁷Who can speak and have it happen
    if the Lord has not decreed it?^(BA)
³⁸Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
    that both calamities and good things come?^(BB)
³⁹Why should the living complain
    when punished for their sins?^(BC)

⁴⁰Let us examine our ways and test them,^(BD)
    and let us return to the Lord.^(BE)
⁴¹Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
    to God in heaven,^(BF) and say:
⁴²“We have sinned and rebelled^(BG)
    and you have not forgiven.^(BH)

⁴³“You have covered yourself with anger and pursued^(BI) us;
    you have slain without pity.^(BJ)
⁴⁴You have covered yourself with a cloud^(BK)
    so that no prayer^(BL) can get through.^(BM)
⁴⁵You have made us scum^(BN) and refuse
    among the nations.

⁴⁶“All our enemies have opened their mouths
    wide^(BO) against us.^(BP)
⁴⁷We have suffered terror and pitfalls,^(BQ)
    ruin and destruction.^(BR)”
⁴⁸Streams of tears^(BS) flow from my eyes^(BT)
    because my people are destroyed.^(BU)

⁴⁹My eyes will flow unceasingly,
    without relief,^(BV)
⁵⁰until the Lord looks down
    from heaven and sees.^(BW)
⁵¹What I see brings grief to my soul
    because of all the women of my city.

⁵²Those who were my enemies without cause
    hunted me like a bird.^(BX)
⁵³They tried to end my life in a pit^(BY)
    and threw stones at me;
⁵⁴the waters closed over my head,^(BZ)
    and I thought I was about to perish.^(CA)

⁵⁵I called on your name, Lord,
    from the depths^(CB) of the pit.^(CC)
⁵⁶You heard my plea:^(CD) “Do not close your ears
    to my cry for relief.”
⁵⁷You came near^(CE) when I called you,
    and you said, “Do not fear.”^(CF)

⁵⁸You, Lord, took up my case;^(CG)
    you redeemed my life.^(CH)
⁵⁹Lord, you have seen the wrong done to me.^(CI)
    Uphold my cause!^(CJ)
⁶⁰You have seen the depth of their vengeance,
    all their plots against me.^(CK)

⁶¹Lord, you have heard their insults,^(CL)
    all their plots against me—
⁶²what my enemies whisper and mutter
    against me all day long.^(CM)
⁶³Look at them! Sitting or standing,
    they mock me in their songs.^(CN)

⁶⁴Pay them back what they deserve, Lord,
    for what their hands have done.^(CO)
⁶⁵Put a veil over their hearts,^(CP)
    and may your curse be on them!
⁶⁶Pursue^(CQ) them in anger and destroy them
    from under the heavens of the Lord.

Notas al pie

Lamentations 3:1 This chapter is an acrostic poem; the verses of each stanza begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and the verses within each stanza begin with the same letter.

Romans 15

New International Version

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak^(A) and not to please ourselves. ²Each of us should please our neighbors for their good,^(B) to build them up.^(C) ³For even Christ did not please himself^(D) but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”^[a]^(E) ⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us,^(F) so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind^(G) toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify^(H) the God and Father^(I) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Accept one another,^(J) then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews^[b]^(K) on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises^(L) made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹and, moreover, that the Gentiles^(M) might glorify God^(N) for his mercy. As it is written:

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”^[c]^(O)

¹⁰Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”^[d]^(P)

¹¹And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”^[e]^(Q)

¹²And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse^(R) will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”^[f]^(S)

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace^(T) as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.^(U)

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

¹⁴I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness,^(V) filled with knowledge^(W) and competent to instruct one another. ¹⁵Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me^(X) ¹⁶to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.^(Y) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,^(Z) so that the Gentiles might become an offering^(AA) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus^(AB) in my service to God.^(AC) ¹⁸I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles^(AD) to obey God^(AE) by what I have said and done— ¹⁹by the power of signs and wonders,^(AF) through the power of the Spirit of God.^(AG) So from Jerusalem^(AH) all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.^(AI) ²⁰It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel^(AJ) where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.^(AK) ²¹Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.”^[g]^(AL)

²²This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.^(AM)

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

²³But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,^(AN) ²⁴I plan to do so when I go to Spain.^(AO) I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist^(AP) me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem^(AQ) in the service^(AR) of the Lord’s people^(AS) there. ²⁶For Macedonia^(AT) and Achaia^(AU) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.^(AV) ²⁷They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.^(AW) ²⁸So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain^(AX) and visit you on the way. ²⁹I know that when I come to you,^(AY) I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit,^(AZ) to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.^(BA) ³¹Pray that I may be kept safe^(BB) from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution^(BC) I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people^(BD) there, ³²so that I may come to you^(BE) with joy, by God’s will,^(BF) and in your company be refreshed.^(BG) ³³The God of peace^(BH) be with you all. Amen.