But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord your God loves you.

The most tender and delicate woman among you—so delicate she would not so much as touch the ground with her foot—will be selfish toward the husband she loves and toward her own son or daughter.

“The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Indeed, he loves his people; all his holy ones are in his hands. They follow in his steps and accept his teaching.

Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: “The people of Benjamin are loved by the Lord and live in safety beside him. He surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every harm.”

But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

“Lord, may all your enemies die like Sisera! But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!” Then there was peace in the land for forty years.

So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.” “I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?”

Samson and Delilah

Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek.

Then Delilah pouted, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me? You’ve made fun of me three times now, and you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong!”

May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

And though he loved Hannah, he would give her only one choice portion because the Lord had given her no children.

So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.

Saul Becomes Jealous of David

After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.

And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

In the meantime, Saul’s daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it.

When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him,

And may you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die,

treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”

And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women!